Fecundation in Orchidea and Asclepiadea. 695 



villia, after impregnation, as he believes, according to my view 

 of the subject would rather prove that it was in a state capable 

 of acting upon, but had not yet received the fecundating matter 

 from, the anthera. 



In thus venturing to differ from so accurate and experienced 

 an observer as Mr. Bauer on a subject which he has for many 

 years minutely studied and so beautifully illustrated, I am well 

 aware how great a risk I incur of being myself found in error. 



I am very desirous, however, that the perusal of this sketch 

 of the various statements that have appeared on the question of 

 impregnation, with the greater part of which he is at present 

 probably unacquainted, should induce him to reexamine the 

 facts and arguments by which his own opinion on this subject 

 is supported. He will thus either succeed in establishing his 

 theory on more satisfactory grounds, or, if the examination 

 should prove unfavourable, he will, I am persuaded, from his 

 well known candour, as readily abandon it. 



The notice here given of the opinions of botanists on impreg- 

 nation in Orchideae brings the subject down to the spring of the 

 present year, when from circumstances, which I may hereafter 

 have occasion to advert to, my attention was directed to this 

 family of plants, the particular study of which I had for a long 

 time discontinued. 



In reviewing notes respecting them, made many years ago, 

 I found some points merely hinted at, or imperfectly made out, 

 which seemed deserving of further examination ; and in the 

 course of these inquiries, other observations of at least equal 

 importance suggested themselves. 



I now proceed to state, in some cases briefly, in others at 

 greater length, the results of this investigation. 



The first question that occupied me was, the relation which 

 VOL. XVI. 4 u the 



