the air; some dry of themselves on the ground, and are said to be far more narcotic than those artificially preserved. Small deepcoloured specimens thickly covered with warts are also said to be more powerful than those of a larger size and paler colour. The usual mode of taking the fungus is to roll it up like a bolus and swallow it without chewing, which the Kamtchatkadales say would disorder the stomach. It is sometimes eaten fresh in soups and sauces, and then loses much of its intoxicating property. When steeped in the juice of the berries of Vaccinum uliginosum its effects are those of a strong wine. One large or two small Fungi are a common dose to produce a pleasant intoxication for a whole day, particularly if water be drunk after it, which augments the narcotic principle. The desired effect comes on from one to two hours after taking the fungus. Giddiness and drunkenness result in the same manner as from wine or spirits: cheerful emotions of the mind are first produced, the countenance becomes flushed, involuntary words and actions follow, and sometimes at last an entire loss of conscious ness. It renders some remarkably active, and proves highly stimulating to muscular exertion. By too large a dose violent spasmodic effects are produced. So very exciting to the nervous system in many individuals is this fungus that the effects are often very ludicrous. If a person under its influence wishes to step over a straw or a small stick, he takes a stride or a jump sufficient to clear the trunk of a tree. A talkative person cannot keep silence or secrets, and one fond of music is perpetually singing. The most singular effect of the Amanita is the influence it possesses over the urine. It is said that from time immemorial the inhabitants have known that the fungus imparts an intoxicating quality to that secretion, which continues for a considerable time after taking it. For instance, a man moderately intoxicated to-day will by the next morning have slept himself sober, but (as is the custom) by taking a tea-cup of his urine he will be more powerfully intoxicated than he was the preceding day. It is therefore not uncommon for confirmed drunkards to preserve their urine as a precious liquor against a scarcity of the fungus. The intoxicating property of the urine is capable of being propagated, for every one who partakes of it has his urine similarly effected. Thus, with a very few Amanita a party of drunkards may keep up their debauch for a week. Dr. Langsdorf mentions that by means of the second person taking the urine of the first, the third of the second, and so on, the intoxication may be propagated through five individuals." Fungi are often phosphorescent. The light given out by species of Rhizomorpha [RHIZOMORPHA] in the coal-mines of Dresden is described as giving them the appearance of an enchanted castle. Agaricus Gardneri, which grows on a sort of palm called Britada in Brazil, is highly luminous. The same phenomenon has been observed in A. olearius in the south of Europe, and in two species of Fungi at Swan River. Dr. Hooker describes a luminous fungus as growing upon decaying wood in the forests of the Sikkim Himalaya. It is generally stated that Fungi differ from the rest of the vegetable kingdom, in the absorption of oxygen and the disengagement of carbonic acid gas. In experiments which have been performed, this has been the result; but it is well known that the tissues of Fungi are easily decomposable, and it is more probable that the absorption of oxygen and the giving out of carbonic acid gas is the result of decay, rather than of the true growth of the plant. The following substances were found by Payen in his analysis of Fungi:-1. Water; 2. Cellulose; 3. Three Nitrogenised Substances; 4. Fatty Matters; 5. Sugar; 6. Volatile Matter; 7. Sulphur; 8. Salts, containing Silex and Potash. These substances are analogous to the ordinary products of the decomposition of water, ammonia, and carbonic acid by deoxidation, and must either be formed by that process in the fungus itself, or taken directly up from the substances on which they grow, by absorption. A curious fact connected with the development of Fungi is the occurrence of vegetable cells, referred to this order, in liquids undergoing fermentation. During the conversion of malt into beer, plantcells are constantly observed to be present, and these have been described as a plant, under the name of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. During