MB. T. C. ARCHER ON AFRICAN COPALS. 151 



lateraliter ovoideum, compression, 2-4-ovulatum ; stylo ejusdem fere lon- 

 gitudinis, in alabastro spiraliter involuto; stigmate obtuso. Legumen 

 ignotum. 



Extract of a Letter from Thomas C. Archer, Esq., dated " Liver- 

 pool Eoyal Institution, 20tk Nov., 1856," to Thomas Bell, 

 Esq., Pres. L.S. 



[Read December 2nd, 1856.] 



In one of the newspaper reports of a recent meeting of the Lin- 

 nean Society, I read with much interest some remarks by Dr. W. 

 F. Daniell on the Kobo-tree of Sierra Leone (Guibowtia, Bennett). 

 To the observations of Dr. Daniell, I can add one or two which 

 may be acceptable to your botanical Members. 



The gum-resin which Dr. Daniell speaks of as being collected 

 from Guibourtia copallifera is probably one of three kinds which 

 are very largely imported into Liverpool under the names of 

 African Copal, African Yellow-gum, and African Bed-gum, speci- 

 mens of which I shall have much pleasure in forwarding to you if 

 they would be acceptable. They differ very much in appearance, 

 and I believe in value. The first is in rounded tears of variable 

 size, but usually large, often very transparent, but rather dull on 

 their surfaces ; the colour a pale straw-yellow. The other two are 

 in masses which are fragmentary in appearance, the yellow one 

 usually less so than the red ; the latter is often rendered yellowish 

 in colour by adherent dust. The yellow sort is often semi-opaline 

 from a milkiness which exists in some of the masses. I have seen 

 one piece (evidently only a portion of a gigantic tear) which 

 weighed nearly three pounds. The usual size of the fragments is 

 that of a hen's egg. The colour of the red kind is rather redder 

 than the oriental topaz, and may be called a reddish-yellow. The 

 quantity of these gums received in this port is enormous, when we 

 reflect upon the labour required for the collection of such pro- 

 ducts : more than 150 tons were imported in 1855 ; the whole of 

 which I believe is consumed in the manufacture of varnishes, under 

 the general name of Copal. 



Trusting these remarks may not be out of place, 

 I remain, dear Sir, 



Yours faithfully, 



Thos. C. Archer. 



