being highly esteemed in rheumatism, and contractions of the limbs. It is also much esteemed, and used by natives of rank, as an unction, for which purpose it is generally mixed with an Utr of some kind. Except the fruit, which is not much esteemed, no other part of the tree is used. This tree is supposed to bear a strong affinity to the Mawa, (Madhuca, or Bassia latifolia ;) but the oil or fat, extracted from the seeds, differs very materially. The oil from the Mawa, is of a greenish-yellow colour, and seldom congeals. That from the Phulwah congeals immediately after expression, is perfectly colourless; and, in the hottest weather, if melted by art, will, on being left to cool, resume its former consistency. The oil from the seed of the Mawa, if rubbed on woollen cloth, leaves as strong a stain as other oils or animal fat. The fatty substance from the Phulwah, if pure, being rubbed on woollen cloth, will leave no trace behind. The oil of Mawa is expressed in considerable quantities, about Cawnpoor, and Furruckabad, and being mixed with, is sold as ghee. This fatty substance very rarely comes pure from the hills, and receives more and more adulteration, (by adding the purest ghee,) as it passes down to the lower provinces : age gives it the firmness of pure tallow. Additional Remarks by the same, in consequence of a few Queries transmitted to Mr. Gott. It is supposed there might be annually procured from twenty to thirty maunds, at the price of fourteen or fifteen rupees the maund. 1st. It is never taken inwardly as a medicine, nor is it used in diet; further than that the dregs, after the purer fatty substance is expressed, are eaten, as a substitute for ghee, by the peasants, or labourers, who extract the fat. 2d. I have some pure, which has been by me ten months, and it has neither acquired colour, nor bad smell. 3d. After it is imported into Rohilkhund, it is scented with Utr, (an essential oil,) and a little of the flour of the Indian corn (Zea Mays) is added, to increase its consistency. N. B. This flour is added on account of its peculiar whiteness. 4th. If it is clean, and free from dirt, it never undergoes any purification; if the contrary, it is heated, and filtered through a coarse cloth. 5th. The flowers are never used. The pulp of the fruit is eaten by some; it is of a sweet, and flat taste. The timber is white, soft, and porous; and is never made any use of by the natives. It is nearly as light as the Semul, or cotton tree ( Bombax heptaphyllum). A List of Plants in Bloom, at Market Bosworth, in Leicestershire, and its Vicinity, from the 1st. to the 31st. of January, 1807; demonstrative of the remarkable mildness of that Season. [ From Mr. Power's Calendar of Flora. ] Vernal star-headed chick- Common white ditto Corn ditto Three leaved vervain Officinal ditto Common rosemary 3 H 3 Red * "I am informed, by lady Elcho, that she left a profusion of this plant in bloom, on the 15th of January, at lord Eicho's seat at Beanstone, in East Lothian,” Three "In the preceding list no plant has been inserted which was sheltered in any store, green-house, or frame; many were observed in the fields and hedges in their native places of growth; but by far the greater part were the ornamental inhabitants of the parterre: the nectarine and apricot may certainly be considered as forced. It may appear singular that so many natives of the Cape, and of still warmer climates, which are in this country usually considered as inhabitants of the green-house or dry stove, should Cut-leaved ditto Blue-bottle Cyanus Common marygold Common passion-flower Common nettle Nut tree Common yew Prickley butcher's broom Officinal pellitory. be found so situated; it may therefore be necessary to observe, that they were, for the most part, the surplus of an over-stocked green-house, which had been planted in the borders to take their chance; and as no frosts of consequence occurred till the first week in January, they continued to flourish and bloom, with unabated vigour, till cut off by rather severe frost in the early part of the month; a great variety of the Cryptogamia class, usually blooming at this season, are omitted, as not offering any de3 H 4 viation bably not have been a crop at all; and their present numbers promise them an abundant harvest next year. All insects, as well of the beetle as the butterfly tribe, previous to their viation from the usual course of vegetation. The native place of growth of each plaut, and its usual time of blooming in this climate, has been inserted; and as the blooming of some of them at this season seems to bor-appearance in the winged state existed der on the marvellous, the place in as caterpillars or grubs. The millions which the observation was made has of ladybirds which lately swarmed on been added, as giving all the addi- the coasts of Kent have previously tional weight to the facts in my power been grubs, or larvæ, for that is the to offer; where no such information most proper name. These larvæ feed is given, the remark was made in my entirely upon the insects, which, unown garden. Two observatious only der the name of " the fly,” or “plant are recorded which did not fall under lice," have this year made such havoc my own notice, but