150 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[July 1, 1866. 



enclosing vesicle is probably the dissolved and 

 swollen-up internal cell-coat of the spore, which 

 holds the young individuals combined for some 

 time after the outer coat of the spore has been 

 thrown off; 5 ' and Mrs. Thomas also gives her 

 opinion that "the Sporangium is the winter casing of 

 a large number of young plants which escape from 

 it by rapidly knocking against the walls, when these 

 have been loosened by spring warmth, or which 

 grow up as the walls gradually decay in the midst 

 of slimy gelatinous masses."" 



In our own examinations we fouud the minute 

 fronds exceedingly numerous, and to our surprise, 

 under very high powers we observed the swarming 

 motion of the granules of Endoc/iroii/e (to which 

 reference has been made), in many of those which 

 we were disposed from their shape to consider as 

 immature; leaving us in doubt whether the phe- 

 nomenon so frequently seen is a symptom of growth, 

 reproduction or decay. 



Curious bodies closely resembling Sporangia, 

 frequently occurring in flints, have puzzled their 

 discoverers much. Their similarity to recent forms 

 inclines to the belief, almost amounting to a cer- 

 tainty, that in them the Desmidiacece of past eras 

 have left their only traces, while the fact that 

 Desmids of modern times are wholly of fresh-water 

 habit, whereas flints are admitted on all sides to be 

 the remains of marine sponges, militates in some 

 degree against the supposition. These bodies are 

 called Xanthidia, and are thus spoken of by Mr. 

 Ralfs, who appears to have no doubts as to their 

 nature. "The fossil forms vary like recent Spo- 

 rangia in being smooth, bristly, or furnished with 

 spines, which in some are simple, and in others 

 branched at the extremity." 



It may be well to notice the advantages we gained 

 in the examination of our Desmids by means of 

 Messrs. Powell and Lealand's new binocular, as 

 applied to a one-twelfth object-glass. The cir- 

 culatory currents in and around them, under these 

 conditions, as may be imagined, were rendered far 

 more distinct than before, and thus new beauties in 

 these minute organisms were displayed. In one 

 fragment of Hyalotheca, the continuous current in 

 the water, rendered apparent by the particles carried 

 along with it, gave rise to the suspicion of cilia. 

 But the motion may have had some other cause, 

 such as the struggles to get free of a cramped up 

 Cijpris, on a comparatively distant part of the slide ; 

 and we place very little faith in the existence of 

 cilia in desmids. 



When speaking of the Polycistina in Science 

 Gossip, Vol. I., Mrs. Bury compares them to the 

 "Toilette-service of Titauia, with all her essence- 

 bottles aud trinkets." Following up the notion, may 



* We may infer from this lady's observations that conjuga- 

 tion is best witnessed in summer and autumn. 



we also inquire respecting the fairy bijouterie of the 

 said queen, if she ever commissions her sprites to 

 collect from the bottom of the rills and brooks of 

 earth, gems wherewith to deck her royal brow in the 

 moon-lit glade where she holds court ? Disdaining 

 rubies and emeralds, as suited only to mortals' wear, 

 do her zealous servants supply the place of the latter 

 gems with choice desmids, than which no emerald 

 can be more beautiful ; and of the former by the 

 eyes of Oypris and Cyclops, than which no ruby 

 can display more living fire ? 



Disbelieving, let us hear from the elves' own 

 mouths their duties. 



" Over hill, over dale, 

 Thorough bush, thorough briar, 

 Over path, over pale, 

 Thorough flood, thorough fire, 

 I do wander everywhere, 

 Swifter than the moone's sphere ; 

 And I serve the fairy queen." 



Doubts however still arise, but there is another 

 alternative to satisfy our curiosity. Gentle Reader, 

 announce where she is to be found, and 



" I'll meet by moonlight, proud Titania." 



J. MTntiee. 



THE LARGE WOOD ANT. 



PvURING a warm spring, a workman dispersed a 

 -^ nest of the large wood ant (Formica Her- 

 cutanea) . This species is of a dark chesnut colour. 

 It is chiefly found in woods where fir-trees predomi- 

 nate. There they build large conical shaped nests, 

 composed principally of fir-leaves. The male ant is 

 said to be winged ; yet, during the many years I 

 had the opportunity of daily observing these ants, I 

 never saw one of them with wings. This dispersion 

 occurred two fields distant from the house, situated 

 eastward from the nest. The country people say 

 these ants always travel east, that is towards the 

 rising sun. 



They took possession of our entrance door, and 

 made their first habitation in the space between the 

 woodwork and the lead over the porch. There they 

 increased rapidly, and amused rather than annoyed 

 us. Indeed, we passed much time in observing these 

 industrious little people. Whether — according to 

 the prediction of Solomon — we were wiser for our 

 studies I must leave. We were not long in dis- 

 covering that our new visitors were superior to mere 

 plodders for their daily bread, and that they possessed 

 more intelligence than we thought possible. To our 

 surprise we were never stung by them, even when 

 unintentionally touched rather rudely, or when they 

 strayed on our persons. In fact, they appeared to 

 consider us friends, residing under the same roof. 

 I state this now, because the reverse took place in 

 the sequel. 



