funnel-shaped lip opens handsomely, showing a disc of soft crimson with a
white speck at the tip.
_L.-C. Robin Measures_ is assumed to be a natural hybrid of Laelia
xanthina x Catt. Regnieri, a variety of Catt. Schilleriana. Sepals and
petals smooth dainty green, the latter just touched with a suspicion of
purple at the tips. It has the shovel lip of Schilleriana, a yellow tube
and golden throat, from which descends a line of darkest crimson. The
ground-colour of the disc is white, but clouded with crimson-lake and
closely barred with dark crimson up to the white edge.
_L.-C. Bellairensis_ (Catt. Bowringiana x L. Goldiana).--So curiously like
L. autumnalis that a close observer even would take it for that species.
In shape, however, it is more graceful than the pink form, and in colour
much more pale than atro-rubens.
_L.-C. Tiresias superba_ (Catt. Bowringiana x L. elegans Turneri).--I
heard some one exclaim 'What a study in colour!' It is indeed, and in form
too--not large, but smoothly regular as pencil could draw. The sepals make
an exact triangle, delicate rosy purple, netted over with soft lines.
Petals broad and short, darker. Lip rather long, white in the throat with
a faintest stain of yellow, the disc and edges of the lobes glorious
crimson-purple, with a dark cloud above which stretches all up the throat.
A gem of beauty indescribable.
_C. x Browniae._--Bought as a hybrid of Catt. Bowringiana x Catt.
Loddigesii, but it shows no trace of either parent. Very pretty and odd,
however. The tiny little sepals are hardly seen, lost behind the huge
pink petals. The lip also has pink lobes above a gamboge throat, and a
bright crimson-purple disc.
_L.-C. Albanensis._--A natural hybrid, doubtless the product of L. grandis
x Catt. Warneri. Pale rosy-mauve, lip crimson, deepening as it expands,
but fading again towards the margin. A large and grand flower.
_L.-C. Aphrodite_ (Catt. Mendelii x L. purpurata).--Sepals and petals pure
white. Labellum deepest crimson with rosy tip.
_L. x Sanderae_ (L. xanthina x L. Dormaniana).--Sepals and petals crimson,
lip purplish rose.
_C. x Mariottiana_ (Catt. Eldorado x Catt. gigas).--Very pretty, dark
rose, lip bright crimson with yellow throat.
_L. x splendens_ (L. crispa x L. purpurata).--Pink. Lip crimson-purple,
edged with white, heavily fringed.
_C. x Atalanta_ (Catt. Leopoldii x Catt. Warcewiczii).--Large and waxy.
Sepals and petals rose veined with crimson, lip bright magenta.
_L.-C. excellens_ (Catt. gigas ocullata x L. purpurata Brysiana).--A
superb flower, very large, rosy mauve, lip crimson.
_L.-C. Amazon_ (Catt. maxima x L. purpurata).--Sepals and petals softly
flushed, lip much darker in tone, veined with crimson.
_C. x Prince of Wales_ (Catt. fimbriata x Catt. Wageneri).--White. The lip
amethyst, veined with rose and frilled; throat golden.
_C. x Kienastiana_ (Catt. Luddemanniana x Catt. aurea).--Sepals flushed
white, petals warm lilac, the veins paler; magenta lip with shadings of
orange and lilac towards the edge and a white margin.
_L.-C. Hon. Mrs. Astor_ (Catt. Gaskelliana x L. xanthina).--Sepals clear
yellow, petals white with a sulphur tinge; throat golden yellow veined
with purple, disc rose, veined with crimson and edged with lilac.
_L.-C. Broomfieldensis_ (Catt. aurea-chrysotoxa x L. pumila
Dayana).--Mauve. The lip deep crimson, gracefully frilled; the throat has
crimson and gold markings on a purple ground.
_C. x Fowleri_ (Catt. Leopoldii x Catt. Hardyana).--Rosy lilac, lip
crimson. The side lobes are white tipped with crimson.
