THE BOTANY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 5 
The money cowry, Cypræa moneta, a native of the Pacific 
and Eastern seas, is used as money in Hindostan and many 
parts of Africa. They are chiefly brought from the Mal- 
dives, and are an article of trade at Bombay. Many tons 
weight are annually imported to this country (Great Brit- 
ain), and again exported for barter with the native tribes of 
Western Africa. In the year 1848 sixty tons were imported 
into Liverpool, and in 1849 nearly three hundred tons were 
brought to the same port. * 
Reeve mentions in the second volume of the " Conchologia 
Systematica," that "a gentleman residing some time since at 
Cuttack, is said to have paid for the erection of his bungalow 
entirely in these cowries ( C. moneto). The building cost him 
about 4000 rupees sicca (£400 sterling), and as sixty-four 
of these shells are equivalent in value to one ‘pice,’ and 
sixty-four ‘pice’ to a rupee sicca, he paid for it with above 
sixteen millions of these shells.” 
It will be seen, therefore, that shells have been and are 
still used as money by a considerable portion of the human 
race, and it would be quite difficult to point out any other 
natural production that would be more appropriate or con- 
venient, when size, shape and substance, are considered. 
The money of the wild tribes of America, Africa and 
Asia, one may look for in vain in the drawers of the coin 
collector. It must be sought for in the museums of natural 
history, or the cabinets of the conchologist. 

THE BOTANY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 
BY E. L. GREENE. 
Iw a region of extensive prairies, the monotonous uni- 
formity of the landscape affords none of the conditions for 
a flora rich in species. Although the soil of these vast 


* Datedia Thtntt fNat 1 History. n. 192. 
: J JE 
