WARM ORCHIDS. 135 
prone to fall into raptures; but imagine it as 
a long-established specimen appears just now 
at St Albans, with racemes drooping two and a 
half feet from each new growth, clothed on either 
side with flowers like a double train of white long- 
tailed butterflies hovering! A. Scottzanum comes 
from Zanzibar, discovered, I believe, by Sir John 
Kirk ; A. caudatum, from Sierra Leone. This latter 
species is the nearest rival of A. sesguzpedale, show- 
ing “tails” ten incheslong. Next in order for this 
characteristic detail rank A. Leonzs and Kotschyi— 
the latter rarely grown—with seven-inch “ tails ;” 
Scottianum and Elliszi with six-inch ; that is to say, 
they ought to show such dimensions respectively. 
Whether they fulfil their promise depends upon the 
grower, 
With the exceptions named, this family belongs 
to Madagascar. It has a charming distinction, 
shared by no other genus which I recall, save, in 
less degree, Cattleya—every member is attractive. 
But I must concentrate myself on the most strik- 
ing—that which fascinated Darwin. In the first 
place it should be pointed out that savans call this 
plant ranthus sesquipedalis, not Angrecum—a 
fact useful to know, but unimportant to ordinary 
mortals. It was discovered by the Rev. Mr. 
Ellis, and sent home alive, nearly thirty years ago; 
