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HARDWICKE’S

SCIENCE-GOSSIP

For 1865.

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HARDWICKE’S

Science-Gossip

AN ILLUSTRATED MEDIUM OF INTERCHANGE AND GOSSIP

| FOR STUDENTS AND

LOVERS OF NATURE.

Epitep sy M. C. COOKH,

AUTHOR OF “‘A PLAIN AND EASY ACCOUNT OF THE BRITISH FUNGI,” ‘‘ MICROSCOPIC FUNGI,”
‘©’ MANUAL OF BOTANICAL TERMS,” AND OF ‘‘ STRUCTURAL BOTANY,”
THE “BRITISH REPTILES,” ETC. ETC.

LON DON:
ROBERT HARDWICKEH, 192, PICCADILLY.
1866.

COX AND WYMAN,
ORIENTAL, CLASSICAL, AND GENERAL PRINTERS,

GREAT QUEEN STREET, LONDON, W.C.

AVANT-PROPOS.

| URING the “eventful year” just drawing to

a close, we have studiously avoided thrust-
ing ourselves and our “hobby” before our
subscribers. Twelve monthly numbers of
Gosste have regularly made their appearance, and
now we think the time and opportunity has arrived
to congratulate ourselves upon the success which we
have achieved. That we do congratulate ourselves”
there is not the slightest doubt, and we congratulate
our subscribers also. The cause for congratulation
in the latter case, as well as in the former, les in
the fact that Harpwickr’s Science Gossip has proved a decided success,
even beyond our most sanguine hopes, when we first planned its
constitution. We have no doubt that our readers rejoice with us in
this consummation, since our success proves that we have produced just
that sort of companion which they desired. Whilst, however, we shake
hands with ourselves, and feel good-humoured towards everybody,
as all successful people do, we by no means wish to flatter ourselves
into the belief that our work has been perfect. Any one desirous of
being critical, may turn over these pages and point out defects which
might have been remedied, or omissions which might have been
avoided. Good-natured friends will make allowances for a few failures
in execution, where the general intention has been in the right
direction. We have had much to learn, and we hope that, from our
experience of the past, we have profited for the future. It has been
our good fortune to secure the kind offices of many scientific friends,

without whose valuable aid we could not have hoped to have rendered

|

vi AVANT-PROPOS.

our “Notes and Queries” and “ Answers to Correspondents” so
complete. Although we have no permission to quote the names
of those to whom we refer, and who possess a European reputation
in their own special branches of Natural History, we cannot refrain
from according to them our thanks. Should there be any of our
numerous contributors who feel aggrieved that their communications
have not been inserted, or their queries answered, we trust at this
cenial season, when friendships are cemented, and follies and failings
forgotten, that they will extend to us full and free pardon for offences
which have been unintentional. So sudden and almost overwhelming
did the correspondence speedily become, even before the machinery
could be brought into working order, that we are more surprised at
not oftener hearing the voice of complaint, than we should have
been at a postman’s deluge of angry letters. Let this volume be
accepted as an earnest of our anxiety to supply month by month a
healthy four-penny-worth of “ Gossip ;”’ and with the assurance that
it shall be our aim to progress and improve, we cordially wish onr

friends, contributors, and subscribers, all the world over—

“A Happy New Year!”

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“A LirtLe RHApSopy, 45.
Abnormal Fossil Ferns, 187.
Abnormal Larch Cones, 88.
Abnormal Pimpernel, 18.
About the Otter’s Shell, 79.
Acari, lists of, 65.

Achatina acicula, 61.
Adjustments, 95.

Aération of Aquaria, 211.
Agardh’s View of Nature, 47.
Age of Human Skeleton, 264.
Air-bladders of Fish, 69.
Albino Fiowers, 24.

Alexander Rust, 190.

Algze, Bibliography, 192.
Almora and Sorrel, 43.

Alpine Plantain in Shetland, 283.
Alpine Rose, 66.

Alps, formation of, 219.
Amateur Botanists’ Society, 23, 46, 70.
Amateur Microscopists, 153.
American Blight, 185.
American Water-weed, 141.
Ameeba, the, 45.

Anacharis alsinustrum, 141.
Anatomatizing leaves, 215, 239, 286.
Ancient Trees, 185.

Anecdote of Stork, 14.
Anecdote of Swift, 14.
Anecdotes of Birds, 181.
Anemone with Five Bracts, 138.
Anemones, Sea, 155.

Angling for Tench, 15.
Angular Aperture, 288.
Animatcules, Eel-like, 213.
An'malcule, Jelly, 58.
Animals, preserving, 48.
Anobium tesselatum, 60.
Anoplotherium, 214,

Another Plesiosaurus, 164.
Another Swift in Difficulty, 64.
Ancther use for Nettles, 88.
Anthropological Society, 22.
Anthus spinoletta, 64, 76.
Aunts, 262.

Ant, the Driver, 113.

Ants, black, 238.

Ants and Cineraria, 143.

Ants and Cocci, 234.

Ants, festoons of, 116.

Ants of Great Britain, 185.
Ants, House, 170, 239.

Ants storing Grain, 113.

Ants, winged, 263.

Apetalous Stitchwort, 235.
Aphides, Swarms of, 287.
Aphis on Money-wort, 257.
Aphis populi, 257.

Appendages to Water-beetles, 238, 257.
Aquaria, Aération of, 211.
Aquaria, Fish in, 119.

Aquaria, Fresh-water, 188, 211, 212, 213.

Aquaria and Fernery combined, 71, 117.
Aquaria Plants, 92, 141.

Aquaria, Marine, 129.

Aquaria, Streams in, 188.

Aquarian Difficulties, 154, 188, 213, 239.
Aquarium, Gobies in, 42.

Aquarium Query answered, 167.
Aquarium Query, 143.

Aquavivarium, 288.

Arachnoidiscus ornatus, 114.

Arcadian Fir, New, 259.

Arctic Clio, 183.

Aregma bulbosum, 176.

Arran Drift-beds, 68.

Artaxerxes Butterfly, 66.

Artichoke, Jerusalem, 118, 142, 262.
Artichoke in flower, 262.

INDEX.

Asclepias seeds, 143.
Ash-bark Fungus, 144,
Ash Coccus, 216.

| Asphalte, 259.
| Asplenium viride, 44.
| Association of Plants and Animals, 235.

Assyrian Botany, 110.
Asterosporium Hoffmanni, 35.
Atropus pulsatorius, 111.

| BADGER, the, 87.

Badger caught, 135.

| Badger, White, 118.

Badgers, capture of, 63.

Baikie, Dr., death of, 46.
Balance of Power, 193.

Balsam and Chloroform, 45, 69.

| Baltic Cod-fish, 261.
| Barnacies and Corals, 211.

Basse, the, 208.

Battle of the Bees, 214.
Bearded Tit, 26.

Beauty in Nature, 182.
Beaver, Gigantic Fossil, 44.
Beech ‘‘ Gall Midge,”’ 190.
Beech Trees, 167.

Bee and its Sting, 65, 142.
Bees, 286.

Bees and Fuchsia, 263.
Bees and their Food, 286.
Bees and Wasps, 263.

| Bees attacking Fruit, 287.

Bees, Battle of, 214.
Bees, Ligurian Queens, 41.

| Bees’ Remains, 143, 166, 167.
| Bees, removing, 257.

Bees, suffocation of, 185.
Bees, superstitions about, 34.
Bees, why did they go, 93.
Bees, Wild, 137.

