SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



The leaves of this tree, which spread open in fine 

 weather, will droop at the approach of bad weather, and 

 their upper surfaces nearly join, as though in a sleeping 

 state. In this country the leaves do not appear till June, 

 and the flowers not till the end of July. It does not 

 produce any blossom until it has acquired a considerable 

 height and size. 



There is a variety with fewer spines, smaller leaves, 

 and oval pods, which is, not very accurately, named the 

 Gleditsia inermis, the unarmed Gleditsia. The name 

 was more accurately given by Linnaeus to one of the 

 Acacias of the genus Mimosa, now called Mimosa Hous- 

 toniy which has no thorns. The Acacias mentioned by 

 travellers are generally those of the Mimosa genus. 



Sir Archibald Edmondstone speaks of the Acacia as 

 reminding him of English scenery ; the kind mentioned 

 seems to be that called the Egyptian Acacia : 



" Having explained to the inhabitants that our object 

 was old buildings, they informed us there were some in 

 the neighbourhood. Accordingly, in the evening, we 

 rode to see them ; and, in our way, passed through a 

 beautiful wood of acacias, the foliage of which, at a little 

 distance, brought English scenery to my recollection. 

 The trees far exceeded in size any I had ever seen of 

 the kind ; and upon measuring the trunk of one, it proved 

 to be seventeen feet three inches in circumference*." 



Thevenot, speaking of the plain called the Desert of 

 Sin (the place where the Israelites regretted the onions 

 of Egypt, and murmured against God, and where 

 the manna was sent them), says, " In this plain we saw 

 several Acacia trees, from which is obtained the gum, 

 also called Akakia by the Arabs. It is necessary to ob- 



* Journey to two of the Oases of Upper Egypt, page 44. 



