hairs on the under portion of the bee, 
or has clung to his legs; this, of course, 
causes cross-fertilization, a peculiar and 
wonderful provision of nature, which 
seems to be necesssary for the preser- 
vation of fruits and flowers and for the 
improvement of the different kinds. 
Whole volumes have been written on 
this subject, which even now is not en- 
tirely understood, but a single case will 
give a little insight into the matter. 
The common primrose will produce 
even from seeds selected from the same 
pod, two different kinds of flowers, in 
about equal proportions, which are ster- 
ile of themselves. But each kind may, 
by means of the good offices of the 
bee or other honey-loving insect, fertil- 
ize the other. If no bees or other in- 
sects visit either of these flowers no 
seed can be produced and the life of 
the plant ends in a single season. 
Cross-fertilization is necessary to some 
plants and beneficial to all. Nature has 
so devised it and has accordingly made 
the flowers conspicuous to insects by 
painting them, in most cases, a differ- 
ent and brighter hue than the foliage of 
the plant, making the blossom, in some 
cases, give forth a pleasant odor, and 
in nearly all cases causing the flower to 
secrete the nectar which the insects 
love. Flowers which do not attract the 
insects by their bright colors, odor, or 
nectar, are generally adapted to cross- 
fertilization by the wind or are partly or 
wholly fertile in themselves. 
It is a pretty well established fact 
that the flowers which we particularly 
esteem, the bright-colored, perfumed, 
nectar-producing varieties, owe their ex- 
istence to the bees. We also owe the 
fruits which we love to the selection of 
the bee to a large extent. Some of the 
best varieties of strawberries are en- 
tirely sterile and must be planted in 
close proximity to fertilizing varieties 
in order to bring forth any fruit at all. 
Some varieties of pears also require fer- 
tilization by the bees, and cannot bear 
fruit if bees are excluded. Even the 
apple is not perfect unless fertilized by 
the bees, five distinct pollenizations 
being required to perfect a single blos- 
som, and in places where orchards do 
not bear it is often found that the intro- 
duction of four or five hives of bees 
for each one hundred trees will cause 
them to bring forth fruit in abundance. 
So, whether we wear bright flowers, 
or eat fruit or honey, or stroll through 
meadows sweet with clover, the handi- 
work of the bee follows us and im- 
presses us with the fact that our little 
friend lives only to give us sustenance, 
sweetness, and pleasure. 
BIRDS AS SHEPHERDS. 
IN Venezuela there is a species of 
crane, called by the natives the 
Yak-a-Mik, which is easily tamed 
and trained to look after a flock of 
sheep or take care of the inmates of 
the poultry yard. When these are 
placed in charge of this bird it may be 
implicity trusted to take them to their 
feeding places in the morning and 
bring them safely home at night, not 
forgetting to hunt for and collect any 
stragglers. The Yak-a-Mik displays 
all the traits of character usually asso- 
ciated with the faithful sheep-dog. 
It can be amusing, too, for, while its 
usual gait is slow and sedate, it can ex- 
ecute the most fantastic waltzes and 
strike all sorts of absurd attitudes. A 
German agriculturist, Herrvon Seyffert, 
had one of these cranes which took 
charge of a herd of heifers, driving 
them to and from their pastures. It 
also kept order in the poultry yard, 
stopping all fighting and disorder. 