Beetledom, a Story of, 98.
Benzole for killing insects, 72.
Bibliography of Zoology, 72.
Bighorn at Belfast, 44.
Binocular Dissecting Microscope, 201.
Birds, Anecdotes of, 181.
Birds and Insect Pests, 160.
Birds’ Eggs, 238.

Birds’ Eggs, Colour of, 47,
Birds in an Eclipse, 207.
Birds, names of Sea-, 239.
Birds, to preserve, 48, 63.

| Bite of Viper, 95.

Bitten by a Viper, 131.

Bittern, the, 86.

Bituminous Oil, 210.

Black Ants, 238.

Black Beetles, 167, 238.

Black Cradle, 270.

Black-headed Gull, 256.

Black Hollyhocks, 43.

Black Woodpecker, 183,

Blight, American, 185.

Blight, a Curious, 167.

Blight of Larch, 190.

Blighted Beech-leaves, 190.

Bloody-man’s Fingers, 114.

Bloomeria, Goiden, 167.

Bluebottles, 70.

Blue Fleabane
258.

Blue-fiowers, White, 24.

Blue Tits, 39.

Blue Wren, the, 199.

Bog Asphodel, 209.

Books on Fungi, 240.

Books on the Microscope, 240.

Books on Seaweeds, 192.

Books on Shells, 48.

Books on Zoophytes, 192.

in Cumberland, 220,

Books received, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144,
168, 192, 216, 240, 264, 288.

| Bombay Zoological Gardens, 46.

|

|

Bonaparte’s Gull, 38.

Botanical Society, Edinburgh, 70.

Botanists’ Amateur Society, 23, 46, 70.

Botanist, the Cobbler, 66.

Botany, 17, 43, 66, 88, 114, 137, 162, 186,
209, 235, 258, 283.

Botany, Assyrian, 110.

Botany at the Cape, 115.

Botany, Modern Military, 24.

| Botany, Origin of Sowerby’s, 47.
| Bramble-leat Brand, 176.
| Brambling, the, 64.

Brand, Meadow-sweet, 255.
Breeze-Fly, the, 194.
Bristle-mculd, new, 65.

| British Land and Freshwater Shells, 61,

191.
British Lichens, 186.
British Orchids, 124.
British Plants, Variations in, 32, 228.
British Roses, 88.
British Salmon, 69.
British Species of Burdock, 44.
British Woods, 239.
Brittle India-rubber, 186.
Bromley, and What I found there, 246.
Brood of Caterpillars, 126.
B:oom-rape in a strange place, £9.
Briicke’s Lens, 141.
Buckinghamshire Ficra, 67.
Bull’s-eye Condenser, 212.

| Burdock, British Species of, 44.

Buried alive, 135.

| Burnet, Six-spot, 151.
| Butcher-bird, Great, 181.

Butcher-bird, or Shrike, 106.

Butterflies, Heroic Names, 15.

Butterfly and Nettle, 62.

Butterfly, Clouded Yellow, 281.

Butterfly Parasites. 262.

Butterfly Scales, 140, 166. 5 :

Butterfly, Small Tortoise-shell, 263, 280,

Butterfly Wings, Development of, 113.

Butterworts, Cultivation of, 205,

Button Galls, 240.

Buxton, Mr. Richard, 66.

CABBAGE BUTTERFLY PARASITES, 71.

Cabbage Butterfly and its Metamor-
phoses, 30, 74.

Cabinet Labels, 192.

Cape Botany, 115.

Cape Pigeons, 118.

Cape Hen, 142, 239.

Cape Salmon, 64.

Carolina Crake in England, 6).

Cases, Ferns in, 284, 287.

| Cat-briar, 215, 239.
| Cat-fleas, 278.

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|
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1

Cat sacred to Hecate, 41.
Caterpillars, Brood of, 126.

| Caterpillars, irritating, 288.
, Caterpillars on Apple-trees, 16s.

Caterpillars on Oak, 168.
Caterpillars defoliating Trees, 168.
Caterpillars on Hawthorn, 168.
Cats, Manx, 118, 142.

Caverns near Furfooz, 164.
Cedar-wood Exudation, 214, 239.
Celery Fly and Tomtits, 281.

| Cement for Rock-work, 94.

Chetomium murorum, 66.

| Chameleon, 92.

Change of Climate, 99.

| Chapter from the Life of a Volvox, 244-

Chapter on Hairs, 29.
Chestnut-tree of Tuileries, 138.

Vili

SCIENCEH-GOSSLP.

Child poisuned by a Toad, 11].
China-grass, 18, 277.
Chirocephalus diaphanus, 45.
Choice of a Microscope, 267.
Chloroform and Balsam, 45, 69.
Christmas leaves, 283.

Cilia of Diatomacee, 237.
Cilia of Volvox, 263.

Cinders in Cultivating Ferns, 188.
Cineraria and Ants, 143.

Circle of Life, 145.

Circulating Cabinet, 236.
Circulation in a Fly, 259.
Circwlation of Cosmarium, 04.
Clausilia Mortilleti, 61.

Cleaning Diatomacee, 52.
Cleaning Echinus Spines, 94.
Cleaning Insects, 72.

Cleaning Objects, 142.

Cleaning Sections, 47.

Clio borealis, 183.

Clip, Improved, 189.

Clouded Yellow Butterfly, 281.
Cluster-cups, 67.

Coal, our Stock of, 210.

Coal’s Account of itself, 91.
Coal-plants, 210.
Cobbler-Botanist, the, 66.
Coccus on Ash, 216.

Coccus of Oranges, 96.
Cochineal, 210.

Cockroaches and Crickets, 42, 66.
Cod-fish, Baltic, 261.

Cod-fish Eggs, 210.

Collecting Diatoms, 85.
Collecting Objects, 69.
Collecting Roses, 43.

Colias in exchange, 286,

Colour of Birds’ Eggs, 39, 47, §7, 142, |

231.
Comatula rosacea, 95, 112.
Common Things, 217.
Common Things Unknown, §8.
Comparative Increase in Size, 2/6.
~Compound Eyes of Insects, 228, 249.
Conchologicel Works, 48.
Condenser, Bull’s-eye, 212.
Condenser, Economic, 90.
Condenser, Webster’s, 140.
Cone, Fossil, 259.
Conferva, Green, 119.
Conservatory Guide, 239, 262.
Corallines, 177.
Coral Reefs, 112, 220, 285.
Corals and Barnacles, 211.
Corals and Madrepores, 287.
Corals and Sponges, 187.
Cork Bark for Fern-cases, 34.
Corn Poppy, White, 167.
Cosmarium botrytis, 201.
Cosmarium, Circulation, 94.
Cotton, Species of, 43.
Cow-trees, 171, «86.
Crab-claw, Curicus, 206.
Crab, Hermit, 191.
Cradle, a Black, 270.
Crake, Carolina, 60.
Crane in Shetland, 184.
Cretaceous Fossils, 229, 285.
Cricket on the Hearth, 84.
Crickets and Cockroaches, 42, 64.
Crickets, what do they eat, 113, 128, 166.
Crowfoot, Pollen of, 186.
Cryptogams in Himalayas, 114.
Crystallized Carbon, 258.
Cuckoo, the, 86.
Cuckoo and its Eggs, 38.
Cuckoo’s Egg in Linnet’s nest, 87.
Cuckoo, Notes of, 183.
Cui Bono? 25,
Cultivation of Butterworts, 205.
Cultivation of Ferns, 1/9.
Culture of Vallisneria, 138,
Curiosities, Natural, 283.
Curious Blight, 167.
Curious Crab-claw, 2°6.
Curious Dietetie Phenomenon, O4.
Curious Places for Nests, 233.
Cutting Sections of Wood, 71.
Cybele Hihernica, 43.
Cyclops, Four-horned, 158.
DABCHICKS, 152.
Daisy, Proliferous, 182.
Dammar-Bee, 252.
Darwin’s New Work, 114.

