Chapter V: Part 5

Almost any bee which we may catch at random upon a milkweed gives perfect evidence of his surroundings, its toes being decorated with the tiny yellow tags, each successive flower giving and taking, exchanging compliments, as it were, with his fellows. Ordinarily this fringe can hardly prove more than an embarrassment; but we may frequently discern an individual here and there which for some reason has received more than his share of the milkweed's compliments. His legs are conspicuously fringed with the yellow tags. He rests with a discouraged air upon a neighboring leaf, while honey, and even wings, are seemingly forgotten in his efforts to scrape off the cumbersome handicap.

An interesting incident, apropos of our embarrassed bee, was narrated to me by the late Alphonso Wood, the noted botanist. He had received by mail from California a small box containing a hundred or more dead bees, accompanied by a letter. The writer, an old bee-keeper, had experience, and desired enlightenment and advice. The letter stated that his bees were "dying by thousands from the attacks of a peculiar fungus." The ground around the hive was littered with the victims in all stages of helplessness, and the dead insects were found everywhere at greater distances scattered around his premises. It needed only a casual glance at the encumbered insects to see the nature of the malady. They were laden two or three pairs deep, as it were, with the pollen masses of a milkweed. The botanist wrote immediately to his anxious correspondent, informing him, and suggesting as a remedy the discovery and destruction of the mischievous plants, which must be thriving somewhere in his neighborhood. A subsequent letter conveyed the thanks of the bee-keeper, stating that the milkweeds--a whole field of them--had been found and destroyed, and the trouble had immediately ceased. I am not aware that Mr. Wood ever ascertained the particular species of milkweed in this case. It is not probable that our Eastern species need ever seriously threaten the apiary, though unquestionably large numbers of bees are annually destroyed by its excessive hospitality. I have repeatedly found honey-bees dead beneath the plants, and my cabinet shows a specimen of a large bumblebee which had succumbed to its pollen burden, its feet, and even the hairs upon its body, being fringed deep with the tiny clubs--one of the many specimens which I have discovered as the "grist in the mill" of that wise spider which usually spreads his catch-all beneath the milkweeds.

* * * * *

Allied to the milkweed is another plant, the dogbane (_Apocynum_), which has a similar trick of entrapping its insect friends. Its drooping, fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers and long slender pods will help to recall it. But its method of capture is somewhat similar to the milkweed. The anthers are divided by a V-shaped cavity, into which the insect's tongue is guided as it is withdrawn from the flower, and into which it often becomes so tightly wedged as to render escape impossible. I have found small moths dangling by the tongue, as seen in the illustration below.

INDEX

Agalena, house-spider, 7.

Alypia, grape-vine-moth, 160.

Andromeda (_A. ligustrina_),
singular greeting to the bee, 126;
interior arrangement of flower, 128;
release of the pollen, 129.

Angræcum, orchid of Madagascar, with nectary eleven inches long, 219.

Ants,
herding the aphides, 166;
a model honey-farm, 167.

"Ant-holes," 61.

Aphides, plant-lice,
founders of the feast, 165;
herded by ants, 167.

_Apocynum_, dogbane, 236.

_Aprophora_, spume-bearer, 82.

_Arethusa bulbosa_, orchid, 175.

_Argiope_, field spider, 8.

Aristolochias, 119.

Aristotle, 23.

Arum, wild:
--Position of the anthers, 141;
progressive stages of change, 142.

_Asclepias cornuta_, milkweed, 227.

_Asilus_, "robber-fly", 8.

Axell, a follower of Darwin, 116.

Bees:
--The drone of, 5;
a counterpart of clover; dependence of clover on, 117;
manner of approach, 121;
black-and-white banded, 126;
approach to the blue-flag, 131;
experiment with the bumblebee, 209;
his escape from the flower, 210;
manner of cross-fertilizing, 212;
manner of conveying the pollen, 218;
his difficulties with the milkweed flower, 233;
the cumbersome handicap, 234;
destroyed by the milkweed, 235.

Beetles (_Cicindela_), tiger, 68.

