CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 143 



and methoughts I never beheld so much Christian 

 patience and philosophy in any man before; for he 

 comforted his wife, and condoled nothing but the 

 loss of his papers, which are more lamented than the 

 Alexandrian Library, or Bartholine's Bibliothece, at 

 Copenhagen. 



In my journey from Rome to Naples, I observed that 

 plant commonly called in the physic garden Ficus Indica 

 [Cactus opuntia, Linn.] growing very plentifully on the 

 hill side near the Tre Taberne, as also near the ruins of 

 Old Anxur, and in several other places near the Via Appia, 

 so that it appeared to me like a common wild plant in 

 that country. Afterwards I rode through great woods 

 of corktrees, more especially near Fundi and Old 

 Formise. 



I remember very well I took notice of the Sardina and 

 Sardone* at Rome, calling them always at dinner pilchard 

 and herring. All the English were of my opinion. If 

 I had had your query then, I would have been more 

 curious. I cannot think of any difference, only that 

 which you intimate, magnitude. 



Geneve, April 18, 84, s. ur. 



Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. 



SIR, Most of our herbarists in these parts are em- 

 ployed at present in carrying on the ' Hortus Malabari- 

 cus.' The fifth volume is ready to come forth, and 

 eight more are designed a mighty work of thirteen 

 volumes. Breynius labours hard upon his second cen- 

 tury of exotics ; and I am told that M. Tournefort in- 

 tends to publish a history of some rare plants observed 

 by himself on the Alps and Pyrenean Hills. The 

 Academy Royal at Paris does also go on with their 



* Distinct from herring and pilchard. 



