254 



THE HONEY-BEE. 



blossom. When fertilisation by pollen from another 

 flower has taken place, the pistil droops and withers ; 

 while the anthers grow upwards to the mouth of the 

 corolla, and present their nectar to the honey-seekers, 

 for conveyance to other flowers of the species. 



Fig. 75.— Section of Scrophularia Nodosa. 



Fig. 76. 



—Scrophularia Nodosa. 

 (Young bloom.) 



Fig. 77. — Scrophularia Nodosa. 

 (Old bloom.) 



In the common sage {Salvia officinalis) we find a 

 very remarkble contrivance, by means of which the 

 anthers, through a sort of hinge-like connective, are 

 brought down on the back of a bee entering the 

 flower. The pollen thus discharged is carried by the 

 insect to other blossoms, in which the place of the 

 withered stamens has been occupied by the stigma 



