WE have frequently had occasion to remark upon the difficulty which attends the making out what are real species, and what are mere varieties, in plants that have been long caltivated. This difficulty arises, not only from the changes which many plants undergo from a diversity of soil, but likewise from a real admixture of the species, the pistil of une being impregnated by the pollen of another, an admixture which frequently takes place altogether unintentionally on the part of the gardener, or principally by means of bees, and other insects, which, flying from one kind to another in search of honey, carry the pollen of ene plant adhering to their hairy bodies, and wipe it off on the stigma of a different species, The seeds of the latter, after such an operation, instead of producing an offspring similar to the mother plant, produce a hybrid breed, compounded of the species from which the pollen brought by the bees originated, and of the mother plant. Thus the young plants will resemble in some points the one species, and in some points the other. Of late years too, the ingenuity and industry of man, in pursuit of gain, have prompted him purposely to occasion this admixture, in order to produce varieties, which may be striking from their beauty or novelty. By this accidental, or intentional, breeding of mule-vegetables, added to the changes occa sioned by varying the culture, and industriously supplying a soil, found, by experience best fitted to produce the required changes, such a multitude of varieties have been produced, particularly in plants which, having been favourites among florists, have been longer and more carefully cultivated, that to determine the original stork from whence the vast host has iginated, has, in some cases, become almost impossible. Were these varieties, whether obtained by diversifying the culture, or by the intermixture of two species, equally permanent with the natural plants, there would be no possibility of nravelling these intricacies; but there is a constant tendency in the varieties from the first of these causes to degenerate, as it is called, that is, to return back to their original state, and in the mule breeds to perish, from being generally barren through some defect in the organs of fructification. At the same time we do not believe that the sterility of hybrids, neither in the animal nor vegetable kingdoms, is a constant law of nature, as some philoso phers have supposed; on the contrary, we apprehend, that there are many exceptions to be found in both, and that it cannot be inferred because the offspring may occasionally prove prolific, that therefore the male and female parents must have been of the same species; a conclusion which the celebrated physiologist, Mr. John Hunter, adopted with regard to the wolf and the dog. It is enough for our purpose that the law, though not universal, is very general, and sufficient to prove a tendency in nature to restore varieties, in the course of time," back to their original stock, or to occasion them to perish. Linnæus entertained an idea, which seems to be totally incompatible with the above observations. He believed that, at the creation, genera only were made, and that all the species have arisen since from the intermixture of one genus with another. That such an hypothesis however cannot be true, what we know of the very frequent barrenness of mixed species, and of the impossibility of impregnating the ovary of one genus with the pollen of another, unless so nearly allied as to make the generic distinction dubious, is amply sufficient to prove. We are led to these reflections from the perusal of the last number of the Botanical Magazine, in which Mr. Gawler laudably continues his labours in unravelling the mysteries of the parterre, with respect to the favourite genes Narcissus, of which this Number contains accurate figures of five varieties. It appears, from an enumeration of the species known by Mr. Gawier, that nearly the whole has been figured in the Botanical Magazine, together with their principal varieties. And this excellent botanist has taken the opportunity afforded, of conecting some e rors which he had before fallen into, with respect to referring some of the varieties to their proper species. Some of our readers will be surprised to find that the most common white Narcissus, N. biflorus of Curtis, No. 197, (erroneously quoted in one place No. 194. in two others No. 179,) is the orientalis of Linnaeus, but not of Hortus Kewensis. The species enumerated by Mr. Gawler are, 1. Pseudo-Narcissus, English Botany, 17. 2. Minor, Botanical Magazine, No. 6; with a doubt whether these two species are really distinct. In confirmation of such doubt we can state, that we have seen an intermediate variety about as much larger than Minor as smaller than Pseudo-Narcissus. 