906 



arrangement and minute specific divisions, is still a most valuable and 

 sumptuous repertory of botanical illustrations. 



Ophrys apifera. In dry meadows, pastures, woods and thickets, 

 on chalky banks, downs, and on wet slipped land, mostly on loamy or 

 limestone soils, or where calcareous earth is a principal constituent ; 

 by no means uncommon, and in particular years even abundant, over 

 a great part of the Isle of Wight and mainland Hants. Being ex- 

 tremely uncertain and capricious in its habitats, often appearing 

 abundantly one season where it was scarce or failed altogether to 

 show itself the year before, it is unnecessary to give more than a ge- 

 neral view of its distribution, without recording its almost numberless 

 special localities. Sometimes quite common about Ryde, at Quarr, 

 Binstead, in Pelham fields, &c. About Cowes, at Egypt, Norris 

 Castle, &c, and about Yarmouth. About Newport, at Carisbrooke 

 (on the castle hill, &c), Calbourne and elsewhere. Frequent on 

 most of the downs about Freshwater, often in great abundance, as it 

 was last year (1849). At Bonchurch, Ventnor, Steephill, Blackgang 

 and most other parts of the Undercliff, on the chalky banks and pas- 

 tures, often plentifully. In Bembridge Island, about the Culver Cliff, 

 WhiteclifF Bay, &c. On the banks of slipped land (green sand and 

 clay) under the cliffs at Shan kin. Abundantly on Kennerley Heath, 

 near Godshill, in sandy loam amongst the furze, and very fine; June, 

 1843, in which year it was very universal in the island : but it is need- 

 less multiplying stations for this ubiquitous but not always plentiful 

 species, as it may be found in most parts of the island and in most 

 years by a little seeking, especially on the chalk and slopes of the 

 downs. A specimen with the flowers nearly white, the lip only being 

 greenish, was found by Mrs. Martin at Ventnor some years ago. On 

 the mainland of the county O. apifera is about equally frequent. At 

 WestMeon in various places; the Miss Sibleys : and where a variety 

 with white flowers has occurred, and a similar one is recorded by the 

 authors of the catalogue in the ' Hampshire Repository ' as having 

 been found at Bordean. Warnford; Mr. Vickery. Bullington ; Rev. 

 D. Cockerton. Beacon Hill, Highclere Park ; Cat. of Plants of 

 Newbury!!! Nore Hill and Selbourne Park; Professor Bell. This 

 beautiful and singular plant is well known here as the Bee-flower, and 

 although no uncommon species over a great part of England, is made 

 as much account of as though it were a great rarity, and the Isle of 

 Wight had the exclusive happiness of producing it. The Bee-flower 

 figures in all the guide-books, flourishes on the vegetation of the is- 

 land, and is a staple article in every enumeration of Vectic memorabilia 



