Mr. Ch. C. Babington on Dryas octopetala. 181 



This is a question affecting entomology, and very probably 

 among the numerous readers of this work, or the more sci- 

 entific contributors to it, we may be favoured in a future 

 number with a better solution of the matter in question than 

 the foregoing. 



The animals under notice in both experiments, when first 

 taken out of the ground, were quite exposed to the open air ; 

 in the first instance the toad was very improperly placed in 

 the sun for the space of three days in a southern aspect, as was 

 before observed, a situation never chosen by these reptiles 

 during the warm season. 



In future experiments of this kind, perhaps if atmospheric 

 air were to be admitted to the animals under the above cir- 

 cumstances in small quantities, and gradually, instead of sud- 

 den exposure to that element, we might then probably have a 

 different result from those we have hitherto experienced ; or 

 after such long confinement as three years, letting them have 

 access to their native element, water, for a time, this might be 

 a means of recovering the animals and prolonging their ex- 

 istence ; but this can only be ascertained by future research. 



Since writing the above I have perused an interesting ar- 

 ticle in vol. vi. p. 459. in the c Mag. Nat. Hist./ which is per- 

 tinent to the remark of letting the animals have access to 

 water when taken out of the ground after long periods of im- 

 prisonment. It is there stated that a toad was discovered K in 

 a solid piece of ironstone, which on exposure to air exhibited 

 symptoms of animation, and being put into water lived about 

 three weeks, growing to nearly double its size w T hen first 

 released from its confined cell, which was just large enough 

 to contain its body." 



It appears by the account above quoted, that this discovery 

 was made by some miners at the Rough Hills colliery in 

 Shropshire. Vide Shrewsbury Chronicle for December 21st, 

 1823. 



Stanway, Sept. 13, 1842. 



XXVIII. — On thevarieties of Dry as octopetala. By Charles 

 C. Babington, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c* 



[With a Plate.] 



It is now several years since my attention was drawn to cer- 

 tain differences which exist in the specimens of Dryas octo- 

 petala obtained from two Irish stations and those found in 

 England and Scotland, and I have at length determined to 



* Read to the Botanical Society at Edinburgh, Feb. 10, 1842. 



