microscopic fungus, the Erigma (Phragmidium) bulbosum, of Berkley; when magnified, it exhibited the appearance of a pedicle, supporting sometimes three, sometimes four (never more than four) sporidia, surmounted by a kind of button, representing an imperfect sporidium. The specimens of Erigma, examined by Mr. Curry, on Rosæ, generally possessed eight sporidia.

HOOKER'S JOURNAL OF BOTANY. No. 63, April; No. 64, May. 8vo. London: Lovel Reeve. Price 2s. each.

No. 63, April:-(Hooker, Sir W. J.) On the "Argan" Tree of Morocco (Argania Sideroxylon). This tree, or shrub, but very little known to European botanists, is highly esteemed by the Moors for its useful properties. Through the exertions of Lord Clarendon, seeds and living plants were procured for the Royal Gardens at Kew.* These were accompanied with a descriptive letter from H. Grace, Esq., of Mogador. From this letter it appears that the plant, which attains a great age, is propagated mostly by seed, which is well watered till it shoots; after this, there is no further care required. When from three to five years old, it bears fruit, which ripens between May and August. When the fruit ripens the cattle are driven to the trees, which are beaten with a long pole, and the ripe fruit which falls is quickly devoured. In the evening, when the flocks are driven home, they commence to chew the cud and throw out the nuts, which are collected every morning, and opened by the women and children, who use a stone for the purpose. The kernels are then parched in a common earthen vessel, ground in the ordinary handmills, and the flour put in pans and kneaded, with a little cold water, until the oil supervates, which is used for many domestic purposes in lieu of olive-oil; the cake, in which much oil remains, is used to fatten the cattle. Plates of the flowering specimen of the Argan, and various forms of the fruit, accompany this paper. (Spruce, Richard) Journal of a Voyage up Amazon and Rio Negro, continued; (Bentham, George) Florula Hongkongensis (continued); (Roe, J. S.) Report of Journey of Discovery, Western Australia (continued); Botanical Information; Notices of Books.

No. 64, May:-(Berkley, Rev. M. J.) Decades of Indian Fungi (continued), with 2 plates; (Harvey, W. H.) Three new Algæ, from shores of Ceylon-Vanvoorstia spectabilis, Claudea multifida, Martensia fragilis. The genus Vanvoorstia, just founded, and which is closely allied to Claudea, has been, with great propriety, dedicated to the well-known natural history publisher. (Roe, J. S.) Report of Journey of Discovery into Western Australia (continued); Botanical Information, &c.

THE NATURALIST: conducted by B. R. Morris. No. 38, April; No. 39, May; No. 40, June. 8vo. London: Groombridge and Sons. Price 6d. each number.

No. 38, April, 1854:—Habits of the Fox; Rare Animals, &c., occurring in Aberdeenshire; House Sparrow; Woodcock, remarks on; Birds occurring near Richmond, Yorkshire; Coleoptera round Exeter; Land and Fresh-water Mollusca; Miscellaneous Notices; Proceedings of Societies-Yorkshire Naturalists'

Plants have been successfully raised from seed in the Gardens of the Royal Dublin Society.-EDs.

Club; Alnwick Botanical Society, by the report of which we are glad to see that it is proposed to publish its transactions annually, commencing at the close of the present year with a "Flora of Alnwick," a step which ought to be followed by similar societies, one of whose first objects should always be the careful preparation of local faunas and floras, as in that way can we alone hope to form a correct estimate of the distribution of species. Natural History Society of Glasgow, containing a very interesting note, by C. W. Peach, Esq., of Wick, in answer to the ordinary assertion, that "the large Medusa preyed on fishes for food;" from his observations made on Cyanea aurita and C. capillata, or C. inscripta, of Peron, it would appear that the small fishes rush, when attacked or alarmed, under the umbrella among the tentacula, taking shelter in the large folds connected with the ova, and remaining there till the danger had passed, when they would emerge, and sport and play about their sheltering friend. So closely would they lie when under the umbrella, on seeing danger, that some young whiting were, at different times, taken into a bucket with their shelter, and when permitted to rest for a short time, they would come out and sport again as in the sea. These observations would cause us to doubt the fish-eating propensities ascribed to these waterframed creatures, and open up a most interesting field of observation for our sea-side naturalists, which, no doubt, they will avail themselves of. Retrospect; Querist.

