IMPORTANCE OF THE BEE IN NATURE.

Western Star, Issue 983, 19 September 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

IMPORTANCE OF THE BEE IN NATURE.

If the British nation were to be suddenly blotted out of the world, ihe even tenor of Nature’s ways would be very little disturbed; and, 1 ] whatever tbe political world might do, the natural world would soon go on as smoothly and indifferently as if nothing had happened. But if our little friend the bee were to suddenly cease to exist who shall describe the desolation and confusion which would invade the harmony of nature? How many shy flower-virgins, on the plain and hillside, would droop and pine for her coming ! How many long-pedigreed families in wood and valley, finding life insupportable. would give up the struggle for existence, and become extinct! How would nature herself change her brightest hues and dress herself in sombre colours to mourn our little friend! In these days of popular science it is hardly necessary to make more than passing reference to the part which the bee plays in Nature. In the vegetable world it is a vital necessity that the fertilising pollen from the stamens of certain flowers should be carried to the pistils of other flowers, and the mission of the bee|is to unconsciously carry the precious dust from blossom to blossom in her search after the tempting drop of nectar with which the shy flowerets reward the winged bearer of their love-messages. A wonderful and fascinating chapter in natural history is that which treats of the relations existing between flowers and insects. Flowers may be divided into two classes, those fertilised through the action of the wind, and those in which fertilisation is affected through the intervention of insects or a like agency. Darwin and others have shown what interesting stratagems fliwers of the latter class resort to in order to secure tbe services of insects in this respect. Every little foible and weakness of the winged visitor is pandered to. WRat is commonly called a flower is indeed nothing more than a skilfully devised trap to attract the attention of insects, and then ensure their services towards fertilisation. Our little friend the bee is aesthetic in her tastes, and behold the varieties of flowers vie with each other to beguile her attention in the display'of the most artistic blending of colours and beauty of design. She likes sweet scents, and the laboratory of Nature is called upon to distil the choicest perfumes to humour her. But these are but au advertisement for the nectar which it is the principal object of the bee to obtain, and when she has alighted in search of it, it is only to find that the flowers have in-many cases devised the most exquisite little mechanical arrangements whereby she is unconsciously compelled to affect the object towards the fulfilment of which they have indulged in such a lavish expenditure of beauty and sweetness. It is all affected in ihe simplest manner through the great law of natural selection, here seen in operation in its severe simplicity 5 for the flowers of those plants which present the greatest facilities for fertilisation get their seeds set, and so insure the continnauce of their species, while the unsuitable and unaccommodating kinds remain barren and are gradually weeded out. In’a babel of tongues, and since ffirst he had found a voice, the poet has sung of the loves and sorrows of mankind ; but Nature still awaits for him to interpret her heart. If he ever learns to do so, there will be a new song in his mpubh, for he will have a wonderful theme.— Longman's Maya 1 zine .