Dead Fly in Water, 133.

Dead Fly on the Window, 10.

Dead-Sea Water, 259.

Dead Spider in Water, 133.

Death among Young Ferns, 93.

Death of Dr. Baikie, 46.

Death of Professor Silliman, 24.

Death to Flies, 15.

Death’s-head Hawk-moth, 298, 224.

Death’s-head Moth at Sea, 41.

Death-watch, the, 60.

Deer poisoned by Yew, 112.

Deformed Swallow-tail, 185.

Delesseria sanguinea, 117.

Dermestes and Pencil-tail, 259.

Development of Butterfly Wings, 113.

Devilline, 20.

Devonshire Mistletoe, 114.

Diame‘er of Lenses, 238.

Diamonds, Origin of, 88.

Diaphragm for Microscope, 189.

Diaphragm, Graduating, 153.

Diatom, rew Jrish, 114.

Diatom wanted, 95.

Diatomacee, Cilia of, 237.

Diatomacees, Cleaning, 52.

Diatomacez, Movements of, 163.

Diatomacez, Sea-side, 250.

Diatoms,
140.

Diatoms, Exotic and British, 167.

Diatoms from Guano, 148.

Diatoms, on Collecting, 83.

Diatoms, what they are, &c., 27.

Diet of Worms, 180, 214.

Dipper, Fecd of, 184.

| Dipper, Song of, 135.

| Diseased Flies, 70.

Dissecting Microscope, Binocular, 201.

Diving Sandpipers, 63.

Dog vw. Fox, 160.

Dog-whelk, netted, 259.

Dormcuse, the Common, 202.

Dorr-Beetle, Strength of, 41.

Dorse, the, 261.

Double-yolked Eggs, 39, 63.

Dragon-flies, 95.

Drift-beds of Arran, 68.

| Drift of East of England, 44.

Driver Ant, 113.

Driver Ants, Festoons cf, 116.

Drosera rotundifolin, 209.

Drying Flowers, 186.

Drying Starfish, 136.

Duckweeds, 5, 258, 286.

Duckweeds, name. 258.

Dumfries Natural Hist ry £ociety, 7?.

Dytiscus, its Parasite, 255.

EaGhLi-KILLine Extraordinary, 13.

Eagle, the Golden, 39.

Early Wasp, 137, 161.

Earwig, White, 213.

Earwigs, 185.

Echinus Spines, cleaning, 94.

Economic Concenser, 9.

| Economic Entomology, 87.

Edib'e Fungi, 214.

Edinburgh Betanical Soci ty, 70.

Education in Geology, 140.

Eel, Observations on, 93,

Eel, Reproduct:on of, 118, 141, 165.

| Eel-like Animalcul:s, 213.

| Eels and Dew-worim,e, 236.

Eels and Fish Garbage, 93.

| Eels, Migration of, 284.

| Eels, Migratory, 70, 95.

| Effects of Lightning cn Firth, 211.

| Egg of Cuckoo, 87.

| Egg of the Moa, 14, 282.

Egg of Stormy Petrel, 87.

Eggs, Colour of, 39, 47, 87.

| Eggs, Double-yolked, 29, 63.

Eggs of Cat-bird, 238,

Eggs of Great Auk, 184.

Eggs of Land Tortoise, 63.

Eggs of Thrash, 263.

Eggs, Pheasant’s, 193.

Eggs, Stalked Insect, 199.

Elephant, Fossil, 215.

| Embryonic Development, 65.

English Crag and Scotch Beds, 68.

Entomological Society, 22, 46, 113, 144.

Entomology, 15, 41, 66, 113, 127, 161, 185,
208, 234, 257.

' Eozoon Canadense, 161.

Exotic, in Eritish Iccalities, |

(1865.

Epipactis rubra in Gloucestershire, 235.

Eriogaster lunestris, 126.

Eriophorum angustifolium, 43.

Erucastrum Pollichii, 29.

Ethnological Society, 23, 46.

European Swallows, 136.

Evening Primrose, Pollen of, 212.

Examining Plants, 162.

Exotic and British Diatoms, 140, 167.

Exudation of Cedar, 214.

Eye, Facets in the, 189.

Eyes, Compound, 228, 249.

FABLE, a, 63.

Facets in the Eye, 1€9.

Fairy Shrimp, the, 45.

Fearless Tits, 160.

Features of Plants, 43.

Fern-growing, 44, 109, 188, 239, 262.

Fern, Hart’s-tongue, 190, 214.

Fern, Killarney, 92.

Fern Query, 94.

Fern, the Tunbridge, 114.

Fernery and Aquarium, 71, 117.

Ferns, 20, 34, 37, 44, 66, 67, 93, 109.

Ferns, Abnormal Fossil, 187.

Ferns, Cultivating, 44, 109, 158, 239, 262.

Ferns, Death among, 93.

Ferns in Cases, 284.

Ferns, Insects feeding on, 65.

Ferns, Preservative Power of, 37, 95, 1:5

Ferns, Reproduction of, 89.

Festocons of Driver Ants, 116.

Field Naturalists, Manchester, 23.

Fiftieth Objective, 90.

Fiji Islands Flora, 67.

Fir, new Arcadian, 250.

Fir-scales for Microscope, 45.

Fire-fly Light, 191.

Fish, Air-bladders of, 69.

Fish-culture on the Lea, 14°.

Fish, great Slaughter of, 165.

Fish in Aquaria, 119.

Fish killed by Lightning, 211.

Fish-ladders on the Thames, 16.

Fish-moulds end Fly-maulds, 13!, i189.

Fish Ova-cases, 182.

Fish-scales for Microscope, 261.

Fish Tattle, 16, 42, 93, 141, 165, 2¢7, 256,
261, 284.

Fish, the New, 42, 56.

Fish: What are they about? 95.

Fish, Weever, 165.

Fleas, Cat, 278.

Flesh-worm Disease, 4°,

Flora of Bucks, 67.

| Flora of Fiji Islands, 67.

Tiorence Flask-covers, 129.

Flower-loving Spiders, 206.

Flowers, imperfectly develore?, 193.

Flowers, Language of, 114.

Flowers, to Dry, 186.

Flies and Wasps, 262.

Flies, Death to, 15.

Fiies, Diseased, 70.

Flies, Hybernation cf, 113.

Fly-catcher, Spotted, 256.

Fly-catching Plant, 43.

Fly, Circulation in, 259.

Fly, Foot of a, 253.

Fly, Green Drake-, 231.

Fly in Pike-fishing, 280

Fly, Larve of, 83.

Fiy-moulds, 10.

Fly-moulds and Fish-moulds, !34.

Fly Nuisance, 257.

Fly Parasites, 93, 227.

Fly, Spiracles of, 199.

Fly, the Breeze-, 194.

Fly, Tongues of, 83.

Focal Length, 288.

Folk. lore of Geology, 164.

Food of Salamander, 95.

| Food of the Dipper, 1S14.

Foot of a Fly, 253.

Foraminifera, 69, 187.

Forceps, Stage, 212.

Forest of Cromer Period, 259

Formation of the Alps, 210.

