HARBWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



•difficult in the highest degree, and I suppose practi- 

 cally insoluble in the generality of instances, except 

 where an approximating form may be guessed at, by 

 witnessing the evolutions that result from analogous 

 substances. 



To forecast, for example, the general form which 

 would be assumed by an aggregation of the crystals 

 of some hitherto uncompounded chemical, would be 

 an impossibility, except by examining the effect of 

 known combinations almost similar in composition. 



Still more difficult would it be to suggest the form 

 likely to be taken by a tree, from an examination of 

 the seed, though even here analogy might suggest 

 something. But it could suggest nothing as to the 

 method of development with regard to the arrange- 

 ment of particles, nor as to the reason of their 



An Owen may rebuild, from the fragments pre- 

 sented to him, the frame of a being long extinct, 

 whose remains lie imbedded in the bowels of the 

 earth, and we accept his construction because we 

 believe it to be based on the order of Nature shown 

 by the exact observation of analogous forms. But 

 even Owen's efforts to reconstruct would be simply 

 abortive, and the result a falsity, were it not for the 

 permanence and continuity of law in Nature. With- 

 out the operation of such law within the component 

 particles, no species either in the animal or vegetable 

 world could possibly possess " continuity" of form. 



It is sufficient for our present purpose to direct 

 attention to the relation existing between "mass" 

 and "particle." But it is also necessary to point 

 out that there must always be a great defect in the 



Fig. i. — Anvil Clouds. 



taking the particular form under observation. The 

 seeds of two different plants may be exceedingly 

 alike in general structure and composition, yet the 

 form of their leaves and stem will present the widest 

 possible diversity. 



Yet in considering the process of growth, we must 

 not overlook the variety of elements which may be 

 absorbed from the earth and atmosphere. It is not 

 a question of the simple evolution of a given material 

 into an organism from a given embryo, but of the 

 drawing into a focus or vortex a great variety of 

 elements, operated on by an almost equal variety 

 of forces. The laws which regulate the operation 

 of those forces are the laws which originate the 

 various forms that meet our eyes, and produce a 

 resulting structure characterised by permanence and 

 beauty. 



value of illustrations from the mixing of liquids ot 

 differing density, such as those adduced by the late 

 Professor Jevons. The movements and elasticity of 

 the atmosphere vary too greatly from ordinary 

 "liquids" to allow of experiments in mixing being 

 of much practical value in regard to known forms of 

 cloud. And in addition to mechanical movements 

 we have earth magnetism to deal with, which, from 

 its known connection with auroral manifestations, 

 may not unreasonably be thought to influence the 

 aggregation of vapour. 



Samuel Barber. 



One of the last new things out is a watch whose 

 face can be lit up at night by a small electric lamp. 

 This will prove a useful watch for seafaring men. 