Birds:
--Swifts, 5;
robin, 5;
vireo, 5, 45;
indigo, 5;
chat, 5, 40;
oriole, 5, 32;
red-headed chippy; barn-swallow, 6, 28, 39, 40;
cuckoo, 23;
"kow-bird"; cow black-bird; bunting, 27;
song-sparrow, 30, 40;
Maryland yellow-throat, 28, 45;
Wilson's thrush; chewink, 32;
fly-catcher; bluebird; oven-bird; cat-bird; phoebe, 40;
bobolink; "reed-bird," 53;
humming, 227.

Birds' nests:
--Flimsy structure of the cuckoo's, 26;
song-sparrow's, 30;
oriole's swinging hammock; cobweb structure of the vireo's, 32;
size of yellow-bird's; summer yellow-bird's beautiful home, 47;
a four-story house, a possible fashion in featherdom, 51;
pipit's, 35;
wood-sparrow's, 37.

Bittersweet (_Celastrus scandens_), queer little harlequins on, 9;
its scarlet-coated seeds, 88.

Blackburn, Mrs., quoted, 35.

Blair, Patrick, his claims concerning pollen, 111.

Blossom ceremonies, 119.

Blue-flag,
its hidden anthers reached only by the bumblebee or large fly,129;
manner of the bee's approach, 131.

Burroughs on wren-building, 17.

Butterflies:
--Great yellow swallow-tail (_Papilio turnus_); red admiral
(_Pyrameis Atlanta_); small yellow (_Philodice_); semicolon
(_Grapta interrogationis_); comma (_Vanessa comma_), 153;
orange; white (_Aphrodite_), 154;
white cabbage (_Pontia oleracea_) 153.

_Cactus_, prickly-pear, its golden bower, 118.

_Collinsonia_, horse-balm, 136.

Caterpillars, 10, 14, 15, 62.

_Celastrus scandens_, bittersweet, 88.

_Chamælirium luteum_, devil's-bit, 133.

Chipmonk, 6.

Cicada,
victim of the sand-hornet, 77;
manner of depositing its eggs; period of transformation, 97;
time of hatching, 100.

Cicindela, tiger-beetle, 68.

Clover, cause of failure of crop in Australia, 117.

Cobwebs:
--A dusty prize; a two year's span, 7;
a mixed assortment in, 8.

Cone-flower (_Rudbeckia hirta_), 138;
embryo seeds; arrangement of the anthers, 139.

Cow black-bird, 27;
his favorite perch; old dame's theory, 28;
an unwelcome intruder, 30;
a prowling foe, 31.

Cow-bird:
--Ravenous young parasite, 31;
a clamoring lubber, 37;
"Black Douglas" of the bird-home, 38;
selected victims, 39;
distribution of its eggs; vicious habits, 40;
egg-laying intervals; demoralizing conditions; American species
an improvement, 41;
survival of the fittest, 42;
balance of power, 44;
outwitted, 51;
massing for migration, 52.

"Cow-spit," 80.

Cross-fertilization, 115, 122, 178, 189, 194.

"Cuckoo-spit," 80.

Cuckoos:
--Poetic misnomer, 23;
outrage on maternal affection; yellow-billed; black-billed;
imagination versus facts, 25;
bad workmanship of nest, 26;
its stammering cry, 27;
manner of depositing its eggs; handling the egg with her bill, 33;
short period of incubation; voracious appetite of the young;
aggressive selfishness, 34;
the tragedy of the nest, 35;
manner of disposing of its nest-mates, 36.

_Cypripedium acaule_, moccasin-flower; ladies'-slipper;
Venus's-slipper, 205.

Darwin:
--Process of anatomical evolution, 35;
theory of cross-fertilization, 105;
inspired insight, 115;
his disciples, 116;
experiments with pollen, 126;
weakness of self-fertilizing flowers, 144;
triumphant revelation, 171;
reaffirming Sprengel's theory, 178;
a chosen interpreter, 181;
dependence on insects, 183;
revealing the hidden treasure, 185;
foretelling the manner of cross-fertilization, 189;
description of the cross-fertilization, 209;
bees as implied fertilizers, 212;
truth of his belief, 220.

