308 CORRESPONDENCE. 
PRONUNCIATION OF ScrenTIFIc Names.—In the last number of the 
“Midland Naturalist ” I notice a most useful article by Mr. W. B. Grove 
on the above subject; and as I have taken some pains in my work on 
British Conchology to accentuate the scientific names, I venture to make - 
one or two suggestions to the author of the article. The first is with 
respect to the name of the oyster, ostrea, dorpeov; the e does not represent 
a Greek diphthong. Mr. Grove has twice placed the accent on the 
middle syllable ; but it ought to be on the first syllable, the middle being 
unquestionably short. This quantity is given by all Latin poets, 
Lucilius, Horace, Juvenal, Ovid. A scholar might well stare if he heard 
the name O’strea edu’lis mispronounced by making the middle syllable 
in the first word long, and in the second word short. Polygonum, being 
the name of a plant, is derived from yévv, a knee, and not from ywria, 
an angle; so that the penultimate syllable is properly short. If it had 
been derived from ywyvia, the penultimate syllable would of course be 
long. Polygo’nuwm (a polygon,) as well as trigo’nus, tetrago’nus, pentago’nus, 
and heptago’nus are cases in point. Hypericuin (hypericon, a plant = 
dmepikiv) Clearly has both the middle syllables short; and therefore 
custom has adopted the right pronunciation. I may also mention that 
by the well-known rules of the British Association for zoological nomen- 
clature the names of families should end in ide. It would consequently 
be irregular to say Craniade. See page 271, line 6 from the bottom.— 
J. Gwyn Jurrreys, Ware Priory. 
THe Derouiarion oF ‘TREES AND MRIPENING oF Fruits.—A 
yearly record of observations on the defoliation of our common 
trees and shrubs, the ripening of their fruits, with notes on the quantity 
and quality, can scarcely fail to be of interest and use to many lovers of 
nature. The following notes on the subject may not be unacceptable to 
some other readers of the ‘‘ Midland Naturalist :’—Dewberries, or the 
fruit of Rubus cesius, were this year ripe by August 26th; very few and 
small this year. Summering Apples were ripe about September 4th. 
Limes began to turn yellow by September 7th. A very poor show of 
Blackberries this season; Rubus rhamnifolius and R. corylifolius ripe 
about the 8th, the more common kind, R. discoler by 20th. Drupes more 
harsh and watery than usual. Plums ripened about the second 
week in the month ; a very fair crop. Fruit of Lonicera Xylostewm ripe 
about 17th. Hazel Nuts and Filberts were very plentiful, many 
of them were small and unsound; ripened about 24th. Wild Plums 
ripe by 24th. Sycamore, Walnut, and Lime trees cast their leaves 
about 25th. Fruits of Viburnum Opulus, Lonicera, Solanum,Tamus, Bryonia, 
and Snowberries, (Symphoria racemosa, ) ripened about the end of the monta. 
Apples and Pears, both wild and cultivated, are rather scarce this year, 
although there were a few trees scattered about that bore a fair crop. 
Crabs and Poplar trees cast their leaves about October 8th. Hips and 
Haws ripe by 10th; very few in some places, more in others. Hlder- 
berries ripened about 10th; a very good crop this year. Damsons ripe 
about 14th. Sloes began to ripen by 15th. Many Ash trees are loaded 
with keys, (samare,) which ripened about 18th. The leaves fell from the 
fertile trees before the barren ones. Chestnuts began to fall about 13th ; 
very few, and small. Fruits of Viburnum Lantana, Cornus sanguinea, and 
Ligustrum vulgare ripened about 20th. Beech, Birch, Maple, Alder, 
Chestnut, Elm, and other trees shed their leaves by 24th. Berries of the 
Buckthorn and Spindle trees ripe by the first weekin November. Leaves 
of the Oaks, Aspens, Buckthorn, Hawthorn, Pear, Hazel, and many 
other trees falling in the second week in November. Many of the trees 
began to show their peculiar autumnal hues unusually early this year 
owing to the long continued wet weather.—R. R., Castle Ashby, Novem- 
ber 13th, 1879. 
