From T. H. Farrer   2 October 1877

My dear Mr Darwin

A neighbour—Mrs Rate,¹ shewed me a thing yesterday which is new to me.

Their Tritoma’s² are very late in flower, and are full of nectar, so that it runs down the branch. The bees are much attracted. (hive bees)— But many of them are caught in the long tubes: cannot get out; and are killed there:— On each stem—in the drawing room flower pots were five or six bees, dead & closely enshrouded by the half withered corolla—wrapt as tight as a mummy.³

I dont suppose the plant means to do this, or gets anything out of the bees—but it seems to shew a curious ignorance or maladaptation on the part of the bee. In all the cases I saw the corolla was withered. But Mrs Rate tells me it is curious to watch the great efforts of the bee to escape from the mature flower.

I dare you know analogous cases—but it is the first I have seen & therefore send it to you.

We are winding up for a move to London— Never was the country prettier than for the last fortnight—Elms glorious.⁴

Sincerely yours | T H Farrer