70 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



qualities of eagle-wood, and different kinds of resin procurable 

 from it, which vary in value as in name, but, although I carefully 

 searched the bazaars of Madras, Calcutta, Benares, Delhi, Agra, 

 and other large Indian cities, assisted by an interpreter, I failed 

 in obtaining more than one variety of each, and I could not learn 

 that any others were even known. 



The multitude of synonymes, which seem to be the property of 

 eagle-wood and its products, have added, in no small degree, to 

 the confusion which exists regarding it, and the imperfect and often 

 conflicting accounts of travellers have rather increased the mystery 

 than otherwise, and thus have almost nullified the advantage of 

 their researches. On the whole, this interesting subject requires 

 clearing up, and it is to be hoped that, ere long, it will receive 

 the attention it so well deserves. 



I cannot credit the statement that the fragrant wood is only 

 found in trees which are diseased and decaying, for all the speci- 

 mens that I examined were apparently sound and in the most 

 absolute health, with the cells full of the precious and sweet- 

 scented resin. The origin of the scientific names is obvious, but 

 their relevancy is not so clear. 



Capsule of the Frangipanni-Flower Tree (Plumieria 

 alba Jacq.) — The history of this beautiful tree is very roman- 

 tically associated with the visit of Columbus to the West India 

 Islands, and with Mercutio Frangipanni, a botanist of the expe- 

 dition. I find, in Notes and Queries, that Frangipanni lived in 

 1493, was a famous botanist and traveller, and belonged to a 

 noble and celebrated Italian family. When the great explorer's 

 vessel approached Antigua, the sailors observed that a delicious 

 fragrance pervaded the air, and, upon landing, they found the 

 island abounding in plants of Plumieria alba, laden with blossoms, 

 and rich in " odours of Paradise." From the circumstance of 

 Mercutio Frangipanni having expressed his great admiration of 

 this lovely plant, it is called, by the inhabitants of Antigua, the 

 Frangipanni- flower, and from it is distilled the famous essence of 

 the same name. 



This tree was long ago introduced into India, and it is now 

 very plentiful in that country. At Bangalore, in the Mysore 

 territories, no garden is without it, and, although leafless for a 

 considerable portion of the year, it appeared to me to be never 

 entirely out of bloom. When destitute of its rich and elegant 

 foliage,, it is not very attractive, owing to the somewhat peculiar 



