ARETHUSA 8i 



anther cells empty, and pollen upon their stigmas. The 

 nectar is here secreted in a well — not very deep — and the 

 depth of this nectar from the entrance is of great significance 

 among all the flowers, having distinct reference to the length 

 of the tongue which is expected to sip it. In the Arethusa, 

 it is true, the butterfly or moth might sip at the throat of the 

 flower, but the long tongues of these insects might permit the 

 nectary to be drained without bringing their bodies in con- 

 tact with the stigma. Smaller insects might creep into the 

 nectary and sip without the intended fulfilment. 



" It is clear that to neither of such visitors is the welcome 

 extended. What, then, are the required conditions .? The 

 insect must have a tongue of such a length that, when in the 

 act of sipping, its head must pass beyond the anther well 

 into the opening of the flower. Its body must be sufficiently 

 large to come in contact with the anther. Such requisites 

 are perfectly fulfilled by the bumblebee, and we may well 

 hazard the prophecy that the Bombus is the welcome affinity 

 of the flower." 



On some parts of the northern New England seacoast 

 the marshes are purple tinted in June with the blossoms of 

 Arethusa, but while the artist is revelling in the mass of 

 colour, the little artisans are clumsily but skilfully buzzing 

 from flower to flower, snapping open the treasure boxes and 

 transferring the hoards from one to another, until, after the 

 brief season of riotous colour and sweetest perfume, every 

 flower has been visited and has set its seed. 



