THE ORCHIS 
191 
the structure of their flowers, and easily known by a person 
acquainted with any one plant of the tribe. They are 
found in all parts of the world except those bordering on 
the frozen zone. The elegant perfume of Vanilla is ex- 
tracted. from one of them. They are, however, generally 
rather an ornamental than useful tribe of plants; and we 
may infer that they have been scattered over the world 
by the great Creator chiefly for the purpose of affording 
delight to the eye of man, or of supplying food to the 
bee and butterfly, and other free creatures of the air to 
whom God giveth their meat in due season. 
