pendent flowers, and there is only a microscopical vestige of the corona
of coloured filaments; whilst in most common passion-flowers the flowers
stand upright, and there is the splendid corona which apparently would
catch pollen. (701/4. Sprengel ("Entdeckte Geheimniss," page 164)
imagined that the crown of the Passion-flower served as a nectar-guide
and as a platform for insects, while other rings of filaments served
to keep rain from the nectar. F. Muller, quoted in H. Muller
("Fertilisation," page 268), looks at the crowns of hairs, ridges in
some species, etc., as gratings serving to imprison flies which attract
the fertilising humming-birds. There is, we believe, no evidence that
the corona catches pollen. See Letter 704, note.)

On the lower side of corolla of foxglove there are some fine hairs, but
these seem of not the least use (701/5. It has been suggested that the
hairs serve as a ladder for humble bees; also that they serve to keep
out "unbidden guests.")--a mere purposeless exaggeration of down on
outside--as I conclude after watching the bees at work, and afterwards
covering up some plants; for the protected flowers rarely set any seed,
so that the hairy lower part of corolla does not come into contact with
stigma, as some Frenchman says occurs with some other plants, as Viola
odorata and I think Iris.

I heartily wish I could accept your kind invitation, for I am not by
nature a savage, but it is impossible. Forgive my dreadful handwriting,
none of my womenkind are about to act as amanuensis.

LETTER 702. TO WILLIAM C. TAIT.

(702/1. Mr. Tait, to whom the following letter is addressed, was
resident in Portugal. His kindness in sending plants of Drosophyllum
lusitanicum is acknowledged in "Insectivorous Plants.")

Down, March 12th, 1869.

I have received your two letters of March 2nd and 5th, and I really do
not know how to thank you enough for your extraordinary kindness and
energy. I am glad to hear that the inhabitants notice the power of the
Drosophyllum to catch flies, for this is the subject of my studies.
(702/2. The natives are said to hang up plants of Drosophyllum in their
cottages to act as fly-papers ("Insectivorous Plants," page 332).) I
have observed during several years the manner in which this is effected,
and the results produced in several species of Drosera, and in the
wonderful American Dionoea, the leaves of which catch insects just like
a steel rat-trap. Hence I was most anx