Dr Hancock on Resinous and Balsamic substances. 233 



am unable to ascertain whether the black chinned individual 

 was a C murarius in the winter plumage (about which very 

 little is I believe known), or a different and perhaps a new spe- 

 cies. This bird is stationary here^ and simply, I imagine, be- 

 cause it is equally well supplied with the food throughout the 

 year. It builds in rocks, and abounds most on the Serras. 

 I have therefore had but few opportunities of inquiring into 

 its habits; and my principal object in naming it now, is to in- 

 vite information respecting its winter plumage, and to ask 

 whether the St Domingo swallow of Erisson and Bajon men- 

 tioned in Buffon, be a Cypselus or Hirundo ; for if the former, 

 some mutual assistance may perhaps be afforded by it and 

 ours, in elucidating one another. 



Aet. V. — Observations on certain Resinous and Balsamic 

 substances found in Guiana. By Dr Hancock.* Com- 

 municated by the Author. 



Car AN A. — The Achaiari of the Caribs, Macosis, and other 



tribes. 

 This gum resin exudes spontaneously from the ackaiari tree 



• In justice to Dr Hancock's labours, we beg to quote the following ac- 

 couut of them from Lord Stanhope's address to the Medico- Botanical So- 

 ciety. " Many interesting and important papers have, during the last 

 year, been read at your meetings, and that which, without any disparage- 

 ment to the others, claims the preference, and is entitled to the gold me- 

 dal which your council has awarded, is the communication of Dr Hancock 

 on the Angustura bark tree, which, as you are well aware, is imported in 

 considerable quantities and employed with great advantage. This had er- 

 roneously been named Bonplandia trifuliata ; but was first ascertained by 

 Dr Hancock to belong to a neighbouring genus, and is now termed by him 

 Galipea officinalis. This great and valuable discovery, which affords an addi- 

 tional proof of the extreme utility of botany to tlie materia medica, de- 

 serves your grateful acknowledgment ; and the importance of his com- 

 munication is very much enhanced by his having employed the Angustura 

 bark with great success in cases of contagious disorders. It affords me 

 particular satisfaction, that we have the pleasure of seeing Dr Hancock 

 on this occasion, and that I have the opportunity of thanking him in the 

 name of the Society, of expressing our respect for his talents, our admira- 

 tion of his exertions, and our earnest hopes that we shall often benefit by 

 his assistance, and often receive his instructive and excellent communica- 

 tions, and of offering to him our best wishes for his prosperity, for the 



