18 BULLETIN OF WISCONSIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. VOL. 4, NOS. 1-2. 
leaves have fallen, the few flowers are not likely to attract much 
attention, and in fact are poorly visited. Besides, competition is 
decidedly severe at this time on account of the multitude of other 
flowers (Compositae, etc.). But later on, especially in the latter 
half of the month of October, when most of the leaves of the 
witch-hazel have disappeared, there is a very pronounced contrast 
in color between the numerous yellow flowers of this plant and 
its environment. And this is the time when the flies pay the most 
attention to the flowers. On two different occasions in the even- 
ing' following a warm day, and soon after sunset, quite a number 
of moths appeared on the flowers, as represented by the 5 species 
of the list. 
By coming at the end of the season after the leaves have 
fallen the flowers of the witch-hazel secure a similar advantage 
as do the flowers of the bloodroot, twin-leaf and some other 
species by appearing early in the spring ahead of the leaves. 
PARNASSIA CAROLINIAN A, MICHX. CAROLINA GRASS OF PARNASSl'- 
A widely distributed representative of the genus Pamassia, P. 
palustris, a plant inhabiting Europe, Asia and the northern por- 
tion of North America, has been studied by many ecologist- 
Europe on account of the peculiar structure of certain parts of its 
flower. Inside of, and opposite to each of the showy white petals 
a staminodium is present with a flattened and widened basal 
portion, and numerous (7 to 13 or even 25) slender processes 
protruding" from its outer margin. Nectar is contained in tw 
shallow depressions on the basal part, but the shining knob- 
shaped tips of the processes, although appearing as drops of 
nectar are entirely dry. These latter have been explained by 
Hermann Mueller as organs of g-landular structure serving no 
other purposes than to attract visitors to the flowers. According 
to H. Mueller (4) "we have thus in Pamassia palustris a very 
well-marked example of a deceptive flower, which deludes the 
foolish flies by displaying a multitude of conspicuous but sham 
drops of honey; and which, after thus alluring them, affords them 
indeed some easily accessible honey, which repays their trouble, 
but is quite incommensurate with the apparently bountiful dis- 
play." Mueller also informs us that his son witnessed a fly (a 
species of Bristalis) licking these drop-like glands in search of 
4. H. Mueller. The Fertilisation of Flowers, transl. by D'Arcy 
W. Thompson. 
