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WITH PLATES AND, NOTES,

Br SARAH HOARE.

LONDON:

SIMPKIN & MARSHALL, STATIONERS’ COURT:
AND
WRIGHT AND BAGNALL, BRISTOL.

MDCCCXXXI.

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PREFACE.

HAVING been, during many years, engaged in
education, and having had opportunities of ob-
serving the good effects of natural history upon
the minds of my pupils, as a means of leading
them to a more minute examination of the won-
derful works of the Creator, and as supplying
profitable and curious subjects for thought and
pursuit, I believed it would not be altogether
a misapplication of time, to recommend those
elegant branches of it, Conchology and Botany,
to a more extensive circle of the younger class of
society. If I succeed in exciting a taste for pur-
suits, which I have happily experienced to bene-
fit my own mind, and by which, I have reason
to believe, many have been instructed; I shall
tejoice that I have submitted the following lines
to public notice.

My readers must be aware that it would be
impossible by any engraving or painting of shells,

1V.

unless very elaborate, to convey a just or accurate
idea of their exquisite beauty ; I have, therefore,
contented myself with choosing some of the sim-
plest specimens in the Linnean arrangement, for
plates, which describe one in each order of the
class Testacea, according to that arrangement.

N.B. 'The author acknowledges with pleasure,
and with gratitude, that she is much indebted to
“Conchologist’s Companion,” by a lady, for many
of her notes.

GONG EOL DG...

1.

DELIGHTFUL task, to trace the hand,
In the minute as in the grand,
Of sovereign Deity !
Tis holy exercise of mind,
Most valued by the most refin’d,
And by the heaven-exalted mind

Enjoy’d with ecstacy.

iN)

CONCHOLOGY.

ii:

Behold beneath, around, above,
Proofs of immeasurable love,
Nlimitable powers ;
Those powers the host of Heaven illume,
And give the summer’s varied bloom,
Its treasury of sweet perfume,

Its fascinating flowers.

Tif.
Still may thy lore, Oh Linné! charm,
Still with the love of science warm
The young, the gay, the wise ,
Still may the treasures of thy page,
Give youth a charm, and solace age,
And oft retirement’s hour engage,

And sorrows tranquillize,

CONCHOLOGY.

LY.
Cheer’d by th’ amusement they bestow,
I’ve sought the flowers that earliest blow,
From spring till winter lour’d ;
Fresh breezes cool’d my fev’rish vein,
Amusement dissipated pain,
Gay health reviv’d my sinking frame,

And healing balsam pour’d.

ee
Nor less Testacea have I sought,
With deepest admiration fraught,
Of all their vivid dyes ;
Their well proportion’d spires’ ascent,
Their foliaceous ornament,
Their varied charms, so competent,

To dazzle and surprise.

ws)

4 CONCHOLOGY.

VE.

Testacea ! with what store immense

Of beauty to the cultur’d sense,
Your various tint allures ;

No festal pomp nor rural scene

Can boast in gem or silken sheen

Adorning brow, or courtly mien,

More graceful hues than your’s.

VIL.
Not fugitive the joy you share,
Ye intellectual happy fair,
Who, taught the worth of mind,
From follies vain, and fashion’s glare,
Your gold, your time, your talents spare,

While charity and science share,

The heart from dross refin’d.

CONCHOLOGY.

Vill
Well may your eye, in all that live,
Traits of that heavenly love perceive,
Which still your hearts adore ;—
Then may Testacea claim from you,
The praise, the admiration due,
As opening treasures to your view,

To enrich the mental store.

IX.

Alike to thee to float at ease,
Lepas /* upon the summer seas,

Or midst the tempest’s foam ;
Thine architecture firmly braves,
The lightning’s glare, the infuriate waves.
And howsoe’er the ocean raves,

Secures thee still a home.

3B

or

6 CONCHOLOGY.

2

Chiton !> thou ne’er hadst cause to fear,

The warrior’s lance, the warrior’s spear,
Though still in coat of mail ;

Health to thy breast, and peace serene,

Enjoy thy pleasures submarine,

May no rude spoiler intervene,

Thy safety to assail.

XI. é

Columbia sends thee to our shores,
But distant Kurili affords

The noblest of thy race;
And Scotia too may boast of thee,
And Gallia’s coast, and Norway’s sea,
And lovely Erin claims to be

A fay’rite dwelling place.

OD OWaw RON

CHITON.
LEPAS.
PHOLAS.
MYA.
SOLEN.
TELLINA.
CARDIUM-
MACRA.
DONAX.
VENUS.
SPONDYLUS,
CHAMA.
ARCA.
MUREX.-

L0

Wire ght de Bagi dithe™ Bristol

CONCHOLOGY.

XII.

Deem not thyself from harm secur’d,

Pholas !© in rock or oak immur’d,
Or more tenacious clay;
Howe’er thy wish to live retir’d,
Unseen, unsought, and unadmir’d,
Yet, by thy tempting beauty fir’d,

We bring thee forth to day.

- XIU.
Gracefully striate is thy shell,
Transverse and longitudinal,
And delicately fair ;
But why that magic lustre bright?
For sure thou art no erudite,

Studious to trim the lamp by night.

Or breathe the vesper prayer.

™,

8 CONCHOLOGY.

XIV.
Illustrious Mya /* once the pride
Of Conway’s gently flowing tide,
Ah! why desert the fair
Of Cambria ? knew they not to prize
Thy elegant effulgencies,

Thy costly pearls of ample size,

To deck their braided hair ?

XV.
Perchance the sacred best advice
They took—and found the pearl of price,
The nichest, purest gem ;
Thrice happy fair, the nobler prize,
Still soothes, exalts, and satisfies,—
Tis all that truly dignifies,
*Tis beauty’s diadem.

CONCHOLOGY.

XVI.

Not unattractive is thy mien,

Solen /© though not in splendor seen,
With tempting charms to win ;

Tis not the richly broider’d vest,

By fashion’s fondest child possest,

Was ever yet esteem’d a test,

Of genuine worth within.

XVII.

Yet the soft-violet colour’d ray,
That paints thy robe, may well repay
Thy want of glitt’ring store ;
The Atlantic storm thou’rt wont to brave,
And in Pacific seas to lave,
To bask upon the Indian ware,
That breaks on Jaya’s shore

ie)

10 CONCHOLOGY.

XVIII.

There’s grace in thy unstudied dress,
Which adds to native loveliness,
There’s music in thy name ;
Thy varied rays, and polish bright,
Charm the unwearied gazer’s sight,
Then fair Tellina! claim thy right,
And swell the breath of fame.

XIX.

But not alike to all is bloom,
Or elegance, or gay costume,

Or fair proportion given ;
Yet still in all around we find,
Some good peculiar to its kind
Some useful power to each assign’d,

The gift of fav’ring Heaven.

CONCHOLOGY. ll

XX.
Oft times beneath a homely guise,
The real worth that secret lies,
Most tenderly endears ;
So Cardium !f one of the fair host,
Though least in beauty, still can boast

Superior claims to reign the toast,

Above her gay compeers.

XXI.

Mactra! Though not advane’d to wear
The palm of conquest, yet thine air

Of pure simplicity,
Might charm the most fastidious eye,
That satiate with variety,
Turns from the glare of finery,

To rest awhile on thee.

12 CONCHOLOGY.

XXII.

Nor need that nice fastidious eye
Donax !§ unheedful, pass thee by,

Though not to thee we know,
Belong such grace of form and air,
That thou with Venus couldst compare,
Nor art thou chosen, emblem fair,

Simplicity to shew.

XXIII.
Hail Venus /» Hail! The muse essays,

Justly to celebrate thy praise,

And pay thee honor due ;
No fair could boast a purer white,
No costly suit than thine more bright,
Howe’er with ornament bedight,

Of ev’ry varying hue.

CONCHOLOGY. 13

XXIV.

But wherefore seek to exalt thy name,
Venus and beauty are the same,

*T were vain to swell the strain,
To tell the world that Venus shines,
Unaided by Golconda’s mines,
That orient gold her vest intwines,

Were puerile and vain.

XXV.

Spondylus! Those repulsive arms,
Believe me, ill secure thy charms,

From man’s all conquering hand ;
He’d seek the distant barbarous clime,
Or Hymalayan steep sublime;
Nay—sacrifice his health, his prime,

To hold thee at command—

Cc

14 CONCHOLOGY.

XXYVI.

If such his will—The Almighty word,
Has so empower'd creation’s lord,

To compass his design,—
Then blended be his power with love,
Peaceful, and pure, as from above,
That whatsoe’er he do, may prove,

The human made divine.

XXVII.
Roll thy enormous bulk at ease,
Gigantic Chama/i in the seas,
That bathe Hindostan’s shore ;
Or sit upon thy coral throne,
In stately grandeur all thine own,
Nor bid thy native tribes alone,

Thy majesty adore!

CONCHOLOGY. 15

XXVIII.
Returning from the smooth broad strand,
The ebbing tide forsakes the land,
And leaves without regret
To fade, or die, its stores marine,
Scattering bright Arca’s sparkling sheen,
That, seiz’d by fairest hands I ween,

Adorns the cabinet.

XXIX.
With scallop in their hat before,
And cross, and scrip, and scanty store,
And errors all forgiv’n,
For penance done, the Pilgrim band,
Of old return’d from Holy Land,
With conscience heal’d and spirits bland,

And hope to rest in Heaven—

16 CONCHOLOGY.

XXX.

No longer Ostrea/* does thy hue,
Of saffron tint or pearly blue,

The pilgrim’s guise complete ;
The rosy ray—the saffron hue,
The emerald dye, the pearly blue,
All unattractive pass the view,

Of those who “‘live to eat.’’

XXXI.
Then Epicureaus ! feast away,
Upon your sweet nutritious prey,
With curious gout acute,
But, ah! from cruelty refrain,
Dispense not death with lingering pain,
Feed—amply—“ feed upon the slain,

But spare the living brute.”

CONCHOLOGY. 17

XXXII.
Unknown to thee, the infuriate zeal,
That erst opposed the public weal,
And urged its fierce decrees;
Or thou, fair Pearl! hadst stemm/’d the tide
Of prejudice, or envious pride,
Nor fore’d, in exile drear, to hide,

The just Aristides!

XXXII.

Oh, why Anomia! ™ dost thou rest,
Upon a generous neighbour's breast,
So confident and free;
_ To feast the happy hours away,
In full luxuriance, night and day,
And e’en upon the vitals prey,

Of him who nourish’d thee?

Gg

18 CONCHOLOGY.

XXXTV.
Thou hast not learn’d the cruel art,
To win, and then to break the heart,
That sooth’d and cherish’d thine;
No—for thou hast not dwelt among,
The faithless, fickle, seifish throng,
Of human kind, who basely wrong,

The friends round whom they twine.

