M7 



SAPAN-WOOD. 



SAPIXDUS. 



caTmlri (Saguiniu Iciureui). 



Cuvier will not allow the Sagouins and Sn'imirls to oe classed 

 together, and indeed he separates the Saimiri above described and 

 figured from the Sagouins, making the Sakis intervene between the 

 forma, He says that in the Saimiri the tail is depressed, and ceases 

 to be prehensile, and that the head is very fiat. He also observes 

 that there it a membranous space in the interorbital partition in the 

 skeleton. 



Of the Sagonins (CdUithrix, Geoff.), he says that they have the tail 

 lender, and that their teeth do not project, remarking that they had 

 for a long time been associated with the Saimiris, but that the head 

 of the Sagouins is higher, and that their canines are shorter. Such, 

 be observes, are the Sagouin h Masque (Callitkrix pcrsonata, Geoff.), 

 and the Sagouin en Deuil or La Veuve (La Viduita, Simia lugau, 

 Htimb.). 



The first of these, Cnllithriz personate (Saguinia perionatui) is 

 grayish-yellow, with the head and the four hands black, and a reddish 

 tail. It is a native of Brazil, where it is found between 18 and 21 

 8. Int., on the banks of rivers. 



The second, CaUMrix lugent (fbguiniu lugens), has the body of a 

 ihining black, with a purplish lustre on some parts : the hair soft 

 and shining. The face has the appearance of a bluish-white square 

 mask, which is surrounded by a narrow margin of a purer tinge, 

 while two stripes of the same colour run from the eyes to the temples. 

 The throat is marked with a band of white, of which colour are the 

 anterior bands on the ontaides, so that they there resemble a pair of 

 white gloves, to which the natives compare them. 



This species, which is the Slacava Cahou of the natives, appears to 

 be extremely rare. Hnmboldt saw only one specimen, and that in 

 the forests bordering the rivers Cassiquiare and Quaviare. It was 

 said to live in pairs ; and this opinion was confirmed by tbe fear and 

 di'likc shown by tbe captive when placed near even some of the most 

 diminutive species of the genus. It was very shy, and was active 

 only when alone. When in the vicinity of persons, though they were 

 occupied in general business, it would remain immoveably attentive 

 to all that passed, refusing food even, notwithstanding a long fast, 

 When alone it* behaviour was very different. If a bird was intro- 

 duced, the monkey was instantly roused at the sight of it, darted 

 upon it like a cat, and swallowed it instantly, its whole habit at such 

 momenta being that of a carnivorous animal. 



8APAN-WOOD. [OBSALriKiA.] 



SAI'HIKIN'K. a Mineral occurring granular disseminated in Anlho- 

 phyllite. The colour is pale-blue or greenish ; streak white. Fracture 

 uneven, conchoidal. Hardness T'O to 8-0. Lustre vitreous. Translucent. 

 Specific gravity 3-42. It is found at Akudlek in Greenland. Its analysis 

 by Stromeycr, gives 



Silica 14-50 



Alumina 73'11 



Magnesia 16-85 



Lime 0-38 



Oiide of Iron 8'92 



Oxide of Manganese O'SS 



Water 0-49 



SAPINDA'CE.E, foap-Worlt, a natural order of Plants belonging 

 to the calycose group of Polypetalons Exogtms. It consist* of trees 

 or shrub*, rarely herbaceous plant*, with erect or climbing stems, 

 with alternate often compound leaves, rarely simple, with or without 

 stipule*, and often marked with lines or pellucid dot*. Their inflo- 

 rescence is racemora or panicnlate, with small white or rose-coloured 

 rarely yellow flower*, which are seldom barren or hermaphrodite. 

 The calyx consist* of 4-6 sepals, slightly cohering at the base. The 

 petals are the same in number as the nepalu, one being occasionally 



abortive. They are in general furnished with a petal-like scale, but 

 are sometimes naked. They have a fleshy glandular disc occasionally 

 occupying the base of the calyx. Tbe stamens are definite, alraut 

 twice the number of the sepals. The filaments are free or slightly 

 connate, the anthers 2-celled. The ovary 3-celled, rarely 2-4 celled, 

 the cells containing 1-2-3 ovule?. Style undivided, or more or less 

 deeply 2- or 3-cleft. The seeds have usually an aril, are without 

 albumen, and have a curved or spirally twisted embryo. They are 

 inhabitants of most parts of the tropics, more especially of .South 

 America and India, They are not found in Europe or the I'nited 

 States of America, One genus is found in Australia, Doilonea. 



This order is closely allied to Aceracea, from which they only differ 

 in their alternate leaves and petals. The number of their stamens 8, 

 with 5 unequal sepals, point out a relation with J'olyyalacca. Their 

 climbing habit and tendency to produce tendrils give them a remote 

 relation to Vilaenr. In this order, although the leaven, bm 

 and other organs act in a deleterious manner, yet their fruit and seeds 

 nre eatable and wholesome. The Litchi and Longan, favourite fruits 

 in China, are produced by the genus Euphoria. These fruits are 

 sweet, with a sub-acid flavour, aud when dried are sometimes brought 

 to this country. They are considered a great luxury in China, and 

 are sent at a great expense from the provinces of Kukicn and Qnan- 

 Tong, where they grow, to Peking, for the consumption of the emperor. 

 Several other genera bear fruits which are very delicious, aud are 

 eattn in Japan and Brazil. Xapindiu is remarkable for bearing a 

 pulpy fruit, the outer part of which has been used, on account of its 

 detergent properties, as a soap. [SAPIXDUS.] Some of the species of 

 this genus also produce eatable fruits. I'auliuia is another genus which 

 has poisonous properties residing in ttie leaves and other parts of the 

 plaut, whilst the fruits are eatable. The whole of the order partakes 

 more or less of these properties. 



a c o 



Euphoria longana. 



a, branch with rccmnc flowers and alternate leaves | li, flower, Knowing the 

 disc, Rtamcna, petals, &c. ; c, transverse section of ovary ; rf, lonRitudinnl 

 section of flower and fruit, showing divided stigma, erect ovules, illsc, prtnls, 

 and calyx . 



SAPINDUS (contracted from Napo Indicia, or Indian Soap), a genus 

 of Plants belonging to the natural order fapimlaenr, which has been 

 so called in consequence of the berries of many of the species being 

 employed for the same purposes as soap. The genus is tropical, con- 

 taining between 20 and 30 species, which are found in the tropical 

 parti both of the Old and New World. It is characterised by having 

 the calyx 4-6-partite ; petals as many as the sepals, a little longer, 

 naked or hairy, or with a scale above the claw ; torus or disc occupying 

 the bottom of the calyx ; stamens 8 to 1 0, inserted between the margin 

 of the disc and ovary ; ovary 3-, rarely 2-cclled ; ovule 1, erect at the 

 base of each cell ; style with a 3-, rarely 2-lobcd stigma ; frtiit fleshy, 

 1-2-, rarely 3-lobed, each lobe 1-2-, rarely 3-sceded, with the seeds 

 furnished with an aril. 



The species consist of trees having leaves without stipules, with 

 the inflorescence in racemes or terminal panicles. Flowers small, 

 white, or greenish-white. Berries all rod and saponaceous, on which 

 account they have been employed for washing woollens and cloths of 

 various kinds in different countries. For instance, in the West Indies 

 and tho continent of America, S. taponarin yields the so-called soap- 

 berries, and in Java, .V. Rarak; so in India several species, as N. acu- 

 minatiu, *>'. Innrifoliiu, *'. rmmf/innha, and S. d&crycnt, yield berries 

 which are called Heetha, and in their dried state may be bought 



