. Nature sketches in temperate America, a series of sketches and a popular account of insects, birds, and plants, treated from some aspects of their evolution and ecological relations . den mole have been adapted and perfected toa particular kind of environment, of tunnelling under theground. While the conditions under which organisms of a specializedtype remain the same, the species may be able to maintainthemselves, but it is readily seen that extermination wouldlikely follow any radical changes in the environment. Plant Adaptations In the dispersal of seeds of plants many contrivances haveb
. Nature sketches in temperate America, a series of sketches and a popular account of insects, birds, and plants, treated from some aspects of their evolution and ecological relations . den mole have been adapted and perfected toa particular kind of environment, of tunnelling under theground. While the conditions under which organisms of a specializedtype remain the same, the species may be able to maintainthemselves, but it is readily seen that extermination wouldlikely follow any radical changes in the environment. Plant Adaptations In the dispersal of seeds of plants many contrivances havebecome specialized to assist in carrying them to places favor-able to their germination and growth. The winged seeds ofthe maple and elm, the small, downy, and paraclmte-Hkestructure of the milkweed and wild lettuce, present broadsurfaces to the wind by which the seed is carried are provided with hooks, such as the burdock, andoften become attached to the fur of animals. Again, thereare many hard seeds that are contained in eatable fruitswhich are devoured by birds and mammals, and pass through • Post-Darwinian questions in Darwin and After Darwin, Part III, p. Plant and Insect Association of the Meadoav in Seitember Till hliizing star {Lachiaria spicata) xcith its insect visitors, the hiittcrjiy \Argj/iiiiis bellona), and the clear-iting moth (Hemaris ). From a photograp!! ADAPTATIONS IN ANIMALS AND PLANTS 29 their bodies unaffected. These seeds are favored in theirgermination by the heat and moisture to which they have beensubjected, and perhaps later derive nourishment from theexcreta passed with them. The fruits bearing the seeds oftenpossess bright colors as they ripen and ane charged with agree-ably tasting juices which render them edible to of these fruits are poisonous to some animals, butharmless to others. The bright orange mountain-ash berries aremuch enjoyed by the common waxwing; the black elderberriesare consumed by sever
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectins
