we left Corfe, we found nothing on our journey worth mentioning.

The first thing I met with on Saturday morning (August 9th) was Helix aculeata, and afterwards careful search revealed several other species. The list of our captures is as follows: Pisidium pusillum, Sphærium lacustre, Planorbis nautileus, Helix rupestris, H. virgata, H. hortensis and var. roseolabiata, Clausilia rugosa, C. laminata, Balea perversa, Carychium minimum, Bulimus obscurus, Zonites cellarius, and, lastly, Bulimus acutus. Finding a boat just starting for Weymouth, we took it, as we were informed it would save us much trouble. On landing at Weymouth, and searching along the sands and rocks, we obtained the following shells: Venus Gallina, Pandora inæquivalvis, Pecten opercularis, Mactra stultorum, M. solida, var. truncata, Venerupis irus (with Saxicava rugosa in crevices in hard rocks), Tapes pullastra, Trochus magus, Tr. cinerarius, T. lineatus, T. umbilicatus, Littorina obtusata, L. rudis, L. litorea, Odostomia lactea, Purpura lapillus, Nassa reticulata, N. incrassata, Rissoa cingillus and var. rupestris (under rocks in quantities, alive), R. parva, R. striata, R. costata, Truncatella truncatula, and Cypræa Europea. The following day being Sunday, we did not continue our journey, but remained at Weymouth.

On Monday, August 11th, we started en route for Bridport. In the hedges near Weymouth we took Helix hortensis and var. roseolabiata, H. rufescens and var. alba, H. rotundata, Clausilia rugosa, Limax agrestis, L. maximus, and Arion ater, one specimen of which was white with an orange margin. We found it impossible to follow the coast-line all the way, so we took the shortest road via Portesham and Abbotsbury. Near the former spot we noticed H. caperata and H. ericetorum, and also the butterflies Lycana corydon and Pyrarga Galatea. The principal attraction of Abbotsbury appears to be a swannery containing fifteen hundred swans. This we did not see, as it was considerably out of our way. We met with nothing more till we approached Bridport, near which place we noticed Helix nemoralis for the first time, and also H. hortensis, H. virgata, and Succinea putris.

Tuesday, August 12th, found us on our way to Lyme Regis. Near Bridport we took H. hortensis and H. nemoralis in great variety. After an uneventful walk as far as Charmouth, we were glad to find the tide out and our way open along the shore. The cliffs at this place are very imposing and, as everybody knows, swarm with fossils. On the rocks were Trochus umbilicatus, Chiton marginatus, Patella vulgata, Littorina rudis, and Purpura lapillus, and nearer high-water mark Trochus lineatus in moderate abundance. Littorina neritorides was extremely common on the pier at Lyme Regis.

On referring to the map, the reader will observe that Lyme is just in Dorset. We were anxious to

push our way well into Devon on Wednesday, and consequently did not linger in search of specimens. It was dusk when we reached Budleigh, after passing through Sidmouth and Otterton. Our captures were limited to a few H. nemoralis, var. castanea, but those of the next day quite consoled us for our bad luck. It may interest entomologists to know that Satyrus semele and S. Egeria were very common on the hills near Budleigh, as we crossed them on our way to Exmouth. We reached the latter place at highwater, and found little else than single valves of Mactra solida and Cardium tuberculatum. Crossing over to Dawlish Warren, we paced along the 'margin of the water without expecting to find anything. We were soon agreeably surprised by the frequent occurrence of Tapes decussatus and Scrobicularia piperata. The fresh appearance of these shells caused us to look about for something better. We were not long in finding it. The discovery of one specimen of Bulla hydatis was followed by that of another and another till they appeared strewn on every side. Nor was this all. We soon began to notice black slug-like creatures slowly traversing the mud, and these proved to be the same species in a living state. After taking several we walked on past Dawlish to Teignmouth, and on our way met with Donax vittatus, Cardium tuberculatum, C. exiguum, Loligo vulgaris, Sepia officinalis, and single valves of Lutraria elliptica, Mactra subtruncata, and Psammobia Ferroensis.

The next day (Friday, August 15th) we went across country from Teignmouth to Torquay. Near the latter place we met with H. virgata, H. aspersa and var. grisea, H. nemoralis, and H. hortensis (one specimen having the band-formula 00040) all in tolerable abundance. Torquay being our destination, we remained there for a few days, and then returned home by train. Our principal captures there are as follows:-Cardium aculeatum, C. tuberculatum, Donax vittatus, Venus Gallina, and Turritella terebra; dead shells common in the harbour at Torquay and on the sands at Paignton. Trochus umbilicatus and T. lineatus associated with the ordinary littoral species on the rocks, and Helix sericea in great abundance at Paignton.

