ADAPTATIONS IX ANIMALS AND PLANTS 



45 



Bill, Head, and Feathers oj Ruby-thruaied 



Humming-bird, showing how pollen 



of plants is carried. 



clear distinctness the 

 main facts brought 

 out by the use of a 

 microscope, conse- 

 quently, this instru- 

 ment was brought 

 into use in furthering 

 research. Pollen is 

 carried in several ways 

 by this bird. On the 

 lower mandible, just 

 in front of the angle 

 of the mouth, over- 

 shadowed by the nasal 

 scale when the bill is 

 closed, a faint yellow- 

 ish line usually marks 

 the deposit of pollen 

 grains resting in a 

 small groove, clustered 

 together, as shown in 

 Fig. 5 at point b. 

 Pollen grains work 

 their way free to the 

 summit or vanes of the 

 feathers about where 

 they were seen scat- 

 tered, and, as will be 

 described further on, 

 caught up by the 

 barbs of feathers, 

 along the sides of the 

 chin and lores ready 

 to be deposited when 

 a more suitable sur- 

 face presents. Under 

 the lower bill, as 

 shown in enlarged 

 view. Fig. 1, and also 



