GEOLOGY OF COLCHESTER.-A capital paper on the above subject has just been read by Mr. W. H. Dalton, of her Majesty's Geological Survey, before the members of the Colchester Natural History Society. The paper consisted of a limine sketch of nearly new geological ground, including chalk, Thanet beds, Reading beds, London clay, red crag, glacial and post-glacial deposits.

MIDDLESEX CHALK.-I beg to inform "W. H. G." that there are some extensive chalk-pits in Harefield, some in use, but many are abandoned. The old chalk-pits are very interesting to the botanist and geologist. The nearest railway stations are Uxbridge and Rickmansworth; the latter is preferable, as the chalk extends more in that direction.G. H. Seward.

We are

GUIDE TO THE GEOLOGY OF LONDON. glad to see that a second edition of this clearlywritten and well-arranged little manual has been so soon called for. The author's large work on the "Geology of the London Basin" has been laid under contribution, and its most important features re-appear in the present book. All the various formations in the neighbourhood of the metropolis are described; the places where the best sections are to be seen, and where fossils are to be obtained, are also severally mentioned. The student of London geology could have no better guide than the author, Mr. W. Whitaker, F.G.S., who is justly regarded as one of our best authorities in field geology. We are further glad that the book has been such an unexpected success, as it will convince the Stationery Office (if that is the bureau to which we should look) that the English public would gladly purchase the "Memoirs of the Geological Survey" if they would publish them at a more reasonable price. The present Guide is published at a shilling.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.-We are pleased to notice that the Watford Natural History Society bids fair to take one of the most prominent places among provincial societies. The list of members includes some well-known names, so that in this respect the society has an advantage over many others. In the second part of the Society's "Transactions" the papers are devoted to natura! phenomena, the first part being almost exclusively geological. Mr. John Hopkinson, F.G.S., has one on "The Observation of Periodical Natural Phenomena," and Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S., another on his favourite topic of Ornithology. The Glasgow Natural History Society have also pub. lished the first part of the second volume of their "Proceedings." It contains several geological papers,-"On the Mode of identifying Tertiary Fossils," by Mr. D. Robertson, F.G.S.; "On the Extinct Fossil Shells Bellerophon and Porcellia,"

THE SHEFFIELD MUSEUM.-We are very sorry to see that, owing to a difference between the curator of this museum, Mr. C. Callaway, B.Sc., and one of the committee, the former has tendered his resignation. Mr. Callaway is perhaps better known among American geologists than English, on account of his knowledge of American fossil brachiopoda. The main cause of difference (which seems to us to have taken the form of persecution) was that the member of the committee aforesaid thought less of "old bones, and things of that sort," than Mr. Callaway did. The question should be asked by those who love science in SheffieldWhat right has such a man on the committee?

NOTES AND QUERIES.

COLOURS OF CROCUSES.-I saw lately a correspondent (E. J. Scott) stated he had known crocus flowers to change colour, a fact I can vouch for. Some years back I planted a quantity of blue and yellow crocus; the first and second years they were true to colour, after that time they were all yellow. -Thos. Thirkel.

TADPOLES OF NEWT.-Allow me to state that in December's number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP "H. E. F." contradicts himself by saying that "the tadpole of the newt has gills and a tail during part of its life, and develops its hind legs first." Then a little further down he says that "the tadpole of the newt has a tail permanently, gills during part of its life, and develops its front legs first." The front legs make their appearance first, and about three weeks afterwards the hind legs. I draw attention to this, because such a mistake in a magazine like SCIENCE-GOSSIP would, in all probability, be likely to lead amateurs in natural history astray.-Å. F. Maingay.

