ON THE NECTARIES OP FLOWERS. 1^7 



use ; it is this which forms the nectarious box, while the inte- 

 rior lining, or inward cylinder of the stamen, fornis the open 

 nectary of all the , icosandrian class. Wherever this yellow a yellow mat- 

 matter is found, (which appears something like softened bees' ^^^> ^f/h"^'"' 

 wax) it always indicates the nectary, as does also a very brilliant tary. 

 white substance found at the top of the seed-vessel in ail pen- 

 tandria digyaia plants, which is also a never-failing sign of its 

 presence. If the dissector finds it difficult to discover the se- 

 creted juice, there is a little insect, which may be seen with a Insect livingln 

 small magnifier, that always leads to it. It is of various shades i^^^^^ * ^ 

 of brown, raises its tail, and the half of its body above, smooth- 

 ing down its very short w^ngs. It lives wholly on the nectary 

 of plants, and is found there alone. When a drawing, or a sort 

 of map is taken at the bottom of each flower, showing the 

 manner in which the vessels branch ofi^" to form their appropriate 

 ingredient, it is exactly seen, that not the breadth of a hair is 

 left unemployed and unallotted, and that the most marked ad- Beaiuifal ad- 

 justment takes place in this respect : and this is done without in justmentef the 

 the least disfiguring the parts ; all appear as perfectly to coincide 

 as if this alone was the (object in view, and yet for what great 

 ends, what noble designs ! I often throw down my pen and 

 pencil in despair, ashamed of the folly of attempting to give an 

 idea of works almost too great for man even to conceive. It is 

 certainly true, that we are more struck with the power of the 

 Almighty, when we contamplate his small works, than in the 

 view of his larger chefs d'oeuvre : when each diminutive object 

 is so highly finished, it would appear the peculiar care of provi- 

 dence , and yet on farther examination of these minor objects, 

 we find all equally perfect and beautiful. 



To give the double nectary in all plants would be an endless 

 business, equally tiresome to the reader and writer j but I think 

 I shall have given (with the following examples) sufficient to 

 prove ihe truth of all I have advanced — " That there is a con- 

 cealed as well an open nectary in all flowers j" and that the si- 

 tuation of both is generally regulated by that of the seed-vessel, 

 which appears to connect it indifferently with calyx or corolla, Sectary con- 

 stamen or pistil : but, however this may seem a matter of no nected with 

 moment, I doubt not it is of the utmost conseque?ice to the ^ '^ ^"^^^^ ^' 

 parts, and regulated with the greatest judgment ; and that, when 

 I am still better acquainted with the subject, I shall discover the 



Vol. XXXIII, No. 153.— November, 1812, N neces- 



