WARM ORCHIDS. 117 
scrand moment for Warscewicz when the horti- 
cultural world was convulsed by its appearance in 
bloom. Cattleya aurea had no adventures of this 
sort. Mr. Wallis found it in 1868 in the province 
of Antioquia, and again on the west bank of the 
Magdalena ; but it is very rare. This species is 
persecuted in its native home by a beetle, which 
accompanies it to Europe not infrequently—in the 
form of eggs, no doubt. A more troublesome 
alien is the fly which haunts Cattleya Mendelliz, 
and for a long time prejudiced growers against 
that fine species, until, in fact, they had made a 
practical and rather costly study of its habits. An 
experienced grower detects the presence of this 
enemy ata glance. It pierces an “ eye”—a back 
one in general, happily—and deposits an egg in the 
very centre. Presently this growth begins to swell 
in a manner that delights the ingenuous horti- 
culturist, until he remarks that its length does not 
keep pace with its breadth. But one remedy has 
yet been discovered—cutting off any suspected 
crowth. We understand now that C. Mendelliz is 
as safe to import as any other species, unless it 
be gathered at the wrong time.' 
' IT have learned by a doleful experience that this fly, 
commonly called “the weavil,” is quite at home on Le/ia 
purpurata ; in fact, it will prey on any Cattleya. 
