1 68 



EYE SPY 



The endless shapes of flowers were shown by- 

 Darwin to have reference to certain insects upon 

 whom the flower depended for the transfer of its 

 pollen. What are we to infer from the shape of 

 our evening primrose ? Its tube is long and slen- 

 der, and the nectar is secreted at its farthest ex- 

 tremity. Only a tongue an inch 

 or so in length could reach it. 

 What insects have tongues of 

 this length ? Moths and but- 

 terflies. The primrose blooms 

 at night, when butterflies are 

 asleep, and is thus clearly 

 adapted to moths. The flower 

 opens; its stigma is closed; the 

 projecting stamens scatter the 

 loose pollen upon the moth as 

 it sips close at the blossom's 

 throat, and as it flies from flower 

 to flower it conveys it to other 

 blossoms whose stigmas are matured. The ex- 

 pression of the normal bud is thus one of affinity 

 and hope. 



Our friend just quoted mentions having seen 

 " holes " on the other swollen buds, and there is 

 certain to be a hole in every one of them at its 

 maturity. But let us select one which is as yet 

 entire. If with a sharp knife-point we cut gently 

 through its walls, we disclose the curious secret 



