will have to give way, in consequence of the prior claims of our own, which was published in the “ Miscel- 
laneous Notices” of the “ Botanical Register,” considerably before the appearance of that of Dr. Kiorzscu. 
Since the establishment of the Genus Mormodes, by Professor Lrnpiry, circumstances have occurred 
which, in his opinion, render it advisable that it should be referred to Catasetum. We allude of course to 
the truly wonderful fact of perfect flowers of the (to all appearance at least) distinct genera, Monachanthus, 
Myanthus, and Catasetum having actually been produced on the same flower-stalk by a plant in Lord 
Fitzwilliam’s possession. From the similarity of its habit, Dr. Linp.ey conjectures that Mormodes may one 
day be detected in similar vagaries, and, therefore, proposes to cancel it, as he has already and most properly 
done in the case of Monachanthus and Myanthus. That its suppression may eventually become necessary, 
on the grounds above-stated, we readily admit; but since Mormodes has hitherto adhered, most scrupulously, 
to its original form, we think that it would, for the present at least, be premature to condemn it. * 
Mormodes pardina flowered with us, for the first time, in J uly, 1838, when our figure was prepared. 
It is cultivated like the Cataseta, and without the slightest difficulty. 
Our Vignette is taken froma cast (in Mr. George Ackermann’s possession) of the hieroglyphical calendar 
of the Atzecs, an early Mexican race. We do not profess to understand it ourselves; but if any of our 
readers should be desirous of further information, we must beg leave to refer them to the splendid “ Atlas 
Pittoresque” of Humboldt, where this abstruse subject is copiously and ably discussed. 
“O curas hominum! 6 quantum est in rebus inane! 
5 é ” 
Quis leget hac, min’ tu istud ais, nemo Hercule nemo ? 
Persius, Sat. i. 1. 
* The Cataseta are not the only Orchidacez that “trifle with us in a double sense.” We have, in our own collection, a Zygopetalum, which 
produces, alternately, spikes of Z. Stenochilon, and of Z. Mackaii, while the Cycnoches figured at Tab. V. of this work, has lately presented us with 
flowers of a totally different aspect from those represented in our Plate! All this is very hard upon poor botanists ! 
