56 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



have as guests from year to year. One sjjecics of butterfly 

 which is frequeutly found on the ))lossoms is the pretty little 

 yellow species, Terria.H lisa, which is shown in the illus- 

 tration, just as it is about to alight on a flower. As the 

 larvtie of this insect feed on a species of cassia and on clover, 

 llie visits of the butterfly lo the wild bergainot arc for nectar. 

 It must be admitted that structures of flowers often ai)]jear 

 to have indifferent characters which are difficult to account 

 for on the ground of luitural selection. It is, however, more 

 often our ignorance of the comi)lex life as well as a quantitative 

 analysis of variations of a flower that lead us astray in inter- 

 preting these structures. 



The Seasonal Procession of the 

 Flowers, Insects, and Birds 



ARDLY can we realize the changes being 

 wrought in the woods and meadows unless we 

 keep in close touch with the varied condi- 

 tions of nature. On August twenty-second, 

 after a night of rain, I find the following summing 

 up of the day's reflections: The flowers of the wild 

 bergamot, which a few w^eeks ago appeared in their 

 best colors, are now fast fading. It is rare that a per- 

 '1 feet, fresh flower can be found unless it may l)e one 

 growing in some shady s[)ot. Willi the going out of the 

 fjergamot are contrasted the cardinal flowers, which are n(jw 