Darning-needle, dragon-fly (_Libellulidæ_), 156;
his dainty morsel, 160.

Delpino, a follower of Darwin, 116.

_Desmodium_, its hospitable welcome, 118.

Devil's-bit (_Chamælirium luteum_), 133.

Digger wasp,
its color and wire-like waist, 72;
manner of working, 74;
covering its tracks; opening the tomb, 76;
living food for the young grub, 77;
its remarkable carrying power, 78.

Dogbane (Apocynum),
its fragrant, bell-shaped flowers, 236;
trapping moths, 237.

Dogwood, 5.

Door-Step Neighbors:
--Chronicle of a day, 58;
disappearing holes, 59, 16;
"ant-holes"; a danger signal; an unhealthy court, 61;
a transformation, 62;
an experiment; method of excavation, 63;
a stalwart worker, 64;
an uncouth nondescript; spider-like legs, 66;
crawls on his back, 67;
a tiny black wasp; a spider-catcher, 69;
resting on her wings; inspecting her burrow, 70;
manner of burying her prey; skilful workmanship, 71;
a new-comer; her wire-like waist; digging her tunnel, 72;
manner of working; sound of labor, 74;
covering her tracks; opening the tomb, 76;
fresh living food, 77;
carrying seven times its weight; peculiar features of stone-piling, 78;
color of the wasp, 79;
the spume-bearer, 81;
nomadic blossoms; a sack bearer, 83;
winter quarters, 84.

Epeira, field spider, 8.

Epiphytes, air-plants, 181.

Evening primrose, its golden necklace, 118.

"Fertilization of Flowers," 116;
wrong theory, 114.

Fertilization of orchids, 105, 183.

Flies:
--Robber, 8;
bluebottle, 8;
harvest ichneumon, 45, 77, 96.

Foxes, wild gambols of, 6.

Froghopper. See Spume-bearer (_Aprophora_), 82.

Gärtner, recognizing the theory of cross-fertilization, 115.

Genesta, its reception of insects, 118.

Geranium, wild (_G. sylvaticum_), 112.

Gilbert, concerning cuckoo's eggs, 25.

"Gobs," 80.

Gray, Asa:
--Demonstration concerning orchids, 184;
surmise concerning the withdrawal of pollen, 188;
orchid structure, 190.

Grew, Nehemias, discovery concerning pollen, 110;
discoveries about pollen, 113;
first step in progress, 116.

Habenaria flava:
--Yellow-spiked, 203;
_H. lacera_, ragged, 200;
_H. orbicularis_, showy, 194, 199;
_H. psycodes_, purple-fringed, 200;
_H. mascula_, 189.

Heath, its distinguishing characteristics, 123.

_Hemiptera_, bugs with sucking beaks, 81.

Herbert:
--A follower of Sprengel, 108;
recognizing the principle of cross-fertilization, 115.

"Honey-dew Picnic":
--Gathering of the clans, 153;
a selected spot, 154;
a motley assemblage, 155;
an outlaw, 157;
a finish fight, 158;
funeral baked meats, 164;
gathering his grist;
the founder of the feast, 158.

Honey-guides, 112, 129.

Hornets:
--Its heavy load, 9;
on the watch, 15;
"solitary," 17;
queer home of, 18;
great sand, 77;
black paper, 161.

Horse-balm (_Collinsonia_), its singular shape, 136;
manner of bee's approach to, 138.

Huber:
--On insect slavery, 151;
on the cultivation of the aphides, 166.

Insect Fertilization, 115.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit, detaining its guests, 119.

Jardine, Sir William, concerning cuckoo's eggs, 32.

Jenner, Dr., habits of the young cuckoo, 35.

Knight, Andrew:
--On the divination of flowers, 108;
theory of cross-fertilization, 115.

Köhlreuter:
--Recognizing Sprengel's principles, 108;
a botanical pioneer, 115.

Krunitz, on flower honey, 111.

Labiates, flowers with lips, 122.

Ladies'-tresses (_Spiranthes_), 218.

Larva:
--Hornet, 16;
"puss-moth," 76;
psychid, 83.

