ANG!

went the gun from Fort Anne as we steamed gallantly into the imposing harbour of Douglas, the beautiful capital of the Isle of Man. Far

out at sea, the island had presented a farstretching array of ridges and knolls, towering not very picturesquely over the blue crystal of the ocean. Now, on our arrival,

we knew prospectively that a region was to be visited not very eminent as regards scenic attractiveness, but one rather of pre-eminent scientific interest. Considering, therefore, in the first instance, that an adequate and satisfactory orographical review would be exceedingly serviceable, we forthwith walked to Laxey, and thence un the following day we climbed to the summit of Snaefell (2034 feet above the sea), the highest mountain in the island. The elements were sufficiently propitious, so that from this, the most central coigne of vantage in the British Islands, we were enabled to see portions of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, all in one vast visual circumference. The island itself beneath our feet looked however disproportionately small and humpy, something indeed which the radical natives are rather ashamed of. The old time-worn, force-shattered Silurian hills rose into sharp picturesque peaks or into gentle mounds terraced with earth and clothed with grass, while the innumerable brown-burnt dips and valleys between betokened a moorland bleakness of vegetaNo. 280.-APRIL 1888.

tion. So, too, from other points throughout the island, such as by the seaboard, many choice gems and bits of scenery were commanded. At Port Erin, Niarbyl Point, Langness promontory, etc., the ocean and the wave-shattered coast-line exhibited tints, hues, forms, and motions that were fresh and charming and worthy of a special niche in the memory. The Manx mind is eminently capable of discerning the weird power and fairy charm of nature, so that every nook and corner is associated with romantic legends and ghost tales. The general route pursued during the visit was from Douglas to Laxey, and over Snaefell to Ramsey, thence to Peel and St. Johns, whence we visited Castletown, Foxfield, Colby, and the adjacent coast, etc.

The physical conformation of the island is very remarkable. From its most northern extremity, viz. Point of Ayre, to about the distance of seven miles southwards, there is a perfectly flat, triangular tract, with only a few bosses or hills, the highest of which is 323 feet above the sea-level. Over this level, monotonous plain a lofty rampart of hills with bastions and buttresses abruptly impends, extending in an almost straight line from east to west. Thence succeeds a round, rather flat-topped, green-clad company of mountains which with their intersecting valleys and ravines cover the remainder of the island, except a few flattish tracts on the shore between Ballaugh and Peel, and a flat triangular patch in the extreme south in the immediate neighbourhood of Castleton. The seaboard is flanked by a vertical cliff-line, in some places only twenty feet high, but in others, as at Spanish Head, Clay Head, it slopes down for over three hundred feet in an almost sheer descent. Brada Head (766 feet) descends perpendicularly into the sea. There are many fine picturesque rocks, pinnacles, sea-caves and clefts, outlying stacks, natural arches, etc., along the coast. In some places marshy tracts occur, but at present there is not a single lake or tarn throughout the island. All round the seaboard there is evidence that the sea is leaving the land at a perceptible rate. It would seem that

E

immense lateral pressure emanates from the sea itself tending to fold, elevate, and crush the portion of the over-crust situated here.

GEOLOGY.

Our old familiar friend the metamorphic clay-slate of the Silurian system here greets us as of yore. The entire skeleton, so to speak, of the island and all the highest mountains thereof are composed of it. In fact, it may be regarded as the sine qua non of the territory, as doubtless a softer or a less matured or worse tempered rock would have been swept away long ago by the seas, or rather would not have endured the tremendous pressure from beneath and laterally to which it has evidently been subjected. It occurs in four forms, viz. as a sandstone or grit, a grey flagstone, a black slate, and a soft black shale. The Skiddaw slate of Cumberland is its nearest analogue; but the volcanic green slate and porphyry of that period have not here been observed in connection therewith. In places it is observed to be very slaty and splintery, indeed almost shaly. Here and there it is beautifully stratified, but sometimes it is twisted, contorted, bent nearly double, and its edges upturned (as at Little Ness and near Glen Cam), so as to be almost or quite vertical. These contortion phenomena are specially noticeable among rocks which jut into the sea, or at the base of marine precipices. Is it possible that the stupendous weight and impetus of the sea-water on either side of the strata may have exerted a mighty sideward pressure thereon sufficient to upraise and bend them? It is a singular fact in geology that all the existing volcanoes on the earth are near the sea or very large sheets of water, and as earthquakes are intimately connected with volcanic eruptions, it would appear that the motions of the water are more concerned with the folding and wrinkling of the earth's crust, etc., than what is generally supposed. However that may be, we must now remark that in the island we are now reviewing, the old red sandstone appears next after the Silurian slate resting unconformably thereon. It has evidently been greatly denuded, as it now appears in only a few places, such as for a mile and a half along the shore to the north of Peel, and near Ballasalla and Derby Haven in the south. On the peninsula of Langness it is seen as a conglomerate (supposed by Ward to be identical with the basement conglomerate of the carboniferous formation), and presents a beautiful and picturesque appearance, being composed of quartzite pebbles and boulders imbedded in a limestone matrix resting on the upturned edges of the slates, and chiselled by the waves into numerous grottoes, arches, pillars, pinnacles, etc. Next in order, and resting with complete conformity on the old red or conglomerate (as is well seen at Langness) come the well-known pinky-white, wellstratified slabs and spreads of the carboniferous