Thus ended our little tour, and after our experiences I am convinced that there is no more pleasant way of spending a short holiday than the one we adopted, and no better way of seeing the country than on foot. Autumn is no doubt the most favourable season of the year for a shell-collector's tour, when the high-tides and rough weather bring in many rarities to the shore, and the showers induce the land-shells to emerge from their retreats. In conclusion I may say that it will give me the greatest pleasure to furnish every particular concerning route and expenditure to any one desirous of following our example. SYDNEY C. COCKERELL. 51 Woodstock Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick, W.

STUDIES OF COMMON PLANTS.

No. II. THE COMMON SUNFLOWER (Helianthus Annuus.)

A

By E. A. SWAN.

CAREFUL study of the flower will amply repay the trouble taken. The various parts are beautifully adapted for ensuring fertilization by means of insect agency. Most people are ignorant of the elaborate contrivances by which this is effected. Many look upon this humble denizen of our gardens as worthy of but passing notice, yet nothing can be more unreasonable.

The stalk, as every one knows, supports a flower which consists of, first, several whorls of bracts forming the involucre; second, one or more whorls of yellow florets constituting the ray; and third, a

Each blossom consists of the corolla, which is monopetalous, and ends in five lobes; within this the stamens, which are joined half their length from near the top, thus forming a tube; and, within all, the pistil, which is cleft at the top. The base of the corolla swells out so as to form a vessel for the nectar, and it is joined by a neck to the achene, from either side of which, at the top, rises what I may call a short pointed wing. Finally, a rudimentary calyx partly surrounds each blossom from the bottom of the achene to about midway up the corolla. It is more developed on the outside blossoms, but it is present throughout. It has spines pointing towards the extremity; so, too, has each wing; so, too, has the corolla on the outside: and so, too, has the pistil the whole extent of the cleft, but not in the cleft.

Fig. 133 is a sketch of the uppermost side of a ray

considerable number of blossoms, or perfect florets, called the disc. Each blossom stands on an achene, the covering which contains the seed.

The general principle of the evolution of the flower from the leaf is well exemplified here. The bracts are clearly modified leaves. I have a specimen before me where the connection can be clearly traced. There a leaf on a short stalk starts from the base of the outermost whorl of bracts. Next it is a bract of ordinary dimensions, and, next that, a bract much larger and having a venation almost like a fullsized leaf. Fig. 132 is a rough outline drawing. Both leaves and bracts are covered on the sides and edges with short spines, all pointing towards the extremity. Some of these spines are pointed, others blunt. I find similar spines, though much smaller, on the ray florets, principally on the under-side, and these ray florets have rudimentary achenes on which they stand.

floret on its rudimentary achene. It will be noticed that where it joins the rudimentary achene there is a neck formed, and the two edges of the floret meet, thus making the primary attempt to mould a cup. My meaning will be clearer by referring to fig. 134, which is the complete achene, wings, neck, cup, and corolla, drawn, like fig. 133, somewhat about the natural size. Thus we have leaves, bracts, ray florets, and blossoms showing a clear connection.

Figs. 135 to 143, both inclusive, will help us in considering the method of fertilization. The outside blossoms are matured first, and, when their work is done, present the appearance shown in fig. 143. The innermost blossoms are matured last. Fig. 135 shows a blossom not yet opened; fig. 136, one where the stamens have just begun to thrust themselves upwards; fig. 137, more upwards; fig. 138, the pistil first appears, and so on. In an ordinary flower, until the

seeds have been fertilized throughout, we can observe the stages indicated, from the centre to the outside (that is, from figs. 135 to 143), with never-failing regularity. One more sketch, fig. 144, much enlarged, represents the stamens and anthers, as joined, laid open. Soon after the blossom opens, the stamens, with pistil enclosed, appear above the top. I observed bees frequently visit the flowers and thrust their proboscides down the corolla so as to reach the nectar cups, at the same time rubbing their heads on the anthers and taking off pollen. I also observed that, as soon as the pistil appeared, the stamens began to lower themselves, and I believe this was due partly to shrinkage and partly to the bees continually pressing with their heads in order that they might the better reach the nectar; but I should say that as soon as the pistil has opened as much as to form an angle of 45°, it also would exert its influence and continue to do so until the anthers were brought to the level of the top of the corolla. The pistils are only capable of receiving pollen for fertilizing purposes when open; so that a bee, rubbing its head against anthers where the pistil has neither appeared nor opened, would collect pollen, which it would deposit on the open pistil of another blossom, perhaps on another plant, thus securing crossfertilization.

