Scientific Intelligence. — Meteorology. 191 



face, spreading when in flower. Stamens 9 fertile, the 6 outer 

 in two rows, having introrse anthers, the 3 inner forming the 

 third whorl, having extrorse anthers, and each bearing at the 

 base of the filaments two very shortly-stalked yellow cordate- 

 ovate glands. The fourth or innermost staminal whorl consists 

 of 3 staminodia or abortive stamens, having yellow heads, which 

 are triangular-cordate in front. Filaments and stalks of the 

 glands and staminodia hairy. Anthers opening by 4 recurved 

 valves. Ovary oblong, as long as the style. Style simple. 

 Stigma capitate. 

 The plant has been in flower in the garden for 2 months. Mr 

 M'Nab states that " the plant is growing freely in a mixture of 

 rough loam and peat, about two parts of the former to one of the 

 latter. It luxuriates in a warm, shady stovehouse, and requires 

 a good deal of water, with frequent syringing amongst the leaves 

 and branches. It may be increased by cuttings, covered with a 

 bell-glass and placed in bottom heat." In Dr Xeill's garden, 

 Canonmills, there is a specimen of this plant twenty years old 

 which has repeatedly flowered. The specimen figured as (Hn- 

 namomum nitidum by Hooker in Exotic Flora, vol. iii., p. 176, 

 and in Hayne's work on Medical Botany, vol. xii., p. 22, as 

 well as that preserved as Laurus nitida in the Hamiltonian Her- 

 barium in the University of Edinburgh, appear to be C. eucalyp- 

 toides of Nees, which has more elliptical and not acuminated 

 leaves. In the last- mentioned species the bark and leaves are 

 said to have rather the taste of cloves, and the glands have dis- 

 tinct stalks. The present species resembles, in the form of its 

 leaves, a variety of the true cinnamon, C. Zeylanicum. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



METEOROLOGY AND HYDROLOGY. 



1. Climate of Italy. — M. Dureau de la Malle closes an elabo- 

 rate investigation into the climate of ancient Italy, with the con- 

 clusion that the limits for different agricultural products were the 

 same in the earlier as in more recent periods ; and that, from the 

 time of Augustus till the present, there has been no sensible modifi- 

 cation of temperature, either as regards the months or years. 



2. Analysis of the Water of the Mediterranean off the Coast of 



France. M. J. Usiglio analysed the water taken from the foot of 



Mount St Clair, about 4000 metres from the port of Cctte. 



100 parts gave, chloride of sodium, 2-9-424 ; bromide of sodium, 

 0-0556; chloride of potassium, 0-0505; chloride of magnesium, 

 0-3219; sulphate of magnesia, 0-2477; sulphate of lime, 0-1357; 

 carbonate of lime, 001 14; peroxide of iron, 00003 ; water, 962345 

 = 100-000. — (Comptes Rendus, October 1848.) 