Forty Years ago, 24.

| Fossil Beaver, Gigantic, 44.

{ Fossil Cone, 259.

| Fossil Elephant, 215.

| Fossil Ferns, Abnormal, 187.

Fossil Oak, 210.

Fossil Plants, 68,

Fossil Plants of ‘Coal, 210,
Fossil Shell, 94.

Fossil Spider in Coal, 259.

Fossil Teeth, &c., 136.

Fossils, Cretaceous, 229, 285.
Fossils from Caradoc Strata, 210.
Fossils, Manufacture of, 91.
Fossils, what are, 19.

Fountain, Intermittent, 260.

Four Years’ Acquaintance with a Toad,

12.
Four-horned Cyclops, 158.
Fox-shark, 165.
Fox v. Dog, 160.
Fox with young Scentless, 166.
Freshwater Aquaria, 188, 211, 212, 213.

Hawthorn Cat: onyuuieiee 168.

| Hedgehog, the, 79, 1°8.

Hedgehog among Strawberries, 95.

| Hedgehog, White, 207.

Hedgehogs eating Eggs, 143.
Helix obvoluta, 61.

| Hepatic, mounting, 109.

Herbaria, Prizes for, 78.
Herbarium Insect, 111.

Herb Paris, 138, 143.
Hermaphredite Catkins, 19.
Hermit Crab, 191.

Hermit Rooks, 226.

Heroic Names of Butterflies, 15.
Heron, the Squacco, 281.
Herring, the, &c., 284.

| Killing Insects for Cabinet,
| Kleptomania, 194.
Knoppern Galls, 41.
Kolpods, Reproduction of, 132.
LABURNUM, 215.

Lace-wing Fly, Eggs of, 190.
Lamp, Microscope, 236.

Land SheUs, British, 119.
Land Tortoise—Eggs, 63.
Language of Flowers, 114.
Lantern Fly, 191.

| Larch Blight, 1990.

Larch Cones, abnormal, 88.
Large Mushroom, 2538.

Larva of a Gnat, 162.

15, 113.

| Larvee and Imago, 208.

| Larvee, Increase of Bulk, 208,

| Larvee, Puguacity of, 161.
Laudanum, a Species of Dew, 139.
Leaf teachings, 52.

Freshwater Sponges, 287.
Friendly Notice of Tomtit, 59.
Fringed Scale-mc¢ss, 109.
Frog and Thrush, 112.

Highest Power, the, 45.

High Powers, Illumination, 22.
Himaleyan Cryptogams, 114.
Hints for Marine Aquaria, 129.

Frog eating its Old Skin, 233.
Fruit and Bees, 287.

Fuchsia and Bees, 263.
Fucus serratus, &c., 204.
Fungi, Books on, 210.

Fungi, Edible, 214.

Fungi, new British, 29.
Fungi, to Preserve, 144.
Fungus, Star-spored, 35.
Furze-leaves Trifoliate, 115.
GaLtl.-FLy, Male, 137.
Gall-insects eaten by ‘Tits, 59.
Gall-insect, new, 185.

Galls, 15, 24, 41.

Galls, Kakrasinghee, 286.
Galls, Knoppern, 41.
Garnets, 94.

Gathering Seaweeds, 173.
Geaster, Species of, 19.
Gemme of Mosses, 67.
Geographical Scciety, 22.
Geological Changes in Scotland, 44.
Geological Queries, 119.

Geology, 19, 44, 68, 91, 116, 119, 140, 164,

187, 210, 259, 285.
Geology, Education in, 140.
Germon, the, 261.
Gigantic Fossil Beaver, 44.
Gill-fans of Sabella, 262.
Glacier Phenomena, 44.
Glasses, Magnifying Power of, 69.
Glengariff for Ichthyology, 208.
Gnat Larva, 163.
Gobies in an Aquarium,
Gold Shells, 120.
Golden Bloomeria, 167.
Golden Eagle, 39.
Gomuti Palm, 77.
Gonium pectorale, 95.
Gordius aquaticus, 107, 197.
Gorilla, 38.
Gossamer Spiders, 151, 191, 213.
Gossip about Mansuckers, 49.
Gossypium, Species of, 43.
Graduating Diaphragm, 153.
Granite, 116.
Gray Wagtail, 28].
Grease, to remove, from insects, 72
Great Auk’s Eggs, 184.
Great Butcher-bird, 184.
Great Slaughter of Fish, 165.
Green Conferva, 119.
Green Drake-fly, 231.
Green Spleenwort, 44.
Growing Ferns, 239.
Guano, 212, 239.
Guano, &c., in exchange, 140.
Guide to Conservatory, 262.
Gull, Black-headed, 256.
Gulls looking out, 14.
Gulls, Piratical, 272.
Gurnard, Sapphirine, 236.
Hapsits of the Toad, 86.
Habits of Reptiles, 287.
Hair-worm, the, 107, 288.
Hair-worm, more Notes on the, 197.
Hairs, Chapter on, 29.
Hammer-headed Shark, 207.
Hart’s-tongue Fern, 190, 214.
Hawk and Rat, 125.
Hawk-moth, Death’s-head, 208, 234
Hawk-moth, Humming- bird, 2.8.
Hawk-moth, Lime, 161.
Hawk-moth, Unicorn, 263.
Hawthorn, 198,

43,

Hissing of Snake and Viper, 142.

| Hive-bee and Sting, 65, 142.

Hive-bees removed, 247.

Hobby, what’s your? 1.
Hollyhocks, Black, 43.

Homes without Hands, 251.
Hoopoe, the, 256.

Hoopoe and Roller, 184.

Horse Chestnuts, 114.

Horse Chestnut-tree, 17.

Horse Chestnuts, Uses of, 43.
House Ants, 170, 239.

House Fly, the, 82.

House Sparrow in India, 125.
How to begin, 97.

How to grow Ferns, 262.

How to mount Mosses, 43.

How the White Owl takes its Prey, 233.
Human Remains, Petrified, 132.
Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 268.
Humming Birds, 218.

Hunter's Early Work, 23.
Hyacinth Bulbs, preserving, 190.
Hybernation of Flies, 113.
Hybridism, Naudin on, 258.

| Hymenophyllum Tuntridgense, 20, 114.
| ICcHNEUMONS and Vanessa, 238, 263.
_ Uiford Mammoth, 29.

Illumination for High Powers, 22.
Illumination, Micrcscopic, 130.
Imperfectly-developed Flowers, 103.
Improved Clip, 189.

Inch of Rain, 119.

Increase of Bulk in Larvee, 208.
Incubating Robin, 142, 166.
Independence, 241.

Index to Scientific Literature, 113.
India-rubber, Brittle, 1986.
Influence of Palms, 283.

Infusoria, 223.

Tnfusorial Earth, 93, 239.

Ingenuity of Thrush, 207.

Tn how Little lies the Past, 18

“In Memoriam,’’ 265.

Insect Larva, 259.

Insect-moulds, 133.

Insect-pests and Birds, 16).

Insect Vivarium, 188.

Insects feeding on Ferns, 66.
Insects feeding on Wheat, 11
Insects in Armour, 161.
Insects in Greenhouses, 15.
Insects mounted whole, 163,
Insects of Nova Scotia, 142.
Insects, Scales of, 21.
Insects, to kill, 113.
Intelligence of Starling, 13.
Intermittent Fountain, 250.
Introduced Plants, 67.
Introduction of Rare Plants, 139.
Invisible World revealed, 20.
Irish Ivy, 209.

