The naturalist in Nicaragua : a narrative of a residence at the gold mines of Chontales; journeys in the savannahs and forests; with observations on animals and plants in reference to the theory of evolution of living forms . often be found, one greenwith red head [Calliste lavinicB, Cass.); another, shin-ing green, with black head {Chlorophanes guatema-Icnsis); and a third, beautiful black, blue, and yellow,with yellow head (CaUistc larvata, Du Bus.). These andmany others were certain to be found where the climb-ing Marcgravia ncpcntlwidcs expanded its curious flowers of this loft
The naturalist in Nicaragua : a narrative of a residence at the gold mines of Chontales; journeys in the savannahs and forests; with observations on animals and plants in reference to the theory of evolution of living forms . often be found, one greenwith red head [Calliste lavinicB, Cass.); another, shin-ing green, with black head {Chlorophanes guatema-Icnsis); and a third, beautiful black, blue, and yellow,with yellow head (CaUistc larvata, Du Bus.). These andmany others were certain to be found where the climb-ing Marcgravia ncpcntlwidcs expanded its curious flowers of this lofty climber are disposed in a circle,hanging downwards, like an inverted candelabrum. Fromthe centre of the circle of flowers is suspended a number Ch. VIII ] FLOWERS FERTILISED BY BIRDS. 129 of pitclier-like vessels, whicli, when the flowers expand,in February and March, are filled with a sweetish liquid attracts insects, and the insects numerousinsectivorous birds, including the species I have men-tioned and many kinds of humming-birds. The flowersare so disposed, with the stamens hanging downwards,that the birds, to get at the pitchers, must brush againstthem, and thus convey the pollen from one plant to. FLOWER OF MARCGRAVIA NEPENTHOIDES. another. A second species of Marcgravia that I foundin the woods around Santo Domingo has the pitchersplaced close to the pedicels of the flowers, so that thebirds must approach them from above; and in thisspecies the flowers are turned upwards, and the pollenis brushed off by the breasts of the birds. In temperatelatitudes we find many flowers fertilised by insects,attracted by honey-bearing nectaries; and in tropical I I30 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. VIII. America not only bees, motlis, and other large insectscarry the pollen from one flower to another, but manyflowers, like the Marcgravia, are specially adapted tosecure the aid of small birds, particularly humming-birds,for this purpose. Amongst these, the palosabre, asp
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
