ORCHIDS 191 
against the viscid stigma, and then against the viscid 
glands of the pollen masses. The pollen masses are 
thus glued to the back of the bee which first happens 
to crawl out through the passage of a lately ex- 
panded flower, and are thus carried away... . 
When the bee, thus provided, flies to another flower 
or to the same flower a second time, and is pushed by 
its comrades into the bucket, and then crawls out by 
the passage, the pollen mass necessarily comes first 
into contact with the viscid stigma, and adheres to 
it, and the flower is fertilized.’”? That, boys, is as 
remarkable a plot, devised by a flower, as any strata- 
gems related of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel by 
the Baroness Orczy. 
It seems to be taken for granted that our Orchis 
mascula is visited only by bees ; but I know that 
some moths must visit it too, for I have seen moths 
with pollen masses attached to their eyes. At home 
I have a photograph of such a moth on which the 
pollinium can be distinctly seen. 
The Spotted Orchis (Orchis maculata) is growing 
as freely as usual; you see specimens holding up 
their heads yonder. The flower is not purple like 
that of Orchis mascula, but whitish, with purple 
markings, and the flowers are more crowded on 
their spikes. I also see an odd spike or two of the 
Marsh Orchis (Orchis latifolia), with its rich purple 
flowers, but this plant will be more abundant next 
month. You can try the pencil experiment with 
both these species, with a similar result. Two other 
Orchids are frequently found in this district—the 
Fragrant Gymnadenia (Gymnadenia conopsea), or 
Sweet-smelling Orchis ; and the lovely, elegant, and 
