What is a Flower 1 
[October, 
484 
not merely runs counter to Nature in the respects we have 
already shown, but it is open to the charge of seeking to 
destroy family life and to constitute society of individuals — 
of atoms instead of molecules. In so doing it tends towards 
the condition of things prevalent in certain inseFt-commu- 
nities. But there the mass of the nation, and especially its 
working and fighting members, is composed of what are 
commonly called neuters. Of such an arrangement no trace 
prevails among vertebrate animals, and we do not therefore 
see how their example can afford us any practical precedent. 
We have therefore, in fine, full ground for maintaining 
that the “ woman’s-rights’ movement ” is an attempt to rear, 
by a process of “ unnatural selection,” a race of monstrosi- 
ties — hostile alike to men, to normal women, to human 
society, and to the future development of our race. We 
know that the modern “ honorary secretary ” is always ready 
to exclaim “ Let heaven and earth perish, so my crotchet 
may be realised.” But we would bid him ask himself 
whether the end is worth the means ? 
IV. WHAT IS A FLOWER? 
By F. T. Mott, F.R.G.S. 
CVi 
t T is admitted that a complete flower consists of four 
parts or whorls, viz., the pistil, the stamens, the corolla, 
and the calyx ; but it is maintained that the essential 
parts are the pistil and stamens only. The Monochlamydeae, 
in which the corolla is absent, and even the Achlamydese, 
which have neither corolla nor calyx, are still included among 
Flowering Plants. 
The technical rules by which this conclusion is arrived at 
are, first, that in classification organs which are universal 
have more value than those which are sometimes wanting ; 
and, secondly, that fertilisation by pollen is more complex, 
and therefore of higher value than fertilisation by anther- 
czoids. 
For the mere purpose of classification these rules are 
probably sound, but at the same time they hide from us one 
view of Nature which is a truer and more interesting view 
