340 LINN^US. 



mushrooms were of an animal nature, and that 

 their eggs are hatched in water. We must suspend 

 gratifying our curiosity until this phenomenon is 

 more particularly explained to us here. Dr Solan- 

 der is also a stranger to it. Very probably some ac- 

 count has been published in the Swedish tongue; 

 if that is sent to Solander, then we shall be made 

 acquainted with the discovery. 



" I herewith send you a print of the Andrachne, 

 which flowered, for the first time I presume in Eu- 

 rope, in Dr FothergilFs garden in May last year. 

 It was raised from seed from Aleppo, sent to him 

 by Dr Russell in the year 1756. You see its 

 manner of flowering is very diiferent from the ar- 

 butus. I have a large tree raised from the same 

 seed, that stands abroad in the garden, but never 

 blossomed. It is now beginning to shed its bark, 

 as Belon or Belonius well describes; which is a 

 peculiar diff*erence from the Arbutus, and nearly 

 agrees with the Platanus. 



" I am, my dear friend, with my sincere wishes 

 for your health and preservation, your affectionate 

 friend, 



" P. COLLINSON, 



" Now entered into my 73d year, in perfect health 

 and strength in body and mind. God Almighty 

 be praised and adored for the multitude of his 

 mercies ! — March 16th, 1707-" 



A great part of the correspondence which Col- 

 linson had with Linnseus bore a reference to the al- 

 leged hibernation of swallows, which the latter, fol- 

 lowing the authority of certain writers, supposed to 

 retire on the approach of winter to the bottom of 



