102 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the column, the bee must pass through the same process a second time. 

 On this occasion the pollen is left on the stigma. 



The late Charles Kingsley was often struck by the appearances of 

 ' humour " in nature. Had he known of the " sledge-hammer " action in 



Fig. 19. — Cokyanthes maceantha. 

 For description see text. 



the Salvia and the "cold bath " of Coryanthes he would probably have 

 been further convinced ! 



Adaptation to Humming-bieds. 



Besides insects, humming-birds play an important part in polhnating 

 certain flowers in South America. Fritz Miiller observed them on species 

 of Combretum, Manettia, and Passiflora. Belt, too, describes them in 

 Nicaragua as visiting Marcgravia nepenthoides* " The flowers hang down- 

 wards 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 hquid. 

 This liquid attracts insects, and the insects, in turn, numerous insectivorous 

 birds. The flowers are so disposed with the stamens hanging downwards 

 * Nat. Orel. TernstrcemiacecB ; Naturalist hi Nicaragua, p. 128. 



