302 
rk the vicissitudes and dangers to which they would have been 
exposed during the progress of the usual Batrachian metamorphosis. 
This instance of the acclimatisation in Kew Gardens of the * Coqui °’ 
(as the frog is called in Porto Rico) is unique in Batrachian life at 
present. Itrust that the little guest may long flourish where it has 
found such a congenial home, and where it usefully aids in the destruc- 
tion of plant-eating insects and wood-lice, of which I found great 
numbers in the stomach of a specimen. If at a later period a nest with 
ova were discovered, Mr. Thiselton-Dyer would delight the heart of 
embryologists, to whom the — of examining fresh ova of this 
frog would be most welcom 
ALBERT GUNTHER. 
Kew, October 20. 
“Spot” disease of eae —This hn Mo disease has been 
vestigated by a member of the staff, and the results published in the 
Annals of Botany, (vol. ix., 1005; p. 421). When a section through 
a “spot ” is examined under the microscope, spherical bodies are seen 
s many of the cells; these bodies increase in size and change their 
shape when in contact with water, thus resembling to some exient the 
i lasmodiophora, but are in reality masses of disorganised cell 
contents produced by a sudden chill, caused by the presence of minute 
s of water on the surface of the leaf at a time when the temperature 
is below the normal. “Spot” can be produced at will by placing 
minute particles of ice, or some drops of water on the leaf of an orchid 
to a temperature of 10-15 degrees F. lower than usual. 
The disease of vine leaves known as Brunissure or browning, which 
has been described as due to the presence of a parasite, Plasmodiophora 
vitis, is also shown to be the result of a sudden fall of t temperature 
when the leaves v vn with rain or mist. 
The following summary, while indicating the cause, suggests the 
means for the iniret of * spot ^ in cultivated orchids. (1) too high 
.&temperature; (2) too much water, and not sufficient air in contact 
with the roots; (3) watering or spraying with a falling instead of a 
rising temperature, 
Arabian objects for Museum.—Through the liberality of Mr. 
Theodore Bent the Museum of the Royal Gardens has lately become. 
coi of the following interesting objects from Hadramaut and 
" oe offee pot as used at Oman, made of tin and brass and orna- 
mented with a rough kind of chasing. 2. A pipe cut out of a solid 
piece of stone, and used in Hadramaut for smoking tobacco; it is about 
5 inches long and bears evidence of having been in considerable use as 
it is quite blackened by burning tobacco. 3. A hat, such as is worn 
Bedouin women, made of 2 leaves, apparently those € the Date palm 
(Phenix dactylifera.) Two Incense Burners, one from Hadramaut 
the other from Oman Each measures about 4 inches high and 2 sam 
a at the top. That from Hadramaut has a projecting handle o 
de by which to carry it. It is made of coarse red ear artes 
with rit Abebe ornamentation and has apparently | been in considerable 
use, while that from Oman is quite new, with painted ornamentation 
covered with a a glaze and without handle. 