SPAWN OF FROGS AND TOADS.-The article by "G. S.," on the above subject, published in our GOSSIP for November, will, I feel sure, be a welcome addition to the knowledge of those who, like myself, are just beginning the study of the interesting phenomena of development. In the early part of last year I obtained a number of tadpoles of the frog (Rana temporaria) from a pond in the neighbourhood of Manchester. When first caught, the legs had not made their appearance on any of the specimens ; but after I had kept them for about ten days, the whole of them exhibited the hind legs in various stages of development. During this period the tail of each specimen grew shorter, and by the time when the fore legs were fully developed, had almost entirely disappeared. My tadpoles, however, were not suffered to arrive at maturity. About the end of June, on looking into my aquarium, I observed one of them lying dead at the bottom, and covered

with a downy white substance, which I supposed to be a fungus. Before night I found two others dead and covered with the white substance; and the next morning the whole of them were dead. On removing them I found that the fungus, if it be such, had completely enveloped their bodies, and the stench which arose from them was horrible. This was not the first time I had had this horrid pest in my aquarium, for I have had several lots of fish killed in the same way, and should feel very grateful to any of the readers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP who make aquarium natural history their special study, if they would tell me how to get rid of this chief of aquarium pests. I think "G. S." has done well in exposing the popular fallacy respecting the disappearance of the tails of tadpoles. It is not long

since I heard one of our most eminent naturalists assert that the tails of tadpoles dropped off when they were no longer needed. This statement was made to a class of students, of whom I was one. P.S.-Frog-spawn was observed at least a week earlier than usual, last year, in several ponds in the neighbourhood of Manchester. Has this been general throughout the country ?-H. C. C. M.

NEWTS.-In SCIENCE-GOSSIP of Nov. 1st "G. S." makes some inquiries about the development of newts. Perhaps the following may interest him and others of your readers. On the 2nd of April last, I got, from Covent Garden market two female newts; the one a warty, and the other a smooth one; both of which I placed in a small aquarium. On the 3rd the smooth newt laid three eggs, and on the 4th five more. On the same day the warty newt also laid several. When first laid the eggs were white, and those of the warty newt about the size of a mustard-seed, covered with a thin coating of albumen, which in a short time absorbed water, and swelled to a quarter of an inch in length and one-sixth in breadth. I several times saw the warty newt in the act of laying her eggs. She first went to a leaf, and appeared to smell it, and, if she found it suitable, she drew herself over it, and bent it across the thick part of her tail with her hind feet. The leaf was then held against the opening of the oviduct, and the feet clasped over it. The newt seemed to compress the oviduct laterally with the feet, until the egg was expelled into the fold of the leaf, which was then held lightly round it until the leaf had stuck to the albumen of the egg. This generally took from three-quarters of a minute to a minute, and during that time the newt seemed quite insensible, allowing itself to be touched without moving. Two eggs were sometimes laid at the same time; but I have never seen one with a double yolk, each egg having its own outer covering, which swelled out, and separated it from the other. The smooth newt did not lay any more, but the warty newt laid about thirty eggs within the week, only six of which hatched. On the 20th April I had three more female warty newts sent me, one of which went on laying eggs up to the 4th May, which shows that newts do not all lay their eggs at once. I have seen fresh-laid newts' eggs taken from a pond as late as 14th June. One of the eggs of the smooth newt hatched on 27th April, but the tadpole died the same day. Another hatched on 20th. When first hatched, the young newt was in a very undeveloped condition, its eyes being scarcely visible, and the under jaw much shorter than the other. It had three unbranched gills on each side of its head, and two other smaller projections, which may have been the rudiments of the fore

legs, but of that I am not sure. For three days the young newt did not eat anything, but swam about and fixed itself to the sides of the aquarium, &c., apparently by its mouth. It then began to eat small water-fleas and the larger infusoria. On the 14th May the fore-legs were well developed, and the hind-legs were distinctly visible about the 1st June, at which time the gills had six branches each. The young newt lost its gills, and left the water on the 7th July. I had some smooth newts' eggs in 1874, which hatched in twenty-one days. The eggs of the warty newt took, this year, about thirty days to hatch. The young of the warty newt takes longer than the smooth newt to develop its legs, and considerably longer to absorb its gills. The Rev. S. A. Brenan inquires how to feed newts. I always put the food into the water, and leave it there, but not long enough to become putrid. The best food is worms; but, failing those, raw beef or mutton, cut into thin strips about 1 inch long, will do very well. It is most amusing to watch the newts smelling about for the meat. They seem to know that there is food somewhere about; and they snap at each other's feet and tails, and anything else that they come to. I once saw one almost choke itself with a red carnelion, which lay near a piece of meat. Newts will eat water-woodlice, and most other water insects; and the warty newts will eat the smooth ones, if very hungry, and their own young. The smooth newts get much tamer than the warty ones. Two of mine would eat from my fingers when out of the water. Sticklebacks and newts should not be kept together. The sticklebacks give the newts no peace, continually biting their tails and eyes, and finally killing them. They also eat newts' eggs if they get the chance. "The bright silver shade" referred to, is, I think, the air which adheres to the dry skin of the newt when it goes into the water. I have often noticed it.A. H. Searle, Kensington.

