AN ORCHID SALE. 0 
Wallace has nothing more to tell of the undis- 
covered country. The Indians received him with 
composure, after he had struck up friendship with 
an old woman, and for the four days of his stay 
made themselves both useful and agreeable in 
their fashion. 
The auctioneer has been chatting among his 
customers. He feels an interest in his wares, 
as who would not that dealt in objects of the 
extremest beauty and fascination? To him 
are consigned occasionally plants of unusual 
class, which the owner regards as unique, and 
expects to sell at the fanciest of prices. Unique 
indeed they must be which can pass unchallenged 
the ordeal of those keen and learned eyes. 
Plumeria alba, for instance, may be laid before 
them, and by no inexperienced horticulturist, 
with such a “reserve” as befits one of the most 
exquisite flowers known, and the only specimen 
in England. Buta quiet smile goes round, anda 
gentleman present offers, in an audible whisper, 
to send in a dozen of that next week at a 
fraction of the price. So pleasant chat goes on, 
until, at the stroke of half-past twelve, the 
auctioneer mounts his rostrum. First to come 
before him are a hundred lots of Odontoglossum 
crispum Alexandre, described as of “the very 
