NATURE NOTES 
1 16 
History of Plants”) he attributes this monstrous growth to the action of Gall- 
mites. Would it be possible that originally the Hen and Chicken Daisy was 
produced in this way, and that by cultivating this “freak ” it has become a 
fixed condition ? In many cottage gardens it is quite a common plant. 
Mary II. Crafer. 
499. Venus’-Comb. — I am sorry to find that Bentham and other English 
botanists describe the plant Scandix Pecten- Veneris as having compound 
umbels. I do not think it possible for any one, after examining the plant 
with due care, and exercising ordinary intelligence, to arrive at any such 
conclusion. The little French botanical work on wild plants by Bonnier and 
de Layens, correctly describes the umbels as “ simple,” and I think this 
throws some credit on French botanists. To form an umbel the rays must all 
start from one point or centre, and they must not be branched. Where there 
are general umbels, its rays support on the top of each one an umbel of rays 
bearing each a terminal floret. These umbels are arranged in flat heads of 
flowers, and where there is a general umbel these umbels of flowers become 
united together in one uniform flat head. The flowers are thus arranged in 
compound umbels. In the Scandix the general umbel is absolutely wanting, and 
consequently each umbel of flowers is separate and independent, and each forms 
a simple umbel, and there are no compound umbels. It is true that the flower- 
stems of Scandix have branches with terminal umbels of flowers, but a branch 
cannot be called a ray of an umbel. There must be at least three rays starting 
from the same point, and unbranched, to form an umbel. 
Peter Hastie. 
500. Unlovely Scenery. — In writing to me a short time ago a brother 
naturalist utters the following lament: “The rivers in Lancashire and Yorkshire 
generally are a most sorry sight ; one has to hold the nostrils as one crosses them, 
and no living thing dwells in them, nor can a fly live on the surface of the 
poisoned waters ; and so the swallow is absent, the trees on the banks die by 
inches, and many are skeletons. The oak and the ash, both of which have 
tender leaves, suffer greatly, and, as more mills are erected, and more sulphur 
poured into the air, and more poison into the rivers, are gradually being killed 
out. The sycamore, however, which has a tough leaf, stands it bravely. There 
is one species of poplar which seems to come next in endurance, and after that 
the thorn, and then the beech and elm.” 
Edmund Titos. Daubenv. 
501. Black Rain. — On April 26 a rain-cloud hung over this valley, which 
caused such darkness that I breakfasted by lamp-light, close to a good-sized 
window, at 8.30 a.m. The rain in the puddles in the road was blackish, as if it 
had “ passed through smoke.” This is an unusual experience in the Eastern 
counties. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
South-acre, Swaffham. 
502. Friday Street. — In your critique on some Surrey “ Field-path 
Rambles” by “Walker Miles,” you mention the fact of there being four “ Friday 
Streets” in the rural district in the neighbourhood of Leith Hill, and you also 
mention that it has been suggested that “ Friday” may be a corruption of 
“ Frithway,” and that Mr. “ Walker Miles ” invites further comment on the ques- 
tion. May I be allowed to say that I find from Bailey’s Dictionary that “Frith” 
is a Saxon name for a “wood,” and that it is so used by Chaucer. Is it not 
possible that all these places were originally ways through or by woods, and 
hence their name ? 
Peter Hastie. 
