460 
Arcadian mountains presented them with the true 
ancient misselto, Loranthus europeus, which still 
serves to make birdlime ; whilst our misseltoe, Vzs- 
cum album, in Greece grows only on the silver fir. 
May not this circumstance,” he continues, “‘ account 
for the old preference of such misseltoe as grows 
on the oak, among the ancient Britons, and conse- 
quently help us to trace the origin of their super- 
stition to Greece r” 
In illustration of the foregoing narrative, the fol- 
lowing letters from Dr. Sibthorp and Mr. Hawkins 
will not be found uninteresting to the reader. 
Professor Sibthorp to J. E.. Smith. 
Dear Sir, Pera, Aug. 9th, 1794. 
I am glad you have safely received the Flora 
Oxoniensis: it was hastily drawn up; and, pressed 
for time, I had no leisure to give it what I could 
much have wished, for I fear it much wants a cor- 
recter form. I can only say this, that it contains 
only such plants as I have seen: I could have added 
more from the catalogue of Camden and others ; 
but I was scrupulous, and wished to bear testimony 
only of those things I had seen. I recollect jocosely 
having proposed to you a botanical conversation, 
in which it should be debated in a council of bota- 
nists, what should be admitted and what rejected. 
I think the latter classes of the Linnean system 
are advantageously melted down amongst the others ; 
but they have gone such. lengths lately in Germany, 
in mixing and compounding the Linnean system, 
as almost to have spoilt its shape and form. I dis- 
