392 
in Germany ; and the latter has published the result of his investi- 
gations in the “ Mouatsberichte” of the Berlin Academy, Both 
these acute observers are at issue with previous writers who 
maintained that the flowers of cereals, and especially of wheat, 
were self-fertilised in the unopened flowers, and consequently that 
the process could not be influenced by the wind. Hildebrand 
asserts, on the other hand, that impregnation takes place while 
the flower is open, and while the stigma is in a condition for 
the access of foreign pollen, that is, from other flowers. The 
opening of the flower of wheat, however, is completed in such 
a very short space of time that in a wheat-field there is probably 
never more than one in 400 of the flowers open at the same 
‘time. The contrivances by which in this case, as well as in 
other grasses, cross-fertilisation is at least rendered possible, are 
described in detail in the paper. In barley, on the other hand, 
the majority of the flowers never open, and self-fertilisation is 
the only condition possible. Delpino states, however, that there 
are in an ear of barley a very small number of flowers, differently 
constructed from the rest, in which cross-fertilisation is possible, 
In the oat the process is stated to vary according to the weather ; 
in fine warm weather the flowers open freely, and cross-fertili- 
sation is favoured ; in cold wet weather they remain closed, and 
self-fertilisation is inevitabie In rye, fertilisation from the 
pollen of other flowers is provided for. The agent in the dissemi- 
nation of the pollen is scarcely ever insects, almost invariably the 
wind, to which end both stigma and pollen-grains are specially 
adapted. 
WE regret to say that last week we were led to state that 
Mr. Cleminshaw, recently elected to the Burdett Coutts Scholar- 
ship, received his scientific training in the Applied Science depart- 
ment of that College. We are requested to say that this is 
incorrect, as Mr. Cleminshaw was only a few months at King’s 
College, where he did not study geology at all, while he was for 
several years at Kugby, to which school really belongs the credit 
of having trained so successful a student : moreover, Mr. Clemin- 
shaw is, we believe, the third Burdett Coutts’ scholar from 
Rugby within a few years. It is a pity that any school should 
require to make haste to claim possession of an honour which is 
not justly its due. 
A LIVING specimen of the extremely rare Liberian Hippopo- 
tamus (Chevropsts liberiensis), from Scarcies River, just north of 
Sierra Leone, arrived at Liverpool last week, but it unfortunately 
died on Friday, almost as soon as it reached its destination, 
Dublin. This second true hippopotamus was first described in 
1844 by Dr. Morton, of Philadelphia, in the Journal of the 
Academy of Natural Sciences of that city. Prof. Leidy, in1850, 
showei that its peculiarities rendered its differences from //if/o- 
fotamus more than specific, and in 1852 gave it the generic 
name by which it is now known. The full-sized animal is said 
to be no larger than a heifer, and the specimen under conside- 
ration, which was at least seven weeks old, weighed only 23|bs., 
whereas the one born in London last November weighed just 
upon roo lbs. shortly after birth. But the chief peculiarities of 
the genus Cherofsis are found in the teeth, as there are only 
two lower incisors instead of four, and the anterior premolars 
remain functional throughout the life of the animal, instead of 
being lost as is the case in Hippopotamus. In addition to these 
points in which Cherofsis is peculiar, it may be mentioned that 
the top of the head is convex instead of concave, the central 
upper incisors are slightly smaller than the outer, instead of 
larger, and the premaxillary bones are less developed than in 
Hippopotamus, from a young one of which, as M. A. Milne- 
Edwards remarks, it would be difficult to distinguish it exter- 
nally. 
FRoM a memorandum affixed to the last part of Messrs. 
Sharpe and Dresser’s “Birds of Europe,” we learn that the 
_ NATURE 
‘ ge ae 
“[Mar. 20, 1 
latter gentleman has removed his entire collection of birds to 
No. 6, Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, where the work will — 
in future be published, and- which will henceforth be the head- 
quarters of the British Ornithologists’ Union, as Messrs. Salvin 
and Godman have likewise removed their valuable collection of 
American birds to the same quarters, and Lord Lilford as well 
as Capt. Shelley have done the same with theirs. . 
A CHROME mine has been discovered at Chanli, in the pro- 
vince of Larissa, Turkey in Europe, It is said to be rich, 
ON January 31, four shocks of earthquake were felt at Kara 
Hissar (query which) in Asia Minor, The shocks, of which 
the first two were rather violent, were repeated at intervals of 
twenty minutes. In the next afternoon, February 1, eleven — 
more shocks were felt, which, though very sharp, only brought 
down three old abandoned houses. On Saturday, February 17, 
slight shocks of earthquake were felt in the island of Mitylene ; 
the first at 1 a.M., and the second at 5.20 P.M. The oscillation — 
was from west to east.—An earthquake that occurred on Dec. 29 
last, at night, nearly destroyed the large town of San Vicente, 
in San Salvador, Central America. The upper half of the 
parish church fell, and many lives were lost.—At Bimlipatam, in 
India, a shock of earthquake was felt on January 25.—An earth- 
quake is reported to have been felt at Peshawar, on Feb. 12. 
Its shock lasted for one minute. 
ACCORDING to the Times of Jndia, a phenomenon occurred in 
several parts of the province of Kattywar, on Feb. 12, which 
gladdened the eyes of the English residents, and excited as- 
tonishment in the natives. On that day the ground was 
whitened by a hailstorm, a phenomenon unprecedented in the 
experience of the natives, hundreds of whom are reported to 
have set about gathering the hailstones as they fell, in order to 
turn them into ‘the best of confectionaries.” 
THE collector of South Canara has brought to the notice of 
Government that the young shoots of the bamboo contain a 
bitter principle, which might be useful as a febrifuge. 
TuHeE Council of the Society of Arts will proceed to consider 
the award of the Albert medal early in May next. This medal 
was instituted to reward ‘‘ distinguished merit in promoting arts, 
manufactures, or commerce,” and was awarded last year to Mr. 
Henry Bessemer. The members of the Society are invited to 
forward to the Secretary, on or before April 12, the names of. 
such men of high distinction as they may think worthy of this 
honour, 
Tue late Mr. George A. Clark, thread manufacturer, of 
Paisley, has left 20,000/. to Glasgow University for the establish- 
ment of four bursaries to be held by the successful competitors 
for four years, and to be so arranged that one bursary will be | 
competed for each year. We hope the interests: of science will 
not be forgotten in this matter. : 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
last week comprise a Condor Vulture (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) — 
from S. America, presented by Lieut. L. C. Strachey, R.N.; a — 
Lapland Bunting (Centrophanes lapponica), presented by Mr. F. i 
Bond ; a Mantell’s Apteryx (Afteryx mantelli); an Amherst } 
Pheasant (Zhaumelia amherstia) from China, and a Tamandua 
Ant-eater (Zamandua tetradactyla) from S. America, deposited ; 
two Swainson’s Lorikeets (Zrichoglossus nove-hollandia) from 4 
Australia; two Red-eared Bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus) from 
India ; two Cardinal Grosbeaks (Cardinalis virginianus) from 
N. America; a Long-tailed Glossy Starling (Zamprotornis | 
@neus) from W. Africa; a Pantherine Toad (Bufo pantherinus) 
from Tunis; some Natterjack Toads (Bufo calamita) from 
Africa; a Bearded Lizard (Amphibolurus barbatus) from 
Australia; five Banded Sea Horses (Hippocampus ramulosus) — 
from France, and some Anemonies, all purchased, 15 ; 
