18/8.] OF FLOWERS. 287 



Pistil vigorously motile (so that whole flower shakes when 

 pistil suddenly coils up) ; when excited by a touch the two 

 filaments [are] produced laterally and transversely across the 

 flower (just over the nectar) from one of the petals or modi- 

 fied stamens. It is splendid to watch the phenomenon under 

 a weak power when a bristle is inserted into a young flower 

 which no insect has visited. As far as I know Stylidium is the 

 sole case of sensitive pistil and here it is the pistil + stamens. 

 In Thalia* cross-fertilisation is ensured by the wonderful 

 movement, if bees visit several flowers. 



I have now relieved my mind and will tell the purport of 

 this note viz. if any other species of Thalia besides T. deal- 

 bata should flower with you, for the love of heaven and all 

 the saints, send me a few in tin box with damp moss. 



Your insane friend, 



CH. DARWIN. 



[In 1878 Dr. Ogle's translation of Kerner's interesting 

 book, * Flowers and their Unbidden Guests,' was published. 

 My father, who felt much interest in the translation (as 

 appears in the following letter), contributed some prefatory 

 words of approval :] 



C. Darwin to W. Ogle. 



Down, December 16 [1878]. 



.... I have now read Kerner's book, which is better 

 even than I anticipated. The translation seems to me as 

 clear as daylight, and written in forcible and good familiar 

 English. I am rather afraid that it is too good for the 

 English public, which seems to like very washy food, unless 

 it be administered by some one whose name is well known, 

 and then I suspect a good deal of the unintelligible is very 

 pleasing to them. I hope to heaven that I may be wrong. 



* Hildebrand has described an the Maranteae the tribe to which 

 explosive arrangement in some of Thalia belongs. 