the preparation of flax, as now carried on at Belfast, Professor Allman has observed present cells resembling those of Saccharomyces. Whether these are true plant-cells or not, is still a question; and it is still more a question as to whether they have anything to do with the changes going on in the solutions in which they occur. This point is alluded to in the article ENTOPHYTA. They are probably a result, and not the cause, of fermentation. These cells have not escaped the observation of Schleiden, and the following is his account of them : "In the last place, I must mention a highly interesting analogy, which, when more accurately examined, may perhaps one day lead to the most satisfactory explanation of the process of cell-formation-1 mean vinous fermentation. We have here a fluid in which sugar and dextrin, and a nitrogenous matter, as a cytoblast, are present. At a certain temperature, which is perhaps necessary to the chemical activity of the mucus, there originates, without, as it appears, the influence of a living plant, a process of cell-formation (the origin of the so-called fermentation-fungus), and it appears that it is only the vegetation of these cells which produces the peculiar changes that occur in the fluid. Whether this organism is really a fungus, is a matter of indifference; but whether it alone, through the activity of its vital processes, determines the process of fermentation, deserves to be accurately determined. "I will here add my own observations on these fermentation-cells. I bruised some currants with sugar, and, having pressed the juice through a cloth, diluted it with water and filtered through folded paper. The fluid was bright red, quite clear and transparent, and, under the microscope, showed no trace of granules, but presented a number of little drops of a pure clear oil. At the end of twenty-four hours the whole fluid was opalescent, and presented, under the microscope, a number of granules suspended in it. On the second day these granules had greatly increased, and there appeared amongst them perfectly-formed ferment-cells. There also appeared, now and then, vesicles of carbonic acid gas. On the fourth day fermentation was very active. At the bottom of the vessel and on the surface of the fluid, yeast had formed; but these yeasts consisted of single cells, or several attached one to another. In the solitary cells could be observed the way in which one cell was formed from another. The ferment-cells do not in this state permit of a distinction between the contents and the membrane of the cell. In the midst of the cell there is a transparent spot; but whether hollow, or a solid nucleus, I could not decide. The remaining parts appeared entirely homoge neous, yellowish like a nitrogenous substance, sometimes mixed with small solitary granules. In a similar way, a solution of sugar with elder-flowers was examined, and gave similar results. Other results were obtained in the following way :-Pure white protein (albumen) from the white of an egg, was dried, and rubbed down with sugar, and left to ferment: the fluid at first was perfectly clear. On the third day, the small portions of protein, which at the commencement exhibited a sharply angular aspect, assumed partly a granular aspect, and some a more or less rounded form. These globules showed an active molecular movement, and some appeared strung together. On the fourth day there was seen between these granules round or elongated cells, which were either solitary, or arranged together in a line with a tendency to the formation of branched fibres. These cells were not more than one-third of the diameter of ordinary ferment-cells. An active fermentation went on, and gas-bubbles were given out from the protein-granules and the linear cells. Proper ferment-cells did not make their appearance. Fluid albumen, mixed with sugar, and filtered, became thickened on the second day, and contained little granules of albumen (coagulated?). The further phenomena were similar to those exhibited by the preceding, except that there were developed a few true ferment-cells. Protein moistened with water displayed the same appearances as when mixed with sugar and water; ultimately putrefaction came on, and the development of Infusoria, but the vegetable formation preceded. There appears to be two very different types of ferment-cells, according as the fluid contains organic acids and essential oils or