62 



not really so noxious as was made to appear. Jacquin a French 

 Botanist reports that " lie and his companions reposed for three hours 

 under the trees without injury, and the rain dropping from the leaves 

 is perfectly innocent.^' 



Sloane who wrote in 1725, Brown in 1756, Barham in 1794, and 

 Lunan in 1814, all make mention of the tree and its reputed pro- 

 perties. 



The latter writes as follows : — 



" The stories related of the fruit or apple of this tree are certainly 

 *' to be classed among vulgar errors. The romantic tales of the early 

 "voyageurs and travellers into America have been copied by different 

 " writers ; and the credibility of their relations, thus built upon a 

 " series of such frail authorities has at length been received as 

 " authentic and indisputable." After relating several experiments, &c., 

 Lunan concludes as follows : — 



" It is plain from hence, that the tree and unripe fruit contain 

 " an acrid juice which operates like other materials of a like nature, 

 " exciting heat, irritation, and thirst, when swallowed and received 

 " into the stomach, producing such a pungency on the throat, and 

 " tender nervous cords exposed to its action, as greatly to disorder the 

 " whole frame, and bring on very bad symptoms and sometimes death; 

 " but that the juice when matured and concocted — as we find it in 

 " the ripe fruit, loses much of its acrimony and though still 

 " unpleasant in its operation upon the bowels does not produce mortal 

 " effects." 



Goats and Sheep are known to feed plentifully upon the ripe 

 fallen fruit and sufi'er no injury from it. 



" The wood makes very handsome furniture resembling wainscot." 



131.-NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. -6. 



Caccotrypes dactyliperda, Fabr. is the name of a small beetle 

 which arrived in the Gardens in the seeds of a date (Phcenix) received 

 from Calcutta. Professor Blandford states it to be a very well known 

 inhabitant of dates and many other seeds of the Palmte. 



No. 7. -Habit of a Beetle. 



In the neighbourhood of Port-of-Spain at certain times of the 

 year, small holes are generally to be observed in any clear piece of 

 ground uncovered by pasture. These afford great amusement to 



