A B R A X A S-A BSORPTION. 



tera, and the H. Minertus ; they are found in the 

 dung of cattle in the early spring- months. 



ABRAXAS. A genus of insects of the order 

 Leptdoptera, and family Geometrida:. The antennae 

 arc simple, not fringed : body slender : palpi scarcely 

 hirsute : wings, when at rest, extended horizontally, 

 neither angulated nor indented . larva or caterpillar 

 with ten feet. This genus was separated from the 

 Geometria, and named by Dr. Leach. There are 

 three species found in this country ; one of which, 

 the grossulariata, is very destructive to the gooseberry 

 plants in our gardens, and begins to consume the leaves 

 and injure the plants almost as soon as the leaves 

 appear. We should recommend, for the destruction 

 of them, that the plants be examined early in the 

 morning, before the dew is oft 1 or the sun has much 

 power, to seek for or collect them, as they feed at 

 this time, and may be easily detected : poultry will 

 feed on them with avidity, as indeed they will on 

 most caterpillars. 



Ah. grossiilariata, common magpie moth. Wings 

 white, the upper or superior with the base, and streak 

 towards the hinder margin yellow, with six rows of 

 round black spots, more or less confluent ; lower or 

 inferior wings with a few scattered spots in the middle, 

 and a streak of the same beyond the middle, and a 

 row on the hinder margin ; body yellow, with rows of 

 black spots ; expansion of the wings one inch eight 

 lines to two inches ; appears in the perfect state about 

 the end of July. 



Magpie Moth. 



Caterpillar, with ten feet, white, with a yellow line 

 down the side, and numerous rows of black and irre- 

 gular spots and dots. Chrysalis or pupa suspended 

 by a thread, black with yellow bands. 



Chrysalis and Caterpillar. 



Two other species of the genus are found in this 

 country, but they are rare ; one at least is very local, 

 the Ah. uhnata ; it is called the Yorkshire magpie, as 

 hitherto it has almost been confined to that county. 

 The third species, the Ab. pantaria, is very rare, and 

 but few cabinets possess specimens. 



ABROMA (Jaequin). A genus of hothouse ever- 

 green trees. Linnean class and order, Polyadelphia 

 Decandria; Natural order, Byltncriaccw. Calyx of 



one sepal, persistent, cut into five deep clefts ; corolla 

 pentapetalous, concave, arched ; stamina six, united at 

 the base into a globular pitcher ; some of them destitute 

 of anthers ; styles five ; capsule pointed, of five places 

 and five salient angles, opening at the top, with many 

 kidney-shaped seeds. Of this genus two species are 

 described ; viz. A. Augusta, smooth stalked ; and A. 

 Fastuosa, prickly stalked. Both very elegant East 

 Indian shrubs. 



ABRONIA (Jussieu). A genus of evergreen creep- 

 ing perennials, natives of California. Liniucan class 

 and order, Pcnlandria Monogymai .Natural order, 

 Nyctaginece. The flowers are borne on the points of 

 the axillary .peduncles ; calyx tubular, coloured, limb 

 in five divisions , stamens five ; ovary of one place, 

 and one-seeded, forming a five-angled fruit, which is 

 covered by the persisting base of the calyx. There 

 are only two species, viz. Mcllifcra, honey-bearing ; 

 and Umbellata, umbelled. 



ABRUS (Wild Liquorice). A genus belonging to 

 the natural order Leguniinoxa; arid to the Linnaean 

 class and order DiadclpliM Decandria. Generic cha- 

 racter : Calyx of two lips, the upper of one lobe, the 

 lower of three ; corolla irregularly butterfly-shaped ; 

 stamens ten, nine united and one apart ; fruit of one 

 place, filled with beautiful pea-shaped scarlet seed, 

 with a black scar. The only known species is the 

 Ab)-us precatorius, or Prayer Liquorice. This is a de- 

 ciduous climbing plant found in Jamaica, the roots of 

 which are used in the same way as liquorice. It 

 furnishes those scarlet seeds, familiarly known under 

 the name of crabs' eyes, which are worn as necklaces 

 and used as rosaries. From the latter circumstance, 

 the name Precatorius or Prayer has been derived. 

 These seeds are said to be eaten in some countries, 

 but are very indigestible. 



ABSINTHIUM. The old trivial and now the 

 specific name of the common wormwood. It is also 

 the name of one of the sections of the genus Artemisia. 



ABSORPTION. A species of natural action, the 

 knowledge of which is essential to the understanding 

 of a vast number of natural truths, and the explanation 

 of a still greater number of natural phenomena. It is 

 the power which one substance has to receive another, 

 diffused through its mass, without being thereby de- 

 composed. The substance which receives or imbibes 

 the other is called the absorbent, and usually styled 

 the active one ; but the action is reciprocal, though 

 different. 



Absorption takes place in all the kingdoms of 

 nature, though some of them at least are specifically 

 different in each of the three ; and there are many 

 degrees and modifications in each. The action is not 

 very easily defined, but it maybe regarded as one 

 between the surfaces of the small parts of the two- 

 bodies ; and one of the bodies, at least, must be in the 

 fluid state. When the two bodies are in the same state, 

 that is, both liquids or gases, or solids in a minute state 

 of division, there is no absorption, it is mixture ; but 

 a liquid may absorb a gas, and a solid may absorb 

 either. When the denser body unites with or disperses 

 itself through the rarer, as when spirit, oil, or water, is 

 dispersed invisibly through the air, the process, though 

 an important one in the economy of all the kingdoms 

 of nature, is usually described as a chemical one. But 

 in the mere act of absorption, or that of evaporation, 

 the nature or composition of the absorbed substance is 

 not understood to be changed. In nature, therefore, 

 absorption is the act of producing a new compound, 



