PRIMULA ELATIOR IN BRITAIN. 197 
growing nearer than Boxted, at least a mile away. I think, 
therefore, we are entitled to assume that, in these and similar cases 
which I have observed, the hybridizing influence has extended 
from one wood to the other. At not a few places around the 
boundary-line, I have discovered hybrid plants where one or 
other of the parent plants appeared at first to be absent ; but, 
in all cases, further search or enquiry established the fact that 
plants belonging to the apparently-absent species grew within 
half a mile or so. No one has yet been able satisfactorily to 
show what species of insect or insects mainly fertilize either 
the Primrose or the Oxlip. I have elsewhere* discussed this 
question to a slight extent. The Primrose can hardly be ferti- 
lized mainly by bees, as it flowers at a very early period of the 
year when there are few bees abroad. Still it is certain that bees 
do visit both the Primrose and the Oxlip (especially the latter, 
as its flowering-time is later); and it is not difficult to believe 
that bees might easily transport the pollen of either species a 
mile or even further. 
IX. The Cowslip abundant throughout the Oxlip-Area. 
As previously said, the Cowslip flourishes in normal abundance 
ormghout and around the whole of the Area occupied by the 
xlip. 
X. Hybrids between the Oxlip and the Cowslip very rare. 
As the Oxlip and the Cowslip come in contact at all points 
throughout the Oxlip-Area, one might ( judging from the behaviour 
of each when in contact with the Primrose) not unnaturally ex- 
pect them to hybridize freely ; but this they are known not to do. 
Such hybrids are, in fact, very rare. Only on three occasions 
“uring the last eighteen years have I found plants which I 
lieved to be hybrids between the Oxlip and the Cowslip— 
ws ^ Madghob's Wood, near Saffron Walden, on April 23rd, 
lst lsa on a hedge-bank near Wethersfield, Essex, on May 
April 95th and lastly in Long Wood, Horningsheath, Suffolk, on 
declared + » 1897. Mr. Thomas Bentall, an Essex botanist, has 
and the p iat although he knew the hybrid between the Oxlip 
consid mmrose, he had never met with the form now under 
ration; nor, T believe, has anyone else than myself seen 
* Trans, Esse 
E x Field Club, vol. iii. (1884) pp. 195-198 & 206-207. 
' ' Phytologis 
t, vol. ii. (1846) p. 515. 