_C. x Miss Measures_ (Catt. speciosissima x Catt. velutina).--Pretty
mauve-pink with darker lines. Golden throat, lip crimson veined with
purple.
_C. x William Murray_ (Catt. Mendelii x Catt. Lawrenceana).--Rosy with a
purple tinge. Throat veined with orange and purple, lip purple-crimson.
_L.-C. C.-G. Roebling_ (L. purpurata alba x Catt. Gaskelliana).--Sepals
and petals flushed, lip deepest violet, suffused with crimson and edged
with white.
_L.-C. D. S. Brown_ (Catt. Trianae x L. elegans).--Soft pink, throat
yellow with a brownish tinge, lip carmine-crimson.
_L.-C. Mardellii fascinator_ (L. elegans Turneri x Catt.
speciosissima).--Mauve. Throat yellow, darkening to orange in front, lip
purple-crimson.
_L.-C. callistoglossa_ (L. purpurata x Catt. gigas).--Sepals pale rosy
mauve, petals darker. Throat yellow streaked with purple; lip purple.
_L.-C. callistoglossa ignescens_ (Catt. gigas x L. purpurata).--Sepals
rosy lilac, petals a deeper shade, lip glowing purple.
_L. x Latona_ (L. purpurata x L. cinnabarina).--Pale orange. Lip whitish
at the base, the disc crimson bordered with orange.
_L.-C. Decia_ (L. Perrinii x Catt. aurea).--Pale violet, deepening
towards the tips. Lip crimson, streaked with white on the side lobes, with
white and rosy purple on the disc.
_L.-C. Eudora_ (Catt. Mendelii x L. purpurata).--Rosy purple. Lip deepest
crimson shaded with maroon.
_L.-C. Eudora alba_ (L. purpurata alba x Catt. Mendelii).--Ivory white.
Lip crimson with purple shadings.
_L.-C. Hippolyta_ (Catt. Mossiae x L. cinnabarina).--Bright orange with a
rosy purplish tinge. The lip red-purple, much frilled.
_L.-C. Zephyra_ (Catt. Mendelii x L. xanthina).--All Nankin yellow except
the crimson disc, which has a pale margin.
_L.-C. Amesiana_ (L. crispa x Catt. maxima).--White washed with amethyst.
Lip purple-crimson fading towards the margin.
_L.-C. Exoniensis_ (Catt. Mossiae x L. crispa).--White flushed with rosy
mauve. Lip purple-crimson.
_L. x Yula_ (L. cinnabarina x L. purpurata).--Scarcely larger than
cinnabarina, bright orange, the petals veined and flushed with crimson.
The lip of size proportionate--that is, small--shows more of the purpurata
influence in its bright crimson disc.
_L. x Yula inversa_ (L. purpurata x L. cinnabarina).--The same parentage
but transposed. More than twice as large as the other and spreading, but
thin. Sepals of the liveliest orange, petals agreeably tinged with purple.
On the long narrow lip this pink shade deepens almost to red. Upon the
whole, neither of them is to be commended for its own sake, but the
brilliant orange of cinnabarina is retained so perfectly that both will
prove valuable for hybridising.
_C. x Our Queen_ (Catt. Mendelii x unknown).--Sepals and petals white,
faintly flushed. In the throat, of brightest yellow, are several brown
lines. The upper part of the lip is crimson, the disc purple.
_L.-C. Empress of India_ (L. purpurata Brysiana x Catt. Dowiana).--Sepals
and petals rose, tinged with violet at the ends, lip large, spreading, of
the richest crimson-purple.
_L.-C. Leucoglossa_ (Catt. Loddigesii x L.-C. fausta).--Rose-pink. Lip
white, touched with yellow in the throat.
_L.-C. Henry Greenwood_ (L.-C. Schilleriana x Catt. Hardyana).--Sepals and
petals cream-coloured, tinged with pink, the latter veined with rosy
purple. Lip purple with yellow throat.
