enomena of this species, there is no evidence whatever
for supposing that external morphological changes have so masked certain
individuals as to prevent their recognition.

I would now, sir, in conclusion beg you to excuse me for this
infringement upon your valuable time, as I have been induced to
write you in the belief that you have had negative results from
other experimenters, before you ventured to propose your theoretical
explanation, and consequently that you have been unknowingly led into
error. I will continue, as opportunities present themselves, to examine
the many peculiarities you have pointed out in this as well as others of
the Orchid family; and at present I am looking forward with anxiety for
the maturation of the ovary of A. Loddigesii, which will bear testimony
to the veracity of the remarks I have ventured to lay before you.

LETTER 632. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, 18th [November 1862].

Strange to say, I have only one little bother for you to-day, and that
is to let me know about what month flowers appear in Acropera Loddigesii
and luteola; for I want extremely to beg a few more flowers, and if I
knew the time I would keep a memorandum to remind you. Why I want these
flowers is (and I am much alarmed) that Mr. J. Scott, of Bot. Garden of
Edinburgh (do you know anything of him?) has written me a very long and
clever letter, in which he confirms most of my observations; but tells
me that with much difficulty he managed to get pollen into orifice, or
as far as mouth of orifice, of six flowers of A. Loddigesii (the ovarium
of which I did not examine), and two pods set; one he gathered, and saw
a very few ovules, as he thinks, on the large and mostly rudimentary
placenta. I shall be most curious to hear whether the other pod produces
a good lot of seed. He says he regrets that he did not test the ovules
with chemical agents: does he mean tincture of iodine? He suggests that
in a state of nature the viscid matter may come to the very surface of
stigmatic chamber, and so pollen-masses need not be inserted. This is
possible, but I should think improbable. Altogether the case is very
odd, and I am very uneasy, for I cannot hope that A. Loddigesii is
hermaphrodite and A. luteola the male of the same species. Whenever I
can get Acropera would be a very good time for me to look at Vanda in
spirits, which you so kindly preserved for me.

LETTER 633. TO J. SCOTT.

(633/1. The following is Darwin's reply to the