THE LIFE OF A PRIMROSE, 1 67 
very easily, nor is it good for them if they do. The 
seeds are much stronger and better if the dust or 
pollen of one flower is carried away and left on the 
Fig. 44. 
Corolla of Primrose falling off. 
I, Primrose with long pistil, and stamens in the tube, same as I of 
Fig. 43. 2, Primrose with short pistil, and stamens at mouth of tube, 2, 
Fig. 43- 
knob or stigma of another flower : and the only way 
this can be done is by insects flying from one flower 
to another and carrying the dust on their legs and 
bodies. 
If you suck the end of the tube of the primrose 
flower you will find it tastes sweet, because a drop of 
honey has been lying there. When the insects go in 
to get this honey, they brush themselves against the 
yellow dust-bags, and some of the dust sticks to them, 
and then when they go to the next flower they rub it 
off- on to its sticky knob. 
Look at No. I a: i No. 2 (Fig. 43) and you will see 
at once that if an insect goes into No. I and the poller 
sticks to him, when he goes into No. 2 just that part 
of his body on which the pollen is will touch the 
