68 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXlV. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



Dr. J. C. Kaufmann exhibited several bottles demonstrating 

 the osmotic growth of copper sulphate in a solution of ferro- 

 cyanide of potash simulating cellular growth, and explained the 

 apparent formations, some being filamentous and others leaf-like. 

 Dr. Cook and Professor A. J. Ewart explained at some length 

 the chemical changes and the nature of the growth. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. C. F. Cole. — A specimen of the common Native Cat, 

 Dasyurns viverrimis, Shaw, caught at Auburn, 7/7/07. 



By Mr. H. T. Coles. — Mounted specimen of Black Falcon 

 (male), Falco siibniger, Gray, from Horsham. 



By Mr. F. Pitcher, on behalf of the Director Botanic Gardens. 

 — Flowering branches of the following Acacias now in bloom in 

 Melbourne Botanic Gardens : — Acacia baileyana, F. v. M., 

 "Cootamundra Silver Wattle," from New South Wales: A. 

 discolor, Willd., " Sunshine Wattle," Victoria, New South Wales, 

 Tasmania ; A. podalyricejolia, A. Cunn., var. viridis, " Green- 

 leaved Mt. Morgan Acacia," Queensland; A. spectabilis, A. Cunn., 

 " Showy or Mudgee Acacia," New South Wales and Queensland ; 

 also dried specimens of Bartsia trixago, Linn., introduced from 

 Europe and North Africa, collected at Broadmeadows, Nov., 

 1900. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



Elodea canadensis, Mich. — The expression " sap move- 

 ments " in the notice of my exhibit in the June Naturalist, vol. 

 xxiv., p. 20, is somewhat misleading. The movement of fluid 

 exhibited in the cells of Elodea canadensis is quite distinct from 

 any sap current, being really a rotation of the protoplasmic con- 

 tents of the cell, and in each case is confined to the individual 

 cell, and does not extend beyond it — i.e., from one cell to another. 

 — J. Stickland. 



Osmotic Growth. — An interesting experiment, demonstrating 

 an apparently natural growth in a cliemical solution, was shown 

 by Dr. J. C. Kaufmann at the last meeting of the Field Naturalists' 

 Club. A solution is prepared by dissolving i dram of ferro- 

 cyanide of potash and 3 drams of nitrate of potash in 8 ounces of 

 water. Into this is then introduced sulphate of copper, made up 

 into globular masses about as large as an ordinary pea, with sugar 

 of milk, in the proportion of one part of copper sulphate to two of 

 sugar of milk. In a short time a chemical change takes place, 

 and osmotic growth resembling cellular plant-like forms results. 

 The growth assumes a variety of forms, and if one part of gelatine 

 be added to the solution, sufficient support is given to the growth 

 to render it permanent for some time. 



