No. 4o1.] THE FRUITING OF THE BLUE FLAG. 367 
Single individuals taken from the flower again and again and 
replaced on top, though they sought to enter speedily, went 
about it in the same bungling way as before. They did not 
readily learn by experience. 
Aylota fraudulosa Loew.; Sepsis violacea Meig; Chlorops 
proxima Say; C. assimilis Macq.; Chrysogaster nitida Wied. 
— These active little flies are minor pollen thieves, all small 
enough to run into the open passageway, gather a few pollen 
grains, and run out with them. The first is large enough to 
brush a low stigma in passing, and the second, a strutting, 
micro-hymenopter mimicker, might strike a stigma with its 
tilting wings; but all are very unimportant, both in pollination 
and in their petty thievery. 
Lastly, I should not omit to mention thrips, a few of which 
are to be found in almost every flower, and, antithetically, a 
humming bird (Zvochilis colubris Linn.) which I saw make 
several thrusts, in succession, with its beak into the proper 
entrance of these flowers. 
II. THE WasTE OF THE NECTAR. 
Two important sources of waste of nectar were much in evi- 
dence throughout the season — lepidopters and weevils. 
A. LEPIDOPTERA. — These were, by day, skipper butterflies 
(Hesperidze), and at dusk, two species of moths ! : 
Eudamus tityrus Fabr., seen at flowers several times. 
Eudamus pylades Scudd., seen at flowers but once. 
Pamphila hobomok Harr., seen at flowers continuously. 
Pamphila peckius Kirb., seen at flowers continuously. 
Pamphila cernes Bd.-Lec., seen at flowers continuously. 
Pamphila mystic Scudd., seen at flowers not uncommonly. 
Leucania pallens (?), seen at flowers several times. 
Evergestis stramentalis, seen at flowers several times. 
The pamphilas were the most conspicuous and persistent o: 
all visitors. Throughout the season one could find at even the 
! Another moth, Crambus /aqueatellus Clem., was seen twice, vainly plying its 
proboscis at the proper entrance. 
