fragments of masonry, threading our way through the shattered palace of the Moors, we unexpectedly arrive at a heap of arms and legs, bodies without heads resting by the side of others whose faces are so battered and bemauled, that recognition is impossible; some are clad in chain-mail, others are draped in priestly vestments, and very many are not clad at all. By a little play of fancy we might easily suppose all the statues must have recently gone in for a sanguinary battle, and that we had stumbled upon the remains of the fallen, gathered together, awaiting the grave-digger. We find, however, on inquiry, the workmen bring all the odds and ends they discover, and deposit them at this spot.

A short distance further down the ruin, brings us beneath the two colossal figures from the Temple of Rameses the Great, at Aboo Simbel, in Nubia. Towering sixty feet above our heads, their monstrous features, never very comely, are so altered by the action of fire, that one might readily suppose two sinful giants had been made to suffer death by fiery martyrdom. A friend of the writer's, who was present at the time these figures were partially burnt, observed a column of flame pour through the tops of their heads, giving to them the quaint semblance of wearing plumes of fire. We scramble past the avenue of Sphinxes, or rather where it was once shaded by plants of the stately Papyrus, the leaves of which, in bygone times, supplied the Egyptians, as well as other nations, with sheets whereon their manuscripts were inscribed; here, where we now tread, grew the Sabal Palmetto, Cocos, Wine Palms, Date Palms, Cabbage Palms, immense ferns, the Cinnamon, Peruvian Bark, and Tea-tree. We can likewise remember the silvery-leaved Looking-glass plant, and the graceful Black Bamboo, a shoot of which has been known to add twelve inches to its height in a single day. Not far from us, the great Palm-tree, from the Isle of Bourbon, forty feet high, spread its feathery fronds alike over the Ficus Ruxburgii, which bears its figs on the stem close to the ground, and the Mahogany-tree from Honduras. We may not tarry to recall many other species of rare and beautiful plants, mostly of Eastern growth, no trace of which remains save the black dust beneath our feet. Where is the Nineveh Court? Why, all that remains of it is to be found in that heap of fragments before us. The stupendous winged bulls, with their uncannie faces and impossible beards, are 'now blackened, headless, wingless trunks; and the giants, together with the lions they were for ever strangling, lie buried beneath the gorgeous ceilings, richly painted cornices, and sculptures graven with arrow-headed inscriptions, that covered the walls of the Assyrian hall. As we cross over to the opposite side of the ruin, we note that Monti's fountains are not so very seriously damaged, although the pond surrounding them is dry and filled with dirty rubbish-broken glass and iron; and we learn with

sorrow, from a man at work there, that the poor little fish were nearly boiled alive in the miniature lake, in which scores of them had grown from infancy to a goodly maturity. And now we are at the spot whereon the Mammoth-tree stood, known to botanists as Wellingtonia gigantea. It was the bark only that represented the tree which stood when alive, in California, and was about 400 feet in height. I have often stood beneath the shadows of these forest monarchs in California. The best plan to realize mentally the average height and size of these stupendous trees, is to look at the monument on Fish Street Hill, and picture in your mind what a grove of trees must look like, every one of which is taller, and many of them equal to the Monument in girth. When Lady Franklin visited California, only a few years since, Archdeacon Wright read the morning service to a numerous congregation; his church was the stump of a single tree, this stump is sometimes used as a ball-room on festive occasions. Each tree has some fanciful name bestowed upon it :-Hercules is 326 feet high, and 97 in girth; the Hermit is 320 feet high, and 60 in girth; the Old Maid, a substantial, portly lady, is 266 feet high, and 60 feet round her waist. Addie and Mary are buxom damsels each in height about 300 feet, and in circumference over 60 fect. The most forlorn looking of the group, with rents in his bark, and a general air of seediness and shabbiness, is the Old Bachelor, 300 feet high, and 70 feet in girth. We fear this representative of the Mammoth-trees, burnt in the Crystal Palace, will never be replaced. The cost of removing the bark in narrow bands, or rings, was enormous; and the transport of so bulky a matter from California to the United States, and thence to England, was far greater than any company or individual will be likely ever to outlay a second time.

