THE BANKSIAN BOTANIST-LIBRARIANS. 
89 
noon, :s mv attendance at the Museum; so I have only Saturday and Sunday 
forenoons to myself, and then often such things call me away that can not be fore- 
seen or suffer any delay. That was the case last Saturday, when I was obliged 
to go into the city to get from the Custom-house a bottle-case with animals from 
the Mosquito Shore, preserved in spirits. Mr. Deponthieu was at Mr. Banks’s 
the same day, when 1 showed him a chocolate fruit from thence, dried, of a 
different variety from what is cultivated in the West India Islands. It is spotted, 
and, therefore, by the Spaniards called the Tiger Chocolate. It is said to yield 
the best chocolate, and is now introduced on the Mosquito Shore. 
Be assured I shall not omit to arrange and write the proper names on the corals 
at your chambers. You shall find it done. Mr. Banks and Omai returned from 
the country yesterday; but Omai goes down with Lord Sandwich again on 
Saturilay next. 
I have re-examined the chocolate flowers, and will give you a copy of my 
description. 
Mr. Aiton has sent me two plants from the seeds Mr. Bruce brought from 
Abyssinia; both are new, one a species of the Ajuga, the other a Coreopsis.* 
Solander to Ellis, London, November 1, 1774. 
To-day when I leave the Museum, I shall go into the city and make a further 
enquiry after the box and bottle which Mr. Hodgson has sent ymu in the “ Sarah 
and Elizabeth,” Captain Foote. What Mr. Banks had from the Mosquito Shore 
came by a Captain Miller. 
The man who showed the Electrical Eels in Carolina, as described by Dr. Garden, 
is now arrived; but, unluckily, all the five eels died during the voyage, or at 
least when he came up to London. One was alive when he landed at Falmouth, 
where several persons felt the electrical shocks; but that one died on the passage 
from thence to London. However, he has benefited by Dr. Garden’s advice, to 
put them into spirits in case they should die. He has brought us tour complete 
specimens, well pre.served, for which we propose to raise by subscription, or some 
other method, a sum of money, to enable the man to go out again. Mr. John 
Hunter danced a jig when he saw them, they are so complete and well preserved. 
This week I certainly will settle and mark your corals ; it vexes me very much 
I have not been able to do it long ago. 
We shall have a drawing made of one of the Electrical Eels; and John Hunter 
has promised an anatomical description, to accompany Dr. Garden’s account, 
when presented to the Royal Society. 
My best compliments to your friends about you, particularly Mr. Scott. f 
Solander to Ellis. December 21, 1774. 
I hope you have received safe the colour 'd pr nts I se it you the day before 
yeiter.iay. 
I have taken an exact copy of the drawing I now return you; so from that I 
can at any time make out what may be necessary for the plate of the Theobroma. 
Whenever I see the drawing, which is to be engraved, I shall accordingly shape 
and proportion the parts of fructification. Do not you think that the inclosed 
are too large? 
Mr. Banks has bought Miller’s Herbarium, and we have been busy these two 
weeks in getting it home ami into some order. As there are a great many of 
Houstoun’s plants from Vera Cruz, &c., I think it a valuable acquisition. f 
• ( orresp. ; Linn.eu3, ii, 19. 
t lb., 20. 
X Ib., 22. 
