46 



HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSSIF. 



an the main correct, but do not seem to be entirely 

 so. For instance, erythrophyll, the red colouring- 

 matter of the cells of plants, is certainly not 

 ■** derived from chlorophyll by the chemical forces of 

 the plant." On the other hand, xanthophyll (phyl- 

 loxanthin) undoubtedly is so derived, and it is the 

 only colouring pigment of leaves at all events that 

 is so related to chlorophyll or directly connected 

 therewith.. The statement, therefore, that "the 

 chlorophyll of the green flower or fruit is changed 

 into a special colouring-matter such as anthoxanthin, 

 etc.," can hardly be borne out. So far as the caves 

 are concerned, the state of affairs seems to be this. 

 During the whole life of the leaf, or at least as soon 

 as the normal amount of chlorophyll has been 

 formed therein, a small quantity is perpetually being 

 ■changed (oxidised) to xanthophyll. This quantity is 

 ■so small, or rather I think its colouring power is so 

 comparatively feeble, that it is, as stated in the 

 extract, "more or less comparatively covered up by 

 the presence of chlorophyll," i.e., by the blue-green 

 ■constituent thereof. When the life of the leaf is 

 destroyed by frost or drought, the chlorophyll 

 is rapidly changed to xanthophyll, and this latter 

 •constitutes the first of the series of autumnal 

 tints. It very quickly, however, gives way to the 

 ochre, russet, and orange-brown, which are the 

 distinctive features of the autumnal woods, until 

 idtimately the dark, muddy, unpleasant shades of 

 final dissolution close the scene. The chlorophyll 

 and its derivative xanthophyll seem to be completely 

 destroyed or bleached, and thereupon the russet or 

 brown colours depending on totally different 

 principles came up into a supremacy which is more 

 or less vigorous and durable, according to the 

 variations of the season. As Sachs has it, "the 

 distinctive yellow autumn coloration of leaves 

 -depends on the yellow coloration of the disorganised 

 chlorophyll bodies : the autumnal brown coloration 

 of the cell-walls, chiefly, however, of the cell- 

 contents." I need hardly add that my personal 

 researches amply corroborate these observations of 

 the great German botanist. What then, it may be 

 asked, is the cause of erythrophyll, the exquisite red 

 colouring matter of the American maple leaf in the 

 fall ? The chemical cause is the oxidation or 

 hydration of the gallotannic or gallic acid, which is 

 abundant in the autumn ; and the special vividness 

 of the colour in this particular case is due to the 

 comparative delicacy and flaccidity of the tissues 

 whereby the oxidizing agencies of the air, etc., can 

 operate freely and potently. Some American 

 correspondent will doubtless correct me if I be 

 wrong ; but judging from some dried maple leaves 

 that I possess I consider that, as compared with our 

 own sycamore, their texture and consistency are con- 

 siderably more herbaceous, i.e., more thin and 

 flaccid. The following facts seem also to support 

 the main conclusion. A small thin bright red 



sycamore leaf growing on a young shoot in mid- 

 summer was analysed, and found to contain much 

 gallic acid and a little chlorophyll (about as much as 

 an early red copper beech leaf contains), and sugar. 

 The other leaves of the same shoot were completely 

 green, but were much larger and stouter. I once 

 found an autumn sycamore leaf whose vivid tints 

 seemed to vie with those of the Transatlantic forest. 

 I picked it up : it was thin, delicate, and breaking to 

 shreds. On boiling the redder portions in dilute 

 alcohol the pigment dissolved leaving them almost 

 quite colourless ; and the solution gave the reactions 

 of erythrophyll, acetic acid, and a little gum, and 

 unchanged gallic acid. — P. Q. Keegaii. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Nest of Bombus Lapidaris. — In September 

 last, I found, in a small enclosure adjoining my 

 garden, a nest of Boinbiis lapidaris, and as my 

 little girl played on this ground, I removed it. The 

 nest was situated at teast twelve feet from the wall 

 in a corner formed by the two walls meeting. The 

 turf was smooth all round for more than six feet. 

 In one direction, in the corner, was a small heap of 

 stones covered with moss and nettles. A careful 

 inspection — no hole nor appearance of one, except at 

 the nest, which was of proper size. The nest was 

 found about seven inches deep, and one foot from 

 entrance. After carefully clearing the earth and 

 stones all round, I put my fingers under the nest so 

 as not to disturb the contents. Judge my surprise, 

 when the nest was safely placed on a board, to see 

 the skull of a stoat sticking out on one side. I found 

 the nest was built on a dead stoat, the body being 

 curled around with head raised in a comfortable 

 manner. The fur was worked into the covering of 

 the nest. Do these bees take advantage of dead 

 animals for the sake of the fur? Or is there any 

 other such case on record? — C. IF. P 



Seaweeds. — In reply to F. II. B.'squery(p. 262), 

 I am sorry to say that I have not yet sufficient 

 experience to answer his questions ; but a lady- 

 collector, who spends a great deal of time at Swanage, 

 told me that she found four species of Delesseria 

 there, and several other imcommon seaweeds, of 

 which I have now forgotten the names. — A. H. B. 



Vegetable Teratology.— In Science-Gossip 

 for November, Dr. J. E. Taylor gives an account of 

 strange monstrosities in plants. The. case of the 

 " Arum" Lily of the Nile has come under my own 

 notice also, and the case in which the sepals of 

 fuchsia have reverted to the leaf condition. I once 

 found on cutting open an orange what appeared to 

 be a fungus growing in the centre, which I dried and 

 kept. — Rev. S. A. Brcnari, 



Curiosities in Eggs. — In accordance with a 

 wish expressed by Mr. J. P. Nunn, in the April 

 number of Science-Gossip, that collectors would 

 chronicle any curiosities in eggs with which they 

 may meet, I have here written an account of such as 

 have come under my notice. One of the most 

 curious freaks in eggs which I have ever observed is a 

 ca^e which came under my notice in the spring of the 

 year 1 890. On May the I2th, I was shown two eggs, 

 with somewhat the appearance of robin's, though 



