THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
783 
which had visited their country since its introduction. To 
refute this accusation, Augustin made a retrospective review 
of the numberless calamities which had spread desolation 
among the Romans before Christianity had attempted to 
supersede idolatry, and among these he included a panic 
which attacked the generality of the domestic animals of 
Italy. In the 4 City of God 5 (book iii, chap. 23) this event is 
thus referred to : 
“ Before even the Latin confederation rose against Rome, 
all the animals subjected to the necessities and the power of 
man — dogs, horses, asses, oxen, and other creatures submitted 
to domesticity — became all at once fierce, broke their fasten- 
ings, fled from their dwellings, and ran about at large. They 
became furious at the approach of other animals or of their 
owners, whose domination they ignored. To pursue in order 
to secure them was to expose oneself to great peril, or even 
to death. 55 
When the psychological characteristics of animals become 
a matter for study, this strange tendency to be affected with 
panic will certainly demand notice. In the mean time we 
can only refer to it as a phenomenon worthy the attention of 
the medical philosopher and naturalist. 
THE PRINCIPLES OP BOTANY. 
By Professor James Buckman, P.G.S., P.L.S., &c. &c. 
(Continued from p . 719.) 
The Melanthace^e. — Melanths form a natural order 
which, though not abounding in species, yet, from the ac- 
tivity of its members, may be considered as highly important, 
having amongst them the two genera Colchicum and Veratria , 
both of which contain species possessing medicinal and other 
qualities which must ever render their study one of interest 
to the practitioner of either school, not only for their me- 
dicinal effects, but for the evil influence exerted on pastures 
by the Colchicum. Colchicum is sometimes called meadow 
saffron or meadow crocus , and from its similarity to the 
latter genus it may not unfrequently be confounded with it ; 
we therefore give a description in parallel columns, first 
remarking that the genus Colchicum has been named from 
