A FEW NATIVE ORCHIDS 



I 99 



whose dense cylindrical spikes of plumy blossoms 

 occasionally empurple whole marshes, we have an 

 arrangement quite similar to the H, orbicularis 

 just described, with the exception that the pollen- 

 pouches are almost parallel, and not noticeably 

 spread at the base (Fig. n). In this case the 

 eyes of sipping butterflies occasionally get their 

 decoration of a tiny golden club, but more fre- 

 quently their tongues. 



If, however, the butterfly should approach di- 

 rectly in front of the flower, as in a larger blossom 

 he would be most apt to do, he might sip the nec- 

 tar indefinitely and with- 

 draw his tongue without 

 bringing it in contact with 

 the viscid pollen discs. 

 But in the dense crowd- 

 ing of the flowers, over 

 which the insect flutters 

 indiscriminately, the ap- 

 proach is oftenest made Fi%r IX 

 obliquely, and thus the 



tongue brushes the disc on the side approached, 

 and the pollen mass is withdrawn. But an exam- 

 ination of this orchid affords no pronounced evi- 

 dence of any specific intention. There is no un- 

 mistakable sign to demonstrate which approach is 



