The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

RELATIONS OF ORGANISMS. 175head is pressed into the core of this flowerthe pollen is deposited, and provision for fertilizationis complete. Special features appearingin certain classes of the orchids illustrateBow it is possible for the bee so ladento visit many flowers without depositing thepollen, yet a little later accomplish the objectquite simply. The following illustration fromMr. Darwin's account of the first orchid selected,will suffice. Just a6ove the entranceto the honey store, lies a pouch connectedwith the pollen store. As the head of thebee is pressed down towards the honey, thispouch is burst open, and from it issues a littlesticky gland or disc, or it may be two ofthese discs. These adhere at once to the headof the bee, and being connected by a slightband with packets of pollen grains so soon asthe animal retires the pollen is drawn with it,standing out like a seed vessel on the head.The strangest part of the contrivance appearsin what thereafter follows. " The viscid matterhas the peculiar chemical quality, of settinglike cement, hard and dry in a few minutes."Suppose both the little viscid ballshave been withdrawn, the bands bearing thepollen will appear "projecting up like horns."