October 169 



this reed appear to have been used as an article 

 of diet, and when stewed and served with a rich 

 kind of sauce it was reckoned, by both Jews and 

 Egyptians, as a table delicacy. 



As I have already remarked, the chief interest 

 which centres in this plant is the fact of its great 

 antiquity. In the British Museum we may see 

 papyrus rolls which were inscribed three thousand 

 years ago. The key to the ancient languages 

 has been discovered, and the learned in such 

 matters can decipher that which was penned 

 in the days when the Israelites were toiling in 

 Egypt, and many deeply-interesting facts concerning 

 Scripture history have in this way been brought to 

 light. 



GALLS 



' The flowery leaf 



Wants not its soft inhabitants. Secure 

 Within its winding citadel, the stone 

 Holds multitudes. But chief the forest boughs, 

 That dance, unnumbered to the playful breeze, 

 The downy orchard, and the melting pulp 

 Of mellow fruit, the nameless nations feed 

 Of evanescent insects.' 



The pretty wild-rose gall, popularly known as 

 Robin's pincushion, or Bedeguar gall (R/wdites 

 rosce), shows itself very conspicuously in the hedges 

 at this season. 



It is like a bunch of finely divided green 

 moss-sprays, brightly tinged with crimson, and 

 is produced by a small four-winged fly, Cynips 

 roscz. 



