THE FOREST 189 



of the hummingbird was evolved in order to 

 reach the nectar in these long-throated flowers, antl 

 that the flower was evolved so that the huniiiiing- 

 bird or insect in feeding on these nectaries should 

 bear pollen from one flower to another and thus 

 cross-fertilize them. Each species works for its 

 own good. It is not altruistic. 



The hummingbirds at Ipswich have, however, 

 taken an unfair advantage of my hospitality in 

 planting these vines and a still more unfair ad- 

 vantage of the vines. Instead of drinkin;^^ the 

 nectar through their slender bills inserted into the 

 long tubes of the flowers, they have grievously 

 punctured and slit the tubes and thus made a 

 short cut to their food. Sometimes I am unable 

 to find a perfect flower — all are damaged. Such 

 actions are, as far as I know, most unusual.^ Is 

 it possible that an over efficient hummingbird 

 has discovered and perhaps taught others this 

 reprehensible practice at my farm*? This ojn'ns 

 up a wide held of conjecture. Let us suppose 



^I have recently read that the flowers of the tree-daturas 

 in Ecuador are cross-fertilized by a hummingbird with a loni: 

 bill, but that shorter-billed species rupture the corolla tubes 

 from without. 



