NATURAL ORDER ORCHIDACEA. 
Tribe—OPHRYDEX. 
PLATE XVI.—Serapias cordigera. Linn. De Candolle. Grenier 
and Godron. Woods. 
GrENERIC.—Coluwmn prolonged into a pointed beak, and bent so as to 
be nearly parallel to the lip. Amnther containing two pollen-masses on 
distinct caudicles, which are united in a common gland. Gland in a 
pouch. Jip without a spur, three-lobed, upper lobes bent upwards. 
Petals and Sepals united into a helmet. 
Sreciric.—Column terminated by a long beak. Pollen-masses dark 
green. Jip dark brown, having a cordate terminal lobe, densely covered 
with curious hairs. G'widing-plates (or Calli) confluent with the column, 
slightly divergent. Leaves linear-lanceolate, folded, and spotted like the 
lower part of the stem. 
EXPLANATION OF Puate XVI.— Plate XVI. represents Serapias 
cordigera. Fig. 1 is of the column, with the guiding-plates conducting 
into the Stigmatic-cavity, which last is distinguished by adherent pollen 
grains. In this figure the surrounding perianth is cut away, and only 
part of the ovary left. Fig. 2, the pollen-masses adhering to part of a 
culm of grass, in the position assumed on first withdrawal from 
the Anther, bending away from the stigmatic-cavity, and separated. 
Fig. 3, the same pollen-masses, which have been reversed and drawn 
together by some power possessed by the gland. They now bend fo- 
wards the stigmatic-cavity. Fig. 4, Ceratina albilabris, an insect taken 
in the interior of a flower of Serapias cordigera, having two pairs of 
pollen-masses, from Serapias lingua, fastened on its head. This figure 
is of the natural size. , 
Remarks.—-Mr. Darwin’s book on the “ Fertilization of Orchids” is 
known to many ; and not a few of those who have studied it, have, 
like myself, found a new and most delightful field for inquiry and 
observation. The book shows how in all cases examined by Mr. 
Darwin, except that of the self-fertilizing Bee-ophrys, orchidaceous 
plants are more or less adapted for insect fertilization, by far the 
greater number being totally unable to impregnate their own stigmas 
with pollen, but having the pollen-masses fastened tq sticky glands, 
