M 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Feb. 1, 1865. 



field near Downley, Bucks, above-mentioned : 

 I am not awai-e that it has been previously 

 observed. The pink hue occasionally as- 

 sumed by the blossoms of the Milfoil [Achillea 

 millefoliurii) is, I believe, caused by a pecu- 

 liarity in the soil in which it grows ; I have 

 noticed a similar occurrence in the flowers 

 of the Whitethorn {Gratcegus OxyacanthcC), 

 though only on one or tv/o occasions. The 

 only other variety in this order worthy of 

 note is one of the Great Knapweed (Centaurea 

 scahlosct), having white flowers, which I have 

 once or twice met with near Wycombe. 



I may here mention a peculiar form of the 

 Common Calamint {Calamintlia officinalis) 

 which occurs near Wycombe, and which has al- 

 ready been noticed in the Botanist's Chronicle. 

 [ first observed it in 1861, when I labelled 

 it without hesitation G. officinalis, having 

 found it to agree pretty well with the 

 description of that plant, and not being 

 acquainted witli the ordinary form of it. 

 Last year I received specimens of the same 

 plant from the same locality, ticketed C. 

 nefcta : I of course made inquiries, and was in- 

 formed that they really belonged to that species. 

 Later in the season, I found the ordinary 

 form of C. offi.cinalis, which certainly appeared 

 very different from the plant which I had 

 previously named as such, though it agreed 

 at least equally well with the description 

 given of that species. Thus in doubt, I sent 

 specimens of each to a botanical friend, who 

 kindly informed me that he believed both 

 plants to be the Common Calamint (G. offici- 

 nalis), and the discovery of a specimen, com- 

 bining the characteristics of both forms 

 satisfied me that the above conclusion was 

 correct. The forms certainly differed widely 

 in appearance; that which I had been induced 

 to consider the Lesser Calamint {C. nepeta) 

 being a larger plant, with hoary leaves and 

 stems, and having pale lilac blossoms, spotted 

 with purple ; wliile the true officinalis had 

 leaves of a brighter green, and deep pink 

 flowei's, mottled with white and red, and was 

 altogether a more slender and graceful plant. 

 It has been suggested to me that the former 

 of these is but the second year's growth of 

 C. officinalis ; but I do not think that such 

 is the case, though anotlier year will settle 

 the question, — it is certainly a persistent 

 form, and grows in three or four places about 

 High Wycombe, while the latter is apparently 

 less common in the neighbourhood. 



A pretty variety of the common bugle 

 {Ajnga reptans), having white blossoms, occurs 

 near Buttsbury, Essex, where it has appeared 

 in some plenty for several years. The Forget- 



me-not [M7/osotis palnstris) occasionally retains 

 the pink colour, which its buds frequently 

 assume throughout the entire period of blos- 

 soming. At Medmenham, by the Thames, 

 last year, I observed a form of Loosestrife 

 [Lysivicfjchia vulgaris), which had a red spot 

 at the base of each division of the corolla ; 

 the whole plant was slenderer than is usual 

 in the species ; and a form of the great plan- 

 tain [Plantago inctjor), having a leafy flower- 

 spike, was recently gathered at Chelsea. I 

 have noticed that the entire habit of the Eng- 

 lish Blue-bell {Agr aphis nutans) is changed by 

 cultivation : the flower-stalk becomes shorter, 

 and the blossoms fail to retain their drooping 

 position, becoming erect, and changing in 

 colour from dark to pale blue. A variety, 

 having white flowers may be found in most 

 neighbourhoods ; and near Bristol this is 

 said to be as common as the ordinary form : 

 one with pink flowei's is cultivated in cottage 

 gardens, but I have never seen it in a wild 

 state : and another with yellow blossoms is 

 recorded as having occurred ; if this was 

 really the case, it afibids a curious exception 

 to one of the laws of colour. 



B. 



_ Rustic WoitK fob Feun Cases, &c.— The cul- 

 tivation of Ferns and In-dpor Plants has led to a 

 curious article of importation. The outer bark of 

 the Cork-tree, hitherto looked upon as waste, has 

 recently been brought to this country in large quan- 

 tities. From its lightness and durability, it makes 

 an excellent article for rustic work where wood and 

 other heavy materials are inadmissible. 



Que Lady oe Toulouse. — Cleraence Isaure, a 

 lady of Toulouse, who lived in the fifteenth centuiy, 

 and who had often presided at the celebrated Eloi-al 

 Games of that ancient city, presented the citizens 

 with magnificent markets, erected at her own cost, 

 on condition that the games should be held in future 

 witliin the hall which formed part of her donation, 

 and that roses should be strewed upon her torn b._ 

 Her statue now adorns the hall of the Academy of 

 Floral Games in Toulouse, and is annually crowned 

 with brilliant lowers.— Edwin Lees' Botanical Loohr- 

 Out. 



SurEESTiTiON RELATING TO Bees.— The super- 

 stitious practice of informing the bees of a death 

 that takes place in a family, is very well known, and 

 still prevails among the lower orders in some coun- 

 ties. The disastrous consequence to be apprehended 

 from noncompliance with this strange custom is said 

 to be that the bees will dwindle and die. The man- 

 ner of communicating the intelligence to the littJe 

 communitj% with due form and ceremony, is this : 

 to take tiie key of the house, and knock with it 

 three times against the hive, telling the inmates, at 

 tlie same time, that their master or mistress, &c. 

 (as the case may he) is dead ! 