not. From the phenomena exhibited by the ferment-cells, one might be inclined to regard them as similar to animal-cells, which are formed through a cavity in the cytoblast, and which afford indications of the nucleoli in their highest development. But this analogy is not tenable, and the above observations must be regarded as imperfect. If we take fully-developed ferment-cells, and treat them with ether, alcohol, or caustic alkalies, there will be found in the fluid a number of globular delicate cells, with thin but clearly distinguishable walls, which contain a clear fluid, with here and there very small granules, which, alone or in groups, are attached to the inner surface of the cell-wall, and (almost ?) always a large round flat body (a cytoblast ?)." The classification of Fungi has occupied the attention of many observers. That of Fries is the foundation of most of the systems adopted by modern writers. Fries in the first place divides the whole order into four Cohorts, distinguished by the following characters :— Cohort I. HYMENOMYCETES. A Hymenium present; that is, the fungus opened out into a fructifying membrane, in which the spores (seeds) are placed, usually in the inside of asci (transparent simple cases). The texture wholly filamentous. Cohort II. PYRENOMYCETES. A Perithecium present; that is, the fungus closed up; then perforated by a hole or irregular laceration, and inclosing a distinct kernel holding asci. Texture obscurely cellular; that of the stroma (receptacle) somewhat filamentous. Cohort. III. GASTEROMYCETES. A Peridium present; that is, the fungus at first closed up, and containing loose spores having no asci. The texture cellular. Cohort IV. CONIOMYCETES. Spores naked; that is, the fungus in its elementary state, eventually having the spores quite naked, although they may have been covered at first. The texture between filamentous and cellular; and the thallus often apparently absent. He then subdivides these cohorts each into four Orders, as follows:- Order 1. Pileati. The Hymenium on the under side, and having asci. Order 2 Elvellacei. The Hymenium on the upper side, and having asci. (Fig. 2, Morchella.) 3 13 and 14, Arcyria punicea, magnified; 15, 16, Spumaria mucilago, magnified; 17, 18, Scleroderma Cepa, magnified; 19, 20, Chaetomium elatum, magnified. Cohort IV.-CONIOMYCETES. Order 1. Tubercularini. Spore-cases plunged in an entangled receptacle, upon a free receptacle. (Figs. 21, 22, Fusarium.) Order 2. Mucorini. Spore-cases upon a filamentous receptacle, at first inclosed in a little peridium. (Figs. 25, 26, Stilbum.) Order 3. Macedines. Spore-cases at first concealed by filaments. (Figs. 23, 24, Aspergillus.) Order 4. Hypodermi. Spore-cases springing from under the cuticle of trees. Figs. 28, 29, Exosporium.) Pyrenomycetous Fungi. 6, Cucurbitaria cinnabarina, magnified; 7, a section of the same; 8 and 9, Cenangium ferruginosum, magnified; 10, Sphæronema subulatum, magnified; 11, 12, Actinothyrium graminis, magnified. Cohort III.-GASTEROMYCETES. Order 1. Angiogastres. Spore-cases immersed in a receptacle distinct from the peridium. Order 2. Trichospermi. Spore-cases naked, among filaments distinct from the peridium. (Figs. 17, 18, Scleroderma; figs. 13, 14, Arcyria.) Order 3. Trichodermacei. Spore-cases naked, covered by filaments constituting a peridium. (Figs. 15, 16, Spumaria.) Order 4. Sclerotiacei. Spore-cases immersed in a receptacle constituting the peridium. (Figs. 19, 20, Chatomium.) Coniomycetous Fungi. 21, 22, Fusarium tremelloides, magnified; 23, a stem of grass covered with Aspergillus penicillatus; 24, the fungus itself, magnified; 25, Stilbum tomentosum, growing on a piece of wood; 26, a highly magnified representation of the same; 27, a spore case; 28, Exosporium Tille, growing on a leaf; 29, a section of the same magnified; 30, three of the spore-cases, still more magnified. The following arrangement of the Fungi is given in Lindley's Vegetable Kingdom': : FUNGIA. [MADREPHYLLICA.] FURNARIUS. [CERTHIADE.] FURZE. [ULEX.] FUSTIC. This name appears to be derived from Fustet, the French name of a yellow dye-wood, the produce of Venetian sumach. A wood similar in colour and uses, but larger in size, having been subsequently imported from the New World, had the same name applied to it with the addition of Old, while the other, being smaller, is called Young Fustic; but these, so far from being the produce of the same tree at different ages, do not even