ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 139 



1544. — This species of rat is described by Gesner; is regarded as an 

 American animal by Linnaeus and Pallas ; and by Bartram (quoted by 

 Kalm ii. 47) and Bachman, as indigenous in the United States. 



The brown rat (Mus decumanus), though apparently a native of 

 Southeastern Asia, is said to have reached Europe at a somewhat later 

 period. — This is probably the species of rat, which is now common in 

 Egypt. 



According to Sprengel, China root is described by Amatus Lusitanus, 

 and by Garcias. — The living plant, Smilax china, was seen by Kaemp- 

 fer and Thunberg in China and Japan: Alpinus and Forskal (Mat, 

 Med.) speak of the medicinal use in Egypt of the imported root.* 



The "arbre de vie de Canade," known to Belon in A. D. 1553, is 

 clearly the Thuya Occidentalis. — The introduction of this tree into 

 Egypt, appears to have been much more recent ; according to Clot-Bey 

 and Figari, it is now common in gardens at Cairo. 



The musk duck (Anas moschata), a native of Tropical America, is 

 figured by Belon. — At the present day, the domesticated bird is com- 

 mon in most parts of the globe; and from a remark by Clot-Bey, 

 appears to be known in Egypt.f 



The "anacardum Indis familiaris" of C. Stephanus, A. D. 1554, is 

 doubtless the Anacardium Occidentals. — The tree was seen by Acosta 



C. Bauhin. — The plant was seen in Greece by Sibthorp and Bory de St. Vincent ; but 

 appears to have remained unknown in Egypt. 



The Solarium dulcamara is figured by Tragus and by Matthioli. — The plant does not 

 well accord with the natural vegetation of Europe : it was seen in Greece by Sibthorp ; 

 but appears to have remained unknown in Egypt. 



* According to Sprengel, The Agave Americana is described by Lopez de Gomara, and 

 is figured by Camerarius. — The plant (according to Sieber and Bory de St. Vincent) has 

 become naturalized in Greece ; but I have met with no evidence of its being known in 

 Egypt. 



According to Sprengel, Chocolate, and the tree which produces it, Theobroma cacao, 

 are described by Lopez de Gomara. — Chocolate has doubtless been sometimes imported 

 into Egypt, but I have met with no direct evidence of the fact. 



According to C. Bauhin, Barcia, and Sprengel, The Mimosa pudica is described by 

 Lopez de Gomara, Acosta, and Martinus del Barco. — The plant was seen by Graham in 

 gardens at Bombay ; but appears to have remained unknown in Egypt. 



The "manga" of J. C. Scaliger and Garcias, is referred by C. Bauhin, Willdenow, 

 and others, to the mango (Mangifera Indica). — The tree is cultivated in Yemen, and 

 doubtless the seeds have been sometimes brought into Egypt, but I have met with no 

 direct evidence of the fact. 



f The "cerasus trapezuntina," stated by Belon to have been brought from Trebizond, 

 is referred by C. Bauhin to the Diospyros lotus. — This plant was received by Matthioli 



