sticks upon which these spongy-looking masses grow, and surrounded by fluffy decomposing debris. Those which float probably remain on the surface until the time arrives for development, when they would attach themselves to any floating weeds or rootlets. I have found Fredricella sultana very plentiful in September, and a few alive early in November, when the tubes were full of statoblasts, some of which placed in my aquarium developed on the 11th of February following, and more hatched early in March, and some very young forms were found in the canal Fig. 47.-Fredericella sultana, nat. size. rapidly decomposed, when the statoblasts were surrounded by a semi-transparent oval sac which floated to the surface, and in time liberated the statoblasts which became free and floated on the water. None of these developed, owing, probably, to the want of natural surroundings. The development of Paludicella Ehrenbergi is to me 'the most wonderful, and is altogether the most interesting. I shall never forget my delight when, in 1877, I first saw this beautiful shy and coy little creature. Its delicate texture, its playful habits, its exceeding beauty, make it a possession to be proud of. I also found it early in March, 1878, when the hybernaculum was developing its young. Dr. Allman states, that the hybernacula have not been seen in this country. "Van Beneden thus describes the occurrence of Hybernacula or Gemma, which under the influence Fig. 48.-Fredericella sultana, enlarged, showing polypes. of a favourite temperature would have grown into the ordinary lateral branches of the polyzoan, but which towards the commencement of winter acquire a conical form, and then become for a while arrested in their development. In this state they remain until the following spring, when the investing membrane splits to allow the elongation of the branch." The specimens taken from the canal near Chester have, on several occasions in the early spring, shown the process of development described by Van Beneden. No statoblasts having been seen in this species, it seems pretty certain that this hybernaculum, or clubshaped branch, is the only method of promoting the life of this lovely little creature. I have lately found (Dec.) these winter buds sealed up ready for next spring, and in two of them I could see, within the tubes, a semi-transparent oval nucleus or sac, which evidently contained the germ for further development. If Mr. Lord or any readers of SCIENCE-Gossip should wish to work out the development and thoroughly study this beautiful class of animal life, I shall be pleased to assist in any way I can, during the little leisure I possess. THOS. SHEpheard. Kingsley Lodge, Chester, Jan. 1888. NOTES ON THE EIGHTH EDITION OF THE LONDON CATALOGUE OF BRITISH PLANTS. By ARTHUR BENNETT, F.L.S. 1059 is V. fruticans, Jacq. 1065 is a pubescent variety, formerly quoted in some of the earlier editions of the London Catalogue. 1969 b, alter authority to "Berl." 10766 is a large broad-leaved form from Oxfordshire, described by Dr. Boswell in "English Botany." 1079 b and c are varieties hard to distinguish from one another or the type. 1081 becomes O. purpurea, Jacq. 10896 is a Channel Isles' plant, small, and of a beautiful yellow colour all over. 1096 is an added species, supposed to have occurred in the Loch of Spynie, Elginshire, and probably else. where, but unless in flower exceedingly difficult to separate or name. 1102, authority, "Hudson." 1104, alter to longifolia, Hudson. 1106, authority, "Linn." 1108, authority, "Hudson." 1122 becomes C. parviflora, Lam. 1130, hybrid. Gathered by Mr. G. Nicholson, in Surrey, since named S. Nicholsonii, Taubert, in "Ver. Bot. Ver. Pr. Brandenburg," 28. 1131, authority, "Huds." 1144 is 986, 7th ed. 1150 is 991, 7th ed. 1165, authority, "Chaix." 1166, authority, "Reich." 1169, authority, "Waldst. and Kit." 1170, alter to L. juncea, Berg. 1181 a should be incanum, Moq., and C. viridescens, St. Amans. 11866 should be rhombifolium, Muehl. 1194, authority, "Huds." 11966 is a green var. found by Mr. Grant, in Caithness, and Mr. Beeby, in Shetland. 1200 should read a. acetaria, Moq., b. prostrata, Moq. 1205b is a variety simulating P. dumetorum, and often so named. 1208 is 1114, 7th ed. 1224 becomes. R. limosus, Thuill. 1229 should read, b. triangulatus, Syme, c. subcordatus, Warren (both described in the "Exchange Club Reports"), d. elongatus, Guss. 1236. The hybrids speak for themselves, others no doubt occur. The Swedish botanists have been studying these plants, and published interesting notes on them in their "Botanisker Notiser." 1231 b is 1105, 7th ed. 1263, authority, "Stokes." 12666 is a narrow-leaved var. of rare occurrence. 