XXXV.
Why, with those silks so fmely spun,
By which thy slender form is hung,
Wouldst thou with fashion vie ?
Thou needst not weave thyself such dress,
Enough thou hast of loveliness,
(As well thy brilliant tints confess,)

To captivate the eye.

CONCHOLOGY. 19

XXXVI.
At risk of life thy pearls are sought,
Though worth intrinsically nought,
They deck the imperial crown;
And, Mytilus/™ the courtly train,
Profuse of ornament, and vain,
Spare neither toil, nor gold, to gain

Thy pearls of fair renown.

XXXVIT.

Not all congenial to my mind,
Pinna!® thy orange suit I find,

It hints at party zeal;
We love to wear the olive wreath,
The warrior’s deathful sword to sheathe,
And philanthropically bisathe,

Health to the public weal.

20 CONCHOLOGY

XXXVIII.

But thee no party zeal can fire,
Nor sombre suit, nor gay attire,
Awake an anxious thought ;
Nor heed’st thou, that thy silk must be,
(Rich produce of thine industry,)
For stranger hands, but ne’er for thee.

In graceful drap’ry wrought.

XXXIX.
Still thou art of a gem possest,
The richest solace of the breast,
That sorrow’s stroke may rend;
Weep not, what’er that stroke may be,
One true, one rare felicity,
Is thine—and hosts might envy thee,

For thou hast found a Friend.

Wiught &. Bagnall Lithe™ Bristcl

Jl, OSTREA.
/5 ANOMEA.
/6 MYTILUS,.
(7 PINNA.

IS ARGONAUTA,
/G NAUTILUS.
20 CONUS-

Ze CYPRALA.
22, BULLA.

2 NOLUTA.
DLL STROMBUS.

CONCHOLOGY. 21

XL.

Fair Argonauta!? not a soil

Adown thy robe—thou wouldst recoil,
From vulgar, mean, or course;

Enough of elegance displays,

Thy form, to fix the admiring gaze,

And reverentially to raise

The mind to Beauty’s Source.

XLI.

And Nautilus! thy pearly gloss,
Alike repels the obtrusive dross,

That would thy charms obscure,
The flexuous rays of auburn shade,
That half thy robe of light pervade,
In varied forms, with gay parade,

Triumphantly allure.

Ww
to

CONCHOLOGY.

XLII.

But though enroll’d in beauty’s lines,
Conus !1 Thy predecessor shines,

In stately majesty;
Yet envy not his gay attire,
With look askance, and breast of ire,
Though he to loftier praise aspire,

Enough is left for thee.

XLII.

For he who gave thy shape and mode,

Such guise of form and line bestow’d,
As win the oe of taste ;

No glaring tints reflective send,

Their garish rays that taste toffend,

But light and shade together blend,

In graceful touches trac’d.

CONCHOLOGY. 23

XLIV.

Thy spotted suit so finely wrought,
Cypria!* might wake a serious thought,
In minds so prone to sin ;

And many a wand’ring soul might see,
The stain of its depravity,
And pray with holy zeal to be,

Immaculate within.

XLV.
Enjoy the freshness of the breeze,
Bulla !s that wafts thee o’er the seas,
Where nothing intervenes
To mar thy innocent delight,
To break thy bark with reckless might,
Nor intercept the glorious sight,

Of circumambient scenes.

24 CONCHOLOGY.

XLVI.

Music hath charms to soothe the breast

Where passions rage, and lull to rest,
E’en in the troubl’ous hour ;

Voluta /* such desires to heal,

Dost thou compassionately feel,

That e’en thy lineaments reveal,

Those signs of soothing power?

XLVII.
What, though by beauty’s self attir’d;
Though as her perfect form admir’d;
If love thy bosom fill ;
If sympathy with hand benign,
Have trac’d thy notes in curious line,
And made the woes of others thine,

Then art thou lovelier still.

CONCHOLOGY. 25

XLVIII.

There’s one in simple modest guise,

Of russet suit, which much I prize,
Above its gay compeers ;
Though ne’er by hand of fashion drest,
In broider’d robe and satin vest,
Content with innate loveliness,

With innate worth appears.

XLIX.

Possess’d of treasure all its own,

It ask’d not, though it gain’d renown,
A plenteous rich supply ;

Unconscious has it swell’d the pride

Of many a pageant, prince, and bride,

And, ah! perchance, his vesture dyed,
Who bled on Calvary."

D

26 CONCHOLOGY.

L.

Thou Strombus! hast no fine array,
No physiognomical display,

To seize upon the soul ;
Sensations rise at sight of thee,

Far other than the ecstacy,
That beauty’s winning sovereignty,

Inspires from pole to pole.

LI.

It cannot be that dire alarms,
Need those aculeated arms
To guard from hostile foe ;
Nor can anticipated ill,
Murex with sad forebodings fill,
Nor knows he that the Sovereign will

Enough of real woe.—

CONCHOLOGY. 27

LIT.

Has kindly sent the soul to wean
From fleeting, fading, joys terrene,

To purify and bless;
And teach the spirit to aspire,
To him the sovereign, friend, and sire,
To centre there the whole desire,

And taste of happiness.

Lili.

Though no device of human skill,

Hath plann’d thee, Zrochus !* at the will
Of architectural pride ;

Yet ne’er could architect design,

Nor Gothic aisle, nor arch combine,

Perspective more correct than thine,

Though taste and skill preside.

28 CONCHOLOGY.

LIV.

Th’ ambitious view in courts to shine,

The proud desire to charm mankind,
To Turbo none impute ;

And yet this dress of studied care,

Where emerald, azure, gold appear,

Implies no vast dislike to wear,

A royal birth-day suit.

LV.

To feed upon the peach’s bloom,

T’ inhale Dianthus’ sweet perfume,
And rest upon the Rose ;

To revel in the gay parterre,

So sweet, so costly, and so rare,

‘“‘From morn till dewy eve,” and there

To take the last repose.—

=.

me
ms dis:
ed
jae
ini
rae
.
2
: cad
ries
nts
parr

LOO 2 YRTY) wu Ov gy od 2 y Pri

Yah

Sex ek

BUCCINUM.
MUREX.«
TROCHUS.
TURBO.

HELIX.

NERITA.
HALIOTUS.
PATELLA .
DENTALIUM.,
SERPULA,
TEREDO,

CONCHOLOGY. 29

LVI.

Helix !* may suit thy taste and form,
And I like thee would shun the storm

Of life, and live alone ;
Like hermit in a safe retreat,
From scenes where false ones coldly greet,
‘And uncongenial tempers meet,

Unknowing and unknown.

LVII.

Nerita !* I have gaz’d on thee,

*Till thought of suff’ring infancy,
Impell’d the lengthen’d sigh ;

And though the spirit fain would soar,

Yet suff ring nature could deplore,

That “ to be born seem’d little more

Than to begin to die.”

50 CONCHOLOGY.

LVIII.

Not Artists’ skill, nor Poet’s lyre,

Though genius’ self the chords inspire,
And matchless taste impart ;

Suffice with all their powers to shew,

Thy iridescent splendid glow,

Bright as the tints in Iris’ bow,

Or paint thee as thou art.

LIX.

Pity such brilliancy should fade,

Exclaims, perhaps some pensive maid,
Whose thoughts on thee repose,

Bright Haliotes /¥ and a sigh

Escapes, perhaps, that she must die,

And that the lustre of her eye

In vacancy must close.

CONCHOLOGY.

LX.

Patella* to the rock adheres,
Nor of the raging tempest fears,
The most tremendous power ;
And though assail’d on every side,
Close to her guardian will abide,
Her strength, her fortress, and her pride,

Her never failing tower.

LXI.

Thus may the christian—though his bread
May fail, and o’er his drooping head

The storms of sorrow burst ;
Though disappointment thwart his will,
And doubts and fears his bosom fill,
With sore dismay,—yet may he still

The God of ages trust.

St

32 CONCHOLOGY

LXII.
We will not spurn thy simple guise
Dentalium ! nor thy form despise,
*T were thankless as ’twere rude,
Giv’n by his power whose mighty hand,
Th’ unlimited creation plann’d,
And made all good—thou must command

Our praise and gratitude.

LXIII.

Relying on another’s aid,
Art thou not, Serpula /* afraid

Thus fearless to depend ?
Or dost thou keep with heart elate,
What few can boast whate’er their state,
That cordial balm of adverse fate,

One dear—cne faithful friend.

CONCHOLOGY. 33

LXIV.

I would not doubt with impious mind,
Teredo!” good im thee to find,

Though navigators dread
Thy piercing power—and with dismay
Cast thee as direful foe away, ,
And, ah! for thee—profusely pray

For curses on thy head.

LXV.

And now accept ye cultur’d few,
The simple lay essay’d for you,

To amuse the leisure hour ;
You, who in fair Testacea see
Some reflex of the Deity,
And trace in insect, flower, and tree,

Your great Creator’s power.

to

54 CONCHOLOGY.

LXVI.

You frown not on the widow poor,
Who seeks your hospitable door,
But pity and relieve ;
Touch’d by her supplicating mein,
Her ak that tells where grief has been,
You buy her far-sought stores marine,

And bid her cease to grieve.

XLVII.

For bread she left her cheerless home,
For bread alas! impell’d to roan,

O’er marsh, and moor, and plain,
Collecting shells from sod and sand,—
Oh! let your gen’rous hearts expand,
Freely extend the liberal hand,

And bid her come again.

a

CONCHOLOGY. 35

LXVIII.

The cheek where sadness sat before,

Behold! what raptures mantle o’er,
From your beneficence ;

And feel you not th” increase of joy,

That sorrow’s self shall not destroy,

Nor retrospection e’er alloy,—

A sacred recompense.

LXIX.

You look upon the sunburn’d cheek

Of him, who wander’d far to seek
Mid Eastern seas and Isles,

And scorching suns, his merchandise,

Enrich’d by oriental skies,

With deeper, lovelier, brighter dyes,

And give him more than smiles.

36 CONCHOLOGY.

LXX.

Spare not your gold—twere well exchang’d,
For cabinet of shells arrang’d |
With conchologic skill,
Not to one lovely feature blind ;
In ewry touch and tint you find,
To please the scientific mind,

New traits of beauty still.

LXXI.
Amusement innocent and pure,
Which may from folly’s path allure,
And check the vagrant will ;
And may you midst this fair display,
Should disappointment cloud your way,
Should friends deceive, and foes dismay,

Find peace and pleasure still.

CONCHOLOGY. 37

LXXII.

And, oh! ye fair—whate’er your state,
May nought your spirits alienate,
From him the Almighty Friend;
Exalted be your minds to raise
To him your sweetest, loftiest lays,
Be sanctified your hearts to praise
Him first, him midst, him last, and

without end.

NOTES.

Note * page 5, line 9.

Alike to thee to float at ease,
Lepas ! wpon the summer seas.

These extraordinary shell fish, the Lepades, are never found
detached from other substances ; they adhere by their base, or stalk,
not only to rocks and stones, but even to marine animals, such as
the whale and the turtle. They are also found on the bottoms of
vessels, and increase so rapidly in magnitude and number, as
sometimes, to impede their progress in sailing.

