Bairstow : Natural History Notes — South Africa. 121 



palpably " good" that I recommend it strongly to cabinet-makers and 

 collectors. Instead of cork for lining cases, he adopts the pith of the 

 American aloe. This is cut into long strips of the required thickness, 

 and being lighter and more impressible than cork, is, I think, infinitely 

 superior. I noticed also that the names of specimens were neatly 

 written on cardboard of different shades, thus : Dark-red... class ; rose 

 colour... genus ; pink... species. No wonder that relations of pinned 

 and defunct beetles are happy when the latter are immortalised in gems 

 of caligraphy inscribed on artistic and appropriate tablets. 



As. a back-form student in botany, I naturally remark the prickly 

 appearance of the majority of African bushes. As an ardent sports- 

 man I naturally feel the quality and power of the prickles. These 

 attain to all sizes from one line to one foot long, assuming the most 

 grotesque shapes imaginable. 



A good old lady who resides peaceably in the sanctity of an un- 

 sanctified canteen (celebrated for miles around as a fishing-tackle 

 depository) owns a small museum of local prodigies. Let us take a 

 seat at her supper table. We don't require a bill of fare after the 

 fashion of " Three in Norway." Stout and oysters, nothing more, 

 (I hear you exclaim, " Quite enough too !^'). As edible molluscs 

 rapidly slip away from view. Mother B. entertains her guests, while 

 exhibiting treasured curios one by one in a most affable manner. 

 Here are four fine specimens of Paper Nautilus, taken on the adjacent 

 beach ; also a couple of huge Tritons, and hosts of smaller shells. 

 " This," she remarks — perceiving our attention fixed upon a black 

 billiard ball, only more so, — " was cut out of the paunch of an ox, 

 and is composed of hair soldered together by constant licking and 

 salivary manipulation.* And now," says she, " I think I shall puzzle 

 you. Can you name these for me ? " " Buckhorns ! " stammers a 

 neighbour. I, remembering the old truism, " where ignorance is 

 bliss," &c., assume a violent cough and say nothing. We "give the 

 riddle up," and the old lady inwardly chuckles and outwardly heaves, 

 as she answers, " a pair of Mimosa Thorns." A better substitute for 

 buck-horns I have never sean, ani placed over the door of a gentle 

 man's hall these spikes could perplex a sportsman of keen discern- 

 ment. I have jotted down a few examples of shape, which will convey 

 a vague idea of the numerous enemies and demoniacal obstacles a 

 collector's pants or gauze net contends with in a South African bush. 

 The originals were all gathered from one small bush. Some of the 



* The largest specimen I have ever seen. 



