Chap. VI] 



ANIMALS 



121 



(Calliste larvata, Du Bus.). These and many others were certain to be found 

 where the climbing Marcgravia umbellata expanded its curious flowers (Fig. 

 61). The flowers of this lofty climber are disposed in a circle, hanging down- 

 wards, 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 insectivorous birds, including the species I 

 have mentioned 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.' 

 The ornithophily of a 

 species of Erythrina 

 was also established 

 by Belt : . . . ' Many 

 flowers, like the Marc- 

 gravia, are specially 

 adapted to secure the 

 aid of small birds, par- 

 ticularly humming- 

 birds, for this pur- 

 pose. Amongst these, 

 the " palosabre," a 

 species of Erythrina, 

 a small tree, bearing 

 red flowers, that 

 grew in this valley, 

 near the brook, 



often drew my attention. The tree blooms in February, and is at the 

 time leafless, so that the large red flowers are seen from a great distance. 

 Each flower consists of a single long, rather fleshy petal, doubled over, flattened, 

 and closed, excepting a small opening on one edge, where the stamens protrude. 

 Only minute insects can find access to the flower, which secretes at the base a 

 honey-like fluid. Two long-billed humming-birds frequent it; one (Heliomaster 

 pallidiceps, Gould), which I have already mentioned, is rather rare; the other 

 (Phaethornis longirostris, De Latt.) might be seen at any time when the tree was 

 in bloom, by watching near it for a few minutes.' 



Since Belt's classical description and the unfortunately very short 



Fig. 6i. Marcgravia umbellata. Inflorescence adapted for pollination 

 by humming-birds. Natural size. After Flora Brasiliensis. 



