1798, and all the more important illustrations of physiological facts 
before the latter period. They were made with a view to determine both 
the distinctive characters of genera, and the anatomy and physiology of 
the organs of fructification of the singular plants they represent. Ex¬ 
plaining in the clearest manner the real structure of the anther and 
pollen, with all the extraordinary apparatus that is peculiar to those 
organs—shewing the exact anatomy of the stigma, the stigmatic canal, 
the ovarium, the fruit and the seed—and hence illustrating the mode in 
which fructification is effected, and the relation the several parts bear 
to each other—they demonstrate the existence, in the whole tribe, of a 
unity of design and a simplicity of structure which may seem incompre¬ 
hensible to the observer who has only examined an Orchis or a Malaxis, 
but which daily experience assures us is never departed from by Nature 
in any of her works. 
In this, as in all other parts of the Sciences of Observation, disco¬ 
very has been slowly progressive. In some cases one observation has 
led directly to another ; in others, discoveries appear to have been acci¬ 
dental and their importance not understood by their authors, who pro¬ 
bably were not even aware that they had made them. Jt was once my 
intention to trace such matters chronologically; but as this would have 
occupied a great deal of time, and led to differences of opinion of no 
public importance, I have abandoned the design. Should the reader take 
an interest in such investigations 1 refer him to the dates of Mr. Bauer’s 
drawings, and by comparing them with the dates of other publications 
he can judge for himself to what amount of credit this most admirable 
and original observer is entitled. 
In drawing up the following view of the organization of Orchidaceae, 
I have of course availed myself of whatever 1 could find in the writings 
of those who have treated upon the same subject; but I have not 
thought it necessary to quote authorities except when other observers 
entertain views different from my own or those of Mr. Bauer. 
University College, London , December, 1 S;>7. 