limestone. It surrounds the bays in the neighbourhood of Castletown; and occurs also at Port St. Mary, Ballasalla, etc. To the north of the Peel there are the remains of a bed, and boulders of it are frequently washed up all along the north-west coast; so that it would appear that a sort of limestone reef occurs under the sea in that quarter. Its texture is for the most part finely granular, being fossiliferous only in a few places. At Poolvash, doubtless owing to the influence of the adjacent igneous rocks, it is developed into a fine, black, softish marble suitable for chimney-pieces, etc. After the limestone, there is a great gap or break in the succession of the Manx geological strata. The great formations of the Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Eocene, Miocene, and Pliocene are utterly unrepresented. Not a particle of coal, millstone grit, new red sandstone, lias clay, greensand, chalk, etc., has been found in the island. While, according to our ultraspeculative geologists, England, etc., has been alternately and periodically "ducking" up and down for so many thousands or millions of years in order to receive these deposits and their fossils, the Isle of Man has either remained stationary, or the stuff has all been swept off it. However that may be, it is certain that the Pleistocene formation is here extremely well developed, "better, perhaps," as has been said, "than in any other part of Great Britain." It covers all the lower tracts, i.e. to not more than five hundred feet above the sea-level, and is especially prominent in the great level plain on the north, and in the valley between Douglas and Peel. It consists of sand, gravel, shelly clay, rounded pebbles and boulders of almost every kind of rock, and forms as it were a sort of connecting link between the high dry land and the oozy depths of old ocean. Chalk flint, bluish clay (till), shell mark have also been found. Where these boulders came from, is a knotty problem. Geologists prate about ice and glaciers and the glacial period, and what not ; but the idea of these outlying, heterogeneous masses of rocks being gradually pushed up from below by some lateral or other pressure, seems never to have tickled their heads. It may be observed, that in general there is a conspicuous absence of boulders on the Manx mountain sides, and there is little or no evidence of local glaciers, or indeed of ice-chiselling of any kind. The volcanic rocks of the island consist of "ash and breccia intersected by dykes of basalt," and form some very remarkable rugged and jagged pinnacles of low elevation on the southern shore.

Mineralogically considered, the island is extremely interesting. The granite is the most beautiful ever seen, being composed of flakes of glistening white silvery mica, and of white felspar imbedded in a pinky-white snowy quartz: frequently the felspar is left out of the bargain, and there is nothing but quartz and mica. Calcite and dolomite in very fine

crystals are plentiful, while graphite, witherite, barytes, hornblende, stilbite, and chlorite have been found in small quantities. There is a magnificent development of the metallic minerals, more especially of galena, which occurs in the largest crystals ever found at the Laxey and Foxdale mines. It is worked for at some twenty mines in the island, and is extremely rich in silver, containing in one spot as much as 1000 oz. thereof to the ton of lead ore: the average for the whole Manx mines being about 20 oz. to the ton of pure lead. Hæmatite is found in three mines; iron pyrites is common in rather good crystals; while limnite, titaniferrite, and vivianite are found in small quantities. Chrysocolla occurs in a massive incrusting state, and chalcopyrite (sometimes in very beautiful crystals) is yielded by four mines. Molybdenite, antimonite, and pyromorphite have been found sparingly. Blende is yielded by seven mines, and is here occasionally of a slaty-blue colour, and very beautifully crystallised. Umber and rottenstone have also been discovered in three different localities. On the whole, considering its size (viz. 33 miles long by 12 broad) the Isle of Man is extremely rich in mineralogical and metalliferous products. The earth's upper crust is here apparently thinner, and nearer the inner crust, as it were, than in most localities; hence the lavish effluence, and the superior beauty and purity of its constituent materials, proceeding from the very heart and core, so to speak, of the parental fountain of Nature herself. The granite, merging as it does into the quartz or quartzite, is here evidently an igneous rock, a fresh, unadulterated portion of the clear, firescathed contents of the very bowels of the earth. Through the cracks and cavities of the crushed, contorted slates the pure elemental metals, lead, zinc, etc., charged with sulphur, etc., have won their way, distilled from the adjacent beds, or more probably ejected in jets and streams pure and fresh from the subterranean reservoirs.

BOTANY.