belong to the same genus. Young Fustic, or as it is sometimes called Zante Fustic, is the produce of Rhus Cotinus (Anacardiaceae), a native of Italy, the south of France, and of Greece; much of it is exported from Patras in the Morea; and it also extends into Asia. It is supposed to be the Cotinus of Pliny, being still called Scotino near Valcimara, in the Apennines, where it is cultivated on account of its uses in tanning. The root and the wood of this shrub are both imported, deprived of their bark, and employed for dyeing a yellow colour approaching to orange, upon wool or cottons, prepared either with alum or the nitromuriate of tin with the addition of tartar. The colour is a beautiful bright yellow, and permanent when proper mordants are employed. Only small quantities of this kind of Fustic are imported. Dr. Sibthorp was of opinion that Rhamnus infectoria, or R. oleoides, of which the berries are called French and Persian Berries, yielded the Fustic of commerce, and informs us that its yellow wood is called by the Greeks chrysoxylon.' He also thought that it was the Lycium of Dioscorides, but this has been shown by Dr. Royle to be a species of Berberis, of which genus all the species have yellow wood. Old Fustic, the 'Bois Jaune' of the French, is on the contrary the produce of a large tree, Morus tinctoria, the Dyer's Mulberry, of the natural family of Urticaceae, a native of Tropical America and the West India Islands. The tree attains a height of 60 feet; the wood is yellow-coloured, hard, and strong, but easily splintered, and is imported in the form of large logs or blocks. The yellow colour which it affords with an aluminous base, though durable, is not very bright. M. Chaptal discovered that glue, by precipitating its tannin, enabled its decoctions to die yellow almost as bright as those of weld and quercitron bark. The Fustic from Cuba is preferred, and fetches the highest price, varying from 81. to 97. 10s., while that from Jamaica or Columbia varies from 51. 10s. to 6l. 10s. per ton. tree is figured by Sloane, and noticed by Marcgrave and Piso. Browne describes it as a native of Jamaica, and deserving the attention of planters, as it is only propagated by birds, who are fond of its sweet roundish fruit. The GAD-FLY. BOTS; ESTRIDE.] GADIDÆ, a family of Fishes, generally arranged as the first of the sub-brachiate division of the Malacopterygii. This family embraces the whole of the species of the Linnæan genus Gadus. They are easily known by the position of the ventral fins under the throat, and the pointed character of these fins. The body is rather long, a little compressed, and covered with small soft scales. The head is well-proportioned and naked. All their fins are soft. The jaws and front of the vomer have unequal pointed teeth of middle or small size, and disposed in several rows like a card or rasp. The gill-covers are large, and they have seven rays. Most of the species have the dorsal fin contained in two or three bundles; they have also fins behind the vent, and a distinct caudal fin. The stomach is large, and the intestine long. The air-bladder is large and strong, and in some cases notched on the margins. The greater number of the species of Gadida live in the cold or temperate seas, and furnish the greater portion of the fish obtained in the fisheries of Europe and America. The flesh of most of the species is white, easily separable into flakes, is agreeable to the taste, and easy of digestion. They are probably more useful to man than any other family of fishes. Their reproductive powers are very great, and the numbers in which they exist in some parts of the ocean is perfectly incalculable. A detailed account of these fish is given under their generic names. The following are the British species of this genuз as given in the 'British Museum Catalogue' : G V. Motella. [MOTELLA.] 1. Motella tricirrata, Three-Bearded Rock-Ling. 2. M. cimbria, Four-Bearded Rock-Ling. 3. M. mustela, Five-Bearded Rock-Ling. 4. M. argenteola, Silvery Gade. VI. Brosmius. [BROSMIUS.] 1. Brosmius Brosme, Torsk. VII. Phycis. [PHYCIS.] 