r, 'Ki'
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III.,
li ir:
! í^ifii
i
mil
hllllll É':' 'üi
liiii
tlíi-i
When Üiis plant first nnúved, it wis universally supposed to be identical with Oncidium Inslcayi
{Tab. XXII.), a mista lie which might naturally arise out of the exact similarity between the pseudo-bulbs
and leaves of the two species ; and truly it must be regarded as a rcuiiirkable fact, that a habit so peculiar
stiould be possessed i]i common by two plants producing such totally ditìerent flowers. In characterizing
tlie habit as " peculiar," we \vish to be understood to allude to thè glaucous aspect of the pseudo-bulbs and
leaves, and to tlie minute black dots which cover tlie under surface of the latter, for there is nothing in the
mere foim of either that is not of constant occurrence among tropical Orchidacees*
Not content with ransacking the interior of Guatemala for plants, ¡Mr. SKINNER has lately been
scouring tlic coast in quest of shells, and an ample harvest would seem to have a-wnited him : among other
rarities he succeeded in obtaining numerous specimens of the beautiful shell that appears below, and which
was met witli in tolerable plenty on the shores of the Pacific. It belongs to the curious genus Venus, and
altliough not new to concliologists, is but seldom to be seen in their collections, in its perfect state. "When
in its zenitli tlie colours exliibit a pretty combination of lilac and while.
St!
• AflLT «lioi hiu been «tiled of the dose iimilitudc between tiie ii
/iijffoyi, tmul nol he »urpriicd (a sou tlicm prodiuing flowers of Odonlogl
ir friends I'ho hAve received from lu bulbs uf Oncidium
I j