bottom, and it is not common to see more than three or four expanded at one time; as the lower ones decay others open higher on the spike, until the whole have blossomed. A spike seldom contains more than fifteen flowers, and frequently not more than four or five. They are thinly scattered on the stem, which adds considerably to the deception, for were they numerous it would lessen the effect. The calyx divides into three lanceolate leaves of pale green, out of which issues a corolla or petal, so bent, cut, and painted, as to resemble a fly with its head in the calyx. The velvet-like pubescence of the corolla, and the blue mark dividing the chocolate colour, contributes much to the resemblance of this vegetable substance to an animal body.

There has been no instance of either the Orchis or the Ophrys, as now defined by botanists, being found in tropical countries; but a beautiful species of this genus of plants has within these last few years been brought from the botanic garden of Palermo, by Mr. Wm. Swainson. The plant is indigenous to the coast of Barbary, and has been named Sawfly Ophrys, Tenthredin fera, but we have seen no species of the Musca so gaily coloured, as yellow, crimson, white, and blue, render the corollas of this flower, which being moreover set in a rose-coloured calyx has a fine effect. The ge

neral character of this exotic Ophrys comes nearer to the Bee than the Fly Ophrys of this country.

The Bee Ophrys flowers about a month later than the Fly Ophrys, and the flowering spike is thicker and shorter than the latter species, being generally from about six to ten inches in height. The flowers are considerably broader and closer set, and in shape and colour resemble a small humble bee. The spike seldom produces more than four or six flowers, but like the Fly Ophrys, it continues a considerable time in blossom before it withers, unless it is too much exposed to the sun or the winds. The leaves of this plant are of an ovate lanceolate shape, silvery underneath, and considerably larger than those of the Fly Ophrys.

This plant, which was included among the varieties of the insectifera of Linnæus, is a native of several parts of Europe, and an indigenous plant of our calcareous soil near woods, and in meadows. We have found it growing in the park belonging to his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, at Arundel, in Sussex. "It has been found also near Charltonchurch, and Chislehurst, in Kent. It grows also on Trunhill-downs in the same county. In Cambridgeshire it is abundant about Madingley-wood, Hinton, Feversham, Fulbourn, Burrough-green, Chippenham, and Linton. In Bedfordshire, at Bolnhurst. In Buckinghamshire, at Bradenham.

In Northamptonshire, at Blatherwick and Asply. In Oxfordshire, at Pently Hangings. About Earsham in Suffolk, and Mulbarton. On St. Vincent'srocks, near Bristol. Carisbrook Castle, in the Isle of Wight. Great Comberton, towards Woller'shill; and Tedestone, near Whitebourne in Worcestershire."

We have noticed the various situations where these plants are found, in order to assist the curious in their research; and as the seed ripens in the month of August, it would be worth the experiment of those who have a suitable soil on their estates, to scatter it on the ground in situations similar to where it grows naturally; but as most bulbous roots raised from seed require some years before they have strength to send up flower-stalks, these must not be expected for at least three or four years. We should recommend, at the same time, that a portion of the seed should be sown in a bed of earth congenial to the nature of the plant, and very slightly covered with vegetable mould, as we observe the plants to be generally most abundant amongst decayed leaves. We should also recommend the bed to be covered with moss, which would keep the earth moist and protect it from frost; the moss should be kept down by laying slender twigs over it and pegging them down with little forked branches.

We cannot conclude our brief history of this family of plants without publicly soliciting information from those who have already made the experiment of raising the Orchis and the Ophrys from seed, as also from such as may be disposed to try the cultivation of these singular plants, the natural history of which is at present but too imperfectly understood.

FRITILLARY. Fritillaria.

CROWN IMPERIAL.

Natural Order Coronaria. Lilia, Juss. A Genus of the Hexandria Monogynia Class.

The Crown Imperial; Lilies of all kinds,

The Fower-de-Luce being one! O, these I lack,

To make you garlands of.

SHAKSPEARE's Winter's Tale.

THE Crown Imperial is one of the flowers that was first introduced into this country in the time of our great dramatic bard, who has celebrated it as above, in a speech which Perdita makes to the Prince of Bohemia. Gerard who was our principal writer on plants in the days of Shakspeare, tells us, in 1597, that he had then plenty of the Fritillary in his garden at Holborn, but he calls it a rare and strange plant. It was first sent from Constantinople into the Christian countries of Europe by Clusius, who forwarded it first to Vienna in the year 1576, stating it to be a native plant of Persia, growing in the woods of that country. It was, therefore, for some time called Lilium Persicum, Persian Lily; but, as there was already another