Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-07-10


1t is able to run quite as we'll In that facbicn nc
IN us 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 or propel themselves when
lying on their backs
Another remarkable example of typical racial
features is found in the earbone of finback
whale which was picked up on Norway beach
1t has all the features of a Scandinavian face,
of low caste, with rounded cheek bones, fat nose
bridge, small upper lip and receding jaw In
general appearance, however, the face is more
like death mask than that OF living person
That this not freak formation is proved by
an examination of the earbones 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 are
equally astonishing and much more numerous
than In either the animal 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 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
sQuarely 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 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
Guiding two in the greenhouses OF the White
House at Washington. 1t grows sturdy, but, in
crier 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 or labellum
of the bloom. Now orchids rank admittedly
among the most highly specialized flowers, while
their extraordinary notifications are the result
Many of these flowers depend entirely upon the
visits of insects for pollination and without the
aid of these winged emissaries Of Cupid they
quite unable to get seed. The labellum is the
recognized alighting platform upon which the in
sect stands while 1t probes the recesses OF the
flower in search of nectar; and orchids are
so closely associated with insects, must
sumo that the special shape Of the labellum 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
throughout the great orchid family the labellum
exhibits an almost endless variety OF conhgura
ton and we are justified in the assumption that
each form is exactly adapted to attract, up
hold particular kind Of insect