Feb. 1, 186S.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



35 



slave-trade has only been prohibited some forty 

 years), what changes may we not expect in a few 

 centuries ? The quotation from M. Quatrefuges 

 sufficiently answers the objection derivable from 

 those Negro monstrosities, the " Albiuoes." I did 

 not say that the Esquimaux were white, and yet 

 that their dark complexion could be traced to a 

 southern origin. My words clearly implied— Even 

 if they are proved to be dark in colour, then we are 

 at liberty to conclude that their hue arises from 

 a southern origin. Lastly, Mr. Milton winds up 

 by saying that I congratulate myself upon having 

 "demolished" him. As I nowhere hint such a 

 thing,] I presume that Mr. Milton is giving us the 

 benefit of his personal feeling in the matter, 

 and to this, of course, I do not offer the slightest 

 objection. On concluding a discussion which I 

 never expected to be so prolonged, or to occasion 

 such differences of opinion, I trust the readers of 

 Science-Gossip will give me credit for having at 

 heart the interests of scientific truth ; and I await 

 with confidence their verdict upon the facts which 

 I have endeavoured to place before them. 



E. A. A. 



THE OXLIP. 



IN Number 11 of the Phytologist , published in 

 April, 1812, is a note giving an account of the 

 conditions under which it had occurred to me to 

 find the plant usually called " the Oxlip," and from 

 those conditions inferring that the plant in question 

 should be considered as a hybrid between Primula 

 veris and Primula vulgaris. Since the date of that 

 communication the soundness of the views there 

 expressed has received much confirmation. 



This note elicited, from various botanists, much 

 information in the following numbers (12 and 13, 

 to which your readers are referred) of the same 

 journal, and enough was obtained to have satisfied 

 most minds respecting these plants. 



Seeing, however, that the subject is again opened 

 up in your publication, I will endeavour to show 

 how the confusion has arisen, and, if possible, how 

 it is, in future, to be avoided. 



The whole difficulty appears to me to be caused 

 by a confusion having taken place as to what plant 

 was intended to be designated by the popular name 

 of "Oxlip." If, therefore, we can determine this 

 we shall at the same time get rid of much of the 

 confusion that exists. 



Of the three allied species of the genus Primula, 

 two, Primula veris and Primula vulgaris, var. acaulis, 

 are common and well-known plants, and have 

 respectively received the popular names of Cowslip, 

 or Paigle, and Primrose. Between these two 

 there is a third form, commonly known and generally, 

 though not abundantly, distributed through the 

 country. This would seem to be a hybrid between 



them, partaking more or less of the character of 

 each parent. This form has been recognized by 

 botanists under the name of Primula vulgaris, var. 

 caulescens, and it is to this plant that the name of 

 Oxlip properly belongs; having acquired such a 

 name probably in allusion to its larger growth than 

 the Cowslip. This is a plant sufficiently common 

 to have had a popular name bestowed on it. 



In a comparatively confined district, lying on the 

 borders of Essex and Cambridgeshire, and not else- 

 where, in England, as I am aware of, there occurs a 

 third species, the Primula elatior of Jacquin, a plant 

 which may be considered to be popularly unknown. 

 However, to this plant the English name of Oxlip is 

 given in English Botany, and by Hooker. Of this 

 the figure (513) in English Botany, published in 179S, 

 is a good and faithful representation. This is most 

 undoubtedly a distinct species, and cannot in any way 

 be considered as a hybrid. The locality from whence 

 I have obtained a supply of this plant is a wood 

 between Stanstead and Elsenham, of which I have 

 the following note : " that it grows on a loamy 

 gravel on chalk ; not a primrose or cowslip near." 



To this plant, another English name than that of 

 Oxlip must be given to avoid the confusion that 

 exists. That given, as a second name, in English 

 Botany, of " Greater Cowslip," might be suggested; 

 restricting the name Oxlip to the caulescent or 

 hybrid variety of Primula vulgaris. 



I forward a specimen of the true Primula elatior, 

 Jacq., for your inspection and use, from the above- 

 mentioned locality. H. 



METAMORPHOSES OE INSECTS. 



A LARGE and rather imposing work has just 

 been published on this subject in Paris. It 

 is entitled "Metamorphoses, mceurs, et instincts 

 des Insectes (Insectes, Myriapodes, Arachnides, 

 crustaces) par Emile Blanchard, niembre de 

 l'institut, Professeur au Museum d'histoire 

 naturelle." The volume consists of 716 pages of im- 

 perial Svo., and is illustrated by 200 figures inter- 

 calated with the text of 10 page plates, of which we 

 are enabled to give two on the following pages as 

 examples. The publisher of this work is Germer 

 Balliere, and its price is thirty francs. 



We cannot, within the space at our disposal, give 

 a synopsis of the contents of this volume, nor will 

 the impressions of the plates equal those of the 

 original which are separately printed on plate paper, 

 but we can commend the work to all who are in- 

 terested in insects as a good digest of the subject. 

 Great expense has been incurred to produce the 

 illustrations, which, in the majority of instances, 

 are excellent, and the Professor of the Museum of 

 Natural History is just the individual whom we 

 should expect would accomplish his work well. 



Our first plate (fig. 35) illustrates the history of 



