x46 a new discovery in vegetation. Nov. 28, 
On the whole, this is a phenomenon ‘entirely new in ai 
far as I have heard, and singularly curious ; and the public 
‘are much indebted to Mr Haig for his attention in obser. 
‘ving and bringing to Europe such a striking curiosity. 
oe Argus bird. 
Along with many other beautiful specimens of rare ar- 
ticles in natural history, are the wing and tail and other fea- 
thers of an argus bird, one of the most superb and beantiful of 
the feathered tribe, in high preservation. In a future number 
‘of his work fhall be given some account of this rare and beau- 
tiful bird, accompanied with a figure. 
A DISCOVERY JN ‘VEGETATION. 
Manner of propagating ferns. 
Ar has been long suspected that the spots on the under 
side of the fern leaf contained the seeds of the plant, but 
hitherto no decisive experimental proof of it has been ob- 
tained in this part of Europe, ‘This desideratum is now 
obtained. Mr keeper of the botanic garden in 
Jamaica, has cultivated many varieties of this clafs of 
plants so long, and has repeated the experiments so often, 
that there can no longer remain, any doubt.of this fact. 
To succeed in rearing the fern from seed, he desires, 
that the healthiest plants be chosen, that have grown in a 
free situation; and when the leaves begin to turn yellow, 
and the spots on the under side have afsumed a dark snuff 
golour, gather the Jeaves with care; spread them in an 
airy room, upon fheets of white paper; and let them there 
dry gradually. The seed vefsels in a fhort time burst, - 
and the,seeds are scattered on the paper-in the form of a 
«dark coloured dust. On examination by.a good magni- 
fier, this dust is observed to consist of two parts, the seed 
