the wood of Buxus sempervirens, a native of most parts of Europe. The tree grows well in England, as at Boxhill, &c., but that from the Levant is most esteemed. Turkey box is yielded by Buxus balearica, a species which is found in Minorca, Sardinia, and Corsica, as well as in European and Asiatic Turkey. This is the most valuable kind, selling in the English market at from L4, 10s. to L8, 15s. a ton. Box is also found on Mount Caucasus, and a species extends even to the Himalaya mountains. It is called shumshad by the Arabs. Boxwood is of a yellowish colour, very hard, close-grained, and durable, and suscep- tible of a high polish. It is greatly used by the wood-en- graver, the turner, carver, mathematical-instrument and flute maker, &c. This tree was much cultivated by the Romans, as described by Pliny; and it appears also to have been the teakwood mentioned in Scripture as one of the woods used in adorning the temple of Solomon. The specific gravity of Dutch boxwood is given by Muschendroock as 1.3280.