218 
Flowers and Insects . 
[April, 
flower from being applied to its own stigma. Hence it is 
plain that if fertilisation is to be effected at all — which is an 
absolute necessity — pollen must be conveyed to it by some 
special agency. Of such agencies we know only two — the 
wind and certain living beings, especially inserts. That 
inserts do take an a(5tive part in the fecundation of certain 
flowers we have very complete proof. We find that flowers 
are abundantly visited by inserts belonging to various orders, 
especially butterflies, moths, bees, some wasps, Diptera (espe- 
cially those belonging to the family of Syrphidse), and a few 
flower-haunting beetles. We observe in plants a variety of 
arrangements by means of which inserts visiting the flowers 
are sure to carry off a quantity of the pollen adhering to 
their wings, which is then transferred to the stigmata of the 
next flowers visited. On the other hand, we notice varied 
and complicated arrangements for keeping off such inserts 
as would, from the nature of their habits, not subserve the 
great work of fecundation. This fact was first observed and 
recorded by the late Thomas Belt, and has since been 
studied in detail by Prof. A. Kerner, whose “ Flowers and 
their Unbidden Guests ” gives full information on the sub- 
ject. Some of the habits of inserts seem to have a decided 
reference to the fecundation of plants. Not a few forms, in 
their search for honey and pollen, confine themselves to one 
species of plant, or at least to one type. Others, though 
not thus limited, — e.g ., the common honey, bee, — do not 
visit all flowers promiscuously, but devote themselves on 
each journey to some species of flower. Lastly must come 
the most decisive piece of evidence, that in the absence of 
certain inserts flowers are unable to mature their seeds. To 
enable the red clover to reproduce itself, in New Zealand, it 
has been found necessary to import humble-bees. So far, 
then, the most obstinate votary of the Old Natural History 
can find no pretext for dissent or doubt. But it has been 
found practicable and necessary, taking the above-mentioned 
facts as a basis, to go much further. It has been observed 
that whilst some plants — hence called anemophilous — are 
so constructed that they may readily be fertilised by the 
pollen of other plants as conveyed by the wind, in others 
this kind of fecundation is impossible or highly difficult, and 
the services of insects or of birds are necessary. These 
latter plants, known as entomophilous, if compared with 
the anemophilous group, present certain well-marked cha- 
racteristics. They offer distinct and often brilliant masses 
of colour, or in place thereof they give off a striking odour. 
This is not the case with the anemophilous plants. In them 