3. Majar, Botanical Ma gazine. No. 51, with two varieties, ib. No. 1301. 4. Bicolor, ib. No. 1187-5. Moschatus, No. 921, and No 1300. Of the last three, Mr. Gawler expresses some doubt if really distinct 6. Incomparibilis, No. 121, (not 51) see also Addenda to No. 934, and what he formerly considered as a variety of Orientalis, No. 948, he now considers as a variety of this. 7. Bulbocodium. Ib. No 88. 8. Triandrus. lb. No. 48 and 1262. 9. Calathinus. Ib. No. 934, which Mr. Gawler has elsewhere remarked was latterly taken up by Linnæus as his oderus, though the species he first described under that name was evidently the incomparabilis of the Magazine. Curtis's Odorus, No. 78, Mr. G. now makes a variety of calarbinus; so that the game of odorus is now sunk. 10 Trilobus, Ib. 945. 11. Bifrons. lb. No. 1186, and No. 1299. cies. 1299. 12. Jonquilla. Ib. No. 15. 13. Serotinus. Desf. Fl. atl. t. 182. 14. Poeticus, English Botany, t. 275; of which the angustifolius of Curtis, Botanical Magazine, No. 193, is considered as a variety. 15 Te nuior. 16. No. 379, (not 373,) with a doubt of its being a genuine spe 16 Bflorus Io. No. 197, (not 179.) 17. Trewianus. Ib. No. 940, and in the Emendenda to No 1298 In the latter place, Mr. Gawler considers this species, which he before thought was the original one of orientalis, to be distinct from that, and he now believes it to be the stock from which biflorus, No. 197, has degenerated, and be very much doubts the truth of its being indigenous to this country, as has been supposed. He remarks, that in all the specimens of biflorus which he has examined, the anthers were white and devoid of pollen; whence the plant (he says) never perfects its fruit. This circumstance, however, would lead us rather to suspect a hybrid, than a degenerated species. 13. Orientalis. Ib. No 916. 1011, 1026, and 1299. 19. Italicus. Ib. 1188. 20. Papyraceus. Ib. No. 947, (not 949.) 21. Dubius. Willd. sp. ol. 2.40. Beshes the five varieties of Narcissus, above quo'ed, this Number contains also a drawing of Peltosanthes tera, the Teta viridi flora of Dr. Roxburgh's MSS., a new genus from Chittagong on the coast of Bengal. In Dr Sims's department we find an excellent figure of the coffee tree, which is more than usually complete, containing both flowers and fruit, and the dissection of the latter. Ir the count of this celebrated vegetable, the author recommends coffee to be taken in the Turkish manner, without the admixture of sugar and cream. Fabricia levigata, a New Holland shrub, which has not, as it is supposed, ever flowered in this gard-n he drawing was taken from a living specimen sent by Dr. Walter Wade, from the botanic garden belonging to the Dublin society. Euphorb a mellifera, a native of Madeira. METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. Observations on the State of the Weather, from the 24th of June 1810, to the 24th of July 1810, inclusive, Four Miles N.N.W. of St. Paul's. THE quaintity of rain fallen since our last report of it, is equal to rather more than six inches in depth. We have at length had some most beneficial rains, and from the various reports which we have had from many of the counties of England, there is every prospect of more than average crops of corn. The dread, therefore, of a threatened scarcity is now happily removed and we may hope for the blessings of Plenty. On fifteen days out of the thirty, there has been rain, and on some of them the storms have been violent, and the quantity of rain very considerable. In some parts the thunder and lightning have been productive of much mischief; on the 14th the thunder was louder at this place than was ever remembered to have been heard. On St. Swithin, we had rain in plenty, but the vulgar notion has not been realized, having had several brilliant days since, on which there has not been a single drop The hottest day, as is seen above, was on the 25th of June, the thermometer then stood at 80°; besides that day, the mercury has stood once at 786, and three at 76°, or what is denominated summer heat. The average degree of heat for the whole month is 61o, or nearly the same as it was for the last month. The average height of the barometer is 29-572. The wind has been chiefly in the westerly points. For the last fortnight the mornings and evenings have been very cold. Our friend at the Isle of Wight, has sent us his Observations for April, May, and June; these are as follows, Bank Stock. per Ct. Reduc. 3 per Ct. Consols. Navy 5 per Ct. Long Imper. 3 per Ct. Imper. [Ann. PRICES or STOCKS, from the 25th of JUNE, to the 25th of JULY, both inclusive. Irish 1810. 20 P. 27. 69 841 183 19 P. 28. 259 691⁄2 848 1876 16 P. 2 P. 0 P. 711 4/22 15 0 19 P. July 2. 258 691 844 1876 4 P. 03 P. 714 322 15 0 3. 259 70 85 183 96 16 P. 3 P. o P. 718 22 15 0 4. 70 847 1876 674 17 P. 1 P. of P. 713 22 15 0 5. 