LATE FLOWERING LABURNUM.-In last October number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP "J. W. G." speaks of having observed a laburnum-tree coming into flower in the last week of August. I also noticed, about the end of September, a laburnum in this town covered with blossom; the tree did not appear, however, to be making new wood, as mentioned by your correspondent.-H. T. R., Stockton-on-Tees.

THE BUTCHER-BIRD.-Although Lanius colluris and Lanius excubitor are said to impale their victims on thorns, and devour them at their leisure, still I do not think this is correct. It is certain that they have great power in their toes, and hold their prey in one foot, resting on their tarsal joint. They sometimes make great havoc (amongst young birds, and have even been known to carry off very young and weakly pheasants. This genus shows a very marked affection for its young, and will attack even hawks in their defence.-E. Lovett.

COMMON CROSSBILL. If any of your readers have had the good fortune to find the nest and eggs of the common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), will they oblige by giving information concerning the structure and situation of the nest, a description of the eggs, the time of nidification, or any other peculiarity they may have noticed? - W. Petch, Heeley, Sheffield.

an old work on natural history:-" Sometimes are found in herds of considerable numbers, frequenting moist and marshy situations, and preferring the coarse vegetation of the forest and swampy regions to that of open plains. They swim well, and cross the broadest rivers without hesitation." There is certainly great difficulty in providing the advantages of nature for animals in confinement, but it should be done as near as possible.-E. Lovett.

THE GREENFINCH.-Can any one inform me of the use of the small ball-like elevation in the upper mandible of the Greenfinch (Coccothraustes chloris) ? -T. Jackson.

CHARLTON SAND-PIT.-In answer to the query of “W. H. G." respecting the present condition of Charlton Sand-pit, I may say that I have been there several times geologizing, and have never met with any objectionable treatment, but, on the contrary, with the greatest civility, the workmen being always ready and anxious to sell specimens.-F. B. Linley.

SWALLOWS IN NOVEMBER.-I think it is not a very common occurrence to find swallows in November. They had left here (Bath) about the middle of September, and some were seen during October, the thermometer ranging, on the north side, in the open air, from 40° to 42° at eight a.m., and 46° to 50° in the middle of the day, the whole of that time with northerly or easterly winds mostly. On the 3rd of November, however, the wind came from south-west to south, thermometer 52° to 54°, at eight a.m. and 60° to 65° middle of day; sky cloudy, but clearing at two o'clock, the air feeling warm, and even close. At four o'clock, to my astonishment, I noticed twenty to twenty-five swallows (the small species) performing gyrations just as in summer. I had no time to watch them; but half an hour after I found they were gone, and the sun was behind the hills. Now the question is, where did they come from? Had they returned with the warm wind, or only remained behind in some warmer part of the country?-C. H. Macco.

FISHES AND BARNACLES.-In the stomach of a Smooth Blenny (Blennius pholis), about three inches in length, I found four specimens of the shell of the common Acorn Barnacle (Balanus balanoides). Could any one inform me as to how a small fish could obtain a creature usually so firmly fixed to the rocks as to require a hammer or stone to remove it? These crustaceans may frequently be found on the shells of the mollusca, or on the carapace of crabs, &c. Is it probable that the fish swallowed them in conjunction with, perchance, a small crab, the comparatively thin shell of which was dissolved by the acid of the stomach before I opened it; or is it more likely that the barnacles might have been torn off the rocks by some other agency, and then swallowed; but if this were so, they must have been taten very quickly after the disengagement, or they would have been dead, and would, I suppose, not have been so palatable.-J. S. A.

