THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
79 
assign any useful or protective purpose to the fact 
that one natural object possesses a strong resem- 
blance in form to another in a totally different 
group. Perhaps a more careful study of the subject 
may throw some light upon it, and we may then 
hope to find a solution to this rather difficult 
question. 
I have simply called these “natural resemblan- 
ces,” because in the present state of our knowledge 
they appear to be nothing more noteworthy. 
In this subject there is full scope for work in a 
new field, and one that is certainly not likely to 
soon come to an end. In pointing out the variable 
nature of the objects in the foregoing observations 
it will not be the first time that my pen has an- 
nounced the fact that endless variation is the rule, 
and not the exception to the rule in Nature. 
The Mineral Springs of Ronmania. 
The mineral waters of Roumania have long been 
noted for their medicinal properties. They are of 
three kinds, ferruginous, sulphurous, and alkaline ; 
and they are not confined to any particular loca- 
lity but are found in every part of the kingdom. 
The springs of Preidal and Cornu in the district 
of Prahova contain both iodine and bromine in 
abundance. With the exception of the springs at 
Cozia, which has a temperature of 75° centegrade, 
all of the waters are quite cold. 
The following is the description given by M. 
Pierre Poenar of the Salt Lake Balta-Alba, at the 
end of his account of the mineral riches of Rouma- 
nia. This lake is situated at 12 kilometres (about 7? 
miles) from the town of Rimnik- Sarat, in the mid- 
dle of a vast plain; it is 7 kilom. (about 4 \ miles) 
long, and varies in breadth from two to three 
hundred metres; its depth is from one to two 
metres only. The water of this lake is very salt, 
and forms saline deposits on the borders, where 
it is of a reddish-brown colour, and nauseous to 
the taste, on account of the multitudes of its a- 
quatic birds, whose excrement (guano) is cons- 
tantly driven upon the shores, At a few yards 
from the side, the water is very clear, colourless, 
and odourless; but has a strong saline taste, though 
rather bitter. Its specific gravity is 1.112; and 
its mean temperature 19° Centigrade (15° Reau- 
mur). The bottom of the lake near the centre 
is level, very firm, and sandy; whilst the shores 
present a bottom of black greasy mud, exhaling 
constantly an odour of sulphuretted hydrogen. 
This mud contains the remains of the numer- 
ous aquatic plants which cover nearly the whole 
surface of the water in the shallower parts. It is 
much used in cutaneous diseases, rheumatisms, 
scrofula, &c. The mud is applied to the affected 
part, and is allowed to dry in the sun. This treat- 
ment is repeated several times in the day; and 
a bath is taken in the lake at night and morn- 
ing. The lake Balta-Alba appears to owe its 
origin to subterranean springs passing through 
some of the layers of salt spoken of above. Its 
water has been incompletely analysed; it contains 
chloride of sodium and sulphate of soda, with a 
little carbonate of lime and sulphate of magnesia. 
Diseases of the Mediterranean Orange. 
The extent to which the systematic culture of 
the orange tree is practised in the regions around 
the western basin of the Mediterranean is so great, 
that the export of the fruit constitutes one of the 
principal and most lucrative industries of the 
district. 
In Southern France, Spain, Italy, Sicily, and 
many of the Islands of the Mediterranean, large 
areas of land are devoted to the cultivation of the 
groves ; and a large percentage of the population of 
these districts is dependent upon the results of 
the yearly crops for their means of subsistence. 
The many variable circumstances, that affect the 
growth and the propagation of the orange-plant, 
render its cultivation but an uncertain mode of 
livelihood. Of these, the most common are causes, 
having their origin either in the climatic or 
geognostic peculiarities of the country, or in di- 
seases that have been induced by the presence of 
insectivorous or other animate foes. So extensive 
indeed, have been the ravages of these and other 
causes of a similar nature, that the damage done 
has often been the origin of the most widespread 
misery among the cultivators, in consequence of 
the incalculable loss that has followed the failure 
of the crops. Capital and labour have alike been 
involved, and have alike suffered. 
Latterly, however, the attention of the scientist, 
as well as of the capitalist has been drawn towards 
the subject; and now, considered from a utilita- 
rian point of view, no branch of research can be 
said to have had more careful thought bestowed 
upon it, or to have been productive of more real 
good to society, than that which relates to the 
study of practical entomology. 
Insect-pests, have ever been one of the greatest 
evils that the agriculturist has had to contend with. 
Between the members of the animal, and the 
vegetable creation there are many and striking 
resemblances, of which the tendency to tentative 
disease and ultimate decay is, perhaps, not the 
least remarkable. Plants, like animals, are healthy 
or unhealthy according to the conditions under 
which they are called into existence, and accord- 
ing to the methods that are employed in bringing 
them to maturity. Like animals, too, they are, 
liable to diseases, the characteristic symptoms of 
which are sometimes exhibited externally, and 
admit of a ready application of suitable remedies ; 
and sometimes are so obscure, that a skilful diag- 
nosis founded on an intimate acquaintance with 
the nature, structure, and habits of the plant is 
necessary, before either the cause or the remedy 
can be known. Rapid strides have been made in 
this direction of late years, though, paradoxical 
