Ch. Till.] FLOWERS FERTILIZED BY BIRDS. 



129 



hanging downwards, like an inverted candelabrum. From 

 the centre of the circle of flowers is suspended a number 

 of pitcher-like vessels, which, when the flowers expand, 

 in February and March, are filled with a sweetish liquid. 

 This liquid attracts insects, and the insects numerous 



FLOWER OF MAIICGRAVIA NEPENTHOIDES. 



insectivorous birds, including the species I have men- 

 tioned and many kinds of humming-birds. The flowers 

 are ,so disposed, with the stamens hanging downwards, 

 that the birds, to get at the pitchers, must brush against 

 them, and thus convey the pollen from one plant to 

 another. A second species of Marcgravia that I found 

 in the woods around Santo Domingo has the pitchers 

 placed close to the pedicels of the flowers, so that the 

 birds must approach them from above ; and in this 

 species the flowers are turned upwards, and the pollen is 

 brushed off by the breasts of the birds. In temperate 



K 



