Pastor and the other common birds. Merops was seen soaring over stones, and stooping at insects; in such situations it remains long on the wing; it does not appear to perch on any thing but withered branches.
Composita Senecionoides occurs about Soorkhab, Reaumuria occurs half-way between it and Gundamuck. Capparis continues to Soorkhab. Statices common, also Campanula; and about Jugdulluck a striking Boragineous plant, Boraginiæ sp., and on the sandy pass above Barkhab, a Salvia is found in profusion, one of the commonest grasses is Poa cynosuroides?
The stem of Hippuris is worth examination, inasmuch as it consists of a central easily separable axis, and a vertical system of great thickness, highly cellular, so that judging a priori, as these cells (which are compound) occupy the whole space between the ligneous system and the cutis, no longitudinal vessels can exist in that part which represents the bark.
15th.—Cabul. Glycyrrhiza thermopsoides frequently presents on the non-flowering stems, a pod-like transformation of the uppermost leaves.
In Centaurea cyanea, the disposition of the limb of the ray is such that the incomplete part or the fissure is outside. This is exactly opposite to the disposition of the same part in true Ligulatæ.
Judging from Centaurea, the smaller lip of the bilabiate species of Compositæ ought to be situated outside.
Erythræoides, Glauca floribus albidis occurs on the Chummums.
16th.—Regaled with a library: “Calumny and detraction,” says Boerhaave, “are sparks, which if you do not blow them, will go out of themselves.”—Murphy’s Johnston, Vol. IX. p.34.
In Johnston’s Life of Drake, p.99 to 100, are some admirable remarks on those minds, that disapprove of every strikingly novel scheme, and from which a good motto might be chosen, should any national system be proposed in Botany.
What were Sir Thomas Browne’s five sorts of vegetables, and what were his remarks on the form of plants and laws of vegetation?—See Johnston’s Works, Vol. IX. p.296.