( 23 ) 
Corona Imper 'mlis ; but not being fenfible how if did it) try'd the Ex- 
periment of wiping it off, fofoon as it was depofited in the 'Pelvis % 
and the Flower fo ferved had no fucceeding Fruit. 
The way I account for that, is, the Flumidity being removed, the 
farina is no fooner blown upwards, than it immediately falls down 
without fiirnifhing any cfFc£t|} and that which confirms this is, be- 
caufe both Tulips and Fritillaries frequently have this ‘Pelvis or Bafiny 
yet it is for the mofi: part dry and empty, bccaufe their Flowers being 
ered, cfpccially the former, they have no fuch need of this Liquor 
to retain the Duftj for the Rain having immediate accefs to them, may 
wafh tile Dull: towards the Origin of the Patala^ where it can remain 
rill it has done its Work : Where as the Rain having no accefs to the 
inner Surface of the Flower of the Corona Imperialts, it is naturally 
endowed with this Fiumidity depofited there by fevcral excretory 
Duels, in order to render it fit for the Purpofe. Malpighi takes no- 
tice of this Singularity in this Flow'er, but aferibes no luch ufe to it. 
In this Account there is nothing new concerning the Receptacle 
of this Liquor, for the Pelvis or Ciftern mentioned in it, is undoubt- 
edly Malpighis Conchay only under a different Name j but concern- 
ing the Liquor itfelf, this Author has taken notice of fevcral Things 
not to be met with clfewhere. 
In thefirfl Place he tells us, that it is Vifcuous or Glutinous j and I 
always found it fo in my Plants, 
This Liquor, he fays, never execeeds the Bounds of the Pelvis, 
while the Plant is in Health. With refped to the Corona Imperialis 
this, perhaps, may be true, but of all Plants it certainly is not, for I 
obferved the contrary very often in my own. 
Again, Malpighi talks of this Liquor as belonging to all Flowers 
without Exception ; but according t6 Dr. Blair, ered Flowers are ve- 
ry often without it, and their Pelvis or Concha, may be perceived to 
be empty. 
Laftly, the Ufe he aferibes to it is not only new, but very eonfidera- 
ble; and Mr. Fairchild’s Experiment, as well as the Obfervation he 
makes concerning ered Flowers, arc fo far Arguments for the Truth 
of it, as to make it at leafl deferve a further Enquiry. But I cannot 
help remarking, that ifinftead of confining this Vifcuous Liquor to the 
Bounds of the Conchre, he had taken notice of its being fpread over 
the whole Surface of the Bottom of the Flower, his Hypothefis would 
have carried a further Air of Probability with it; elpccially after what 
we have heard from Malpighi, concerning the Velabrum or Valve, 
which wc may fiippofe placed there not to keep the Liquor from flow- 
I in<^ 
