SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



349 



attempts have been made to demonstrate that 

 many, if not the whole, of these interesting 

 problems resulting from the progressive growth 

 of cell matter, some of which have been con- 

 sidered unapproachable, have admitted a natural 

 solution or mechanical explanation by what has 

 been termed non-purposive causes, in opposition 

 to the hypothesis that the development of 

 the germ cell to the final result — the adult 

 form — was provided for by conscious purposive 

 causes. Whatever this species of philosophy 

 may ultimately aspire to, it is apparently a 

 matter of indifference whether the final result is 

 the outcome of a series of purposive causes or 

 merely the completion of a cycle of non-purposive 

 causes, necessarily working causes ; since the 

 ultimate end resulting from the working of such 

 causes, whether of the so-called mechanical on the 



one hand, or of the conscious purposive causes on 

 the other, is the consummation of the adult 

 structure. Assuming, on the other hand, that the 

 mechanical influence is the case, the adult form 

 being the ultimate end for which these causes, 

 whether purposive or non-purposive, are working, 

 design must very forcibly become prominent, since 

 any of these causes set adrift of themselves might 

 assume a degenerate process in the ordinary course 

 of development. Whereas, it is found from 

 investigation of the working of these causes, in 

 whatever series they may be placed, that as 

 beautiful a harmony amongst the various organisms 

 exists, throughout those phases of development 

 which follow immediately on the egg cell becoming 

 fertilized, as existed in the evolution of the original 

 animal cell or ovum. 



Latchford, near Warrington. 



ORCADIAN RAMBLES. 



By Robert Godfrey. 



{Concluded from page 315.) 



VI. — On the Track of the Hen Harrier. 



a f Y persistent ramblings in search of the 

 - "-*• harrier, found me on the 1st of June in an 

 exceedingly wild district of the mainland, where 

 the short-eared owl was common, as could be 

 inferred from the number of castings containing 

 remains of field-voles and of long-tailed field-mice, 

 that lay scattered about everywhere. There, too, 

 the red grouse appeared more numerous than in 

 the districts previously visited. I had temporarily 

 left all the common tribes of birds behind me, and 

 was traversing a region so desolate that at times 

 no life, not even a golden plover, was at hand, and 

 I hoped here at length to bring to a successful 

 issue my long hunt for the harriers. Tramping 

 systematically about a hillside all the forenoon, 

 and beating the long heather carefully though 

 unavailingly. about midday I reached an extensive 

 moss with a fairly large peathole upon it, the sight 

 of which, after my wearisome tramp, afforded 

 a welcome relief from the monotony of the wild 



.nd. I turned aside to sec if any life was on 

 it. The flowering trefoil (Minyanthn trij 

 rendered gay one portion of the dark water., bul 

 bird-life teemed to find no attraction then 



cautiously along e, and eventually 



noticed a mallard du< • lily from the 



mow, but h<rr young could not be found, tl 

 they were »kul* car 1 1 • 



other 



,lll DO 



encouragement M a tingle meadow pipil 



A mallard's nest was soon found, from which the 

 young had escaped, closely concealed amongst the 

 heather, and during my halt at its side the duck 

 passed again. Owl castings were as thickly 

 scattered about as heretofore, and kept me in hope 

 of final success. Walking through the heather I 

 constantly disturbed red dragonflies, but for a long 

 time no birds were roused. The day was surpass- 

 ingly bright, and the strong sun that had already 

 blistered my ears was now doing the same to my 

 hands. Presently I found on the verge of a tract 

 that had been burned, though actually amongst 

 long heather, the deserted nest of a mallard with 

 eight eggs. No doubt the heather burning had 

 caused the forsaking. A yard or two from the 

 mallard's nest and just within the burned area 

 were the remains of an owl's nest that had probably 

 been destroyed likewise ; a little moss, perhaps 

 naturally there, was all there was to mark a nest, 

 and on this lay a casting and the pieces of the 

 broken eggshells. 



When one fears thai the bird one is in search of 



do ely as to allow of one's nearly trampling 

 upon her before she can be induced to rise, one is 

 apt to allow the thought to grow strongly thai the 

 bird and ne-.t have been passed. Crossing the 



round mo> e, I especially notii 1 d 



b the dim. • 1 ipidl p g, and 



altbot ■ ontlnuoualy on i 1 i ti imp, I bad 



■ 1 to 1 ean h 



it .-inkIii 'I he • ; lin hi h" .1 i" relii 1 



the desolation for a moment, but dismal lilenci 



N I 



