HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



141 



stices of the wrinkles light and the wrinkles darker, 

 would seem to approach var. nigrescens, but it is 

 probably distinct enough for a separate name. I 

 fancy that the young of var. succinea are often alluded 

 to in local lists as " Arion plainis." — T. D. A. 

 Cockerel/. 



BOTANY. 



Protoplasmic Continuity. — This subject has 

 been extended by Mr. Thomas Hick, B.A., B.Sc, 

 into the Fucaceae, and in a paper contributed to the 

 "Journal of Botany," and published in separate form, 

 he gives an account of his researches. He thinks 

 that they conclusively establish the fact of a continuity 

 of protoplasm through the cell walls in Fucacese, 

 though of a different type from that described in 

 many of the Florideoe. His paper is accompanied by 

 a plate, showing figures of Ascophyllum nodosum. 



Twin Primroses. — When gathering primroses a 

 few days ago, on a hedge-bank in North Wales, I 

 found a ' ' twin " primrose — two flowers growing on 

 one calyx — one of the flowers having six petals, the 

 other five. In another place, a double primrose 

 was found, which had nine petals, six on the outside 

 and three in the centre. These flowers were carefully 

 kept as good specimens of uncommon primroses, 

 more remarkable perhaps than those mentioned in 

 Science-Gossip for January and March. Several 

 very fine single primroses with six petals were 

 found. — M. E. Thomson. 



Orchids of the Rhone Valley. — In the last 

 fortnight of April we have found the mountain slopes 

 of the Rhone valley an admirable locality for 

 orchidaceous plants. Evidently the character of the 

 rock is congenial to the orchid nature, and nearly 

 ail the species here named were gathered from 

 sloping pastures or woodlands on Lias Limestone. 

 We must notice even the familiar Orchis mascida 

 and Orchis morio, for beauty of the spike and 

 strange variety in tint, and Orchis metadata for hand- 

 some spotted leaves. Orchis lalifolia was abundant 

 in the marshes, but not so fine as we have seen in the 

 Isle of Wight. Orchis ustulata (dwarf brown wing) 

 studded the meadows, interspersed with Ophrys 

 arachnites (late spider), and Aceras anthropophora 

 (green man). Ophrys mitscifera was appearing here 

 and there in woods with Ncottia nidus-avis (bird's 

 nest) and the Twayblade. Habenaria bifolia (butter- 

 fly) was in bud only, in the woods ; Habenaria 

 viridis (frog) being fully expanded. Orchis militaris 

 we found fairly common in meadow lands. The 

 previous year's [spike of Orchis hircina (lizard) we 

 noted, a prize seen for the first time ; the prolonged 

 though shrivelled life being quite sufficient to identify 

 the plant ; Ophrys aranifera (spider), was still in bud 

 in the woods, apparently later in flowering in this 



locality than O. arachnites. In the less accessible 

 parts of a mountain gorge Cypripedium calceolus 

 (lady's slipper) was putting forth strong shoots to 

 flower later in spring. A plant, however, from the 

 same locality was out before May in a garden at 

 Montreux. Orchis sambricina (the elder scented 

 orchis) was scattered in profusion over the fields of 

 the Sal van road, with Orchis rubra (=papilionacea) 

 a splendid crimson flower. — C. Parkinson, F.G.S. 



GEOLOGY, &c. 



Geologists' Association. — At Easteralarge party 

 of the members of this Association visited Canterbury, 

 Reculvers, and Richborough, under the direction of 

 Mr. G. Dowker, F.C.S., and Mr. W. Whitaker, F.C.S., 

 of the Geological Survey. Some of the members 

 went down on Saturday and spent the day over the 

 Tertiary country west of Canterbury. On Monday 

 a visit was paid to Heme Bay and Reculvers, to 

 examine the newer Tertiary beds of the cliff-section. 

 The divisions between the Oldhaven, Woolwich and 

 Thanet beds are less clearly marked here than near 

 London, and hence differences of opinion exist as to 

 the classification of the beds. These points were 

 fully discussed on the spot. On Tuesday the party 

 visited Pegwell Bay, where the lowest Thanet beds 

 and their junction with the chalk were seen ; then 

 walked along the shore to Sandwich, crossing the 

 Stour to Richborough on the way. Great changes in 

 the coast-line have taken place, both here and at 

 Reculvers since Roman times. These were explained 

 by the directors. A pleasant surprise awaited the 

 members in finding in the waiter of the Fleur-de-lis 

 Hotel (Mr. T. B. Rosseter, F.R.M.S.) an excellent 

 naturalist and original worker with the microscope. 

 His instruments and preparations were placed at the 

 disposal of the party during the evenings. 



New Species of Mammals from Florida. — 

 The Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia contain an account of two teeth from 

 Florida, one of a supposed new species of Rhinoceros 

 (R.proterus), and the otherof a species of Hippotherium 

 (Hipparion), the three-toed genus supposed to be the 

 progenitor of our present horses, and first known in 

 the European form of H. gracile. The latter tooth is 

 an upper molar, and is said to indicate a small species 

 little more than half the size of the domestic horse, or 

 of H. gracile. To the new species thus indicated the 

 name of Hippotherium ingenuum has been given. 



Changes of Level in the South of England. 

 — In the " Geological Magazine " for April, Mr. J. S. 

 Gardner summarises these changes of level, during 

 recent times, pointing out that there are indications 

 of a rise having taken place at the Swale at Sheppey, 

 the Reculvers, the coast off Richborough and off 

 Hythe, the Dungeness Shingles, the Pevensey flats, 



