already more or less withered. On some of these there was still a drop of a thick transparent saccharine fluid, evidently of the same flavour and composition as the crystals. I washed those ovaries which seemed to possess the most vitality: and, at the end of a few hours, there was a decided exhibition of a fresh supply of the syrup from several of them. This syrup gradually hardened, like a drop of gum, into a solid transparent, and perfectly colourless, mass; but those which I had received before exhibited some distinct crystalline facets, above a line in length. The largest mass was three lines long, and two broad, and weighed as much as four tenths of a grain. Eight fragments from different flowers weighed, together, 1.8 grain. In the Gardener's Magazine, vol. iii. p. 208., is the following notice, extracted from the Bulletin Universel:"Rhododendron pónticum is found to contain some grains of common sugar, of a pure and white colour, on the surface of the upper division of the corolla." The present example appears to offer the same substance, in larger masses than those here alluded to. I find that the syrup always exudes from the upper surface of the thickened base upon which the ovary is seated, and, apparently, from a minute glandular spot placed between the sinus formed by the two upper teeth of the calyx. The excessive formation of the syrup, in the present example, may be ascribed to a morbid state of the plant, which was in a pot, and kept in a room; and the crystals were stated to have been found more particularly within some of the flowers which had withered without fully expanding. On the Stimulus afforded to the Germination of the Seeds of an Acacia by their being scalded with boiling Water. - Sir John Herschell lately sent some seeds of an acacia from the Cape of Good Hope, to Captain Smith of Bedford, with directions that they should be scalded, in order to secure their germination. Captain Smith having presented me with a dozen of these, I subjected them to the following experiments: -Two were placed in boiling water, and left to soak for an hour, until the water had become cool; two were kept at the boiling temperature for 1 minute; two for 3 minutes; two for 6 minutes; and one for 15 minutes. Some of these were sown immediately, under a hand-glass, in the open border; and the rest were kept for 3 or 4 days, and then sown in a hotbed. The following are the results obtained: Under the hand-glass, 1, boiled for 1 minute, failed. 3 minutes, came up in 14 days. 6 1, not steeped at all, did not germinate. In the hot-bed, 1, boiled for 1 minute, came up in 8 days. 13 days. 9 days. 21 days. 2, in boiling water, left to cool 2, not steeped We cannot draw any decided inference from the single seed, which was boiled for 15 minutes, having been more retarded than the rest, as it might have been a bad specimen; but it seems very clear, that the heat to which these seeds were exposed must have acted as a decided stimulus to their germination; whilst it is a very singular fact, that they should not have been completely destroyed by it. Had I supposed it probable that the seed which was boiled for 15 minutes would have germinated, I should have boiled some of the others still longer, in order to ascertain the extreme limit to which such severe treatment might be carried without destroying the vital principle. Cambridge, July 8. 1836. "Having procured, while in England, seeds of various species of the Australian Acàciæ, and sown them immediately on my arrival at the Cape [of Good Hope], I was much disappointed at the apparent failure of many of them, but have found several of them vegetating after being three years in the ground, during which period they were duly attended in weeding and watering. Seeds, also, of Acàcia longifòlia, saved at the Cape, and sown ten days after gathering, showed the same tardiness in vegetating. This circumstance led me to consider the best mode of treatment in trying experiments with the Cape species of Acàcia, and other South African Leguminòsæ; and I find that nearly the whole of this order thrive better by having water heated to 200°, or even to the boiling point of Fahrenheit's thermometer, poured over them, leaving them to steep, and the water to cool for twenty-four hours. there is a numerous collection, and the quantity small of each species, they may remain in the papers."-J. Bowie. Cape of Good Hope, Feb. 16. 1831. (Gard. Mag., vol. viii. p.9.) Where "Great degrees of heat, short of boiling, do not impair the vegetative power of seeds; nor do we know any degree of cold that has such an effect. Those who convey seeds from distant countries should be instructed to keep them dry; for, if they receive any damp sufficient to cause an attempt at vegetation, they necessarily die, because the process cannot, as they are situated, go on. If, therefore, they are not exposed to so great an artificial heat as might change the nature of their oily juices, they can scarcely, as several cultivators have assured me, be kept in too warm a place." (Smith, in his Introduction to Physiological and Systematical Botany, 6th ed., p. 81.) ART. X. A Notice respecting the Revival of " The Meteorological Society of London," which was established in October, 1823; but which has been in a State of Inactivity for several Years. By Mr. W. H. WHITE. I FEEL persuaded that not only the contributors of meteorological papers to this Magazine, but every one who is friendly to meteorological science, will read this announcement with much pleasure, particularly when I state that I am instructed by the president, Dr. Birkbeck, to say, that "The Meteorological Society of London has not been dissolved; but has only sunk into a state of rest, not from the want of pecuniary means to effect the objects of the Society, as some have imagined, but, apparently, from a want of zeal in some of the members to carry into effect various important objects." About three years ago, a meeting was called, at the request of the treasurer, for the purpose of determining what should be done with the balance then in his hands. Several members were present; and it was unanimously decided, that the money produced by the