438 THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. [-^^^j 



Solomon's Song, the modern Arabic name seems to indicate the 

 Rose. Indeed, the notice of the Nard in Mark is sufficiently 

 descriptive of the essential oil, or attar of roses. This substance 

 is perhaps mentioned by Homer and Pliny ; and Celsus, about the 

 year 27, expressly speaks of the distillation of roses.'' Theophrastus 

 and Pliny both allude to the presence of the Rose in Egypt. The 

 plant is foreign to the natural vegetation of Egypt, but is ex- 

 tensively cultivated in that country for commercial purposes. It 

 seems probable that the ointment used by Mary contained attar 

 of roses, and its being described as very costly agrees with the 

 fact that Roses are among the flowers which yield their oil in 

 very minute quantities, so that 20,000 are required to yield a 

 rupee weight of oil, which sells for £10 sterling (see Johnston's 

 ' Chemistry of Common Life') . The fragrance of this oil is well 

 known as being very powerful, and this also agrees with its pro- 

 perty as described in Scripture. 



In Mark's Gospel, where the same scene is described, the 

 woman is said to have had an alabaster box of ointment of 

 Spikenard, very precious, which was poured on the head of 

 Jesus, and also that it might have been sold for more than three 

 hundred pence, about £9 English money. S. B. 



THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 

 Botanical Exchange Club. 



The monthly meeting of the Thirsk Natural History Society 

 was held on the evening of Wednesday, the 6th of April. Mr. 

 A. G. More, of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, was duly enrolled as a 

 member of the Botanical Exchange Club. 



Mr. J. G. Baker announced that the list of desiderated Flower- 

 ing- Plants and Ferns for the season Avas in a forward state of 

 preparation. He exhibited specimens collected in Warwickshire, 

 by ]Mr. Kirk, of Ranunculus Drouetii and Arctium pubens of 

 Babington. 



Mr. J. H. Davies noticed and exhibited Mosses as under: — 



Sphagnum rubellum, Wils.— Fifeshire : Dunmore Woods, in 

 fructification, Br. Lyle. 



Bnjum torquescens, B. and S. — Gloucestershire: Cleere Hill, 

 near Cheltenham, Mr. Beach. 