The inhabitant of the Lepas, is often a considerable traveller,
without, however, moving from its shell, and is constantly ex-
posed, inmany situations, to a boisterous sea, To remedy this
inconvenience, nature has affixed to it an operculum, or little
door, formed of four triangular valves. This door is safely closed
in stormy weather, but thrown aside when the seais calm.—
Brooke. 5

A feathery tube of a brown color and elegantly curled, is then
projected through the opening by means of which, the fish rea-
dily procures food.— Mawe.

Note © page 6, line 1.
Chiton ! thou ne’er hadst cause to fear,
The warrior’s lance, the warrior’s spear.
The Chiton, or coat of mail, is generally composed of eight
pieces, called valves, and surrounded by a narrow belt, or mar-

NOTES. 39

gin, which is sometimes covered with scales. These valves
are united by a cartilage, which enables the Chiton to roll toge-
ther into a ball like the hedgehog and porcupine, on the ap-
proach of danger. As the back alone is defended by the shell,
this ingenious expedient effectually protects the sagacious animal
against the attacks of its marine enemies, and perhaps enables it
to elude their vigilance, from its resemblance to a pebble when
perforated by the waves. The name of the genus Chiton is de-
rived from a Greek word, signifying a coat of mail, and aptly
expresses the coriated appearance of the shell, arising from the
position of the valves.—Linneus.

Note ¢ page 7, line 2.
Deem not thyself from harm secur’d,
Pholas ! in rock or oak immur’d.

The Pholades are found in company, but not in groups, or
clusters, as the Lepades, for each individual Pholas is detached
from its neighbour, and occupies a separate and distinct habita-
tion, for these indefatigable creatures open an entrance into stones
and wood, by means of a peculiar secretion with which maternal
nature has bountifully provided them. The dwelling of this soli-
tary shell-fish is generally oblique to the horizon resembling
a truncated cone, terminated with a roundish cavity which
receives the body of the animal, whilst the furthest end is filled
up with a proboscis, or pipe, of a fleshy substance, and conical
form, truncated at the end. This pipe the animal usually pro-
trudes to the surface of the stone, for the evident purpose of
drawing in the sea-water, on which it subsists, and again reject-
ing it for afresh supply. A small green vessel has also been
observed in the body of the Pholas, but its use is not yet certain.

This pipe when plunged into spirits of wine, assumes a purple
color.—Mawe,

40 . NOTES.

These curious shell fish possess the property of emitting a phos-
phorescent liquor, which shines with brilliancy, ‘and illuminates
whatever it touches. Ancient naturalists noticed this remarkable
fact. Pliny, in particular, observes, that the Pholas shines in
the mouth of the person who eats it, and renders the hands and
clothes luminous when brought into contact with them. ‘The lu-
minous quality of the Pholas, is in’proportion to its freshness,
and even when in a dry state, the quality may be revived by the
application of fresh, or salt water, but brandy immediately ex -
tinguishes it ; a single Pholas renders seven ounces of milk so
beautifully luminous, that surrounding objects are rendered visi-
ble by its light. This luminous quality entirely disappears when
the milk which contains it is excluded from the air, but again
revives on exposure to the atmosphere.—Mawe.

Note ¢ page 8, line 1.
Illustrious Mya! once the pride
Of Conway’s gently flowing tide.

The Mya Margaritifera, is particularly alluded to ; in it beauti-
ful and costly pearls are occasionally found. The river Conway,
in Wales, was formerly famous for producing pearls of great size
and value.—Linneus.

Considerable pearl fisheries formerly subsisted on several of our
rivers, particularly the Conway, and Esk. Sir Richard Winne,
of Gwydir, Chamberlain to Catherine, Queen of Charles II, pre-
sented her Majesty with a valuable gem, taken from the Conway,
which was placed, and still continues, in the royal diadem, a
beautiful specimen of the English pearl. It is recorded by
Suetonius, that the reports which had reached Rome, concerning
British pearls, were the actuating motives which induced Casar
to attempt the conquest of the Island.—Pennant’s British Zoology.

NOTES. Af

Note ©, page 9, line 2.
Not unattractive is thy mien,

Solen! though not in splendor seen.
g }

Solen Diphos, is covered with a greenish cuticle, under which
itis violet, with greenish rays.—Linneus.

The animal inhabitant of the Solen, though incapable of mo-
ving forwards horizontally, digs a hole nearly two feet deep in the
soft sand. A fleshy and cylindrical leg, which is capable of being
drawn out to a considerable length, and made to assume the shape
of a hook or spade, is used for this purpose. ‘Thus, when the
Solen is preparing to form a dwelling in the sand, this singular
appendage takes the form of a shovel, sharp on one side, and ter-
minating in a point, by the aid of which a hole is dug ; it then
alternately assumes the shape of a hook and a spade, one serving
the purpose of shovelling out the sand, the other to assist the
wary animal in its precipitous descent. When the Solen wishes
to change its place of abode, the leg is again put in requisition,
it then takes the shape of a ball, and is stretched as wide as pos-
sible. This ball prevents the creature from slipping back, while
the reaction of the muscles throws it forwards.—Booke.

Note f, page 11, line 4.

So Cardium ! one of the fair host,

Fhough least in beauty, still can boast.

The Cardium Edule, is here alluded to—it is found on sandy
coasts, a little beneath the sand; its place is pointed out by
a depressed spot. The fish affords a nourishing food.—Linneus.

The shells of the Genus Cardium, are sometimes of a dark
brown color, varied with white, hollow, elevated ribs. Those of
the Tellinc are remarkable for their beautiful radiation.

42 NOTES.

Note &, page 12, line 3.
Nor need the nice fastidious eye,
Donax! unheedful, pass thee by.

The Donax, resembles a wedge, it is broad and thick at one
end, and gradually tapers towards the other.

Note , page 12, line 8.

Hail Venus! Hail! The muse essays,
Justly to celebrate thy praise.

This elegant genus, surpasses in beauty, every other description
of sea shells. The rich purple Venus Mercenaria, or money
Venus, is used by the Indians of North America, to form the pur-
ple and white beads, by which their Wampum or treaty belts are
made.— Brooke,

Different species are used for the purpose of decoration ; the
females of the North American Indians, especially, cover with
them the shoes they use in dancing, and thus produce a sound
somewhat resembling the tinkling of little bells worn on similar
occasions by the Jewish Ladies.

Linneus, describes the Venus Holosericea as follows: Shell
orbicular, solid, white, with undulate gold strie, and a broad
yellow band towards the margin. Also the Venus Edentula, as
being within golden, except the margin.

Note i, page 13, line 8.
Spondylus! those repulsive arms,

Believe me, ill secure thy charms.

Spondylus Regius, shell subglobular, within white, without
purplish, flame color, orange, or white, spines generally two inches
long, sometimes cylindrical.—Linneus.

NOTES. 43

Note j page 14, line 9.

Roll thy enormous bulk at ease,
Gigantic Chama ! in the seas,

Chama Gigas, inhabits the Indian Ocean, and is sometimes so
small as not to measure an inch in length, sometimes far exceeds
all other testaceous productions, having been found of the weight
of 532 pounds, and the fish or inhabitant so large, as to furnish
120 men with food, and strong enough to cut asunder a cable and
lop off men’s hands.—Linneus. There are two Chamas in the
beautiful grotto, belonging to Gabriel Goldney, Esq. Clifton,
near Bristol, that measure more than } yard in length, and more
than 3 in breadth. There is also a fine Chama at Miller and Sweet’s
Nursery Garden, near Bristol.

Note *, page 16, line 1.

No longer Ostrea! does thy hue,
Of saffron tint or pearly blue.

The Ostrea Jacobea, is in this place particularly alluded to ; it
was formerly worn by Pilgrims, as an emblem that they had cross-
ed the sea in their way to the Holy Land, or some distant object
of devotion ; hence they are still preserved in the armorial bear-
ings of several families of distinction.

An attentive observer, M. de Lavoye, recently remarked on
opening an oyster, a shining matter, or blueish light, resembling
a star, about the centre of the shell, which appeared to proceed
from a small quantity of real phosphorus: On being taken from
the animal it extended to nearly half an inch in length; and when
immersed in water, seemed in every respect the same as the
phosphorus obtained from bones, &c. The oyster itself was

44 NOTES.

perfectly alive and fresh, consequently the light could not pro-
ceed from any decomposition of the shell or animal—but must
have resulted from some other source. On submitting this appa-
rent phosphorus to a high magnifier, it was found to consist of
three different sorts of animalcules ; one of which had no less
than forty-eight legs attached to a slender body ; a black spot on
the head, which was evidently its only eye; and the back exactly
resembled that of an eel, when deprived of its outer coating.
The second insect Polypheme, had also a solitary eye, and numer-
ous feet ; a nose resembling that of a dog, and a body made of
several rings. The third was very different, having a speckled
body, a head resembling a foal’s, with a tuft of hair on both sides.
Each of these extraordinary insects was beautifully luminous, and
altogether resembled a blueish star.

Note !, page 17, line 7.
Nor fore’d, in exile drear, to hide,
The just Aristides !

The Ostracism was a mode of punishment in Greece intended
for popular characters, who were supposed to have acquired so
much influence as to be dangerous to the commonwealth. The
manner in which it was performed, was, by inscribing the name
of the obnoxious individual on a tile or oyster-shell, and he to
whom the majority of votes fell, was banished for ten years, if the
number of votes amounted to six thousand.

The predominant virtue of Aristides, an Athenian statesman
and warrior, was unimpeachable integrity, and, in consequence
of which, he was honored with the title of “the just.” When
the people of Athens were assembled to vote for his banishment ,
an illiterate citizen came to him, not suspecting the person whom
he addressed to be that celebrated statesman, and desired him to

+

NOTES. 45

write Aristides upon the shell which was to contain his vote.
The accused Athenian meekly inquired if Aristides had ever
injured him. ‘ No,” replied the citizen, ‘‘I do not even know
him ; but I cannot bear to hear every body call him Aristides the
just.” The patriot made no reply, but took the shell and wrote
upon it his own name.

Note ™, page 17, line 8.
Oh, why Anomia ! dost thou rest,
Upon a generous neighbour's breast.

Anomie, are particularly inimical to Bivalves. They place the
orifice downwards, affix themselves to the shells, and extract
through the cavities of the scales of the Ostrea, all the animal
life. The Anomia is one of the most singular animals among the
whole tribe of shell fish, and exists by the continual destruction
of others ; its adhesion is so powerful that the devoted bivalve can
Barbut.

never dislodge its troublesome guest.

Note ®, page 19, line 4.
And, Mytilus! the courtly train,
Profuse of ornament, and vain.