Gilbert WhitE'S "SELBORNE."-I am surprised to see that your correspondent "Vagans" proposes that Mr. Buckland should tamper with his forthcoming edition of White's "Selborne." What is the book worth if it is not left as White wrote it? As far as I can see, any one who tampers with the book tampers with White's name as a naturalist. What is there in it that a naturalist of the present day, writing on the same subject, would not mention? "Vagans" must learn that books on natural history

are natural histories, and not books for the drawingroom table. We shall be very glad to see White's lately-discovered letters in the new edition; but as to expunging matter, the act would be criminal.Adrian Peacock, Amcott's Rectory, Doncaster.

IRISH ANTIQUITIES.-Mr. G. H. Kinahan's fig. 154, in the ninth of his admirable sketches of Irish Antiquities, reminds one of the sepulchral mound or cairn at Newgrange, some four or five miles from Drogheda. The stone basin at Newgrange is somewhat oval, and about 4 ft. in diameter, much resembling that depicted by Mr. Kinahan in SCIENCEGOSSIP, and with a variety of sculpture on the adjoining stones, some of which is of a form like the circular figures on the stones of the chamber at Slieve-na-caillighe. But this Mr. Kinahan describes as post-Christian, whereas the mound or cairn at Newgrange is commonly supposed to be anteChristian, and, indeed, of unknown antiquity. However this may be, the whole structure at Newgrange is one of the most wonderful in the United Kingdom, far more so than any structure of the kind ever found in England or Scotland. Probably Mr. Kinahan will favour your readers with an accurate description of Newgrange.-G. G.

"VERONICA" (SPEEDWELL). — "Veronica" is believed to have originated in the legend of the Roman Catholic Church respecting the "Veronica," who was the same as 'Berenice." The word is from the Greek, and means a "Sacred Picture," the blossom having been fancied to bear a representation of the countenance of our Saviour. A handkerchief, superstitiously believed to have belonged to this St. Veronica, was preserved at St. Peter's, in Rome, and is said to have been used by our Lord on His way to the crucifixion, and to have the impress of the sacred lineaments.-E. E. 1

LATE MARTINS.-On the 16th of November I noticed four martins flying under the shelter of some beech woods, near High Wycombe. Don't you think it late for them, and do these late birds leave England or lay up during the winter in some hollow tree or hole in a bank?~J. L. H.

CATS AND FROGS.-We had a cat which was very fond of playing with frogs. She would hunt about the garden until she unearthed one, and pat it on the back until it leaped away with a loud squeak. I have often observed her doing this, but on no occasion did she attempt to eat the frog, and I never could discover that she injured it in the least.J.P. Blackett, jun.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS AND EXCHANGERS.-As we now publish SCIENCE-GOSSIP at least a week earlier than heretofore, we cannot possibly insert in the following number any communications which reach us later than the 8th of each

month.

F. E. S.-The specimen sent is a myriapod, not uncommon on damp hedge-banks, called Geophilus electricus. It has no relation whatever with the glow-worm.

J. S. A.-Get Frank Buckland's work published by the Christian Knowledge Society, entitled "Familiar History of British Fishes," price about 58.

P. H. G.-Many thanks for your kindly interest. The suggestion shall be attended to.

G. B. W.-See a note in the June No. of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, page 139, headed "To Clean Corals." That will give you the information you require.

R. C.-It is very certain that the live frogs got into the "cavity of the stone" by some means, although "no crevice or fissure could be found," and equally certain that the live frogs have not been hybernating there since the carboniferous period, millions of years ago! We have seen several instances of "live frogs and toads" having been found in "solid rock," but every examination proved they had crept there to hybernate.

C. S. K.-You will obtain all the information you require by addressing Mr. E. Newman, 9, Devonshire-street, Bishopsgate.

G. G.-It is not an unusual thing to see dipterous flies and even wasps sipping the dregs or "heel-taps" of wine-glasses. J. P. S.-The specimen is a variety of the common Hawthorn (Cratagus oxyacantha), having extraordinary large berries.

