Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-07-09

1t is able TO run quite well in that fashion as
In Its ordinary position. The advantages of such
an equipment will readily be appreciated by
those who have witnessed the awkward efforts
of other species of crabs turtles and various
kinds of bugs to right propel themselves when
lying on their backs.
Another remarkable example of typical racial
features is found in the earbone of a fnback
whale which picked up Norway beach.
It has all the features of a Scandinavian face,
of low caste with rounded cheek bones, fiat nose
bridge, small upper lip and recedng jaw. In
general appearance, however, the face is
like a death mask than that of living person.
That this not freak formation Is proved by
an examination of the ear-bones of other finback
whales at the Smithsonian institution in Wash
ington all of which have substantially the same
form
In the plant kingdom natures limitations
equally astonishing and much more numerous
than in either the animal or vegetable Kingdoms.
There are several species of orchids for instance,
bearing popular names which suggest the likeness
of the flower to some member Of the animal
Kingdom, among them being the man orchid, the
bee orchid the spider orchid the lizard orchid,
and the holy ghost orchid While it is true that
some Of the supposed kenesses more or less
Imaginative others are wonderfully distinct and
will bear close scrutiny This is particularly true
of the holy ghost orchid, which contains within
each of its blossoms a pigeon with half spread
wings. 1t is necessary to view the blossom from
suuarey in front, as In the case OF the lower
blossom shown in the accompanying photograph,
to get the full effect of the resemblance. When
viewed from this position, the bird is so perfect
that 1t looks as If ready to take flight The plant,
which is native OF the lsthmus OF Panama, Is
very rare, there being perhaps not more than
half a dozen specimens in the United States, In
GLIDING two in the greenhouses of the White
House at Washington It grows sturdily, but in
order to thrive, has to be kept in dollhouse
with the temperature of Turkish bath
In all of the instances referred to above the
resemblance is mainly due to the lip oraabellum
of the bloom. Now orchids rank admittedly
among the most highly specialized flowers, while
their extraordinary notifications are the result
largely If not entirely of insect interference.
MANY of these flowers depend entirely upon the
visits of insects for pollination and without the
aid of these winged emissaries of Cupid they are
ouite unable to get seed. The labellum is the
recognized alighting platform upon which the IN
sect stands while 1t probes the recesses or the
flower in search of nectar; and as orchids are
ao CLOSELY associated with insects, we must as
sume that the special shape OF the labelum In
each instance Is more or less definitely related to
The 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.
crbroughout the great orchid family the labellum
exhibits nm almost endless variety OF conhgura-
zion and we are justified In the assumption that
each form is exactly adapted to attract OF up
hold a particular kind OF insect