The exterior of the Mytilus Margaritiferus, generally indicates
the value of the gem which it contains; such as are varied and
incrusted with calcareous substances, and with Zoophites of vari-
ous kinds, enclose the finest pearls ; those on the contrary, which
present a smooth surface, have only begun to form these valuable
secretions, and are semetimes entirely without them.— Mawe.

Pearl Oysters, at certain seasons of the year, congregate in
considerable numbers on the surface of the water, where they
open their shells, and enjoy the influence of the sun: at this
period the Chinese fishermen throw into each a small string of
beads, formed of mother of pearl, which becoming encrusted in

46 NOTES.

the course of a few months, present the appearance of real pearls.
As soon as this curious process is supposed to be completed, the
muscles are drawn up and robbed of the treasure they contain.
The truth of this extraordinary statement may be implicitly relied
upon ; it is confirmed by the testimony of respectable travellers,
and the result of various experiments.— Dillwyn.

Julius Cesar, presented Servillia, the mother of Brutus, with
a pearl, for which he paid £48,457. The famous ear-rings which
the profligate Cleopatra dissolved in vinegar, and drank to the
health of Mark Antony, were valued at £161,458. In emula-
tion of which, Clodius presented each of his guests with a glass
of vinegar, in which a valuable pearl had been dissolved. One
in the possession of Philip II. of Spain, was estimated at
140,800 ducats. A pearl mentioned by Tavernier, in the hands of
the Emperor of Persia, was bought in the year 1653, of an Arab,
for 32,000 tomans, which at three pounds nine shillings the
toman, amounts to £110,400 sterling.—Rees.

As late as the beginning of the sixteenth century, Ireland
also boasted her pearl fisheries, and several beautiful specimens
were brought from the rivers of Tyrone and Donegal, one of
which came into the possession of Lady Glenleary, who wore it
in anecklace, and refused £80 which was offered for it by the
Duchess of Ormond.—Pennant’s British Zoology.

The pearl is elegantly termed by the oriental writers, Margion
or a globe of light. It is customary among the Turks, to send
letters to their distant friends, entirely composed of various little
_ articles to which some meaning is attached—in these the Margion
always holds a conspicuous station, and signifies ‘‘ fairest of the
young” as a rose, ‘‘may you be pleased, and your sorrows mine.”
The Persian poet, Meskin Aldaramy, in allusion to these fanciful
associations, has thus elegantly compared his friends to a string

NOTES. 47

of pearls, himself to the cord on which they are suspended, thus,
** For they’re a string of pearls, and I
The silken cord on which they lie.”
Carlisle’s translation from the Arabic.

Note °, page 19, line 9.
Not all congenial to my mind,
Pinna! thy orange suit I find.

The Pinna Fin shell, or sea wing, is a beautiful and well
known genus. The Pime, are elegantly termed the silk worm of
the ocean, in allusion to the fine silky beard, or bissus, by the
means of which they moor themselves firmly to the rocks, or
all uresmall fish by the floating or trembling of the filaments in the
water.—Swinburne.

This singular appearance is readily produced by the ani-
mal on a?sudden emergency. It darts out an extensile organ
and discharges from its tip a drop of gluten, which, by the draw-
ing back of the same organ, immediately forms a silky thread,
till by a repetition of this simple operation, a thick tuft is at
length completed. This tuft of silk, termed by the Sicilians
lanna penna, is broken off and sold in its rude state to the coun-
try women, who wash it thoroughly in soap and water, they then
dry it in the shade, straiten the threads with a large comb, cut off
the useless root by which it adheres to the animal and card the re-
mainder. This silk is fabricated into various articles of wearing
apparel. The web isof a beautiful yellow brownresembling the bur-
nished gold on the backs of some splendid beetles, an effect whichis
produced by steeping it in lemon juice, and afterwards pressing it
with a hotiron. A considerable manufactory of stuffs is established
at Palermo ; they are extremely elegant, and vie in appearance with
such as are fabricated from the finest silk. In the year 1745, a
pair of stockings were presented to Pope Benedict XV. which,

48 NOTES.

in consequence of their extreme fineness, were enclosed in a box,
not larger than one of an ordinary size, such as is used for hold-
ing snuff. A robe of the same singular materials, is mentioned
by Procopius, as the gift of a Roman Emperor, to the Satrap of
Armenia. The animal inhabitant of the Pinna is a blind slug, to
which the Sepia or Cuttle fish is a deadly foe. A kind of Crab
fish, naked like the Hermit Crab, and very quick sighted, is the
constant companion of the Pinna Marina, they live and lodge
together in the same shell which belongs to the latter. When the
Pinna has occasion to eat, he opens his valves and sends out his
faithful purveyor to procure food. If any foe approaches, the
watchful crab returns with the utmost speed and anxiety to his
blind protector, who, being thus warned of danger, shuts his
valves and escapes the rage of the enemy ; when on the contrary,
the crab loads himself with booty, he makes a gentle noise at
the opening of the shell, which is closed during his absence, and
when admitted, the two friends feast together on the fruits of his
industry.—Hasselquist. This curious fact, although well known
to the ancients, escaped, till lately, the observation of the mo-
derns. The author of the poem has in her possession, a Pinna
Marina, the interior of which is of a fine dark orange color.

Note P, page 21, line 1.
Fair Argonauta ! not a soil
Adown thy robe—thou wouldst recoil
This interesting genus, the Nautilus of Pliny, has been separ-
ated from the chambered genus bearing that name in the Linnzan
system, and is denominated Argonauta, from a favorite companion
of Jason, in the celebrated voyage of the ship Argo. The art of
navigation is supposed to have owed its origin to the expert
management of this instinctive sailor, as well as to that of the

NOTES. 49

Nautilus, for, like the latter, he frequently rises to the surface
of the sea, by ejecting a quantity ot water, and thus diminishing
the specific gravity of his shell; nay, more, he guides his mimic
vessel by means of several oar-shaped tintacule, and also ex-
pands a little membrane, which answers the purpose of a sail.
These, on the approach of danger are immediately hauled down,
and by arapid absorption of water, the Argonauta betakes him-
self to his natural dwelling in the fathomless abyss.—Burrows.
The Nautilus Pompilius, inhabits the Indian and African ocean, is
often very large, and finely variegated with brown flexuous streaks
under the outer covering which is white, within of a most beauti-
ful pearly gloss ; of this species the inhabitants of the east make

drinking cups,—Linneus.

Note 4, page 22, line 2.
But though enroll’d in beauty’s lines,
Conus! Thy predecessor shines.

There is, perhaps, no genus throughout the whole of the shell
tribes, which holds a more important station than the Conus, and
it is difficult to decide whether they are more to be valued for
their variety than for their beauty.

Note , page 23, line 2.
Thy spotted suit so finely wrought,
Cypria ! might wake a serious thought.

The genus Cyprea, was early dedicated to the fabulous divi-
nity of Cyprus. The Cyprea moneta, is collected by the negro
women of the Indian Isles, three days before and after full moon,
and then transported into Siam, Bengal, and Africa, where itis
used by the natives as a substitute for money, vast quantities are
imported into this country, for the purposes of traffic; and, at

least 100 tons of them are annually sent to Guinea.
F

50 NOTES.

Note 8, page 23, line 9.
Enjoy the freshness of the breeze,
Bulla! that wafts thee o’er the seas.

The genus Bulla, is aptly named from its similarity to a bubble.
The Bulla Lignaria, and probably those of most of the genus, is
furnished with an organ exactly resembling the gizzard of a fowl,
and which it appears to use for the purpose of masticating its
food.—Linneus.

Note t, page 24, line.4.
Votula! such desires to heal,
Dost thow compassionately feel.

Voluta Musica. Linnezus describes it a shell with numerous
transverse bands, composed of parallel brown lines, between
which are dots and marks resembling in some measure musical
notes.

Note ", page 23, line 14.
And, ah! perchance his vesture dyed,
Who bled on Calvary.
And they clothed Him with purple &c. Mark, c. xv, 17.—20.
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him.
The Buccinum Purpura is alluded to, It has two horns like
those of the common snail, but the eyes, instead of being at the
extremities are situated in the centre of each. It is by naturea
rover, and one of the most voracious inhabitants of the deep,
while its relative, the stationary Murex, generally adheres to
rocks or stones. These dissimilar shell fish furnished the gor-
geous purple of Imperial Tyre. It is recorded, that the ancients
were originally indebted to a shepherd’s dog, having stained his
mouth of such a colour, by the breaking of one of these shells on
the sea shore, as to excite the admiration of all who saw it, and

NOTES. ol

to occasion the application of chance discovery to the coloring of
stuffs. But though neither history nor tradition, has preserved
any authentic information with regard to the origin of this inter-
esting art ; yet, from analogy, as well as observation on the prac-
tice of barbarous nations at the present day, we can readily credit
the fables of the latter, with regard to the rude beginnings whence
this art has sprung. The high antiquity of the Tyrian purple is
confirmed by Homer, who ascribes the wearing of purple orna-
ments and robes, to the heroes of Greece and Rome, the preparing
them to queens and princesses. The Pagans were even persuaded
that the purple dye had a particular virtue, and was capable of
appeasing the wrath of their gods. The Tyrians, by the confes-
sion of all antiquity, succeeded best in dying purple stuffs. For
fifty pounds of wool the ancients used no less than three hundred
pounds of the liquor of the Buccinum and Murex, or six pounds of
liquor to one of wool, consequently, the real Tyrian purple vied
in value with gold itself. To assume the purple was a phrase
synonymous with that of ascending the throne ; officers were ap-
pointed to superintend the manufactories of thisimperial dye. It
was principally prepared in Pheenicia, and the punishment of
death was decreed against any who should have the audacity to
appropriate it to their own use, though concealed by garments of
another color.

Note ¥, page 27, line 9.
Though no device of human skill,

Hath plann’d thee, Trochus! at the will;

The Trochus Perspectivus, is particularly alluded to, Linnzus
describes it as having the perforation funnel shaped, with a double
granulate belt ; and being a most beautiful shell.

NOTES.

Or
wo

Note ¥, page 29, line 1.
Helix! may suit thy taste and form,
And I like thee would shun the storm.

The movements of the common Helix are uncommonly slow,
the viscous nature of its juices, which are extremely tardy in
their circulation, produce a considerable degree of sluggishness
in the movements of the animal. This ingenious idea was first
suggested by Mr. Braidly, he observed the circulation in a snail
just hatcbed, the body and shell of which being quite transparent,
enabled him to discover that the pulsations of the heart succeeded
each other at the distance of three seconds. Conjecturing how-
ever, that the juices in so young a subject would circulate more
quickly than in an older one, he had resource to some, the shells
of which had been damaged by some previous accident. In these
the beats were five seconds distant from each other, the circulation
having probably been accelerated by the injury they had sustain-
ed, as, in the course of three hours afterwards, seven seconds
elapsed between each, at which period, some of the largest had
begun to renew their shells, by throwing out a considerable
quantity of viscous juice through the pores of the undefended part.
The peculiar nature of the juices of the Helix, seems to have a
reference to its mode of life, for no degree of natural or artificial
cold has ever been known sufficiently powerful to congeal them.
Helix Pomotia, or Exotic Snail, differs little in appearance from
the common. This species was first introduced into England, by
the celebrated Sir Kenelm Digby, as food or medicine for his
lady, who died of consumption. Various attempts have been
made to naturalize them in Northamptonshire, but without suc-
cess, as they uniformly refuse to emigrate from the southern
shores of Fngland; they are tenacious of life, and equally
susceptible of cold ; towards winter they cover their sub-lunate

NOTES. 03

apertures with a calcareous lid, resembling an operculum, and
remain in a torpid state until spring.—Mawe.

