as exotics. It is well known to botanists, however, that the first plant is natural to Portugal, as Clusius ascertained more than two centuries ago; that the second grows spontaneously in all the south of Spain and Portugal, not far from the seacoast; and that the Nerium Oleander borders, in prodigious quantities, the brooks and rivers to the south of the 38th degree of latitude. The Buxus sempervirens has been observed by philosophical travellers, in a wild state, forming whole copses near Ourem, and in other more northern parts of Portugal. On the other hand, who can believe the Amaryllis capensis, and the Erythrina corallodendrum, to be spontaneous productions of that country? We are persuaded that a far superior knowlege of the vegetable riches of Portugal, than is displayed in this paper, may be acquired from the collections of Portuguese plants existing in London; particularly since our indefatigable Masson last visited that kingdom. Nil intentatum nostri liquere, The poverty of the Fauna is, if possible, still greater than that of the Flora. It contains the list of about seven hundred animals; to complete which number, near an hundred species from very remote regions are brought in and marked by asterisks, Even with this precaution, we are surprised to find the catalogue of the Portuguese animals beginning by five species of monkeys, and affording place to ten species of parrots. We leave it to zoologists, who may visit Portugal, to judge of the attempts to fix characters and draw descriptions, which are found in some parts of this Fauna. De extincto Vulcano Olisiponensi et Montis Ermini. By the same. In 1777, M. Dolomieu, travelling in Portugal, observed in some mountains near Lisbon what were then generally believed to be marks of an extinct volcano; and he wrote some letters on this subject, which were published by Faujas de St. Fond. Since that time, the memorable controversy between Neptunists and Vulcanists has given occasion to further investigations and discoveries, which, on the whole, seem to confirm the Wernerian system; and even the most sturdy Vulcanists have been obliged to give up their pretensions to many of these Basaltine mountains. We expected to find, in this memoir, something which might decide our opinion respecting Dolomieu's discovery: but we observe only a repetition of the same idea, Professor VANDELLI taking no notice of the great controversy: yet, from the comparison which he draws between the Euganean hills and these of Lisbon, we infer that they are simply basaltine and not volcanic. On the uncertainty of the Plant which affords Myrrh, with the Description of a Shrub which possesses the same qualities and has the same uses. By S. DE LOUREiro, This author, who is well known by his Flora Cochinchinensis, here examines the opinions of several botanists respecting the plant which produces myrrh, and very plausibly opposes the reasons on which they are founded. He modestly refrains from giving any opinion of his own, but describes, with that precision for which his Flora is so conspicuous, a shrub growing in Ceylon, Cochinchina, and other parts of Asia, and possessing to a great degree the taste and smell of myrrh. This plant had been mentioned, but very slightly described, by Plukenet, Burmann, and Hermannus. It proves to be a species of Laurus, which M. DE L. calls Laurus Myrrha. The Chinese and Cochinchinese physicians employ the decoction of its roots internally, and the oil expressed from its bays externally. The oil is very frequently used as a detergent; and to the decoction of the root they attribute antiseptic, anthelmintic, and resolvent qualities. M. DE LOUREIRO candidly acknowleges that he never met with any thing like gum or resin naturally exuding from this shrub: but he supposes, with some degree of probability, that it would be obtained by means of incisions performed at proper seasons, as is the case in many other plants. On the Nature and true Origin of the Agallochum. By the same. Tournefort has justly observed that the darkest and most intricate part of Botany is the exact knowlege of vegetable drugs. The history of them has been so often attempted by persons who had no botanical science, that it needs more than common skill to avoid their blunders. If any of these drugs happen to be a valuable article of commerce, the difficulties of the inquiry are still greater; because the ingenuity exerted to find succedanea multiplies the number of different though similar substances, which circulate under the same denomination. This was the case of the agallochum, several sorts of wood being sold in the East under this name, as if there were varieties of it, differing only in degrees of goodness. The long residence of M. DE LOUREIRO in Cochinchina, whence the real and most esteemed agallochum is exported to all the Asiatic markets, afforded him many opportunities of making himself well acquainted with the tree which produces it, and with the history of its formation. In this memoir, he gives the description of the plant, which happens to be a genus totally unknown to former botanists, and to which he gives the name of aloexylum; and the particular species he calls aloexylum verum. The resinous concretion, which is found in these trees when in a decayed state, is the true agallochum; the history of which is here detailed in a satisfactory manner. The author's accounts, I counts, however, are not so satisfactory when, deviating from the botanical and historical track, he attempts to explain physiologically the origin of these concretions; his ideas on the internal structure of plants happening to be more than merely defective. On a vegetable Hygrometer. By A. SOARES BARBOSA. A perfect hygrometer still remains a desideratum. It is not sufficient to constitute a perfect hygrometer, that it be capable of shewing