_L.-C. Canhamiana_ (Catt. Mossiae x L. purpurata).--White tinged with
mauve. Lip crimson-purple, with a narrow white margin, crisped.
_L.-C. Pallas superba_ (L. crispa x Catt. aurea).--Dark rose. Lip purple
in the throat, golden in the disc, finely striped with crimson.
_C. x Wendlandiana_ (Catt. Bowringiana x Catt. gigas).--Bright soft rose,
lip purple-crimson with two yellow 'eyes' beneath the tube.
_C. x Cecilia_ (Catt. Lawrenceana x Catt. Trianae).--Sepals and petals
deep violet, throat buff changing to violet, disc purple.
_C. x Louis Chaton_ (Catt. Trianae x Catt. Lawrenceana--the same parentage
as Cecilia but reversed).--A most successful combination. Fine in shape,
petals soft rosy mauve, sepals paler, and superb crimson lip, with the
yellow of Trianae strongly expressed in the throat.
_C. O'Brieniana._--A natural hybrid of Catt. Loddigesii and Catt.
Walkeriana apparently; pale mauve; lip yellow.
_L.-C. Miss Lily Measures_ (L.-C. Arnoldiana x Gottoiana).--Very large.
Sepals and petals dark rose; lip rosy purple.
_L.-C. velutino-elegans_ (Catt. velutina x L. elegans).--Sepals and petals
white with a yellow tinge, veined with rose. At the throat an orange
blotch. Lip darkest crimson with white veins.
I append a list of hybrid seedlings which have not yet flowered and
therefore have received no name as yet. It will be useful only to those
who practise the fascinating art of Hybridisation. But such are a
multitude already, and each year their numbers swell.
Cattleya labiata x Catt. Bowringiana.
" Mendelii x L. xanthina.
" Warnerii x L. Euterpe.
" Bowringiana x Catt. Hardyana.
" " x Sophronitis grandiflora.
" labiata x Catt. Brymeriana.
" Gaskelliana x Catt. Harrisoniae violacea.
" labiata x L. Perrinii.
" Bowringiana x L. Perrinii.
" granulosa x Catt. gigas Sanderae.
" amethystoglossa x Catt. Trianae Osmanii.
" labiata x L. Gravesiae.
" Bowringiana x Catt. Leopoldii.
" Schofieldiana x Catt. Schroderae.
" Schroderae x L. elegans.
" Harrisoniae x Catt. Hardyana.
" Bowringiana x L.-C. Clive.
" labiata x Catt. Brymeriana.
" Gaskelliana x Catt. Hardyana.
" Schroderae x L. grandis.
" granulosa x Catt. gigas.
" Gaskelliana x L. crispa.
" Mossiae x L. purpurata Schroderae.
" Leopoldii x L. crispa superba.
" Leopoldii x Catt. Harrisoniae violacea.
Laelia tenebrosa x Catt. gigas Sanderae.
" harpophylla x L. elegans Blenheimensis.
" cinnabarina x Catt. Skinnerii.
" tenebrosa x L.-C. Phoebe.
" " x Catt. Mossiae aurea.
" praestans x Catt. Lord Rothschild.
" Dayanum x Catt. labiata.
" cinnabarina x Catt. Trianae var. Mary Ames.
" purpurata x L. grandis.
" " x Catt. Schroderae.
" amanda x Catt. aurea.
" purpurata Schroderae x Catt. Mossiae aurea.
" Lucasiana x L. elegans Schilleriana.
" elegans x Catt. Mossiae.
" crispa x Catt. aurea.
" purpurata x Catt. Hardyana.
" " x Catt. Mossiae.
" tenebrosa x Catt. Warnerii.
" " x Catt. Mendelii.
" elegans x Catt. gigas.
