::::::::3g THE TROPICS 3^:::::::: 



The delicate-stemmed Trumpet-Traps twined and 

 twisted their way high overhead and hung in festoons 

 about us. The vine had rounded, heart-shaped leaves, 

 and the long tubular flowers were of a dull yellowish 

 hue, reminding one in their shape somewhat of minia- 

 ture Jack-in-the-Pulpit spathes. These flowers were 

 indeed tiny, compared to the blossoms of certain South 

 American species of this group, which are so large 

 that native children slip them over their heads, like 

 caps with tall, pointed crowns. 



After a little patient watching and a little dissection 

 of blossoms, we learned much of the interesting life 

 history of this vine, and we later verified the signi- 

 ficance of the details in Kerner's '' Natural History of 

 Plants." One thing became apparent at the outset ; 

 namely, that the black flies had at least one other mis- 

 sion in life besides that of trying, for a short time 

 morning and evening, to penetrate our head-nets. The 

 little rounded lobe at the entrance of the Trumpet-Trap 

 flower is like a doorstep, forming a convenient and 

 safe alighting-place for any small fly or insect which 

 may be attracted by the odour from within. 



Let us follow the adventures of one of these trouble- 

 some black midges, which, for all we could see, were 

 blood brothers to those of the Canadian backwoods. 

 Our midge alights on the lobe of the Trumpet-Trap 

 flower, which is just opened and as yet unfertilized. 

 The little fellow twiddles his antennae ecstatically, as 



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