Linnæus:
--Settling the theory of fertilization, 110;
puzzled as to the function of honey, 111;
a second step, 116;
imperfect knowledge of the orchid, 173.

Logan, concerning the cuckoo, 23.

Lubbock:
--On the divination of flowers, 108;
follower of Darwin, 116;
on the cultivation of aphides, 166.

Martial Spirit of Vespa, 19.

_Membracis binotata_, insect with a sharp beak, a tree-hopper, 91.

Milkweed:
--Its matchless hospitality;
purple pompons;
its five horns, 227;
its one mission;
the humming-bird its friend, 228;
complex mechanism;
enticing fragrance;
removal of pollen on insects' legs, 229;
four captives, 230;
its honey trap;
its tenacious grip, 233;
an assortment of victims;
cumbersome handicap, 234;
a wholesale destroyer, 235.

Mint family, 122.

_Mnio-tiltidæ_, summer yellow-bird, 47.

Moccasin-flower (_Cypripedium acaule_), 205.

Moths:
--Twilight;
sphinx, 118, 190, 220;
grape-vine, 160.

Mountain laurel:
--Showers of pollen of;
curious construction of flower of;
withers if brought indoors, 124;
character of the pollen, 125.

Mouse, motley collection of food of;
mischief of, 7.

Müller, Hermann:
--On the divination of flowers, 108;
on defective observation, 114;
the relations between the flower and insect, 116;
on fertilization, 142

Nature's Equilibrium, 39.

Natural observation, 57.

Nomadic blossoms, 83.

Orchids:
--Dependence on insects, 144;
strange mechanical adaptation;
sweet-pogonia;
perfume suggesting raspberries, 145;
intention of the blossom, 146;
adaptation for insects, 147;
its fragrance a perfumed whisper of welcome, 148;
a contrast, 172;
form of invitation, 173;
insect complement, 174;
Arethusa bulbosa, 175;
theories concerning the conveyance of the pollen, 176;
the most highly specialized form of flowers, 180;
distinguished by its structure;
American varieties not air-plants;
form of flower, 181;
elasticity of the pollen of the _Spectabilis_, 182;
self-fertilizing, 183;
American and exotic species, 184;
Arethusa's fragrance, 185;
its structure, 186;
significant depth of nectar wells;
conditions demanded of insects, 187;
Gray's surmise, 188;
sphinx-moth its only complement, 190;
manner of carrying the pollen by sphinx-moth, 193;
extracting the pollen with a pencil;
length of the nectary, 196;
purple-fringed, 198;
ragged, 200;
very exceptional provision, 201;
yellow-spiked, 203;
moccasin-flower;
ladies'-slipper;
Venus's-slipper;
the color of, 205;
distinctive character of, 206;
practical experiment, 209;
imprisonment of the bee;
manner of its release, 210;
rattlesnake-plantain, 213;
Angræcum, its long nectary, 219;
tongue of a sphinx-moth eleven inches long, 220;
nectary thirteen inches long, 223.

"Origin of Species":
--First important presentation of the theory of
cross-fertilization, 105;
tardy appreciation of the work, 115.

_Odynerus flavipes_, wren-wasp, 10.

Ovid, concerning hornets, 18.

Parallels in Nature, 152.

Platanthera, orchid group, 192.

Pliny, 23.

_Pogonia ophioglossoides_, sweet-pogonia, 145.

Polistes, brown wasp, 161.

Primrose, evening, 118.

Psychid:
--A sack-bearer; drags its house with it; feeds on seed-pods, 83;
winter quarters of silk, 84.

Queer Little Family:
--Tree-hopper (_Membracis binotata_); a singular entertainment;
graceful curves, 87;
a branch in masquerade; queer thorns, 88;
a sudden disappearance; animated thorns; like a covey of quails, 89;
like "Bob White," 90;
singular agility; queer anatomy; always ready for flight, 91;
fondness for locust and oak-trees, simulating the color and character
of the branches, 92;
manner of sitting on the branches, 93;
always headed towards the top; tiny tufts of cotton, 94;
color and size of the tufts; a mere frothy shell; a riddle, 95;
its relations, 96;
an investigation, 97;
its technique, 98;
aërated cement; froth-house builder, 99;
period of hatching, 100;
a house for the winter; not a wanderer, 101.

