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

RELATIONS OF ORGANISMS. 191his observations being given by Sir JohnLubbock."' The conclusion reached as to theutility of these contrivances for exclusion ofcreeping insects, is that they perform an auxiliarypart in the general plan for fertilizationwhich has been described. To allow the storeof honey to go to the ants would be merely tofeed them without any equivalent advantageto the flowers. To diminish the supply in thisway, might cause the bees to abandon manyflowers, and so greatly diminish fertilization.This would ultimately lead to short supplies,and probable extinction of several orders ofplants and animals, and accordingly these contrivancesto'hinder the access of ants, must beadded to those for facilitating the approachof bees, and other flying insects, affordingfurtl~er evidence of the adjustment of rivalinterests involved in the relations of the vegetableand animal kingdoms. The serriedspikes are a phalanx of bayonets planted forresistance of an advancing foe.Contemplating now the ants as in some respectsan excluded race, which with a largeshare of pugnacity can not find a basis of operations for contending against the bees, we* Scient@c Lectures, p. 36.