Mount Carmel, Connecticut 135 



keen-edged knife. As I held it, I observed a large 

 worm concealed within the plicate folds of the bracted 

 leaf, amid the musky sweetness of the bud. It was 

 round and emerald green, and unlike most worms was 

 possessed of a great degree of spryness; for before my 

 senses were astir, it had dropped to the ground, wrig- 

 gling out of sight among the leaves and earth at my 

 feet. I poked about, hoping to follow its trail, but to 

 no avail. 



That this rare Cypripedium has a vile destroyer in 

 this worm, is evident. I felt that I should like to 

 know more about the worm's life, and why it seeks 

 the rarest species of Cypripedium in North America to 

 feast upon. Perhaps this may account for this flower's 

 rarity in Pownal, as well as throughout its continental 

 range. I have observed the worm among the Ram's- 

 Heads in Amidon's Pines during the past two seasons. 



The budded plants of this species in Witch Hollow 

 were also blasted in embryo this season. The two buds 

 observed turned brown and withered on the stem, 

 while yet very tiny, leaving the bract perfectly intact. 

 Some plants, however, were untouched by the destroy- 

 ing worm. They were without doubt too young to 

 bloom, as it requires four or five seasons before seedling 

 Cypripediums produce perfect blossoms in their native 

 haunts. 



The seeds of orchids are minute, mostly "spindle 

 shaped," are found in great numbers, and resemble 

 fine sawdust. The ovules of the Orchid Family ma- 

 ture slowly, and as far as scientific observations count, 



