Discussion of a plant used for stupefying fish and its use by ancient Greeks and Romans. The plant has the modern name 'Euphorbia characias' and 'Verbascum sinuatum'. [John] Sibthorp said that 'Mercurialis annua' is now used for catching 'Scarus'. A further reference in memoirs of the French Institute on the fishing of the "ancients". A long extract from "His. Plan. IX.c.10", in French. Asks Smith's opinion on this, and the use of '[H]ellebore'. Sibthorp says the three plants with this quality are 'Conium maculatum ', 'Euphorbia characias', and 'Verbascum sinuatum', asks Smith to add the modern name 'Cyclamen'. Transcribes account of a herb being used to gather fish, sent by a friend travelling in Greece.

Requests information on Greek melons from the collections of Smith or Sibthorp. Refers to a "melopepon", called by the French "sucrin", and Aristotle's remarks on melons.