660 REVIEWS. [December, 



dimensions. The name is not a very appropriate one; But let 

 this pass. Several months ago some of the largest were noticed 

 in the ' Phytologist/ and it is our impression that their size was 

 compared to that of the dome of St. Paul's. It appears that 

 there are now 134 trees of above 15 feet in diameter. The 

 largest is 34 feet, and 2 of 33 feet diameter; 13 from 25 to 33 

 feet in this dimension; 36 from 20 to 25, and 82 from 15 to 20. 

 A fallen tree, partially burnt, is believed to be about 40 fpet in 

 diameter. 



The entire grove is three-quarters of a mile long, and half a 

 mile wide, and contains 427 standing trees. The height of these 

 enormous trees is from 275 to 325 feet. One tree, in another 

 inammoth grove, (there are several of these in California,) which 

 is down, measures 450 feet in height (length), and is 40 feet in 

 diameter at the butt end. 



These accounts are from an American Journal, the ' New 

 York Tribune.' But there is a portion of one exhibited in 

 London, now in the Crystal Palace. Ex pede Herculem. Some 

 of our readers may have an opportunity of seeing it, and " seeing 

 is believing." 



In the ' Friend ' there is a short paper on the " beauty of 

 seaweeds," or rather an extract from a work by the Kev. J. G, 

 Wood, on " the common objects of the sea-shore." The author 

 recommends Green Laver as the very best of the seaweeds for 

 an aquarium, because "after the Metropolis has been invested 

 in one of its ugsome canopies of smoke, and when the sun is able 

 to penetrate through the thick veil of murky vapour, the uli^a 

 (seaweed) rises in the water and hangs in most elegant festoons, 

 forming emerald caves and grottoes, such as the sea-nymphs would 

 love." But there are more beauties in reserve for the lovers of 

 this elegant mode of amusement. " Excited by the unwonted light, 

 the plant had poured forth so much oxygen that its entii^e surface 

 Was thickly studded with tiny sparkling beads, that had buoyed 

 up the Avhole plant, each bubble being a miniature balloon." 

 When however the INIetropolitan black mantle was spread over 

 the sun's disc, the bubbles burst, like the Eoyal British Bank^ 

 Hud down fell the whole concern. 



