198 Naturalists Monthly Report. [Sept! 4 ‘i 7 
(as is the case in the specimen here figured) is so lax an appearance as hardly to be distin- 
guishable from those of the former Mr. Andrews’ Latin translation of ‘* Native of Greece,” 
is ‘¢ Habitatin Magna Gracia; and instead of describing the plant, he enters intoa very 
complete description of the Convent of the Virgin of Amorgos, which, from some strange 
mistranslation, as we suppose, he compares to a ‘* Chest of Drawers !” - 
Proeta Abrotanifolia, minor. A handsome variety with trifurcated pointed leaves and small 
terminal head of flowers. 
The last Number of the Paraprsvs Lonpinenst1s, a double one, having that of the 
preceding month united with it, contains Primula sedifolia, the P. or Aretia V italiana of other 
botanists, of which a very pleasing figure is given. If Decandolle had aright to tdke up this 
plant amang his plantes grasses, Mr. Salisbury may be thought equally right in calling it sedi- 
folia: but both these gentlemen seem to have been led astray by Father Gregory’s stupidity, 
who sent the plant in question toColumella, as a new species of Sedum, to which not any 
one part of it hasthe smallest resemblance. 
Erodendrum turbiniflorum, A singular nearly stemless Protea from Mr. Hibbert’s collec. 
tion. The bearded awns of the corollas, we are told, are ‘* frizzled intonas impenetrable a 
fence, as the wigs ef our bishops, and these (the floral wigs, we suppose) must effectually 
put a stop to any such adulterous intercourse as the late Peter Collinson reported to have 
taken place between the flowers of two apple-trees, jn a letter read, by Dr. I. E. Smith, ta 
the Linnean Society. Had such a cemparison been introduced, either to illustrate the in- 
florescence of this’ plant, or even merely with a view of giving to foreign botanists an op- 
portunity, through the medium of Mr. Hooker's figure, of becoming acquainted with a non- 
descript species of wigs, indigenous only to this country, we should not have blamed Mr. Sa- 
lisbury even if he had incorporated it in the specific character of his plant; but we were 
sorry to find it only preparatory to another attack upon the President of the Linnean Society, 
who is informed, that after having publicly blamed Mr. S. for indecorous allusions, it would 
have been more consistent in him to suppress a passage of that nature! What a wretched 
apology for quarreling, and how unskilfully introduced ! 
Although to a certain class of readers, we doubt not but that it is amusing enough to 
find the dull sameness of botanical description now and then enlivened by these polemical 
episodts, we own that it excites in us a melancholy reflections when two. fellow labourers 
in the field of a science, generally supposed rather to harmonize than exaspcrate the mindy 
are seen to fill with squibs and abuse, the pages destined to convey to posterity the-vast dise 
coveries they daily make, and thus to render the memory of their unhappy strife, as eternal. 
as the works they compose ! 
The next figure, and one of the best we have seen, is Lachnzea buxifolia, which is here 
called L. glauca, The dicgression which Mr. Salisbury makes in the text to this plate, is far 
more to the purpose than that of the preceding ; it is on the diversity of opinion among bota- 
nists, whether the flower in the natural order of the Thymelew, should be styled calyx or 
corolla; his reasons are decidedly in favour of corolla. 
Orchis bracteata, changed here into bractealis, The dissections, if we mistake not, are 
drawn by the describer himself, and well executed. ) 
The iast plate, a double one, represents Embothrium speciosissimum of Dr. Smith, which, 
not being considered by Mr. S us of superlative beauty, is by him called speciosum. His ob- 
servation on the division of the corolla, is the same as that of Dr. Sims, and he also remarks, 
that what was called the back of the flower, is really the front; but this issurely dispating 
about words merely. We think the Figure given of the Waratah, in the Botanical Maga- 
zine, is both more correct and better coloured than this. In some native specimens that we 
- bave seen, the bractes are both largerand more numerous. 
‘ 
rere 
NATURALIST’s MONTHLY REPORT. 
JULY. 
Fruiting month. 
- Beyries and pulpous fruits of various kinds, 
The promise of the blooming spring, now yield 
Their rich and wholesome juices. 
> re 
Ee shea? cultry weather withawhich the last month concluded, continued at intervals til 
the middie of the present. On the first, the thermometers in the shade stood as high as 
70°: on the thirteenth it was the samej and on the fourteenth it was as highas 79°. ‘This 
was ceitainly by far the hottest day we have had this year. On the 14th and 15th, we had 
thunder; and in the nights, lightning from the south and south west was remarkably Seid. 
On the 224, in the morning, there were some gentle showers; and from the 26th to the con= 
the montii sufficient rain fell to render the country once more green and pleasant. 
Ie 
clusion of 
— ? i. —" 
Oe ae er, 
ee 
- 
—_—* 
