168 THROUGH GLADE AND MEAD. 
mass of the Hadbenaria and so draw out the entire con- 
tents of the anther-cell, as a sphinx moth would prob- 
ably do if I did not anticipate it. Since the publication 
of Darwin’s “On the Various Contrivances by which 
Orchids are fertilized by Insects,” in 1862, there have 
been many additions to our knowledge of this subject, 
but his work stands out preéminent, and as fascinating 
as a fairy tale. As a reasonably active imagination is 
necessary for the full enjoyment of the latter, so a little 
previous knowledge of the subject is wonderfully help- 
ful to our proper appreciation of the former. I read 
the book after I had become acquainted with many of 
the local orchids and was delighted with it. I can 
imagine that the result might have been different if I 
had read the book first. 
On looking in some of my old diaries I see that I 
have found the Pogonia verticillata as early as May 21st, 
and the Cypripedium parvifiorum as early as May 22d; 
but the present season is late. Year after year I found 
them in Heywood’s woods. And not these only; for 
here is a Luna moth just out of its cocoon, its wings not 
yet dry; and there runs, close to the ground, a bright 
olive-green bird which is easily identified as the golden- 
crowned thrush or oven-bird. A short search reveals a 
little mound of dead leaves, within which is a nest with 
three brown-dotted cream-colored eggs. What a soli- 
tary place the little oven-bird has chosen for its nest! 
