ORCHIDS 



133 



as in the fringed orchids, or Habenaria, and others. 

 In the third, the pollen is formed and held in 

 a box, which opens and dusts the insect as he 

 withdraws from the flower, as exemplified in the 

 pogonias. 



PINK LADY'S SLIPPER; MOCCASIN FLOWER Cypripedium 

 acaule {May-June} 



This flower seems to like the company of the wild 

 pink azalea, and may, perhaps, win some of the 

 calls from insect 

 guests visiting the 

 latter flowers. 



The gay pink 

 pouch of the lady's 

 slipper is an easy 

 mark for the bum- 

 blebee, serves him 

 well for a land- 

 ing-stage, and soon becomes his trap and prison. 

 For the pouch has a slit opening down the middle, 

 whose edges turn inward, and the bee quickly finds 

 his way in, but cannot retreat by the same door. 



Though I have often watched many thick patches 

 of the flower, I have never seen the bee alight upon 

 one of them. I have, however, captured a bee (with 

 gloves, be it understood) and placing him on a 



PINK LADY'S SLIPPER 