the greater or less humidity of the atmosphere, but it must shew it with precision and equability of motion. On reflection, it seems that the simpler the substance is which is to be affected by humidity, the more may we rely on the degrees which it marks; because the fewer is the ⚫ number of collateral causes which may influence its changes. For this reason, we suspect organized bodies to be the most unfit of all to afford that precision which is generally the produce of simplicity of action and of re-action. M. BARBOSA endeavours to construct an hygrometer with the twisted tails of the seeds of some species of geranium, which are known to have the power of contracting themselves into a screw-like form, when dry; and of extending themselves again, in proportion as they are affected by moisture. Prepossessed as we may be against the fitness of the twisted tails of the seeds of a geranium, for constructing a perfect hygrometer, we must do justice to the writer's extensive knowlege of natural philosophy, and to the ingenuity which he has displayed in this memoir; wishing, at the same time, that he may in future choose some other object more worthy of his researches. On the Effect produced by Thunder on the Royal Palace at Mafra, at six different Times. By D. S. DASSUMPCAO Vetho. The writer of this paper seems to be well acquainted with electric phænomena, and electrical theories. The thunder-Aruck palace, which is here described as far as its structure may be connected with atmospherical electricy, is no doubt one of the best theatres on which a philosopher could observe its effects. An elevated situation, lofty spires, and the almost incredible quantity of metallic subftances which they contain, are certainly strong attractives of the electric fluid. Meteorological Observations, made at Mafra in the Year 1783. By the same. These observations were made with select instruments, and appear to have been conducted with care and skill. The climate of Portugal being reputed one of the finest in Europe, our readers will not be displeased if we transcribe some part of the general result of the observations, Mafra is in about the the 39th degree of latitude, not far from the sea-coast, and the building stands about 600 feet above the level of the sea. The general result for the year 1783. Total of the rain, 27 inches, 9 lines, I tenth. Thermometer.-Highest degree of heat, 919 Lowest ditto, Medium ditto, 369 55° The thermometer was executed by Nairne on Reaumur's principles, but with the scale of Farenheit. Barometer.-Highest elevation, Less ditto, Medium ditto, 27 10 9 25 5 4 26 8 4 The number of days of fine weather, without clouds, was 179. Meteorological Obfervations made at Mafra in the Year 1784. By the same. General result of this year's observations; Total of the rain, 45 inches, and 9 tenths of a line. Thermometer.-Highest degree of heat, 93° Lowest ditto, Medium ditto, Medium ditto, 27 5 4 The days of perfectly clear weather were 186 in number. Of the other papers in this volume, we must reserve our account for a future opportunity. [To be continued.] Correa de Serra · 15hArt. ART. XVII. CAROLI ALINNE Systema Vegetabilium. Editio XV. à C. H. PERSOON procurata. 8vo. 1797. Pp. 1026, Goettinge THE rum rum observationibus cæteroquin mutandam, plane amittat, necnon pro libro manuali justo amplius evadat. Nisi hæc bibliopola mens fuisset, per temporis angustias plura vix præstare potuissem.” The editor was, nevertheless, unwilling to suffer the present impression to come abroad without some additions; particularly as, since Murray's edition of 1784, so many improvements in the specific characters had taken place, so many new plants had been discovered, and so many already known were more perfectly examined. These additions and alterations extend not merely to the species: the genera and their characters are equally concerned in them: nor could the labours of the late indefatigable Gaertner be overlooked on the present occasion. M. PERSOON, therefore, collected from his own notes, and from the writings of other botanists, whatever was new and remarkable in these respects, and has either added it in notes or inserted it in the text. These interpolations occur not unfrequently but to the last class the present editor has added nothing. Had he inserted the immense number of cryptogamic plants, discovered since the time of Linné, with the necessary remarks, the book (already of a sufficiently large size) would have far exceeded the bounds of a manual. This omission, if it should be desired, he is willing to supply in a separate volume; and we think that he would thus render an acceptable service to the botanical world. Bed--s ART. XVIII. Uber die wirkung Mineralischer Wasser, &c. i.c. On the Effect of Mineral Waters, particularly that of Wildung, By J. E. WICKMAN, M. D. 8vo. p. 64. Hanover. 1797. THE HE author of this tract holds (we believe) a distinguished rank among the fashionable physicians of his country; and we have on this account read his production with the greater attention. It is for the most part a piece of medical morality. Dr. WICKMAN calls on his brethren to renounce the quackery that is so generally carried on with mineral waters. He exhorts them strenuously to introduce philosophical precision into this department. He wishes that the distant practi tioner, and the watering-place physician, should lend to each other their assistance towards completing the knowlege of cases; deeming it not enough that the latter send abroad their ordinary common-place recommendations of the spring at which they reside, even though such recommendation be accompanied by a careful chemical analysis. With respect to the water of Wildung, the author affirme that he knows none comparable to it in diuretic effect, and in affording relief to calculous patients. D ART. |