Geratiidcece. 569 



his vasculum, or specimen box, when they immediately decamp. This easy 

 way of driving off so formidable an enemy gives rise to a thousand re- 

 flections. How many individuals may have perished from ignorance of this 

 simple fact ! The first idea of opposing brutal force is the employment of 

 brutal force ; the second, that of stratagem ; the last step is the employ- 

 ment of scientific knowledge, or the force of the mind. Most wild animals 

 are frightened by fire ; but may there not be some more simple means, and 

 means always at hand for effecting the same object ? Cannot the school- 

 master be set to work among the brute creation ? Every animal may have 

 some specific- action, sound, or smell, which will frighten him ? May not a 

 man in Africa one day frighten away the hungry lion by some means as 

 simple as Mr. Drummond employed against the bear ? If success be attained 

 with the lion, then, by analogy, it will extend to the tiger, and other ani- 

 mals belonging to the same group. In describing all animals, the mode of 

 frightening, and of enticing them, ought to be given as far as known ; and all 

 zoologists ought to pay particular attention to this branch of their subject. 



The rise of the waters of brooks and rivers, caused by the melting of the 

 snows, produces inconveniences of which an inexperienced traveller cannot 

 very well form an idea. Mr. Drummond found, after crossing a stream in 

 the morning, that it was so swollen on his return, as to compel him to 

 remain for days a prisoner on the other side, away from books, specimens, 

 and food. The article concludes with a perilous adventure in a boat; 

 and, on the whole, it does much honour to Mr. Drummond. 



A succeeding short article informs us that Ledebour's Illustrations of 

 Russian Plants is in an advanced state, and will be published at Munich 

 with 500 folio plates. The figures will chiefly represent new plants dis- 

 covered on the Altaic mountains and their environs. 



Remarks on the Botany on the Banks of the Swan River. By Mr. Charles 

 Fraser, Colonial Botanist in New South Wales. The impression made on 

 the mind of Mr. Fraser and his companions was highly favourable ; and 

 though the accounts which have since been received are contradictory, and 

 at variance in many particulars, yet, on the whole, we think Mr. Fraser has 

 been correct. Many of the emigrants, from ignorance of botany and country 

 matters, are unable to separate temporary inconveniences from permanent 

 drawbacks to improvement. 



Geranidcece. By Robert Sweet, F.L.S. &c. In 8vo numbers, monthly. 5s. 



No. XXIV. for June, contains 

 93. to 96. — Pelargonium fastuosum. A hybrid, raised at the nursery 

 of Mrs. More, King's Road, Chelsea. — P. ursinum. A little bushy 

 plant, raised by Mr. Dennis. — P. conchyllatum. A splendid hybrid, raised 

 by Mr. Welsh, though the whole of the stock is in the possession of Messrs. 

 Chandlers of the Vauxhall Nursery. — P. Drakes, Mrs. Drake's Stork's 

 Bill. A magnificent plant, raised by L. Weltje, Esq., of Hammersmith, 

 and named in compliment to Mrs. Tyrwhit Drake of Amersham. 



No. XXV. for July, contains 

 97. to 100. — Pelargonium pallidulum. A fine stout-growing plant, 

 raised by Mrs. More. — P. staphysagridides. One of the most singular 

 species of the genus. Mr. Sweet says, " Had we seen the plant without 

 flowers, and been asked its name, we should have immediately pronounced 

 it to be Delphinium Staphysagria, the foliage and habit being so exactly 

 like it, that we believe it would have deceived the most attentive observer. 

 It was raised from seed, at the nursery of Messrs. Allen and Rogers of the 

 King's Road and Battersea; but how the seed was procured they cannot at 

 present say. We do not believe that it is of hybrid origin, as we know no 

 plants that could produce any thing like it ; we therefore suppose it must 

 have been received amongst other seeds from the Cape, which is frequently 



