Wild Flowers as They Grow 



appeal. In sucking the honey the moth is bound 



to rub its breast against the tilting pollen boxes, 



and so gets well dusted with the pollen. The 



microscope shows that every grain of the dust is 



covered with needle-like prickles, so that it sticks 



on the soft fluff of the moth's body. 



During the second day of the flower's life 



certain changes happen. The inside of the petals 



and, in fact, the whole flower, turns yellowish, the 



upper and under lip of the corolla roll round further 



backwards, and the tube arches itself. The stamens 



are drooping, and probably empty of pollen, but 



the long ovary column has raised itself, and now, 



in its turn, projects bayonet-Uke. The net result 



is that the flower will no longer be as conspicuous 



in the dusk as it was the previous night. Both 



these stages can plainly be seen in any bunch of 



Honeysuckle. As the twihght falls again sweet 



fragrance is once more poured out lavishly, and 



moth visitors respond to the invitation. But, 



naturally, they fly first to the more conspicuous 



38 



