( 8; > 
tinguiflied with it's ftigma : the filaments are 
always two,atVery fhort, elaftic, and bearing 
two anthers, which may be divided like the 
pulp of a citron; they are enclofed in little 
cells opening downwards, and fixed to the 
inner edge of the Neftary; the fruit is a 
one-celled capfule, with three valves gaping 
at the angles. The genera of this firft order 
afford flowers which, in outward appearance, 
fo nearly referable the animal kingdom, as 
to have occafioned a variety of fanciful names 
being given to them. The family of ophrys 
contains feveral fpecies, which refemble a 
variety of infe&s, the Neftary being the 
principal feature in their different forms; 
fometimes their flowers refemble a gnat, a 
butterfly, a bee, a fly, or a bird : the Nedtary 
of the bee-ophrys is a large thick leaf of a 
footy colour, and, when feen in the light, 
feems varied with three bright yellow cir- 
cular lines, with ruft-coloured fpaces between 
them, and fo exactly reprefents a drone, or 
bee, that it might be miftaken for them. The 
flowers of the genus Cyprepedium are fup- 
pofed to refemble the form of a lady's flipper; 
and thence the plant has it's name. This 
curious tribe of flowers requires very accurate 
G 4 inveftiga- 
