THE ORCHID REVIEW. 307 
one I obtained was a species of Grammatophyllum. I set to work to collect 
a number of the bulbs to send to England. Now, collecting Orchid bulbs 
in a region of the swamps may be an entertaining amusement to other people 
who are looking on, but it is an unpleasant sport for the naturalist; so 
disagreeable is it, indeed, that Manuel, after one day’s experience of it, re- 
fused to help me any further. The reason is that, as one pulls away the 
Orchid from the tree to which it clings, numbers of large red ants, which 
are always running over them, turn round and fiercely attack the would-be 
Orchid collector. 
‘These ants ran up my arms, down my neck, up my trousers, and in a 
short space of time no part of my body was free from their sharp, painful 
nips. An hour spent in collecting Orchids in the swamps made me as 
angry and uncomfortable as two or three hours of ordinary forest work, and 
the irritating thing about it is that Manuel, who, no wonder, refused to help 
me at it, would stand aside and grow gradually more cheerful and amused 
as my pains and aches increased. By the time the rains commenced I had 
a tolerably large collection of Orchid bulbs to send home, but they were 
neglected when I fell ill in December, and had finally to be thrown away, 
as they had become quite useless for transport to Europe.” 
A Mangrove swamp is not a very pleasant or healthy place, but certain 
Orchids are not the only things which flourish in such localities. 
‘“‘ Work in the mangrove swamps was always depressing and disgusting. 
The damp, stifling, stinking atmosphere, the muddy, slippery ground, and 
the swarms of ants, flies, mosquitoes, and other abominations, made the 
work tiresome and annoying. The mixture, however, of marine and 
terrestrial faunas, and the varied conditions of life the swamp affords, make 
it an important locality for the naturalist.” 
The locality in question is in the island of Talisse, at the north-west 
point of Celebes, and the following further details are given :— 
‘‘The best swamps on the east coast of Talisse—that is to say, those 
that were the broadest and most luxuriant—are situated opposite the 
southern point of Kinabohatan Island, and about half way down the coast 
between Koa and Tindela Straits. The best place, so far as numbers go, to 
collect Orchids, is the sandy beach on the shore side of the swamp, where 
there are usually a number of young or stunted forest trees, bearing many 
parasitic ferns and Orchids, which are not beyond the reach of a long pole 
or rake.” 
‘It is probable that the Orchids which grow in such localities would re- 
quire somewhat similar treatment to that given to Dendrobium Phalznopsis 
and other New Guinea species, which, we believe, grow in stations not very 
dissimilar. 
