NOTE BOOKS. 127 



had a fair innings against immoderately wide-angled objectives, 

 we shall get a corrected abstract for easy reference. 



W. Teasdale. 



Section of Medicinal Leech. — I congratulate Dr. Parsons 

 (p. 123) on his highly intelligent inquest on the body of this an?ielid. 

 A superficial observer would probably have contented himself by 

 saying that (both extremities being wanting) he could make neither 

 head nor tail of it. In the absence of any note as to how it came 

 into the box, we are left in doubt as to whether this crimson wor/n 

 is to be considered an a/ia/o/^iiui/ slide, taking high and confident 

 rank above little bits of insects and "such common things," or not. 

 Previous contributions from the same source led me to suppose we 

 were to draw the line of anatomical distinction, so as to exclude 

 all animals without the dignity of a back-bone. Possibly, profes- 

 sional sympathy with his humble and useful coadjutor in the 

 healing art, may dispose its owner to give the Medicinal Leech 

 such a brevet rank above its strict zoological status. 



Washington Teasdale. 



Sonneratia. — This plant was introduced to English horticul- 

 ture about fifty years ago^ and its cultivation as a stove evergreen 

 has not been kept up. Its botanical status is somewhat uncer- 

 tain. Accepting the name the elder Linneus conferred upon it, 

 Rhizophora Cassiolaris, it is a Mangrove, and where the Mangrove 

 grows so does it in rich luxuriance. The younger Linneus is 

 sponsor for the name under discussion. He gave it in honour of 

 M. Sonnerat, and so preserved the name of a worthy botanical 

 traveller from oblivion ; but in so doing he makes it a Myrtle, and 

 by observed peculiarity of inflorescence or fructification, its first- 

 cousinship to the Pomegranite is not only claimed, but, according 

 to present prevalent authority, is acknowledged. The plant has a 

 high economic value, and even an aesthetic one ; but what con- 

 cerns microscopists is , its minute structural peculiarity. In 

 Bombay it is known under the native name of Teiuar. It is 

 equally abundant in the Loondubunds, on the other side ; but, no 

 doubt, has a different name at Calcutta. 



W. Teasdale. 



Ditto. — In Calcutta the strong, close-grained wood oi Sormera- 

 tia apetala is used for making packing cases for beer and wine. 



E. E. Jarrett. 



Castor Oil for Mounting. — 1 would suggest that instead of 

 using this medium for Mounted Crystals where C. Balsam changes 

 their character or dissolves them, Glycerine should be used. 



W. Sargant, Jun. 



