110 THE HEATH. 



Now might its fairy wings unfold, 



Enchained in aromatic gold. 



Think not to set the captive free 



'Tis but the picture of a bee. R. SNOW. 



Another species is no less singular, the Fly- 

 ophrys.* The first time I saw this growing, on a 

 common near Bath, I stooped to examine what I 

 thought was a strange looking fly, settled on a 

 stem of grass, and of course, was no less pleased 

 than surprised on discovering my mistake. 



People are very much disposed to ridicule the 

 delight which Botanists experience on detecting a 

 plant which they have never found before ; hut 

 the Botanist is well content to be laughed at, and, 

 to pursue his search. All that he has hitherto 

 discovered has been to him a source of pleasure 

 and of profit, so that when he finds a new subject 

 for examination, he is pleased that a new oppor- 

 tunity of learning something is presented to him. 

 His " new plant " may not be valuable as a me- 

 dicine, nor for any economical purposes ; it may 

 not be ornamental as a garden flower; it may be 

 of no use, as far as he can see, either to man or 

 beast. It must, however, afford him a fresh 

 instance of " the wisdom of God in Creation :" 

 there must be something about it different from 

 any other plant that he has seen. Possibly he 

 may discover organs hitherto unnoticed, proving 

 the skilful design of Him, who called it into 

 being. To deem the search directed to such 

 an object ridiculous, then, does not bespeak either 

 good sense or right feeling. Some unusual, and 

 appropriate construction of organs with which 



* Ophrys musci/'era. 



