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spherical ; and often the process goes ou with such 

 extreme regularity that these hemispheres are per- 

 fectly symmetrica], even wlieu enlarged to a dia- 

 meter of ten or fifteen feet. In the growth of these 

 liemispheres, the enlargement takes place in the 

 spaces between the polyps ; and whenever these 

 spaces begin to exceed the width usual to the 

 species, a new mouth opens, commencing a new 

 polyp ; and thus the growth of the mass involves 

 multiplication of buds. Species of Pontes also 

 grow into hemispheres and rude hillock-like forms 

 througli the same method of budding, and some of 

 the masses in the tropical Pacific have a diameter 

 of even twenty feet. Myriads of living polyps are 

 combined iu a single such mass, for each is but the 

 fifteenth or a twentieth of an inch in diameter. 

 Besides this metliod of budding, there is also a 

 kind of superior budding called spo7itaneous fission, 

 which consists in a spontaneous subdivision of a 

 polyp, by which two are made out of one. This 

 spontaneous fission is the common kind of hudding 

 in the large Astrea tribe. Many of the astrea 

 hemispheres of the Pacific, grown by this method, 

 have a diameter of ten or fifteen feet. . . Some- 

 times, when a new mouth forms iu an enlarging 

 disk, there is not at once a separation of the two, 

 but the disk continues to enlarge iu one direction 

 and another, and then another mouth opens, and 

 so on until a string of mouths exists in one elon- 

 gated disk ; and, finall}', a separation occurs, but 

 only to commence or carry forward another long 

 series. In this way the corals with mcandrinc 

 furrows are made, some kinds of which are popu- 

 larly called Brain-corals, and pertain to the Mean- 

 drina family. In all such species the tentacles 

 stand in a line on either side of the line of mouths." 



Dr. Masters's little book appears to us to come 

 up to what it professes to be — a "Botany for Be- 

 ginners," — better than any we have yet seen. It 

 is written in simple, yet attractive English. Tiie 

 illustrations are numerous and good, and every one 

 serves as a useful text for further enlargement. 

 Tiie author is a botanist of high standing, and his 

 experience as a lecturer enables him to introduce 

 his remarks to the student iu an untechnical, and 

 yet scientific manner. The most remarkable feature 

 in this'book is the correlation of the various details, 

 all taken from simple and familiar flowers, and the 

 modifications which each part has undergone in 

 different plants. The fact that the woodcuts arc 

 by Mr. Worthington Smith will be a sufficient 

 voucher for their correctness and finish. 



The llev. Mr. Harris's little hrochure—" May 

 Flowers," — is what it calls itself, — a popular and 

 scientific description of the wild flowers of the 

 month, with their habitats, properties, &c. It is 

 cheerfully and pleasantly writteu, varied by a good 

 deal of original folk-lore, and cannot fail to interest 

 young beginners in the charming science of Botany. 



A GOSSIP ABOUT THE HAWFINCH. 



AS several of the contributors of Science- 

 Gossip last year took some interest in the 

 Hawfinch, perhaps a few remarks concerning it 

 in au aviary may be acceptable. The Hawfinch, 

 although not plentifully found, is not considered a 

 rare bird : some few are sometimes seen in Eppiug 

 Forest, where its nest is annually taken. 



It is generally believed that it destroys small 

 birds, and so cannot be trusted in au aviary. Such 

 is not the case. I have kept it for months with 

 canaries, finches, tits, and warblers, without the 

 least injury to any. 



When first taken it is rather shy, but does not 

 dash about as most small birds do ; if kept in a 

 small cage, it sits with a somewhat timid, pensive 

 look, and if approached, will tighten its feathers, 

 open its large mouth, and stand quite defiant ; of 

 course, in an aviary it makes off at once, but iu a 

 short time it becomes tame aud sings a few coarse 

 notes, but not louder than those of the Bullfinch. 

 When thoroughly established, it will allow you to 

 approach very near it, and even to pass under the 

 branch it may be standing upon; at nigbt, similar 

 to the Bullfinch, you may do almost what you like 

 (short of touching him), as the Hawfinch rarely 

 moves. On going from place to place, the rest of 

 the birds seem to keep clear of the Hawfinch ; when 

 at the feeding-pan, other birds do not approach ; for 

 although it is so inoffensive, most of the birds fear 

 it, with this exception, sometimes the Blue Tit will 

 dine at the same time, and at the same dish ; 

 Farus carideus will cling to the edge of the feeding, 

 pan supported by his tail, until fairly driven away 

 by the Hawfinch with open mouth. 



The food of the Hawfluch is hemp and cauary- 

 seed, with sop-bread and milk ; kernels of the plum 

 are greedily devoured: a plentiful supply of water 

 is necessary, as he is fond of bathing. 



Being above the ordinary size of finches, he is 

 somewhat ornamental and always to be seen; and 

 though his colours arc not the brightest of his 

 species, he is not a little attractive. The Hawfinch 

 is rather a clumsy-looking bird, with a large head, 

 and bill of extraordinary thickness and of great 

 strength, of a flesh-colour in winter, and becoaiing a 

 deep blue in spring. The head is a light brown ; 

 the throat and feathers round the base of biii 

 black; the back a dark brown; the wings 

 marked with white, something like the Chafliuch ; 

 the tail short, uuder-part pale brown; plumage 

 soft and blended; its fliglit is swift, and it 

 alights peculiarly heavy for a bird of its size. The 

 nest of the Hawfincli is rather loosely built; the 

 young have a spotted breast, something like a young 

 thrush, but the white and glossy feathers of the 

 wings are almost as bright as in tbe old ones. 

 The nestlings should be put iu a dark cage, with 



