The following are the forms which Naudin enumerates as wild: 1. Those of India, which are named by Wildenow _Cucumis pubescens_, and by Roxburgh _C. turbinatus_ or _C. maderas-patanus_. The whole of British India and Beluchistan is their natural area. Its natural wildness is evident even to non-botanical travellers.[1273] The fruit varies from the size of a plum to that of a lemon. It is either striped or barred, or all one colour, scented or odourless. The flesh is sweet, insipid, or slightly acid, differences which it has in common with the cultivated Cantelopes. According to Roxburgh the Indians gather and have a taste for the fruits of _C. turbinatus_ and of _C. maderas-patanus_, though they do not cultivate it. Referring to the most recent flora of British India, in which Clarke has described the _Cucurbitaceæ_ (ii. p. 619), it seems that this author does not agree with M. Naudin about the Indian wild forms, although both have examined the numerous specimens in the herbarium at Kew. The difference of opinion, more apparent than real, arises from the fact that the English author attributes to a nearly and certainly wild allied species, _C. trigonus_, Roxburgh, the varieties which Naudin classes under _C. Melo_. Cogniaux,[1274] who afterwards saw the same specimens, attributes only _C. turbinatus_ to _trigonus_. The specific difference between _C. Melo_ and _C. trigonus_ is unfortunately obscure, from the characters given by these three authors. The principal difference is that _C. Melo_ is an annual, the other perennial, but this duration does not appear to be very constant. Mr. Clarke says himself that _C. Melo_ is perhaps derived by cultivation from _C. trigonus_; that is to say, according to him, from the forms which Naudin attributes to _C. Melo_. The experiments made during three consecutive years by Naudin[1275] upon the products of _Cucumis trigonus_, fertilized by _C. Melo_, seem in favour of the opinion which admits a specific diversity; for if fertilization took place the products were of different forms, and often reverted to one or other of the original parents.