248 



HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



successive year a fresh situation for the birthplace of 

 their young. In the third place, we will take that 

 class of birds which never pair, or are polygamous. 

 It is only in one division of our present classification 

 that we can trace those of polygamous habits — in the 

 first section of the Gallinaceous birds. In this ar- 

 rangement we can observe one of the wisest provisions 

 of Nature : the flesh of all these birds forms a whole- 

 some and substantial article of food for man, from 

 the savage in his boundless wilds to the man of civi- 

 lization. But what can keep this demand supplied ? 

 Clear-thinking readers will at once assert that to keep 

 up this supply the birds must multiply quickly : the 

 only way is by polygamy. It is well known how 

 prolific all birds are which, endowed with this 

 peculiar instinct, can propagate their species equal to 

 the demand made upon them. 



In all birds which are polygamous the female alone 

 is intrusted with all care of the eggs or young, and 

 she, through a wise provision of Nature, is made 

 equal to the emergency. The male shows little or no 

 affection for them. From this I would infer that all 

 birds of the Gallinaceous order, with few exceptions, 

 are polygamous. 



I proceed now to give exceptions, which tend 

 greatly to perplex and bewilder the observer in the 

 study of this interesting subject. This matter presents 

 veiy little uniformity in its arrangement. In the 

 Gallinaceous order of birds the first section are poly- 

 gamous in their habits ; but even to this the 

 Grouse form an exception, while the latter section 

 of these birds (the Columbid(x) are decidedly 

 monogamous. 



The House Sparrow returns to its nesting-site, and 

 is thus at variance with its congeners of the same 

 family. The tame duck is polygamous ; but observe 

 its wild representative, the Mallard, which separate 

 into pairs for nidification. The Long-tailed Titmouse 

 never returns to its beautiful abode, while the Blue 

 Titmouse appears annually at its hole in the hollow 

 tree. The Goatsucker annually pairs, while Swal- 

 lows, Swifts, &c., I believe, remain united for life. 

 The Rook I have once obser\'ed practising poly- 

 gamous propensities, a fact perhaps never before 

 recorded. 



Are those birds which pair for life gifted with a 

 greater amount of affection than those which pair 

 every season ? While those who pair every season, as 

 soon as the young are sufficiently matured to take 

 care of themselves, do the ties which previously 

 united them together entirely cease ? Is this peculiar 

 instinct wanting in polygamous birds, and why ? In 

 many species of birds — notably the Natatores and 

 Ardeidcc — it is difficult to say under which of my 

 two first divisions they fall. This subject only tends 

 to show us upon what an intricate foundation the 

 .system of Nature is leased. 



Heeley, near Sheffield. 



THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CROSS- 

 FERTILIZATION IN THE DELPHINIUM. 



THE adaptation in most of the DdpJiininDi to 

 bring about cross-fertilization is perhaps one of 

 the most beautiful Nature has ever planned. To 

 understand it fully, we must know at least some 

 of the generic characters, as we all know ordinal 

 characters are too variable in the peculiar family 

 Raitunctdacecc. Sepals 5, petaloid, unequal, partially 

 cohering at their base ; the posterior one developed 

 into a spur. Petals 2-4, small ; the two upper pro- 

 longed into a pointed spur, enclosed in that of the 

 posterior sepal ; the 2 lateral not spurred, or absent. 

 Stamens numerous. Carpels 1-5, distinct, many- 

 ovuled ; follicular when ripe. 



Fig. 181. Ylowtr oi Deljihininm. a, front petals; i, pistils; 

 c, stamens. 



The structure we are about to refer to is especially 

 present in D. elatum and D. fon/iosiim, and their 

 varieties. After the expansion of the flowers, and the 

 consequent secretion of nectar in the hornlike appen- 

 dages of the two upper petals — where, it is evident, 

 there is sufficient at least for luncheon for a humble- 

 bee, — about four or five of the stamens stand erect, 

 immediately under the two front petals (fig. 185, h) : in 

 this position the anthers dehisce, and expose the 

 pollen. When the anthers have thus discharged their 

 pollen, they shrivel and die, while another set of 

 stamens arise, and fill their positions, until all have 

 had their turn, and all alike droop and die (fig. 181, c, 

 and fig. 182). 



Now, as the two front orlateral petals (fig. iSj,c7, and 

 fig. 182, /;) serve as a good landing-place for the bee, 

 and for which it is admirably adapted, being copiously 

 covered with long hairs, it is obvious enough that the 

 throat and the under part of the bee's body will 

 become dusted with pollen, exposed by the stamens 

 in their erect position, under the landing-stage, where 

 the bee rests while seeking the nectar, and frequently 



