562 
Correspondence. 
[September, 
COALESCENCE OF BRANCHES. 
To the Editor of the Journal of Science. 
Sir, — Permit me to inform you of an instance where two distindl 
stems of a tree have come together and united into one without 
the intervention of man. If any one leaves the Chingford 
Branch of the Great Eastern Railway at Wood Street Station, 
makes for Chestnut Walk, and takes the first turn leading to 
Epping Forest, he will find, keeping to the left, the remains of a 
tall straggling hedge. Two stems of the hawthorn, which rise 
separately from the ground and remain distindl to the height of 
about 3 feet, coalesce completely into one. — I am, &c., 
An Epping Forester. 
INFANTICIDE AMONG ANIMALS. 
To the Editor of the Journal of Science. 
Sir, — With reference to the Duke of Argyll’s statement that 
infanticide is a point in which man differs unfavourably from the 
lower animals, allow me to mention, in addition to the fadts 
given by your correspondents on pp. 367 and 432, that the do- 
mestic drake very frequently destroys ducklings by a blow at the 
back of the neck. I knew an instance of a drake belonging to 
Mr. W. Clarke, of Whirlow, near Sheffield, which was very much 
given to this offence, and has been seen in the very adl. — I 
am, &c., 
A New Subscriber. 
