202 



MY STUDIO NEIGHBORS 



is not until we witness the act of its removal on 

 the tongue of the butterfly that we can fully ap- 

 preciate its significance. 



I have often seen butterflies at work upon this 



orchid, and have ob- 

 ser\-ed their tongues 

 generously decorated 

 with the glands and 

 rcnmants of the pol- 

 len ina;scs. 



The series of dia- 

 grams (Fig. 14) will, I 

 think, fully demon- 

 strate how this blos- 

 som utilizes the but- 

 terfly. At A we see the insect sipping, its 

 tongue now in contact with the elonoated disc, 

 which adheres to and clasps it. The withdrawal 

 of the tongue (B) removes the pollen from its 

 pouch. At C it is seen entirelv free and up- 

 right, from which position it quickly assumes 

 the new attitude shown at D. As the tongue 

 is now inserted into the subsequent blossom 

 this pollen mass is thrust against the stigma 

 (E), and a few of the pollen grains are thus with- 

 held upon its viscid surface as the insect de- 

 parts (F). 



Fig. 13 



