151 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[July ], 1866. 



ing features ; we gathered one which was not more 

 than an inch and a-half high, though surmounted by 

 an average-sized head of blossoms. This suggests that 

 instances may possibly occur in which this stem or 

 scape, may be altogether wanting, and the flowers 

 appear among the leaves, after the fashion of Prim- 

 roses, as is occasionally the case with the bird's-eye 

 primrose {Primula fa rinosa) . Again, if you pluck a 

 handful of Cowslips, you will probably find that one 

 or two have their scapes broad and flat ; this is 

 apparently caused by the "joining partnerships," or 

 anastomosing, of two scapes at an early stage of 

 their existence, for we notice that the head of 

 blossoms upon such stems has quite the appearance 

 of a double one. 



Since we began this paper we have gathered from 

 one bank, where were also some very fine examples, 

 some twenty or thirty Cowslips, the stems of each 

 being surmounted by but a single flower ! This, as 

 well as other observations, would seem to favour 

 the idea that the Cowslip, Primrose, and Oxlip, are 

 but forms of one species. 



In the corolla, which is usually termed the 

 " flower " or the " pip," a very little examination 

 will suffice to show us how great a variety exists. 

 The colour varies much in intensity ; and the five 

 red spots are sometimes round, sometimes linear, 

 and sometimes almost wanting. In one specimen 

 two distinct corollas were enclosed in one calyx, 

 each with five stamens and one pistil. In another, 

 a more peculiar malformation existed ; the single 

 corolla having, as it were, two divisions, in each of 

 which were the full complement of stamens and 

 pistil. This specimen would have puzzled any one 

 who had attempted to classify it according to the 

 Linnean system. 



Cowslips sometimes attain a very large size. On 

 the 12th ult. we picked four Brobdignagian ex- 

 amples, some of the corollas measuring three- 

 quarters of an inch across. Two specimens we 

 have noticed, in which a second umbel of blossoms 

 was formed above the primary one, the scape being, 

 as it were, continued through the centre of the 

 flower-head, and crowned by a smaller umbel of 

 flowers. 



As we have above referred to the Primrose (P. 

 vulgaris), we may briefly remark upon its connection 

 with the plant commonly termed the Oxlip (P. 

 catdescens). All of us may not be aware that the 

 Primrose blossoms, though appearing to spring- 

 singly from different parts of the root, in reality 

 constitute as true an umbel as those of the Cowslip 

 (P. veris). Let any one take the trouble to cut 

 across the root-stock of a Primrose a little above 

 the actual root, and he will soon be convinced of 

 this by observing that all the flowers spring from a 

 common centre. Let him elevate the head of 

 blossoms thus obtained upon a stem, and a stalked 

 Primrose, or Oxlip, is produced. . A very interesting 



specimen which we found growing in a wood near 

 Wycombe, on the 3rd of May, produced from the 

 same root two fine stalked umbels of flowers — Oxlips ; 

 besides a great number of ordinary Primroses. We 

 scarcely think that the Oxlip is a hybrid between 

 the Cowslip and Primrose ; we rather imagine it to 

 be a developed form of the latter plant. In the 

 above locality, for instance, no Cowslip occurred. 

 Of course, the true Oxlip (P. elatior) is not alluded 

 to in these remarks. 



Since writing the above, we have found a specimen 

 in which the blossoms were disposed Primrose- 

 fashion about the root. — B. 



THE TRACK OE THE PYGMIES. 



O INCE some time great curiosity has been directed 

 ^ towards the researches of Dr. Dupont, in 

 several holes or grottoes of the province of Namur, 

 in Belgium (v. Science Gossip, i., p. 164). The 

 Nutton's cavern, among others, has given extremely 

 important fossil remains ; this hole, like many others, 

 has its legend :-— " The Nuttons were little genii or 

 imps living there ; they mended the iron objects 

 that were put at the entrance of the grotto, and 

 received for reward some loaves of bread ; once this 

 reward was omitted, and since the genii appeared 

 no more." Struck with the analogy this legend 

 presents with what is told in Germany, &c, about 

 the " Wichtelmi'muer," and with the traditions on 

 the pygmies, &c, I had the idea to make some 

 researches on the legends or traditions relative to 

 pygmies, imps, &c, to put down on a map the 

 localities where they were said to have lived, to 

 •indicate on the same map the places where, according 

 to the geographers, yet live people of small stature, 

 and finally, to mark the principal countries where 

 holes with human bones or remains of human industry 

 have been found. I intended to sec if this pre- 

 sented any suite ; I took my notes without the least 

 preconceived opinion ; I wondered at the result — 

 the continuity, nearly, of those stations ; but I 

 prefer to beg the reader to follow mc on a map, and 

 conclude for himself. 



In remote times we have the pygmies of Ethiopia, 

 or pechinies, and those of Egypt and of Thracia ; 

 they are quoted by many authors : Aristotle, 

 Pliny, Photius, Saint Augustine, Pomponius 

 Melas, &c. (v. G. Schott, Plnjsica curiosa; Wurz- 

 burg, 1667). 



Bitter, iu his " General Geography," speaking of 

 the actual inhabitants of part of Ethiopia, suggests 

 what former people may have been: — "When the 

 rainy season approaches, they make their winter 

 provisions, and as soon as the soil of the forest 

 is changed into black mud and marshes, they leave 

 it and retire to the mountains ; there they live in 



