My dear Sir

I had not forgotten your former request about Ophrys apif.¹ & having little time for searching, myself, I had put my young son into the service, who in his walks has collected me a few specimens.² The results are as follows:—

Of 16 plants, 32 flowers were open: of these N^o. 1, with two fl. had the lower flower with one pollinium attached to stigma, the other poll. quite removed:—the upper flower had both poll. removed, but several of the cuneate pollen-masses were adherent to stigma. No trace of slugs or of gnawing visible on the plant.

N^o. 2, one fl. open; both pollinia removed, & no trace left. Upper sepal slightly gnawed: no trace of slugs.

N^o. 3— two fl. open, of which one had one pollinium removed: the other adherent to stigma

Thus out of the 32 flowers, two had lost both pollinia, & two had lost one each.³

I know not whether an experiment I tried has any value; it was to see if the wind were an agent in making the poll. come into contact with the stigma. Pollinia just escaped from anther cells, & still hanging unattached, I blew with my breath fitfully & strongly & in various directions; after many efforts I caused the poll. thus to adhere; & that in several instances.⁴

This is all I have been able to do in response to your first request.

On Saturday, after receiving your favour,⁵ I immediately went down to Petit Tor, where on former occasions we have found the Bee Ophrys; & spent some time in searching; but perhaps from the flowering being nearly over, & so the plants being inconspicuous in the rank herbage,—I could find but two plants. Each of these had one well-swollen ovary, & one recently opened flower— In each case the former showed both poll. adherent to stigma; the latter had the poll. still in the anther cells.

I will, however, pursue the search further; seeking plants in the slopes you mention, & other known habitats.

Will you be so good as to tell me whether you have a good collection of Orchids, & whether you have much in flower just now.

Believe me, dear Sir | Yours very truly | P. H. Gosse

Ch. Darwin Esq^e