146 THE PLANT WOKLD 



that are white, and bigger than any geese, which were secured in one 

 part. * * Wee named them the Hands of Margaulx." 



From this evidence it appears that this rookery was a great gannet 

 colony, and since these birds are strictly maritime in their habits, they 

 cannot be accused of conducting a seed and plant introduction business. 

 So in this case it falls to the lot of wandering and storm-driven land 

 birds to uphold the traditional and orthodox theory of seed transpor- 

 tation on bill and foot. 



As before noted, the Bird Rocks are situated at the extreme north- 

 ern tip of a thin chain of sandstone islands running from northeast to 

 southwest in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Assuming that the Hock had, 

 at one time, a much larger area than at present, a probable explanation 

 of the scanty flora seems to be that as the sandstone weathered, the 

 retreating cliffs drove back the nesting birds and their accompanying 

 guano, effectively stamping out plant life, and that high tide was prob- 

 ably reached about the time of Professor Packard's visit in 1864. This 

 view seems to be strengthened by the fact that since the coming of man 

 and the subsequent departure of the birds, vegetation has spread over 

 all available parts of the Rock. 



ORCHIDS IN CENTRAL PARK. 



Continued. 

 By Pauline Kaufman. 



For some weeks past dozens of the stately evergreen plants of 

 Phaius gy^andifiora have beautified the orchid house. The leaves are 

 from two to three feet long, broadly lanceolate; the flower spike is two 

 to four feet in height, and bears twenty or more fragrant blooms. 

 These seen from the outer side resemble a vigorous stalk of tuberoses, 

 but viewed from the inner side the likeness ceases, the color changing 

 to brownish-red; the convolute lip is white with dark crimson throat. 

 This species is found from China to Australia, and is also known as 

 Bletia Tankervillei and Limodorum Tankervillei. 



Peristeria elata, called by the Spaniards Espiritu Santo, flower of 

 the Holy Spirit, dove or Holy Ghost flower, is represented by but one 

 plant. The waxy x)urity of the sweet-scented flower, which is one and 

 a half inches across, is disturbed only by a few lilac specks on the base 

 of the lip. Here too the spikes are erect, three feet or more in height, 

 and rising from the base of pseudo bulbs. The flowering season con- 

 tinues for more than two months. It takes its name from the appear- 

 ance of the column, which is thought to resemble a brooding dove. 



