HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



20I 



for some time, and then, joining a community of 

 atoms no larger than themselves, were lost beyond 

 all identification. The vortex round the head of the 

 parent ceased. The animal slowly dissolved through- 

 out its entire length ; and, in a few seconds, became 

 one indistinguishable mass of inanimate matter. 

 Having fulfilled its mission, it ceased to exist, leaving 

 nothing but the integument, which retained its pristine 

 outline. John Davis. 



TERATOLOGY OF A CABBAGE-LEAF. 



A CORRESPONDENT has kindly forwarded to 

 us a specimen of cabbage-leaf, showing one 

 of the most peculiar malformations we have seen. 



Fig. 156. Malformation of Cabbage-leaf: two-thirds nat. size. 



The midrib of the leaf has become detached about 

 an inch from the base, and exists as a separate 

 stalk, exactly simulating an ordinary flower-stalk. 

 Meantime the true leaf only just shows in its vena- 

 tion the place where the midrib ought to be, whilst 

 the laminae of the leaf are abbreviated so that the 

 stalk extends nearly a couple of inches beyond the 



apex. At the summit of the stalk (or detached mid- 

 rib) the lamince have again grown, but the two 

 external edges have been fused together in growth, 

 so as to present the appearance of a gamosepalous 

 calyx. We have shown the specimen to several 

 botanists, who had not the slightest idea of its being 

 a malformed cabbage-leaf. The accompanying sketch 

 by Mr. J. W. Buck, B.Sc, is two-thirds the natural 

 size of the specimen. On page 113 of "Vegetable 

 Teratology," Dr. Masters figures and describes a 

 similar malformation in a lettuce-leaf, and mentions 

 the cabbage-leaf as occasionally liable to malforma- 

 tions of this kind. The fruit of the rose, he remarks, 

 is only the dilated end of the flower-stalk, in which 

 the true carpels become imbedded. "Between such 

 a case and that of a peltate leaf with a depressed 

 centre, such as often occurs to some extent in A T ehan- 

 bium, there is but little difference." These mal- 

 formations thus throw interesting sidelights, not only 

 on the origin of such pseudo-syncarpous fruits as the 

 rose, but also on the peculiar leaves of Sarracenia, 

 Cephalolns, Aristolochia, and others. 



HOW TO START A NATURAL HISTORY 

 SOCIETY. 



WE have repeatedly been applied to for in- 

 formation how one or two individuals fond 

 of natural science should proceed in starting or 

 founding a society for the furtherance of its study. 



We have had some experience in this matter, and 

 can honestly say we know of few organizations which 

 may be made so mutually helpful or so socially plea- 

 sant for such a small outlay of money. What Mrs. 

 Glass said of the hare is true of societies of this kind. 

 You must first catch one or two people interested in 

 some department of natural science. There are few 

 towns or districts in Great Britain now where there 

 does not reside some one who is a Fellow of one of 

 the learned societies, and who has so far won his 

 spurs. Such an one is generally willing to act as 

 president, and to throw the weight of his influence 

 into the scheme. The secretary should always be 

 selected on account of the greater interest he takes in 

 science, for we regard a good secretary as really 

 more useful to a society than a president. The 

 meetings of a young society should not be held too 

 often, or there will soon be a dearth of papers. 

 Once a month, in the winter, is quite often enough ; 

 and one paper only each night, the rest of the 

 evening being taken up with discussion. It is a good 

 practice to encourage members to bring something 

 at every meeting for exhibition — something which 

 strikes them as singular, and which they do not under- 

 stand. This practice causes members to look out for 

 objects, and develops the observing faculties. It 

 is also useful in raising discussions and oral descrip- 

 tions at meetings, and perhaps, eventually, in origi- 

 nating papers. 



