"B. J." says: "I see that the yellow water lily of Florida is regarded as something new. I believe I have seen it in years past, and supposed every observing person had noticed them. How is it that it is only just found out to be new?"

[Botanists do not regard it as "new." Long ago it was named. Modern botanists had not seen it, and though it has been several times referred to - often for anything we know - by popular writers, botanists, with commendable caution, thought it just possible that the Yellow Nuphar or "Splatter Dock," was mistaken for it Now we know there is a true yellow Nymphaea in Florida, and read again what the popular writers say; it is a wonder that more credence was not given to what they said. Mayne Reid, for instance, so faithfully describes it in "Osceola," that there was little room for mistake. But then you know it is very easy to be wise after the fact. - Ed. G. M.]