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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
101
Let
us
consider
the
flower
simply
as
a
device
to
insure
its
own
cross-fertilization.
The
insect
is
welcomed;
it
must
alight
and
sip
the
nectar;
in
departing
it
must
bear
away
this
pollen
upon
its
body,
and
convey
it
to
the
next
Arethusa
blossom
which
it
visits,
and
leave
it
upon
its
stigma.
These
are
the
conditions
expressed;
and
how
admirably
they
are
fulfilled
we
may
observe
when
we
examine
flower
after
flower
of
a
group,
and
find
their
nectaries
drained,
their
anther
cells
empty,
and
pollen
upon
all
their
stigmas.
The
nectar
is
here
secreted
in
a
well--not
very
deep--and
the
depth
of
this
nectar
from
the
entrance
is
of
great
significance
among
all
the
flowers,
having
distinct
reference
to
the
length
of
the
tongue
which
is
expected
to
sip
it.
In
the
Arethusa,
it
is
true,
the
butterfly
or
moth
might
sip
at
the
throat
of
the
flower,
but
the
long
tongues
of
these
insects
might
permit
the
nectary
to
be
drained
without
bringing
their
bodies
in
contact
with
the
stigma.
Smaller
insects
might
creep
into
the
nectary
and
sip
without
the
intended
fulfilment.
It
is
clear
that
to
neither
of
such
visitors
is
the
welcome
extended.
What,
then,
are
the
conditions
embodied?
The
insect
must
have
a
tongue
of
such
a
length
that,
when
in
the
act
of
sipping,
its
head
must
pass
beyond
the
anther
well
into
the
opening
of
the
flower.
Its
body
must
be
sufficiently
large
to
come
in
contact
with
the
anther.
Such
requisites
are
perfectly
fulfilled
by
the
humblebee,
and
we
may
well
hazard
the
prophecy
that
the
Bombus
is
the
welcomed
affinity
of
the
flower.
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