HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



*53 



desolate mountain tarn. They are very early breeders, 

 and the process is attended with much daring and 

 confidence. The human presence deters or affrights 

 them not. The birds fly to and fro with great energy 

 and assiduity, bearing eels, &c, to the young brood. 

 When alighting they carefully place their legs on the 

 branch, then flap their wings, and so-wise settle down 

 to business. When a strong wind blows with violence 

 over the forest there is often seen a ludicrous effort on 

 the part of the devoted bird to maintain its equilibrium. 

 The wings are alternately raised this way and that 

 way, but the bird clings on perversely, notwithstand- 

 ing the apparent discomfort of its position. 



The Heron is described as of a "melancholy 

 deportment, as a silent and patient creature," &c, 

 and unquestionably his aspect when posted at low- 

 water mark during the day-time amply substantiates 

 this account. He certainly lives in good fellowship 

 with the various gulls, curlews, dunlins, &c, which 

 frequent the same haunts with him. Frequently, even 

 before or after the breeding period, some fifty or sixty 

 have been observed associating in agreeable com- 

 panionship. More commonly, as we can attest, they 

 lead a solitary life, even when comparatively young 

 and immature. Save the forcible stab of the bayonet- 

 like bill, and the bill grasp, which is exceedingly 

 powerful, the creature possesses no other instruments 

 of hostile offence ; the claws are always much worn 

 and blunted. In the instance of a tame bird which 

 came under my notice it was seen that he was very 

 gentle and caressing towards his master and those 

 whom he knew, but he attacked strangers with great 

 fierceness. Nevertheless, and in a general way, we 

 by no means opine that this system of attacking 

 strangers, pursued by dogs and other animals, argues 

 an excessive warmth of attachment to their masters 

 or to anything else. Now and then the heron is 

 vigorously attacked by a party of irate crows, but on 

 such occasions he trusts to flight, and executes a 

 somersault or two rather than resort to energetic 

 repellent or defensive measures. 



(To be continued.) 



BOTANICAL WORK FOR JULY. 



PERHAPS the following notes may prove useful 

 to earnest botanical students : — 



Asperula odorata : minima. A very small form of 

 the woodruff is found in woods, Westmoreland, 

 flowering the early part of this month. It is about 

 two inches high, but with the flowers of the^ordinary 

 size, and petals tinged with pink. Would our readers 

 kindly look up this plant in other districts ? 



Ulmus glandulosa (Lind.). This form, or probably 

 species, of the common elm, is pointed out in Flora 

 of Shropshire. It is recognised by the leaves being 

 glandular beneath, especially along the veins ; they 



have a sweet odour, not unlike the sweet briar, which 

 is very conspicuous when dried. 



Poa annua : villosa (Leight). Pales clothed with 

 white hairs, a very distinct variety, much larger than 

 the type found in cornfields. 



Pimpinella Saxifraga (L.). a. Poterifolia (L.), 

 similar to poterium. 



Pimpinella Saxifraga (L.). /3. Intermedia ; leaflets 

 inciso-serrate. 



Pimpinella Saxifraga (L.). y. dissecta ; leaflets 

 cut, or laciniate. 



The above are all met with in the Midland counties. 

 Would our botanical readers carefully compare the 

 specimens they meet with ? — they are not well known. 



Calhcna hirsuta. Leaves densely hairy. 



Calluua alba. Leaves hairy on veins ; flowers 

 white. There are many intermediate forms of the 

 common ling in flower this month — we can find about 

 ten in our district. When first we commenced col- 

 lecting, each of these received an herbarium sheet — 

 this tends to make any British collection unique as 

 well as deeply interesting. 



Beiu la pendula. Weeping birch. Is this variety 

 ever seen outside the shrubbery ? A question worth 

 working out. 



Ornithopus depauperatus (Leight.). A small variety, 

 with flowers double the size of the type ; petals often 

 pure white. 



Ballota alba. This is a most striking form of the 

 plant. In this state it loses the unpleasant charac- 

 teristic odour. Why, or what is the cause for this ? 



Bidens minima (Huds.). Another dwarf species 

 found in southern counties. We believe this to be 

 a very distinct species, and not a mere variety. 



Lotus major : glabriuscula. Whole plant ; smooth. 



Littorella liirsuta (Leight.). Leaves hairy ; a more 

 spreading plant than the lacustris (L.) 



Symphytum patens (Sibth.). This plant, during the 

 past few years, has been entirely overlooked ; until 

 last year a correspondent of Science-Gossip sent a 

 specimen as something novel. It must not, however, 

 be confounded with the S. officinale. When the 

 carpels of the latter are beginning to ripen the petals 

 assume a dull reddish appearance, whilstthe tiuepatens 

 has pale pink petals, and widely-spreading calyx 

 teeth ; whole plant covered with rough pubescence. 



Arrhenatheritm bulbosum (Lind.). It is worthy of 

 inquiry — does this variety, described by Lindley 

 many years since, simply assume the bulbous habit 

 only when growing in stiff clay or rich marly soils ? 

 Our experience is but limited, though we are tempted 

 to think it is so. 



Campanula rolundifolia (L.). The white-flowered 

 plant, also the one with single-flowered stem, are 

 not accidents. On this occasion we notice them to 

 incite others to their study as worthy objects. The 

 only plan is to compare them carefully through a 

 perfect series. Both in leaves, stems, and flowers, 

 they widely differ. Has a pink form ever been found 



