THE ORCHIS TRIBE. 229 



the bottom of the pouch, just below the glands, are 

 two little passages {fig^ 4. d.), which open directly 

 over exactly that part of the stigma which appears 

 the best adapted for receiving the influence of the pol- 

 len : and that hence the pouch, which seems to the 

 superficial observer a means of preventing communi- 

 cation between the pollen and the stigma, is in fact a 

 most admirable contrivance of nature to ensure it. I 

 leave you to form your opinion, as to which of these 

 two explanations is the more plausible. 



In this country the more common or remarkable of 

 the wild plants belonging to the Orchis tribe, are the 

 Bee Orchis and Fly Orchis (Ophrys), whose lips re- 

 semble the insects after which they are named ; the 

 Man Orchis, and the Lizard Orchis (Aceras), with 

 their yellow or purple strap-like lips ; Neottia, with her 

 russet flowers, and scaly stems, springing from a 

 cluster of entangled roots, which have given her the 

 name of Bird's Nest ; the Butterfly Orchis (Platan- 

 thera) with its long and taper cream-coloured lip ; 

 and the Ladies Slipper (Cypripedium), with its large 

 yellow bladdery flowers, and twin anthers. They 

 all grow on the ground in meadows, or marshes, or 

 wood ; and have always been considered the most 

 curious and beautiful plants of a European Flora. 

 But it is in tropical countries, in damp woods, or on 

 the sides of hills in a serene and equal climate, that 

 these glorious flowers are seen in all their beauty. 

 Seated on the branches of living trees, or resting 

 among the decayed bark of fallen trunks, or running 

 over mossy rocks, or hanging above the head of the 



