1889.] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



249 



uralist, by E. C. Stearns, which was quoted in the Pop- 

 ular Science Monthly for March, 1888, in which the writer 

 describes the moth-catching propensities of A. albens, a 

 native of Buenos Ay res. I think that all the species of A- 

 raujia are moth catchers. At least one of those that I have 

 collected here is so, of which I had an interesting illustra- 

 tion. This species differs a good deal from A. albens. It 

 bears axillary clusters of fragrant white flowers, the corollas 

 ot which have long segments that are twisted spirally about 

 each other somewhat like the arms of a boy's paper wind- 

 mill. The first time I came across this plant I found a large 

 humming-bird moth imprisoned by a flower, and struggling 

 desperately to get free, but in vain. It had thrust its pro- 

 boscis into the flower in search of honey and was utterly 

 unable to withdraw it, although a very powerful insect, in 

 fact, as large as one of the smaller humming-birds, which it 

 much resembles. I intended to keep the insect in place, 

 dissect the flower, and ascertain fust how it was confined, 

 which I confess I do not understand, notwithstanding the 

 description of Mr. Stearns, but in plucking the flowers I 

 accidentally liberated the moth and so lost the opportunity of 

 investigation. Another species here is a very conspicuous 

 climber, with large, solitary, axillary and fragrant blossoms, 

 and an immense spine-covered fruit almost as large as a 

 cucumber. 



The Bignonias are some of them tall trees, and others 

 climbing plants, usually with showy flowers, very long pods, 

 and winged seeds. They generally blossom late in the year, 

 many of them adorning the forests in the winter season. 

 Nearly every thicket abounds with climbers of various kinds, 

 some of which mount to the tops of the tallest trees, chok- 

 ing and finally killing them with their exuberant growth. 

 Indeed, vegetation here is so prolific that it is difficult to 

 penetrate the thickets without a hatchet or axe in hand. Trees 

 and shrubs, vines and runners, crowd into every available 

 foot of space, and one must wand through them like a fox or 

 a squirrel. The shade within is so great that a person can 

 scarcely pick his way along. Fallen trees obstruct the course at 

 every step, and a road or path unused for six months 

 becomes so covered with new growths and decaying logs that 

 it is impassable. liven traveled highways and railroads have 

 to be cleared almost monthly of the vegetation which con- 

 tantly encroaches upon their borders. 



Nor is this the nnlv difficulty which a botanist experiences 