1274, alter authority to "Gaertn." Our Salices, with the addition of S. hippophaefolia, Thuill., found by Dr. Fraser in Staffordshire, remain much as they were years ago, except that the then newer species have been reduced to varieties. 13206, authority, "Loudon." Epipactis. This genus is decidedly not settled, most of the specimens named atro-rubens (ovalis of Babington) are to my eyes not so. The only specimens I can refer to the true plant of Babington are those originally gathered by Mr. Tatham, in Yorkshire. It is to be hoped that botanists will gather our rarer Orchids sparingly, such as O. purpurea, O. militaris, and O. Simia-the last has become exceedingly rare, though I think I could find a fair number each year. I once saw twenty-five in flower at the edge of a wood, and noting this in SCIENCE-GOSSIP, I had forty-five letters in the fortnight following. I could only act fairly by answering none. 13586 is a var. found in Surrey, with a narrow drawn-out lip, etc. 1363 is 1274, 7th ed. 1364 is 1279, 7th ed. 1365 is 1275, 7th ed. 1368 is 1278, 7th ed. 1380b is a var. found in Wales. 1390 a alter to a. altilis, L., b. prostratus, L. 1430 is an added species found in Herefordshire, and in 1887 in Scotland. One of Don's "reputed" plants, 1439 c, d, e are three forms added of this varying species; c, a water form, d, a marsh one, e, a condensed one, with flowers and leaves in fascicles. Juncus alpinus, Vill., has been found in Perth; in 1887 by Dr. White and Mr. Brebner. 1442 x is an hybrid between lamprocarpus and acutiflorus, found by Mr. Beeby, near Hedge Court, Mill Pond, in S.W. Surrey. 1443 b is 13726, 7th ed. 1454, alter to L. erectus, Desv. 1454 d is an added name for a pale form of the species, usually taller and more gracile. 1458 is an added species described and figured by Mr. Beeby in the "Journal of Botany," differing from ramosum in its fruit, which is more like simplex. As yet it has only been found in England. Spargania for naming ought always to be gathered in ripe fruit. 1472 is 1255, 7th ed. 1474 is 1256, 7th ed. 14796 is a form of natans, with long drawn-out leaves. 1481 is an added species, found by Mr. Fryer in Hunts. It is probably the true plant, but ripe fruit has yet to be obtained. 1483 b. This is a form in habit between rufescens and polygonifolius. 1487b is a form of heterophyllus I found in Cambridgeshire; growing, the plant has much the aspect of polygonifolius. The describer of it, the Rev. Morong, placed it under "gramineus, L." (our heterophyllus); he found it in the United States. 1488b is a slender form of nitens, with recurved leaves. 1490 is 1227 6, 7th ed. 1491 is an added species figured and described in the "Journal of Botany," from specimens gathered at Cauldshiels Loch, Roxburgh, by Mr. Brotherston. 1492, added species, gathered by the Rev. Ley, in Herefordshire, and identified by Professor Babington, who supposed it identical with P. Lonchites, Tuck. 1463, added species, found by Mr. J. E. Griffith, near Aber, in Carnarvonshire, which I was obliged to describe as new in "Journal of Botany"; as yet I have not been able to place it under any recognised species. 1495 b. Yorkshire, a peculiar form of perfoliatus, with the facies of nitens or heterophyllus in it. 1496 b. Hudson's plant, often when with narrow leaves named P. obtusifolius. 14996, a Norfolk form of the species. 1500b. A Hants and Perth form of obtusifolius, the identification of which I owe to specimens kindly sent me by Dr. Lange and Herr Mortenson. 1501 is 1236, 7th ed. It would take too much space to give here the reasons, for and against, this name being used. 1502 c is a plant from the Orkney Isles gathered by Prof. Traill, simulating P.rutilus, Wolfgang, very much. 1503 is a sub-species of pusillus, L., gathered by Mr. Sturrock, in Perthshire; it is a slender pretty plant, different to anything I possess from any part of the world. 1509b is an Orkney plant found by Dr. Boswell, a small mud form. 1511 is a plant with a four-celled anther and fruit not so muricated as the usual form. ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. Rising, Southing, and Setting of the Principal Planets at intervals of Seven Days in May. THE By JOHN BROWNING, F.R.A.S. HE first meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society for the new session was held on March the 9th. A number of papers had been received on observations of the total lunar eclipse of the 28th of January. In a paper sent by Dr. Dyer on the observations made at the Armagh Observatory, he stated that he recorded seven disappearances and two reappearances of stars, and called attention to the fact that about the middle of the eclipse, when viewed with the naked eye, the moon looked like a bright disc with a dark triangular shadow on it. Mr. Rambone, of Dunsink, sent a paper of observations, in which he recorded seventeen disappearances and eighteen reappearances, upon the red colour visible on the moon's disc. In the discussion which followed the reading of these papers, Captain Noble said that he observed that the body of the moon was almost chocolate-red, whilst the limb seemed to be of a silvery green. (The writer would suggest, that this appearance of a bright green tint on the limb was doubtless only a complementary colour produced by the red in the eye of the observer.) This suggestion was made by the Astronomer Royal in summing up the discussion. In May there will be no occultations of any star as large as a fourth magnitude. Mercury will be an evening star in the last two weeks of the month, and will be situated in the north-west after sunset. Venus will be a morning star in Aries, but will enter Taurus in the middle of the month. Jupiter will rise in the evening in Scorpio. Meteorology. In May the Isotherms assume roughly the form of the letter S placed on its back across England. At Haverfordwest the mean average temperature is 53°. The isotherm of this temperature first falls to Swansea, then rises to Leicester and again falls through Rutland and between Ipswich and Chelmsford to Canterbury. The Isotherm of 52° passes through Blackburn, rises to York, and then falls to Hull and Norwich. The Isotherm of 51° passes through Kirkcudbright, rises to Jedburgh, and then falls to Norwich. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the lowest reading of the barometer for the week ending 17th of March was 28.60 in. on Sunday afternoon, and the highest 29.88 in. at the end of the week. The mean temperature of the air was 37°2 deg., and 3.8 deg. below the average. The direction of the wind was variable. Rain fell on every day of the week, to the aggregate amount of o'95 in. The duration of registered bright sunshine in the week was 10'8 hours, against 10'1 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. For the week ending 24th of March the highest reading of the barometer was 30'07 in. on Wednesday evening, and the lowest 29.06 in. at the end of the week. The mean temperature of the air was 347 deg., and 7.0 deg. below the average. The general direction of the wind was N.N.E. Rain fell on five days of the week, to the aggregate amount of 0.66 in. The duration of registered bright sunshine in the week was 113 hours, against 31 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. For the week ending 31st March, the lowest reading of the barometer was 28°57 in. on Wednesday afternoon, and the highest 29.80 in. at the end of the week. The mean temperature of the air was 40'0 deg., and 3'4 deg. below the average. The direction of the wind was variable. Rain fell on six days of the week, to the aggregate amount of o'87 of an inch. The duration of registered bright sunshine in the week was 112 hours, against 13'4 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. The For the week ending 7th April, the lowest reading of the barometer was 29.58in. on Monday afternoon, and the highest 30'09in. on Friday morning. mean temperature of the air was 37°1 deg., and 9'1 deg. below the average. The general direction of the wind was north-east. Rain fell on two days of the week, to the aggregate amount of o'08 of an inch. The duration of registered bright sunshine in the week was 29′0 hours, against 29.7 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. For the week ending 14th April, the highest reading of the barometer was 29.93 in. on Tuesday evening; and the lowest 29 59 in. on Friday morning. The mean temperature of the air was 42.2 deg., and 4'9 deg. below the average. The direction of the wind was variable. Rain fell on four days of the week, to the aggregate amount of o'11 of an inch. The duration of registered bright sunshine in the week was 21.5 hours against 13 4 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. The average rainfall for May is I in. for the whole of the east coast and a great part of the south coast, and 2 in. for the whole of the west coast and a portion of the south-east coast by the North Foreland, while it reaches 3 in. in a few places in Cornwall, North Wales and the English lake district. E1 THE STORY OF THE GREAT AUK. IGHTY years ago a boat's crew landing on an island lying off Reykjanes, on the coast of Iceland, chased, killed, and ate the great auk to its heart's content. So recklessly did the sailors go to work that they indiscriminately trod underfoot innumerable eggs and also a vast number of young birds. So abundant was the great auk at that