260 701 85 1876 23 P. 5 P. 1 P. 6. 70 69 85 99 18 683 24 P. 70 6 P. 1 P. 714 22 15 0 7. 70 69 85/ 99 18/0 1834 22 P. 6 P. e P. 714 9. 70 69 85 99/1/ 18 23 P. 743 8 P. P. 714 22 15 0 10. 260 70 69 851 994 18 플 68 1894 21 P. 70 9 P. P. 711 22 15 0 11. 70 69% 85 994 18/2 68 22 P. 7 P. 03 P. 12. 2607069 85 991 1876 681 615 184 22 P. 693 7 P. 0 P. 711 13. 2604 70 69 851 99 18 182 22 P. 694 7 P. P. 70% 711 22 15 0 14. 70 694 851 99 18 21 P. 6 P. P. 70 71 22 15 18 P. 16. 694 69 694 85 99 18 5 P. 0 P. 701/1 22 15 17. 259 68 68 671 841 984 184 66 14 P. 5 P. 1 Dis. 683 70 22 15 18. 69 67 68 84 983 18 1783 15 P. 68 1 P. 1 Dis 69 22 15 0 1 P. 1 Dis. 69 69 22 15 Ο N. B. In the 3 per Cent, Consols the highest and lowest Prices are given; in the other Stocks, the highest omy. 69 22 15 0 22 15 0 WM. TURQUAND, Stock and Exchange Broker, No. 9, St. Michael's Alley, Cornhill.. 182 21 P. 691 5 per Ct., India Stock. India Bonds. S. Sea Stock. ΡΙΟ Ann. New Ann. Omniu. Consols for Acco. Lottery Tickets THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE. No. 203.] SEPTEMBER 1, 1810. [2 of VOL. 30. As long as thofe who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving their Opinions a Maximum of InЯuence and Celebrity, the most extenfively circulated Mifcellany will repay with the greated Effect the Curiofity of thufe who read either for Amufement or Inftruction.JOHNSON. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. For the Monthly Magazine. REMARKS upon the TOWNLEY STATUES, in the BRITISH MUSEUM. By the Rev. THOMAS DUDLEY FOSBROOKE, M.A. F.A.S. (Continued from page 525, vol. 29). No. 1. A COLOSSAL head of Minerva Sospita. It is restored below. The neck and face are very fine. Juno Sospita is usual, but Minerva Sospita does not occur, however obvious the allusion, in any great author of Musea, or lists of the appellations of Minerva, as this writer can find. Add too, that Hygica, Salus, and Minerva Medica, are represented sometimes alike; witness the two candelabra of the Bar berini palace, &c. Minerva Medica, Salutifera, Hygiea, is common in Wincklemann, &c. &c. &c. The term Sospita is limited to Juno, who, under the title, had a famous temple at Danuvium; and if the term Minerva Sospita is vindicated by any particular instance, (there are none upon the silver coins of Geta) it is so obscure and local, as not to exculpate the application to a general figure of Minerva Salutaris, &c. No. 2. A funeral urn, ornamented with equestrian and pedestrian combatants. This custom of combats at fu nerals, was, as far as concerns gladiators at least, introduced to supersede the barbarous practice of sacrificing prisoners of war, at the pile of those who had died in battle. Our chief antiquaries note, that the laws of Solon only allowed such works to be bestowed upon sepulchral monuments as one man could do in three days; and therefore there is a striking inferiority in execution to the bas-reliefs on friezes and pediments, so far at least as relates to Greek works (D'Hancarville); tombs and urns being made by common sculptors. Governor Pownall (Provincia Romana, p. 69, 70) says, that sarcophagi, &c. were sold ready-made by statuaries; and the pattern fixed upon at option. But this was MONTHLY MAG. No, 203, certainly not a general rule; for of the bas-relief of the tomb of Livilla Har. monia in Boissard, whom the epitaph styles, incomparabilis pudicitiæ et modestia singularis, the subject is a rape. Besides, many figures are portraits of the deceased. This funeral urn evidently belonged to a person of rank or note. No. 3. One of the feet, or supports, of an ancient Tripod table. The toes and nails are very fine. The learned will recollect the insane expense of the Romans ir tables, (Plin. xiii. 15.) The term Tripod-table, is quite objectionable. It should be one of the feet of the stand of a Monopodium, or table of one prop, the three feet being conjunct. They were, as appears by Horace, Martial, Juvenal, Pliny, and Seneca, the most expensive tables, and used for meals. The monopodia, were first introduced by Cn. Manlius, in his triumph on account of the conquest of Asia, (whence their origin). A. U. C. 567. Plin. 34, 3. No. 4. A Canephora. This statue is universally admired, and it seems that the first sculptors worked upon Canephora, (Plin. xxxvi. 