how curious it is that the
pollen should be thus collected in a special receptacle, afterwards to
be swept out by insects' agency!

I am surprised at what you tell me about the fewness of the flowers of
your native orchids which produce seed-capsules. What a contrast with
our temperate European species, with the exception of some species of
Ophrys!--I now know of three or four cases of self-fertilising orchids,
but all these are provided with means for an occasional cross.

I am sorry to say Dr. Cruger is dead from a fever.

I received yesterday your paper in the "Botanische Zeitung" on the wood
of climbing plants. (593/2. Fritz Muller, "Ueber das Holz einiger um
Desterro wachsenden Kletterpflanzen." "Botanische Zeitung," 1866, pages
57, 65.) I have read as yet only your very interesting and curious
remarks on the subject as bearing on the change of species; you have
pleased me by the very high compliments which you pay to my paper. I
have been at work since March 1st on a new English edition (593/3. The
4th Edition.) of my "Origin," of which when published I will send you a
copy. I have much regretted the time it has cost me, as it has stopped
my other work. On the other hand, it will be useful for a new third
German edition, which is now wanted. I have corrected it largely, and
added some discussions, but not nearly so much as I wished to do, for,
being able to work only two hours daily, I feared I should never get it
finished. I have taken some facts and views from your work "Fur Darwin";
but not one quarter of what I should like to have quoted.

LETTER 594. TO A.G. MORE. Down, June 24th, 1860.

I hope that you will forgive the liberty which I take in writing to you
and requesting a favour. Mr. H.C. Watson has given me your address, and
has told me that he thought that you would be willing to oblige me. Will
you please to read the enclosed, and then you will understand what I
wish observed with respect to the bee-orchis. (594/1. Ophrys apifera.)
What I especially wish, from information which I have received since
publishing the enclosed, is that the state of the pollen-masses should
be noted in flowers just beginning to wither, in a district where the
bee-orchis is extremely common. I have been assured that in parts of
Isle of Wight, viz., Freshwater Gate, numbers occur almost crowded
together: whether anything of this kind occurs in your vicinity I know
not; but, if in your power, I should be infinitely oblig