256 
by unforeseen consequences. In the Southern States it has spread 
with marvellous rapidity and in such numbers as to be a menace to 
the rice crops. The fish burrow and wallow in the soft mud of the 
rice fields, destroy the roots, and eat the fresh young shoots. 
Government action has had to be taken to reduce the numbers of 
the fish, but up to the present the efforts have not been attended 
with any great success. 
Leuciscus cephalus, “ The Chub.” 
sh of about a pound in weight was seen by the writer rising 
at the flies in the Ha-ha on August 4th, 1906. This is interesting 
owing to the fact that the chub is becoming decidedly scarce— 
indeed it has almost disappeared from the Thames— below 
Teddington. Anglers wishing to make anything of a catch of 
chub in the Thames have to go above Sunbury to attain their 
object. Many years ago it was plentiful even around Old London 
Bridge, but being a lover of pure water it has gradually been 
driven to the upper reaches of the river. This love of pure water 
is not characteristic of many other cyprinoid fish, the carp, for 
instance, seeming to thrive best in water which is thick and muddy. 
Like the carp the chub has pharyngeal teeth, but is not a strict 
vegetarian. It will rise freely to big bushy flies, and at times will 
not disdain a lively minnow. ‘Also it is particularly partial to large 
soft cherries, 
acquired taste. 
XXXIII—DECADES KEWENSES 
PLANTARUM Novarum 1n Hersario Hort Reali 
ONSERVATARUM. 
DECADES LII-LIII, 
A i : 
oA 511. Berberis approximata, Sprague [Berberidaceae]; affinis 
Be dictyophyllae, Franch., a qua foliis plerumq 
flori us multo minoribus, glandulis petalorum approximatis recedit. 
amt juventute pruinosi. Folia Obovata, 0°5-2 em. longa, 
2-10 mm. lata, mucronulata vel obtusa, denticulata vel integra, 
Supra viridia, subtus pruinosa, Spinae graciles, usque ad 1°5 cm. 
long e res solitarii vel bini, pedicellis 4-5 mm. longis. Sepala 
may elliptica, 3-5-4 mm, longa, 2°5-3 mm. lata, interiora late 
= ptico-obovata, 5-6 mm, longa, 3°5-4°5 mm. lata. Petala obovata, 
pe aes > mm. longa, 3-3°5 mm. lata, breviter bifida, glandulis 
: On yy 5 Ovatis approximatis vel contiguis 1-1'5 mm. longis, 
longu mm. latis. Stamina 3°5 mm. longa, Pistilium 3-3°5 mm. 
wngum, Ovario 2-2-5 mm., stylo 0°5-0°75 mm. longo; ovula 5-6 