But the crowning glory of the Isle of Man is its Botany. In what is designated the mid-agrarian zone, viz. that which extends from tide-level upwards to some 900 feet, its treasury is specially rich. From its splendid nurseries, its rich soil of pure sand and gravel, intermixed in many places with calcareous matter, springs forth a chaplet of pearls matchless and unparalleled among our natural flowers. The furze and broom, those brilliant tenants of the wastes and wilds, are here magnificently developed, clothing the hedges and lane-sides with festoons of yellow drapery. The marsh marigold, the mallows, the elder, heath and ling, the bog-bean, henbane, the mullein, the foxglove, the yellow iris flourish in rich and lavish luxuriance. The curraghs or sand-plains, the rocky bluffs and headlands, the rifts and gullies

in the wild sea rocks nourish bouquets of plant organisms rarely found in the neighbouring coasts and islands. There may be found sea-kale (Crambe maritima), sea rocket (Cakile maritima), tamarisk (Tamarix Anglica), squill (Scilla verna), sea-holly (Eryngium maritimum), kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), dwarf furze (Ulex nanus), flax (Linum angustifolium), Isle of Man cabbage (Brassica Monensis), henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), cowbane (Cicuta virosa), saltwort (Salsola Kali), sand-spurry (Spergularia neglecta and peploides), etc.

At one spot in Poolvash Bay, near Castletown, where some limestone rock seamed with basalt underlies the lap of the sea meadow, its carpet was gloriously enamelled with bright-painted sea-pink interspersed with bladder-campion and bird's-foot trefoil, the whole forming a motley company disposed in waving ranks most beauteous to behold. That familiar tenant of the time-shattered ruin, the rare and interesting pellitory of the wall (Parietaria officinalis), spread its pink wreaths lavishly over the broken stones.

The common navelwort or wall pennywort (Cotyledon umbilicus) is extraordinarily abundant all over the island, studding with its stiff stems, thick leaves, and bell-shaped flowers, the old walls and ditches of every road and lane. On the other hand, there is no alpine flora upon the mountains, no dwarf willows, alpine sedges, sorrels, rues, saxifrages, hawkweeds, rock-cresses, chickweeds, etc., the highest summit, viz. Snaefell (2034 ft.), not being sufficiently elevated to furnish a garden suited for the culture of such exquisite organisms.

The following plants were personally observed in the island-Pepperwort (Lepidium Smithii), bugle (Ajuga reptans), spearwort (Ranunculus flammula), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), horned poppy (Glaucium luteum), scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis), milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), bladder campion (Silene maritima), sea mallow (Lavatera arborea), sandwort-spurry (Spergularia neglecta), cranesbill (Geranium molle), hop trefoil (Trifolium procumbens), kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), purple astragal (Astragalus hypoglottis), wood vetch (Vicia sylvatica), marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla comarium), wall pennywort (Cotyledon umbilicus), golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium), sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix), sea milkwort (Glaux maritima), bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), small bugloss (Lycopsis arvensis), henbane (IIyoscyamus niger), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), yellow and red rattle, ragged robin, ground ivy (Nepeta glechoma), red deadnettle, figwort (Scrophularia nodosa), wood-sage, pellitory of the wall (Parietaria officinalis), yellow iris, blue-bell, purple and butterfly orchis (Habenaria bifolia), sea pink (Armeria maritim 1), pondweed (Potamogeton natans), horse-tail (Equisetum talmateja).

A PAGE OF THE LIFE-HISTORY OF STEPHANOCERAS EICHORNII.

D

By W. H. HARRIS.

URING the summer of 1887, I was fortunate enough to become possessed of some specimens of Stephanoceras Eichornii. Often had I searched for this king of animalcules in the numerous pools and dykes of this neighbourhood, and which had from time to time furnished specimens of rare forms; but never had I been able to take this creature. Now, however, I had a large colony close at hand. A tank which had stood in the slanting rays of light coming through a window having a south-easterly aspect was changed to another window facing the north-east; it had stood in the former position for two or three years; the results not being satisfactory, the change of quarters was decided upon and carried into effect in the early spring. In the following July a few specimens appeared, became more numerous during the ensuing three months, and continued in gradually diminishing numbers until the close of the year.

I had these creatures under observation for two months, and I propose to place upon record some of the phenomena which came under my notice, as an instalment towards the entire life-history of this exceedingly beautiful and interesting creature.

A word as to the method adopted for continuing the observations may be useful to others similarly employed. Simple means are frequently the best. The outfit consisted of a few thin flattish watch-glasses and a square of thin cover-glass. The specimen to be observed was removed into a watch-glass, with a small portion of the plant to which it was attached; a sufficient quantity of water given to cover the specimen. The cover-glass was then floated on the surface and observations made. When these were completed, the cover-glass was removed, a liberal supply of water given, and then placed aside under a wine-glass to exclude dust, and retard, as far as possible, the rapid evaporation caused by summer temperature.

