194 MY STUDIO NEIGHBORS 



as the moth departs (B). At this time they are 

 in the upright position shown at C, but in a few 

 seconds bend determinedly downward and slightly 

 towards each other to the position D. This change 

 takes place as the moth is flitting from flower to 

 flower. At E we see the moth with its tongue 

 entering the nectary of a subsequent blossom. By 

 the new position of the pollen clubs they are now 

 forced directly against the stigma (E). This sur- 

 face is viscid, and as the insect leaves the blossom 

 retains the grains in contact (F), which in turn 

 withdraw others from the mass by means of the 

 cobwebby threads by which the pollen grains are 

 continuously attached. At G we see the orchid 

 after the moth's visit — the stigma covered with 

 pollen, and the flower thus cross fertilized. 



In effecting the cross-fertilization of one of the 

 younger flowers its eyes are again brought into 

 contact with this second pair of discs, and these, 

 with their pollen clubs, are in turn withdrawn, at 

 length perhaps resulting in such a plastering of 

 the insect's eyes as might seriously impair its 

 vision, were it not fortunately of the compound 

 sort. 



In another allied example of the orchids — the 

 Showy Orchid — we have, however, what would 

 appear a clear adaptation to the head of a bee, 



