506 



CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



&c. 3 but the balsamiferous or resinous trees, though they do not cast 

 their leaves, are comparatively slow growers. R. H — L. 



Indications of the quality of mahogany in the growing 

 tree. — Even a passing observation on the trees in the savannahs of 

 St. Domingo, very contrary to common opinion, cannot be made 

 presenting those peculiarities in the form, ramifications, and leafage of 

 the mahogany, which indicate a superior quality of wood. What con- 

 stitutes a relation between the texture of the wood and the leafage, the 

 bark and the branching, may be explained by considering the circum- 

 stances in the situation and the growth of the tree. 



Trees standing detached and exposed to a free expansion of the 

 branches on all sides, have those branches acted upon by the wind. 

 Working with the power of a lever, it endeavours to twist the trunks 

 round, and in reality does effect this so much, as to give twirls and 

 contortions to the fibres. The mahogany throws out two or three main 

 branches, from which subordinate stems expand all round. These 

 expose it to a forcible action of the breeze on all sides. The continual 

 action produced by these means on the fibres, creates those beau- 

 tiful curls and wavy lines, which, through the whole bulk of the tree, 

 gives that variety as the light glances on the polished surface, by which 

 its value is so much enhanced with the cabinet-maker. In close 

 situations, as in forests, the force of the wind scarcely acts at all in this 

 way. The tree shoots up strong and straggling, and the fibres, less 

 disturbed, seldom possess much variety. It is for this reason too, that 

 the trunk of a mahogany tree growing in any situation, is less mottled 

 and waved than the branch wood.* R. H — L. 



October 7th, 1833. 



On the hooded crow. — I was glad to observe that my remarks 

 on the pairing of the hooded and carrion crow attracted the attention 

 of Mr. Blyth, who evinces in all he says an intimate acquaintance with 

 the feathered creation. He corroborates the fact which I mentioned 

 of the hooded crow pairing with another crow having a different ap- 

 pearance from it, — a black crow. " As to its being of the carrion crow 

 species," he however subjoins, " I cannot for a moment suppose it : 

 several of the crow genus approximate most closely in size and ap- 



* I have mentioned this effect of the wind on the external twisting of trees 

 in the " Companion to the Almanac." The internal effect is to me quite new 

 and highly interesting. Editor. 