Exotic Snails are used as food during lent, in several parts of
Europe; they are fattened for the purpose in large reservoirs, the
floors of which are covered with herbs and flowers. This species
formed a favorite dish with the luxurious Romans, who fed them
on bran and wine, till they grew to such a size, that, if we may
credit the testimony of Varro, the shells would contain ten quarts
Admitting the truth of this account, the temperance of the
younger Pliny, will no longer be a subject of admiration, whose
supper consisted of a lettuce for each guest, three snails, two
eggs, barley cake, sweet wine and snow; Fulvius Herpinus, is
said to have introduced this luxury, a short time before the wars

of Cesar and Pompey.—English Encyclopedia.

The Helix Vivipara and Helix Teutaculata, Viviparous and
Durky Helices, are furnished with horny opercula, or small
pieces of shell answering the purposes of doors or shutters, by
means of which they close the apertures of their shells, and thus
completely exclude the water.— Brooke.

Helices abound in almost every part of the known world, they
furnish an important article of food on the shores of the Mediter-
ranean, where they are boiled in their shells and served up with
rice,—Voyager’s Companion.

They possess much of the quality of oysters, and are extremely
nutritious, the use of them not unfrequently retards the fatal ter-
mination of that less active form of consumption called a decline,
and so long as sufficient quantity could be procured, many patients
have appeared convalescent from the rapid recovery of their
strength.—Voyager’s Companion..

54 NOTES.

Note *, page 29, line 8.
Nerita I have gaz’d on thee,
Till thought of suff’ring infancy.

Linneus describes it as Wa Af lip toothed, and the pillar
impressed with a saffron spot. It is call e bleeding tooth,
because the pillar has the appearance of a bleeding gum, occa-
sioned by the cutting, as it is called, of a child’s tooth. There
is the appearance of something like a tooth above the gum.

Note ¥, page 30, line 11.

Bright Haliotes! and a sigh
Escapes, perhaps that she must die.

Haliotis Iris, extremely rare and valuable, shell four and a half
inches long, three broad, with six pervious orifices, the underside
reflecting the most beautiful and rich variable colors.—Linneus.

Note’, page 31, line 1

Patella to the rock adheres,

Nor of the raging tempest fears. i
Patellz, are generally found adhering by the base to rocks,

stone, fuci, or other marine substances ; it is impossible to move

them without considerable force, unless (for it seems their sense

of hearing is very acute,) you come upon them unexpectedly.

Note *, page 52, line 9. .

Relying on another’s aid,
Art thou not, Serpula! afraid.

‘The Serpula generally adheres to other substances.

NOTES.

qn
oT

Note », page 33, line 2.

I would not doubt with impious me
Teredo ! good in thee to find, -

Teredo Navalis, or ship worm, readily enters the stoutest tim-
ber, and ascends the sides of stately vessels, which it insidiously
destroys. When the body of a vessel continues for any length
of time under water, the Teredines appropriate it to their own
use. They commence their operations by perforating the softest
parts of the wood, and, as they have seldom at this time attained
their full growth, the perforations are so small as to be scarcely
discernible. As soon as they have entered and completed their
habitation, they begin to beautify and render them commodious,
this they effect by means of a white glutinous fluid exuding from
their bodies, like the viscous juices of the common snail, which
hardens into a sort of crust, and forms a thin smooth lining to
their respective shells. This lining by filling up the cavities,
and smoothing every inequality, protects their tender bodies
from being injured by the roughness of the wood ; it also enables
them to move in various directions without inconvenience. A
social compact apparently subsists between these shelly anchorites,
as the greatest care is evidently taken to avoid injuring each
other’s habitation. Each case or shell is preserved entire, and
even where a piece of wood has been so completely perforated as
to resemble a honeycomb, the slightest passage or communication
has never been discovered between the different compartments
though the divisions have frequently not exceeded the thinness of
fine writing paper.— Philosophical Transactions

The destructive operations of these insidious animals, are, in
a great degree, obviated by the singular fact of their generally
perforating the wood, in the direction of the grain.

36 NOTES.

Teredines abound in the richest provinces of Holland, where
the inhabitants have the frightful spectacle of their great rivers
held up by dikes, at the height of twenty, and even thirty feet
above the level of the land. Here they frequertly work their
way into the piles of timber that sustain these important barriers,
and threaten their total demolition, when the precaution of sheath-
ing their lofty sides with copper, or a composition of tar and glass
has been neglected. Inthe year 1721, considerable apprehen-
sions having been excited on the subject, persons were appointed
by the government to examine the piles of timber that sustain
the dikes, on drawing up one of them which had been driven
into the sea rather more than twenty years before, it was found,
though apparently sound on the outside, completely perforated by
innumerable Teredines, some of which exceeded a foot in length.

“IT would not doubt with impious mind,
Teredo ! good in thee to find,”

The feeble Teredines open a source of considerable riches to
the inhabitants of Sweden, and those who reside on the borders
of the white sea, by employing the vigilance of the Dutch. The
necessity which they impose upon these active people, of conti-
nually tarring and repairing their dikes and vessels, forms a bond
of union between the two commercial nations, by occasioning a
perpetual demand for oak, pitch, and tar, and as these apparently
pernicious insects are continually at work at Amsterdam, for the
advantage of Stockholm and Archangel, so the labours of others in
the north are equally profitable to the Hollanders, by promoting
the consumption of their salt, spices, and grocery, which are
annually exported in large quantities, either for the purpose of
seasoning and preserving the provisions of their northern neigh-
bours, or to cure the fish which they use instead of bread.

NOTES. o7

Page 34, line 1.
“ You frown not on the widow poor.”’

It is no uncommon practice for poor women to collect shells on
the sea coast, that have been left by the tide, or thrown ashore
by the waves, as well as land shells, and it is surprising, ignorant
as they generally are, how soon they acquire a knowledge of their
generic and specific names. Many have been employed by ladies
to collect shells, many urged by poverty collect them as a means
of obtaining food, and present them for sale in the street. The
author has observed several of these poor women, with many
beautiful specimens of English shells, which they offered for less
than a shilling, and these shells must have cost them perhaps
two or three days’ fatiguing search.

;

wenn

migortt ot!

ie
(rhe

ie , waade ban qeaal thst

. gh ’ ln ghee

ee

PART II.

BO) AUN Y.

= E thtopice

lalla

BOTAN Y.

E

SCIENCE, illuminating ray !

Fair mental beam, extend thy sway,
And shine from pole to pole !

From thy accumulated store,

O’er every mind thy riches pour,

Excite from low desires to soar,
And dignify the soul.

G

62 BOTANY.

(oe

Science! thy charms will ne’er deceive,
But still increasing pleasure give,
And varied joys combine ;
Nor ever leave on memory’s page
A pang repentance would assuage ;
But purest, happiest, thoughts engage

To sweeten life’s decline.

II.

To thee, oh Botany! I owe

Of pure delight, the ardent glow,
Since childhood’s playful day ;

E’en then I sought the sweet perfume,

Exhal’d along the banks of Froome ;

Admir’d the rose’s opening bloom,

And nature’s rich array.

BOTANY.

ey.

The exhilarating mountain gale,

The velvet slope, the shady vale,
Have given their sweets to me;

Eager to seize the fav’rite flower,

I heeded not the tempest’s lower,

Nor mid-day sun’s exhausting power,

Impell’d by love of thee.

Y.

The search repays by health improv’d, °

Amply supplies the mind with food
Of rich variety ;

Awakens hope of brighter joy,

Presents with sweets that never cloy,

And prompts the happiest employ,
Of praise to Deity.

63

64 BOTANY.

Vi.

But not alone for pleasure’s sake,

We search the thicket, copse, and brake,
Or rove from clime to clime ;

Nor yet for the abundant store

Of plants, that fragrant balsams pour,

Whether they deck the valleys o’er,

Or mountain’s brow sublime.

VII.

"Tis that with scientific eye
We explore the vast variety,
To find the hidden charm:
Tis to allay the fever’s rage,
The pang arthritic to assuage,
To aid the visual nerve of age,

And fell disease disarm.

>>,
Qn

BOTANY.

VEIT.

Linné, by thy experience taught,
And ample page so richly fraught
With scientific lore :
I scann’d thy curious system clear,
Of plants that court the mountain air,
That bloom o’er hills, o’er meadows fair,

The forest and the moor.

1

And plants that court the mountain air,

That bloom o’er hills, o’er meadows fair,
The forest and the moor,—

That flourish on the rocky steep,

Or in the wood’s recesses deep,

By lucid streams, where willows weep,

The silvery surface o’er,—

66 BOTANY.

X.

I sought, and still delight to view
Whate’er of beautiful or new,

Around me daily shine,
Beaming from nature’s ample page—
And, ah! may ne’er the chill of age,
My love of loveliness assuage,

Its source and end divine.

XI.

In simple green, thy best array,
Hippuris* no profusion gay
Of color, decks thy dress ;
Yet many a fair may find in thee
An emblem of simplicity,
And brightest eyes may beam on thee,
And beauty’s self caress.

BOTANY. 67

XI.

Verbena,” once of high renown,
Of charms medicinal the crown,
So ancient tales attest ;
And Salvia‘ too, in days of yore,
As efficacious to restore
Lost health, and heal the rankling sore,

All potent was confest.

XITl.

Blest be the power at whose command

The Grassy Tribe* o’erspreads the land,
With sight of joyous green ;

Food for the flocks, and for the swain

The exhilarating golden grain,

To cheer his heart, his hopes sustain,

And gladden every scene.

68 BOTANY.

XIV.

Asperulas® white star-like flowers,

With odours sweet refresh my bowers,
And claim a shelter there ;

And Galiwn * waves her cross of gold ;

And Alchemella’s® lobes unfold,

Though with the brightest not enroll’d,

Nor with the exotic rare.

XV.

Oft where the stream meandering glides,
Our beauteous Menyanthes hides

Her clustering fringed flowers ;
Nor mid the garden’s sheltering care,
Of fam’d profusion, rich and rare,
Scarlet or crimson, dark or fair,

A plant more lovely towers.

BOTANY.

XVI.

