44 The Timbers of British Guiana. 



Physical Characters. Weight (so far recorded), 50 J Ibs. per 

 cubic ft. (This specimen was, however, chiefly Sap wood, hence 

 the figure is too low). Hardness, Grade 4, Jiard. Smell 0. 

 Taste slightly resinous. 



Colour of Heartwood as above ; ' ' almost black ' ' (20) ; darkens 

 but little on exposure to the air; surface brilliant. Sapwood, 

 dirty yellow or dirty oatmeal-colour, sharply defined from the 

 Heartwood; width 2J-3J ins. 



Bark. About ^V in. thick, light brown, scaling in thin, brittle 

 flakes exposing the still lighter inner layer. In section the latter 

 is stratified, as are also the scales, but the black lines of the inner 

 layer do not appear in them. Surface of log beneath Bark finely 

 ridged. 



Uses, Qualities, etc. " Not common and the larger sizes are 

 apt to be faulty " (2). " Can be had to square up to 15 ins. 

 free of Sap furniture, walking-sticks " (20). Rather hard to 

 saw ; takes nails badly, fissile ; planes well though hard ; turns 

 well; polishes indifferently. A handsome wood resembling Wal- 

 nut. It has a satiny lustre or " fire." Logs of good quality may 

 find a market in England as a substitute for Walnut. 



Authorities. 2. Bell, p. 6. 4a. Boulger, p. 423. 9. Dalton, 

 p. 211. 12. Hawtayne, pp. 384, 387. 17. Laslett, p. 421. ISa. 

 Lindley, p. 1,151. 20. McTurk, p. 3. 28. Wiesner, p. 89. 



ANATOMICAL CHARACTERS. 



Those of Wamara, No. 92, with which this should be com- 

 pared, noting the following differences: 



Transverse Srcfinn : 



Pores. Prominent and striking in the outer, younger wood ; 

 not diminishing towards the close of the season's growth, but in- 

 creasing in size remarkably as the tree ages ; considerable varia- 

 tion otherwise, in no particular order. Evenly distributed, scat- 

 tered widely; contents light coloured. This is the most remark- 

 able instance that has ever come under my notice, of the immense 

 difference between the size of the Pores in the old and in the 

 new wood. 



Soft Tissue of definite arrangement; type of Wamara and 

 Pterocarpus (cf. Stone 27#., PI. V., fig. 41). Width of concentric 

 lines approximately that of the space between the Rays. 



Radial Section. Lighter in shade than the Transverse, but 

 darker than the Tangential. The Pores are prominent grooves 

 which show up against the lustrous ground. The Soft Tissue 

 appears as a very fine, regular, vertical ruling, visible with the 

 lens, although too fine to see with the unaided eye ; it is to this 

 that the satiny gloss of the wood is due. The Hays need the lens 

 and are too minute to affect the appearance of the wood. 

 Type Specimen. Authenticated by Bell, No. 43/2699. 



