ed for any
information. As I am writing, I will venture to mention another wish
which I have: namely, to examine fresh flowers and buds of the Aceras,
Spiranthes, marsh Epipactis, and any other rare orchis. The point which
I wish to examine is really very curious, but it would take too long
space to explain. Could you oblige me by taking the great trouble to
send me in an old tin canister any of these orchids, permitting me, of
course, to repay postage? It would be a great kindness, but perhaps I am
unreasonable to make such a request. If you will inform me whether you
have leisure so far to oblige me, I would tell you my movements, for on
account of my own health and that of my daughter, I shall be on the move
for the next two or three weeks.

I am sure I have much cause to apologise for the liberty which I have
taken...

LETTER 595. TO A.G. MORE. Down, August 3rd, 1860.

I thank you most sincerely for sending me the Epipactis [palustris]. You
can hardly imagine what an interesting morning's work you have given me,
as the rostellum exhibited a quite new modification of structure. It has
been extremely kind of you to take so very much trouble for me. Have you
looked at the pollen-masses of the bee-Ophrys? I do not know whether the
Epipactis grows near to your house: if it does, and any object takes you
to the place (pray do not for a moment think me so very unreasonable
as to ask you to go on purpose), would you be so kind [as] to watch
the flowers for a quarter of an hour, and mark whether any insects (and
what?) visit these flowers.

I should suppose they would crawl in by depressing the terminal portion
of the labellum; and that when within the flower this terminal portion
would resume its former position; and lastly, that the insect in
crawling out would not depress the labellum, but would crawl out at back
of flower. (595/1. The observations of Mr. William Darwin on Epipactis
palustris given in the "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., 1877,
page 99, bear on this point. The chief fertilisers are hive-bees, which
are too big to crawl into the flower. They cling to the labellum, and
by depressing it open up the entrance to the flower. Owing to the
elasticity of the labellum and its consequent tendency to spring up
when released, the bees, "as they left the flower, seemed to fly rather
upwards." This agrees with Darwin's conception of the mechanism of the
flower as given in the first edition of the Orchid boo