ON THE NOMENCLATTJEE OP THE GENUS BUFFONIA. 183 



lagoons. Inland from the river, Leguminosce are well represented ; 

 I have probably nearly 100 species of this family. JPolygalece are 

 beginning to appear ; eight or nine species of the genus Poly gala 

 occur about Eabba. The curious cucumber-like fruit of two 

 species of Kigelia overhang the river banks ; specimens of each 

 are, I believe, already in the Kew Museum ; but the glory of this 

 family is a large-growing Spatliodea, now covered with flowers as 

 large as the hand, and of a colour only equalled by Bhododendron 

 javanicwn. HubiacecB are abundant ; many handsome shrubs de- 

 serving of cultivation occur in this order. SapotacecB are numerous 

 as trees, and the Mcus tribe are found everywhere. 



Of the little-known Guinea- Peach, Sarcocephalus esculentus, I 

 have both flowers and fruit preserved; the latter is fine-looking, 

 but not very palatable. Of other edible fruits, some species of 

 Spondias are not amiss ; while about seven distinct fruits, known 

 as " plums," are also eaten. At Idda we purchased fruit of a kind 

 of Mango ; the tree producing this could not be seen, but I have 

 preserved several species. 



Of all fibres, gums, dyes, cottons, or manufactured articles, I have 

 procured specimens for the Museum at the Botanic Gardens, like- 

 wise of woods or fruits, whenever space wiU allow : none of these 

 can be sent to England till we return. According to present ar- 

 rangements, I shall probably be rather longer engaged than the term 

 of my appointment indicated when leaving home, a voyage up the 

 Chadda being spoken of when we return down the Kworra ; but 

 unless much improvement takes place in the health of our party, 

 very few I believe will care for another year on an African river. 



In this note I have merely given a rough outline of the vege- 

 tation, in an unconnected form ; it is written hastily in con- 

 sequence of our starting some hours earlier than I expected, 

 therefore much is omitted. 



On the Question whether Linnaeus, in a spirit of ill-will, altered the 

 spelling of the name of the genus Buffonia ? By Mons. A. 

 L. A. Fee, Professor of Botany of the Faculty of Medicine at 

 Strasburg. Communicated by Thomas Mooee, Esq., E.L.S.* 



[Eead February 4th, 1858.] 



The genus Buffonia, of the family of CaryopJiyllece, the type of 



which is Buffonia tenuifolia, remarkable for the facility with which 



* Translated from the French. 



