| 8rCactus cochinellifer and Cactus opuntia to which it most nearly approaches. This plant it appears is now growing in the Island of Saint Helena.

– 8. I know of no approach to American vegetation in the Azores. But we know very little of the Botany of these Islands. It is remarkable that Erica vulgaris should be a common plant on the hills of Saint Miguel.

– 9. On the subject of the taste of recent Tabasheer I may refer you to Doctor Russell’s paper in Philosophical Transactions volume 80. page 274 & seq. where he says that in a semifluid state it had a slight saline sub-astringent taste: that the residuum had a pretty strong saline taste with less astringency. The substance in a more inspissated state had a sharp salt taste which it loses in a great degree by keeping.

Tabasheer was produced in the Hothouse of Doctor Pitcairn in a solid state. The taste of this pebble is not mention’d.

– 10. I have no correct information to give on the subject of this query.

– 11. None of the plants mention’d in this query are known to me as natives of Northern India. In Mister Saunders’s Journal published in Philosophical Transactions