82 Notes and Memoranda. 



central line into two equal halves. The root is conical, and longer 

 than that part of the trunk which appears above ground. There 

 are many other points of peculiar scientific interest connected with 

 the form and structure of this astonishing plant. These details, 

 with ample illustrations, will duly appear in the next part of the 

 Linnsean Society's " Transactions," for the issue of which, towards 

 the close of the year, all botanists will consequently look forward 

 with unusual anxiety. 



NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 



New PoiiAEiscoPE Object. — Mr. Davies, writing in the " Quarterly Journal 

 of Microscopic Science," describes a double sulphate of copper and magnesia, 

 obtained by mixing solutions of the two sulphates, and then crystallizing, as 

 exhibiting beautiful polarizing powers. He says it is rather difficult to crystallize 

 well. It ought to exhibit " peculiar flower-like forms." 



The Mangold- Wttbzel Ply. — The Kev. W. Haughton describes, in the 

 " Quarterly Journal of Microscopic Science," that fly whose larva has recently 

 proved destructive to mangold-wurzel. Until last year it seems that the male sex 

 predominated, and consequently little harm was done ; then, however, the pro- 

 portions were reversed, the females being estimated as twelve to one, and hence 

 the extent of their injurious work. 



Cikculation in the Tadpole. — The "Quarterly Journal of Microscopic 

 Science," for January 1862, contains an interesting paper by Mr. Whitney, on 

 the circulation of the tadpole, explaining the means by which this creature enjoys 

 "a much higher circulation of the blood than the reptile arrangement will per- 

 mit." By selecting very transparent specimens, and keeping others upon water 

 diet, so as to prevent the intestines containing opaque matter, he was able to 

 trace the connection between the three great arterial trunks (the cephalic, pul- 

 monary, and aortic) with the lungs. In the course of his experiments he endea- 

 voured to remove all opaque matter from the convoluted bowel by purgative 

 drugs ; but the nauseous preparations did no exhibit any cathartic effect. 



Dispersion op Light. — M. Eadau, writing in " Cosmos," upon the re- 

 searches of Cauchy, and citing his formulae, observes, "it results from these 

 formulae that the velocity of a luminous ray depends, in general, upon its colour ; 

 and that the unequal velocities of the different rays of the spectrum is the cause 

 of their dispersion by the prism." 



Gigantic Cephalopod. — M. Flourens has recently communicated to the 

 French Academy an account of an enormous cephalopod, seen by Lieut. Bouyer, 

 about forty leagues north of Teneriffe. It appeared to be about ten to fifteen 

 metres in length (from thirty-one to forty-six feet), having a soft gelatinous body 

 of a reddish colour and shaped like an immense horn ; the widest part being 

 about two yards in diameter ; and surrounded by very strong arms or tentacles. 

 It was repeatedly shot at, aud the balls passed through it without doing much 

 harm. On one occasion, however, a quantity of blood and froth, of a musky 

 odour, flowed from the wound. After being harpooned several times, the body of 

 the creature was surrounded by a rope, and efforts were made to haul it on board. 

 Unfortunately the rope cut the soft flesh, and only the posterior part was secured. 

 The sailors wished to pursue the remainder of the monster in a boat, but Lieut. 

 Bouyer was afraid that its long tentacles, armed with suckers, might enable it to 

 swamp them, and it was therefore permitted to escape. M. Moquin Tandon 

 added some further particulars, and exhibited a sketch. He observed that the 

 fishermen of the Canaries often met with similar creatures, exceeding one or even 



