Wild Flowers as They Grow 



opened ; it settles on the three-lobed lip, and pushes 

 its thin and most dehcate proboscis between t^e 

 ridges, and so into the flower. The opening is so 

 fine that the insect wiU almost certainly touch the 

 rostellum and depress it, and so necessarily leave 

 bare the saddle above. Directly the air touches 

 the moist under-surface of the saddle, its two flaps 

 suddenly begin to curl and firmly clasp the pro- 

 boscis — the saddle is being harnessed to the steed. 

 The " glue " on its under-surface sets rapidly, and 

 in a moment or two the poUinia, always attached 

 to the saddle, are drawn from their niche under the 

 hood, and are riding on the proboscis. Meanwhile, 

 the butterfly is exploring the long pocket. Now, 

 it is a very strange thing that no single drop of 

 honey has ever been found in this apparent honey- 

 sac, hence this orchis has been called a " Sham 

 Honey Flower," and the taunt has been thrown 

 that it is merely a clever deceiver who deludes 

 generation after generation of insects. But this is 



unjust, for though there is no honey, so to speak, 



64 



