2. Tulostoma mammosum, Fr. Also British, but
not so common. Widely distributed.
3. Phelipoea lutea, Desf. A dark, fleshy
broom-rape, with scaly leaves. We have one species
of the same genus in England. They are parasitic
on the roots of plants; and the Midianite species,
which is found in North Africa, Egypt, and Arabia,
grows on the roots of a Chenopodium.
4. Cynomorium coccineum, Mich. A fleshy,
leafless plant, also a root-parasite. It was
called by old writers Fungus Melitensis, and was of
much repute in medicine. It is known from the
Himalayas to the Canary Islands, and is said by Webb,
in his history of the Canaries, to be eaten in the
Island of Lancerotte.
5. Doemia cordata, R. Br. A spiny shrub,
with roundish leaves and small sharp-pointed fruit,
found in Egypt and Arabia.
6. Capparis galeata, Fres., with large fruit,
long and pear-shaped. This caper is well known;
from Syria and Egypt.
(Signed) W. CARRUTHERS.
INSECTS COLLECTED IN MIDIAN BY CAPTAIN BURTON.
(Identified by Mr. Frederick Smith, of the British
Museum.)
COLEOPTERA.
Geodephaga
l. Anthia 12 guttata.
Melolonthidoe.
2. Schizonycha reflexa. 3. Pachydema.
Dynastidoe.
4. Heteronychus.
Curculionidoe.
5. Cleonus arabs.
Heteromera.
6. Mesostenanear punctipennis. 7. Adesmia.
8. Akis Goryi? 9. Mylabris.
Hemiptera.
10. Nepa rubra.
Mantidoe.
11. Eremiaphila arenaria. 12. Blepharis
mendica.
Orthoptera.
13. Acocera. 14. Acridium peregrinum. 15.
Poecilocera bufonia.
Scorpionidea.
16. Androctonus funestus.
17. " leptochelys.
18. " quinquestriatus.
Arachnida.
19. Galeodes arabs, in spirit. 20. Clubiona
Listeri, in spirit.
(Signed) FREDK. SMITH.
METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL
(December 19, 1877, to April 17, 1878).
Midian follows the rule of Syria—travel
in the spring. The best time on the seaboard
is during the months of March, April, and May.
In the mountains and the Hisma plateau, April, May,
and June are the most favourable. In Syria (Damascus)
the autumn is dangerous: the finest travelling
weather is in March to May. The second best season
is between October and December.
January and February are cold; the latter also (sometimes)
rainy.
March is stormy at first (El-’Uwweh), but afterwards
gets warmer (El-Ni’am). Dews now begin,
and last some three months: they wet everything
like a sharp shower, and make the air feel soppy.
In July the first dates come in. Fevers are prevalent
during this month, and also during August and September.
