ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 43 



The AiiTos herb of Homer, II. ii. 776, is referred by Bory and 

 Chaubard to the Lotus Argolicus; a plant still serving for pasturage 

 in Greece. — The L. corniculatus (which perhaps does not differ) was 

 seen by Forskal and Delile, growing spontaneously at Cairo. 



The Anro-E, however, is by some writers considered identical with 

 the " melilotos ;" and the latter is referred by Serapion to the " achilel 

 melich, or Trigonella hamosa. — This plant was seen by Sibthorp in 

 Cyprus; and by Alpinus, Hasselquist, and Forskal in Egypt; where, 

 however, it is perhaps indigenous. 



Homer's account of the Lotophagi brings to mind a peculiar con- 

 serve, said to be used in child-stealing, and bearing nearly the same 

 Egyptian name as the "helbeh" or fenugreek (Trigonella fcenum- 

 grgecum). — I found the fenugreek a favourite article of diet with the 

 Parsees of India: and the "triphyllon" of their forefathers (Herodotus 

 i. 132) may be compared. 



Homer's account of the Egyptian "nepenthes" drug, is sufficiently 

 descriptive of opium. — Diagoras and Erasistratus condemned the use 

 of opium ; and Pliny further speaks of the drug being adulterated at 

 Alexandria, and of the " garden white-poppy (Papaver somniferum) 

 from which it is obtained. Opium is still one of the staple productions 

 of Egypt. 



The "saffron-coloured garments," mentioned by Horner, imply a 

 knowledge of the safflower, or dyer's saffron (Carthamus tinctorius). — 

 I found this plant very generally cultivated throughout the Arab 

 countries, from Egypt to the Dekkan inclusive. 



The Arros of Homer, II. xi. 105, according to the received opinion 

 and Greek usage, is the Vitex agnus-castas. — This shrub is said to 

 abound along river-banks in Greece and Syria : but may not be in- 

 digenous ; for it belongs to a Tropical genus ; and is enumerated by 

 Forskal and others among the garden plants of Egypt. 



The " gutran" timber, mentioned by Forskal as imported into 

 Egypt, may be compared with the keapon of Homer (Od. v. 60), 

 Herodotus, and Aristophanes ; the current Greek name, according to 

 Sibthorp, of one or more species of juniper; and especially, of the J. 

 oxycedrus. — Callixenus (quoted b}' Athenaeus v. 38) states, That the 

 galley of Ptolemy Philopator was partly of "kedros" wood. The 

 importation and medicinal use of juniper-berries in Egypt, is men- 

 tioned by Alpinus and Forskal. 



The eroN of Homer, Callixenus, Pliny, and A then reus v. 38, is 



