HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



279 



_podiiiin phcgopteris, P. dryoptcris, P. Robertiaiinin, 

 Lastnca Jilix-mas, L. oreoptcris, L. dilatata, Atliyrhtin 

 jilix-fxnmia, Ptcris aqiiilina, Polystichiiin aailea/itni, 

 P. Lonchitis, Cystopteris fragilis, C. montana (near 

 the summit of tlic pass), C. alpina (some of the 

 specimens very fine), Aspleninm trichoinanes, A. 

 viridc, A. ruta-muraria, A. septenfrionalc (lDet\\een 

 Flirsch and Landeck) and Blcchnnm spicant. — 

 T. IV. B. 



Fleurs du Lac. — Le numero d'Octobre de ce 

 journal, page 239, repond a Mr. "W. S. W." que 

 'Mes fleurs du lac" trouvees en ecume jaune sur la 

 surface du lac de Thun, fin Mai, sont le pollen des 

 foi'ets de pins. Cette reponse a-t-elle ete verifiee, et 

 n'avait-on point affaire a une des algues postochinees 

 dont parlent Mr. W. Phillips dans son travail sur 

 "The Breaking of the Shropshire Meres," tire des 

 "Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and 

 Natural History Society," de Fevrier 1884, et MM. 

 Bornet et Flahault dans leur article sur les " Rivu- 

 laires," paru dans le "Bulletin de la Societe Bota- 

 nique de France," tome 31% 1S84, page 76? Ces 

 articles pourraient, peut-etre, etre utilement signales 

 a votre correspondant. — C. C, Doullens, Soiiimc. 



[In answer to our able correspondent, we beg to 

 say that in the case in question there is no doubt of 

 the " fleurs " being pine-pollen. — Ed. S.-G.] 



The Destruction of Trees around London. 

 — The growth of our modern Babylon may be matter 

 for the wondering pride of its citizens ; but, in one 

 aspect at least, it is calculated to excite feelings of a 

 very different character. I allude to the encroach- 

 ments of speculative builders and their reckless and 

 increasing demolition of our choicest trees, if they 

 stand in the way of the advancing tide of bricks and 

 stucco. Highgate, Muswell Hill, Hornsey, Crouch 

 End — I restrict my references to this side of London 

 — all are being ravaged and disfigured without hin- 

 drance, except from the unavailing protests of a few 

 lovers of natural scenery. That the naturalist and 

 the suburban rambler are being deprived of their 

 favourite haunts is but a minor part of the evil in 

 progress. Readers of Science-Gossip do not need 

 to be reminded of the hygienic value of foliage, or of 

 the effects produced on rainfall and climate by the 

 destruction of forest trees. We have lately been re- 

 minded, by the threatened water famine in the Man- 

 chester district, that the supply of rain, even in this 

 humid island, is but limited ; and we have only to 

 cross over to France to learn how fertile provinces 

 may be rendered desolate by the clearing of their 

 timber trees. Can anything be done to check this 

 growing evil ? Neither the sale nor the purchase of 

 land can be prevented, while mere reasoning would 

 be thrown away on the stolid perpetrators of the 

 mischief. Legislative interference is called for ; and 

 why should not the power which has already pro- 

 tected the wild birds throw little protection around 



our woodland trees ? The law has stepped in to 

 regulate the width of roads and the sanitary arrange- 

 ments of houses. Cannot our naturalists and other 

 men of science secure a little regulation of the laying 

 out of "building plots " ? In the course of a few days, 

 as I have recently witnessetl, the growth of more 

 than half a century is destroyed, while all the suburban 

 householder can do is to plant a few saplings in his 

 garden, from which he can scarcely hope to derive 

 any benefit in a lifetime ! Unless public interest be 

 wakened to check this selfish greed and reckless 

 destructiveness, we shall find eventually, in an altered 

 climate, that a Nemesis waits on those who set at 

 naught Nature's laws for the sake of expediency. — ■ 

 W. H. G., Crouch End, iV. 



New Discoveries in Geographical Botany. 

 — Mr. J. Thomson, the African traveller, has arrived 

 home in safety, and he received a brilliant reception 

 at the Royal Geographical Society, on November 3rd, 

 when he delivered an address descriptive of his travels 

 and discoveries. One of Mr. Thomson's objects was to 

 collect plants from the mountainous regions of Central 

 Africa. These have been placed in the hands of Sir 

 Joseph Hooker, who has lost no time in making them 

 known, or in pointing out their geographical signifi- 

 cance. Thirty-five species were collected from 

 Kilmanjaro at from 9000 to 10,000 feet above the 

 sea-level. A few came from Lake Nairasba, at from 

 7000 to Sooo feet elevation. Thirty-four species 

 were gathered on the Kapte plateau, 5000 to 6000 

 elevation ; and fifty-eight came from Lykipia, where 

 they were found at an elevation of from 6000 to 

 Sooo feet. These species bear out the idea of a 

 mixture of northern and southern forms, due, perhaps, 

 to alternate glacial periods in each hemisphere, 

 driving them to this common meeting-ground. Sir 

 Joseph Hooker shows that Mr. Thomson's specimens 

 are of this character. Among the northern forms are 

 an anemone, delphinium, and cerastium. The most 

 striking of the southern forms is the wild chestnut of 

 Natal [Calodendron capciisis). One northern form is 

 a juniper, growing to the height of a hundred feet, 

 and forming groves at a height of 6ooo feet above the 

 sea. 



Bats. — I have often noticed bats flying about the 

 streets of our town at night in the autumn and winter 

 months in mild weather. They look veiy strange 

 when they swoop down in the light from shop 

 windows and lamps — a pale brown object which 

 suddenly disappears again in the dark above. I have 

 seen them in the town in October, November, 

 December, January, and February, according tO' 

 notes made at the time. Do they find insect food at 

 this time of the year in such situations, or are they 

 merely attracted by the light ? I once saw a bat 

 flitting about in broad daylight here. — Henry Lamb, 

 Ulaidslonc, 



