HARBWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



147 



Tubucellaria ; and many results had been arrived at 

 by Mr. Waters* long before the labours of Mr. 

 Hincks in a classificatory direction were made known 

 to the public, and although not adopting, Hincks 

 justly acknowledges the value of Mr. Waters's dis- 

 coveiies and investigations. 



I have said previously that Mr. Hincks does not 

 use the family name DiastoporidK, but TubuliporidcB 

 instead. And this family group embraces, Stoinato- 

 pora, Bronn ; TubuUpora, Lamarck ; Idnwnea, 

 Lamouroux ; Entalopho7-a, Lamouroux ; Diastopora, 

 Lamouroux, part. 



A very great discrimination is displayed by Mr. 

 Hincks in this arrangement, for there is a striking 

 similarity between the primary development of all this 

 group — but more particularly betwixt Stomatopora, 

 Tubulipora, and Diastopora ; so much so that some 

 species of Stomatopora (Alecto) have been classed by 

 Reuss and Smith as Diastopora, and some of Tubuli- 

 pora and Pustulopora have been arranged, and very 

 properly so, with Entalophora. 



The Diastoporidae stage is a peculiar one in the 

 life history of colonies of the TiibuliporidiZ. In its 

 early state, Diastopora very much resembles Tubuli- 

 pora, and this again resembles somewhat the early 

 stage of some at least of the Stomatopora:. They 

 originate in a small disc-like base, the primary cell ; 

 from this a single cell is developed, and then the 

 primary one becomes a means of attachment ; and 

 from this secondary cell, two, three and four are 

 ultimately developed. The Alecto or Stomatopora; 

 diverge in a kind of branch ; the Tubuliporoe also 

 take a branch-like form, whilst the primary cell of 

 the Diastopora; develops cells which have a tendency 

 to a right and left direction ; and before many cells 

 are thus thrown off, a decided circular, subcircular, or 

 orbicular habit is early formed. This holds good with 

 regard to the fossil as well as the recent Diastopora; ; 

 and after closely studying many specimens of Oolitic 

 species, I cannot help saying that the facies of Diasto- 

 pora are pretty constant. A most interesting feature 

 is recorded by Mr. Waters of Reticiilipora dorsalis, 

 the generic and specific habit of which is altogether 

 at variance with the family type under discussion. 

 He says, " This elegant species commences as a flat 

 disk, or Diastopora stage," and an Algerian specimen 

 collected by J. T. Johnson, now in the British 

 Museum, "is first a wide irregular Diastopora, from 

 which a wide foliation grows." This particular 

 feature seems to naturally ally the Algerian specimen 

 with Mesenteripora, Busk, species of which have 

 heretofore been called foliaceous Diastopora. f 

 Attcrcliffc, Sheffidd. 



(To be continued.) 



* The use of the opercula in the determination of the Cheilo- 

 stomatous Bryozoa. Proc. of Manchester Lit. and Phil. Soc. 

 1878. 



t See Barrois, " Rech. sur rEmbryoIogle des Bryozoaires," 

 1 877, and " Comptes Rendus," 1875. 



SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS 

 HERTFORDSHIRE. 



IN 



THE county of Hertford has never enjoyed a 

 reputation for science and progress. Camden 

 in his " Britannia " says, " For scarce is there any one 

 shire in England that can show more footsteps of 

 antiquity." The footsteps of antiquity are very well in 

 their way, no one would wish them removed ; but if, 

 without effacing them, a footing for science can be 

 found, it is much to be desired. 



Within the last few years Natural History Societies 

 have been establishing themselves even here. Luton 

 has one, and Hemel Hempsted another, both con- 

 fining themselves to their respective neighbourhoods. 

 At Watford also there' is one, with the title 

 "The Hertfordshire Natural History Society and 

 Field Club." 



Since the rise of the Hemel Hempsted Society some 

 little advance has been made in the knowledge of the 

 plants and insects of the district, but here a line on 

 the general appearance of the neighbourhood will not 

 be out of place. 



The scenery, though not altogether celebrated, is 

 beyond a doubt beautiful. Whether you stand in the 

 early morning on the high land overlooking the valley 

 and watch the first rays of sunlight warming the chalk 

 cliffs of Rough Down, or mark the long line of white 

 mist as it lies motionless below, with here and there 

 the top of a tree or chimney-pot apparently floating on 

 its surface — it is certainly beautiful. 



Or take the Rough Down Side, ascend the moor- 

 land above the railway station, and you can scarcely 

 fancy yourself within twenty-three miles of London. 

 How sweetly the thyme scents, and what a grand 

 expanse of wild land presents itself in the direction of 

 Bovingdon, all purpled with heather and dotted with 

 the sharp black foliage of the juniper ! 



Besides this the valley itself has a beauty of its own, 

 intersected as it is with streams and watercourses. 

 Tall yellow iris; tufted sedges; and tangled water- 

 weeds, though gloomy in themselves, give it a 

 character which contrasts eftectively with the brighter 

 slopes of the adjacent hills. 



It may generally be noticed that rustic beauty and 

 a varied flora go hand in hand ; this is not always the 

 case, but Hemel Hempsted is no exception to the rule. 

 This can be proved by a visit !o Foxcroft Wood, just 

 outside the town on the right of the Water-End road 

 (the habitat, by the way, of Convallaria multijloi-d). 

 Foxcroft Wood is on the chalk, and if it only produced 

 the Solomon's Seal it would be worth a visit, but here 

 the Daphne laiircola, with its shining foliage, is 

 most conspicuous all the winter ; and later on Ophrys 

 miiscifcra, and the Adderstongue fern, Alchemilla 

 vulgaris, and the Tway-blade, and a curious variety 

 of the common hyacinth of a soft lavender colour 

 are frequently met with, also the lovely Eiipitthecia 

 venosata. 



II 2 



