158 



in a family, who, after swallowing some of the seeds of Abrus preca- 

 torius, well known as the red West Indian peas, with black specks on 

 them, had been attacked with vomiting, giddiness, and other symp- 

 toms of poisoning. The peas had been swallowed abont three in the 

 afternoon, and the symptoms developed themselves about eight in the 

 evening. Under the use of emetics the children all recovered. It 

 was remarked that considerable difference of opinion exists as to the 

 qualities of these peas. Dr. M'Fadyen in his ' Flora of Jamaica' says, 

 that they are merely indigestible, and not poisonous ; while Lindley 

 and others state that they belong to the narcotic division of Legumi- 

 nous plants. The present case confirms the latter view, and points 

 out the necessity of caution in allowing children to amuse themselves 

 with these seeds. 



Mr. M'Nab gave the following report on the state of vegetation in 

 the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, from the 14th of March till the 10th 

 of April, 1851. He remarked that about a dozen of the plants noted 

 as in flower before this time last year, have not yet flowered. 



Dates of Flowering. 



Draba aizoides 

 Puskenia scilloides 

 Leontodon Taraxacum 

 Acacia affinis - 

 Saxifraga oppositi folia 

 Silene pendula - 

 Primula nivalis 

 Scilla bi folia rubra 

 Corydalis solida 

 Vesicaria sinuata 

 Corydalis cava 



„ nobilis 

 Anemone nemorosa 

 Narcissus moschatus 

 Scilla sibirica 



Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus 

 Valerianella congesta 

 Brassica napus- 

 Orobus venosus 

 Hyoscyamus orientalis - 



,, physaloides - 



Saxifraga virginica 

 Anemone horteusis - 

 Narcissus jonquilla 

 Alyssum saxatile - 



