Kay Robinson’s Theory 
live creatures.” “If this is not the truth,” he 
asks, “will any adherent of the theory that we 
owe the shapes of flowers to insects explain why 
some of our common British orchids are so like 
bees, spiders, etc.? Some which have no parti- 
cular resemblance to any insect still exhibit weird 
shapes, suggestive to the human mind of living 
things, such as lizards, etc. The reason why they 
look like bees, spiders, lizards, and various un- 
classed creatures is quite simple. Grazing 
animals are looking for greenstuff, and do not 
wish to eat living creatures which may bite or 
sting or taste nasty. Thus the orchids have 
acquired the power of looking like creatures. 
“Every one,” he continues, “who is familiar 
with the blossom of the wild carrot—a flat head 
of minute, dull-white blossoms — must have 
noticed how very often the centre blossom in 
each head is purplish or reddish-black. This 
makes it very conspicuous in the middle of the 
flat white flower head. Now what conceivable 
use can this barren little blackish blossom— 
scarcely bigger than a pin’s head—be to the 
wild carrot plant if we regard the flat head of 
white flowers as an attraction to the sight of 
insects? If, on the other hand, we rightly regard 
the flat head of white blossoms as an advertise- 
ment to grazing animals that it is not wholesome 
greenstuff, but innutritious blossoms liable to be 
infested with ants and other stinging insects, we 
269 
