33 BOTANICAL NOTEs^ NOTICES^ AND QUERIES. [January. 



" This is another of the different words rendered Thorn in our version." 

 The original is Kotz, which may very possibly denote the Ononis spinosa, 

 or Eestharrow, a papilionaceous shrub of a thorny nature, and which, like 

 the Dardar, or Thistle, is in some places a great foe to the farmer. S. B. 



To the Editor of the ' Phjtologist.' 



Sir, — In the 'Gardeners' Chronicle,' August 7, 1858, p. 607, there is 

 an extract from the ' Bulk of the Chronicles of Scotland,' a metrical trans- 

 lation from Boece's Latin and Bellenden's prose History of Scotland. The 

 extract commences thus : — 



" A herb in Scotland groweth laere at hame, 

 Which called is the MiicJclewort by name," etc. 



The poisoning of Sweno's army and the slaughter of the sleepy host, 

 etc., by Macbeth, are related in about a hundred lines similar to the above. 



The editor of the ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' gives implicit credence to this 

 strange relation, and treats it as authenticating an important scientific 

 fact, and as illustrative of the properties of plants or of some plants being 

 known at that early period. If you will give insertion to a short paper on 

 the subject, I will undertake to show your readers that there is no 

 ground whatever for this belief ; that it rests on no better evidence than 

 another Scottish fabulous account, credited by Gerarde, viz. that geese 

 grow on trees in the Hebrides. Antiquxjs. 



Sir, — I enclose a copy of a letter received from the Postmaster-General, 

 respecting the transmission of botanical specimens through the post, 

 which I think may be interesting to some of your readers. E. A. 



(Copy.) " In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, I beg leave to 

 inform you that books, having specimens of dried plants attached to their 

 leaves, may be forwarded under the regulations of the Book Post, but 

 that botanical specimens may not be sent loose through the post. 



" I am, etc., 



" (Signed) F. Hill. 



" General Post- Office, September 21, 1858." 



Communications have been received from 



Charles Howie; A.; W. P. ; P. Y. Brocas ; Querist; E. I. ; Geo. B. 

 Wollaston ; W. Plobkirk ; S. B. ; W. ; J. Stocks ; E. A. ; Antiquus ; J. 

 G. Baker. 



BOOKS EECEIVED FOE, EEYIEW. 

 The Friend. The Critic. 



In p. 510, last line, for G. S. M. read J. S. M. 

 In p. 83, for Lastrea LoncMtis read Polystichum Lonchitis. 



In p. 344, Une 17 from bottom, for Stellaria hypnoides read Saxifraga hypnoides. 

 In p. 454, line 3, for Cheiranthes read Cheiranthus. Linaria micrantha is en- 

 tered twice. 



In p. 597, line 7 from top, for Orchis read OpJirys. 



The article on Huddersfield Plants is by Mr. Stocks, not Mr. Hobkirk. 



