SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



isi 



at a wide angle as in the sycamore, but take a 

 more parallel line of growth, thus affecting 

 materially the general features of the tree. The 

 yearly shoots are unusually thick, even more so 

 than in the ash, and hence they have a degree 

 of stiffness of appearance, especially in winter. 

 Whilst young, they take an upward direction, but 

 as one year's growth is added to another the 

 branch is bent downward by the weight, and only 

 the younger sprays are able to maintain their 

 ascending tendency. 



The beauty of the horse-chestnut in its flowering 

 state is familiar to all, as is its wealth of rich 

 foliage. No hardy tree of equal size can at all 

 compare with it as regards display of floral beauty, 

 but its foliage when it has lost the freshness of 

 early growth and the delicacy and warmth of its 



NORFOLK NATURALISTS. 



A MEETING of the Norfolk and Norwich Natura- 

 ■'^^ lists' Society was held in the Castle Museum, 

 on September 29th, the President (Sir F. G. M. 

 Boileau, Bart.) in the chair. Mr. J. H. Gurney 

 contributed some notes on resemblance in species. 

 remarking that among birds there is an undoubted 

 tendency to vary not infrequently in plumage, so as 

 to resemble other allied species which inhabit a 

 different geographical area. This tendency will 

 now and then furnish a key to the supposed 

 appearances of birds in a country remote from 

 their own, for it may be surmised that such are not 

 invariably the e.votic stragglers which their colours 

 lead them to be considered. A paper on "Verte- 

 brate and Plant Life on Ben Nevis," by Col. Feilden 



Horse-Chestnut. Autumn State. Showing Winter Buds. 



spring tint, is apt to seem dull and heavy, the 

 Heaves having with the advancing season increased 

 greatly in size so as to overlap each other and 

 prevent the varied effects of light and shadow, 

 which give such a charm to trees where the 

 •extremities of the branches are more separated, 

 and, as Gilpin e.xpresses it, " hang with a degree of 

 (looseness from the fulness of the foliage which 

 occupies the middle of the tree." As, however, 

 "the horse-chestnut advances in age, this defect 

 ibecomes less and less apparent, through the 

 increasing weight and length of the branches, 

 'which leads to their hanging more loosely from 

 ■each other, and thus giving more freedom to the 

 play of light and shadow. 



(To be continued.) 



(read by Mr. H. G. Geldart), described an ascent of 

 that mountain on August 27th last. The remains 

 of three male snow-buntings, lately killed, were 

 found at sixty-six feet below the summit, their 

 death probably due to a hawk, though no small 

 hawk has been seen near the observatory. At least 

 three if not four broods of these birds have been 

 hatched out this season near the top of Ben Nevis, 

 but their nests have not been found. On August 

 25th, the Observatory cat brought in a shrew 

 mouse, Sorex minuius, which must have been caught 

 very near the summit. Sixty-six feet below the 

 Ordnance Cairn, and 4,340 feet above the sea, three 

 flowering plants were found, Saxifiaga stellaiis, S., 

 a Caiex and a grass ; this is probably the most ele- 

 vated locality for flowering-plants in Great Britain. 



