THE WILD ORCHID 



it appeared amongst the grass, was almost identi- 

 cal with the appearance of some of the leaves of 

 the orchis when similarly placed ; indeed, the very 

 curves that the leaves assumed as they poked 

 amongst the blades of grass presented an astonish- 

 ing resemblance. Look at the photograph of the 

 young plant in Fig. 83 (Plate 58), and carefully 

 note how the leaves are arranged to spread out 

 in different directions, and also how each leaf 

 bends over at the end and exposes its upper and 

 spotted surface. The curving of the leaves and 

 their spotted appearance are better shown in Fig. 

 84 (Plate 59), although the latter feature is diffi- 

 cult to illustrate by means of the camera, as 

 the deep green and brown make little contrast on 

 the sensitive plate. 



After noting these things go a step farther and 

 look at one of these orchis plants from above as it 

 grows amongst the thick grass. You will then get 

 only partial glimpses of its leaves, especiall}^ of 

 those parts where the spots are most conspicuous, 

 and particularly is this so before the flowers appear. 

 Remember, too, that this is how grazing animals 

 would view the plant. Now, grazing animals 

 doubtless possess a much better acquaintance with 

 snakes and similar reptiles, and also with am- 

 phibians, such as frogs, toads, and newts, than man 

 does. In the course of their daily feeding amongst 

 the herbage no doubt they frequently meet with 

 them, and especially in districts where these 

 creatures are abundant. It follows, therefore, that 

 they naturally avoid them. My reader will now, 



133 



