158 Alexander Goodman More. [i860 



should certainly be very glad to see the result of some 

 more trials/' Mr. Darwin wrote, Oct. ist, 1862. But un- 

 foreseen circumstances prevented the fulfilment of this 

 wish. 



Meanwhile the orchid whose eccentricities had started 

 the correspondence had received a minor, though not 

 inconsiderable, share of attention. About the end of July, 

 1860, were made the observations on the Bee Ophrys, of 

 which Mr. Darwin in his book gives the following detailed 

 account : 



In the Isle of Wight Mr. A. G. More was so kind as to examine care- 

 fully a large number of flowers. He observed that in plants growing 

 singly both pollinia were invariably present. But on taking home 

 several plants from a large number growing in two places, and selecting 

 plants which seemed to have had some pollinia removed, he examined 

 136 flowers : of these 10 had lost both pollinia, and 14 had lost one ; so 

 here there seems at first evidence of the pollinia having been removed 

 by their adhesion to insects ; but then Mr. More found no less than 

 ii pollinia (not included in the above cases of removal) with their cau- 

 dicles cut or gnawed through, but with their viscid discs still in their 

 pouches, and this proves that some other animals, not insects, probably 

 slugs, had been at work. Three of the flowers were much gnawed. Two 

 pollinia, which had apparently been thrown out by strong wind, were 

 sticking to the sepals, and three pollinia were found loose in his collect- 

 ing-box ; so that it is very doubtful whether many or indeed any of the 

 pollinia had been removed by adhesion to insects (pp. 67-8). 



On first receipt of these details (August 5th, 1860) Mr. 

 Darwin had taken a more sanguine view of their bearing. 

 " I am infinitely obliged (he wrote) for your most clearly 

 stated observations on the Bee-Orchis. It is now per- 

 fectly clear that something removes the pollen-masses far 

 more with you than in this neighbourhood. But I am 

 utterly puzzled about the footstalk being so often cut 

 through. I should suspect snails. I yesterday found 

 thirty-nine flowers, and of them only one pollen-mass in 

 three flowers had been removed, and as these were ex- 

 tremely much withered flowers I am not quite sure of the 

 truth of this. The wind again is a new element of doubt. 

 Your observations will aid me extremely in coming to some 

 conclusion. I hope in a day or two to receive some day- 