1. Phycis bifurcus, Forked Hake. 1. Raniceps fuscus, Trifurcated Hake. The genus Brotula is found in the West Indian Seas, and Lepidoleprus in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Seas. [BROTULA; LEPIDOLEPRUS.] GADOLINITE, a Mineral, containing Yttrium. [YTTRIUM.] GADWALL. [DUCKS.] GA'GEA, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order Liliacea, and the tribe Asphodelea. It has a perianth of six patent leaves, the stamen adhering to the base of the perianth; the anthers erect, attached by their bases. The flowers of the species are corymbose or umbellate. G. lutea (the Ornithogalum_luteum of many botanists) has the radical leaves usually solitary, linear-lanceolate, flat; the bracts two, opposite; the peduncles umbellate, simple, glabrous; the segments of the perianth oblong, obtuse; the bulb ovate, solitary. The stem of this plant is about 6 inches high, and shorter than the leaves. Its flowers are yellow. It is a native of England and Scotland in woods, but is a rare plant. It is a native of Europe, and is found on the Alps in Switzerland. Koch describes 10 species of this genus as natives of Germany and Switzerland. (Babington, Manual of British Botany; Koch, Flora Germanica.) GAHNITE, a Mineral, also called Automolite. It is a variety of Spinel, containing 34.8 per cent. of oxide of zinc. It has a dark green or black colour. Its hardness is 7.5 to 8, and specific gravity 4.26. It is infusible alone, and nearly so with borax. With soda it forms at first a dark scoria, and when fused again with more soda, a ring of oxide of zinc on the charcoal. GALAGO. [LEMURIDE.] GALANGA, or GALANGAL, is usually supposed to have been introduced by the Arabs, but it was previously mentioned by Etius. The Arabs call it Kholingan, which appears to be derived from the Hindoo Koolinjan, or Sanscrit Koolunjuna, indicating the country whence they derived the root, as well as the people from whom they obtained their information respecting its uses. The plant which yielded this root was long unknown, and it was supposed to be that of a Pepper, of an Iris, of Acorus Calamus, or to be the Acorus of the ancients. Kampferia Galanga was so called from its aromatic roots being supposed to be the true Galangal. The tubers of Cyperus longus were sometimes substituted, and called English Galangal. Two kinds, the large and the small galangal, are described; these are usually considered to be derived from the same plant at different stages of its growth, but Dr. Ainslie, in his 'Materia Indica,' insists upon the greater value of the lesser, as this is warmer and more fragrant, and therefore highly prized in India. It is a native of China, and the plant producing it is unknown. Dr. Ainslie does not prove that it is the Galanga minor of Europe. The Greater Galangal has long been known to be the produce of a Scitamineous plant, the Galanga major of Rumphius ('Herb. Amb.' 5. t. 63), which is the Alpinia Galanga of Wildenow, and a native of China and the Malayan Archipelago. It is fully described by Dr. Roxburgh, in his 'Flora Indica,' vol. i. p. 28, ed. Wall. The roots, perennial and tuberous, like those of the ginger, were ascertained by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Comb to be identical with the Galanga major of the shops. This is cylindrical, often forked, thick as the thumb, reddish-brown externally, marked with whitish circular rings, internally lighter coloured, of an agreeable aromatic smell, and a hot spicy taste, like a mixture of pepper and ginger, with some bitterness. The stem is perennial, or at least more durable than those of herbaceous plants. When in flower, about 6 or 7 feet in length; its lower half invested by leafless sheaths. The leaves are two-ranked, lanceolar, from 12 to 24 inches long, and from 4 to 6 inches broad. Panicle terminal, crowned with numerous branches, each supporting from two to five pale greenish-white and somewhat fragrant flowers in April and May in Calcutta, where the seeds ripen, though rarely, in November. Several species of this genus have roots with somewhat similar properties. Thus Alpinia alba and A. Chinensis are much used by the Malays and Chinese; the former has hence been called Galanga alba of Koenig; and the latter has an aromatic root with an acrid burning flavour. The fragrant root of Alpinia nutans is sometimes brought to England, according to Dr. Roxburgh, for Galanga major. leaves, when bruised, have a strong smell of cardamoms, and the Cardamomum plant is frequently placed in this genus, but has been described under ELETTARIA. Its GALANTHUS, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order Amaryllidaceae, consisting of the Snowdrop and another species. The former plant is a native of subalpine woods in various parts of Europe; the second, which is the G. plicatus of