THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS. 219 



rule that yellow is not the colour of highly organised 

 flowers. The yellow of this handsome Salvia is uot, 

 however, the buttercup yellow, but a more delicate 

 tint. No flower of this genus is better adapted to 

 show the abnormally developed connective and the 

 swivel arrangement of the anthers with which the bee 

 plays his game of quintain. 



Passing to the Endogens, the Orchids are the first 

 that attract attention by their beauty : and among 

 them Serapias takes the lead. It is worth a journey 

 to the Esterel to see the splendid S. cordigera 

 (Fig. 81). Ophrys lutea is not difficult to find at Cap 

 St. Hospice and at Mentone. It may be described as 

 a Bee Ophrys with a yellow border to the labellum. 



The sweet little Spiranthes with twisted axis is 

 common on the outskirts of Nice. 



Limodorum (Orchis abortim L.), leafless, livid, 

 bluish, is more conspicuous though less attractive. 

 This also is fairly common here. 



In the chapter on the Vallon des Fleurs I have 

 mentioned the grand Barlia longibracteata (Fig. 92). 

 We have found the rare Orchis papilionacea (0. r libra), 

 the Butterfly Orchis, in flower on Cap Ferrat on 

 May 15th. Moggridge considers that the resem- 

 blance of this lovely flower to Serapias is for the 

 most part only superficial. I have never seen either 

 the spotted leaf or the beautiful pale yellow flowers 

 of Orchis promndalis. Although this species is rare 

 near Nice, it is given by Mr. Bicknell as very abundant 

 under the chestnuts in certain districts of the Italian 

 Riviera. One little gem I am fain to include among 

 the fairest of the Orchid tribe, though it is a long cry 

 from the coast to the grassy slopes (pelouses) of the 