Irish Plants, Notes on, 115.
Irrationale of Speech, 65.
Irritating Caterpillars, 288.

Ivy, Irish, 209.

Ivy, the, 114.

JELLY Animalcule, 58.
Jelly-fishes, 248.

Jerusalem Artichoke, 118, 142.
KAKRASINGHEL, 280.

191.

| Katy-did, 146.

| Keyhole Limpet and Parasite, 122.
| Kestrel, the, 206.

' Killarney Fern, 92.

Leaves, anatomatizing, 215, 239, 28
| Leaves for Packing, 47, 70.
Leaves, Skeleton, 286.
Leaves, Veins of, 24.
Leiodcn at Norwich, 29
Lemna arriiza, 264.
Lemna, Species of, 5.
Lenses, Diaineter of, 238.
Lepidonotus Lordi, 12
| Lepidopterous Scale, ‘y27.
Lesser Broom-rape, SQ.
Lichens, British, 1836.
| Lichens, New British, 19, 88.
| Life, the Circle of, 145.
| Light in the Ocean, 261.
| | Light of Lantern Fly, 191.
| Ligurian Queens and English Bees, 41.
| | Lime Hawk-moth, 161.
| Limneus pereger, 72.
| Limpet, Keyhole, and Parasite, 122.
| Linnzean S.ciety, 46.
| areeoehten palmipes, 136.
| Liver Fluke, 18.
| Liverpool Naturalist Society, 70.
| Llandrillo Fossils, 210.
| Local Names, Notes on, 35.
| London Rocket, 149.
| Lord Scarabeus, 98.
Lampers and Splitters pias
Lutraria maxima, 79.
Macuine for Aquaria, 118.
Madcrepores, 239, 287.
Magnifying Power, to ascertain, 69.
Male Fern, Anithelmiutic, 67.
Male Gall-fly, 137.
Maltwood Finder, 25.
Mammeth at Ilford, 20.
Management of Ferns, 284.
| Man in the Past, 256.
| Manchester Field Societ y, 23.
Maniches‘er Literary and
Society, 46.
Man’s Place in Nature, 46.
| Mansucker, or Cctopus, 87.
Mansucker and Sea-Cucumber, 118,
Manufacture of Fossils, 91.
Manx Cats, 118, 142.
Margarodes formicarum, 120.
Marine Aquaria, Hints, 129.
Marine Pnosphorescence, 199.
Martin in Difficulty, 49.
| Meadow-sweet Brand, 255.
Metamorphoses of Butterfly, 39, 74.
Micro-pbotographs, 90.
Microscope, Books on, 219.
| Microscope, Choice of, 257
| Microscope, Collecting for, 69.
| Microscope, Indoors, 20.
, Microscope, its Principles, 8.
| Microscopic Illumination, 139.
Microscopic Lamp, 236.
Microscopic Mites on Stones, ¢
Microscopic Object. 45.
Microscopic Powers, 153.
Microscopical Clb, 189.
Microscopical Society, 23, 45, 79.
Microscopists, Amateur, 153.
Microscopists, Proposal to, 116.
| Microscopy, 29, 45, 69, 9: i 116,
189, 212, 237, 259.
Migration of Eels, 284.
Migratory Eels, 70.
Mildew—What is it ? 139.
| Milk-tree of Para, 286.
| Mimulus luteus, 235.

tw

b

Philblogical

2035

x

Minds and Memcries, 187.
Mischievous Rats, 184.
Mistletoe, 273.

Mistletoe in Devonshire, 114.
Mistletoe on Mountain Ash, 283,
Mistletoe on the Oak, 283.
Mistletoe, Trees on which it Grows, 283.
Mites, Microscopic, on Stones, 22,
Moa’s Egg, 14, 281.

Moa of New Zealand, 282.
Modern Military Botany, 24.

Mole and Mouse, £6.

Molluscs, Small, 255.

Monarch of the Forest, 61.

Money- wort Aphis, 257.

Monkey, Squirrel, 206.

Monstrosities, Vegetable, 137.

Moon, Mountains in, 249.

More Notes on Hairworm, 197.

More Uses for Nettles, 209.

Morley Naturalists Society, 23.

Morrhua callarias, 261.
fosquitoes in England, 239.

Moss Culture, 92.

Moss, New British, 27s.

Mosses accumulating Soil, 67.

Mosses, Gemmee of, 67.

Mosses, Study of, 79.

Mosses, to Mount, 43.

Most perfect Plants, 17.

Moth, Death’s-head, at Sea, 41.

Moulds, Insect, 133.

Mountain Ash, Mistletoe on, 283.

Mountain Limestone of Shropshire, 187.

Mountains of the Moon, 249.

Mounting in Balsam and Chloroform, 45.)

Mounting Objects, 116.

Mounting Plants, 46.

Mounting Polyzoa, 65, 93, 94.
Mounting who'e Insects, 163, 191.
Mouse and Mole, 85.

163.
Mud-shell, Wandering, 72.
Muie-breeding, 38.
Muller’s Toptnot, 261.
Mushroom, Large, 258.
Mushroom, Triple, 209.
Myriad Zoophytes, 183.
NatTTeRJAck Toad, 111, 118, 143.
Natterjack at Coombe, 296,
Natterjack in Ireland, 86.
Watural Curiosities, 283.
Natural History Society of Nerthumber-
land, &c., 70.
Naturalists’ Society, Morley, 23.
Naudin on Hybridism, 258.
Nereis biliceata, 59.
Nests in curious places, 233.
Nesting of Cuckoo, 38.
Netted Dog-whelk, 259.
Nettle and Butterfly, 62.
Nettle, China-grass, 18.
Nettles, another Use for, 88.
Nettles, a Plea for, 275.
Nettles, more Uses for, 209.
Nettles, Use for, 70.
New Arcadian Fir, 250.
New British Fungi, 209.
New British Lichens, 19, 88.
New British Moss, 258.
New British Sea-Anemone, Js.
New Gall-insect, 185.
New Holland, in Europe, 58.
New Irish Diatom, 114.
New Silene, 258.
New Silk-producing Insect, 87.
New Source of Theine, 88.
Newt Eaten by a Toad, 233.
Newts, 136.
Newts in Confinement, 39.
Noctiluce, 245.
No Knowledge without Work. 46.
Notes and Queries, 24, 46, 71, 93, 118, 142,
286.
Notes on Local Names, 35.
Notes on the Hawthorn, 198.
Notes of the Cuckoo, 183.
Notice of Mule-breeding, 38.
Notices, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144.
Nova Scotia Insects, 142.
Nuthatches at the Window, 224.
Nyssia zonaria, 120.
Oak Caterpillar, 168.
Oak, Fossil, 210.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(1865.

Oak, Mistletoe on, 283.

Oak Spangles, 240.

Objects, Circulating Cabinet of, 236.

Objects in Tumuli, 262.

Objects, Mounting, 116.

Observations on Eel, 93.

Occurrence of Beds in the West of Scot-
land in the position of the English Crag,
68.

Octopus, on the, 4§, 87, 135.

Old Trees, 222.

On behalf of Salamander, 71.

Ophrydium versatile, 58.

Orange, Scale of, 96.

Orchid, possible Increase, 185.

| Orchid Rust, 162.
| Orchids, How to Grow, 124.

Orcynus alulonga, 261,

Origin of Diamonds, 88.
Origin of English Botany, 47.
Origin of Proverbs, 46.

| Ornithological Queries, 47, 71, 143.
| Otters, 112.

