232 
NOTICES OF BOTANICAL PUBLICATIONS. 
the natives to carry the body to the shore, (a distance of twenty-seven 
miles,) accompanied them, and came thence to Hilo. This narrative 
clears up many of the difficulties which rested upon the whole matter; 
and, perhaps, it will afford a pretty satisfactory account of the manner 
in which Mr. D. met his awful death.” The black man mentioned in 
the letter probably lost his way, and perished in the mountain. 
NOTICES OF BOTANICAL PUBLICATIONS. 
Edwards’s Botanical Register, continued by Professor Lindley. 
The May number contains 
1. Oncidium altissimum. Tallest Oncidium. A very beautiful 
orchideous plant, found growing on trees, formerly called Epidendron 
altissimum by Jaquin. 
2. Cratoegus orienialis . Oriental Hawthorn. A very handsome 
tree, with large snow-white fragrant vernal flowers, and rich purple 
autumnal leaves. The haws are large, five-cornered, and smooth. It 
is quite distinct from both C\ odoratissima and C. tanacetifolia , and is 
the genuine Oriental Mespilus of Tournefort. It is a native of the 
Crimea and the parts bordering on the Black Sea. 
3. Orniihogalum chloroleucum. Green-and-white Ornithogalum. 
A bulbous plant, found in the vicinity of Valparaiso, whence it has 
been brought by Messrs. Cummings, Bridges, and Mathews. It is a 
frame bulb, flowering in July. There is no previously described 
species that can be confounded with it; it is more curious than 
beautiful. 
There is an interesting historical fact connected with the generic 
name of the genus, and which Dr. Lindley gives in a note. The name 
is compounded of two Greek words, signifying a bird and milk; so 
that it may be rendered birds’ milk : but the corresponding name in 
Hebrew has been rendered doves dung ” by our translators of the 
Bible, (see second Book of Kings, chap, vi., ver. 25,) an expression 
which has puzzled many a commentator. But the true explanation 
was given by Linnaeus, in suggesting that the bulbs of Ornithogalum 
umlellatum, growing plentifully in Palestine, (hence called the Star 
of Bethlehem” by English writers,) is eatable in that country even to 
the present day; and these were the bulbs that fetched so high a price 
during the siege of Samaria. 