Not far from the site of the tree, just a little to our left, the brilliantly-plumaged Cockatoos and Macaws passed their lives, dividing their time pretty equally betwixt screaming, eating, and coaxing philanthropic visitors to scratch and tickle them. How very sad to recall the fact to our minds that these poor birds were literally, and not in mere figure of speech, roasted alive whilst chained to their perches; we can almost in fancy, even now, hear the piercing screams of the imprisoned Monkeys, and the frantic cries of the Chimpanzee, as they clutched hold of, and in desperate agony hurled themselves against, the iron bars of their cages until the iron grew too hot to hold, and suffocation put an end to their miseries. Here, too, resided the "happy family" of opposites; in one cage, living amicably together, were cats, rabbits, Guinea pigs, and the delicate musk-deer from Java-as they had lived so they died, to the last unable to part company. Nightingales that were wont to make the building vocal on summer evenings with their

mellow notes, together with Mocking-birds from the States; Canary birds direct from their native islands; Finches, rare and curious, from Australia and Tasmania; Grosbeaks from North America; Sparrows from a variety of localities; a case of Doves presented by the late Lola Montes; the Zebra, and other exquisitely-plumaged Paroquets, talking Parrots, together with the ingenious little weaver-bird, were alike devoured by the greedy flames. A few only were set at liberty, the greater number are burnt; Blondin's present, a Florida Parrot, was saved from death by smoke and fire through the kind interference of his Grace the Duke of Sutherland. The baby Hippopotamus had his residence not far from where we now stand; the most strenuous efforts were made to rescue the quaint little beast, though in vain; the fire ruthlessly did its work, until at length the floor of the animal's dwelling gave way with a crash, and through it went the half-roasted hippopotamus; we can see for ourselves where its remains were subsequently dug out. The poor little fellow was discovered lying on a printing-press, its appearance bearing a comical resemblance to that of a huge sausage overfried.

We could willingly have lingered very much longer "amidst the ruins," but time and space forbid. We could have contemplated with interest the remains of the class-room and its adjoining orangery, where 110 orange-trees grew and throve, some of them 400 years old, once the property of the late Louis Philippe, and originally brought from his château of Neuilly- their loss is irreparable. The school of art, the reading-room, and library, wherein was burnt a valuable collection of rare books, the rarest of them all, perhaps, the copy of "Das Neue Testament," which was printed in 1851 for the King of Prussia, 25 copies only of which were ever struck off. The ruins of the Byzantine court, too, would have amply repaid us, could we have rambled over its remains to recall and chat about the many interesting incidents connected with the statues, models, and various works of high art that flourished from the 6th to the 15th centuries. Every part of this splendid court was replete with interesting relics, now little other than charred, broken, shapeless fragments, destroyed by the withering flames beyond every possibility of restoration.

It would take a good-sized volume to contain a detailed account of all the treasures consumed in this disastrous fire. We have certainly one consoling thought as we shut the door upon the chaotic heaps and piles, and inextricable confusion of smashed glass, twisted iron, broken columns, masses of masonry, and fragments from Moorish, Assyrian, and Byzantine structures, mixed with, and halfburied in, the dust and débris of a miniature tropical forest:-no human being perished in the blazing pile. J. K. LORD, F.Z.S.

ON THE EXAMINATION OF MELICERTA WITH HIGH POWERS.

MY

Y attention was drawn to these interesting objects for the microscope by finding, in October last, a colony of them on some weed, taken from a pond in the Hampstead Fields, near the Swiss Cottage. A bath, 3 inches by 2, and inch wide, was constructed for their accommodation, and placed on a shelf in the window, in front of a binocular, provided with a 1-inch power. intention was to watch their reproduction; but though they increased rapidly, and the commencement of the tube was frequently seen, in other respects this effort was unsuccessful.

Fig. 26. Melicerta ringens. Front View of the Disc.

