A FEW NATIVE ORCHIDS 



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. ii). 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- 

 ins; of the flowers, over 

 which the insect flutters 

 indiscriminately, the ap- 

 proach is oftenest made 

 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 and the pollen mass is withdrawn.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 



iMg H 



