364 Scientific Intelligence-^Miscellaneous. 



throughout the year, but are in greatest abundance during tlie rainy 

 season. The Falo cle Velas belongs to the natural order Crescen- 

 t/'cicece, and is a Parmentiera^ of which genus, hitherto, only one 

 species, the P. edulis, De Cand., was known to exist. The fruit of 

 the latter, called Quanhscilote, is eaten by the Mexicans ; while that 

 of the former serves for food to numerous herds of cattle. Bullocks, 

 especially if fed with the fruit of this tree, Guinea-grass, and Bata- 

 tilla (Ipomcea hrachypoda, Benth.), soon get fat. It is generally 

 admitted, however, that the meat partakes in some degree of the 

 peculiar apple-like smell of the fruit; but this is by no means dis- 

 agreeable, and easily prevented, if, for a few days previous to the kill- 

 ing of the animal, the food is changed. The tree produces its prin- 

 cipal harvest during the dry season, when all the herbaceous vegeta- 

 tion is burned up ; and on that account its cultivation in tropical 

 countries is especially to be recommended ; a few acres of it would 

 effectually prevent that want of foddei', which is always most severely 

 felt after the periodical rains have ceased. — (Jlooker's Journal of 

 Botany?) -^ ^^-' --' ■-' 



A'! 



^^'^ '*^ "MISCELLAJN^EOUS. 



7' 



13. The Sources of the Nile. — At the labt meeting of the Bombay 

 Geographical Society, a paper was read by Mr John Smith on the 

 discoveries made by the East African Missionaries on what appear 

 to be the Sources of the Nile. This mysterious river is said to 

 arise from two lakes, one of which is of great dimensions nearly under 

 the line, and they seem fed by the melting snows of the gigantic 

 range, which rises to the altitude of 22,000 feet at least, close by. 

 The description of this long looked for locality coincides exactly with 

 that given of it by Ptolemy, tw^o thousand years ago. — (^The Bombay 

 Times, February 18th 1852.) 



14. Bonpland the Botanist. — An American traveller has sent 

 an account to the Geographical Society at Paris, of his meeting with 

 M. Bonpland, Humboldt's celebrated companion, near San Borga, 

 where he lives happily with his family, constantly making additions 

 to his Herbarium, which he considers as belonging to Fiance, and 

 which contains at least 3000 plants ; the collecting of it seems to 

 have obliterated the bitterness of his forced detention byDr Francia. 

 — (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. xxi., p. 93.) 



15. TAe Shortening of Voyages between the Old and New Worlds. 

 — Much attention has been paid in America towards impinging upon 

 time and space, as respects the communication between the Old and 

 the New Worlds ; and especially as to shortening the time of passage 

 between New York and London. The most received project is 

 founded on the fact, that railroads are three times as expeditious as 

 steamers; consequently, instead of embarking at New York, it is 

 proposed that passengers should proceed by land as far eastward as 

 a railroad can be carried — that is, to the utmost verge of Nova 



