nisTRir.UTiox ok animals ano plants in felstead, ESSEX. 199 



but the rest are sporadic. Some two or three are remnants of an 

 ancient woodland flora, and are consequently confined to narrow 

 limits. Among the sporadic species is the Bee Orchis. As I have 

 never found this except on very chalky Boulder-clay, I infer that its 

 distribution in Essex is confined to the limits of that deposit or to the 

 districts in which the chalk outcrops. This appears to be a case in 

 which geological causes have solely controlled the distribution of a 

 plant. It would be interesting to know if the Bee Orchis occurs 

 away from either of these deposits in Essex. According to the 

 localities given in Oibson's " Mora of Essex," it does not. The Fly 

 Orchis appears to stand on the same footing. 



The occurrence of sporadic forms does not seem to be in any 

 way connected with the advent or departure, or rather the local 

 increase or decay, of species. It rather seems to be connected with 

 those conditions for the preservation of the germs of plants which 

 are often found in the earth, but which are said to be hard to imitate 

 artificially. The subject has been so often discussed since the days 

 of (iilbert White, that some apology is almost necessary for its intro- 

 duction. The tendency is, I believe, to discredit the statements of 

 many observers. Of one remarkable case I was an eye-witness. 

 From thirty-five to forty years ago the Bee Orchis grew by a wood- 

 side here in quantities. There is good evidence of this. For about 

 twenty years afterwards no plant was known to have occurred there, 

 nor within one or two miles of the spot, although diligently sought 

 for during most of those years. A few square yards of turf were 

 then removed, and the following year five plants of the Bee Orchis 

 came up and flowered at that place. It w^ould seem that this case is 

 very similar to some quoted by Gilbert White. 



Something which may be likened to the rotation of crops also 

 appears to be bound up in this question of the preservation of germs. 

 A pond containing a little water produced in abundance Potamogeton 

 for two or three years. This died out, and the naked Horse-tail 

 [Equisetum) reigned in its place and grew very vigorously, although 

 no other plants of the species occurred for a mile at least. After a 

 few years the Equisetum was succeeded by Sedges, which are now 

 failing. It seems almost certain that the germs were already there, 

 and only awaited their opportunity for sprouting. 



The dispersal of the seeds of plants is due to various agencies — 

 wind, water, animals, etc., and is therefore an uncertain and incalcu- 

 lable element. But although these agencies may be ever at hand, 



