222 THE FAIRY-LAND OF SCIENCE. 
petals of the buttercup flower, sometimes in clear 
drops, as in the tube of the honeysuckle. This food 
they prepare for the insects, and then they have all 
sorts of contrivances to entice* them to come and 
fetch it. 
You will remember that the plants of the coal had 
no bright or conspicuous flowers. Now we can under- 
stand why this was, for there were no flying insects 
at that time to carry the pollen-dust from flower to 
flower, and therefore there was no need of coloured 
flow r ers to attract them. But little by little, as flies, 
butterflies, moths, and bees began to live. in the world, 
flowers too began to appear, and plants hung out these 
gay-coloured signs, as much as to say, " Come to me, 
and I will give you honey if you will bring me pollen- 
dust in exchange, so that my seeds may grow healthy 
and strong." 
We cannot stop to inquire to-day how this all 
gradually came about, and how the flowers gradually 
put on gay colours and curious 'shapes to tempt the 
insects to visit them ; but we will learn something 
about the way they attract them now, and how you 
may see it for yourselves if you keep your eyes 
open. 
For example, if you watch the different kinds of 
grasses, sedges, and rushes, which have such tiny 
flowers that you can scarcely see them, you will find 
that no insects visit them. Neither will you ever find 
bees buzzing round oak-trees, nut-trees, willows, elms, 
or birches. But on the pretty and sweet-smelling 
apples-blossoms, or the strongly scented lime-trees, 
you will find bees, wasps, and plenty of other insects. 