No. 39, May, 1854 :-Man attacked by Polecats; Feathered Residents in, or Visitants to, the grounds of Terrick House; Birds occurring near Richmond, Yorkshire; Birds, local names of, in North Riding of Yorkshire; Ornithological Notes; British Evergreens; Miscellaneous; Proceedings of Societies—Royal Society of Edinburgh; Observations and Discussions on the Structure of the "Torbanehill Mineral, as compared with various kinds of coals," by Professor Bennet. Dr. B. was clearly of opinion that the Torbanehill mineral was a substance distinct from coal, and not to be confounded with it by any one who paid a strict attention to the microscopical character of the two substances. Coal, he believed to be formed by coniferous wood, and the structure which coal exhibited under the microscope accorded with this idea, but in the Torbanehill mineral the wood fibres of Conifera were not seen. He particularly referred to certain bodies of a circular form, which were seen in transverse sections of all true coals, when examined under a high magnifying power. These bodies he considered to form the true marks of coal, and he never found them wanting in any specimens of true coal. But in the Torbanehill mineral they did not occur, and their absence showed it not to be a kind of coal, but a mineral having a different origin." In the discussion which followed, several members took an active part. Professor Balfour, who spoke at considerable length, was of opinion that the Torbanehill mineral was a cannel coal nearly allied to brown Methill, formed from Acrogenous plants, containing scalariform tissue, and an abundance of yellow gas, giving matter apparently the altered contents of cells." Professor Gregory approved generally of the observations of Professor Balfour, and proceeded to the chemical aspect of the question, and expressed his conviction that the general chemical characters of the mineral did not differ in any essential particular from Methill, and, perhaps, some other kinds of undoubted coals. Dr. Wilson called attention to the affinity that existed between the Torbanehill mineral and bituminous shale. Dr. Douglas Maclagan inquired of Dr. Bennett, with regard to the

structural peculiarities observed in brown Methill and Torbanehill coals, which led him to conclude that the Torbanehill mineral was not a coal, while the brown Methill was the scattered vessel on which he relied being found in both. To this Dr. Bennett replied, that in the case of the brown Methill coal, the structures alluded to formed the organic basis of the coal, which was not the case in the Torbane mineral where they were purely accidental. Dr. Fleming considered the remarks of Dr. Wilson on bituminous shale as an attempt to draw attention away from the real subject under discussion, and, in reply to Dr. Bennett's statement, that "coal could not be formed of cellular tissue, without the intermixture of vascular to a large extent," mentioned, from his own observation, the formation of a bed of peat, many feet in thickness, by a single cellural plant, having no vascular tissue whatever, Tricortomum lanuginosum. Dr. Greville was desirous of correcting a misapprehension of some of his evidence at the trial, in regard to the yellow bodies seen in the Torbanehill mineral; he was far from saying that they were actual cells in their normal condition; but, in his own mind, he was perfectly satisfied that the mineral had a vegetable basis. Seeing there was so much difference of opinion on this subject among scientific men, he thought it a great comfort to those of them who had been examined on the trial, that the decision was not founded on their evidence. Retrospect; Querist.

No. 40, June, 1854 :—(Donaldson, George) The Craig of Ailsa; (Edward, T.) List of Raised Echinodermata, of Banffshire; Notes on British Swallows; (M'Intosh, J.) Injurious Insects-No. 1., The Earwig, Forficula auricularia; Miscellaneous Notices; Reviews; Proceedings of Societies; Retrospect.

JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS. No. 4, April; No. 5, May; No. 6, June. Edited by W. K. Sullivan. 8vo. Dublin: W. B. Kelly. Price 1s. each. THE Connection of industrial progress with the labours of the naturalist is much closer than is generally imagined, and the pages of this journal fill a blank long felt and acknowledged in Irish literature. With industrial resources richer than most countries, Ireland has long been neglected by the man of wealth and enterprise; the causes which led to so unfortunate a result does not fall within our promise to comment upon; but we trust, from the appearance of such a periodical, and the ability with which it has been conducted, that a brighter prospect is now opening out in the development of its resources. The zeal and energy which characterize our fellow labourers, will quickly prove, even to the most sceptical, that habits of observation are of importance, even in an economic point of view; and before long we will see their importance more justly appreciated in any schemes of education which may emanate, either from our universities or those schools which may be regarded as preparatory to them.

Among the papers of interest to the naturalist in these numbers will be found one on the artificial breeding of the Leech (Hirudo-medicinalis).

Proceedings of Societies.

BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHICAL

SOCIETY.

MARCH 8, 1854.

Dr. STEVELLY, V.P., in the chair.

