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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Sept. 1, 1S67. 



Sticks without end. — The note in last number, 

 signed " H. Pocklington," relating to a " stick 

 without an end," reminds me of some remarkable 

 phenomena of this kind which came lately 

 under my observation. In the demesne of Lord 

 Hill of Hankstone, in Salop, and near the wind- 

 mill end of the pool, there is a large beech tree 

 in which I' counted twenty-three cases of " sticks 

 without end." Mr. P. calls the phenomenon a freak 

 of nature. I regard it as a striking contrivance of 

 Nature to strengthen and maintain the symmetry of 

 the tree fabric. In the case I refer to, this design 

 is most palpable : the general rule appearing 

 thus— a branch from above dips down and grows 

 into one of the immense lower limbs of the struc- 

 ture, thus connecting it with the trunk and aifording 

 support more effective than bauds of iron could do. 

 — Wu). Hindshaw, Satford. 



SoNCHTJS PALUSTRIS, L. (2I(irsh Sow-thistle).— 



Those amongst your readers who are botanists, and 

 they are doubtless many, will probably be interested 

 in knowing that one of the rarest and most magnifi- 

 cent plants which are indigenous to these islands, 

 still flourishes luxuriantly in a habitat seemingly 

 secure from all but the most determined and 

 systematic depredators. It does not appear that 

 this plant has ever occupied a prominent position 

 in the British Elora ; our experience justifies us in 

 assuming that, wherever seen, its peculiar appear- 

 ance and imposing habit has attracted an attention 

 at once fatal to its existence ; we know, too, that 

 marsh and fen, the only condition of soil in which 

 this plant can nourish, are, and have long been, 

 gradually disappearing in many parts of the country : 

 it is not surprising then that, marked for destruction 

 whenever observed, and finding the conditions 

 necessary for its being withdrawn from around it, it 

 should have been compelled to seek immunity fiom 

 violence, as well as a congenial atmosphere, in the 

 most secluded spots that remained for it, at length 

 becoming almost extinct. It was, however, my 

 good fortune a few days since to penetrate an ex- 

 tensive retreat of this rarity, though I believe I 

 have not materially injured its prospects thereby. 

 Being on an excursion in a large tract of barren 

 and desolate country accompanied by two other 

 botanists, we came to a large morass overrun with 

 reeds of the tallest growth, and walking along a 

 high bank adjacent, we noticed some gigantic plants 

 overtopping the reeds at various points whose 

 flowering - heads were remarkably conspicuous ; 

 availing ourselves of a boat which was luckily at 

 hand, to cross a deep stream intervening between 

 us and the reeds, we were constrained to get out 

 and wade through the tangled mass, which, though 

 stauding in nearly two feet of water, entirely forbade 

 ingress to theboat. Eorcing ourway in through about 

 twenty yards, we came upon a fine cluster of the plants, 



and noble ones they were, towering above our heads ; 

 the reeds were nearly seven feet high, but the 

 Sonchus was considerably taller, the largest speci- 

 men being quite eight feet from the crown of the 

 root to the summit of the inflorescence. There 

 were many other clusters visible at intervals in the 

 swamp ; but having succeeded in securing a fair 

 specimen (as well as in getting uncomfortably wet), 

 we retired, thinking ourselves amply repaid for our 

 exertions. Those who have seen the recent plant 

 in the full height of its luxuriant beauty, can say 

 with me that it is indeed " a plant which once seen 

 is never to be forgotten." — Jos. W. White. 



[We much regret that our correspondents who 

 make communications like the above do not permit 

 us to insert their full addresses as well as their 

 names ; it would add so much more weight to their 

 testimony. — Ed.] 



Phyllactidium pulchellum. — In the spring of 

 last year, while watching the manoeuvres of a 

 water-spider in a jar of Anacharis and Lemnce, 

 obtained from the " Heigham osier carr " adjoining 

 the river, almost within the city, I detected ad- 

 hering to the glass on the side furthest from the 

 light some minute green discs which turn out to 

 be this plant. I put up two slides in glycerine and 

 camphor water — and what is most remarkable, they 

 have contiuued to grow and fructify. There were 

 no sporcells at first visible, but these have become 

 developed, and are most abundant ; some showing 

 the green spores within, while others have discharged 

 their contents, and whole colonies of young ones of 

 from one to two or three cells are now making their 

 appearance. — W. Kencely Bridgman, Norwich. 



MICROSCOPY. 



American Diatomaceous Deposits.— The Mon- 

 mouth deposit is an example of a class of sediments 

 which are very common in this country, especially 

 in the Eastern States. I have over fifty similar. 

 They are the result of the accumulation of the dead 

 lorica of recent Diatomacea?, and generally form at 

 the bottom of ponds ; sometimes they accumulate to 

 a considerable depth. I examined one that had been 

 traced down over ten feet. They are not truly fossil, 

 which I take to mean containing for the most part 

 extinct species, but perhaps might be called post- 

 tertiary, as some one has dubbed them. However, 

 I consider them as but recent deposits of existing 

 forms. I know of no deposit of fresh-water Diatoms 

 of an age as old even as the Tertiary, and I have 

 examined scores of them, and have several now 

 under examination for the State Geological Survey 

 of California.— A. 21. Edwards, New York, U.S. # 



The Stone Mite. — If any person living in the 

 country wishes for an interesting opaque object for 