Beyond the hybrids are twenty plants of white Cattleya intermedia. The
owner of our collection was first among mortals, in Europe at least, to
behold that marvel of chaste loveliness. Mr. Sander received a plant of
intermedia from Brazil, which the collector labelled 'white.' Albino
Cattleyas were few then, and Roezl alone perhaps ventured to imagine that
every red species had a white sister. So they took little notice of the
label at St. Albans. When Mr. Measures paid a visit, it was even shown to
him as an example of the reckless statements forwarded by collectors. He,
however, in a sporting mood, offered ten guineas, and Mr. Sander gladly
accepted, but under a written proviso that he guaranteed nothing at all.
And in due time Cattleya intermedia Parthenia appeared, to astonish and
delight the universe. Several other albino forms have turned up since, all
of which are represented here, but Parthenia remains the finest--snowy
white, with a very long lip, which scarcely expands beyond the tube. That
is to say, 'the books' describe it as snowy white. A careful observer will
remark the faintest possible tinge of purple in the throat.
We have also a natural hybrid, Catt. Louryana, which the learned dubiously
assign to intermedia alba x bicolor; all white saving the lip, which is
mauve-pink with darker lines.
Among other albino rarities here is the charming L. praestans alba, pure
as snow but for a plum-coloured edging round the upper portion of the lip.
_L. Perrinii alba_--stainless throughout. This exquisite variety also
appeared for the first time in our collection.
_L. Perrinii nivea_--not less beautiful assuredly, though it has the
imperfection, as an albino, of a pale pink labellum and a yellow throat.
Beyond these rise twenty-five stately plants of Angraecum sesquipedale,
which we are learning to call Aeranthus sesquipedalis. There are those who
do not value the marvel, though none but the blind surely can fail to
admire it. In truth, like other giants, it does not readily lend itself to
any useful purpose. I think I could design a wreath of Angraecum
sesquipedale which would put jewelled coronets to shame; but for a bouquet
or for the dress or for table decoration, it is equally unsuited.
Wherefore the ladies give a glance of wonder at its ten-inch 'tail' and
pass by, calling it, as I have heard with my own ears, a vegetable
starfish. At Woodlands happily there are other flowers enough for a
'regiment of women,' as John Knox rudely put it, and they do not grudge
the room which these noble plants occupy.
A LEGEND OF MADAGASCAR
I must not name the leading personage in this sad story. Though
twenty-five years have gone by since he met his fate, there are still
those who mourn for him. Could it be supposed that my report would come to
the knowledge of two among them, old people dwelling modestly in a small
French town, I should not publish it. For they have never heard the truth.
Those kindly and thoughtful comrades of Alcide Leboeuf--so to name
him--who transmitted the news of his death, described it as an accident.
But the French Consul at Tamatave sent a brief statement privately to the
late Mr. Cutter, of Great Russell Street, in whose employ Leboeuf was
travelling, that he might warn any future collectors.
M. Leon Humblot has told how he and his brother once entertained six
guests at Tamatave; within twelve months he alone survived. So deadly is
that climate. Alcide Leboeuf was one of the six, but he perished by the
hand of man. The poor fellow was half English by blood, and wholly English
by education. His father, I believe, stuffed birds and sold 'curiosities'
at a small shop in the East End. At an early age the boy took to
'collecting' as a business. He travelled for Mr. Cutter in various lands,
seeking rare birds and insects, and he did his work well, though subject
to fits of hard drinking from time to time.
At the shop in Great Russell Street, after a while, he made acquaintance
with that admirable collector Crossley, whose stories of Madagascar fired
his imagination. Mr. Cutter was loath to send out a man of such unsteady
character. The perils of that awful climate were not so well understood,
perhaps, twenty-five years ago, but enough was known to make an employer
hesitate. Crossley had been shipwrecked on the coast, had lived years with
the natives, learned their language, and learned also to adopt their
habits while journeying among them. But Leboeuf would not be daunted. A
giant in stature--over seven feet, they say--of strength proportionate,
not inexperienced in wild travel but never conscious of ache or pain, he
mocked at danger. When Crossley refused to take an untried man into the
swamps of Madagascar, he vowed he would go alone. That is, indeed, the
most fascinating of all lands to an enthusiast even now, when we are
assured that the Epyornis, the mammoth of birds, is extinct. At that time
there was no good reason to doubt the unanimous assertion of the natives
that it still lived. Crossley was so confident that he neglected to buy
eggs badly shattered, waiting for perfect specimens. His scruples were
'bad business' for Mr. Cutter, as that gentleman lived to see, but they
appeared judicious at the time. Fragments of Epyornis egg, slung on cords,
were the vessels generally used in some parts for carrying water--are
still perhaps. Besides this, endless marvels were reported, some of which
have been secured in these days. Briefly, the young man was determined to
go, and Mr. Cutter gave him a commission.
