The Bee's Tongue 



29 



pollen to another plant. When the bee approaches the 

 nectary of an iris flower its hairy back first comes in 

 contact with the stigraatic surface 

 {S) at the outer rim of the style ; 

 and if it has recently come from 

 another iris, it will be pollen-dusted 

 and will leave some of the pollen on .^2 

 the stigma. As it passes under the 

 style its back will gather a fresh sup- 

 ply of pollen to be in like manner 

 conveyed to another plant. 



The captive bumble-bee, suddenly 

 presented with a generous supply of 

 iris flowers, evidently had had no 

 experience with them, or if so, it had 

 forgotten. It had been fasting for 

 some time and speedily made its 

 way to the new offering. It landed 

 on a hanging petal — as it ought ; 

 but instead of creeping under the 

 style as it ought and thrusting its 

 tongue into the longed-for nectar 

 while it incidentally dusted its back 

 for the benefit of the House of Iris, 

 it clumsily climbed over the top of 

 the style and began to lick the cen- 

 tre of the flower, evidently with little satisfaction, for it 

 moved constantly about as though searching for something. 



Finally, it discovered the location of the nectar, though 

 not the entrance to it, and made repeated attempts to 

 reach it from above, clinging to the petal and putting in 

 its tongue along the side of the style. 



Its tongue was stretched to its limit, the bee stood on its 

 tiptoes, so to speak, and the sympathetic observer could 



