156 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Phenology in Aberdeenshire. — The nature of 

 any winter always more or less affects the flowering 

 of plants in the following summer. Our last winter 

 here was an exceeding mild one, and vegetation 

 generally made an early commencement ; but there 

 was a very protracted cold rainfall at the beginning 

 of May, just when many plants were in such posi- 

 tion as to be easily affected by any exceptional 

 weather conditions. The consequence was that 

 there has been considerable confusion in so far as 

 the various dates on which different species of 

 plants have appeared in blossom ; some being 

 especially early, others about the usual time, and 

 many decidedly later than usual. There is little 

 to notice about the crowfoots (Ranunculaceae) and 

 crucifers (Cruciferae). The rock-roses {HeUanthemum 

 viugare) and violets (Violaceae) have flowered about 

 the usual dates, but more meagrely than usual. 

 Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotnndifolia) was 

 rather early and prolific. Common milkwort 

 {Polygala vulgaris) has shown more variation in the 

 colour of its flowers than I have ever seen ; the 

 flowers being remarkable for the distinct divisions 

 of colour. On the other hand, small upright St. 

 John's-wort {Hypericum piilchrum) had weak plants. 

 The various geraniums were about the average 

 both in numbers and dates of flowering ; the same 

 might be said of whins (Ulex). Broom {Spartiiim 

 scopayiuvi) was very late: I have never known 

 the foliage so prolific nor the perfume of the 

 flowers so strong ; but there seems only to be a 

 limited number of seeds formed. The leguminous 

 herbs seem to be generally up to about the average, 

 if we except bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculaUis) 

 which has a very heavy crop of seed-pods. Some 

 other plants have had rather more brilliant flowers 

 than usual. The indigenous roses have had bril- 

 liant and prolific bloom, and so had the wild cherry 

 (Pi'unus avium) and the rowan or mountain-ash 

 {Pyrus aucuparia). The willow-herbs [Epilohium) 

 seemed weak. The Umbelliferae were about the 

 average developments. The two-flowered Linnaea 

 {Linnaea borealis) was later in flower than usual ; 

 and the same may be noted of the bedstraws 

 (Galium). There was less attraction about the 

 hawkweeds (Hieracii) and some others of the Com- 

 positae, such as the spear plume-thistle (Cnicus 

 lanceolafus) the mountain everlasting (Anfennaria 

 diorca), than we are accustomed to. The excep- 

 tional lateness of such a precocious weed as 

 common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is one of this 

 year's features. The flowers of feverfew (Pyrethrum 

 involora) were very brilliant. On the other hand 

 the representation of hairbells {Campanula rotundi- 

 folia) was very meagre. The whortleberries (Vac- 

 cinaceae) were about the average crop. .Vlthough 

 late, the blossom of the five-leaved heath (Erica 

 cinerea) is the finest I have ever seen, some patches 

 of moors being one gorgeous sheet of it, and the 

 common ling (Calluna vulgaris), though also late, 

 seems to have abundance of flowers upon its stems. 

 The intermediate wintergreen (Pyrola viedia) is 

 somewhat late, but has good flowers. The forget- 



me-nots (Myositis), growing either in water or 

 sheltered places, were pretty fairly covered with 

 bloom. There are fewer eyebrights (Euphrasia 

 officinalis) than usual, while the large crop of fox- 

 glove (Digitalis purpurea) is another of the season's 

 features. Fair plants of butterwort (Pinguicula 

 vulgaris) were rare ; while primroses (Primula vul- 

 garis) could be had later than usual. The chick- 

 weed wintergreen (Trientalis europaea) took about 

 its usual course. The buckwheats (Polygonaceae) 

 had a poor display, but the docks (Rumex) were as 

 usual. The willows (Salicaceae) had rich bloom. 

 The orchids, though late, had fair blooms. The 

 bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragumj was not late, 

 and had very rich flowers. The rushes (Juncaceae), 

 sedges (Cyperaceae) and grasses (Graminaceae) had 

 generally meagre development, and were com- 

 paratively late. Cultivated grasses varied much 

 according to situation, showing the unusual strain 

 placed on plant life through such a severe satura- 

 tion with cold rain at a critical stage. Ferns were 

 about an average, though the fronds were in many 

 cases weak, and easily affected by weather. — 

 W. Wilson, Al ford, Aberdeen ; August, 1898. 



Helix nemoralis Eating Sand.- — On August 

 25th, 1898, my eldest girl picked up a specimen of 

 the above snail on the sea-shore below high-water 

 mark, the tide having eljbed. Thinking it was an 

 empty shell, it was washed, with others, to be 

 boxed. Returning five hours after, in the evening 

 of the same day, the animal had come out of its 

 shell, eaten a rather large amount of the clean 

 white blotting-paper on which it had lain to dry, 

 and voided as e.Kcrement a considerable amount of 

 beach sand. When blown on to the beach from 

 the marram hills at Holkham, it must have "stayed 

 its hunger" with sand. — (Rev.) R. Ashington Bullen, 

 F.G.S., Loughrigg, Somers Road, Reigate. 



MoLLUscA in Norfolk. — In the course of a 

 half-hour's examination of the top of an old moss- 

 grown wall on the Great Snoring Road just outside 

 Walsingham, the following mollusca were found : 

 Helix aspersa, H. nemoralis, Hygromia rufescens 

 (abundant), Clausilia bidens (abundant), CocliUcopa 

 lubrica (abundant), Vallonia pulchella (abundant), 

 Pyramidella rotundata, Hyalinia cellaria, H. nitidula, 

 H. fulva, H. pura, Caecilianella acicula (one), Arion 

 ater (abundant), Agriolimax agrestis (two), Carychium 

 minimum. Pupa cylindracea, Acanthinula lamellata, 

 Virtigo edentula. The curious thing is that so many 

 should occur on the top of a wall. — (Rev.) R. 

 Ashington Bullen, F.G.S. 



Unscientific Gossip. — The literature left by 

 the landlords or landladies of seaside lodgings is 

 not usually of the high order. However, some 

 volumes of " Good Words" seemed promising, and 

 an article therein has so amused me that your 

 readers might share my mirth. It is on " Travellers' 

 Snake Stories,' ' written by Frederick W' hymper, and 

 from it I transcribe the following paragraphs. 

 " The mungoose, a bird known as the kingfisher 

 of Australia, and secretary bird of Africa, is well 

 known in the West Indies almost always to come 

 off victorious in its encounters with the I'attlesnake. 

 A correspondent of ' The Standard' has practically 

 settled the question of poisonous snakes v. mungoose. 

 During the earlier part of this winter's service in 

 India he had believed that this bird was proof 

 against even the poison of the cobra. He adds 

 that these birds make affectionate pets, but have 

 themselves a very strong liking for hens' eggs and 

 young chickens." Let us hope that by this time 



