206 



HARUWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



above period they have been in continuous existence, 

 and are still far from uncommon in existing seas. 

 What is more, the original principle of a ball-and- 

 socket attachment of spines has never been departed 

 from. The denuded surfaces are singularly alike in 

 many species, there being the greatest play of variety 

 in the shapes and ornamentation of the spines. A 

 species still living in the Bosphorus is very like 

 fig. 130, from the Oolite. And in our own seas, 

 farther north, a species known by fishermen as the 

 "Piper" {Cidaris papillatd) hardly departs, either 

 in its shape, size, mechanical construction, or orna- 

 mentation, from certain species formed in the 

 secondary rocks. 



" Fairy-loaves " are the common terms applied in 

 Norfolk to those fossil echinoderms found so 

 abundantly in the Chalk (fig. 131). Their surfaces 

 are smooth, the five rows of ambulacral perforations 

 being very distinct. The base, especially, shows the 

 numerous minute granulations which served for the 

 attachment of needle-like spines similar to those 

 which still cover the common sea urchin. Not 

 unfrequently the internal flint casts of this species are 

 met with, and then the ainbulacral pores stand out 

 in relief, the old carbonate of lime test having been 

 dissolved away. We often meet with these fossils 

 covered with the coiled tubes of Serpula, with the 

 valves of Crania, or young oysters; and these 

 facts are not without importance in illustrating 

 the slowness with which our chalk was originally 

 deposited. Eor these " fairy-loaves " must have 

 lain on the sea-bed after death, and their spines have 

 been peeled off before the others could attach 

 themselves to the naked test. And then the latter 

 had time to live and grow, often to full size, 

 before the chalk had accumulated so as to cover 

 them up. J. E. Taylor. 



THE WATER DROPWORT. 



{(Enanthe crocata^ 



ri^HE various accidents wliich have occurred from 

 -*- time to time through the accidental and 

 ignorant use of this plant, induce us to give an 

 illustration of the tubers. The death of the children 

 at Chester was undoubtedly due to their having 

 eaten of the Hemlock Water Dropwort. Dr. 

 Masters communicated with the surgeon who 

 attended them, and from him obtained some speci- 

 mens for examination, so that there can be no doubt 

 as to the cause of their death. 



The Hemlock Water Dropwort ((Enanthe cro- 

 cutd) is the most poisonous member of the 

 genus to which it belongs. It is not uncommonly 

 distributed throughout England, in wet places, 

 although it is rarer in Scotland. Its general appear- 

 ance greatly resembles that of celery, and hence, 

 perhaps, the reason why it is so frequently eaten. 



Even cattle seem liable to mistake it, notwithstanding 

 their instinctive appreciation of what is good for 

 food ; and in our " Notes and Queries " column will 

 be found an account of the death of seventy-four 

 oxen on the estate of Lord Dunraven, at Adare, co. 

 Limerick, from having eaten this plant. Its very 

 scent is said to produce a degree of giddiness. 

 When it has been partaken of (and it is stated to be 

 not unpleasant eating), the best plan of neutralizing 

 its poisonous effects is to administer a strong and 

 speedy emetic. So violent is the action of the 

 Hemlock Water Dropwort on the nervous system, 

 that its victims have been known to become affected 

 with lock-jaw. It may be applied with safety ex- 

 ternally, and it is so used in Westmoreland for the 

 ulcers which occasionally form in the hoofs of 

 cattle. The usual mistakes in connection with the 

 Water Dropwort seem to be caused through mis- 

 taking it for celery. But even celery, in the wild 

 state, if not absolutely poisonous, has a disagreeable 

 effect. It is only when its habits are changed, and 

 it is earthed up so as to bleach its base, and thus to 

 prevent the green poisonous matter from forming, 

 that celery becomes really edible. J. E. T. 



MICROSCOPY. 



QuEKETT Microscopical Club.— The eighth 

 annual meeting of this society was held at Univer- 

 sity College, July 25th ; Dr. R. BraithM'aite, 

 E.L.S., president, in the chair. The report pre- 

 sented by the committee showed the present num- 

 ber of members to be 570, that the meetings of the 

 year had been well attended, that considerable ad- 

 ditions had been made to the library and cabinet, 

 and that the slides in the latter had been entirely 

 re-arranged and catalogued. The field excursions 

 had been successfully carried on during the season, 

 and the annual soiree was largely attended. Special 

 mention was made of the continued kindness and 

 liberality of the Council of University College, in 

 permitting the fortnightly meetings of the club to 

 be held in that building. The eport also stated 

 that it had been decided to discontinue the journal 

 of the club in its quarterly form, but that a pro- 

 posal for the issue of monthly proceedings was 

 under discussion by the committee. The treasurer's 

 annual statement of account was also read to 

 the meeting, and showed a balance in hand of 

 £98. 19s. 5d. (subject, however, it was understood, to 

 a considei'able amount of unstated, but outstanding 

 liabilities). The retirement of the hon. secretary, 

 Mr. T. C. White, gave occasion for many expres- 

 sions of mutual regret. The president read his 

 annual address, in which, after congratulating the 

 members upon the continued prosperity of the club 

 he gave a resume of the chief microscopical work 

 of the year. Votes of thanks to the president. 