Of humbler growth, though brighter dyes,

And, not by rural swains less priz’d,
The trailing stems allure

Of Pimpernel,i whose scarlet flower

Closes against the approaching shower,

Warning the swain to sheltering bower,

From humid air secure.

SVE.

Spare not the cost, ye rich who know,
And prize the incomparable glow

Of Tulipa: the fair ;
You may, whom fortune’s favours bless,
The inimitable cup possess,
In its most captivating dress,

To deck the gay parterre.

69

70 BOTANY.

XVIII.

Sweet harbinger of lengthening days,
And Pheebus’ animating rays,

And all that summer yields ;
Long stript of Flora’s lovely train,
By whelming storms that sweep the plain,
Galanthus* welcome! once again,

To cheer our lawns and fields.

XIX.

Her peerless robes, ye gales oh spare !
Let no rude blast the vesture tear,

Nor spoil the emerald dyes ;
Her presence speaks of scenes that cheer ;
Of valleys green, of meadows fair ;
Of evening walks with friends most dear,

Whose spirits harmonize.

BOTANY. 71

XX.

Rare Trientalis: blooms and fades,
In Caledonia’s lovely shades,

And at Ben-Lomond’s base ;
Fair blossom! still adorn the plain,
Where valour, sense, and science reign,
And in the tasteful mind retain

A cherish’d fav’rite’s place.

XXI.
Ne’er may again the Hethery ™ bed
Pillow the hardy warrior’s head,
When resting from the strife ;
The horrid strife that dyes the ground
With human gore, and far around
Impels the agonizing sound

Of fast expiring life.

72 BOTANY.

XXII.

Transported o’er the western main,
From fair Columbia’s fertile plain,
Sweet evening Primrose,” say ;
When day’s refulgent hour is fled,
And “twilight’s fairy robe” is spread,
Why dost thou love at eve to shed

The phosphorescent ray ?

XXIII.

Where Avon’s waters slowly stream,

And through the osier branches gleam,
To cheer and fertilize ;

‘There—where no furious tempests rave,

Lofty Butomus° loves to lave

Her stately form,—and o’er the wave

Her crimson umbels rise.

BOTANY.

XXIV.

Ere yet the glorious sun ascend,
Anxious my garden’s pride to tend,
And feel the morning gale,—
I haste, at prime of day, to see
The bloom that courts the wandering bee,
And, sweet Daten /? bend o’er thee,

Thy fragrance to inhale.

XXV.

Gliding along Killarney’s Lake,
The few to nature’s charms awake,
And tun’d to nature’s praise ;
Rest tranquil on the oar below,
With deepest admiration’s glow,
To gaze at the unequall’d show
Arbutus? there displays.

H

74 BOTANY.

XXVI.
Fair Mignonnette! we love to greet
Thy rich effluvia, passing sweet,
Upon the summer air ;
Admir’d alike by youth and age,
Nor scorn’d by philosophic sage,—
Sweet subject of the poet’s page,*

And welcome every where.

XXVIT.

The sons of Canada esteem
Their Agrimonia, and deem

It bless’d with sovereign pow’r,
The fervid fever to abate,
And friendship’s hand, ere yet too late,
Anxious to ward the theaten’d fate,

Infuses root and flower.

* Cowper.

“I
(or

BOTANY.

XXVITI.

Mid scents as varied as the scene,

Distinct is thine fair Meadow’s* Queen !
With buds of pearly dye;

Graceful thy foliage, and thy hue

in softest shades of green and blue,

Attracting still a closer view,

Will fix the admiring eye.

XXIX.

The haughty chief whose thirst to reign,
Spreads desolation o’er the plain,

And mingles want and woe ;
Might learn of thee, and throw aside
His baneful, sanguinary pride,—
"Tis thine to stop the crimson tide,*

"Tis his to bid it flow.

76 BOTANY.

XXX.
Invited by thy sable grain,
Rubus /* the little village train
Despoil the hedge’s side ;
Enjoy the sport, the sinless guile,
That innocently wakes a smile,
Then circling on the sod awhile,

The gather’d treat divide.

XXXII.

No sad anticipation their’s ;

No soul distracting hopes and fears ;
No agonized heart ;

And, oh! may no forbidden joy,

Their hope of future bliss destroy ;

No chilling poverty annoy,

Nor “sorrow’s piercing dart.”

BOTANY.

XXXIT.

Papaver !* thou “pale misery’s friend!
The soothing lymph thy fibres send

Through devious veins to creep,
With care we seek, for sorrow knows
Thy power to tranquillize her woes ;
To give the wearied soft repose,

And sweetly lull to sleep.

XXXITI.

And Digitalis” wisely given,

Another boon of favoring Heayen
Will happily display ;

The rapid pulse it can abate,

The hectic flush can moderate,

And blest by him, whose will is fate,

May give a happier day.

77

78 BOTANY.

XXXIV.

Cheiranthus* decks the ruin’d wall,

Where once was lofty chieftain’s hall,
Or abbey’s hallow’d mound :

And there her wasted sweets will pour,

Profusely o’er the ruin’d tower,

That seems with stately pride to lower

On fragments pil’d around.

XXXYV.

Curiously form’d thy spiral seed,

Eurodium /y—and the wise who read,—
Artificer Divine!

Thy skill, amidst these sweets immense,

These gems of nature’s elegance,

Admire the vast intelligence,

Th’ unfathomable mine !

BOTANY. fi,

XXXVI.

Lathyrus !” from Sicilian plain,
Here in thy radiant purple reign,

Secure from Etna’s storm ;
Shrink not from our inclement sky,
No fiery cloud will close thine eye ;
No burning lava passes by,

Thy beauty to deform.

XXXVIT.

Of all thy wond’rous magic spells,
Hypericum !* fame loudly tells,

And wafts her praises high ;
Shielded by thee we dare inhale
The noisome damp, the infectious gale,
In vain the witches’ arts assail,

And fairies we defy.

80 BOTANY.

XXXVITI.

Beneath the autumn’s glowing sky,
Cichorium” opes its lovely eye

Of pure cerulean hue;
And, fam’d for constancy of old,
Bright Helianthus’ * buds unfold,
Their robes of ‘vegetable gold,”

Her idol to pursue.

XXXIX.

Profuse of flowers, Lrene’s plain,

Her glens, her hills, her vales retain
Flora’s perpetual smile ;

The Bee-flowers in her shades appear,

Orchis,* Satyrion blossoms there,

Perfuming each its native air,

They grace the emerald isle.

BOTANY. St

XL.

Lovely exotic ! thou shalt share
Fair Calla !e all my fostering care,
To guard thy tender bloom ;
Superbly raise thine ivory head,
Thine arrowy leaves umbrageous spread,
Thy fragrant odours round us shed,—
We prize the rich perfume.

XLI.

Pride of Mount Libanus, admir’d

For grandeur, strength, and well attir’d
In robe of greenest shade;

Boast of Jerusalem of old,

There beaming bright with Ophir’s gold,

Ere, in a conqueror’s host enroll’d,

Her sons were captives made.

82 BOTANY.

XLII.

Not one among thy shelter’d tribes
Majestic Snowdon ! that imbibes
The sun’s enriching ray ;
Or decks thine awful cliffs around,
Sweeter than Myrica‘ is found,
Whose fragrance lives beyond the bound
Of life’s swift fading day.

XLII.

Come with thy sorrow soothing balm,
The agitated nerve to calm,
Humulus !@ to my bower ;
A welcome lethean cup bestow,
A sweet forgetfulness of woe,
Oh give the aching heart to know
Thy tranquillizing power.

BOTANY. 83

XLIV.

Though from a more congenial clime,

Musa !® with our exotics shine
Magnificently fair !

Thy fine umbrageous leaves display,

And all thy elegant array,

Thy beauty amply will repay

The cultivator’s care.

XLV.

Ye Lichens! touch’d by chemist’s art,
Soft shades of various tint impart,
That fashion’s vesture dyes ;
Torn from your sweet abode of shade,
To deck our fair—our commerce aid,
Your beauties soon in dust are laid,

Ah! never more to rise.

84 BOTANY.

XLVI.
Thy fine furcated leaves to find,
Acrosticum !' 1'd leave behind
The fields of richest flowers ;
E’en climb the rocks,—wind Arthur’s seat,
To which Duneden’s sons retreat
And converse hold, refin’d and sweet,

To improve the leisure hours.

XLVIL.

You, who the curious search pursue,
Proclaim, does not a closer view,

The patient toil repay,
And prove the gracious end design’d,—
The chief, tho’ latent, good to find,
And for the love of human kind,

The wond’rous work display.

BOTANY.

XLVIII.

For not alone to please the eye,
Or deck our fields, this rich supply
Of oceania profuse ;
Medicinal their juices flow,
Nor idly do their colors glow,
For He, who dress’d the beauteous show

Assign’d to each its use.

XLIX.
And not to casual glance display’d
Alone ;—by microscropic aid,
We view a wondrous store ;
The cups nectareous now appear,
The fringe, the down, the gland’ lar hair,
The germ enclos’d with curious care,
And petals spangled o’er.

I

85

86 BOTANY.

L.

Averse from evening’s chilling breeze,
How many close their silken leaves

To save the embryo flowers ;
As if ambitious of a name,
They sought to spread around their fame,
And bade the infant buds proclaim

The parent’s boasted powers.

LL

Where’er we search, the scene presents

Wonders to charm the admiring sense,
The mind to raise, refine ;

Nor even blooms a single spray,

That quivers in departing day,

Or turns to meet the morning ray,

But speaks a power divine

BOTANY.

LIT.

Great source of true felicity !
Father omnipotent ! ’tis thee

We view in grove and mead ;
Thy name, thy power, that we revere,
Which, grand, intelligent, and clear,
Tnscrib’d on all around appear,

That he who runs may read.

87

NOTES.

Note *, page 66, line 9.
The Hippuris.

Hippuris Vulgaris, or Marestail. Class Monandr. Monog.

Note », page 67, line 1.
The Verbena.

Verbena Officinalis, or Vervain. Class Diandr. Monog. Ia
former times the Verbena seems to have been held sacred, and
was employed in celebrating the sacrificial rites. It was worn
suspended about the neck as an amulet : this practice, thus found-
ed in superstition, was, however, in process of time, adopted in
medicine, and therefore, in order to obtain its virtues more effect-
ually, the Vervain was directed to be bruised before it was sus-
pended to the neck. Mr. Morley, who has written an Essay on
Scrofula, directs that the Vervain be tied with a yard of satin
ribbon round the neck, where it is to remain till the patient shall
have recovered ! !

There are said to be hedges of Vervain at Florence. We are
informed that the poor in some Roman Catholic countries, hold the
Vervain in such high estimation, that they gather it on their knees.

NOTES. 8&9
Note ©, page 67, line 4.
The Sawia.

Class Diandr. Monog. Salvia Officinalis, or Sage. It appears
that the Salvia Officinalis, was, anciently, as highly esteemed as

the Vervain, hence the old saying,

“Cur moriatur homo, cui Salvia crescit in horto.”