Oiter-shell, the, 79.

| Cur Lady of Toulouse, 34.

Our stock of Coal, 210.

| Owl, White, and its Prey, 233.

PALMATE Newts, 136.
Palmella eruentu, 88.
Palm Tinder, 118.
Palms, influence of, 283.
Palm-tree, under a, 77.

| Pandorine morum, 279.
| Parasite of Dytiscus, 255.

Parasites cf Butterfly, 262.
Parasites of Cabbage Butterfly, 71.

| Parasites of Fly, 227.
| Parasites of Parsnip, 238.

Parasites on Koot-galls, 216.
Paris quadrifolia, 143, 235.

; Parlour Science, 118.
Movements of Endochrome in Diatoms, |

Pear-tree in Blossom, 258.
Pencil-tail and Dermestes, 230.
Pendent Wasp-nest, 137.

Pens of Reed, 118.

Periwinkle, the, 186.
Petherwin Fossils, 119.
Petherwin Beds, 150.

Fetrified Human Remains, 132.
Phallus impudicus, 199
Pheasants and Wireworms, 38.
Pheasant’s Eggs in Partridge’s Nest, 190.
Phosphorescence of Sea, 245.
Phosphorescent Podvra, 238.
Phosphor-stone, 44.
Photo-micrographs, 236.
Pigeons routed by Swallows, 206.
Pigment-cells, 106.

Pike, a Good, 140.

Pike choked by an Eel, 233.
Pike-fishing with Fly, 280.
Pimpernel, Abnormal, 18.
Pinguicula grandijlera, 67.
Pinguicula vulgaris, 205.
Pinguicula, the, 214.

Piratical Gulls, 272.

Pixy Purses, 182.

Plane-tree of Vostitza, 258.
Planorbis corneus, 61.
Plantain, Alpine, in Shetland, 283.
Plantain, the, 232.

Plant Animals, 177.

Plant, Fly-catching, 43.

Plants and Animals, 235.

| Plants, Consumers. of Oyxgen, 198.
| Plants, Examining, 162.

| Plants, Features of, 43.

| Plants for Aquaria, 141.

Plants, Fossil Coal, 219.

| Plants in Aquarium, 92.

| Plants, Introduction of Rae, 139

Plants introduced, 67.

Plants, Irish, Notes on, 115. ;
Flants, most Perfect, 17.

Plants, Mounting, 46.

Plants, Poisoning of, 24.

| Plants rooting in Soil, 17, 43.

Plants, Stray Notes on, 138.
Plants, Study of Fossil, 68.
Plants, Training, 185.

| Plants, Varietles of Common, 162.

Plants, Variations in British,
Platyphylium concavum, 146.
| Plea for Nettles, 275.

‘ Plesicsaurus, another 164.

32, 228.

Poduree Phesphorescent, 238.

Poisoning Plants, 24,

Poiscnous Yew-leaves, 162.

Polarized Light, 224.

Pollen, 45, 237.

Pollen Grains of Cedar, 69.

Pollen of Crowfoot, 186.

Pollen of Evening Primrose, 2)2.

Pollen of Valerian, 238.

Polycystius, Popular History, 100.

Polyxenia Alderi, 24.

Polyzoa, Mounting, 65, 93, 94.

Poonyet, 252.

Popular History of Polycystius, 10¢.

Porpoise, a Live, 39.

Porpoise, the, 63.

Porzana Carolina, 60.

Possible Increase of Orchids, 185.

Power, Balance of, 193.

Present and Past, 187.

| Preservative Power of Ferns, 37, 95, 115.

Preserving Animals, 63.

| Preserving Birds and Animals, 48.

Preserving Dragon-flies, 05.

Preserving Hyacinth Bulbs, 190.

Prickly Pears, 24.

Primroses in a Rcom, 114,

Prizes for Herbaria, 78.

| Proliferous Daisy, 182.

Proposal to London Microscopists, 116.

| Proverbs, Origin of, 46,

| Ptilidium ciliare, 109.

| Pugnacity of Larvee, 161.

| Puzzle worth thinking about, 127.

| QueKETT Microscopical Club, 189.

| Queries, Geological, 119.

| Queries, Ornitvological, 47.

, Question for Ornithologists, 94.
Quinquebracteal Anemone, 138.

|Rapsits and their Friends, 184.
Rain—What’s an Inch ? 119.

| Rare Insects, 256.

Rat and Hawk, 125.

Rats, Mischievous, 184.

| Red-backed Shrike, 64.

| Red-leaved Sea-weed, 117.

' Reed Pens, 118.

Reefs, Coral, 112, 220, 285.

Reflections of Gentleman Waife, 47.

Relations between Present and Past, 187.

Reports of Societies, 22, 46, 70.

Reproduction in Ferns, ¢9.

Reproduction of Eel, 118, 141, 165.

Reproduction of Kolpods, 132.

Reptiies, Habits of, 287.

Reptiles in Confinement, 86.

Results of Explorations, 164.

Rhatany, Savanilla, 88.

Rhinoceros at Ilford, 187.

Ring-Ousel in Wales, 135.

River Water in Brazil, 102.

Robin Incubating, 142, 166.

Robin Foretelling Weather, 64.

Rock Whistler, the, 242.

Roller, the, 183.

| Roiler and Hoopoe, 184,

Rooks, Hermit, 226.

Rosa alpina, 66.

Rose Saw-fly, 257.

Roses, British, 88.

Boses, Collecting, 43.

Rosy Feather-star, 95, 112.

Royal Geographical Society, 22.

Rust, a New, 139.

Rust of Alexander, 190.

Rust of Orchids, 162.

Rustic Work for Fern-cases, 34.

SABELLA, Gill-fans of, 262.

Saffron, a Condiment? 215, 263.

St. Winefrid’s Blood, 88.

Salamander, a Dainty, 94.

Salamander, Food of, 71, §5.

Salmon-breeding in the Tay, 42.

Salmon, British, 69.

Salmon, Cape, 64.

| Salmon in Asia, 16.

Salmon in Australia, 16, 42, 141.

Salmon Maut, 119, 143.

Sandlaunce, &c., 284.

Sandpiper, Diving, 63, 95.

Sandpiper in Difficulties, 86.

Sappharine Gurnard, 236.

Saprolegnia feruz, 133.

Saturnia Bauhinia, 87.

| Savanilla Rhatany, 838.

1865.1

Saw-fly Larvee, 264.

Scale of Butterfly, Fossil, 127.

Seales of Cabbage Butterfiy, 140, 166.

Scales of Fish, Fossil, 136.

Scales of Insects, 21.

Sea-Anemone, New British, 188.

Sea-Anemones, 155, 196, 239, 260, 285.

Sea- Anemones Dividing, 167, 190, 213, 286.

Sea- Anemones, Voracity of, 40.

Sea-birds, Names of, 214, 239.

Sea-Cucumber and Mansucker, 118.

Sea-Perch, 208.

Sea, Phosphorescence, 245.

Sea, the Deep, deep, 169.

Sea-weed Fern, 190.

Sea-weed, Red-leaved, 117.

Sea-weeds, Books on, 192.

Sea-weeds, Gathering, 173.

Sea-worm (Nereis bilicewata), 59.

Sea-wrack, 204.

Sea-side Diatomacee, 250.

Sections of Wood, 71.

Sections, to Clean, 47.

Seed lying Dormant, 43.

Self-fertilization, 114,

Serpentine, 140.

Servian Flora, 88.

Sevenoaks for Geology, 119.

Sex of a Viper, 191.

