474 Miscellaneous. 



year with such different species, without it being possible to notice 

 that their evolution is conrined to any particular season of the year, 

 as, for example, the autumn in the temperate zones. Besides, the 

 same kinds are not limited in their vegetation to a fixed period, but 

 individuals succeed without interruption those which have preced- 

 ed them. Contrary to what takes place in Europe, where they en- 

 liven the forests in autumn, either by their beautiful colours, or by 

 their union in great numbers, fungi here grow more solitary, and 

 group rarely in large masses. It is also the polypori, principally 

 those which grow parasitically on the trunks and branches, and they 

 are almost all different from the European species, which attract 

 us from a distance, and charm us by their lively, brilliant, and 

 varied colours. In Europe it is the agarics, and chiefly the terres- 

 trial kinds, which predominate, and give to its forests in autumn, a 

 peculiar character. — Junghuhn in Ann. des Sciences Nat. Mars 

 1837- 



Growth of plants inclosed in cases. — Led by the interesting dis- 

 coveries of Mr Wood, I undertook about two years since, as many 

 experiments on growing plants inclosed in cases, as my ingenuity sug- 

 gested. In this pursuit I was induced recently to imitate a dripping- 

 cave, (the natural habitat of Trichomanes brevisetum, Hygrophila 

 irrigua, &c) The mode I adopted was as follows, I took a large 

 packing case, glazed in front, fixed a number of inclined shelves to 

 its sides and back, formed a trough at bottom, and a cistern at top 

 having its bottom perforated, Avith small holes; over these I laid a sand 

 bag to moderate the flow of water supplied each morning. I then 

 planted my ferns, &c. in suitable soil on the inclined shelves, and in 

 the trough : they were thus exposed to a constant gentle dripping 

 of water, which escaped below, while little if any change of air was 

 effected. The result has been the growth of the ferns in a luxuri- 

 ance so greatly exceeding my anticipations, that I cannot refrain 

 from recommending the plan to all who are desirous of witnessing 

 the rapid development of these interesting plants in most exquisite 

 verdure. — Robert Ball. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Corrections and additions to Report of Meeting of British As- 

 sociation, held at Liverpool 1837 — Mr Macleay expressed the great- 

 est doubt, not only of the deadly effect of the bites of the Argas Per- 

 sicus, but even of its poisonous nature. These doubts were found- 

 ed, 1. on the circumstance of the genus Argus not giving a bite. 



