184 Dr Graham's List of Rare Plants. 



no matter how fresh. What I have said of their killing and 

 devouring young animals, are sufficient proofs of this ; but it 

 frequently happens that these birds are forced to wait until the 

 hide of their prey will give way to the bill. I have seen a large 

 dead alligator, surrounded by vultures and carrion crows, of 

 which nearly the whole of the flesh was so completely decom- 

 posed before these birds could perforate the tough skin of the 

 monster, that, when at last it took place, their disappointment 

 was apparent, and the matter, in an almost fluid state, abandon- 

 ed by the vultures. 



It was my intention to give you further details respecting this 

 bird in the present letter, particularly of the anatomical struc- 

 ture of its head and stomach, wherein I have had the pleasure of 

 meeting corroborating evidence, through the observations made 

 on the same by a learned anatomist of this city, Dr Knox. My 

 time, however, is at present quite limited ; but I will very soon 

 resume the subject with great pleasure, 



Edinburgh, 1 



Bee. 7. 1826. J 



List of Rare Plants which have Flowered in the Royal Botanic 

 Garden, Edinburgh, during the last three months; with 

 Descriptions of several New Plants. Communicated by 

 Dr Graham. 



lOth December 1826. 

 Aralia spinosa. 



This plant has stood on the open wall three winters, protected partially 

 with broom twigs, but never flowered till the beginning of November 

 last, having nearly reached the top of a wall fourteen feet high. 



Asplenium flabellifolium. 



Aster pulcherrimus. 



Banksia integrifolia. 



Begonia undulata. 



B. undulata ; fruticosa ; foliis inaequaliter cordatis, undulatis, integerrimis, 

 glabris, nitidis ; capsulse alis rotundatis aequalibus. 



DESCRiPTiON.-^.^'^em erect, turgid below, tapering upwards, annular ; 

 when young slightly hispid, green, and having numerous small, oblong 

 white spots ; when older smooth, and of a reddish -grey colour ; branch- 

 ed, branches axillary and alternate. Leaves petioled, alternate, distichous, 

 unequally cordate, smooth and shining, undulate, acuminate, full green 

 on the upper surface, paler and minutely dotted below, 3 inches long ; 

 edges occasionally reddish, especially when young, callous, quite entire, 

 but having a dot, like an obsolete tooth, at the termination of each vein ; 



