23 



upon a sombre ground. In the midst of airy garlands of 

 Aristolochias, Bignonias, Convolvuluses, and Passion-flowers 

 live the Orchidacege, each particular species of which seems 

 to haunt its own peculiar plant. Thus the Epidendrum of the 

 Cinchona refuses to live in the branches of the Lccythis and 

 Couratari, notwithstanding that the seeds of these epiphytes 

 are scattered indiscriminately by the wind. Other tribes 

 again are always from free Orchidaceae, as the huge trunks 

 of Malvaceous trees, Isoras,Carolineas, Plantains, and Palms. 



It is chiefly at the time of flowering that Orchidaceae 

 become remarkable in their native haunts, and then less 

 for the diversity of their forms, or the gaudiness of their 

 colours, than for the exquisite perfume which most of them 

 exhale. It is thus that I have often been led to the disco- 

 very of charming species, lurking amidst the foliage, and 

 which my eye would never have detected. 



Changes of seasons are announced with the greatest regu- 

 larity'' by the Orchidaceous epiphytes, many of which expand 

 their blossoms amidst hurricanes and torrents of rain which 

 deluge the earth at certain seasons ; but seem struck with 

 torpor when the sky recovers its serenity. 



HORSE CHESNUTS POISONOUS. 



It is not often that facts in natural history can be gleaned 

 from novels ; the following note however, furnished by Dr. 

 Bird, upon the ^sculus Ohiotensis figured in this work, 

 plate 51, for the year 1838, is so remarkable that it deserves 

 to be brought under the notice of naturalists ; the more espe- 

 cially because it affords an additional reason for recombining 

 the natural order ^sculacege with the often poisonous Sapin- 

 daceae. 



" The Buck-eye, or American Horse Chesnut, seems to 

 be universally considered in the West a mortal poison; both 

 fruit and leaves. Cattle affected by it, are said to play many 

 remarkable antics, as if intoxicated, turning, twisting, and 

 rolling about and around, until death closes their agonies." — 

 Nick of the Wood, vol. 1 . p. 225. Ji,ngl. ed. 



Pinetum Wohurnense, or a Catalogue of the Coniferous Plants in the col- 

 lection of the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey, systematically 

 arranged. 1839. 



Under the modest title of ''Catalogue" this work, of 

 which only 100 copies have been printed for private distri- 



