128 ` NOTICES OF BOOKS. « 
September to November—the face of the country glitters with the 
blossoms of these beautiful bulbs. Countless species of Ivia, of Gladi- 
olus, of Watsonia, of Babiana, of Sparavis, and many other genera of 
this family, spring up one after another as the season advances, until 
the hills and meadows are painted with rainbow colours :—the Jzia, 
orange, pink, and white; the Watsonia, rose-coloured ; Babiana and 
Aristea, blue ; and Gladiolus and Sparazis, tinted with every shade of 
colour, diversify the picture; while Hesperantha (the Avond-bloomjie 
of the colonists), opening her pale flowers late in the evening, perfumes 
the air with her delicious aroma, like that of the night-blowing Stock.” 
Plate II. exhibits a groupe of Jridee. Each separate kind is noticed 
in a popular, yet not unscientific, manner, and additional remarks on 
the family are given. From these we learn that the bulbs of most of 
the Ixias are eatable, and regularly brought to market: they contain a 
large amount of starch, and, when boiled or roasted and served as 
chestnuts, are not unpalatable. Plate III. A groupe of Sparaxis, with 
further and exceedingly interesting observations on the Zridee, especially 
concerning their endurance of drought and heat, and the magic change 
which a few days’ rain or even a heavy thunder-storm effects upon the 
vegetation in the Karroo, where “from the burnt soil start up, almost 
with the rapidity of Jonah's gourd, flowers of the most glowing tint, 
and foliage of the tenderest green." This groupe is particularly splendid 
in the colours. Plate IV. Liparia sericea, which gives occasion for 
Dr. Harvey’s excellent observations on the Leguminose of South Africa. 
This is an admirable plate. Plate V. The noble Brunsvigia multiflora, 
of the Amaryllideous family, here discussed, and of which above one hun- 
dred species have been discovered in this part of the world. Plate VI. 
Leucospermum and Protea, with observations on the Proteaceous family, 
so abundant in South Africa and in Australia. Plate VII. represents 
the truly magnificent Protea mellifera; and a charming description is 
given, full of interest to the philosopher and to the lover of nature. 
Plate VIII. Protea cynaroides, in bud, the bud half open, and the 
fully expanded head of flowers.—This terminates the volume, save the 
figure of Roupellia grata, Wall. and Hook., forming a vignette at the 
close of the last page ;—an African plant (the cream-fruit of the colo- 
nists of Sierra Leone), and eminently deserving of bearing the name of 
a family which, in this and in other ways, have rendered service to 
science and to mankind. 
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