adapted to pollination by wild bees. The sticky masses of pollen 

 are so placed that they are sure to adhere to the eyes of the bee 

 when he visits the flower and need to be dried out by exposure 

 to the air before they rise to a position where they can pollinate 

 another flower. This insures that the pollen will only be used in 

 cross-pollination with a flower from another plant. Arethusa has 

 a much simpler arrangement, its pollen sticking like a porous 

 plaster to the back of the bee already to be scraped by the stig- 

 ma of the next flower visitor. 



Mr. Ramsey went on to tell of the insects that pollinate dif- 

 ferent species of the fringed orchids, and the mechanisms that 

 insure pollination; how the different times of flowering discour- 

 age hybridizing, despite which occasional hybrids are found, — but 

 they are exceptional. He also intimated that at least one native 

 orchid, Calopogon, is a practical joker and a fraud, enticing the 

 bumble bee into the flower, tumbling him about and plastering 

 him with sticky pollen, them tumbling him out to seek another 

 flower, without any reward of nectar at all! That the bee, un- 

 daunted goes on the next orchid bloom and pollinates it, only 

 to get the same rough treatment, speaks more for his busy in- 

 dustry than his shrewdness. 



In many of the orchids, the flower structure not only at- 

 tracts one particular insect, but also guides and forces him to 

 follow certain narrow paths, to insure that he does the required 

 work — whether he gets paid in nectar or not. Most of the or- 

 chids, unlike our native Calopogon, are honest and reward their 

 insect benefactors properly. To further attract the proper in- 

 sects, some of the orchids have nocturnal fragrance as well as 

 brilliant coloring and grotesque form. 



Mr. Ramsey also described the remarkable structures of the 

 Lady's Slipper and many of the exotic orchids, showing how 

 each is cunningly fitted for pollination by a particular insect. 



The talk was illustrated by beautifully colored slides of the 

 orchids as Mr. Ramsey has found them growing, and drawings 

 to show details of the devices for pollination. 



Meeting adjoined at 9:40 p. m. for refreshments. 



Respectfully submitted, 



FoRMAN T. McLean 



Secretary 