«Why dies the man, whose garden, sage affords.”

Note 4, page 67, line 9.

In this class is the Crocus Officinalis. The summits of the
pistils carefully collected, and moderately dried, are the saffron
of the shops. That, collected in England, is preferred to all
others. Withering’s Bot.

The Grasses» e

Class Triandr. Dig. On the subject of two or three Grasses,
Samuel Rootsey, of Bristol, F. L. S. has obliged the author with
the following notes.

“On going over an estate of Lord Liverpool’s, in the County
of Glocester, where I was informed that the best cheese in the
whole County was produced, which was all sent to London; I
was rather surprised at the sterility of the land: it lets at a very
low rent ; the soil was boggy, and scarcely any other plant than
the stunted Anthoxanthum, (called in the country, Wiregrass,
and by Botanists, Sweet Scented Vernal Grass) was to be seen,
except the Carex Recurva, called Carnation Grass. I therefore
attribute the superiority of the cheese, to the Anthoxanthum,

$0 NOTES.

and this is the only grass I have tasted that has the fine flavor of
hay. This flavor seems to be the same that is found in Wood-
derowffe, or Asperula, in Meliot, and in the Tonquin bean: and
although I believe sheep and cattle refuse the haulm or straw, yet
its herbage is what they are particularly fond of. I have reason
to think that this grass, and the Crested Dog’s Tail Grass, or
Cynosurus, are both called Old Pasture Grasses, by the farmers
of Essex, and are by experience, found to fatten cattle better
than all others. It may be distinguished by having only two
stamens.”

Calamagrostis Arenaria, another plant in this Class, grows
only on the very driest sand, upon the sea shore, and prevents
the wind from dispersing it over the adjoining fields, which is
not unfrequently the case where the plant is wanting. Many a
fertile acre has been covered with sand, and rendered useless,
which might have been prevented by sowing the seeds of this
plant. The Dutch have profited by a knowledge of this fact ;
and Queen Elizabeth, on this account, prohibited the extirpation
of it, . Withering’s Bot.

If the seed of the Briza Media, or Cow-quakes, be carefully
dissected in a microscope with a fine lancet, the young plant will
be found with its roots and leaves pretty perfectly formed.

Mr. Swaine.

In 1768, Mr. Charles Miller, made experiments on the sowing
of wheat, and dividing the root, by which means were produced
in one year, from one grain, 21,109 ears, which yielded three pecks
and three quarters of clean corn, weighing forty-seven pounds and
seven ounces ; and the number of grains, calculated by the number
in one ounce, might be about 576,840. Vid. Phil. Trans. v. 58.

NOTES. 9]
Note ©, page 68, line 1.
The Asperula.

Class Tetrandr. Monog. Asperula Odorata. The scent of the
Asperula Odorata, is said to drive away ticks and other insects
and to give a grateful flavor to wine. It 1s also said, that the
strongly aromatic flowers infused in water, far excel in flavor ail

the teas imported from China. Withering’s Bot.

Note f, page 68, line 4.
The Galium.

Flowers of the Galium Verum, will coagulate boiling milk.
The French prescribe them in hysteric and epileptic cases. Boil-
ed in milk, they tinge wool yellow. The roots dye a very fine
red, not inferior to madder, and are used for this purpose in the
Island of Jura. Pennant 1772, p. 214.

The expressed juice of the Galium Aparine, (class as above)
stem and leaves, to the amount of four ounces night and morning,
“is very efficacious in removing many of those cutaneous eruptions,

which are called, although improperly, scorbutic. It must be

taken several weeks. Encyc. Brit.

Note s, page 68, line 5.
The Alchemilla.

Bauhine, who was the most distinguished Botanist before the
era of Linnzus, has powerfully recommended the astringent, vul-
nerary, and conglutinating qualities of this plant, the Ladies
Mantle, which is besides remarkable for the elegant form of its
plaited leaves.

92 NOTES.
Note ®, page 68, line 9.
The Menyanthes.

Class Pentandr. Monog. Menyanthes Trifoliata. This is one of
the most beautiful of all our native flowers. In a scarcity of hops,
this plant is used in the north of Europe, to bitter ale : two ounces
supply the place of a pound of hops. Withering’s Bot.

Borago Officinalis, or Borage, is found in this class. It is said
to have been brought from the Levant, and was first cultivated in
gardens as a medicinal herb. Hence the old adage, Ego Borago
gaudia semper ago; which Gerarde renders, ‘‘1, Borage, bring
always courage.”

By the experiments of Margraff, Mem. de Berlin, 1747, p. 72,
it appears that the juice affords a true nitre.

Verbascum Thapsus, or great Mullein, is also found in this
class. Itis said to intoxicate fish, if thrown into the water, so
that they may be taken with the hand.

Hyocyamus Niger, or Common Henbane, (class as above.)
The leaves of this, it is said, if strewed about the house, will
drive away mice.

Note ', page 69, line 4.
The Pimpernel.

“In the Anagallis Arvensis, or Pimpernel, (class Pentandr.)
you have a perfect syuare inthe stalk, and a perfect globe in
the fruit, which divides transversely into two beautiful hemis-
pheres. Vhe fruit stalks bend very gracefully; the scarlet
flower, when viewed through a lers, appears to be covered with
spangles ; the stamens have the finest purple and gold colors ima-

NOTES. 93

ginable. The whole corolla is proverbially sensitive to change of
weather. The leaves are elegantly spotted beneath, and possess a

narcotic virtue.” Rootsey.

Note j, page 69, line 10.
The Tulipa.

Class Hexandr. Monog. Tulipa Gesneriana, or Common Tulip.
In the class Hexandria, is found the Scilla Maritima, or Squill ;
well known in medicine. Itis a kind of onion, growing spon-
taneously upon dry sandy shores in Spain and the Levant, from
whence the root is annually brought to us.
The powder called Salt of Lemons, is prepared from the expres-
sed juice of the Rumex Acetosa, a plant belonging to this class.

Note *, page 70, line 6,
The Galanthus,

Galanthus Nivalis, or Snowdrop.

Note !, page 71, line 1.
The Trientalis.

Class Heptandr. Monog. Trientalis Europea, or Winter Green,
found in abundance at the foot of Ben Lomond. This isthe only
British plant of the seventh class, which is generally illustrated
by the Horse Chestnut.

94 NOTES.
Note ™, page 71, line 8.
Heath.

Erica Vulgaris, or Common Heath. This plant, but little re-
garded in happier climates, is made subservient to a great variety
of purposes in the bleak and barren Highlands of Scotland. The
poorer inhabitants make walls of it for their cottages, with alter-
nate layers of Heath, and a kind of mortar made of black earth
and straw; the woody roots of the Heath being placed in the
centre, the tops externally, and mternally. They make their beds
of it, by placing the roots downwards, the tops being uppermost,
they are sufficiently soft to sleep upon. Woollen cloth boiled in
alum water, and afterwards in a strong decoction of the tops of
Heath, comes out a fine orange color. Withering’s Bot.

Note ", page 72, line 3.
The Evening Primrose.

(nothera Biennis, the Tree or Evening Primrose.

Note °, page 72, line 12.
The Butomus.
Class Enneandr. Monog. Butomus Umbellatus, or Flowering

Rush. This the only British plant of the ninth class, and is gene-
rally met with in rivers.

NOTES. 95
Note P, page 73, line 6.
The Dianthus.

Class Decandr. Trigyn. Dianthus Caryophyllusis particularly
alluded to.

Note 4, page 73, line 14.
The Arbutus.

Arbutus Unedo, or Strawberry Tree, is also found in the Class
Hexandr. Decandr.

Note ', page 74, line 9.
The Agrimonia.

Class Dodecanar. Digyn. Agrimonia Eupatoria. The Cana-
dians are said to use an infusion of this plant fin fevers, with
success. Withering’s Bot.

Note s, page 75, line 2.
The Meadow’s Queen.

Class Icosandr. Polygyn. Spireea Ulmaria, or Meadow Sweet.

Note t, page 75, line 15.
‘°Tis thine to stop the crimson tide.”

The idea of its being a Styptic, is taken from Langhorne’s
Fables of Flora.

96 NOTES.
Note ", page 76, line 2.
The Rubus.

Rubus Fruticosus, or Blackberry.
Letters written with the juice of the fruit of the Prunus Spinosa

will not wash out. It gives a beautiful red color to wine.
Encyc. Brit.

Note *, page 77, line 1.
The Papaver.

Opium is the milky juice of the Papaver Somniferum : it is
inspissated by the heat of the sun. The Edinburgh College
directs an extract to be prepared from the heads, that is, the seed
vessels : this extract is supposed to be milder in its effects than
the common opium : and it requires double the quantity for a dose.
A syrup, made with a decoction of the heads, is kept in the
shops, under the name of Diacodion. Withering’s Bot.

Papaver Rheeas. Corn, or Red Poppy ; gives out a fine color
when infused ; and a syrup prepared from the infusion is kept in
the shops; it partakes in a small degree of the properties of

opium. Withering’s Bot.

Note ¥, page 78, line 8.
The Digitalis.

Class Digyn. Angiosp. Digitalis Purpurea, or Common

Foxglove.
In this class is found Nepeta Cataria, or Cat Mint. Cats are

NOTES. 97

so delighted with this plant, that they can hardly be out of the
garden where it grows. Millar says, that cats will not meddle
with it if raised from seeds; and in support of this opinion,
quotes an old saying,

“If you set it, cats will eat it ;
If you sow it, cats won’t know it.”

Mentha Arvensis, or Corn Mint, is another plant belonging to
this class. It prevents the coagulation of milk; and when cows
have eaten of it, as they will do largely at the end of the summer
when the pastures are bare, and hunger distresses them, their
milk can be hardly made to yield cheese, a circumstance that some-
times puzzles the dairy maid. Withering’s Bot.

Class Didyn. Gymnosp. The expressed juice of the Glechoma
Hederacea, mixed with a little wine, and applied morning ana
evening, destroys the white specks upon horses’ eyes.

Paulli and Bartholinus affirm, that those who gather the Botany
(a plant of this class) in any considerable quantity, are affected
with a disorder resembling drunkeness.

The expressed juice of the Antirrhinum Linaria, mixed with
milk, is a poison for flies ; as is likewise the smell of the flowers.

Encye. Brit.
Note *, page 79, line 1.
The Cheiranthus.

Class Tetradyn. Siliquosa. Cheiranthus Cheiri, Wall Flower.

98 NOTES.
Note ¥, page 78, line 9.
The Erodium.

Class Monadelphia Pentandr. Erodium Cicutarium. In the
Class Monadelphia, there is not a more interesting, or more beau-
tiful plant, than the Erodium Cicutarium. The seeds, which
have been noticed by Dr. Arnold, to twist and untwist when
wetted and dried, are considered by Samuel Rootsey, as the
most curious and accurate of all natural hygrometers.