time that no one then could ever have dreamed that in less than a century it would follow in the footsteps of the dodo, the apteryx, and the solitaire, and become an extinct and almost mythological creature. Still less can we suppose that any one of the "Salamine's" crew could have deemed it possible that the eggs which he so remorselessly crushed would one day attain such a value that £225 would be paid for a single specimen. Yet such things are facts. The bird has been improved off the face of the earth. It no longer exists-a few stuffed specimens-a jar or so of spirits encasing its remains, a few bones, and less than seventy eggs, alone bear witness to the fact that the great auk once dwelt among us. With only seventy eggs in existence, and no further supply forthcoming, it may not seem so surprising that on the 12th day of the month of March last Mr. Stevens, of King Street, Covent Garden, should be able to sell a very fine egg of the great auk for £225. As an instance of the rapidly increasing value of this specimen it has been stated that it had been in the possession of its late owner since 1851, when it was purchased for £18. No egg of any kind has ever realised so large a sum as that fetched at the recent sale, although a similar relic of the great auk changed hands in December last for £168. The great auk belonged to the genus of web-footed birds called auk (alca) the type of a family named Alcada. The members of this family are remarkable for the shortness of their wings, which they employ as fins or paddles for swimming under water-some being even incapable of flying, and for the position of their legs further backward than in other birds, which makes walking difficult, and compels them when on land to maintain an upright attitude. They are distinguished by the very compressed bill, which in the true auks is vertically elevated, and so sharp along the ridge as to resemble the blade of a knife; and by their entirely graduated feet, destitute of hind toes. The auks are entirely confined to the seas of the northern hemisphere (the penguins taking their place in the southern) and are most abundant in the cooler regions. All of them have a dense plumage, which generally exhibits on its surface a beautifully polished appearance and silvery lustre. Its The great auk, now extinct, in size as large as a goose, was strictly an oceanic bird, rarely leaving the water; but when sojourning on land usually selecting the spots most inaccessible to man. winter plumage appeared in autumn, when its cheeks, throat, forepart, and sides of neck were white. Its summer plumage commenced to appear in the spring, when the white on the head became confined to a large patch which extended in front and round the eyes; the rest of the head, neck, and upper plumage was of a deep black. It has been said that this bird was deprived of the power of flight, not from any peculiarity in the structure of the wings and feathers, but simply on account of their diminutive size. This, however, appears to be an incorrect statement, inasmuch as Professor Owen has declared, "The proportion in which the skeleton [of birds] is permeated by air varies. In Alca impennis (i.e. the great auk), the penguin and the apteryx, air is not admitted into any of the bones. The condition of the osseous system, therefore, which all birds present at early periods of their existence, is here retained through life." Hence we see that their wings did possess a peculiarity of structure, fitting them for paddling purposes rather than for flight. It was formerly an inhabitant of Newfoundland, Labrador, and Iceland, and a somewhat rare visitant, at least of late years, of Norway and Sweden, and of the Orkney, Shetland, and Hebrides Islands. To compensate it for its inability to fly it was enabled, as we have seen, to move with great rapidity under water. Thus it is related how, in 1812, Mr. Bullock chased one of these birds in the Orkneys in a boat manned with six oars, and although every effort was used to capture it, the bird outstripped its pursuers and escaped. This was one of two birds which for some time had been seen in the neighbourhood, and was well known to the people as the king as the other was as the queen of the auks. It was killed a fortnight afterwards, and came into the possession of the authorities at the British Museum. In common with most of the Alcade, the great auk laid only one egg, and this upon the bare rock, without any attempt at a nest. The eggs varied in size; thus of four in the possession of one collector the sizes were as follows :-(1) 5 inches, by 2 inches 10 lines; weight, 31 scruples 10 drams. (2) 4 inches 10 lines, by 2 inches 11 lines; weight, 41 scruples |