MISCELLANY. 219 



manner. Many of the specimens proved very excellent. Since commencing the 

 above notice, I have perceived that a fine collection of North- American Coleoptera, 

 obtained from raw turpentine, was exhibited by Mr. Shipster to the Entomo- 

 logical Society on the 5th of February. — T. B. Hall, Woodside, Liverpool, 

 March 1, 1838. 



The King Pigeon (Columba palumbus) during the Frost. — This species — 

 always gregarious in winter — congregated in immense flocks during the late 

 severe and protracted frost, remaining in company up to the close of February, 

 long before which time they usually separate. Notwithstanding the large num- 

 bers which have fallen by the deadly tubes of gunners of all descriptions, the loss 

 to the farmers by these associations for the acquisition of food has been very 

 considerable in many places. Up to this day (March 16) we have not once this 

 year heard the plaintive note of the Ring Pigeon echo from the grove. — Ed. 



BOTANY. 



Aspidium loncliitis. — In Mr. Francis's excellent little work on the British 

 Ferns and their Allies (noticed Vol. II., p. 226) it is stated, that the Rough 

 Alpine Shield-fern (A. lonchiiis) is " scarce in England." " Nor," adds the 

 author, " have I seen it here." I have had specimens from Settle, given to me 

 by Mr. Benjamin Thompson, to whose kindness I am indebted for the following 

 particulars : — " This rare and most distinct Fern grows on an elevated range of 

 limestone hills, two miles to the north-east of Settle, Yorkshire. In this locality 

 it is very sparingly distributed, occurring generally in small patches, each con- 

 taining from two or three to a dozen fronds ; its place of growth being in the 

 fissures of rocks, or more usually among the accumulated debris or loose stones 

 which occupy the mountain declivities in the neighbourhood alluded to. In very 

 bleak and exposed situations it assumes a stunted dwarfish appearance, but when 

 sheltered in a hollow, or beneath an overhanging rock, the fronds become luxuriant, 

 and are by no means inelegant." — T. B. Hall, Woodside, Liverpool, March 1, 

 1838. 



The Water-lily. — Nymphcea lutea, like Nymphcea alba, or White Water-lily 

 of Europe, closes at sunset, and opens on the following day, the object being to 

 exclude the humidity that is deposited from the air, and which, if it had access 

 to the pollen while yet in the anther, would rupture it prematurely, and prevent 

 the fertilization of the ovules, thereby hindering them from becoming perfect 

 seeds. This regularity in the opening and closing of the flowers, dependent upon 

 the intensity of light, caused LiNNiEUs to place the Water-lily on his Dial of 

 Flowers, and has been frequently remarked by poets as the most noted example 

 of those plants which " dedicate their beauty to the sun." — The Guide, Nov. 26, 

 1837. 



2g2 