Thus Leboeuf made one of M. Humblot's guests at Tamatave. Another was
Mr. Wilson, the only orchid collector there; for M. Humblot did not feel
much interest in those plants, I believe, at the time. I have not been
able to learn anything about Wilson's antecedents. His diary, upon which
this narrative is framed, was lying about at Tamatave for years; we may
conclude, perhaps, that the French Consul did not know to whom it should
be forwarded--there was no English Consul. Probably Wilson travelled on
his own account; certainly none of the great orchid merchants employed
him. He was young and inexperienced; glad to attach himself, no doubt, to
a big and self-confident old hand like Leboeuf.
Some weeks or months afterwards we find the pair at a large village called
Malela, which lies at the foot of Ambohimiangavo, apparently a well-known
mountain. Ellis mentions it, I observe, but only by name, as the richest
iron district of the Central Provinces. They had had some trouble on the
way. Among the hints and instructions which Crossley furnished, one in
especial counselled Leboeuf to abstain from shooting in the
neighbourhood of houses. Each tribe, he wrote, holds some living creature
sacred--it may be a beast or a bird, a reptile, or even an insect. 'These
must not be hurt within the territory of such tribe; the natives will
readily inform you which they are. But, in addition, each village commonly
has its sacred creature, and it will be highly dangerous to shoot until
you have identified the object. As you do not speak the language you had
very much better make it a rule not to shoot anything on cultivated
ground.'
This was not a man to heed fantastic warnings, but he learned prudence
before they had gone too far into the wilds. At a short distance from
Tamatave, in a field of sugar-cane, Leboeuf saw a beautiful bird, new to
him, which had a tuft of feathers on each side the beak--so Wilson
described it. He followed and secured the prize. The semi-civilised
natives with them paid no attention. But when, an hour later, surrounded
by the people of the village, he took out his bird to skin, there was a
sudden tumult. The women and children ran away screaming, the men rushed
for their weapons. But collectors were not unfamiliar beings, if
incomprehensible, so near the port. After some anxious moments, the
headmen or priests consented to take a heavy fine, and drove them from the
spot.
Their arrival at Malela had been announced, of course, and they found an
uproarious welcome. All the people of the neighbourhood were assembling
for a great feast. While their men built a hut of branches outside the
fortifications--for no house was unoccupied--they sat beneath the trees in
the central space. Such was the excitement that even white visitors
scarcely commanded notice. Chief after chief arrived, sitting crosswise in
an ornamented hammock--not lying--his folded arms resting on the bamboo by
which it was suspended. A train of spearmen pressed behind him. They
marched round the square, displaying their magnificence to the admiration
of the crowd, and dismounted at the Prince's door--if that was his
title--leaving their retainers outside. The mob of spearmen there numbered
hundreds, the common folk thousands, arrayed in their glossiest and
showiest lambas of silk or cotton. No small proportion of them were
beating tom-toms; others played on the native flutes and fiddles; all
shouted. The row was deafening. But doubtless it was a brilliant
spectacle.