F. COLES.-The minute red fungi on the bark of the twig sent are a species of Sphæria.

W. H. B.-Get Mr. W R. Hughes's little book on "The Management of the Marine Aquarium." (London: Van Voorst). You will there find, on page 34, how to prepare artificial sea-water.

R. 8. T.-We have not heard that spiders are fond of the berries of the yew. Wasps have a particular liking for them, and their sweetness probably attracts many species of fruitfeeding flies.'

W. J. B. and W. R. H.-Thanks for your kindly suggestions.

BATS.-Any reader of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, knowing any haunts (caverns or otherwise) of bats will oblige by communicating with "H. L.," care of the editor of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, 192, Piccadilly, London.

JOHN TURNER.-The specimens forwarded in a bottle seem to be, as regards the pteropod, most nearly allied to Limacina antarctica, but coming from Davis Straits, in the arctic regions, we should not expect it to be the same species. The shell soon drops off in L. antarctica. The Crustacean is an Amphipod, and seems to be a species of Gammarus.

W. H.-We do not think Dr. Carpenter's Lecture to the working men of Bristol during the meeting of the British Association, on "A Piece of Limestone," has been published, except in the Bristol newspapers during the above occasion.

ZOOPHYTES.-The packet of eighteen different kinds of Zoophytes, &c., sent to be named some time ago, are as follows:-No. 1. Salicornaria farcimmoides; 2. Sertularia argentea; 3, 11, and 4. Sertularia abietina with Spirorbis nautiloides and Sertularia rosacea; 5. Sertularia cupressina; 6. Antennularia antennina; 7. Antennularia ramosa; 8, 13, and 10. Flustra truncata; 9. Cellularia reptans; 12. Crisia eburnea; 14. Membranipora pilosa; 15. Membranipora pilosa, Eucratea chelata, and Leporalia annulata; 16. Sertularia pumila; 17. Cellularia avicularia; 18. Leporalia trispinosa.

EXCHANGES.

FIVE foreign insects, a Prawn, and two specimens of the common Hydrocampa, for British Crustaceans or Waterbeetles.-J. H. B. Brooke, 21, Willington-road, Stockwell, London, S.

Rubus Chamamorus, offered for other plants.-W. J. Hannan, 6, Tattan-street, Ashton-under-Lyne.

FOR a portion of wing of Bombyx Yama-mai, send a stamped directed envelope to W. H. Gomm, 2, Oak villa, Mattocklane, Ealing.

THE large American Silk-moth, B. cecropia, and the large China Silk-moth, B. Dernyi, for Birds' Eggs, &c. Parties not hearing in three or four days may conclude their offers are not accepted.-John Thorpe, Spring-gardens, Middleton, near Manchester.

GOOD LEPIDOPTERA, also Rare and local Plants, offered for Birds' Eggs.-Wm. Jordan, Cockfield, Sudbury, Suffolk. FOR Chalk-washings from Gravesend, send stamped directed envelope to Dr. G., 3, Woodville, Gravesend.

Funaria hygrometrica, Bryum argenteum, var. lanatum, &c., for other Mosses.-Address, Mrs. S., Brentford End, Middlesex, W.

FOR Six species of Zoophytes, unmounted, send other good Microscopic Objects to R. H. Philip, 28, Prospect-street, Hull.

WANTED, Hardy Ferns, Bulbs, or Bulbous-rooted Plants, for Micro Slides or Material. Lists exchanged.-R. J. Lund, 26, Commercial-street, Leeds.

FOR pinnule of Nephrolipsis exaltata with Sori, send stamped directed envelope to H. E. Perry, The Bank, Long Eaton, Derbyshire.

SIDE-BLOWN Eggs of Great Crested Grebe, Shag Cormorant, Woodchat, Shrike, and Short-toed Lark, for other good (sideblown) Eggs.-W. Petch, Heeley, Sheffield.

