100 



HARDWICKE'S S C IE N CE-GOSSIP. 



[May 1, 1870. 



similarly endowed: one or two of the dung-flies; 

 the Stomoxys calcitrans, for example. It may be 

 needful to say that in order to exhibit the chignon 

 the fly must be squeezed, when the excrescence will 

 be seen : in some cases a very decided nip is required 

 before it makes its appearance ; but it is there, and 

 may be forced out. Acetic acid is peculiarly favour- 

 able in causing the extrusion of this bladder-like 

 substance. 1 thought at one time that this excres- 

 cence might be connected with sex, but find both 

 males and females have it. I ought to mention that 

 on this fly there are occasionally to be found para- 

 sites ; not the ordinary form, but one unlike any I 

 have seen before. The length ^ of an inch, 

 breadth t^ ; no antennae ; six legs, with hooks at the 

 end, five joints to each leg ; the head having the 

 power to be extruded and retracted ; the palpi fur- 

 nished with recurved hooks, the palpi rather longer 

 than the mandibles. There is a very distinct line or 

 tube running from the oesophagus (I presume) to the 

 lower part of the abdomen, where it terminates as 

 the anal opening probably. Brandling from the 

 upper part of this tube are two others (one on each 

 side) which end in openings, as I conceive, respira- 

 tory ducts. The colour of the creature is a delicate 

 lilac. Altogether an interesting object, and one 

 that any microscopist would like to make acquaint- 

 ance with. 



I forward drawings of both fly and parasite, which 

 may assist in identification. 



There is another parasite on some of these flies, 

 but of an ordinary kind. 



1 hope some of your readers may be induced to 

 pay a little attention to the subject which I have 

 thus imperfectly introduced ; if such is the result, I 

 shall be repaid. 



Hull. W. Hanwell. 



[I am not quite certain whether the fly is Actora 

 astivum or Ccelopa friglda. I am inclined to think 

 it is the former, which is often settled on the sand 

 or mud by the seashore. Coclopafrigida swarms in 

 seaweed on the shingle, and is not difficult to catch. 

 If Mr. Hanwell would forward a specimen, it would 

 be easy to ascertain the name of the species. I 

 may mention that the name of the dung-fly is Sca- 

 tophaga stercbraria, not Stomoxys calcitrans. 



F. Walkeb. 



Pkdiula famnosa.— Mr. Lees having replied 

 to a query of mine (p. 91) respecting one Ambleside 

 plant, can perhaps tell me the time of flowering of 

 another in the same neighbourhood — viz., P.fari- 

 nosa. After long search in September last, I found 

 four or five plants just out in flower on different 

 days, and a great number of others (a hundred or 

 more) apparently long over-blown. "Were these 

 last plants that had flowered the same season, or in 

 the previous year (1868) ?— R. T., M.A. 



THE SEA BEET. 



{Beta maritima.) 



THE Sea Beet affects a warm and humid atmo- 

 sphere and a saline soil : these it finds on the 

 shores of the sea and of tidal rivers ; and if growing 

 on a bed of clay capped with gravel or beach, there 

 it is at home. Such a locality is found at Ventnor 

 on the gault, and again at Shoreham on the London 

 clay, a narrow strip of which extends along the 

 coast almost to the boundary of the stately watering- 

 place in that immediate neighbourhood. There the 

 wild Beet may be seen of all sizes and ages, from the 

 seedling to the well-established cushion of verdure 

 which must have weathered many a season. This 

 wild tract is little visited, and in winter, especially 

 at its western extremity, is almost naked and un- 

 coloured ; but in the early summer all is changed : 

 the ground glows with unnumbered blossoms of the 

 Purple Thrift ; the Yellow Stonecrop spangles the 

 grass ; the Viper's Bugloss uncoils its gorgeous 

 spikes, well contrasting with the yellow flowers and 

 glaucous foliage of the Horned Poppy; the Sea 

 Catchfly clusters in purest white ; the Sea Milkwort 

 the Bird's-foot Trefoil, the Field Madder, the Daisy, 

 and other flowering plants, supplement the scanty 

 turf, and with the purple-stained leaves of the Beet 

 make up a wild garden-plot of charming variety and 

 interest. 



Can this weed of our shores be the original of the 

 cultivated Beet ? It is a point which has often been 

 considered. The authorities are generally dubious, 

 or answer in the negative. Having, however, col- 

 lected a few facts bearing on it, I beg leave to advance 

 them, and invite the attention and help of contribu- 

 tors to the cleariug up this difficult subject. 



The Sea Beet is perennial, the cultivated {Beta 

 vulgaris) biennial. The common Scurvy-grass, 

 which is perennial in a wild state, takes a biennial 

 habit under cultivation; and this may also be the 

 case with the Beet. The conditions of both are very 

 similar: other points of difference noted by Dr. With- 

 ering, De Candolle, and Sir James Smith, quoted by 

 Sir William Hooker without comment, are that the 

 flowers of B. maritima are one or two together, in- 

 stead of three or four ; that the flower-stem is decum- 

 bent at the base, instead of upright ; and that the 

 calyx is untoothed ; but, according to Mr. Wilson's 

 observation, quoted byHookcrinthe "British Flora," 

 and which I can confirm, the flowers of the Sea 

 Beet are sometimes three together. The stem of 

 the common Beet is often decumbent, and that of the 

 Sea Beet sometimes upright. After a careful inspec- 

 tion of the calyces of both, I can find no difference 

 whatever. So much for the alleged points of differ- 

 ence. The resemblances arc many and remarkable. 

 The forms, colours, and qualities of the roots, stems, 

 and leaves ; the seasons of flowering ; the shape, 



