RELICS OF A HOMESTEAD OF THE STONE AGE. 271 
developed thoracic crests, and that some flowers which are especi- 
ally favorites with them have long, exserted, ascending stamens 
and styles (e. g. Echium vulgare and Lonicera Periclymenum). 
the stamens in these plants were short, the pollen would have little 
chance of being brushed off by the thorax of the moth, and it does 
not readily adhere (as the sticky pollen masses of the orchids do) 
to the haustellum, and if the thorax of the moth were smooth the 
pollen would not be so liable to be brushed off, even though the 
stamens are exserted ; whereas with exserted and ascending stamens 
in the flower and crested thorax in the moth, we have every condi- 
tion necessary to insure a greater or less quantity of pollen being 
conveyed from one plant to another. In the Labiate the stamens, 
though so few, seem to be especially arranged in many species, so 
that every chance may be afforded of pollen being carried. In 
Ajuga reptans and Teucrium Scorodonia the stamens are exserted 
and ascending, and aré four in number — two long and two shorter. 
An insect therefore in plunging its head into the corolla would al- 
most necessarily brush all the four stamens. These plants are 
much visited by moths.— Journal of Botany. 
RELICS OF A HOMESTEAD OF THE STONE AGE. 
BY CHARLES C. ABBOTT, M.D. 
scan 
Tue interest that centres in every isolated arrow point or rude 
Stone axe that we chance to come upon, as it is lying in the field — 
the train of thought that such relics excite in every intelligent 
observer, absorbing as it is, pales into a commonplace occurrence, 
when we happen to meet with a series of stone implements of many 
forms, that epitomize, in their individual and collective characters, 
the habits, and occupations of their Stone Age owners; and toa 
far greater extent is this the case, when these collected relics are 
Seen lying in the very spot where their ancient owners left them : 
the corn-mill and its crushing-stones by the hearth, still black with 
ashes; the hatchet near by, that was used to split the marrow 
bones of animals ; the polished horn-stone skinning knife, and skin 
dressers ; and back from the fire-place, in separate piles, the battle 
axe, spears and arrows of each inmate of that household. 