Note 7, page 80, line 1.
The Lathyrus.
Class Diadelph. Decandr. Lathyrus Odoratus, or Sweet Pea ;
said to be indigenous to Sicily.
Note *, page 80, line 8.
The Hypericum.

Class Polyadelph. Polyandr. Hypericum Perforatum, St. John’s
wort. Among the ignorant and superstitious, particularly in
France and Spain, it is believed that the Perforated St. John’s
Wort, possesses a charm against infectious diseases, injuries by
storm, and witchcraft. It is, therefore, not unfrequently sus-

pended from windows, and doors, and even worn about the neck

Note >, page 81, line 2.
The Cichorium.

Class Syngenesia -E.qual:s. Cichorium Intibus.

NOTES. 99

In the Class Syngenesia, is found the Centaurea Cyanus, or
Blue Bottle. Blue Ink may be obtained from it, but it is not
permanent. The flowers infused in alum, afford a color equal to
the finest Ultramarine. Boyle’s Gent. Mag. 1748.

The Tanacetum Vulgare, or Tansey, a plant of the above-
mentioned class, rubbed upon animal matter, prevents its being
blown by flies.

It is mentioned in the Encyc. Brit. that a girl with twelve
scrophulous sores, was cured by drinking, daily, as much as she
could, for fourmonths, of a decoction of the leaves of the Tus-
silago Farfara, or Coltsfoot, made so strong as to be sweetish

and glutinous.

Note °, page 80, line 5.
The Helianthus.

Class Syngen. Frustr. Helianthus Annuus. The Sun Flower,
which constantly bends towards the sun, and turns with it from
the east in the morning to the west in the evening.

Note 4, page 80, line 12.
The Orchis.

Class Gynandr. The Orchis, Satyrion and Ophrys, are be-
lieved to be indigenous to Ireland.

Class Monecia Monadelphia. Pinus Cedrus, or Cedar of
Lebanon. From the Genus Pinus, the different turpentines are
extracted by bleeding the trees from wounds in the bark or
branches. Eneye. Brit.

100 NOTES.

Corylus Avellana, or Common Hazel, is also in this class. In
countries where yeast is scarce, the twigs of Hazel, twisted toge-
ther, so as to be full of chinks, and steeped in ale during its
fermentation, then hung up to dry, may be put into wort instead
of yeast, Itis a practice in Italy, to put the chips of Hazel into
turbid wine to clear it, which it does in twenty-four hours.

Withering’s Bot.

In the Class Monecia, is found the Urtica or Nettle ; the
stalks of which may be dressed like flax, or hemp, for making
cloth, and paper. In Kamtschatka, they use no other material in
the manufacturing of cordage, sail cloth, and linen ; and consider
these fabrics, when produced from nettles, as superior, in every
respect, to those made of hemp and flax.

As to the difficulty of handling the nettle, read Aaron Hill’s
advice.

Tender hearted, stroke a nettle,
*Twill sting you for your pains ;
Seize it, like a lad of mettle,
It soft as silk remains.

Note ¢, page 81, line 2,
The Calla.

Class Gynandr. Calla 4thiopica.

Another species is found in the marshes of Sweden, the flow-
ers of which are sometimes almost as beautiful as those of the
ereen-house plant, but being short, it has a less graceful appearance.

NOTES. 101
Note f, page 82, line 5.
The Myrica.

Class Dicecia. Diandr. Myrica Gale, or Sweet Gale. The
Northern nations formerly used this plant instead of hops ; but
unless it be boiled for a long time, it is apt to occasion head ache.
The catskins, boiled in water, throw up a waxy scum, which ga-
thered in sufficient quantity, would make candles. |

It is said that the Welsh lay branches of it upon, and under
their beds, to keep off the fleas and moths. Itis put into beer
and spirits, to make them more intoxicating.

From another species of this genus, the Myrica Cerifera, the
myrtle candles are prepared. Witkering’s Bot.

Note £, page 82, line 10.
The Humulus.

A pillow filled with Hops, is reported to produce comfortable re-
posein cases where opiates have been unsuccessful. Withering’s Bot.

Note 4, page 83, line 9.
The Musa.

Class Polygamia Monecia. Musa Sapientum, or Banna tree.
The author has frequently seen the leaves of the Musa Sapientum
nearly two yards long, and more than half a yard in width; they
are of a beautiful pale green color; the appearance of the whole
tree, though not in our green houses very high, is truly mag-
nificent.

102 NOTES.

Class Cryptogamia. Acrosticum Septentrionale, or Forked
Maidenhair. It grows out of the rocks, about Arthur’s seat,
near Edinburgh.

Of the Cryptogamus plants, the ferns are best understood, they
are large and elegant, and like other plants, are frequently culti-
vated. Many of the Fungi are sought after by epicures, and are
interesting from their admitting of one grand division into those
which are marketable, and those which are poisonous ; they have,
therefore, engaged the attention of Botanists. The sea weeds are
extremely beautiful, and many are large and of great utility ;
they have likewise been well illustrated. The true Mosses, by
the delicacy of their foliage, and the singularity and elegance of
their fruit, make up, in some degree, for their minuteness, and
have excited the admiration and the attention of natural historians.
The Lichens, however, have been much neglected ; few, that are
the produce of England, are there collected for useful purposes,
by the peasants, and but few naturally display any beauty in
their color, or in their appearance ; most of them grow as a mere
scurf upon the naked rock. Although some are edible, yet, in
general, their taste has excluded them from our tables; they
have, therefore, been much neglected, and considered as generally
destitute of those claims to our attention, which render the study
of other tribes so engaging to the philosopher. Notwithstanding
this, some few species have become articles of commerce, from
the circumstance that the skill of the chemist has extracted from
them the most charming colors of the vegetable kingdom. Toa
few species, very little known to Botanists in general, we stand
indebted for the finest tints with which our most beautiful silks
are impregnated by the dyer’s art. Of these dyes, Archel, pre-
pared from Lichen Rocella ; and Cudbear, which is a preparation
of Lichen Tartareus, are the most in use; although in other
countries other species are employed ; and which afford other

NOTES. 103

hues, such as the Parellus in France, Omphalodes in Ireland,
and Deustus in Sweden, &c. The first of these mosses pro-
duces in the London Market, the price of £120, or sometimes
even £240 per ton, and is imported in considerable quantities :
the other mosses are of inferior prices, but a different color is
produced from each: and not only is a different color produced
~ from each kind, but the same kind, by exposure to different pro-
cesses, will tinge silk, wool, &c. of many different hues ; and
thus, this neglected family of plants, is almost a new field for
such Botanists as are devoted to those parts of their study, which
enable them either to reply to their enemies’ question of Cui
Bono? or to delight themselves with the bright and varied colors
which nature yields. Illustrative of the diversity of tints afford-
ed by the same substance under a variety of circumstances, a
pleasing experiment may be made, in which two differently co-
lored petals of flowers afford eight other colors, by being rubbed
upon four different pieces of white paper. The flowers must be
the Rose and the Scarlet Lychinis, and the first paper impreg-
nated with Green Copperas, the second with Soda (subcarbonate, )
the third with Tartaric Acid, and the fourth without any impreg-
nation will change the color of the flower, that of the Rose, for
instance, to a blue. Rootsey.
Among the Palme is placed the Cocus Butyracea, which yields
what is called Paim oil. This oil is brought to us from the West
Indies, and Africa, is about the consistence of an ointment, and
of anorange color. By long keeping it loses its high color, and
becomes white, when it ought to be rejected as unfit for use.

Encyc. Brit.

104 NOTES.

Tue following observations are extracted from the Catechism of
Conchology, they refer to a custom which the author is anxious
to notice with decided disapprobation :

** Let nothing induce youto adopt the savage, the barbarous
custom of putting live shell fish into cold water, and allowing
them to boil over the fire, as the means of killing and then ex-
tracting them. Throwing the shells into boiling hot water ans-
wers the purpose equally as well, and it appears that the life of
the animal is immediately extinguished, whereas, a different
mode iuflicts a slow excruciating death upon those innocent un-
offending creatures. I would also urge you to recommend the
same mode to shell collectors, pointing out to them, the excessive
and wanton barbarity of the method in general use. I would
even go farther, and refuse to purchase any shells the inhabitants
of which had been subjected to similar torture. I once knew a
lady of the Buxton family, whose benevolent exertions entirely
did away the cruel custom of pegging live lobsters, which for-
merly subsisted on the western coast. If ladies and gentlemen
would act with similar firmness, they would often have in their
power to do much good, and not a little to diminish the aggregate
of national crime, and, consequently, of national cruelty.”

Oh! ye mothers! what are you to society! the tracing of
your influence is without hounds—you have, generally, the form-
ing of the character, and if you wererightly concerned to guard
your children against the exercise of cruelty—if you would teach
them to be the protectors rather than the tormentors of animals,
over which they have any power—how much suffering might you
prevent—ana how much happiness, by self approving reflection,
treasure up for yourselves and children. The author is desirous
to conclude these notes with an extract, &c.

105

Extract from a Poem on Humanity, for young persons, by a
gentleman, (published in 1828, by Harvey & Darton,) which she
earnestly recommends to the perusal of those for whom it is par-
ticularly intended.

«« While man to live by blood content,
Must bid the herd and flock to bleed,
Oh! let the death be gently sent,

And quickly be the sufferer freed !
Those for the general use decreed,

To yield the life that dies with breath,
For them humanity would plead,

That easy be the death.”’

* * * * -

“Tf thus, heaven-born humanity,
O’er all her rightful sway maintain’d ;
If thus, as far as spreads the sky,
The perfect law of kindness reign’d,—
Their heavenly power again brought nigh,
Should wake the general harmony,

To love attun’d, by love sustain’d,

A foretaste e’en on earth supply,

Of “ Paradise regain’d,”

106

A LIST OF THE SHELLS REFERRED TO
IN THE PLATES.

1 Chiton Squamosus
2 Lepas Anatifera

3 Pholas Dactylus
4 Mya Truncata

5 Solen Sanguinolentus
6 Tellina Feroensis

7 Cardium Edule

8 Mactra Stultorum

9 Donax Denticulata

10 Vinus Chione

11 Spondylus Gaedaropus
12 Chama Gigas

43 Arca Now

14 Ostrea Maxima

15 Anomia Ephippium
16 Mytilus Modiolus

17 Pinna Pectinata

18 Argonauta Argo

19
20
21
22

Nautilus Pompilius
Conus Ebreeus
Cypmggep tebica

Bulla Naucum

Voluta Musica
Buccinum Areola
Strombus Auris Diano
Murex Tribulus
Trochus Perspectivus
Turbo Pica

Helix Cornea

Nerita Peloronta
Haliotis Tuberculata
Patella Vulgata
Dentalium Eliphantinum
Serpula Aquaria
Teredo Navalis

Murex Ramosus

Wright & Bagnall, Printers, Bridge-Street, Bristol.

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