388 
Geeenöeart in Bloom, and Identified. 
raukost vegetation. The second-growtli differed in many Avays from that 
ou the Morocco, because it consisted only of Vismia, Psijchotria, Piper- 
aveae, Mvlastomaccae, and other small dwarf -like bushes which, however, 
formed an almost impenetrable thicket that was spun over with a number 
of creepers. Although the forest tire had taken place more than twenty 
years before, no four-footed creatures had been, found here since. I was 
assured tluit this remarkable phenomenon was repeated Avherever a con- 
flagration of that nature had once lianished them: as substitutes, the 
]ifeles.s trees that consisted for the most part of Carijociir tomentosum 
had become the playground of innumeralile woodpeckers, the hammering 
of which sounded over tlie entii-e flat. Tlie iniost ])lentiful were the red- 
headed Picus comatii.^ Til.. /'. lincdfiis Linn, and the small black P, 
liinuidinarrtis Oni. : the lattej- rushed from tree to tree with constant 
cry. Lanins cajjrnuifi Linn, seems to choose the lioles nuide by the former 
for hatching, because I saw these birds busily engaged flying into them 
with the Iniilding-materials required for their nest. 
970. Towards evening we reached the place and were received by 
the proprietor with the usual West Indian hospitality : and by next 
morning I already had my wishes fulfilled: the greenheart was in bloota, 
I found that the tree belonged to the genus ISlecfandra, and to a new 
species, which in honour of Dr. Rodie, the discoverer of the medicinal 
properties of tlie bark, was named Ncctand>'o Rodici Schonnb. Dr. 
Rodie u'.ike known his results in the year 1834. Dr. Douglas M-ac- 
Lagan of Edinburgh, who obtained a piece of bark for more accurate in- 
vestigation fiom Dr. Watt, a friend of his in Demerara, published the 
results of his analysis in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edin- 
burgli ^'ol. XY. Part III. Dr. MacLagan succeeded in separating from 
the alkaloid in the bark a sulphurous acid salt, which not only in Eng- 
land, but also in Guiana, shewed exactly the properties of quinine. 
Unfortunately, according to the calculation of Dr. MacLagan it 
cannot be manufactured under 0 shillings the ounce, an amount only 
exceeding the present day cost of quinine by a shilling, but as no 
medicine varies so much in price, the discovery always remains import- 
ant enough to make use of should the occasion arise. A second trial was 
made by Dr. Sachs, assistant surgeon in the Royal Charite, Berlin, with 
a quantity of bark, which I took with me for the purpose. An infusion 
was prepared from the already 3-year old bark, and used in G fever-cases 
with such good results that 4 of the patients were 'quite cured of their 
complaint: the attacks returned in only two cases. 
971. What with its glossy-green leather-like leaves, the tree, mostly 
60 to 80 feet high, is one of the most beautiful ornaments of the coastal 
forests, and I was all the more delighted that out of the many seeds 
which I took with me one has germinated in the hot-house of the Tourt 
Printer. ^Ir. Decker in P>erlin : under the excellent care of the gardener, 
Mr. Reinecke, it is now fb»urishing quite soundly as a pretty little tree. 
I have already mentioned how much its hard timber is sought after in 
England for ship-building. 
972. After an eight-day stay with my friendly host I returned to 
the Demerara, the banks of which, beyond Hubabu mouth, continued to 
