396 Clarke : Albino Hedgehog and Mole. 



type of foliage closely imitating' the Horsetails ; this is 

 partly a result of its aquatic life, partly an adaptation to 

 meet competition of aquatic plants. The Water Plantain 

 still retains its broad leaves, but these conform so far to 

 the general form of rival species in being much longer 

 than broad and in assuming a more or less erect posi- 

 tion ; as already pointed out, this plant is not a very 

 successful social species. The trefoil Bog-bean leaf is 

 almost unique amongst water-plants, though not un- 

 common in marsh-plants. 

 One feature the plants of these pools have in common : they 

 are all plants which can grow on a muddy bottom ; the plants 

 of a stony or shingly bottom are absent. Another common 

 feature of the Filey ponds is that the plants are those which 

 frequent slowly-moving water ; the plants of a running stream 

 or quickly-moving pond or lake are absent. The nature of the 

 bottom and the rate of movement of the water have consider- 

 able effect in the distribution of water-plants. No attempt has 

 been made here to distinguish between true aquatics and plants 

 of the marsh. These ponds show how difficult this is, because 

 many of the plants are adapted for life in standing water or in 

 wet marsh. Nor have we attempted to deal with the adapta- 

 tions in internal structure, which are so interesting a feature in 

 water-plants. This rapid glance over the plant-life of ponds has 

 only touched the fringe of the matter, and there is ample 

 material in these ponds and others for a long series of observa- 

 tions, which if carefully carried out would throw light on obscure 

 points in pond-life generally. The East Riding especially is a 

 good field for local botanical work on water-plants. 



Albino Hedgehog and Mole. — A white Hedgehog, nearly 

 half-grown, was caught at Goathland on the evening of 

 1st August. It was a true albino, having the characteristic 

 pink eyes. The skin was pink also, and the hair, spines, and 

 nails were pure white. It was not brought to me until 8th 

 August, when it was in a dying condition, and it only lived a few- 

 hours after it came into my possession. I had a cream-coloured 

 Mole brought to me on 25th February, which had been caught 

 at Stainton Dale. It was a light cream colour all over, but 

 was slightly marked with orange on the forehead and on the 

 belly. — W. J. Clarke, F.Z.S., Scarborough. 



Naturalist. 



