448 Mr. Lambert's Account of the Galls on a Species of Oak. 



assured us, required no application of sulphur to render them combustible." 

 This is probably the same tree that M. Seetzen refers to. But still the corre- 

 spondence to the ancient description is by no means perfect ; there being little 

 resemblance between cotton or thistle-down, and ashes or dust. M. Chateau- 

 briand's golden fruit, full of bitter seed, comes the nearest to what is told us 

 of the deceitful apple. If it be anything more than a fable, it must have been 

 a production peculiar to this part of Palestine, or it would not have excited 

 such general attention. On this account the Oshar and Solanum seem alike 

 unentitled to the distinction ; and for the same reason, the pomegranate must 

 altogether be excluded from consideration. The fruit of the Solanum Melon- 

 gena, which belongs to the same genus as the common potato, is white, 

 resembling a large egg, and is said to impart an agreeable acid flavour to 

 soups and sauces, for the sake of which it is cultivated in the South of Europe. 

 This could hardly be what Tacitus and Josephus referred to. It is possible, 

 indeed, that what they describe may have originated, like the oak-galls in this 

 coimtry, in the work of some insect : for these remarkable productions some- 

 times acquire a considerable size and beauty of colour. Future travellers will 

 I)e inexcusable if they leave this question undecided." 



EXPLANATION OF TAB. XXII. 



Fig. 1. Leaf. 



2. Ditto to show the under side. 



3. Branch bearing a gall. 



4. Gall separate. 



5, 5. Sections of a gall. 



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«rf iJOtJ f'.- 



