172 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



contains two perfect labellums arranged in 

 the position usually occupied by the lateral 

 petals, which in this flower are entirely 

 absent. The dorsal and ventral sepals are 

 well developed. This abnormality is 

 evidently a reduction from the trimerous to 



a dimerous condition. The equilibrium of 

 the third flower is entirely upset, one of the 

 lower sepals has become fused with the 

 labellum, and one of the anthers has strayed 

 into a lateral petal where some of the pollen 

 o-rams are visible. 



Ccelogyne Foerstermannii flowering in the collection of E. H. AnJriesse, Esq., Java. 



CCELOGYNE FOERSTERMANNII. — This 

 elegant Coelogyne species is a native of 

 Borneo, Sumatra, and Malacca. It is rather 

 rare in collections, and somewhat shy 

 flowering. The flowers, which are produced 

 about twelve to fourteen on a spike, are 

 almost the same size as those of Coelogyne 

 asperata, but not quite so broad in their 

 segments. The labellum is streaked with 

 yellow-ochre colour at the base and on the 

 front lobe, the other portions of the flower 

 being pure white. Our illustration is of an 

 excellent specimen flowering in the collection 

 of E. H. Andriesse, Esq., Soember Telogo, 

 Java. 



The Brittle .Snake in the Orchid 

 House. — The brittle snake, or the slow- 

 worm, is a native of Britain, common in 

 England, though not in Scotland ; when full- 

 grown it is about twelve inches long, 

 generally of a dark glossy colour, moves 

 slowly, and has a beautiful snake-like head, 

 with keen piercing eyes, is perfectly harmless, 

 and can be made a pet. I find this snake 

 a grand assistant to the green tree frog in the 

 Orchid houses, as his principal food is snails. 

 All Orchid growers hate snails, as they 

 destroy flower-spikes and young bulbs. Some 

 years ago a friend of mine purchased a rare 

 Phala?nopsis for ten guineas. Next morning. 