The

between the surfaces, and with this success commenced. A specimen, once inserted between the glasses, could be kept in good working order for several days, a power of employed, and the condensers brought to bear with great convenience. Added to this, the bath was readily reversed, and that without danger to the object. The slimness of the glass also proved of further value, as, in consequence of its flexibility, the sides could be brought into contact without fracture!

spinning motion of the pellet is set up and continued.

The following drawings will serve to assist the description:-Fig. 28; exhibits the inner row of cilia, the action of which is indicated by the arrows. The finger-like valves are shown; and over the mould is seen, in profile, the surface by which the back current is produced. Fig. 29 gives a side view of this surface (a), the direction of the current being shown by the arrows; and the channel leading to the mould is seen at b.

On using the, my attention was immediately drawn to the great extent of the ciliated surfaces; the whole of the upper portion of the creature seemed to be alive with their action. Not only were the lobes fringed with cilia, but a second row was found to exist on the inner surface of the two upper lobes, the action of which was for some time mistaken for currents of water. This inner series is in connection with the two finger-like valves, which protect the entrance to the gullet; and its especial office is to pass forward to them all particles brought within its influence; these are then inspected by the cilia covering the valves, and if considered fit, are allowed to enter the passage leading to the gizzard. From this a ciliated surface extends to the lintel or chin over the mould; its action creates a strong back current, by which all that is unfit for food is thrown off, with the exception of certain particles, which appear to be selected for the pellet; these are directed to a side-channel leading to the mould. Here the cilia are again seen in full activity-its hollow may be said to be lined with them; and it is by their action that the

Fig. 29. Profile of disc of Melicerta ringens.

It is very possible that all which has been described has been noticed before, but it is equally possible that it has never been so clearly and continuously observed. Nothing that I have ever seen has surpassed the definition of the mould under the , assisted by the condenser; the eye seemed to enter within its walls, and there to witness the coming in of the first particles after a pellet had been deposited. Curious, indeed, was the action of the cilia, playing like fingers, with the nucleus, and turning it first in one direction and then in another till the rotatory motion was commenced. My pleasure was indeed of the highest degree; and this paper is written with the hope that it may be the means of adding to the pleasure of others, and not only this, but that, while contemplating these wonders of creative power, our minds may bow in silent adoration of that Great Being for whose pleasure more especially "they are and were created."

The manufacture of this kind of bath is so simple that a few instructions are added, by which any one of moderate ingenuity may make several in the course of an hour or two.

The requirements are a stock of thin glass, a sharp writing diamond for cutting it, and a tin trough in which to melt some of the best red sealing-wax. Cut first a piece of glass about 2 inches

by 11, then another piece inch narrower, the extra size of the first being required as a ledge, on which to drop the water or rest the object previously to inserting it between the glasses. Now prepare a piece of cardboard or cartridge-paper, half an inch less in width than the length of the bath; this is to be placed between the two glasses, and withdrawn after the bath is complete. Upon its thickness

depends the depth of the water between the glasses; and, therefore, if a high power is to be employed, cartridge is better than cardboard.

Fig. 30. Cell used in the observation of Melicerta with

high powers.

When all is prepared, and the wax melted, the edges of the glasses which project beyond the cardboard are to be dipped into the wax, which soon forms a union between them; and in a few minutes the card may be withdrawn, and the bath is ready for use. It should then be filled with water by a dipper, and a specimen selected for insertion. Before doing this, it is advisable to remove as much of the weed as possible, so that the piece which is left may be flat, or it will not pass between the glasses. This is effected by first resting it on the projecting ledge, and then moving it gently forward with a needle or any thin object, till it is fairly positioned for observation. The water evaporates slowly, and must be renewed occasionally with the dipper. The peculiar advantage of this bath in the case of Melicerta consists in the free supply of water, as without this these delicate creatures will close or work so fitfully that sustained observations are impossible. It would also be found highly valuable for Zoophytes, or any creatures of a similar character. N. E. GREEN.

[The above is an abstract of a paper read at the Quekett Microscopical Club.]

PLINY tells us that Cato of Utica was one time reproached for selling poison, because when disposing of a royal property by auction he sold a quantity of Cantharides at the price of 60,000 sesterces.

