290 FERTILIZATION OF FLOWERS BY INSECTS. 
As to flies, it has: been until now generally admitted that they 
are exclusively destined to fluid nutriment. But in the summer of 
1867, I was somewhat surprised while observing in my garden an 
Eristalis tenax upon a flower of Gnothera media, to discover that 
it was eating the pollen. Resting upon its middle and hind legs, it 
thrust out its fleshy proboscis like an arm, seized a morsel of 
pollen with the two valves which terminate the proboscis, and tore 
it away from the anther. Since the pollen granules of Ginothera 
are tied together by elastic threads, that bit of pollen torn from 
the anther was attached to others by a band of threads, and the 
insect, in order to free its mouth from that inconvenient appen- 
dage began to use its fore-legs. Raising both together towards its 
mouth, it seized between them the cordon of threads, and rapidly 
rubbing them one against the other, much as we do in washing 
our hands, succeeded in cutting the threads and clearing them 
from its mouth and legs. Then it raised them again, and seized 
the two valves of the proboscis, thoroughly cleaning them of 
pollen, and the threads yet adhering to it; and in about three 
seconds this work of cleaning. was complete. At the same time 
the valves of the proboscis, by rubbing against each other, had 
masticated the morsel of pollen, and had conveyed the single 
granules into the channel of the labium, whence they were pushed 
into the mouth. It had hardly finished cleaning its proboscis and 
eating the first mouthful of pollen, when it seized another portion 
and repeated each and all the operations I have described. It was 
so intent upon its meal, that I was able to observe it in the closest 
proximity without its manifesting the slightest fear. 
The quantity of pollen which an Eristalis can devour in this 
way is surprising. Upon making a section of one and examining 
colors. Nor do all flowers - a RENAA odor, since some have a fetid smell, or one 
iké that of decaying animal matter. 
All the flowers bogre soe this (those, e. g., of Arum, Dracanculus, of the Stapeliz, 
of some American Aristolochiz, of the Rafflesiz, Saprie, Brugmansiz, Sapranthus, 
etc.) have without ae livid colors, and, like the skins of some serpents, are 
d 
e Ceropegiæ, one Aristolochia, saree and Ambrosinia Bassit, are 
Pita eo paises by gnats (Phora, Ceratopogon, Cecydomya, Oscinis, ete.). All 
these have a generally livid tint speckled or striped ay dark-purplish spots, and a 
putrid odor, for the most part like that of urine. 
These few instances suffice to give an idea of. the wonderful ‘relations while occur 
5 “o 
Er E AE EERE ENR 
