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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
102
The
diagrams
(Fig.
4)
sufficiently
illustrate
the
efficacy
of
the
beautiful
plan
involved.
At
A
the
bee
is
seen
sipping
the
nectar.
His
forward
movement
thus
far
to
this
point
has
only
seemed
to
press
the
edge
of
the
anther
inward,
and
thus
keep
it
even
more
effectually
closed.
As
the
bee
retires
(B),
the
backward
motion
opens
the
lid,
and
the
sticky
pollen
is
thus
brought
against
the
insect's
back,
where
it
adheres
in
a
solid
mass.
He
now
flies
to
the
next
Arethusa
blossom,
enters
it
as
before,
and
in
retiring
slides
his
back
against
the
receptive
viscid
stigma,
which
retains
a
portion
of
the
pollen,
and
thus
effects
the
cross-fertilization
(C).
Professor
Gray
surmised
that
the
pollen
was
withdrawn
on
the
insect's
head,
and
it
might
be
so
withdrawn,
but
in
other
allied
orchids
of
the
tribe
Arethusae,
however,
in
which
the
structure
is
very
similar,
the
pollen
is
deposited
on
the
thorax,
and
such
is
probably
the
fact
in
this
species.
In
either
case
cross-fertilization
would
be
effected.
Nothing
else
is
possible
in
the
flower,
and
whether
it
is
Bombus
or
not
that
effects
it,
the
method
is
sufficiently
evident.
Having
thus
had
one
initiation
into
this
most
enticing
realm
of
riddles,
each
successive
orchid
whose
structure
we
examine
from
this
stand-point
becomes
a
most
interesting,
perhaps
a
fresh,
problem,
whose
assumed
solution
may
often
be
verified
by
studying
the
insect
in
its
haunts.
Darwin
thus
foretold
the
precise
manner
of
the
cross-fertilization
of
Habenaria
mascula,
and
also
the
insect
agent,
simply
by
the
structural
prophecy
of
the
flower
itself.
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