Ragged Orchid (_H. lacera_), 200.

"Rattlesnake-plantain," 213.

_Rudbeckia hirta_, cone-flower, 138.

Sage (_Salvia officinalis_), strange curved stamen, 119;
nature's arrangement, 112.

Salvia, its welcome to the bee, 117.

Self-fertilization, 141.

Sheep-spit, 80.

Showy orchid (_H. orbicularis_),194.

Snorting war-horse, 18.

Solitude, the pleasures of, 3.

"Solomon's ant," 152.

Spectabilis, orchid, 182;
its favorite haunt, 195.

Spiders, _agalena_, _epeira_, _argiope_, 8;
a two years' span, 7;
a silken vortex;
miscellaneous food, 8.

_Spiranthes_, "Lady's-tresses," 218.

Sprengel, Christian Conrad:
--Inspiration from the wild geranium, 108;
on the mystery of color, 112;
theory of fertilization;
a poser to Linnæus, 113;
his wrong theory, 114;
divining half the truth, 176;
assumption disproved, 178.

Spume-bearer (_Aprophora_), its domicile of suds;
wonderful power of jumping, 82.

Starling, dispossessing woodpecker from nest, 43.

Studio Company:
--"Tumultuous privacy"; contested territory; snickering squirrels, 4;
selected food; unsymmetrical carpentry; drone of bees; carol of birds;
flurry of swifts; accompaniments to my toil, 5;
wild fox; pet chipmonk; pet toad; his lightning tongue;
home in a bowl, 6;
an old friend, 9.

Summer yellow-bird (_Mnio-tiltidæ_), 47.

Sweet-pogonia (_P. ophioglossoides_), 145.

Swift, Jonathan, on parasites, 44.

Tennyson, quoted, 24.

"The Secrets of Nature in Forms and Fertilization of Flowers Discovered,"
Sprengel's work, 113.

Thévenot, concerning the thrift of insects, 152.

Tiger-beetle (_Cicindela_), 68.

Toads, 6.

Toad-spit, 80.

Tree-hopper, 93.

Venus's-slipper (Cypripedium acaule), 205.

Vireo, abandons its nest, 45.

Wasps:
--Wren, 10;
microscopic, 45;
tiny black, 69;
digger, 72, 162;
orange-spotted, 79;
brown; mud, 161.

"Waxwork" bittersweet (_Celastrus scandens_), 88.

Welcome of the flowers:
--The function of the stamen, 106;
difference in cells, 107;
condition of the flower, 108;
physiological features; recognition of sex in flowers, 109;
exchange of courtesies; each flower a law unto itself, 117;
action of "jack-in-the-pulpit"; cypripedium and aristolochias;
peculiarity of the sage, 119;
queer stamens; nature's arrangement, 121;
cross-fertilization insured, 122;
showers of laurel pollen; curious construction of flower, 124;
singular greeting to the bee, 126;
remarkable interior arrangement of the Andromeda, 128;
hidden anthers of the blue-flag, 129;
intercommunication and reciprocity, 135.

Wild geranium (_G. sylvaticum_), 112.

Wild volapük, 4.

Wilson, cow-bird's eggs, 33.

Wind as a fertilizing agent, 154.

White, Gilbert, cuckoo's eggs, 32;
rich localities, 58.

Wood, Alphonso:
--On tubercles, 203;
on embarrassed bees, 235.

Woodchucks, 5.

Wren-wasp (_Odynerus flavipes_):
--A cumbersome prize, 10;
selecting a home; way stations; a second instalment, 11;
very familiar, 12;
a well-stocked home, 13;
impotent anæsthetic, 14;
manner of catching her prey; a hypodermic injection, 15;
food on storage; closing the cell after depositing egg, 16;
living food; preference for ready-made houses; resemblance to
the yellow-jacket, 17.

Zenarchus, concerning the cicada, 96.

THE END

WILLIAM HAMILTON GIBSON'S WORKS.

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