botanists, inhabits the Asiatic provinces of the Russian and Turkish empires. Galanthus is thus characterised :-Perianth 6-parted, 3 outer seg. ments spreading, 3 inner shorter, erect, emarginate. Stamens equal, subulate. G. nivalis, the Snowdrop, has white drooping flowers with the inner segments greenish. The scape 1-flowered, the leaves 2, keeled, broadly linear, glaucous. It grows in thickets, and blossoms in February and March. GALATHEA. [GALATHEIDE.] GALATHEIDE, a group of Crustaceans corresponding with the genus Galathea of Fabricius, and establishing, in the opinion of M. Milne-Edwards, a passage between the Anomurous and Macrurous Crustaceans, being more particularly approximated to the Porcellana. [PORCELLANIDE.] Dr. Leach divided the genus established by Fabricius into four: namely, the true Galathea, Munidea, Grimothea, and Eglea. M. Milne-Edwards thinks that three of these genera should be preserved, but agrees with M. Desmarest in coming to the conclusion that the genus Munidea has not sufficient characteristics to admit of its adoption in a natural classification. With regard to Eglea, M. Milne-Edwards considers it as approximating more to the Porcellane than to the Galathea, and as occupying a place in the section of the Anomura. The Galatheida, then, according to the revision of M. Milne-Edwards, are thus distinguished :-Carapace depressed and wide, but still longer than its width, terminating anteriorly by a rostrum more or less projecting, which covers the place of the ocular peduncles, and presents on its upper surface many furrows or wrinkles, among which one deeper than the rest defines the posterior part of the stomachic region. Antennæ inserted on the same transversal line; internal antennæ but little elongated, placed under the ocular peduncles, and terminated by two small, multiarticulate, very short filaments; external antenna with no trace of palpiform appendages at their base, but with a cylindrical peduncle and a long and slender terminal filament. External jaw-feet (pates-mâchoires) always pediform, but varying a little in their conformation. Sternal plate (plastron sternal) widening a good deal posteriorly, and the last thoracic ring ordinarily distinct. Anterior feet large, and terminated by a well-formed claw; those of the three following pairs of limbs rather stout, and terminated by a conical tarsus; fifth pair very slender, and folded above the others in the branchial cavity; these last do not assist the locomotion, and are terminated by a rudimentary hand. Abdomen nearly as wide as the thorax, and longer, vaulted above and armed on each side with a row of four or five large teeth formed by the lateral angle of the superior arch of the different rings composing it, and terminated, as in the greater part of the Macrurous Crustaceans, with a large fan-shaped lamelliform fin. The number of abdominal false feet varies; in the male there are five pairs, the first two of which are slender and elongated, and the last three are terminated by an oval lamina ciliated on the edge; in the female, the first abdominal ring is without appendages, but the four following segments have each a pair of false feet composed of three joints placed end to end, and fringed with hairs for the attachment of the eggs. Galathea.-The whole surface of the carapace covered with transverse furrows fringed with small brush-like hairs. Hepatic regions, in general, well distinguished from the branchial, and occupying with the stomachic region nearly half of the space of the carapace. Rostrum projecting and spiny; eyes large and directed downwards; no trace of an orbit. A spine above the insertion of the external antennæ, and two others on the anterior part of the stomachic region. Basilary joint of the internal antennæ cylindrical and armed at its anterior extremity with many strong spines; the two following joints slender and nearly as long as the first. Peduncle of the external antennæ composed of three small cylindrical joints, the last of which is much smaller than the others. External jaw-feet moderate, the two last joints neither foliaceous nor even enlarged. Anterior feet long and depressed. (Milne-Edwards.) of the external antennæ; a great spine under the auditory tubercle, two smaller ones on the first joint of the external antennæ, and one on their second joint. External jaw-feet short, hardly overpassing the rostrum when they are extended, their third joint much shorter than the second, and