5. Cic. in Verr. iv). viz. Scopas and Polycletus. This canephora was one of the Caryatides which supported a temple of Bacchus. Montfaucon (i. p. 2. b. 2. c. 10), confines the Canephore to the worship of Ceres, which is wrong; but as the union of worship in Ceres and Bacchus, especially in Sicily, is alluded to by Virgil and Cicero, and this was a column of a temple of Bacchus, it should rather be called a Canephora [of Ceres] one of the Caryatides which Supported the portico of a small temple dedicated [to the united worship of Ceres and] Bacchus. The frequency of this united worship was quite common. See Montfaucon. The drapery of this canephora is quite different from those in the last author, i. p. i. b. 2, c. 10, and u. p. i. b. 3. c. 13. The ancients were in the habits of plaiting their clothes, and then putting them in a press (Winckelm. Art. iv. 5), and though strait folds are deemed a test of autiquity, I apprehend Ο that that about the time of Hadrian, the Egyptian imitations introduced, forin exceptions to this rule. No. 5. A Candelabrum. It is not equal to the exquisite specimens in the Radcliffe library at Oxford. No. 7. The triangular base of a candelabrum, on the sides of which three Genii with wings, hold each a part of the armour of Mars, viz. his helmet, his shield, and his sword. This is usual: in a gem of the Florentine Cabinet, (t.. pl. 77, n. 4), we have the Genius of Jupiter, with a long sceptre and an eagle, &c. No. 7. A vase, with Bacchanalian figures. The famous vase of S. Dennis, with the Bacchanalian mysteries, will occur to mind. No. 8. A Venus, naked to the waist, and covered with drapery from thence downwards. It should be styled, Venus issuing from the Buth, for so Lessing, who has especially studied the subject of Venuses from the Giustiniani Gallery, i. 44, 43, 40, and other sources, has de. termined these Venuses, half-draped, to be. Count Caylus, (Rec. iii. 328) thinks, a similar Venus at Versailles (engr. Thomassin, Fig. Vers. t. 3, and Versailles immortaliseè i. p. 400), to be merely a pretty woman coming out of the bath. Another similar Venus, but holding a child in her lap, is given in the Mus. Florent. t. 32; but Lessing doubts its antiquity: if ancient, it is justly called a Venus Genitrix, either so represented in honour of accouchemens of the empresses, or in play with Love, or Cupid, as we inelegantly call him, with all its train of coarse associations and termi nations, Cupido, Libido, &c. The waist of this Venus is too long; the outline, in parts, stiff. After all, there is still a doubt about the propriety of the appellation of these half-draped Venuses; Sea-Venuses, in La Chausse and Maffei, being halfdraped. No. 9. A vuse, with double handles, springing from swans. The beauty of the handles of vases, is worth the notice, of modern artists. They are often supremely beautiful, and the Hamilton Collection is composed of exquisite specimens. The necks of swans and geese were favourite subjects, as the Chenis. cus shows; by the way, copied into Norman ships (Bayeux Tapestry). The finest handles of a vase known, are those The bird's neck at the sterus of ancient ships. 1 on a gem in Stosch. They are formed by two Ledas, embraced by two swans. No. 10. A fountain, &c. These were very fine and artificial. See Montfaucon, Caylus, &c. ons. No. 11. A colossal head of Hercules. The prominent cheek-bone is conspicu The heads and necks of Hercules are fashioned to assimilate a bull, the strongest animal in Europe. The young Hercules is a very different portrait, (see Pierr. grav. Pal. Roy. i. pl. lxxx.) bus in the same collection, (i. pl. 82), is another Hercules, which has so much of the bull's head, as to be quite a caricature, has a very high double forehead, and would pass for a Silenus, or a Pan. The young Hercules has not the ears flattened, as upon the most famous heads of Hercules, because he was then unacquainted with the combats of the Cestus. Hercules is one of what the French call Têtes données, that is, all the faces portraits, one after another, and therefore the ages should be distinguished; for there is no resemblance otherwise between them. Heads occur of all ages, but they are known by the thickness of the neck, and the curls over the forehead, like those between the horns of a bull. A juvenile Hercules occurs in the Bronzi, Ercol. tav. 49, 50, taken for a Marcellus, and a virile Hercules, taken for a Ptolemy Philadelphus, Ibid. tav. 661, 62. Hercules deified has no nerves nor muscles. The torso of the Belvidere Hercules, is the hero a God; the Parnesian statue, is Hercules Human." No. 12. Another colossal head of Her cales. The thick bull's neck is here very conspicuous. No. 13. A fragment of a support of a Tripod bason, composed of the head and neck of a lion; on the forehead are the horns of a goat. I do not know whether this is a Capricorn; but it is known, that the lions of the ancients have something ideal, which distinguishes them from real lions; and from a horoscope in Stosch, it is possible that this figure may refer to a constellation. No. 14. Capital of a votive Cippus, * Representations of various figures of Hercules, occur upon the imperial coins. Those of Posthumus abound with them, and from Commodus to Galerius Maximian, they are more frequent than at other periods. It may be doubted, whether any thing complete has been published upon the various Hercule.es. &c. No. |