60 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
sian, Mongolian, Ethiopian, American, and Malayan, may 
all have arisen from some such accidental causes as those 
noticed above, or such as occasion the albinos of our 
species. That species can be continued from such 
accidental varieties, appears from the following ac- 
count published in Edwards’ Gleanings of Natural 
History, and in the 424th No. of the Philosophical 
Transactions. Edward Lambert, or the Porcupine man, 
was at his birth like other children; but in eight or 
nine weeks his skin turned yellow, and then blackish, co- 
vered with conical protuberances, which formed a rugged 
covering all over him, except his head, palms, and the soles 
of his feet. This man had six children, whose skin exactly 
resembled his own. Edwards then remarks — “It appears 
to me beyond all doubt, that a race of people may be pro- 
pagated by this man, having such rugged coats or cover- 
ing as himself, which if it should ever happen, and the acci- 
dental original be forgotten, it is not improbable they may 
be deemed a different species of mankind; which consider- 
ation should almost lead one to imagine, that if mankind 
were all produced from one and the same stock, the black 
skins of the Ethiopians, &c. might possibly be owing origi- 
nally to some such accidental cause.” — See Edwards’ 
Plate 212. 
WILLOW OAK. 
QUERCUS P HELLOS. 
[Plate VI. Vol. 3.] 
[A Branch, with leaves and acorns of the natural size.] 
This species, which is very remarkable for its foliage, 
begins to appear as you go from the north southward, in 
the environs of Philadelphia; but it is not so multiplied, 
and does not attain the same degree of expansion there, 
as in the more southern states, Virginia, the two Caroli- 
nas, and Georgia, where the temperature, less cold in 
winter, appears evidently to have a favourable influence 
on its vegetation. It is, however, only in the maritime 
part of the middle and southern states, that the Willow 
Oak is observed; it seems to be unknown in the interior 
of those very states, where the land is hilly, and the tem- 
perature colder. It is most probably to be found in lower 
Louisiana, which, for the climate and nature of its soil, 
very much resembles the lower part of the southern states 
which I have just mentioned. I did not remark it beyond 
the Allegheny Mountains, in the states of Kentucky and 
Tennessee. 
The Willow Oak commonly grows in very moist, and 
even wet soils, and united with thetupelo, the small mag- 
nolia, the red flowering maple, the red bay, and the water 
oak, it borders the numerous swamps which exist in the 
maritime parts of the southern states. In these situations, 
which, as I have said, are- such as suit it best, it rises to 
the height of fifty orsixtj^ feet, with a diameter of twenty 
or twenty-four inches. The trunk, even in the old trees, 
is covered with a smooth bark, of which the cellular tex- 
ture is very thick. The leaves are from two t» three 
inches long, of a light green, smooth, narrow, entire, and 
resemble those of the willow, for which reason it is called 
the Willow Oak, the only name given to it throughout all 
the parts of North America in which it grows. 
I have just said that the Willow Oak is rarely met with 
but in very humid situations. This assertion admits of 
exceptions. In fact, from some cause difficult to assign, it 
is sometimes found near the sea, amid live oaks, in very 
dry and sandy soils. It then, seen from afar, has all the 
appearance of the latter species, both with respect to its 
form and its foliage, which remains green several years 
together; but, on closer examination, it is soon distin- 
guished by its leaves, which are shorter and much nar- 
rower, as well as by the texture of its timber, which is 
very porous. 
The acorns of the Willow Oak, seldom abundant, are 
small, rather round, of a dark brown, and very bitter. 
The cups are shallow, and somewhat scaly. When kept 
in a cool place, they preserve their germinating faculty 
several months without shooting. 
The timber of the Willow Oak is reddish, the grain 
coarse, and the pores are very open; for which reason the 
staves made of this wood cannot serve for barrels or pipes, 
destined to contain spirituous liquors, or even wine; the 
staves made of it, are therefore ranked with those made of 
red oak, and used for the same purposes. The quantity 
made of it is, however, very inconsiderable; for this tree, 
confined to certain local situations, is very little multiplied 
compared to many others; and I will even venture to say, 
that the whole of what exists of it in the United States, 
would not be sufficient, if used alone, to supply the de- 
mand of the country, and those of trade, during the 
course of two years. In some parts of lower Virginia, 
and particularly in the county of York, experience seems 
to have proved that the wood of the Willow Oak pos- 
sesses great strength and tenacity, and that it is less apt to 
split than that of the white oak; and it is on account of this 
property, that after being dried, it is used for making fel- 
loes for cart and chair wheels. This use, and that before 
mentioned, are the only ones to which I have found this 
wood adapted; nor do I think it so fit for them as choice 