armed beneath with two strong spines. Anterior feet long, depressed, and very spiny; the hand very large, edged with spines and ornamented above with small piliferous furrows resembling imbricated scales; claws short, large, and with a spoonshaped termination. Feet of the second and third pair of the same length. Abdomen furrowed transversely, but without a spine; the seventh segment a little widened and rather narrower behind than before. Colour reddish, with some blue lines on the carapace. Length about five inches. It is found in the Mediterranean, and is not uncommon on the coasts of Great Britain. Mr. Couch says it is common on the whole of the south coast of Cornwall. It frequents pools between tide-marks where there are loose stones and sand. 8. Third joint of the external jaw-feet much longer than the second. G. squamifera. It is found on the coasts of England and France. ** Species whose external jaw-feet have no dentilation on the internal edge of their second joint. G. Monodon. It inhabits the coasts of Chili. G. nexa, a new species described by Dr. Embleton, is found on the English and Irish coasts. Grimothea.-Differing but little from Galathea, and hardly sufficiently distinct for separation. General form of both essentially the same, but the basilary joint of their internal antennæ is claviform and hardly dentated at its extremity, and the external jaw-feet are very long, and have their three last joints enlarged and foliaceous. (MilneEdwards). M. Milne-Edwards observes that the crustacean figured by M. Guérin under the name of Grimothée Sociale ('Voyage of La Coquille:' Crust., pl. 3, fig. 1) differs from G. gregaria in the form of the caudal fin, the middle lamina of which is less than the lateral ones. M. Edwards proposes therefore to name it Grimothea Duperreii, in honour of the navigator whose voyage made the species known. GALAXĂURA. [PSEUDOZOARIA.] GALBA. [ELATERIDE.] GA'LBANUM. Though the drug known by this name is one of those which have been the longest known, the plant which yields it still remains undetermined, though it is stated by old writers to be a native of Syria. The Greek name Chálbane (xaßárn) is evidently the same as the Hebrew Chelbenah, by which the same substance is supposed to be alluded to in the book of Exodus. Arabian authors describe it under the name Barzud. The Persians call it Birzud, and give Birceja as its Hindoo synonym. That the same substance is intended, is evident from Khulyan and Metonyon, as stated by Dr. Royle (Illustr. Himal. Bot.,' p. 23), being given as its Greek synonyms, which are evident corruptions of Chalbane and Metopion, the names of this substance in Dioscorides. The plant yielding this substance is called Kinneh and Nafeel by Arabian and Persian authors, by whom it is described as being jointed, thorny, and fragrant. Under the first name it is noticed in the original of Avicenna, but omitted in the Latin translation. D'Herbelot ('Bibl. Orient.') however states, that the plant yielding Galbanum is called Ghiarkust in Persia. These names are interesting only as showing that both the plant and gum-resin appear to have been familiarly known to both Arabians and Persians, and that therefore the former is probably a native of these countries, though usually stated to be only a native of Syria. But if so, it could hardly have escaped the notice of the numerous travellers who have visited that country. One plant, often described as yielding this long-known gum-resin, is Bubon Galbanum, a native of the Cape of Good Hope, which Hermann describes as yielding spontaneously, by incision, a gummy, resinous juice, similar to Galbanum; but Mr. Don has observed that this plant possesses neither the smell nor the taste of Galbanum, but in these particulars agrees better with fennel; and its fruit has no resemblance whatever to that found in the gum. The fruit, commonly called seed, was early ascertained by Lobel to be that of an Umbelliferous Plant, broad and foliaceous, which he picked out of Galbanum, and, having sowed, obtained a plant, which he has figured under the name of Ferula galbanifera. This has been lost or become confounded with other species; but it is probable that it was the plant yielding Galbanum, as Mr. Don has recently obtained fruit in like manner, and something similar, which he has determined to be allied to the genus Siler, but differing in the absence of dorsal resiniferous canals, and the commissure being furnished