Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Even a glance at one of these fruits, Fig. 7, is sufficient to discover a wonderful fitness for transportation by wind, and more careful study shows that this fitness pervades every detail. For example, on examining the bristles microscopically, Fig. 8, it is shown that they are not simple threads, but each is hollow and has numerous projections extending on either side, all of which serves to increase the buoyancy in a very effective way.
The experience of aeronauts has shown that a highly important part in the equipment of a balloon, after the attainment of buoyancy, is the provision of some means of arresting the balloon's progress when the destination has been reached. One of the most successful means which they employ is the grappling hook; and as we find the base of our diminutive parachute provided with a number of upwardly directed spines, it seems fair to conclude that these serve to arrest the fruit upon favorable soil. If it comes to rest upon a smooth surface—which, of course, would be barren—the next breeze would easily blow it away; but if it chance to fall on soil or among other plants, the effect of the spines would be to retain it against the power of even a strong wind. Thus, we may leave it safely landed upon good soil, ready to begin under favorable conditions the cycle of its wonderful life.—Popular Science News.
SYSTEMATIC RELATIONS OF PLATYPSYLLUS, AS DETERMINED BY THE LARVA.[12]
By Dr. C. V. Riley.
There is always a great deal of interest attaching to organisms which are unique in character and which systematists find difficulty in placing in any of their schemes of classification. A number of instances will occur to every working naturalist, and I need only refer to Limulus, and the extensive literature devoted, during the past decade, to the discussion of its true position, as a marked and well-known illustration. In hexapods the common earwig and flea are familiar illustrations. These osculant or aberrant forms occur most among parasitic groups, as the Stylopidæ, Hippoboscidæ, Pulicidæ, Mallophaga, etc. Probably no hexapod, however, has more interested entomologists than Platypsyllus castoris Ritsema, a parasite of the beaver. I cannot better illustrate the diversity of opinion respecting its true position in zoology than by giving an epitome of the more important literature upon it.