60 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



sian, Mongolian, Ethiopian, American, and Malayan, may 

 all have arisen from some such accidental causes as those 

 noticed above, or such as occasion the albinos of our 

 species. That species can be continued from such 

 accidental varieties, appears from the following ac- 

 count published in Edwards' Gleanings of Natural 

 History, and in the 424th No. of the Philosophical 

 Transactions. Edward Lambert, or the Porcupine man, 

 was at his birth like other children; but in eight or 

 nine weeks his skin turned yellow, and then blackish, co- 

 vered with conical protuberances, which formed a rugged 

 covering all over him, except his head, palms, and the soles 

 of his feet. This man had six children, whose skin exactly 

 resembled his own. Edwards then remarks — "It appears 

 to me beyond all doubt, that a race of people may be pro- 

 pagated by this man, having such rugged coats or cover- 

 ing as himself, which if it should ever happen, and the acci- 

 dental original be forgotten, it is not improbable they may 

 be deemed a different species of mankind; which consider- 

 ation should almost lead one to imagine, that if mankind 

 were all produced from one and the same stock, the black 

 skins of the Ethiopians, &c. might possibly be owing origi- 

 nally to some such accidental cause." — See Edwards' 

 Plate 212. 



WILLOW OAK. 

 QUERCUS PHE LLOS. 



[Plate VI. Vol. 3.] 



[A Branch, vvilh leaves and acorns of the natural size.] 



This species, which is very remarkable for its foliage, 

 begins to appear as you go from the north southward, in 

 the environs of Philadelphia; but it is not so multiplied, 

 and does not attain the same degree of expansion there, 

 as in the more southern states, Virginia, the two Caroli- 

 nas, and Georgia, where the temperature, less cold in 

 winter, appears evidently to have a favourable influence 

 on its vegetation. It is, however, only in the maritime 

 part of the middle and southern states, that the Willow 

 Oak is observed; it seems to be unknown in the interior 

 of those very states, where the land is hilly, and the tem- 

 perature colder. It is most probably to be found in lower 

 Louisiana, which, for the climate and nature of its soil, 

 very much resembles the lower part of the southern states 

 which I have just mentioned. I did not remark it beyond 

 the Allegheny Mountains, in the states of Kentucky and 

 Tennessee. 



The Willow Oak commonly grows in very moist, and 

 even wet soils, and united with the tupelo, the small mag- 

 nolia, the red flowering maple, the red bay, and the water 

 oak, it borders the numerous swamps which exist in the 

 maritime parts of the southern states. In these situations, 

 which, as I have said, are such as suit it best, it rises to 

 the height of fifty or sixt3 r feet, with a diameter of twenty 

 or twenty-four inches. The trunk, even in the old trees, 

 is covered with a smooth bark, of which the cellular tex- 

 ture is very thick. The leaves are from two to three 

 inches long, of a light green, smooth, narrow, entire, and 

 resemble those of the willow, for which reason it is called 

 the Willow Oak, the only name given to it throughout all 

 the parts of North America in which it grows. 



I have just said that the Willow Oak is rarely met with 

 but in very humid situations. This assertion admits of 

 exceptions. In fact, from some cause difficult to assign, it 

 is sometimes found near the sea, amid live oaks, in very 

 dry and sandy soils. It then, seen from afar, has all the 

 appearance of the latter species, both with respect to its 

 form and its foliage, which remains green several years 

 together; but, on closer examination, it is soon distin- 

 guished by its leaves, which are shorter and much nar- 

 rower, as well as by the texture of its timber, which is 

 very porous. 



The acorns of the Willow Oak, seldom abundant, are 

 small, rather round, of a dark brown, and very bitter. 

 The cups are shallow, and somewhat scaly. When kept 

 in a cool place, they preserve their germinating faculty 

 several months without shooting. 



The timber of the Willow Oak is reddish, the grain 

 coarse, and the pores are very open; for which reason the 

 staves made of this wood cannot serve for barrels or pipes, 

 destined to contain spirituous liquors, or even wine; the 

 staves made of it, are therefore ranked with those made of 

 red oak, and used for the same purposes. The quantity 

 made of itis, however, very inconsiderable; for this tree, 

 confined to certain local situations, is very little multiplied 

 compared to many others; and I will even venture to say, 

 that the whole of what exists of it in the United States, 

 would not be sufficient, if used alone, to supply the de- 

 mand of the country, and those of trade, during the 

 course of two years. In some parts of lower Virginia, 

 and particularly in the county of York, experience seems 

 to have proved that the wood of the Willow Oak pos- 

 sesses great strength and tenacity, and that it is less apt to 

 split than that of the white oak; and it is on account of this 

 property, that after being dried, it is used for making fel- 

 loes for cart and chair wheels. This use, and that before 

 mentioned, are the only ones to which I have found this 

 wood adapted; nor do I think it so fit for them as choice 



