322 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



eight hours after the poison had been taken into the stomach ; when 

 the usual poisonous effects were manifested. This fact is explained 

 by the discovery that the woorara is not absorbed from the alimentary 

 mucous membrane. So long as the mucous membrane retains its in- 

 tegrity, the woorara solution does not pass through the endosmometer. 

 Other mucous membranes present the same result, the pulmonary one 

 being the only exception. A few drops of the solution introduced 

 into the air passages produce the same morbid effects, and the same 

 rapidity of death ensues as if it had been inserted beneath the skin. 



THE UPAS TREE. 



A CORRESPONDENT of the New York Post, writing from Borneo, 

 gives the following account of the upas tree : Below Bruni is a real 

 upas tree ; it is spoken of in Keppel's work. It is a magnificent tree, 

 about two feet or more in diameter, and rising sixty feet without a 

 branch ; there it spreads with a dense green foliage. The trunk is 

 smooth, and of a dirty silvery color. Upon wounding it, a milky se- 

 cretion exudes rapidly. This is mixed with other juices, and used as 

 a poison for arrows. Except when taken internally, or thrown into 

 the circulation through a wound, I believe it is perfectly harmless. 

 I tried to get enough for a cane, but could not. The only way we ob- 

 tained the leaves was by shooting our guns into the lofty branches. 



FLORA OF THE DATE COUNTRY AND SAHARA. 



M. D'ESCEYRAC DE LAUTURE has announced to the French Acade- 

 my his return from a journey to the date country and Sahara, with a 

 collection of about two hundred species of plants, forming the peculiar 

 flora of the Great Desert, and of the region of the oases. Besides the 

 male date, Dokkar, M. d'Esceyrac has determined about thirty princi- 

 pal varieties of the date tree, among which he particularly mentions 

 the Menakher, which yields fruit the length of the finger, which is 

 very rare and of high price ; the Degle, the tallest and most majestic, 

 whose fruit is commonly brought to Europe, and is eaten in the coun- 

 try by the wealthy classes ; the Halig, which yields food to the poor ; 

 and, lastly, the Ammeri and Saroti, whose flowers are rarely fruitful. 

 ISInstitut, No. 821. 



MARINE FLORA OF THE ATLANTIC STATES. 



AT the American Association, Charleston, S. C., Prof. Harvey, of 

 Dublin, stated that there exists a greater degree of similarity in the 

 marine Flora of the two sides of the Atlantic than in their marine 

 Fauna, from the facility with which the spores of the Algae may be 

 transported to a great distance by natural agencies. But, from the 

 rise of the isothermal lines on the European side, the species of low 

 latitudes in America are similar to those of higher latitudes in Eu- 

 rope ; those of Key West, for instance, in lat. 24, are similar to 

 those of the Mediterranean. It is not yet possible to mark out with 



