292 THE' MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
They call them la Brunissure and the Californian 
disease , and they have found that they are caused 
by two endocellular myxomicetes Plasmadiophora 
vitis — and Plasmadiophora cal ij arnica . — The for- 
mer disease was noticed in France in 1SS2 for the 
first time, and it has been spreading ever since in 
an alarming manner. The other till now is restricted 
to California and has,not as yet made its appea- 
rance in Europe. The Government in France 
has forbidden all importation of vines from Cali- 
fornia and it would be well that we should adopt 
some restrictive measures, now that, on account of ' 
the Peronospora in our vines, it has been suggested 
to introduce American ones as the less subject to 
this last mentioned disease. With regard to the 
the Brunissure Prof. Cuboni in “ La difesa dei pa- 
rassiti ” informs us that it has been already found 
in various localities in Italy and even in Sidy: it 
would be well therefore to keep our eyes open also 
to this new enemy which threatens our vines so 
closely. 
The Brunissure appears on the leaves, on the 
upper surface of which, irregular brownish spots 
begin to appear, these then extend to the whole 
leaf which madams its green colour only at its 
edge and near its nervature, the petioe assumes a 
dark brown colour, and finally the whole leaf 
turns into a dull greyish brown and falls. The 
disease in the leaves then stops the ripening of 
the fruit, the development and all the functions of 
the plant. It has been experienced that the reme- 
dies used against Peronospora are of no value 
against the Brunissure. 
A. C. G. 
Comino ar.d its islets. 
‘"There are more things in heaven and earth 
Horatio than are dreamt of in thy philosophy." 
Between Malta and Gozo, lies an islet l hat is al- 
most as unknown to the majority of the inhabitants 
of Malta as are the wilds of Africa, or the plains 
of Siberia. Viewed from the north, its low-lying 
shores, with their bare denuded surfaces, present a 
most uninviting, not to say savage aspect. All that 
tends to beautify a landscape is there absent. Its 
surface contour assumes a monotonously undula- 
ting form, which is unrelieved b , all vegetation 
save a few scrubby plants, that endeavour to eke j 
out An existence in the hollows of its honey-combed 
surface. Even the softening effect, that an integu- 
ment of soil imparts' to a landscape, is there wan- 
ting; and the scanty earth, that has been derived 
from the erosion of the rocks around, lies in small 
patches at irregular intervals, and serves ratuer to 
increase, than to di minish the savagery of the ; res- 
pect. And yet I date say there are few, who after 
a first visit, have not experienced a desire to renew 
their acquaintance with it. 
The romantic scenery of the western coast of 
Comino oilers attractions, that are at once the ■ n- 
der and delight of all who behold them. Unlike 
the northern and southern shores, those of the east 
and the west, present to the Mediterranean waters 
a succession of precipitous cliffs and weather bea- 
ten headlands, that attain a height varying from 
100 to 180 ft. Compared with the cliffs on the south 
t of Malta, they b insignif t their 
want of altitude is fully compensated for, by the 
wildness of their contour.andthe pictures me group- 
ings of the detached masses that lie along their 
bases. All of the energies o: the devastating t wees 
of nature have been concentrated on the work of 
destruction and have left behind indelible records 
of the terrible rigour of their attacks. Rock masses 
have been torn away and hurled to incredible dis- 
tances, thus forming a scries o: sunken reels, and 
fantastically shaped islets, which, m teuipcsturus 
weather, are at once the refuge of the myriads of 
gulls and rock pigeons, that have there fashioned 
a home, and the dread of the fishermen, who gain a 
scanty livelihood, by toiling in the surroundings 
waters. The mural cliffs of many of these islets to- 
wer to a height, that is but little less than that of 
the cliffs of the formation of which they once for- 
med a part;' but, while possessing all then. i>->ty >( . i 
proportion of the parent bed, they have also a rug- 
ged beauty -o entirely their own. that it eon chu- 
tes a feature in the sea scape, which by the contrast, 
tends to bring other not less remarkable features 
quite into position of subordination. 
It is to the north-east wind, that these disastrous 
effects among the cliffs and precipices of the islands 
are to be attributed This wind blows during the 
winter time, with unremitting fury for many days 
together; and one has but to watch the huge ‘ 
breakers, that are then raised, and hurled with 
resistless violence against the shores of the islets, to 
be able to form a good idea of the magnitude of 
