ewhat analogous to
that suggested see the description of O. scolopax in "Fertilisation of
Orchids," Edition II., page 52.) Pray forgive me troubling you.

LETTER 611. TO G. BENTHAM. Down, June 22nd [1862?].

Here is a piece of presumption! I must think that you are mistaken in
ranking Hab[enaria] chlorantha (611/1. In Hooker's "Students' Flora,"
1884, page 395, H. chlorantha is given as a subspecies of H. bifolia.
Sir J.D. Hooker adds that they are "according to Darwin, distinct, and
require different species of moths to fertilise them. They vary in the
position and distances of their anther-cells, but intermediates occur."
See "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 73.) as a variety of
H. bifolia; the pollen-masses and stigma differ more than in most of the
best species of Orchis. When I first examined them I remember telling
Hooker that moths would, I felt sure, fertilise them in a different
manner; and I have just had proof of this in a moth sent me with the
pollinia (which can be easily recognised) of H. chlorantha attached to
its proboscis, instead of to the sides of its face, as an H. bifolia.

Forgive me scribbling this way; but when a man gets on his hobby-horse
he always is run away with. Anyhow, nothing here requires any answer.

LETTER 612. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, [September] 14th [1862].

Your letter is a mine of wealth, but first I must scold you: I cannot
abide to hear you abuse yourself, even in joke, and call yourself a
stupid dog. You, in fact, thus abuse me, because for long years I have
looked up to you as the man whose opinion I have valued more on any
scientific subject than any one else in the world. I continually
marvel at what you know, and at what you do. I have been looking at the
"Genera" (612/1. "Genera Plantarum," by Bentham and Hooker, Volume I.,
Part I., 1862.), and of course cannot judge at all of its real value,
but I can judge of the amount of condensed facts under each family and
genus.

I am glad you know my feeling of not being able to judge about one's own
work; but I suspect that you have been overworking. I should think you
could not give too much time to Wellwitchia (I spell it different every
time I write it) (612/2. "On Welwitschia," "Linn. Soc. Trans." [1862],
XXIV., 1863.); at least I am sure in the animal kingdom monographs
cannot be too long on the osculant groups.

Hereafter I shall be excessively glad to read a paper about Aldrovanda
(612/3. See "Insectivo