192 Scientific Intelligence. — Geology. 



tinually influenced by the same laws of light and heat ; and that 

 it experienced many modifications at the different periods of for- 

 mation and vegetation, before it was disposed into those zones 

 which now exist. 



fiOTANY. 



10» Note on the Native Country of the Potato. By Aylmer 

 Bou&KE Lambert, Esq. F. R. S., A. S. G. S., H. S., and M. R. 

 A. S*, Vice-President of the Linnean Society, &c. &c. — In Nos. 

 19. and 28. of Brande's Journal of Science, and in a separate 

 article on the native country of the potato, inserted in an appen- 

 dix to the second volume of my work on the Coniferce^ I have, 

 already, I trust, satisfactorily shewn, that the potato is truly 

 indigenous to South America, and that the wild plant, which is 

 found in various parts of Peru, Chili, and in the vicinity of 

 Monte Video, is identical with the Solamim tuberosum ; but, as 

 additional facts are always important in a question of this na- 

 ture, I beg to subjoin the following extract of a letter, which I 

 have just received from my friend, Alexander Caldcleugh, Esq., 

 who is at present resident in Chili. The letter is dated San- 

 tiago de Chili, 14th October 18S6. He says, " I have com- 

 pletely satisfied myself about the wild potato. I am now quite 

 convinced that this potato is really nothing more than the Sola- 

 num. tuberosum. I dug up several, and found the tubers few ; 

 some were as large as a pullet''s egg, and deep in the ground. 

 I traced some quite to their origin. They appeared to be all 

 nearly of a size, and I therefore infer, that they do not now 

 grow bigger in the wild state. I ate two of the tubers, and 

 found no bad effects from them, neither did I find them bitter ; 

 but they left a slightly warm sensation in my mouth."''' 



11. Double Cocoa-nut. — For a long time the palm which 

 yields the double cocoa-nut was altogether unknown : the fruit 

 was found either at sea, or cast ashore on the Isle of France, 

 and generally in a state of decay, or perforated by insects, and 

 its origin was considered to be mysterious. It has, however, 

 been completely ascertained that it grows on the Seychelles, a 

 group of islands to the north east of Madagascar ; and it is 

 perhaps the most local plant in the world, being confined to 



