44 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
back by the water.” He gives no evidence that this protec: 
tion has anything to do with the fact that the plants have 
acquired an aquatic location. He uses trivial and accidental 
effects as a basis for interpretation of all kinds of ecological 
phenomena. 
While it is true that adaptations for cross-pollination are 
more apparent in the less specialized plants depending on the 
less specialized anthophilous insects, it does not follow that the 
adaptations of the highest plants in relation to the highest 
insects, though more obscure, are to be interpreted as arrange 
ments for autogamy and geitonogamy. 
V. On the supposed pollen-carrying apparatus of flies and birds 
—In regard to the plumose ariste of such genera of Syrphide 
as Volucella and Sericomyia, Loew® observes that the structure 
appears of no use to the flies, but is of importance in the trans 
fer of pollen. And he regards them, as well as the hairy coat 
on the lower part of the face, as an adaptation for carrying pol 
len. In the same connection he mentions the hairy eyes of ce 
tain species, though he does not go so far as to consider this as 
an adaptation for the same purpose. 
In the Entomological News 4:323. 1895, under the title 
Insects as pollenizers, Mr. J. B. Smith mentions that some Dipte® — 
have compound hairs, similar to those found in the Apid@. 
The author does not say exactly what he does mean, but I have 
always regarded the note as implying the view that these hairs 
were so modified for carrying pollen. ‘| 
In the American Naturalist 28: 680-681. 1874, Mr. J. L. Ham | 
cock speaks of certain ‘‘repositories”” on the head of the ruby : 
throated humming bird, and throughout his paper seems 1 | 
imply that the feathers, etc., are specially modified for carrying | 
pollen. As Mr. Darwin says, proof of the existence of suc F 
adaptations would be fatal to the theory of natural selection. "| 
have always regarded these statements as mere teleological os 
osities, but in his Handbuch Knuth has adopted Loew’s views | 
*Jahr, Bot. Gartens Berlin 6:114. 1886. I 
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