226 BRITISH EVERGREENg, 



eight to twelve feet high^ a native of Lower Carolina and Florida 

 in shady swamps, introduced in 1 700; flowers small, of a yellowish 

 white, and are produced in August. The leaves and young shoots 

 are used by the Indians for the same purpose as those of I. vomitoria 

 and 1. Dnhoon. This is also the /, Caroliniana of Mill. Diet., No. 3, 

 and the I. Cassinoides of Link, Under these two names they are 

 frequently sold as distinct species, though one and the same. 

 Ilex castaneifolia. — Chesnut-leaved Holly. 



" Canariensis. — The Canary Island Holly; leaves ovate, lanceolate, rather 

 acute, entire, glossy; fruit black; introduced in 1820. 



" Chinensis.— (Bot: Mag:, 2043.) Native of China, introduced in 1814; 

 an evergreen tree about twenty feet high. 



" Cornuta. — Horned leaved Holly, native of the North of China; introduced 

 by our friend Mr. R. Fortune, in 1849. The leaves are deep green, 

 leathery, oblong, roundish at the base, and end in three strong spines at 

 the apex; while the plant is young there are added one or two more 

 on each side. In old plants these disappear, while the end spines 

 will occasionally extend, turn up their edges, and assume the appear- 

 ance of strong horns. 



'^ cornuta furcata. — This is another introduction from China, by Mr. Fortune, 

 and although only a variety of the preceding, is perfectly distinct, 

 and is altogether a fine plant. 



" crocea. — The Saffron-flowered Holly; native of the Cape of Good Hope; 

 introduced in 1794. 



" cuneifolia. — A native of North America, of which little is as yet known. 



" crenata. — This species is a native of Japan. 



" Dahoon. — -The Dahoon Holly, a beautiful evergreen shrub from six to 

 eight feet high, found in the open swamps from Carolna to Florida; 

 introduced in 1726. Flowers in May and June; leaves, lanceolately 

 elliptical, nearly entire, almost revolute in the margin, resembling 

 those of Laurus Borhonia. In America the leaves are used for the 

 same purpose as those of I. vomitoria, (which see.) 



5, Middle-Street, Taunton, Somerset, July, 1853, 



(To be continued.) 



MmWumm MiWm, 



Note on the maternal affection of the Otter, (Lutra vulgaris.)— An instance of maternal 

 affection in the Otter worthy of record, occun-ed here a few years since. A coast guardman, in 

 his round of duty at night, came npon thixje young Otters in a lane leading to the beach, and 

 gave chase; throwing his stick at them, he struck and stunned one, the other two escaping 

 through a gutter-hole. On taking it up it soon came to, and began to squeal, which presently 

 brought the old one to its assistance. She kept just before him, out of reach of his stick, and 

 in this way retreated down the beach, whilst he held the young one in one hand, and endeavoured 

 to strike her with the other. The poor animal now took to the water, and he ensconced himself 



