384 BOTANICAL NEWS. 
lines from Ovid’s Thirteenth Epistle of the Fourth Book, ** Ex Ponto," 
which, as far as we are aware, have not been previously cited with this 
view :— 7" . 
* Ah pudet! et Getico scripsi sermone libellum ;” 
and— 
“Hee ubi non patria perlegi scripta Camena.” 
Now, although the belief is general that Ulphilas constructed the 
Gothic alphabet on the basis of the Greek in the fourth century, we 
have here more than presumptive proof of the existence of Gothic 
writing at a much earlier period; for it is not at all probable that | 
Ovid undertook the difficult task of adapting the Roman characters, 
simply for his own use, to the Gothic language in which he wrote. 
What a treasure his panegyric on Augustus, * sermone Getico," would 
have been to the antiquarian philologist, had it been preserved along 
with his other writings to the present day ! 
BOTANICAL NEWS. 
Mr. Black, the Curator of the Kew Herbaria, whose courtesy and ready 
assistance to those who consulted these collections are beyond praise, has been 
appointed Superintendent of the Botanic Garden at Bangalore 
A number of scientific men,—among them Messrs. Bentham, Currey, and 
= EO 1 the manner in which = progress of science and the 
1 in the weekly press inadequate, 
usn held several consultations with the view ot establishing a weekly paper | . 
which would afford scientific men the means of communication between 
themselves and the public; but, on mature consideration, they have resolved to 
abandon the project, and join the scientific staff of the ‘Reader.’ 
umber of Chinchona plants on the Neilgherry hills on October 
Ist, was 233,476; the propagation during the previous month having been 
15,874. The height of the largest plant was 9 ft. 6 in., the circumference of its 
stem, 6 in. above the ground, and the green bark on this stem is nearly half an 
oh thick; 
Dr. Lankester has resigned the post of e aA in Botany to the Science i 
and Art Department at the South Kensington Muse 
Mr. Gustay Mann has been appointed Superintendent of the Chinchona | 
plantations in Darjeeling, under Dr, Anderso 
Dr. 
Welwitsch, the African explorer, b arrived in London with a view of - 
arranging and describing his large collection of dried plants from the parts h he 
has visited, 
Professor Schleiden has been elected to the chair of Botany and Apr ; 
logy at Dorpat University. 
