THE ORCHIS. 
“ The Greeks named this plant Orchis from 
the form of the roots in many of the species, 
and this appellation is now generally adopted 
in most of the European languages. In addi¬ 
tion to the Greek name, the Latins often call 
itSatyrion, because the early Romans believed 
it to be the food of the Satyrs, and that it ex¬ 
cited them to the excesses which in fabulous 
history are ascribed to them. Its old English 
names are Standle-wort and King-fingers. 
“ In consequence either of a want of taste 
in floriculture, or of a foolish predilection for 
ancient prejudices, this beautiful flower has 
been excluded from the parterre of Flora; but 
so anxious have been the Botanists to collect 
its different species from all quarters of the 
world, that from their exertions we now pos¬ 
sess upwards of eighty distinct species, besides 
numerous varieties of several of the kinds. 
“The Ophrysis a genus of the Orchis, and 
derives its name from the Greek ophrus, the 
eye-brow, one species having been anciently 
used either to blacken the eye-brows, or to 
make them grow. Of the various species of 
this plant, we shall notice only the Fly Ophrys, 
and the Bee Ophrys. 
“ The Fly Ophrys is generally in flower 
from the end of May to the beginning of July. 
