HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



i57 



down the centre (see at b), but they did not in any 

 case detach themselves from their position after the 

 division took place. 



These observations which I have been able to make 

 under such favourable circumstances do not seem to 

 show in any way that the Acineta is a stage in the 

 life-history of any of the species of Vorticella, 

 Epistylis, &c, but that it is a distinct organism in 

 itself. Possibly further investigation may prove this 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRIMULAS. 



AN article in the Science-Gossip headed, 

 "Some Probabilities respecting Organic 

 Species," having caught my eye, I found on perusal 

 a remark concerning the probable derivation of the 

 primrose from the cowslip. As I could not feel sure 

 whether attention had been directed to the British 

 flora by Sir William Jackson Hooker (second 



Fig. 92. 



not to be the case. I trust some of your readers will 

 be able to throw some additional light upon the true 

 nature of this singular organism. 



I should mention that I used a § objective with 

 the B eyepieces, equal to 120 diameters, but the 

 figures are not drawn to scale j I thought it better to 

 enlarge them somewhat. 



W. G. Cocks. 



[We are sorry that, owing to pressure of long- 

 standing articles, we could not insert Mr. Cocks's 

 important communication sooner. — Ed. S.-G.] 



Fig. 93- 



edition, page 105) ; I beg to enclose rcsumi of his 

 scientific and doubtlessly well-weighed diagnosis of 

 three of our native primulas. 



According to this popular author, the common 

 primrose {P. vulgaris) has its leaves toothed, wrinkled, 

 with the scape single-flowered and the limb of the 

 corolla flat. It is abundant in woods, hedge-banks, 

 and pastures, flowering in April and May, but on 

 the mountains of Scotland as late as June. If its 

 scapes are traced to their very base, they will be 

 found to spring from one common point and to con- 

 stitute a sessile umbel. The oxlip primrose (P. elatior} 



