354f Domestic Notices. — Scotland. 



But possibly they may, and if they do, we should be glad to record the his- 

 tory of their improvement. We invite Mr. Arnott to favour us with some 

 ideas on the subject, and we hope he will be induced to listen to us favour- 

 ably, by the consideration, that the discussion of the subject is certain of 

 being the means of improvement, by showing every practical reader of this 

 Magazine the necessity of doubling his diligence. 



Seeds of the Feather Grass, Stipa penndta. Some interesting observations 

 on the phenomena of the natural semination of these seeds are given by 

 Prof. Macvicar of St. Andrews, in a late No. of Jamieson's Journal. After 

 illustrating the general law of nature in regard to the preservation of spe- 

 cies, that, " in proportion as the causes operating to destroy a species in- 

 crease, so also do the organs and functions operating to preserve it," by 

 noticing the slow process by which the more perfect animals and plants, as 

 men and oaks, and worms and mosses, are increased, he gives the following 

 detail of the peculiar structure and functions of the " feathered arrow" of 

 the Stipa. " When the seed and its feather-like appearance has fallen from 

 the parent plant, it enters the soil vertically, and in a few hours the base 

 and sulcated part of the awn becomes twisted, and the feathered portion 

 becomes horizontal. In consequence of which it is blown round by the 

 autumn winds like a vane, and every turn screws it farther down into the 

 earth ; for the hollows and ridges which, when it remained upon the plain 

 were only longitudinal sulci, have now given rise to the hollows and eleva- 

 tions, in a word, to the threads of a screw. Thus it is moved down, and 

 whatever is gained is prevented from being undone by a reverse motion of 

 the vane, in consequence of the stiff hairs upon the glume, which act as barbs. 

 " When it has thus been worked down into the moist soil, the situation 

 most favourable for germinating, the attachment between the awn and seed 

 is dissolved ; for having drawn up many when they were in this condition, 

 I have invariably procured the awn only, and never, by any chance, the 

 seed. Such appears to be the function of the ' spiral articulated deciduous 

 awn' of this interesting species." — {Prof. Jam. Phil. Jour. Mar. 1827, 

 p. 346.) 



We are happy to see this journal greatly increasing in interest, and we 

 hope now that the rival work of Dr. Brewster has been given up, it will meet 

 with that encouragement which it so justly merits. The case of the two 

 Edinburgh journals may be cited as one of the few in which competition 

 proves injurious to the interests of science ; they were both admirably and 

 perhaps equally, well conducted; but as two such journals issuing from 

 Edinburgh, were not likely to be adequately supported by the public, both 

 would probably have fallen to the ground had not one given in. When 

 the public are puzzled how to make a choice between two objects, they are 

 more likely to choose neither than both. The combination of science with 

 popular and practical discussion, and elegant recreation, which distinguished 

 the journals of Dr. Brewster and Prof. Jamieson, has probably induced Prof. 

 Brande to commence a new series of his journal, on a more popular plan 

 than heretofore. We hope the new series will meet with success, and hail, 

 as a favourable omen, the omission on the cover of that silly affectation of 

 importance, " Edited at the Royal Institution of Great Britain." An 

 individual is something as an authority; but an institution, or a society, 

 little better than a phantom. 



We observe also, that Mr. Taylor has begun a new series of the " Philo- 

 sophical Magazine," and combined with it the " Annals of Philosophy," 

 and there can be no question the work is improved. Two journals having 

 the same objects may perhaps be supported in London, though not in Edin- 

 burgh. We heartily wish all three success. In our opinion, all of them 

 would be improved by the frequent introduction of papers on subjects of 

 taste ; discussions on different kinds of beauty, on architectural beauty, on 



