Dec. 25. 1852.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



617 



which is nearly allied to the palms, or, according to 

 Endlicher, to the Pandanem. Ruiz and Pavon call it 

 Phytelephas. Willdenow terms it Elephantusia. It 

 grows, according to Humboldt, in the interior of 

 S. America, and not on the Mascara Islands, as stated 

 by Morren. It (the nut) consists externally of four 

 envelopes of differently-formed parenchyma ; then fol- 

 lows the albumen, the proper so-called vegetable ivory, 

 which is externally dense and white, and of a remark- 

 able structure. We find, namely, towards the circum- 

 ference, cavities of irregular form ; they then become 

 six-sided, and, when seen in section, short straight 

 canals run out from each angle. The cavities have a 

 quincunxial arrangement. All the rest appears, when 

 strongly magnified, a dense substance. But when a 

 drop of Canada balsam is added, we see distinctly that 

 the dense substance consists of parenchyma, and that 

 the cavities communicate by the broader extremities of 

 their branches. The internal structure resembles that 

 of water plants ; and the different density and firmness 

 might probably arise from the delicacy of the com- 

 pressed parenchyma." — Reports and Papers on Botany, 

 Ray Society, 1845, pp. 396-7. 



K. W. F. 



Misprint in Prayer-Books (Vol. tI., p. 520.). — 

 In the accurate reprint of the authorised version, 

 according to the edition of 1611, given in Bagster's 

 Critical Greek and English New Testament, the 

 words " of God " are omitted in 1 St. John, v. 12. 

 It would appear, therefore, that the Prayer-Books 

 that leave them out in the " Epistle for the First 

 Sunday after Easter" are in one sense the more 

 correct, though merely following an oversight of 

 the translators. A. A. D. 



The Fern Osmunda (Vol. ii., p. 199. ; Vol. vi., 

 p. 272.). — As the propounder of the Query con- 

 cerning this beautiful fern, allow me to quote a 

 choice passage from Wordsworth's Poems on the 

 Naming of Places, in which the name is derived 

 from a " Queen Osmunda," a poetical fancy 

 perhaps : 



" Many such there are. 

 Fair ferns and flowers, and chiefly that tall fern, 

 So stately, of the qiieen Osmunda named ; 

 Plant lovelier, in its own retired abode 

 On Grasmere's beach, than Naiad by the side 

 Of Grecian brook, or Lady of the Mere, 

 Sole-sitting by the shores of old romance." 



J. M. B. 



NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC. 

 The lovers of Pictorial Art, and more especially 

 those who view with delight its application to sacred 

 subjects, will hear with satisfaction that Mrs. Jameson's 

 long-promised third series of Sacred and Legendary Art 

 is at length published. It is entitled Legends of the 

 Madonna as represented in the Fine Arts, and is distin- 

 guished by the same excellencies and characteristics — ■ 

 the same sound critical taste and loving appreciation 

 of the feeling of reverence for their subjects by which 



the early artists were inspired — which gained for its 

 predecessors, the Legends of Saints and Martyrs, and 

 Legends of the Monastic Orders, so favourable a recep- 

 tion. In treating of Her of whom Wordsworth sang 

 as — 



" Woman, above all women glorified," 

 in a manner to avoid giving offence to some religious 

 feeling, Mrs. Jameson has had a task of no ordinary 

 difficulty ; for, as she well observes, it is impossible 

 " to treat of the representations of the Blessed Virgin 

 without touching on doctrines such as constitute the 

 principal differences between the creeds of Christen- 

 dom." "Not for worlds," she continues, "would 

 I be guilty of a scoffing allusion to any belief, or any 

 objects held sacred by sincere and earnest hearts ; 

 but neither has it been possible for me to write in a 

 tone of acquiescence, where I altogether differ in feel- 

 ing and opinion. On this point I shall need and feel 

 sure that I shall obtain the generous construction of 

 readers of all persuasions." Of this we have no doubt ; 

 as little have we that though those, who pore over her 

 deeply interesting and profusely illustrated pages, may 

 regret, on Mrs. Jameson's account, the cause which led 

 her to relinquish the etchings upon copper, will acknow- 

 ledge that the volume is altogether embellished in a 

 manner in the highest degree satisfactory. 



Tlie new edition of the Diary and Correspondence of 

 John Evelyn has just been completed by the publica- 

 tion of the third and fourth volumes. The great his- 

 torical value of this work has already been so univer- 

 sally recognised, th;it it may seem unnecessary to direct 

 attention to its republication. But this is not only a 

 new, but by far the best edition, for it contains up- 

 wards of one hundred and thirty letters hitherto in- 

 edited, besides the private correspondence between 

 Charles I. and his Secretary Sir E. Nicholas, &c. ; and 

 an Index which has been so carefully and conipletely 

 made, as to ba alone capable of giving value to the 

 book. 



Christmas-tide; its History, Festivities, and Carols, 

 by W. Sandys, F.S.A., is certainly published at a most 

 appropriate period. Its editor has long been favour- 

 ably known by his Specimens of Macaronic Poetry, and 

 his admirable Collection of Christmas Carols : a book 

 now, we believe, entirely out of print, and very rarely 

 to be met with. The present volume has many claims 

 to attention and commendation. In the first place, it 

 traces and illustrates, by much original research, the 

 history of Christmas, its observances and festivities : 

 and many a query started in the family circle during 

 the ensuing twelve days may find a pleasant solution 

 in Mr, Sandys' pages ; while, as Carols are perhaps 

 the most striking and touching remains of the Christ- 

 mas of old times, Mr. Sandys has given us a selection 

 of no fewer than forty-two of various character, and 

 twelve of the most favourite Tunes to which they were 

 formerly sung. 



We beg to remind our Photographic Readers that 

 an Exhibition of Works in the various branches of this 

 interesting Art, isnow opened at the rooms of the Society 

 of Arts in the Adelphi. We shall endeavour to preserve 

 some record of it in our columns. 



Books Received. — The Emigrant, by Francis B. 

 Head, Bart, This, the sixth edition of these graphic 