Sexes of Lepidoptera, 190.

Shark, Fox, 165.

Shark, Hammer-headed, 237.

Sheep Rot, 15.

Sheep-sorrel in New Zealand, 17.

Shells, Books upon, 48.

Shells, British Land, 61, 119.

Short Commons, 49.

Shrew, the Common, 14.

Shrike, Great Grey, 184.

Shrike, or Butcher-bird, 110.

Shrike, Red-backed, 64.

Shrimp, the Fairy, 45.

Shukhur-ool-ashur, 252.

Silene, a New, 238.

Silene dichotoma, 238, 258.

Silk-insect, New, 87.

Silk, ‘‘ Tusseh,”’ 190.

Silliman, Professor, Death of, 24.

Silurus, European, 56.

Simple Objects, 35, 5S, 109, 158, 176, 201,
230, 279.

Singular Occurrence, 233.

Six-spot Burnet, 119, 151.

Skeleton Leaves, 48, 286.

Skeletons of Fish, 48.

Skylark, Song of, 39.

Skylark’s Song in January, 93.

Skylark, the, 63.

Slug or Snail? 62.

Small Birds and Insect Pests, 169.

Small Eggar-moth, 126.

Small Molluscs, 256.

Brel Tortoise-shell Butterfly, 15,
280.

Smelt, the, &c., 284.

Smooth Snake, 47.

Smooth Snake again, 71.

Snail or Slug? 62.

Snake and Viper, 160.

Snake and Viper Hissing, 142.

Snakes at Dinner, 207.

Snake in Scotland, 70.

Snake or Viper, 2.

Snake-stones, 37, 61, 94.

Snake, the Smooth, 47, 71.

Societies, Reports of, 22, 46, 70.

Society, Amateur Botanists’, 23, 46, 70.

Society, Anthropological, 22.

Society, Botanical, Edinburgh, 70.

Society, Dumfries and Galloway, 70.

Society, Entomological, 22, 46, 113, 144.

Society, Ethnological, 23, 46.

Society, Linnzean, 46.

Society, Liverpool Naturalists’, 70.

Society, Manchester Field Naturalists’, 23.

Society, Manchester Literary, 46.

society, Microscopical, 23, 46, 70.

Society, Morley Naturalists’, 23.

Society, Royal Geographical, 22.

Song of Water-dipper, 135.

Sowerby’s English Botany, 47.

Sparrow and Crocus, 166.

Sparrow in India, 135.

Sparrows on the House-top, 112.

Sparrows, White, 167, 183.

INDEX.

Speech, Irrationale of, 65,
Sphagnum rubellum, 47.
Spicules of Sponge, 259.
Spider and its Web, 256.
Spider and Wasp, 39, 239.
Spider, Eat its Web, 24, 36, 86, 215.
Spider, Fossil, 259.

Spider Hoax, 143.

Spiders at Home, 30.
Spiders, Flower-loving, 205.
Spiders, Gossamer, 151. 213.
Spiders, Visitation of, 282.
Spiders? Webs, 65.

Spiracles of Insects, 254.
Spiracles of the Fly, 199.
Spleenwort, Green, 44.
Splitters and Lumpers, 73.
Sponge Spicules, 259.

Sponges and Corals, 187.
Sponges, Freshwater, 287.
Sporendonema muscle, 10.
Spotted Fly-catcher, 256.
Squacco Heron, 281.

Squirrel fond of Toadstools, 40.
Squirrel Monkey, 206.

Stage Forceps, 212.

Stalked Eggs of Insects, 199.
‘* Standard ’? Wasp Nest, 134.
Stanner Rocks, 91, 138.
Star-fish, to Dry, 136.

Starling, Intelligence of, 13.
Starling who had seenthe World, 38.
Starry Puff-balls, 19
Star-spored Fungus, 35.
Stinging-fish, 166.

Stink-horn, the, 190.
Stink-pot, 239.

Stitchwort, Apetalous, 235.
Stork, Anecdote of, 14.

Stormy Petrel’s Egg, 87.

Story of Beetledom, 98.
Strange Remedies, 85.

Stray Notes on Stray Plants, 138.
Stream Bubble-shell, 167.
Streams in Aquaria, 118, 188.
Strength of Dorr-beetle, 41.
Study of Past History of Plants, 68.
Sturgeon, the, 261.

Stutterers in the Frontiers, 136.
Suffocation of Bees, 185.
Sun-dew, the, 209.

Svperstition relating to Bees, 34.
Swallows and Pigeons, 206.
Swallows, European, 136.
Swallows, Query, 143.
Swallows under the Eaves, 63.
Swallow-tail, Deformed, 185.
Swarms of Aphides, 287.

Swift, Anecdote of, 14.

Swift, another, in Difficulty, 64.
Swift, the, 190.

Swifts, Departure of, 240.
TAXIDERMY, 63.

Tench, Angling for, 16.

Tern, Whiskered, 183.

The Common House-fly, 82.
The Deep, deep Sea, 169.

The 1-50th Object-glass, 45.
Theine, New Source of, 88.

The New Fish, 42, 56.

The Petherwim Beds, 150.

The Study of Mosses, 79.
Thrush and Frog, 112.

Thrush at Rome, 136.

Thrush, Eggs of, 263.

Thrush, Ingenuity of, 207.
Tinctorial Bedstraw, 235.
Tinder, Palm, 118.

Tit in Moustaches, 26.

Tit, the Blue, 39.

| Tits, Fearless, 160.

| Toad, Acquaintance with, 12.
Toad, Child poisoned by, 111.
Toad Eating a Newt, 233.
Toad, Habits of, 87.

Toad, Local Name of, 111.
Toads Feeding, 256.

Toads, further Experiences, 62. .
Toads in Town, 94.

Toadstools, 225, 258.

Tomb of Van Rhede, 44.

Tom Tidler’s Ground, 126.
Tomtit, Notice of, 59.

| Tomtits and Celery Fly, 281.

' Tongue of Drone-fly, 83.

}

Tongue of House-fly, 83.

Torpedo, the, 236.

Tortoise, Eggs of, 63.

Tree, a Wonderful, 138.

Trees, Ancient, 185.

Trees, Old, 223.

Trees on which Mistletoe Grows, 283.

Trehala, 251.

Trichina spiralis, 40.

Trichinosis, 40.

Triphragmium ulmari@, 255,

Triple Mushroom, 209.

Tripoli, 93.

Trout, a Fine, 239.

Trout, Extraordiuary Voracity cf, 153.

Truffles, 139.

Truffles, South Downs, 82.

| Tumuli, Objects in, 262.

| Tunbridge Fern, 114.

Tusseh Silk of India, 1990.

Tussilago hybrida, 70.

Twining Plants, 185.

Tyneside Naturalists’ Club, 70.

UNDER a Palm-tree, 77.

| Unicorn Hawk-moth, 263.

Uredo Empetri, i139.

Use for Nettles, 70.

Uses of Horse-chestnuts, 43,

VALERIANA dioica, 143.

Vallisneria spiralis, 138.

Vanesia and Ichneumons, 263.

Van Rhede’s Tomb, 44.

Variations in British Plants, 32, 228.

Varieties of Common Plants, 162.

Vegetable Milk, 171.

Vegetable Monstrosities, 137.

Vegetable Origin of Diamonds, 88.

Vegetables, Watering with Iron Soluticn,
46.

Veins of Leaves, 24.

Very like a Shrimp, 135.

Vespa sylvestris, 208.

Viper and Snake, 160.

