302 



The Museum Gazette 



Mr. Lydekker remarks in Nature, December, 1904, " that 

 the sea-otter formerly abounded on the coasts of Kamts- 

 chatka and the Aleutian Islands, but now stands in im- 

 minent jeopardy of extermination unless prompt measures are 

 taken for its protection. ... At the end of the eighteenth 

 century the annual take was 120,000 in certain newly dis- 

 covered haunts in Alaska. This number, however, soon fell 

 to 15,000, and when Alaska was ceded to the United States, 

 it had sunk to 700. ... Of late years £100 is no un- 

 common price for a sea-otter pelt, while from ^"200 to £$00, 

 and even, it is said, £500, have been paid for unusually fine 

 skins." The fur is of a dark brown colour, fine and rich. 

 Only the under-fur is used, the long hairs being removed. 

 It is the most valuable of all furs, and is chiefly worn in 

 Russia. 



HOW THE BEE ORCHIS CONSTRUCTS ITS BEE. 



We read in Babington's " Botany " of the bee orchis as 

 follows : — 



" ( Ophrys apifera) lip turned, five lobed, two lower lobes prominent 

 and with a hairy base, two intermediate reflexed truncate, terminal 

 acute, long, reflexed." 



Scarcely can even the expert realise that in this jargon is 

 narrated, quite accurately, one of the most astonishing feats of 

 floral achievement. It describes the manner in which the 

 bee orchis has formed its bee. Those familiar with this 

 curious and beautiful flower will know that it exactly resem- 

 bles the velvety body of a humble bee. At first sight it 

 would be supposed that what looks like the body of the 

 insect consists of a rounded purse or slipper, like that of 

 a calceolaria. Inspection will, however, soon show that it 

 is only an imitation, there is no real purse— that is, there is 

 no real cavity. All is accomplished by folding downwards 



