ORCHIS 21 



the Pulpit" to the orchid, from the fancied resemblance to 

 two little men standing in a canopied pulpit. 



The inward mechanism of this orchid is most interesting. 

 In its arrangement for attracting insects, no silken chamber 

 lures the insect in, but a horn of honey is offered to whoever 

 will apply his wits to get it. 



In Mr. Gibson's notes we read: "In the Showy 

 Orchid we have what would appear a clear adaptation 

 to the head of the bee, though one which might also 

 avail of the service of an occasional butterfly." An 

 enlarged view of the blossom is seen in Plate IX., Figs, i, 

 2 and 3. 



"I have seen many specimens with the pollen masses 

 withdrawn, and others with their stigmas well covered with 

 the grains. Though I have never seen an insect at work 

 upon it in its haunt, the whole form of the opening of the 

 flower would seem to imply a bee, particularly a bumble- 

 bee. If we insert the point of a lead pencil into this opening, 

 thus imitating the entrance of a bee, its bevelled surface 

 comes in contact with the viscid discs by the rupture of a 

 veil of membrane, which has hitherto protected them. The 

 discs adhere to the pencil and are withdrawn upon it 

 (Plate IX., Fig. 5). At first in upright position, they soon 

 assume the forward inclination as previously described. 

 The nectary is about the length of a bumblebee's tongue, 

 and is, moreover, so amply expanded at the throat 

 below the stigma as to admit its wedge-shaped head 

 comfortably. 