for which most among the hops and pease; and when respectable authority is given." it is considered that each larvæ destroys some hundreds of these insects a day, for some months, it may be easily calculated what an immense number must have been destroyed by them, and consequently that, but for their services, our crops would have sustained much greater damage than they already have done. The vast number of these ladybirds which have this year appeared, promise that next year their services will be more effectual; as each female will deposit some hundreds, if not thousands of eggs, which, when hatched into larvæ, in the ensuing spring, will probably be able completely to destroy so many of the plant-lice or aphides (for this is their proper name), as to prevent their doing any serious injury. Usefulness of Ladybirds. The immense flight of ladybirds which has recently appeared in Kent, has excited great curiosity: and the phænomenon has caused some degree of alarm to the superstitions of both the great and small vulgar who frequent the watering-places on that coast; where, it appears, so multitudinous have been the swarms of this insect, that the streets have literally been covered with them, and the gowns of the ladies, after an evening's walk, spotted with them from top to bottom. Wishing to relieve the minds of your fair readers at Ramsgate, Margale, South-End, &c. from the dread that these ladybirds portend a pestilence, I shall communicate a few particulars respecting the natural his tory of this insect; from which it will appean, that we ought to hail its bat talions as we should soldiers who are on their return from a glorious victory --at least the hop-planters of Kent ought so to regard them; for, though their crop may not now be half a crop, but for these defenders it would pro In this point of view, the swarms of ladybirds ought to be regarded as harbingers of joy by the farmer and hop-planter; and by the visitants of the watering places, as proofs of the benevolence of the deity, who has by this means provided a remedy for the destructive voracity of the aphis, whose prolific powers are so immense, that from one female, in the course of a summer, many hundreds of millions of individuals may be produced! In their ner perfect state as beetles also, these ladybirds live upon aphides; and thus probably, the myriads which have lately visited the coasts of Kent, may have saved the hop-planters from the entire loss of their crop. The neglect of the study of Entomology in this country is much to be. regretted. If that most interesting science were attended to as it ought to be, and as it is on the Continent, we should not hear of people's fancying a flight of ladybirds a sign of pestilence or offence, or enquiring what can be the meaning of such a pha nomenon. Yours, &c. Aug. 25. The Bohun Upas.-The following information, I set out on my expedition. I had obtained a recommen-. dation from an old Malayan priest to another priest, who lives on the nearest habitable spot to the tree, which is about fifteen or sixteen miles distant. This recommendation proved of great service to me; as the latter priest is appointed by the emperor to reside there, in order to prepare for eternity the souls of those who, for different crimes, are sentenced to appreach the tree, and to procure the poison. The Bohun Upas is situated in the island of Java, about twenty-seven ENTOMOLOGUS. leagues from Batavia, fourteen from Soura Charta, the seat of the emperor, and between eighteen and twenty leagues from Tinckjoc, the present residence of the sultan of Java. It is surrounded on all sides by a circle of high bills and mountains, and the country round it, to the distance of ten or twelve miles from the tree, is entirely barren. Not a tree, nor a shrub, nor even the least plant or grass, is to be seen. I have made the tour all round this dangerous spot, at about eighteen miles distant from the centre, and I found the aspect of the country on all sides equally dreary. The easiest ascent of the hills, is from that part where the old ecclesiastic dwells. From his house the criminals are sent for the poison, into which the points of all warlike instruments are dipped. It is of high value, and produces a considerable revenue to the emperor. In the year 1774, I was stationed, at Batavia, as a surgeon, in the service of the Dutch East India company. During my residence there, I received several different accounts of a tree, called in the Malayan tongue, the Bohun Upas, and the violent effects of its poison. They all, then, seemed incredible to me; but they raised my curiosity to such a degree, that I resolved to investigate this subject thoroughly, and to trust only to my own observations. In consequence of this resolution, I applied to the governor general, M. Petrus Albertus Van der Parra, for a pass to travel through the country: my request was granted; and having procured every The poison which is procured from this tree is a gum, that issues out between the bark and the tree itself, like the camphor. Malefactors, who for their crimes are sentenced to die, are the only persons who fetch the poison; and this is the only chance they have of saving their lives. After sentence |