RHIZOSOLENIA.

A CURIOUS genus of Diatoms was introduced

to notice by Mr. Brightwell in the sixth volume of the Microscopical Journal. This was called Rhizosolenia, and with a view to its better acquaintance, we have given figures of two species, and a brief summary of the rest.

Five British species are on record, and besides the singularity of their forms, they are remarkable for being only found in the interior of marine animals, chiefly Ascidians. Rhizosolenia styliformis is figured to the left hand (fig. 31), that on the right being Rhizosolenia imbricata (fig. 2), so named from the imbricated appearance of the valve. Rhizosolenia setigera has a terminal bristle, sometimes nearly as long as the frustule. Rhizosolenia alata is a curious little species, with a short bristle seated at the base of the hood-like cap which ends the frustule. And Rhizosolenia robusta is more anomalous in its form, being broad, somewhat sigmoid, and terminating at each extremity in a short bristly point. The latter was found by Mr. Norman in Ascidians from the northern coasts of England, the rest were all found by Mr. Brightwell. We should be glad to hear from any of our correspondents who are fortunate enough to meet with specimens of these rare and singular Diatoms.

Fig. 31.

Fig. 32.

THE PLANE-TREE.-Pliny records the particulars of several remarkable plane-trees, and tells us of one in Lycia, that had a cave or hollow in the trunk, which measured 81 feet in circumference, in which were stone seats covered with moss; and that Licinius Mutianus, when consul, with eighteen of his friends, used to dine and sup in the cavity of the tree, the branches of which, we are told, spread to such an extent, that this single tree appeared like a grove; and this consul, says our author, preferred sleeping in this hollow tree to his marble chamber, where his bed was composed of curious needlework, and canopied with beaten gold. - Sylva Florifera.

FORAMINIFERA IN CHALK.

I HAVE for some years past successfully prac

tised a simple method of obtaining Foraminifera, &c., from chalk.

Fig. 33. Gravesend Chalk.

As many persons are desirous of obtaining a good supply of these interesting objects, the following directions may prove useful.

Having procured a lump of fresh chalk, break it into pieces of about the size of a large walnut; then, with some heavy instrument, crush, not pound nor grind, these pieces into a coarse powder; when a sufficient quantity (say one or two pounds) has been thus prepared, either pass it through a sieve, or remove the large pieces, crush them, and return them to the powder; next procure a piece of stout calico, into which place the chalk, and tie it up as a housewife would a pudding. A large vessel of clean water should now be obtained, and the crushed chalk, having been allowed to become saturated with the fluid, the bundle should be kneaded, in the hands only: the contents will soon become a thick pasty mass, the milky water gradually ooze through, and the bulk of the chalk become considerably diminished. From time to time, after allowing the fluid to drain off, the cloth should be untied, and retied closer to the mass, and when the contents are reduced to about one-third, or less, of their original bulk, all large pieces of chalk, por

tions of spines of Echini, &c., should be removed, as the attrition of these hard bodies would greatly injure the delicate and beautiful little fossils.

When the greater portion of the chalk has escaped through the cloth, much greater care must be used, and at last the bag should be merely shaken, until the water which flows from it is almost clear; the contents of the cloth may then be transferred to a bottle of clear water, which should be violently shaken, the organisms occasionally allowed to subside, the milky fluid poured off, and fresh added: this operation to be repeated until the water remains clear when agitated. The white powder should be dried and sifted; the coarser will be found to consist of minute corals of great beauty, sponges, shells, and the larger foraminifera, &c., and the finer of the smaller foraminifera, &c.

So far from this apparently rough mode of proceeding injuring these delicate organisms, the majority of even the most fragile are quite uninjured: this, no doubt, is owing to the semifluid contents of the bag not being allowed to escape too quickly; if too coarse a cloth be used, not only do the more minute fossils pass through, but the softer part of the chalk being at the same time removed, the hard pieces of some portions of shells and spines would be brought into a more immediate contact

Fig. 34. Chalk of Mendon.

with these minute bodies, and their inevitable destruction would be the result. The operation is