A SPOTTED ORCHIS. 



unwed, and no seed be set in the twisted 

 ovary. But when the bee goes to them in 

 search of honey, the pollen-masses gum 

 themselves to the front of his head, though 

 just at first they point upward and inward. 

 Then, after a short time, as he flies through 

 the air, they contract in drying, and so 

 point forward, in the direction in which he 

 will enter the next flower he visits. This 

 brings the pollen directly into contact with 

 the sensitive cushion or pad of the ovary 

 in the flower so visited, and thus results 

 in the desired cross-fertilization. For the 

 ovary, too, is gummy, to make the pollen 

 stick to it. 



A roundabout way, you think, to arrive, 

 after all, at so simple a conclusion ? Well, 

 that is the habit of Nature. And again, 

 bethink you, good, easy-going human being, 

 how great are the difficulties she has to 

 contend with, especially in the case of the 

 plant creation. Put yourself in the orchid's 

 place, and you will see the reason. For 

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