1 68 Scientific Journals. 



leafless when in flower, but leafy when young. — Pimelea drupacea. All 

 these are new and handsome plants. 



The British Flower-Garden, for May, contains four 

 showy hardy plants, and among them Rhododendron 

 arboreum, which grows 20 ft. high, is covered with 

 heads of brilliant scarlet blossoms, and must be 

 one of the most splendid of vegetable productions 

 when in full flower. 



The Number for June contains figures of some 

 very handsome plants, the newest of which is Ci- 

 neraria aurantiaca. {jig. 77.) Very beautiful in re- 

 gard to colours ; the flowers in corymbs, at first 

 of a bright orange brown, changing to a dark orange, 

 afterwards becoming golden yellow, orange-coloured 

 underneath, and very sweet-scented. 



Maund*s Botanic Garden, for May, contains Lidtns 

 (meaning unknown) scariosa (scarious, in allusion to 

 the calyx), a fine purple-flowering, autumnal plant ; 

 and Cdrthamus {quortom, to paint, Arab.; red paint prepared from stamens) 

 tinctorius (tinctorius, dying, from iinctura, a dye ; in allusion to the colour- 

 ing principles of its flowers). The florets are gathered when they begin 

 to expand, and dried on a kiln, for future use in dying. Pink saucers 

 and vegetable rouge are prepared from these flowers, which may be pur- 

 chased from druggists under the name of safflower, in the following man- 

 ner : — " Wash safflower till no stain is given to the water, and then dry 

 it. Of this take half an ounce; infuse it a short time in a pint of water, 

 in which a dram of the subcarbonate of soda has been previously dis- 

 solved ; strain off" the liquid, to which add an ounce of finely levigated 

 French chalk. The alkali will hold the colouring matter of the safflower 

 in solution, and the chalk will remain colourless ; but, by adding a little 

 tartaric or citric acid, the alkali will be neutralised, and the red colouring 

 matter, which is not soluble in simple water, being set at liberty, will fall to 

 the bottom, combined with the chalk. Thus a beautiful pigment is pro- 

 duced, which may be dried and further levigated for spreading on saucers ; 

 or, ground with a drop or two of olive oil, will form the Spanish or vege- 

 table rouge. Liquid pink dye is a similar preparation, with a portion of 

 spirit of wine." This periodical, for June, contains Saponaria ocymoides, 

 Calceolaria pinnata, Veronica Mrticifolia, Dianthus japomcus j all very hand- 

 some plants. 



The Scientific Journals. 

 As these periodicals contain many valuable articles on natural history, 

 we intend noticing them regularly as they appear, for the sake of referring 

 to the articles. Of Brande's Quarterly/ Journal a new series was com- 

 menced above a year ago, with the avowed intention of rendering it more 

 suitable for general readers ,* and, in this respect, it is certainly greatly im- 

 proved. No. v., for April, contains the natural history of the Earwig, by 

 our correspondent, Mr. Main, who has shown that the weapon-Hke appen- 

 dages at the end of the abdomen are not so much intended for defence or 

 offence, as for folding and unfolding the wings of the insect ; and that the 

 vulgar notion of this creature entering the human ear is not founded on 

 fact : anatomists, he says, deny it ; and he adds, with the true feeling of a 

 naturalist, " it is a pity that this is not generally known, as it might defend 

 the constitutionally timid from unnecessary alarm, and give a more favour- 

 able idea of that part of the animal creation, which forms a most necessary 

 link in the chain of being." Achatin^Ua (dim. of achates, an agate; 

 resemblance), a new group of terrestrial shells, is described by another of 