with only two. The carpels are about 9 lines in length and 4 lines broad, flat internally and somewhat convex externally. As the plant is still unknown, it is well worthy the investigation of travellers in the East, who might otherwise suppose, from the name, assigned from the seed, having been adopted in the 'London Pharmacopoeia,' that the plant was as well known as its product. Three sorts of Galbanum are distinguished:-1. Galbanum in grains or tears; 2. Galbanum in masses; and 3. Persian Galbanum. The two former come from Africa, especially Ethiopia; the third sort from Persia. Galbanum in tears is most likely the spontaneous exudation from the plant; and that in masses, obtained by incisions. The first sort occurs in irregular generally oblong grains, mostly distinct, but sometimes agglutinated together, about the size of a lentil or small pea, of a colour verging from whitish into yellowishbrown, more or less diaphanous, opaque, or shining with a resinous lustre. The odour is strongly balsamic, and disagreeable. The taste is resinous, sharp, bitter, and disagreeable. Specific gravity, 1.212. It is partially soluble in alcohol, and the solution, as well as the strong white smoke which is evolved when Galbanum is melted in a platinum spoon, reddens litmus paper. It consists chiefly of resin, gum, volatile oil, and a trace of malic acid. Galbanum in masses consists of irregular pieces of a yellowish or dark brown colour; the odour is stronger than that of the preceding kind, which, in its general characters, it much resembles, except that it can be powdered only during the low temperature of winter. Geiger says that when this variety is pure, it is not to be reckoned inferior to the former. Persian Galbanum, being very soft and tenacious, is sent in skins or chests. It often contains many fragments of plants. Galbanum, like other umbelliferous gum-resins, is anti-spasmodic, expectorant, and externally rubefacient. It is inferior in power to assafoetida, but usually associated with it in pills and plasters. GALBULA. [HALCYONIDE.] GALE, SWEET. [MYRICA.] GALEOLARIA. [ACALEPHE.] GALEOPITHECUS, a genus of Mammalia, having relations to the Lemurida and Cheiroptera. It is often formed into a family, and is then called Pleuroptera or Galeopithecida. They are commonly known by the name of Flying Lemurs, and are sometimes called Flying Cats and Flying Foxes. They are generally arranged under the order Carnassiers, and some authors place them in the division Cheiroptera; but they differ from the Bats inasmuch as the toes of their anterior extremities, which are all furnished with sharp claws, are not more elongated than those of the hind feet, so that the membrane which occupies the interval between the extremities to the sides of the tail can hardly operate in executing more than the functions of a parachute. The dental formula is as follows: Incisors, -; Canines, ; Molars, 0-0 0-0 6-6 = 34. 6-6 This is the formula given by M. Lesson; but Cuvier, in his ‘Règne Animal,' states that the canines are dentilated and short like the molars. He states that the two upper incisors are also dentilated and much separated from each other; and that the six lower ones are split into narrow strips like combs, a structure peculiar to this genus. F. Cuvier's formula is similar to that of M. Lesson, and was probably copied by the latter. F. Cuvier describes the 12 molars in both jaws as consisting of 4 false molars and 8 molars. He tells us that in the upper jaw, the intermaxillary bone, though very extensive, has no teeth in its anterior part; in the posterior part there are two on each side. The descending line in the upper part of the lower figure marks the extent of the intermaxillary bone. The dentition, as it appears to Mr. Waterhouse, is as follows:Incisors, ; Canines, 2-2 4 2-2 ; False Molars, ; True Molars 2-2 The same author observes that the six foremost teeth in the lower jaw of the Lemur (four only of which are, in his opinion, incisors; for he agrees with Geoffroy in considering the remaining two as canines) together bear a remarkable resemblance to a single incisor of Galeopithecus. He compares the two canines to the outer laminæ of one Teeth of Galeopithecus, one-third larger than nature. (F. Cuvier.) of these incisors. Like one of these lamina, the Lemur's canine is dilated immediately above the base, and has a longitudinal ridge on the upper side; whilst the incisors, like the intermediate laminæ, are |