39 



wings than the type, or in other words it varies in the direction of albinism, while in the 

 smaller species the reverse is the case, this species varying in the direction of melanism, 

 in some specimens the white spots being almost entirely covered. The smaller species is, 

 I think, common in Ontario, while Lecontei seems to be scarce. Some years since I saw 

 a number of the smaller type in Mr. Brodie's Toronto collection, but he told me he had 

 not met with the larger form. Contigua is a well marked form and varies very little, but 

 as I have no specimens at hand I cannot point out the distinctive features. I am, however, 

 satisfied that breeding the larva will in time prove that we have three white-winged 

 species, Lecontei, contigua, and the smaller form which now does duty for Lecontei. 



These three white species occur in Montreal, and the smaller form and contigua are 

 found in Ontario. Interrupto-marginata is found in Ontario, but as far as known to me 

 does not occur in Quebec. 



INSECTS AND ORQHIDS. 



BY J. A. GUIGNARD, B.A., OTTAWA, ONT. 



Without plants, animal life would be impossible on our globe ; but likewise, most 

 flowering plants depend entirely for their reproduction on some animal agent. It has 

 even been found that, under water, some Infusoria of the genus Vorticella play a part in 

 the fertilisation of Red Sea weed, Polysiphonia subitlata* 



Experience teaches that cross-fertilisation is far more advantageous than self- 

 fertilisation, or, as Charles Darwin expresses it, that " nature abhors perpetual self- 

 fertilisation ;" and observation has brought to light in flowers an endless number of 

 contrivances, each one more admirable than the others, in order to insure crossing. Thus, 

 in certain orders, as for instance the grasses, wind carries the powdery pollen from the 

 open antber-cell of one flower to the viscid stigma of another. Generally, however, this 

 office can be effected only by peculiar, mostly winged, visitors. Each flower then prepares 

 for them either a store of nectar or a superabundance of pollen, as an attraction and 

 reward for the services unconsciously rendered. Some freely display their treasures to 

 all guests, large and small • others conceal them more or less, and privileged visitors only 

 oan then gain access to the feast, OAving to their special size, shape, habits or intelligence. 

 Each species of plant presents in this respect its own peculiarities. Hence it is easy to 

 understand the number of discoveries yet to be made in this field. In order to be con- 

 vinced of it, one has only to read a few pages of such works as those of Darwin and Her- 

 mann Miiller,f giving the results of their researches in Europe. At every page new sur- 

 prises await the reader. There are constantly new forms of the organs, new arrange- 

 ments of the parts, new processes with which they are furnished, new successions in the 

 •ime of unfolding or of maturing anthers and stigma, new motions in many cases, one 

 might nearly say new tricks, for all of which it is not easy to find explanations. 



Such studies may not have an obvious practical utility. But, besides the pleasure 

 which is always derived from perceiving new beauties in nature, our existence is so closely 

 bound to that of plants and animals that valuable results cannot but be expected from 

 these researches. I may, perhaps, be allowed to quote in this connection part of a 

 delightful article of Mr. G. H. Gibson, in Harper's Magazine for December, 1881, — 

 " Among our Footprints." 



" The late Prof. Wood, the botanist, had received from a bee-keeper in California, 

 together with a most appealing letter, a small box of dead bees, all of which were heavily 

 laden with a thick covering of very small paddle-shaped substances of a brown colour 

 The accompanying letter stated that thousands upon thousands of th« writer's bees had been 

 attacked, and were dying of the strange disease. He supposed it to be a kind of fungus, 

 but nobody could explain it or suggest a cure. His business was threatened with ruin, 



*See McAlpine's Botanical Atlas, Edinburgh, 1883. 



+ H. Midler; The Fertilisation of Flowers. Translated by D'Arcy W. Thomspon ; London, 1883. 

 ••rwin : Cross and Self-fertilisation ©f Plants ; Loipdon, 1876. 



