MISCELLANEA. 145 



value. Several new species may be instanced, and one entirely new 

 genus, of trees producing the best kind ©f caoutchouc, which is now 

 extracted from them in large quantities by the Brazilians, but which 

 was not in use until Dr. Spruce pointed the trees out on the 

 Eio Negro and elsewhere. His specimens of all these plants are 

 preserved in the principal public and private collections in the world, 

 and are, therefore, perfectly accessible for the purposes of science. 

 A very large collection of cryptogamic plants — perhaps the largest 

 ever made by any single collector — still remains to be worked up. 



Dr. Spruce's MSS. contain, besides notes on all the plants 

 collected, vocabularies of twenty-one native languages of the Amazon 

 valley, meteorological observations, barometric levellings, &c., 

 throughout the regions visited, maps of three rivers which had 

 not previously been surveyed, notes of the aspects and capabilities of 

 the various countries, of the customs, food, trade, and agriculture of 

 their inhabitants." 



3. Natural Histoey in Natal. 



We have received the following letter : — 



4, Corah Terrace, Port Elizaheth, 

 Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, \Uh October j 1864. 



G-ENTLEMEN, — I have been resident in this colony two years, 

 during which time I have given a good deal of time and attention to 

 the Natural History of the country. The nucleus of a small 

 museum is now being increased, and I hope, before many years, it 

 will become a flourishing institution. We have upwards of fifty 

 species of reptiles, a considerable collection of insects, aud a small 

 one of plants. This institution was originally set on foot by Dr. 

 Kubidge of this town, who has devoted a good deal of attention to 

 the Geology of this colony. 



Mr. E. Pinchin, resident engineer, has made an excellent map of 

 a section of this colony, fi'om this Port to Somerset East, through 

 the Zuurberg Mountains. 



I write this letter to you with the hopes of drawing the atten- 

 tion of such men as Messrs. Darwin and Wallace to some interesting 

 caves, which have been discovered here latel}^ some in the George 

 District, and some in the Transvaal Eepublic, a thorough examination 



N.H.R.— 1865. L 



