﻿l6 FIELD ANJJ FOREST. 



side of the tube. I observed the anthers dehisce before the flower buds 

 open, covering the stigmatic surface (which is simply a thickened con- 

 tinuation of the style) with pollen. I noticed that all the individuals 

 of this species of shrub were visited by a kind of ant in large numbers, 

 and as soon as a flower opened they began pulling out the hairs, lining 

 the corolla tube, and often biting off the stamens also, in order to 

 clear a way down to the nectar contained at the bottom of the tube. 

 In doing so they often support themselves hy clinging to the pollen- 

 covered style with their posterior legs. The bend in the style which 

 brings it to the side of the corolla tube prevents it from being an ob- 

 struction while they are obtaining the nectar, although, so eager are 

 they to get it even to the last drop, that in a few old flowers I noticed 

 even the style removed. The pollen keeps dry for a considerable time, 

 so that cross-fertilisation is effected by the removal of pollen from the 

 stigma of one flower to that of another. 



We have here, therefore, several adaptations of structure and habit 

 to ensure that end. The dehiscence of the anthers while in the bud 

 removes the pollen from a part of the flower where it would in all 

 probability be wasted (when the ants bite off the anthers) to another 

 part, where by a peculiarity in its structure, viz., the bend in the style, - 

 it is protected and transferred to other flowers. The hairs in the 

 corolla-tube, by rendering the approach to the nectar difficult, and 

 thus making the use of the style as a support needful, also increase the 

 chances of cross-fertisilation. 



Dogs Eating Wasps. — On several occasions this summer, I watched 

 with much interest the excitement caused by wasps to a black and tan 

 terrier. The moment one appeaaed on the window, he commenced 

 barking furiously, trying with his paws to knock it down, which, if 

 on the lower panes, he generally succeeded in doing ; but the curious 

 part was, that as soon as the insect was on the ground, the dog began 

 turning it over and over with his tongue for about ten minutes, all the 

 time making a peculiar hissing noise, ch-agging it sometimes half across 

 the room, and eventually eating it with the greatest relish, but appar- 

 ently unconscious of the danger of the sting if eaten immediately after 

 death ; but if he could pounce on one in the act of flying, he swallowed 

 it at once with impunity, evidently regarding it as a bonne-bouche, from 

 the frantic manner in which he pursued any that came in his way. — 

 S. M. P. in Science Gossip. 