FOR Specimen of Sheine (for the Polariscope), send stamped envelope to F. Coles, 248, King's-road, S.W.

FOR Slide Spores of Aregma bulbosum, Bramble Brand, mounted in damar, send good Slide to Wm. Goodacre Cokayne, Forest-road East, Nottingham.

SECTIONS: Four well-cut, unmounted sections (Orange, Lemon, Pepper, and Olive Trees), for each good Slide of Insects, Diatoms, &c., for good unmounted Material.-H. L., Chronicle Office, Wolverhampton.

WELL-MOUNTED Microscopic Slides, various, for others of good quality. Lists exchanged.-J. Ford, Newbridge-crescent, Wolverhampton.

SEND well-mounted Slides for eight Exotic Butterflies' Wings; quantity of Slides for exchange. The wings all different, if preferred.-W. Tylar, 165, Well-street, Birmingham. WANTED, Plants suitable for an aquarium; will give healthy Plants of Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia.-Address, G. T. F. Napier, Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

CORRESPONDENTS wanted abroad to exchange British Birds' Eggs for those of foreign countries.-J. W. Dealy, 142, Clarence-street, Sheffield.

Two Slides of Fossil Infusoria, for one of selected and named Diatoms.-Thomas Lisle, Villers-street, Wolverhampton.

A COLLECTION of Chalk Fossils of about forty specimens, containing Wood, Teeth, and Bone, for a good Microscope.H. B., Castle Acre, Brandon, Norfolk.

Cladophora rectangularis, Sphacelaria sertularia, and various interesting fruited and diatom-laden Marine Algæ, mounted in balsam and other mediums, or for herbarium, or prepared for mounting in Balsam; and other interesting Material, including Foraminifera, Diatoms, Zoophytes, Starfish, Scorpion Crabs, Holothuria, Parasites, &c., for Polariscope, Slides, &c.-T. McGann, Barrin, co. Clare.

A WELL-MOUNTED Slide of Uric Acid Crystals will be forwarded for any other really well-mounted Slide.-Address, J. C. T., 4, Lord-street, Liverpool.

MANY American deposits of Diatomaceæ, for others, Slides and recent Gatherings; Moron Earth wanted.—Dr. A. M. Edwards, Newark, N.J., U.S.

FOR exchange or otherwise, a 4-in. object-glass by Ross, and an Achromatic Condenser, in perfect order.-Apply to Rev. J. Bramhall, St. John's Vicarage, near Lynn, Norfolk.

A BAKER'S Erecting Prism and a very fine Tourmaline, for a Webster's Condenser, a Swiss Condenser, Kelner Eye-piece, and a Polariscope.-W. Statham, Green Bank, Shottle, near Derby.

MOUNTED Specimens of Globigerina, Spines of Echini, &c., from the Porcupine soundings, for various unmounted Microscopic Material.-C. P. Ogilivie, Sizewell House, Leiston, Suffolk.

WANTED, 7, 11, 164, 375, 626, 832, 1359, 1361, 1362, 1596, for 79, 165, 169, 173, 234, 835, 1284, 1387, 1391, 1595, 7th edition Lon. Cat.-F. H. Arnold, Fishbourne, Chichester.

