20 



HABDWICKE'S SCIENCE -GO SSIP. 



Ruiz and Pavon as pale violet, but I consider the 

 difference of shade as of no moment. I am informed 

 that in two instances in this county the plant is 

 known to have a strong, hard, woody stem, thicker 

 than a man's arm, growing in open ground without 

 support. The young branches are certainly very 

 flexuous and slender, as " J. S. T." says, requiring 

 support when growing against a wall, where they 

 are no doubt drawn up quicker, and are conse- 

 quently weaker. A number of the plants are being 

 reared from cuttings in Brighton, where in a few 

 years it is sure to become a great favourite. — 

 T. B. W., Brighton. 



GEOLOGY. 



Diamonds in South Africa.— In the February 

 number of Science-Gossip I find a notice of mode 

 of occurrence of the diamonds in South Africa, by 

 Mr. E. J.Dunn, in which the report seems to me to 

 give the author too much of a theorizing process. 

 As regards the theory of the " pipe " being, in 

 fact, a "connection" between molten matters 

 below and surface volcanoes, much, I am inclined 

 to feel, remains to be proved. Such a short report 

 cannot do justice to any subject, and therefore I 

 feel much diffidence in attempting to controvert 

 what has been said by Air. Dunn. In the first 

 place, supposing Mr. Dunn correct in describing 

 the pipes to be channels of communication to sub- 

 terranean fire, how have they become filled by their 

 present "medley " of contents ? The molten matter 

 must have subsided, and it is not upon the present 

 surface. These "pipes" are filled by a maguesian 

 rock in fragments, mixed with soft crystals, whole 

 and broken, but unworn; clay rocks with their 

 angular fractures unworn, from blocks of many tons 

 dimensions, in one instance told to me costing £70 

 in its removal, down to minute pieces requiring the 

 microscope to define them. Beside these there is a 

 scattering of water-worn garnets, agates, &c, the 

 same as come out of the river-diggings. The whole 

 of this " medley " is deposited in an orderly manner, 

 at least for some depth, and as far as I had personal 

 knowledge of the mines. From the specimens col- 

 lected in sorting, I am quite certain that there is an 

 admixture of the river deposits with the contents of 

 the "pipes," the connection between the sites being 

 made by one and the same process. By a letter 

 published in this country, Mr. Dunn has the credit 

 of putting forth the theory of the diamonds being 

 wind-drifted into their present locality. I am afraid 

 this is like the "Angel's tears," likewise said to 

 have been put forth hereabouts by some one as 

 accounting for the diamonds. From all I have 

 observed, I have come to the conclusion that the 

 contents of the " pipes " are water or ice borne, 

 quietly deposited, at least in the upper portion of 

 the "pipes." The surface of the pipe is weather- 



worn, and not altered by fire. A paper by me was 

 read at the Geologists' Association, in which you will 

 find more detail. Since that paper was read, I have 

 received a note telling me of increased evidence of 

 glacial action. Now there is a difficulty I have 

 always felt in this case,— how was motion of the 

 material effected if the form of the channel was a 

 "pipe" ? When I first thought of the ice process, 

 it was that of floating ice, melting and dropping its 

 earthy loads into these cavities in common with the 

 general surface. 1 f there be really any underground 

 channel of communication, where does it come out, 

 or with what does it communicate ? As yet I have 

 seen no account to meet the facts, &c, that I have 

 put forth. The theory will have to take its chance, 

 should counter facts come out. Some of the agates 

 of the river-diggings are curious as giving evidence 

 of the motion of bubbles of gas moving within or 

 through them while they were soft.— G. C. Cooper, 

 South Africa. 



The late Mr. George Scott, F.S.A., Scot.— 

 It is with great regret we announce the decease of 

 a most intelligent and valued contributor, Mr. 

 George Scott, the curator of the Brighton Museum. 

 Mr. Scott has passed away in the very prime of life, 

 and has left behind many sincere, mourning friends. 

 He was an ardent geologist and archceologist, as 

 the manner with which he has arranged the Brighton 

 collections testifies. During the meeting of the 

 British Association, Mr. Scott acted as Local Secre- 

 tary to Section C, Geology. Last year he was 

 President of the Brighton Natural History Society. 

 Few men had so much genuine knowledge and such 

 an unpretending character. He has died amid 

 heartfelt appreciation of his value, and regret at his 

 loss. 



Carboniferous Fruits. — Dr. Dana, in the new 

 edition of his " Manual of Geology," states that the 

 well-known genus of fossil fruits in the coal- 

 measures, called Cardiocarpus, was probably related 

 to the modern conifers of the Welicitschia type. 

 This is shown by the similarity of the fruit, and also 

 by the close relation of the leaves, that is to say if 

 those called Cardaites belong, as is generally 

 supposed, to Cardiocarpus. The Welwitschia is an 

 embryonic form of conifer, producing no leaves 

 except the cotyledonous ; but while probably un- 

 like Cardaites in its embryonic features, it shows 

 what leaves and fruit are consistent with the type 

 of conifers. 



On the Succession of the Ancient Bocks 

 in the Vicinity of St. David's.— A paper on the 

 above subject has just been read before the Geo- 

 logical Society of London, with special reference to 

 the rocks of the Arenig and Llandeilo group and 

 their fossil contents," by Henry Hicks, F.G.S. In 

 the first part of this paper the author described the 

 general succession of the rocks in the neighbour- 



