Oct. 1, 1869.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



ends: a conspicuous line crosses each angle; surface 

 of valve finely dotted. 



Poclosira? compressa (fig. 202). — A small form, 

 common in some gatherings, the frustules generally 

 occurring in pairs ; the valves are elliptic and in- 

 distinctly marked with scattered dots. 



The preceding species of Diatomacese only repre- 

 sent a very small number of the forms to be obtained 

 in or near the sea: various species of seaweed, 

 particularly the red weeds, will be often found 

 covered with Diatomacea:, the most frequent being 

 Grammatophora marina (fig. 203) and Grammatophora 

 serpentina (fig. 204), or more rarely with Rhabdonema 



(TY) 







9 ? 



Vjtl 



kJ 



Fig. 203. Grammatophora 

 marina, x 500. 



Fig. 204. Grammatophora 

 serpentina, x 500. 



arcuatum : on the southern coast the observer will 

 probably meet with Isthmia nervosa and enervis (fig. 

 205), Ampldtetras antediluviana, and the graceful 

 Licmophora flabellata. The bodies of the Noctilucae 



Fig, 205. Isthmia enervis, x 400 



are often rich storehouses of Diatomacea?, sometimes 

 consisting almost entirely of Rhizosolenia or Clueto- 

 ceras. The salt marshes and salt-water ditches will 

 also be found rich in Diatomaceae, such as Cam- 

 pylodiscus, Surirella, Pleurosigma, Triceratium, &c. ; 

 but space forbids even a list of species, much less a 

 description of them, a task I should shrink from, 

 and be tempted to exclaim with Spencer, — 



" O what an endless taske on hand have I, 

 To count the sea's abundant progenie. 

 Whose fruitful seed far passeth those in land, 

 And also those which wonne in the azure sky." 



" For though their numbers do much more surmount, 

 Yet all those same were there which erst I did recount." 



Fairie Queene, canto XII. 



Norwich. 



E. KlTTON. 



THE WOOLHOPE CLUB. 



IT is only a few instances that can be recorded, of 

 the published transactions of a local Natural 

 History Society being worth more than the paper 

 they are printed upon, except to the few notabilities 

 who figure in them, and. of course highly appre- 

 ciate the glorification. The annual volume of the 

 Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Eield. 

 Club for 1867 and again for 1868 partake of the ex- 

 ceptional character. They are highly creditable to 

 the club, and of considerable interest to naturalists 

 outside the club ; in fact, they promise to form a 

 series of volumes, without which, like those of the 

 Tyneside and Berwickshire clubs, no naturalist's 

 library would be complete. 



These Transactions do not profess to attain the 

 high technical character of some ; but although 

 more popular, they are sound, and not mere wash- 

 ings of slip-slop science. We note with pleasure 

 the general tone of the communications, and their 

 scientific accuracy. The photographs of remarkable 

 trees of Herefordshire, the fossils of Herefordshire, 

 the coloured lithographs of the fungi of Hereford- 

 shire, are not only excellent in themselves, but they 

 are more excellent as indications that the Woolhope 

 club appreciates the true mission of local clubs, to 

 search out and illustrate the natural history of the 

 county, or part of the county, in which they may be 

 located. 



We imagine that we read this volume with far 

 greater interest, as affording reliable information 

 concerning one county than if it contained learned 

 monographs, communications on the races of 

 Northern China, or notes of a voyage to the 

 Hebrides. 



This volume is profusely illustrated, but we can- 

 not discover that it is on sale, or if so, at what 

 price, since it would afford cause for regret if those 

 not privileged to become members should also miss 

 the privilege of possessing the Transactions. 