Experience taught me that the secret of successfully preserving the specimens in good health, lay in removing the cover-glass; if this were not done, symptoms of declining health soon manifested themselves, the verticillate setæ lost their energy and contour; some dark spots collected in the main trunks of the arms; the whole organism languished, and if not relieved, death soon ensued. Specimens far advanced towards dissolution recovered under the changed conditions and fulfilled the object of their existence. Air, and plenty of it, was the key to success. Until this conclusion was reached, my observations were liable to be interrupted at a very interesting point, and the labour expended lost to some extent. Soon, however, certain questions suggested themselves,

answers to which could alone be given by the organisms. It was with the view of extracting these answers something like systematic obsevations were continued over the greater portion of the time mentioned.

How are the young produced? I had noticed that adult specimens when taken from the tank contained ova in different stages of development; that these decreased in number, but could not be found in the tube, as is the case with many other tube-dwelling rotifera; that after a short time a young specimen would be found in all respects, save one, like its parent, the difference consisted of size alone. Soon it was found they were ovoviviparous, the ovum being excluded and remaining in contact with the parent; the young one shortly after made its escape, and for a short time led a free life, roaming gracefully through the water until it settled down to the stern realities of its existence.

I was never fortunate enough to witness the actual exclusion of the ovum, although many hours were specially devoted to this end; that the act is a rapid one there is not the slightest doubt, as on several occasions the withdrawal of the eye for occasional relief was sufficient to thwart the object in view.

When the young first escape from the ova they are

mere sac-like creatures with a fringe of cilia around the anterior end, the posterior end contracts rapidly, terminating in a rounded point. The following example may be taken as fairly illustrative of the early stages of the organism and the time occupied, but as the season advanced and temperature fell the changes took longer time to effect.

August 29th, an ovum was excluded at 9.30 A.M., remaining attached to the lower part of the body of the parent, the young one emerged at 10.30, swam freely until II A.M.; it then settled down, and in a few seconds attached itself permanently; then elongated and contracted itself to its utmost extent, gave a few convulsive turns, and in three minutes from the time of settling the first portion of its future dwelling-place was distinctly visible. The idea conveyed to the mind by the series of movements I have attempted to describe was that it had thus divested itself of a very thin and hyaline pellicle, but whether this was really the fact remained undecided: the main bulk of the adult tube is considered to be a secretion, but this would not necessarily clash with the above idea; on the contrary, it can be readily conceived it would materially assist the flow of the fluids in a proper direction for the purpose it has to

serve.

These movements accomplished, it retreated within the cup-like tube, assumed the form of a puffball, and remained quiescent for some time; changes, however, were proceeding, but so leisurely and slight they could be detected only by comparison from time to time. 3.10 P.M. the organism was visibly enlarged, the cilia had become arranged parallel to each other and protruded like a small brush, these were shortly afterwards absorbed, and at 4.30 P.M., the partly developed arms were plainly visible; progress contined to be made through the remainder of the day, but full development had not taken place when observations were suspended for the night. No food had apparently been taken up to this time, but the following morning the form was complete, feeding and progressing rapidly, the development to full size was shortly afterwards attained. These observations were confirmed on many subsequent occasions, the only difference being that of time occupied in the

the smallest three, more frequently four completed the progeny.

Messrs. Hudson and Gosse, in their monograph on these organisms, say: "the male of Stephanocera has not been discovered." Without positively laying claim to have seen one, there was one individual might reasonably be considered a suspect. From its first emergence it was slightly larger than the generality of young forms, one of its sides was more deeply crenulated than usual, and small, dark, globular bodies could be detected therein. A pearshaped cavity near the angle where the posterior portion rapidly narrows was partly filled with bodies of a similar nature, but these were in rapid motionspermatozoa? This creature, like many others to be noted further on, was isolated from the first, it never settled down, but led a wandering life from first to last; its increase in size was very slight, and its development was arrested at a very early age. It

Fig. 31. Resting period.

Fig. 33.-Development at 4.30 P.M

lived for about thirty six-hours, and was never seen to take any food.

How many generations are produced parthenogenetically? This question still requires an answer; until the male has been discovered, and observations start from the congress of sexes, it must wait solution. Young ones isolated immediately they emerged from the ovum, and supplied with water from a source when no other adult forms were present, were traced through four generations. The last members of this family contained ova, but from some cause they did not develop; and, notwithstanding the conditions were the same as had prevailed all through the course of observation, the creatures died without leaving issue. It was not that their life was cut short by any mishap; they lived as long as the generality of the tribe.

From thirteen to fourteen days appeared to be the allotted span of a healthy individual's existence;