ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. Q\ 



plant was seen by Hasselquist at Jerusalem ; and by Forskal, Delile, 

 and others, growing spontaneously at Alexandria and Damietta. 



Herodotus iv. 53, speaks of the sturgeon of the large rivers of 

 Southern Russia ; and of its flesh being dried or salted. — Fish-glue or 

 isinglass, " ichthyocolla," is described by Dioscorides, Pliny xxxii. 24, 

 and JElian. 



The drug castor (obtained from the beaver of the North), is men- 

 tioned by Herodotus iv. 109 ; and is more particularly noticed by Celsus, 

 Dioscorides, and Galen. — Its importation into Egypt is shown, by the 

 drug being recommended by Serapion, Rhazes, Avicenna, and other 

 Arab medical writers. 



The kannabis, mentioned by Herodotus (iv. 74) as a plant used by 

 the Scythians for making cloth, is admitted to be the hemp (Cannabis 

 sativa). — This plant is cultivated in Egypt solely for its intoxicating 

 properties ; which have been known there (according to Lane) for 

 about six centuries. 



Herodotus iii. 98, Megasthenes, and Strabo xv., speak of the bamboo 

 (Bambos arundinacea) as a production of India. — The living plant 

 appears to have remained unknown in Egypt until within a few 

 years ; but according to Clot-Bey and Figari, is now cultivated there 

 with success. 



Herodotus describes the edible Nymphvea lotus ; and, as abounding in 

 Egypt. — Theophrastus also mentions the "white-flowered Egyptian 

 lotus." I did not meet with the N. lotus in Egypt ; but was informed, 

 that it makes its appearance after the inundation. 



In Egypt, certain downy-leaved plants, including the Croton tincto- 

 rium, are called " ghobbeyreh ;" a word which seems to indicate the 

 siAAiKrnrmN of Herodotus. — Clot-Bey and Figari speak of oil made in 

 Egypt from seeds of the C. tinctorium. The plant however does not 

 appear to be cultivated ; but grows as a weed, as observed by myself 

 in the Thebaid. It occurs also on the Northern shores of the Medi- 

 terranean, according to Camerarius, Tournefort, and Sibthorp. 



Dioscorides refers the siAAiKrnrinN to the " kroton," and under this 

 name distinctly describes the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis) ; 

 Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage seems also to correspond. — 

 The " kroton" is mentioned in the Hippocratic writings (De Nat. Mul. 

 and 2 De Mul. Morb. 79), and by Theophrastus and Nicander (Ther. 

 676). Pliny speaks of the presence of the "croton" or "ricinus" in 

 Egypt: where at the present day, the R. communis is well known. 



