FARMERS' REGISTER— NEGRO STOMACH, &c. 



665 



tarium, and others The seed vessel of the didymo 

 carpus rexii, which is twisted up in the form of a 

 spiral coil, unwinds with nioisiiire, and drops ifs 

 seeds under circumstances favorable to their <::er- 

 mination. The microscope reveals some extraor- 

 dinary phenomena of this kind; and Mr. J. E. 

 Bowman pointed out to me some singularities in 

 minute cryptog:amous seeds, which, when alFecled 

 by moisture, and seen under the microscope, ap- 

 pear all life and motion, particularly the trichia 

 and sphsjroholus, where, from a point invisible to 

 the unaided eye, the seed vessel voluntarily ex- 

 frauds, and rolls forth its millions of globes, as m- 

 tleed its name in Greek implies. 



The dispersion of seeds also supplies us with a 

 chain of curious contrivances, admirably suited to 

 the purposes (or which they are designed ; and it 

 is a subject of regret, that these singularly con- 

 structed species of mechanism, liave not been so 

 minute]}' investigated, as the interesting subject 

 merits.; well might Forskal say, " viiro,nec ad 

 hue investigato 7riechaiiismo propelluntur semlnu." 

 The capsule of the violet will project Us contained 

 seeds to a distance of several ieet ; and th« elastic 

 arillus of the wood sorrel, will eject tiiem over a 

 considerably greater space. The euphorbia coc- 

 cum, (Geertncr,) is also remarkable ia this res- 

 pect, as welf! us some of the ferns, which possess 

 an chistic ring for the purpose; geranium, fraxi- 

 nella, and others. The crackling of the capsules 

 of furze in a v/arm summer day, must be lamiliar 

 to many, and is sometimes the only sound wliich 

 breaks the stillness of the landscape. The scales 

 which enclose the seeds of pines sometimes open 

 suddenly, s.i\d disperse their contents. The noise 

 occasioned by this mechanical impulse on the air 

 may be often heard at a considerable distance : 

 " 'i'his crackling voice," says Mr. Keith, " was 

 observed and traced to a fir tree, namely, pinus pi- 

 nea, at Kendlesham parsonage, on July 14, 1808, 

 by two young gentlemen, ray pupils, who thought 

 tlie tree was bewitclied, till ihe cause of the noise 

 was pointed out to tiiem." A species of wild cress, 

 cardainine impatiens, suddenly unfolds its seed 

 vessel on being touched. I have, when handling 

 the plant, aad more minutely examining iJie struc- 

 ture and elastic apparatus of the seed vessels, been 

 temporarily deprived of vision, by the impulsion 

 of the seeds into my face. The balsam, balsami- 

 num, is not less curious than the rest of these, and 

 has been not inappositely, from the elastic force 

 employed by the seed pod in the dispersion of its 

 contents, called " touch-me-not." In these cases, 

 the power of the projectile seems to reside in the 

 elasticity of the valves of the capsule. 



Luminous Property of Certain Plants. 



In the case of the rizomorphs there can be no 

 mistake. These curious plajits are found in sub- 

 terranean cellars and mines, and illuminate the 

 darkness which surrounds them with their magic 

 light, in some of the coal mines of Dresden, they 

 are singularly beautiful and lirilliant. Mr. James 

 Ryan informed me he was once accidentally shut 

 up in a mine, and tlie light of one of the rhizouior- 

 phaj was so brilliant that he could distinctly see to 

 read a letter i)y it. As the rhizomorphas prey on 

 dead wood, they impart to it a phospliorescent 

 light. The rhizomorpha phosphoresces is found 

 in the mines of Hesse, and yields light in the dark, 

 but ceases to be phosphorescent in hydrogen and 



A^OL. I.— 84 



some other gasses : the rhizomorpha sublerranea 

 and aiduia have also been found to illuminate the 

 mine with their fairy light. Mr. Erdmann thus 

 describes the luminous appearance of the rhizo- 

 morpha" in one of the mines of Dresden. " I saw 

 the luminous plants here in wonderful beauty ; the 

 impression produced by the spectacle I shall never 

 forget. It appeared, on descending into the mine 

 as if I were entering an enchanted castle. The 

 abundance of these plants was so great, that the 

 roof, the walls, and the pillars, were entirely co- 

 vered with them, and the beautiful light they cast 

 around almost dazzled the eye. The light they 

 give out is like faint rrioonshine, so that two per- 

 sons, near each other, could readily distinguish 

 one another. The light appears to be most con- 

 siderable when llie temperature of the mines is 

 comparatively high." That the light is electric 

 seems most probable, when we consider that an 

 electric discharge Imparts phosphorescence to Can- 

 ton's phosphorous, (calcined shells,) and that heat 

 enhances the lig-ht. 



PECULIAR FORMATION OF THE NEGRO STO- 

 MACH. 



Frnni Travels in Egypt. 

 " I had frequently observed," says Mr. Piladden, 

 " that (he exhibition of an emetic to the negro sol- 

 diers was often attended with convulsions, and 

 even dealh : on further inquiry I found that these 

 remedies invariably jiroduce distressing efTects on 

 all (he black people oi' Do ugola and Sennaar. On 

 examining the bo<ly, I found the stonsach differ- 

 ent from tliat organ in while people, both in size 

 and structure. As this diflerence has not been 

 noticed hitherto, I am free to acknowledge, that 

 the appearance I observed, might be the conse- 

 quence of disease, and not its natural state; but as 

 I remarked the same especial difference in three 

 cases, I think I am warranted in the supposition 

 that the smallncss of the negroes' stomachs, and 

 the peculiar corrugation of their folds, are no less 

 distinct marks of that race, (insomuch as physical 

 organization is concerned,) than their thick cra- 

 niums and prominent cheek bones. The vulgar 

 notion of " thick headed" persons being obstinate, 

 is founded in truth. But ihe peculiarity to which 

 I alluded was this, the stomach was below the or- 

 dinary size of that organ in Europeans, and its 

 internal surface resenibled m some degree a tur- 

 tle's throat, from the extent of its corrugations. I 

 discovered likewise, a difference in the skeleton, in 

 two of these cases, each having six vertebrae of 

 the loins, instead of five, and on examining the 

 spines of many living negroes, I find the occur- 

 rence of six kunbar vertebra; very frequent. 

 This accounts for the extraordinary length of the 

 luml^ar part of the back in so many negroes. 

 That they are a disiinct race I think is evident 

 from these, and other peculiarities." 



ALIMEiN'TARY TUBERCLE OF VAN DTEMAn's 

 LAND. 



From the Asiatic Journal. 

 A singular substance has lieen found at the 

 depth of a foot, or a foot and a half, in the earth of 

 that country. It has not yet been described, but 

 is called indigenous bread. It is covered with a 

 thin skin, has a rounded form, like a potato, or 

 yam, and is sometimes as large, as a man's head. 

 When cut, it appears to be composed of a solid 