treasurer should be invested, and that 757. stock, the amount which it would purchase, should be applied to the promotion of meteorological science, in the form of two prizes, of 50l. and 25l. (stock), for the best and second essay, on subjects connected with meteorology, afterwards to be determined. The money was accordingly invested in the three per cent consols.; and six half-yearly dividends have been received; so that there is now an accumulating fund for the advancement of meteorological science. At the meeting above mentioned, a committee was also appointed to prepare a question of the most comprehensive nature, for competition, and to make the necessary arrangements for presenting it to the scientific world. No such question or arrangements have yet been promulgated; and the committee, I believe, would feel obliged by questions suitable for discussion being sent, free of expense, to the president of the Society, Dr. Birkbeck, Finsbury Square, for their assistance in making a suitable selection; to whom, also, those meteorologists who are desirous of becoming members are hereby requested to signify their wishes without delay. This may be expected to lead to an early meeting of the present members, for the purpose of reviving the Society, balloting for new members, fixing upon the prize question, and other effective business. I ought to observe, that the Society consists of three classes of members, according to its regulations, of which I procured a copy from the treasurer; viz. : Resident members, "who reside in the metropolis, or within seven miles thereof." Corresponding members, "who reside at a greater distance from the metropolis than seven miles ;" and Honorary members, "who are persons eminent in meteorology, or sciences connected therewith." It is very desirable that so eligible an opportunity of establishing a cooperative system of meteorological observations should be embraced without delay; and, therefore, I sanguinely hope that every meteorologist, at what distance soever he may be placed from the metropolis (and the more numerously stations, in every portion of the habitable globe, can be established, the more desirable), will lose no time in forwarding his intention of becoming a member.-W. H. White. Old Kent Road, Aug. 16. 1836. ART. XI. Short Communications. BIRDS.-The Northern Diver. — I am much inclined to think that this is more common on the south coast than is generally supposed: I saw many in Mount's Bay and Falmouth Harbour in May, 1834. On about May 10. 1836, one was taken in a fishing net near this place. — T. S. Martin. Seaton, near Axminster, Devonshire, June 18. 1836. An individual of the immer, or great doucker, or ember goose (Colýmbus I'mmer Lin.), was taken, a few days ago, near the mouth of the Ystwith, at Aberystwith, in a net, at night, in company with a fine salmon. The kind had never before been seen in these parts. When alive, it weighed near 14 lb., and made a shrill noise, like the wail of a person in distress. It was savage in its nature, and seized with its strong bill on the feet or lower garments of any person who approached it, leaping up at him. (Quoted in the Worcester Herald of Nov. 30. 1833, from the Salopian Journal.) The Daring of Birds on Account of their Young or their Eggs (VIII. 504-508); an Instance in the Robin, or Redbreast, on Account of its Eggs. I perfectly agree with Mr. J. D. Salmon (VIII. 504.), that questions like that "treated of in VII. 483, 484., can only be satisfactorily answered by different correspondents reporting their personal observations;" and I submit a fact connected with the redbreast a little at variance with the opinion of S. D. W., given in VIII. 508.; who there states that "the redbreast flies off to a neighbouring bush, where she sits uttering her plaintive note till the prying naturalist is out of sight, when she returns to her nest, and resumes her maternal office." The fact to which I was witness occurred in my garden at Edmonton, many years ago, and is as follows: A redbreast had built her nest in a hole in an old cherry tree, which obtained where a dead branch had been cut off: the hole might be about 9 in. in depth. I, having discovered the nest, mentioned of it to a friend then visiting me, who, wishing to take a peep, looked into the hole, but was much startled by the bird's dashing out against him; and, whether the time required by my friend to count the eggs, and satisfy his curiosity, was longer than suited either the convenience or temper of the redbreast, I know not; but certain it is that she twice darted from a wall, to which she had retreated, and struck him on the head with her beak and wings, before he would remove and allow her to resume her seat. James G. Tatem. Wycombe, Bucks, April 4. 1836. [The case of the male mistletoe thrush's defence of its mate, described by Mr. Waterton (p. 411.), may be cited in relation to this subject; for one of the conditions of that case is, the pair had then a nest. In p. 227. are notices by Mr. Waterton of two conditions of birds' attachment to their eggs.] Birds' building Nests in unusual Situations (VI. 32—37.): Two Instances in the Robin. We a few weeks since noticed the singular circumstance of a robin having built its nest, and hatched its young, under a corner of the cushion in the clergyman's reading-desk at the parish of Bosham. Since that, another nest has been discovered in a similar situation, namely, at the corner of a cushion in the seat of Edward Bennett, Esq. This bird had been sitting on three or four eggs, and the young ones were hatched on Sunday. Much interest has been excited in the parish and neighbourhood by these birds, and many a visit has, in consequence, been made to the church. (Hampshire Advertiser, May 28. 1836.) [Communicated to this Magazine by Mr. G. E. Dennes.] Sixty Grubs, that had been recently taken, were found within a Rook that was killed in a field close to Foster's Booth, Hampshire, belonging to the Rev. W. H. Clarke, a short time since. (Dorset Chronicle for May 30. 1831.) — W. B. C. Starlings (Stúrnus vulgaris Lin.) feed their young with cockchafers during the time they are to be found. I believe that VOL. IX.- No. 65. NN |