THE CAPE SABLE REGION OF FLORIDA 



13 



perhaps as much surprised as we were, for no resistance 

 was offered and no attempt at arrest for our apparent 

 act of piracy was made. We could not escape as fast 

 as we desired, for both of our engines now positively re- 

 fused to work. However, we continued our search by 

 rowing and poling, and in less than an hour we located 

 another boat lying at anchor. After making sure, this 

 time, that she was the " Barbee " we boarded her without 

 further delay. Thus ended one of our most strenuous 

 and exciting days. 



Next morning at sunrise we went ashore, and with a 

 horse and wagon in which to carry orchids, we set out 

 for Coot Bay which lies in the wilderness about four 

 miles northeast of Flamingo. This region is as different 

 from that of Cuthbert Lake as any one could imagine ; 

 and the day turned out tO' be the greatest orchid-hunt in 

 which any of us have ever participated. 



After passing through stretches of beautiful prairie 

 and strips of hammocks we entered Snake Hammock, 

 which lies just south of Coot Bay. Unless some richer 

 orchid locality is to be discovered in Florida, and that is 

 possible, this hammock is the most marvelous natural 

 orchid garden in the United States. All but one or two 

 species of our epiphytic orchids grow there. They were 

 not only there, but they grew in greater profusion and to 

 greater size than I have ever seen them elsewhere. The 

 most conspicuous orchid on account of size and flowers 

 was Oncidnim undtdattim, which grew singly or in great 

 masses ; its leaves were 2-3 feet long and often over 8 

 inches wide. One plant of the butterfly-orchid { Cyrto- 

 podiitm punctatum) was found with thirty-one tlowor 



