VI 



than that of the Lepidopterae. Examples are not wan- 

 ting of birds which have crossed over great distances in a 

 short time. The birds which have lately been seen in 

 Mauritius belong to two species of the genus Falco. The 

 F. Concolor, a native of Europe^ Africa and Madagascar, 

 and the large Falcon, F. Communis^ vel peregrinus Li?i, a 

 bird which is found all over the world with the exception 

 of South Africa where it is replaced by a smaller species F 

 minor, America by F. Anatum, and Australasia by F. 

 Melanogemjs, 



The visits of Madagascar birds to Mauritius occurred 

 at several intervals. The Eurystomus Madagascariensis 

 had been seen some thirty or forty years ago, and is now 

 and then seen here. 



A plant which has long since been in high repute in 

 Peru has just been sent from the Gardens of Kew to the 

 Pamplemousses Gardens — the Erythroxijlon Cocoa. Men 

 who have to undergo heavy toils or to perform long jour- 

 nies provide themselves with the leaves which have a pun- 

 gent flavour. They keep continually chewing themj and 

 are said to be thereby enabled to bear up against fatigue. 



There is also another plant to be foundj which has 

 existed in the island for a great many years. It grows 

 wild in the fields and yields a fruit resembling a small 

 cucumber. The plant long remained unknown to English 

 botanists, and it is only lately that fresh seeds having 

 been obtained in London, the plant has beeu examined 

 and determined. It is the Cucumis Anguria, and we read 

 in the Gardener's Chronicle : " Seeds of Cucumis Angu- 

 " Wa, a plant which for some time was a puzzle to Bota- 

 " nists, were received at the Royal Horticultural Society's 

 " Garden at Chiswick, iVom Messrs. Vilmorin, and were 

 " widely distributed last spring. 



* Was killed at Mahebourg, and it looked exhausted. 



