100 The Naturalist in Nicaragua 
Cass.); another, shining green, with black head (Chloro- 
phanes guatemalensis); and a third, beautiful black, blue, 
and yellow, with yellow head (Calliste larvata, Du Bus.). 
These and many others were certain to be found where the 
climbing Marcgravia nepenthoides expanded its curious 
flowers. The flowers of this lofty climber are disposed in a 
circle, 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 
FLOWER OF MARCGRAVIA NEPENTHOIDES 
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. In temperate latitudes we find 
many flowers fertilised by insects, attracted by honey-bearing 
