Aurora Borealis at High Wycombe. 



23 



motive power has not ceased to the apparatus attached to the 

 seeds when this has twisted itself 

 into this balloon shape; the slight- 

 est hygrometric change pro- 

 duces motion, either backwards or 

 forwards, in the awn ; and the con- 

 stant tendency of this motion is 

 to screw the seed into the ground. 

 Such is the shape and great sen- 

 sibility of the awns, that they 

 may be readily applied to form 

 most delicate differential hygro- 

 meters, for which purpose I have 

 used them. 



The arrangement of the seeds 

 of the Pelargonium peltatum is 

 almost identical with the above, 

 but less marked. 



The extreme beauty of the 

 contrivance, thus attempted to be 

 described, can hardly be appre- 

 ciated without examination of the 

 plant itself; for which object, as well as for its appearance 

 as a border plant [and the high musky odour of its herbage], 

 it is worthy of cultivation. 



It seems to me that no part of the organisation of plants is 

 so well worthy of attentive examination as the contrivances 

 for effecting the dispersion of the seeds: these in all cases 

 show the benevolent provisions of the Creator, that vegetable 

 food may be spread abroad, and increase, and that the earth 

 may be full. Each solitary contrivance of dispersion strikes 

 the mind as above human invention, and as defying human 

 imitation ; but when we wander from one to another, and see 

 their almost infinite variety, admiration of individual con- 

 trivance is lost in the plenitude, the apparent wantonness of 

 immeasurable design, every where different, and every where 

 perfect. 



Capel Street, Dublin. 



Art. VII. Particulars on Appearances of Instances of Aurora 

 Borealis at High Wycombe, Bucks, on Nov. 18-19. 1835, 

 Jan. 7. 1831, Sept. 9. 1835, and Sept. 13. 1835. By James G. 

 Tatem, Esq. 



The aurora borealis which was observed last night, Novem- 

 ber 18-19. 1835, was too splendid, and too extensively seen, 



c 4> 