There is yet another matter to discuss which is of no little importance. Whence come the stamens and pistil The corolla from a ray floret, the ray floret from a bract, the bract from a leaf, is clear enough. I am inclined to think, though I have not conclusive evidence, that stamens and pistil are developed spines. There are spines on the outside of the corolla, but none on the inside. There are no spines at all on the stamens; there are none on the lower part of the pistil, and the fact of there being spines on the upper part will not much affect the argument. If we look at a ray floret under the microscope, we can clearly see delicate spines on the under-side, spines on the rudimentary achene and the wings, and a few spines on the uppermost side, just above the neck. It is not unusual when one organ or part of a plant is reduced in size for another to be increased. In order to evolve a blossom from a ray floret, the latter must dwindle, besides closing in, and it is not unlikely that the extra nourishment, thus set free, may go towards increasing the internal spines, or some of them, until they develop into stamens and pistil.

THE first number of the "Bulletin of the Des Moines Academy of Science" has been published. The object of the Academy is to issue a series of publications to cover more or less completely the natural history of the State of Iowa, and this first number contains a geographic catalogue of the Unionide of the Mississippi Valley, by R. Ellsworth Call.

TEETH OF FLIES.

By W. H. HARRIS.
No. VII.

CARICEA TIGRINA, Fab. ARICEA TIGRINA, from which the present

prettily formed fly, and may be taken rather plentifully by sweeping among grass during the whole of the summer months. When once its acquaintance is made no difficulty will be experienced in identifying it on subsequent occasions.

It is about the size of Musca domestica minor, ashy grey in colour, with two distinct darkish lines on the thorax. An examination with a lens shows this is caused partly by its being clad with rather strong hairs on these parts and partly by a deposit of pigment in the integument around the basis of the larger hairs.

There are eleven distinct spots of this character on the dorsal and lateral parts of the abdomen, arranged in the following manner. The segment immediately succeeding the thorax bears one spot centrally situated. The next segment has two such spots separated by about the thirty-second part of an inch, the two succeeding segments have each four such marks, thus giving this part of the insect a very pretty appearance. The eyes are very dark, surrounded with a ring of the body colour, the thigh is of the same shade, the tibia rusty brown, while the tarsus is very dark; the proboscis for a considerable portion of its length is hard, dark, and highly polished, incapable of being wholly withdrawn as in many species of the Anthomyiidæ.

The general character of the Caricea, as given by Mr. R. H. Meade in an annotated list of the British Anthomyiidæ, will be found in "The Entomologists" Monthly Magazine," vol. 20, p. 60. For the benefit of those readers who do not possess the work, I append the description thus given: acknowledging my indebtedness to that gentleman for the identification of this creature.

"Eyes bare, widely separated by a space of nearly equal width in both sexes; arista with long hairs; alulets well developed; tibiæ all armed at their apices with four or five spines; anal vein rather short, only reaching about half-way from the base to the margin of the wing."

The lobes terminating the proboscis are small and not readily expanded. To display this portion of the mouth, a method similar to that adopted in the case of Stomoxys calcitrans must be employed; and if the incision is made at the right spot an exceedingly symmetrical set of organs will be revealed. In this case a departure has been made from the course hitherto followed in these notes, the whole set of teeth being given.

The dentition of this creature consists of two distinct types, which are comparable only with organs

possessed by animals widely separated in the scheme of classification; thus we find two groups of pyramidally formed teeth, which strongly presents the character of fish teeth in outward form, and four regions covered with minute plates, which readily recall the gastric teeth in some species of Coleoptera.

Taking the teeth first, we find two groups each consisting of four teeth, having a broad base and terminating in a sharp point; one is largely developed, two of intermediate size and one very small, the base of each appears of a light colour, which indicates a thin structure, while about half the length of each

teeth two are large, and in the natural position of the mouth occupy the front portion; the other two are smaller, and are situate at the back part of the oral aperture. They each consist of an accumulation of small plates of chitin, arranged like tiles on a roof. If viewed with a low power they look like small spines, but when an enlargment of five or six hundred diameters is adopted, it will be seen they are tolerably broad at the base and terminate in fine points. They are light amber in colour and unitedly cover a large surface of the mouth.

There is also another organ, somewhat sickle

tooth towards the apex is exceedingly dark, and points to a thickening of the organ.

It will be remembered that in former notes of this series attention was drawn to the folding of the membrane forming the tooth as it approached the point of attachment; in the present instance this order is reversed, the basal portion appears delicate, and at about one-third of the entire length of the tooth the fold takes its rise, and is continued to the apex, thus giving this part of the organ a great consistency and power of attrition.

Of the four regions bearing the similarity to gastric

shaped (not shown in the iilustration) capable of protrusion and retraction; it is by the action of this part operating against the dental organs that the creature seizes, crushes, and triturates its food.

It should also be noted that the pseudo-trachea are few in number and insignificant in size.

