The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-07-11

- "oII 10 run quite as well in that fashion as
." 81 o,"i'FE position The advantages OF such
an equipment VIII readily be apnrecta,ed bv
those who have Witnessed the AWKWARD eror,s
-. "1"fr species OF crabs. turtles and various
hH.as 't bugs to right propeI themselves when
lying on their backs
Nh"ther remarkable example of typical racial
features is found in the earbone Of n nnback
WhaI" which was picked up on a Norway beach
1t has all the features of a Scandinavian ,ace
OF 10" caste with rounded cheek bones fiat nose
oTlate small upper lip and recedine Jaw. In
general appearance. however. the face is more
Ike a death mask than that of n living person
That this was not freak formation is proved by
an examination of the ear bones of other flnback
whales at the Smithsonian institution in Wash.
ington. all of which have substantially the same
form.
In the plant kingdom natures limitations are
equally astonishing and much 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 likenesses are less
imaginative. others 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
squarely in front. in the 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 perfect
that II looks If ready to take flight The plant.
which is native Of the Isthmus of Panama is
very rare there being perhaps not more than
half dozen specimens in the United States, in
cluding two in the greenhouses of the White
House at Washington 1t grows sturdily. but, in
order to thrive has to be kept in a hothouse
with the temperature of a Turkish bath.
In all OF the instances referred to above the
resemblance Is mainly due to the lip or labellum
of the bloom Now orchids rank admittedly
among the most highly specialized flowers, while
their extraordinary notifications the result
largely II entirely of insect interference
visits OF Insects for pollinaton, and without the
aid Of these winged emissaries of Cupid they are
quite unable to get seed. The labellum is the
recognized alighting platform upon which the in
sect stands while It probes the recesses OF the
flower in search of nectar and as orchids are
10 closely associated with insects. we must as
sume that the special shape OF the labellum In
ZACH instance is more 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
throughout the great orchid family the labellum
exhibits an almost endless variety OF conhgura-
zion and we are justified in.the assumption that
each form is exactly adapted to attract, or up
hold particular kind OF insect