One part of the vast square, however, remained empty. Beneath a fine tree
stood three posts firmly planted. They were nine or ten feet high, squared
and polished, each branching at the top into four limbs; tree trunks, in
fact, chosen for the regularity of their growth. In front was a very large
stone, unworked, standing several feet above the ground. The travellers
were familiar with these objects now. They recognised the curious idols of
the country and their altar. On each side of the overshadowing tree
barrels were ranged, one on tap, and another waiting its turn. This also
they recognised. However savage the inland population, however ignorant
of the white man's arts, all contrived even then to transport puncheons of
rum through swamp and jungle for occasions like this. Now and again
persons distinguished from the throng by costlier dress and ornaments were
escorted to the spot and they drank with ceremonies. Wilson did not like
the prospect. His companion had broken loose once before under a similar
temptation. But there was no help.
Presently the Chamberlain, so to call him, approached with a number of
officers, and invited them to attend the Prince. They found that potentate
sitting at the end of a long file of chiefs. The floor of the hall was
covered with snowy mats, which set off the beauty of their many-coloured
robes. Beside the Prince squatted a pleasant-looking man in pink vest and
white lamba. He wore a broad-brimmed hat of silky felt, black, with a band
of gold lace, contrasting at every point with the showily-dressed chiefs
around. This, they knew, must be the high priest, the Sikidy. The Prince
received them courteously, but since their interpreter knew but little
French, and less, as it seems, of the language of this tribe,
communication was limited to the forms of politeness. Then slaves brought
in the feast, setting great iron dishes on the mats all along the row.
Simultaneously the band struck up, and women began singing at the top of
their voices.
The heat, the smell, the noise, the excitement of the scene were
intoxicating without alcohol. But rum flowed literally in buckets, and
palm wine several days old, which is even stronger. Wilson ventured to
urge caution after a while, and at length Leboeuf tore himself away. Men
came and went all the time, so their departure was unnoticed.
They reached the hut of boughs, now finished. Leboeuf threw himself down
and slept; relieved of anxiety, Wilson set off to gather orchids. Malela
appears to be a fine hunting-ground for collectors, but he only mentions
the fact to explain his imprudence in leaving Leboeuf for some hours.
The latter woke, found himself quite alone--for all the servants were
merry-making, of course--and he also started off collecting. Unfortunately
he traversed the village. And some of the chiefs took him in a friendly
spirit to the barrel under the tree.
Wilson was returning--happy with a load of new orchids maybe--when he
heard a shot, followed by a clamour of young voices. Next instant a swarm
of children burst from the forest, and ran screaming across the open
ground. Wilson had heard that cry before. His blood chilled. If the men of
the other village were furious, how would it be with these drunken
savages! He hurried to the spot whence the children had emerged.
As their voices died away he became conscious of shouting--an exultant
tone. It was Leboeuf. They met in the outskirts of the wood. At sight of
Wilson he bawled--
'Hi, young un! got any weeds to sell? Give you tuppence for the lot.
Pretty flowers--all a-blowing and a-growing! Take 'em to the missus! The
ladies loves you chaps. I say, what'll old Cutter look like when he sees
_that_?' Leboeuf threw down an animal which he carried on his shoulder,
and danced round it, shouting and laughing.
It was a small creature, brownish grey, with enormous ears very human in
shape, long skeleton hands, and a bushy tail thicker than a lady's boa. By
that and the ears Wilson recognised the Madagascar sloth, rarest of all
animals then in museums, and very rare still. He had no particular reason
to suspect that the natives reverenced it, but a beast so eerie in
appearance and habits might well be thought sacred.
He implored Leboeuf to leave it and come away; Leboeuf did not even
listen. After dancing and roaring till he was tired he picked up the
aye-aye and marched on, talking loud.
Thus they did not hear the noise of a multitude approaching. But from the
edge of the forest they saw it. Chiefs led the van, stumbling and
staggering; among the foremost was that personage in snowy lamba and broad
black hat--not pleasant-looking now. A mob of spearmen pressed behind. The
clearing was a compact mass of natives, running, wailing,
gesticulating--and they still streamed in thousands through the narrow
gate. It was like the rush of ants when their nest is disturbed.