The perpetuation of the species is provided for by the extrusion of perfect larvæ about one-tenth of an inch long, and, judging by their mouth organs, they are powerful agents in the work of destruction of the roots of plants, on which it is presumed they feed.

Cardiff.

VARIO

SCIENCE IN THE PROVINCES. VARIOUS Reports and "Proceedings” of Provincial Societies have accumulated, and have been awaiting a due recognition of their merits. It is surely but few schools that can shew such a record as that contained in a book issued from Marlborough College, the result of twenty years' observations in Botany, Entomology, Ornithology, and Meteorology, 1865-84. The bulk of it consists of tables of figures, which could doubtless be made the basis for much induction of an interesting character. The first set shows the earliest observations of plants, in which Eranthis hiemalis heads the list with Jan. 23 as an average, and Hedera helix comes at the end (Sept. 27). Last notices are not shown, nor how long the plants lasted, and it is evident that more is required to be known than the date of first appearances in comparing a plant which lasts all the season with one which lasts a month or two. Other tables follow for Insects and Birds (93 kinds), and the last entry, after the meteorological tables, gives the heaviest fall of rain, presumably in 24 hours, as 2.32 inches, which is set down to July 14th, 1875, the hour of observation being apparently nowhere given. The labour represented by these tables, both in making the observations and in arranging the results, must have been very considerable.

The Proceedings of the Liverpool Naturalists' Field Club contains, besides the presidential address, an account of the field meetings, with resumés of their botanical results and lists of the plants found; accounts of the botanical exercises and prizes, and a list of books useful in the study of Natural History, with prices and publishers. The club is a large one, with over 400 members, and its work seems to be largely botanical. It is to be hoped that its authorities will keep in view the question of the preservation of rare plants, which forms the subject of a note in another column; and, indeed, some remarks by Mr. John Vicars show that the subject is not wholly overlooked.

The work of the Hackney Microscopical and Natural History Society, of which the eighth annual Report is published, is more general, to judge by the notices of papers read or lectures delivered. Among the subjects of these are Insects and Flowers, The Food of Man, Natural History Notes in a Town Garden, The Formation of Chalk, Microscope work, and local Geology. A list of Field Excursions for the present year is given, and a Catalogue of the Books in the Library. The meetings of the Society are held at the Morley Hall, Hackney, the President being Dr. M. C. Cooke, M.A.

The Fifteenth Annual Report of the Wellington College Natural Science Society contains notices of numerous lectures delivered at the open meetings of the society, and lists of plants, insects, and birds, which seem to want further explanation to make them comprehensible. Monthly meteorological tables

follow, and brief entomological and zoological reports conclude the volume.

The twenty-seventh Report of the East Kent Natural History Society shows a membership of over seventy, and gives titles of papers, addresses and notes presented, and the names of objects exhibited. A very important feature of the Society is its extensive and valuable library.

The Louth Naturalists' Society has held its first annual meeting, and has issued a report, balance sheet, &c. The number of ordinary members is at present small, but if they are all working members that may not be of much consequence. Mr. H. Wallis Kew is the hon. secretary and treasurer.

The Journal of Proceedings of the Essex Field Club, now published separately from the Transactions, though only recently issued, is concerned almost entirely with the year 1883. It contains reports of ordinary and Field meetings, and also of papers read, among these being an interesting note, by Mr. W. White, on an abnormality in the flowers of fuchsia, with illustrations. The Transactions of the same club contains the Presidential address by Professor Boulger in January 1884, and other papers mostly read in 1883, including Notes on Deneholes, by Mr. T. Vincent Holmes, F.G.S., illustrated. The club is fortunate in having Epping Forest as a hunting ground, and the Proceedings contain evidence of work done by them in opposing the extension of the railway to High Beach.

The lately formed East of Scotland Union of Naturalists' Societies has issued a volume of Reports. It contains the address of the president, Dr. F. Buchanan White, at the first annual meeting, in which he gives some very useful hints as to the work of such a local union. This is followed by a number of preliminary reports, which have been drawn up on the state of knowledge of the various departments of Natural Science in the district. It was suggested that the reporters should say, as far as possible, whether the subject in question had been investigated; what parts of it more especially required further investigation, both as regards the district and the subject; what was the probable richness of the district as to number of species; and whether any important works had been published on the subject, as regarded the district; and also to offer suggestions for immediate work. Reports based on such lines as these should be very useful to those members who have a fund of scientific energy, and only want to know in what direction best to turn it.

The Transactions of the Chichester and West Sussex Natural History and Microscopical Society is also to hand. This society numbers 110 members and associates, and its Transactions contain, besides the ordinary business material, several papers on various Natural History subjects, including a very interesting one on the Hymenoptera (aculeata) of West Sussex, by Mr. Edward Saunders, F.L.S.