Natural-Historical Collections. 399 
Notice of a Fossil Plant discovered in Craigleith Quarry near Edinburgh.— 
** The length of time which has been allowed to elapse since the discovery of that 
fossil member of early vegetation, which was obtained in the year 1826 from the 
quarry of Craigleith, without attempting to obtain the necessary information re- 
specting this singular plant, added to which, the peculiarity of its structure and com- 
position, has induced me to take much pains upon this point. I therefore laid a 
well cut transverse, and also longitudinal section of this fossil tree before Mr. 
Hincks, Botanical Curator to the Philosophical Society of York. His opinion 
is, that it is a monocotyledonous plant, as a pithy substance fills up the inter- 
stices between the vessels ; and that there has been no bark or concentric arrange- 
ment of layers. He also observes a striking resemblance to certainly monocotyledo- 
nous stems, which he has before examined. On the whole, Mr. Hincks says, ‘‘ hav- 
ing made the examination of this curious specimen, submitted to me with the 
greatest care, I can scarcely admit of a doubt upon the subject.* 
The internal structure, its singular colour, when contrasted with the block of 
sandstone in which it was found, induced me to request my friend Mr. Nicol to 
analyze it ; the following was the result :— 
60 per cent. of carbonate lime. 
18 per cent. of oxide of iron. 
10 per cent. of alumine. 
9 per cent. of carbonaceous matter. 
The height of this gigantic plant was 36 feet, 3 feet diameter at its base, and 
lying in nearly a horizontal position, corresponding with the dip. No branches 
were found.” 
On the Rice Paper of China.—The article of commerce known in this coun- 
try by the name of Rice Paper, is generally reckoned a composition of rice, from 
which circumstance it derives its common name. This, however, is an erroneous 
notion, as this beautiful paper, so well adapted from its softness, &c. for painting 
upon, is in reality the medulla or pith of aplant. It is not yet known, I believe, 
from what particular plant it is procured, nor have I ever been able to meet with 
any attempt to clear up the doubt which hangs over the subject. Whilst in Can- 
ton in Oct. 1828, I procured a specimen of the raw material from a native mer- 
chant in New China Street, which presents the following appearances :—It is 
about an inch in circumference, and I was told that the plant grew to the height 
of 10 or 12 feet ; externally it is of a white shining appearance, and very smooth 
on its surface ; internally it is fistulous, the canal being divided, by membranous 
expansions, into numerous partitions. In general aspect it is not much unlike 
the pith of some of our rushes, though much more compact in texture, and seems 
-undoubtedly to belong te the monocotyledonous class, and in all probability to 
the natural family of Juncee. Its substance is composed entirely of numerous 
cells, each being round, and connected by six loops to six surrounding cells. 
The process of preparing this article for use, and formimg it into the substance 
we see in this country, was described to me as very simple. ‘The substance is 
first steeped for some time in water till softened; a sharp narrow knife is then 
thrust through the centre, and it is then rolled out upon the knife, after which it 
is submitted to considerable pressure. W. Barrp. 

Jealousies and Animosities of Naturalists._It might be imagined by a per- 
son who has not had opportunity of observing the characters of men in different 
circumstances, that naturalists, united by the bonds of one general interest, and 
having their labours directed towards the accomplishment of one general object, 
the examination of nature in all her aspects, could not but live together in peace 
and harmony. But how far is this from being the case! The geologist, big with 
* Mr. Ad. Brongniart has communicated to Mr. Witham that he believes this 
fossil to be a section of a monocotyledonous plant; but that he is at present 
only able to give a conditional opinion respecting it. 