Dr. Andrews read a paper on the "Composition and Properties of Ozone." After taking a general view of the elementary bodies, and of the chemical relations, and referring to the remarkable fact, that three of the most widely-diffused in nature-oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen-are known only in the gaseous form, and, therefore, cannot be referred, with certainty, either to the group of metallic or of non-metallic elements, Dr. Andrews proceeded to describe the singular property possessed by some bodies of existing, at the same temperature, in different physical states, and which has received the name of allotrophy. Sulphur and phosphorus were cited as furnishing remarkable examples of the allotrophic condition. The latter has been obtained recently in the form of a red, opaque body, altered by exposure to the air, and requiring a much higher temperature to inflame it than ordinary phosphorus. Ozone is, probably, an allotrophic variety of oxygen, and is the only instance known of the allotrophic state occurring in a gaseous body. Recent experiments have, however, thrown some doubt on the identity of oxygen and Ozone, and appears to indicate that, at least, some varieties of Ozone contain hydrogen as a constituent. Dr. Andrews entered very fully into the discussion of this question, and described some experiments in which he has been for some time engaged for its elucidation. Ozone is characterized by its peculiar odour, its bleaching properties, its power of decomposing such salts as the iodide of potassium, and the facility with which it is decomposed, as well by the action of heat as by contact with certain chemical bodies. It is produced under a great variety of circumstances-as in the slow oxidation of some bodies in air or in oxygen, in the decomposition of water by voltaic action, and in the passage of an electric spark through oxygen gas. The chemical affinities are very powerful, and if it could be obtained in quantity, it would, probably, admit of many valuable applications to the arts. In reference to the latter view, its bleaching properties were particularly referred to. It has been found in minute quantities in the atmosphere, where its presence is, probably, due to electrical action; and it has been supposed to exercise an important influence on the spread of epidemic diseases; but such views Dr. Andrews considered to be, at present, altogether conjectural.

MARCH 22, 1854.

ROBERT PATTERSON, Esq., President, in the chair.

Mr. Joseph J. Murphy read a paper on "The Mountain Chains of Asia and Europe, in their Physical and Political Relations." Remarking that geographical structure has its laws as well as organic structure; he described the greater part of these Mountain Chains as constituting one connected system of nearly parallel chains, stretching east and west, and turning their steepest sides to the south. The southern chains of this system are the highest-among them are the Alps and Himalayas. From the south side of this system of parallel chains other chains

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strike off nearly at right angles, and, running out into the sea, form the Peninsulas of Spain, Italy, Greece, Arabia, Hindostan, and Further India. He then mentioned the great Mountain Chains running east and west, and the deserts of Central Asia, as forming a natural barrier between the wandering tribes of Northern Asia and the civilized nations of the south; in our times, between the Russian Empire and British India; and concluded by observing that Russia, notwithstanding its barbarian character in relation to the south and west, is doing good service to the cause of civilization in Northern Asia.

APRIL 5, 1854.

GEORGE C. HYNDMAN, Esq., in the chair.

Mr. Patterson read a paper on the "Uses of Animals to Man." The paper commenced with a brief extract from Smith's "Wealth of Nations," in which it was pointed out that man, in a savage state, was a being absolutely dependant for his existence on the inferior animals. This dependance continued, in a greater or less degree, as he advanced in civilization, and still continues to a very considerable extent, although, in many cases, the animals may be regarded more as objects of luxury than of necessity. The use of animals, as furnishing food to man, was illustrated by numerous examples from the vertebrate and invertebrate kingdoms in nature; also their furnishing raiment, either in the shape of furs and skins, or in that of wool and silk, to be afterwards spun and woven. For various arts they supply us with feathers, hair, horns, teeth, oil, and tallow, as well as with many substances for medicinal purposes-several important branches of trade depend entirely upon such supplies. In agriculture, their importance is most manifest; not only are they indispensable to the farmer when living, but their dead bodies are valuable in their flesh and bones for manuring the land. As objects of luxury they furnish delight to the sportsman, in hunting, fowling, and fishing; as sanitary police, from one kind preying on another, the accumulation of noxious creatures is prevented. They add beauty to the landscape, which would be very tame, indeed, without the addition of animal life; and the contemplation of such a variety of living beings, all fulfilling the intentions of the great Author of Good in each department of animal nature, has the effect of improving the moral nature of the observer, and of developing a pious feeling.

APRIL 12, 1854.

ROBERT PATTERSON, Esq., President, in the chair.

Mr. William Millen read a paper on “The Rare Plants found in the neighbourhood of Belfast." The following is a list:-Anacharis alsinastrum, cystopteris fragilis, triticum junceum, lysimachia nummularia, rubus saxatilis, epilobium angustifolium, orobanche rubra, ruppia rostellata, potamogeton pectinatus, potamogeton gramineus, equisetum Mackaii, equisetum Drummondi, equisetum hyemale, artemisia campestris, carduus acanthoides, erodium cicutarium, radiola millegrana, peplis portula, listera nidus avis, erodium moschatum, hippuris vulgaris, chara hispida, chara translucens, myriophyllum spicatum, statice spathulata, statice armeria, carduus tenuiflorus, medicago falcata, lathyrus aphaca, senecio viscosus, silene noctiflora, sinapis tenuifolia, vicia bithynia.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

APRIL 7, 1854.

ROBERT CALDWELL, Esq., M.R.I.A., in the chair.

The minutes being confirmed,

Mr. Andrews presented to the Society a copy of Ralf's beautiful work on the British Desmidiæ, and by Mr. Williams, from Mr. Edward Dombrain, four speci