OFFERED: 60, 85, 120, 182, 512, 776, 1006, 1471, 1513, Petasites albus, Poa sudetica, &c., for 5, 25, 32, 62, 119, 255, 353, 564, 593, 598, 600, 698, 737, 907, 997, 1105, 1222, 1223, 1305, 1370, 1410, 1484, 1552, 1553, 1564, 1577 and b, 1597, 1655, 1656, &c., Lon. Cat., 7th edition; also Lowland for Alpine Willows.A. Brotherston, Shedden Park-road, Kelso, N.B.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED UP TO 12TH ULT. FROM :G. G.-F. K.-J. F.-J. B. B.-G. H. K.-W. K. B.-E. E.F. E. S.-J. R. S. C.-C. H. M.-W. P.-E. L.-W. E.— F. A. A.-M, M.-J. B.-H. T. R.-T. J.-T. B. L.-J. P. B. -F. C.-W. H. G.-J. H. U.-E. M.-B. B.-G. O. H.C. L.-A. H. S.-R. F. K.-Dr. A. M. E.-P. H. G.-A. M. T. L. C.-F. G. H.-C. D.-H. C. C. M.-S M. P.-G. A. S.— R. J. L.-J. F. R.-J. T.-G. B. W.-G. M. D.-A. P.-J. B. -C. W. S.-J. B. B.-R. C.-H. C. R.-C. S. K.-G. S. F. N. -R. W.-T. Q. C.-W. S. A.-W. B.-Dr. G.-T. L.-J. C. T. -S. W. D.-A. J. R. S.-F. H. A.-R. H. P.-W. S.-A. F. M. -F. W.-T. G. P.-H. P. M.-J. H. B.-G. G.-A. J.J. P. S.-C. W. S-J. E. L.-T. G. P. V.-W. T.-D. N.A. B.-R. E.-F. C.-W. G.-J. F.-H. L.-B. B. W.-E. W. -T. MCG.-G. H. H.-H. E. P.-J. P. B.-W. P.-Dr. P. Q. K. -H. F., jun.-W. H.B.-R. S. T.-T. T.-T. E.-F. C.-E. H. -M. S.-J. B.-W. J.-L. L. B.-R. T. L.-W. H.-G. E.— N. P.-E. B. S.-H. E. W.-W. H.-F. H. W.-&c. &c.

HE Cardoon, or Chardoon, belongs to the same class and order as the Artichoke, which it very much resem

bles, but is of a larger and more regular growth. It is a native of Candia and the South of Europe, but we have no notice of its cultivation in our current authors. It was introduced into England about 1683, and first cultivated by Mr. James Sutherland. Parkinson, in his "Pardis," states that he was assured by John Tradescante that he saw three acres of land about Brussels planted with this vegetable, the leaves of which the owners whited like endive, and sold there in winter. Townsend, in his Tour through Spain in 1786, mentions that in some parts of that country they never use rennet for cheese, but substitute the down from Cynara cardunculus, from which they make a strong infusion over-night, and next morning they mix half-apint to fourteen gallons of milk warm from the cow. In the present day the French peasantry carefully dry in the shade the flowers of this plant, and of the artichoke, to use for the same purpose. Cardoons are cultivated for the table in many parts of the Continent, but not much esteemed in England, as it is stated they are rather troublesome to grow in this climate, and depend so much on the skill of the cook to render them palatable.

John Baubin affirms that the Cardoon is a hybrid plant, or mule from the seed of the common artichoke.

No. 134.

This plant has the same name, with slight variations, in several languages of Europe: as Kardouen, Kardon, Cardone, and Cardon.

No. XVI.-THE JERUSALEM OR GROUND ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tuberosus).

This plant is a production of the warmer parts of the Western hemisphere, and consequently unknown to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Sir James Smith says, in his "Introduction to Botany," that the name of this vegetable is a corruption of the Italian name Girasole Articiocco (Sunflower Artichoke), and was first brought from Peru to Italy, and thence propagated throughout Europe. This tuber, which is more agreeable than profitable, was first cultivated in England during the reign of James I., as we are informed that in the year 1617 Mr. John Goodyer received two small tubers, not bigger than a hen's egg, from Mr. Franqueville, of London; one he planted, and the other he gave to a friend. His own brought him a peck of tubers, wherewith he stored Hampshire; but he remarks that they are meat more fit for swine than men. This note bore the date of October 17, 1621. From this it appears that this vegetable was introduced into England by the French, who met with them in Canada, as Parkinson, writing in 1629, mentions them under the bead of Battatus de Canada, the French Battatus, or Jerusalem Artichokes. Coles also, whose work was printed only forty years after they were known in this country, called them the Potatoes of Canada; but we are informed in Martyn's edition of Miller, that " 'they were so called because the French brought them first out of Canada into these parts; not that Canada is their original country, for they are unquestionably the produce of a hot climate, being natives of Brazil."

In Parkinson's time they used to be baked in pies with marrow, dates, ginger, raisins, larks, &c., but

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