HOT ORCHIDS. 163 
guineas. The whole stock vanished presently, 
which is not surprising if it had all been divided 
in the same ruthless manner. From that day the 
species was lost until Mr. Sander turned his 
attention to it. There was no record of its 
habitat. The name of the vessel, or even of the 
captain, might have furnished a clue had it been 
recorded, for the shipping intelligence of the day 
would have shown what ports he was frequenting 
about that time. I could tell of mysterious 
orchids traced home upon indications less distinct. 
But there was absolutely nothing. Mr. Sander, 
however, had scrutinized the plant carefully, while 
specimens were still extant, and from the structure 
of the leaf he formed a strong conclusion that it 
must belong to the Central American flora; 
furthermore, that it must inhabit a very warm 
locality. In 1882 he directed one of his collectors, 
Mr. Oversluys, to look for the precious thing in 
Costa Rica. Year after year the search pro- 
ceeded, until Mr. Oversluys declared with some 
warmth that Oxc. splendidum might grow in 
heaven or in the other place, but it was not to be 
found in Costa Rica. But theorists are stubborn, 
and year after year he was sent back. At length, 
in 1882, riding through a district often explored, 
the collector found himself in a grassy plain, 
M 2 
