ISO 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Aug. 1, 1S67. 



• 



maimer as a chicken drinking. He had a great love 

 for warmth, particularly that derived from personal 

 contact, and nothing delighted him more than being 

 allowed to coil round my hand. He would interlace 

 himself between the fingers in the most graceful and 

 complicated folds, and it was on these occasions I 

 was particularly struck with the muscular power 

 referred to by Mr. Guyon. The manner in which 

 my fingers were imprisoned in his coils made me 

 realize, as I had never done before, the tremendous 

 strength which the boa-constrictor must be able to 

 exercise. Once established in his favourite position, 

 he would retain it without moving for hours, if my 

 occupation permitted. My singular pet was pos- 

 sessed of a very inquisitive disposition, and would 

 investigate every object on the table with the 

 utmost minuteness, particularly pleasing himself 

 with getting into my work-box, and making almost 

 as great a commotion among my cotton reels as a 

 kitten. One day his researches led him into the 

 salt-cellar, a result with which he appeared by 

 no means satisfied. Of course, having so much 

 liberty, he had many hair-breadth escapes, more 

 especially in the way of falls, as he had no concep- 

 tion of danger when approaching the verge of any- 

 thing, and if not observed when getting near- the 

 edge of the table, the next thing was sure to be a 

 " flop " on the floor, but he never seemed the worse 

 for these accidents. I hoped to have kept him 

 through the winter, but on my return from an 

 absence of some weeks in the autumn, I found my 

 " pretty fellow " was dead. He lived in captivity 

 from May till November. The terror and astonish- 

 ment he inspired amongst servants was most 

 amusing, and at a small watering-place to which he 

 accompanied me in the summer, I believe I am still 

 remembered as the lady with the snake ! — F. T. . 



MONMOUTH DEPOSIT AGAIN. 



/T^O the two papers already devoted to an enumer- 

 -*- ation of the diatoms found in the Monmouth 

 deposit, from Maine, U.S. I have a few "last 

 words" to append. In a letter recently received 

 from the Rev. E. C. Bolles, he states that this 

 deposit is derived from the old bed of a lake, as one 

 would have suspected, and that it is authentically 

 what ,it purports to be. 



In addition to the forms already enumerated, I 

 find— 



Surirella linearis (Smith). The valve occasionally 

 constricted, obtuse, or acuminate. The longitudinal 

 central line distinct. Alac conspicuous (fig. 187). 

 I have hitherto only found the constricted variety, 

 and that but rarely, in this material. 



Surirella anceps (Lewis). Erftstules free, linear. 

 Valve sigmoid and elongated, with rounded sub- 

 acute extremities. Alas very small (sometimes 



nearly obsolete) or sub-marginal. Caualiculi very 

 inconspicuous, often wanting. Striae very sharp 

 and clear, extending to the wide, and well-defined 

 central space, which runs from end to end of the 

 valve. Colour of the dry frustule a rich chestnut 

 brown (fig. 184). This singular form of Surirella 

 occurs but sparingly in the deposit, and very rarely 

 perfect. It was detected by Dr. Lewis in a gather- 

 ing from a pond near the Saco river, and sufficiently 

 plentiful to allow of his giving the above charac- 

 teristics. 



Fig. 185. 



Fig. 183. 



Fig. 184. 



Fig. 136. 



Surirella intermedia (Lewis). Frustules free. 

 Valve linear, strongly sigmoid, with attenuated 

 rounded apices. Alas usually distinct, twisted near 

 the ends of the valves, giving rise to a spathulate 

 appearance. Caualiculi numerous, inconspicuous, 

 reaching the narrow central blank line. Stria) dis- 

 tinct. This form is very rare in the present deposit. 

 Dr. Lewis found it mixed with the preceding 

 species; it is probably identical with Nitzschia 

 curvula of Smith. 



Cocconema lanceolatum (Ehr.). Eront view lan- 

 ceolate, obtuse. Valve cymbiform, elongated, and 

 concave. Margin with a central inflation and sub- 

 median line, central and terminal nodules. Striae 

 distinct aud moniliform. Erustules stipitate. 



