230 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Oct. 1, 1867. 



a single sponge; and probably if others were to 

 follow my example, they would be rewarded by 

 richer treasures and rarer forms, though scarcely in 

 variety. In addition to these, however, 



greater 



Fig. 242. 



Fig. 243. 



Fig. 244. 



XI] 



Fig. 245. 



there were present various forms of sponge spicules, 

 of which I have given figures, but which hitherto I 

 have had no opportunity to identify (figs. 242 to 

 248). 



f| 



i > 

 if 



Fig. 246. 



> f 



\\ 



Fig. 247. 



Fig. 248. 



Spicules of Halichondria. 



Strange localities are sometimes quite prolific in 

 Diatomacese. The stomachs of molluscs contain 

 them in abundance, and I once obtained a fine series 

 of slides by boiling in acid, the legs of a spider-crab 

 (Stenorhynchus phalangium) which was dredged in 

 Southampton Water. The long, straggling, though 

 useful members of this crustacean, were a perfect 

 forest of vegetation. There was Biddulphia pul- 

 chella, figured above, and Amphitetras antediluviana 

 (figured in Science- Gossip, for 1SG6, p. 1S2, 

 figs. 170, 171), both of which in profusion; and more 

 sparingly, two other forms of Biddulphia, and at 

 least nine other good species belonging to eight other 

 genera, which altogether amply rewarded me for 

 my trouble. 



I have also a specimen of Colletonema sub- 

 cohserens, which I obtained from the top of a stone 

 wall amongst moss. 



Let no one hereafter deplore that their lot is cast 

 among men who dwell in cities, where no objects 

 for their leisure occupation are to be found, since I 

 have shown that more interesting diatoms may be 

 purchased in a common sponge in the next street, 

 than they will collect by spending a week at Hastings 

 or Brighton, with probably far less of mortification 

 and inconvenience. 



Shere. E. Caprox, M.D. 



BUXBAUMIA INDUSIATA IN ABERDEEN- 

 SHIRE. 



IN July, 1S17, two specimens of a Buxbaumia 

 were found in a wood near the village of Bal- 

 later, in Aberdeenshire. Mr. Alexander Oruick- 

 shank, who gathered them,- gave me one, which was 

 placed in my herbarium as B. aphylla. Some 

 months ago, at a meeting of the Edinburgh Bota- 

 nical Society, it was reported that an immature 

 specimen of B. indusiata, Brid., had been found in 

 Ross-shire. This report led me to re-examine Mr. 

 Cruickshank's plant, which differed in general ap- 

 pearance from the true B. aphylla.* I had now no 

 doubt that Mr. Cruickshank was the discoverer of 

 B. indusiata in this district. 



On 21th May last I visited the place, but failed 

 to trace any of the plant. A few weeks later Mr. 

 Cruickshank and Mr. Roy were equally unsuc- 

 cessful. The original station was in an old wood of 

 Scotch fir, which was cut down a few years ago, 

 and the surface thus very much altered. It then 

 occurred to me that near the village of Aboyne, 

 where decayed stumps and prostrate stems of fir 

 are plentiful, the Buxbaumia might probably be 

 found. Accordingly, in company with Mr. John 

 Roy, a very diligent muscologist, I went to the 

 place. We had searched but a short time when 

 Mr. Roy found a few specimens on a prostrate 

 stem. Further search yielded in all eleven speci- 

 mens, some of which were imperfect. On the 29th 

 of July I revisited the locality, and found on one 

 decaying stem of fir eleven seta?, some wifh and 

 some without fragments of capsules, and one per- 

 fect specimen, the largest of all as yet gathered 

 here. 



This very fine and rare species will doubtless be 

 met with in other places. At Aboyne it occurs on 

 rotten steins of fir, in moist spots shaded by the 

 common Brake Fern. G. Dickie, M.D. 



* It may be necessary to mention that Vol. II. of Hooker's 

 "British Florre " was the only authority accessible at the 

 time; in that work B. indusiata is given as a synonyme of 

 B. aphylla.— G. D. 



