The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-07-10

NY kurneu upside down,
Is anle TO run quite as well In that fashion as
m It's ordinary position. The advantages Of such
m equipment will readily be appreciated by
anoSe VINO have witnessed the awkward efforts
OF other species OF crabs, turtles and various
Kinds OF bugs to right propel themselves when
Tying On theR backs.
Another remarkable example OF typical racial
Neatures is found in the earbone OF fnback
whale which was picked up Norway beach.
M has all the features OF a Scandinavian face,
rf low caste. with rounded cheek bones fiat nose
bridge, small upper lip and receding Jaw In
general appearance, however, the face Is
NIKE a death mask than that OF a living person.
That this was not freak formation Is proved by
I'D examination of the ear-bones OF other flnback
whales nj the Smithsonian institution in Wash
angton, all of which have substantially the same
Gorm.
IN the plant kingdom natures limitations are
~quaIly astonishing and much more numerous
Nhan In either the animal or vegetable kingdoms
There several species OF orchids, for instance
Bearing popular names which suggest the likeness
OF the flower 10 some member OF the animal
Aingdom, among them being the man orchid, the
Nee orchid the spider orchid the lizard orchid.
and ths holy ghost orchid. While II is true that
Dome OF tho supposed hkenesses are more or less
imaginative, others are wonderfully distinct and
viii bear close scrutiny. This is particularly true
of tho holy ghost orchid, which contains within
each OF IT'S blossoms pigeon with nalf spread
wings. II is necessary to view the blossom from
nuuarely I'm 'front.' as in the case OF the lower
hlpssom shown In the accompanying photograph,
40 get the full effect of the resemblance. When
viewed from this position, the bird is so perfect
mint n looks as II ready to take fight. The plant
which Is a native OF the 1sthmus OF Panama, Is
very rare. there being perhaps not more than
Nnn a dozen specimens In the United States, In
scluding two in the greenhouses OF the White
HOUSE at Washington. II grows sturdily but, In
srder TO thrive, has to be kept IN a hothouse
WITH the temperature OF Turkish bath.
IN all OF the instances referred to above the
yesgmbasnce is mainly due to the lip OF labellum
sf the bloom Now orchids rank admittedly
among the most highly specialized flowers, while
ahefr extraordinary notifications are the result
hrpeay n not entirely of insect interference.
Many OF these flowers depend entirely upon the
VISITS of insects for pollinaton, and without the
aid Of these winged emissaries OF Cupid they are
cutie Unable to get seed. The labellum is the
secpgrized alighting platform upon which the in
sect stands while II probes the recesses OF the
auwcr IN search OF nectar; and orchids are
90 closely associated with insects. We must as
surne that the special shape OF the labeum In
zach instance is more less definitely related to
1be convenience of the guests that are specially
catered for by the flower in question. In certain
instances this is actually known to be the case
ybrouehout the great orchid family the abellum
lsxhJbfts an almost endless variety OF conhgura
Du~ and we are justified In the assumption that
~>rA form is exactly adapted TO attract, or up
2pAa a particular kind Of insect