268 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



proceeded towards Yalding. On the way we found 

 some wonderfully fine specimens of Sonchus palustris, 

 Scrophularia nodosa and S. aquatica. In ponds, 

 some distance from the banks, we gathered flowers of 

 Iris Pseudacorus and the beautiful and interesting 

 Nuphar hdea (yellow water-lily), also fine specimens 

 of CEnanthe Phcllandriitm. In the same ponds we 

 saw Sagittaria sagittifolia, Alisma plant ago, and 

 other interesting plants. At Yalding we partook of 

 a light tea, then walked back to v West Farleigh, 

 crossed the bridge to Wateringbury, thence across 

 Harming Heath to Aylesford, when we took train 

 home. I should have mentioned that along all the 

 railway cuttings, and in every craggy place, Ccntran- 

 thus ruber, the red valerian, gladdened the eye with its 

 richly-coloured blooms. This plant seems now to 

 have become fully naturalised in the south, and the 

 railway cuttings seem its favourite habitats. Among 

 other plants observed or gathered I may enumerate 

 Lytnrum Salicaria, Galium cruciatum, Spinea Ul- 

 maria, Veronica Beccabunga, Lycopsis arvensis, Lychnis 

 dioua, L. Flos-cuculi and L. vespertina, Tragopogon 

 minor;. Epilobium hirsutum, Lathyrus pratcnsis, 

 Stellaria graminea, Apargia hispida, Lotus corniculatus, 

 Viburnum Opulus, Sium latifolium, Armoracia offici- 

 nalis, Rhinanthus cnsta-galli, and several species of 

 Potamogeton. Although an east wind was blowing 

 and the early part of the day looked somewhat gloomy 

 and forbidding, yet it cleared up about 10.30, and the 

 rest of the day was all that could be desired for a day's 

 outing. I can truly say that I have rarely returned 

 from a day's excursion with a better filled vasculum, 

 and my friend's was equally well filled. The day was 

 thoroughly enjoyed and we are looking forward to a 

 similar day, at an early date, on the Thames and 

 Medway marshes, when I have no doubt we shall 

 return with equally good collections, but of a totally 

 different kind. 



Rochester. JOHN HEPWORTH. 



THE DELUGE OF ARGYLL. * 



"\^7"HAT, the Deluge once more? Yes, zounds, 



V V you may smile, 



'Tis the Flood, not of Noah, but that of Argyll, 

 Not the same, but in wonders quite equalling that 

 Which stranded the Ark on Mount Ararat ; 

 For its waters arose from a forty days' rain, 

 While Argyll's occurred from a " burst " in the main. 

 The great water main which it won't do to snub, 

 —Not the main supplying the wants of the tub !— 

 That breaking its bounds with tumultuous roar, 

 Of plain and of mountain made one common shore, 

 O'erwhelming all creatures that breathe with its force, 

 The Rhinoceros, Mammoth, the Elk and the Horse, 

 And among funny things for His Grace to unravel, 

 Landing on Tryfan the famed Tryfan gravel. 



a * ',', Ge < ? log >'^ a , nd the Deluge." A Lecture by the Duke of 

 Argyll. See Glasgow Herald," Saturday, October 13th, 1883. 



The shells of the ocean it swept up, until 

 It lodged them pell-mell 'mong the stones of the Till 

 And left that deposit— 'tis as clear as the day, 

 As a margin of muck — round the land as it lay. 

 Then rushing o'er Europe as its motion grew less, 

 Strained out the formation of loamy Loess, 

 Filled with snail shells and twigs, and spoils of the land, 

 For the flood became fresh as it left its old strand. 

 And the bones of the Beaver, the Mus and the Fox, 

 Took the place of the boulders and striated blocks ; 

 But description in detail this Deluge would " spile," 

 So, reader, refer to the words of Argyll. 

 Where Baron Richthofen's declared to be musty, 

 And Loess is found to be " not quite so dusty." 

 But the strangest of facts— we state it as curious, 

 All floods but Argyll's are fictitious and spurious, 

 Poor base imitations, or floods that " won't wash," 

 Depositing fossil in rocks, and such bosh. 

 For the Deluge was one that the earth only purged, 

 Washing dirt from the land so deeply submerged, 

 Superficial and sudden in action and temp'rary, 

 Behaving for floods in a way most exemplary. 

 So says the great Duke, its ingenious inventor 

 —No hen with her chickens could cackle contenter — 

 'Tis true, men of science the Deluge discarded, 

 But then they let facts pass away unregarded. 

 In language thought vulgar certain facts they " let slide," 

 For a Duke from the Highlands alone to provide. 

 Hutton, Lyell, and Darwin, the whole of the throng, 

 Are sadly at sea on the subject, and wrong 

 As in everything else that relates to the race 

 Of man and his tools, his growth and his place, 

 They grovel and twist, misconceive and debase. 

 For the tools may be rude yet the user polite, 

 Though the skin may be dark, in the mind may be light. 

 To call such men savage really makes the blood ' ' bile, " 

 Of the lamblike descendant of " Grim " Earl Argyll. 

 Yet such "arrant nonsense " is just now the fashion, 

 Yes ! these are the words of Argyll in a passion. 

 Which proves if a savage may be quite polite, 

 A Duke in rude language can also delight. 

 This is a digression — the tongue of Argyll 

 Proves fluent for mischief and pungent in style, 

 His new patent flood is another "great bore," 

 For ourselves we prefer much the old one of Noah. 

 And stick, as in childhood, to forty days' rain, 

 Over which we have wondered and wondered again. 

 A true " pluvial period " ante-dating A. Tylor, 

 And long before " Ages of Ice," or what's viler, 

 The flood of small talk on the " wherefore and why,' 

 That refuses to let the most foolish thoughts die. 

 Rather keeps them alive with a science of muddle, 

 Or assertions dogmatic, and old women's twaddle. 

 " Cock-sure," in all things the truth to explain, 

 By making that difficult which is perfectly plain, 

 In ways like the Heathen Chinee " that are vain." 

 In such " mixed " speculations that miss by the mile, 

 The greatest by far is the Duke of Argyll. 



A. Conifer. 



