an Encyclopaedia, under the heading 'Couvade.' The house is
'taboo'--called 'pamali' in Borneo--for eight days. Hence the commotion.

CALANTHE HOUSE

For my own part I rank Calanthes among the most charming of flowers, and
in the abstract most people agree with me perhaps. Yet they are
contemned--the natural species--by all professed orchidists; and even
hybrids mostly will be found in holes and corners, where no one is invited
to pause and look at them. There are grand exceptions certainly. In Baron
Schroeder's wondrous collection, the hybrid Calanthes hold a most
honourable place. I have seen them in bloom there filling a big house,
more like flowering shrubs than orchids--a blaze and a mass of colour
almost startling. But these are unique, raised with the utmost care from
the largest and rarest and most brilliant varieties which money unlimited
could discover. The species used for hybridising were, as I understand,
Cal. vestita oculata gigantea with Cal. Regnieri, Sanderiana, and
igneo-oculata--but picked examples, as has been said.

Here we have, among others, _Sandhurstiana_, offspring of Limatodes rosea
x Cal. vest. rubro-oculata. The individual flowers are large, and a spike
may bear as many as forty; brightest crimson, with a large yellow 'eye'
upon the lip. No mortal contemns this.

_Bella_ (Veitchii x Turneri).--Sepals white, petals daintily flushed; lip
somewhat more deeply flushed, with a white patch upon the disc, and in
this a broad spot of the deepest but liveliest crimson.

_Veitchii_ of course; but also the pure white form of Veitchii, which is
by no means a matter of course.

_William Murray_ (vest. rubro-oculata x Williamsii).--A hybrid notably
robust, which is always a recommendation. White sepals and petals, a
crimson patch on the lip, darkest at the throat.

_Florence_ (bella x Veitchii).--Flowers large, of a deep rose, with
purplish rose markings.

_Clive._--The parentage of this hybrid is lost. Petals lively carmine,
sepals paler. Throat yellow, lip white at base with carmine disc.

_Victoria Regina_ (Veitchii x rosea).--The large flowers are all tender
rose, saving a touch of sulphurous yellow at base of the lip.

Phaio-calanthe _Arnoldiae_ is a bi-generic hybrid (C. Regnieri x Phajus
grandifolius).--Sepals and petals yellow; lip rose-pink.

Here also I may mention some interesting Phajus hybrids:--

_Phoebe_ (Sanderianus x Humblotii).--Sepals and petals light fawn-colour
w