Viper or Snake? 2.

Viper, Bite of, 95.

Viper, bitten by a, 131.

Viper, Sex of, 191.

Viper Story, 143.

Viper swallowing its Young, 108, 16°.

Visitation of Spiders, 282.

Vivarium, Insect, 188.

Volvox, Chapter froin Life of, 244.

Volvox, Cilia of, 263.

Volvozx globator, 190, 213, 238, 244, 262.

Voracity of Sea-Anemones, 40.

Voracity of Trout, 165.

WaAcTAIL, the Gray, 281.

Waife’s Reflections, 47.

Walnut, the, 89.

Wanted; a Diatom, 95.

Wanted, a Key, 262.

Wardian Cases, 239, 287.

Wasp and its Victim, 113.

Wasp and Spider, 39, 239.

Wasp, Early, 137, 161.

Wasp Fights, 215.

Wasps, 16], 208.

Wasps and Bees, 263.

Wasps and Flies, 262.

Wasps in Captivity, 42.

Wasps in Greece, 238.

Wasps in London, 71.

Wasps in plenty, 257.

Wasps’ Nest, Pendent, 137.

Wasp Nest, Standard, 134.

Wasps scarce in London, 113.

Wasps, what has become cf the? 234.

Wasps, why scarce, 257.

Watch, the Death-, 60.

Water-beetles, Appendages, 238, 257.

Water Pipit, 64, 76.

Water, River, in Brazil, 102.

Watering Vegetables with Iron, 46.

Water-weed, American, 141.

Weather foretold by Robin, 64.

Web, Spider eating its, 24, 36.

Webster’s Condenser, 140.

Weever-fish, 166.

Wellingtonia gigantea, 139.

Whale-bird, 239.

What are Fossils? 19. a

What do Crickets eat ? 113, 128, 160.

What has become of the Wasps? 234.

What is an Inch of Rain? 119.

! What is it? 118,

xu

What is Mildew? 139.

What Katy-did, 146.

What to Seek and what to Avoid in the
Choice of a Microscope, 267.

What will 1-50 Objective do? 99.

What’s your Hobby? 1.

Which is Right? 43.

Whiskered Fern, 183.

Whistler, the Rock-, 242.

White Badger, 118.

White Corn Poppy, 167.

White Earwig, 213.

White Hedgehog, 207.

White Sparrows in Smcke, 167, 183.

LIST

ABNORMAL Larch Cones, 89.
Animalcule, Jelly, 58.
BEADLET, 157.

Bearded Tit, Head of, 26.
Beech-leaf, 55.

Binocular Dissecting Microscope, 261.
Black Cradle, 270.

Bladder Wrack, 2°4.

Bottle, Collecting, 85.
Bramble-ieaf Brand, 176.
Branched Pipe Coralline, 177.
Breeze-fly, 194.

CaT-FLEA Larvee 278.

Cave Anemone, 156.
Charlock, abnormal Flower, 103.
Cherry-leaf, 55.

China-grass Nettle, 277.
Circulating Diaphragm, 153.
Collecting-bottle, 85.
Condenser, Webster’s, 90.
Corallines, 177.

Cosmarium botrytis, 202.
Crab-claw, Singular, 296.
Cyclops, Four-horned, 159.
DaAuiia Wartlet, 158.

Daisy, Abnormal, 1/4.

Daisy Anemone, 150.

Daisy, Proliferous, 182.
Dammar-bee, 252.

Dermestes, 230.

Diagram of Fly’s Eve, 249.
Diagram of Moss Envelopes, 80.
Diagram of Moss Latel, 81.
Diaphragm, 90.

Diaphragm, Circulating, 153.
Diaphragm, for Micruscope, 189.
Duckweed, Gibbous, 6, 7.
Duckweed, Greater, 6.
Duckweed, Ivy-leaved, 5, 7.
Duckweed, Lesser, 5, 6.
East-Inp1A Wool, 29.

Egg and Larva of Fly, 82.
Egg and Larva of House-fly, 82.
Eeg-cases of Fish, 182.
Eriogaster lanestris, 126,
European Silurus, 57.

FERN Vase, 92.

Fir, New Arcadian, 250.
Flowers, Abnormal, 103—105.
Fly, Foot of Breeze, 253.

Fly for Pike-fishing, 28).

Fly Moulds, 133.

Fly Parasites, 227.

Fly, the Breeze, 194.

Fly, Tongues of, 83.

Foot of Breeze-fly, 253.
Fossil Scale of Butterfly, 127.
Fringed Scale-moss, 109.
Fungus, Star-spored, 35,

Fur of Rabbit, 30.

Gaus of Oak, 59.

Gall, Kakra-singhee, 286.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Why did the Bees go? 93.

Why objects appear larger through the
Microscope, 8, 45.

Why Wasps are scarce, 257.

Wild Bees’ Nest, 137.

Willow Catkins, Hermaphrodite, 19.

Window Gardens, 92, 117, 14], 284.

Winged Ants, 263.

Wings of Butterflies, 113.

Wire Clip, 259.

Wonderful Tree, 138.

Wood, cutting Sections of, 7).

Wooden Cows, 171, 286.

Woodlark wanted, 93.

1865.)

Woodpecker, Great Black, 183.
Woods, British, 239.

Worms, 239.

Worms, the Diet of, 180, 214.
Wrack, Sea-, 204.

Wren, the B:ue, 199.

YeEw in the Oak, 43.
Yew-leaves Poisonous, 112, 162.

Zoological Gardens in India, 45.
Zoophytes, 177.

Zoophytes, Books on, 192.

| Zoophytes, Myriad, 183.

OF ILLUSTRATIONS,

Galls, Knoppern, 41.
Gibbous Duckweed, 6, 7.
Glasses for Aquaria, 155.

| Gomuti Palm, 77.

Greater Duckweed, 6,
Harr, Human, 29.
Hairs, of Dermestes, &c., 230.

| Hair of Mouse, 30.
| Hairs, Tenent, 254.
| Hairworm, 107.

Hairworm, Head and Tail of, 197.

| Head of Cat-flea, 278.

Head of Snake, 2.
Head of Viper, 2.
Hedge Woundwort, 103.

| Herbarium Insect, 111.

Human Hair, 29.
Ivy-LEAVED Duckweed, 4, 7.
JELLY, Animalcule, 58.

Jelly -fish, 248.
KAKRA-SINGHEE Gall, 286.
Keyhole Limpet Parasite, 122.
Knoppern Gall, 41.

Knotted Wrack, 205.
LARINUS subrugosus, 251.
Larinus ursus, 252.

Larch Cones, Abnormal, 89.

| Larvee of Cat-flea, 278.

Larva of Dytiscus, 247.

| Larva of Ephemera, 247.

Larve of Fiies, 82.
Leaf of Beech, 55.
Leaf of Cherry, 55.
Leaf of Lime, 56.

| Leaf of Poplar, 56.
| Leaves of Endogens, 54.

Lepidonstus Lordi, 122.
Lesser, Duckweed, 5, 6.
Lily Coralline, 179.
Lime-leaf, 56.
MEADOW-SWEET Brand, 255.
Merino, Spanish, 3¢.
Mistletoe, 274.

Mohair, 30.

Mouse Hair, 30.
Mushroom, Trip!e, 209.
NeILGHERRY Nettle, 276.
Net-veined Leaf, 54.
Noctiluca, 246.

Oak Galls, 59.

Oaten Pipe Coralline, 177.
Opelet, 157.

Ophrydium versatile, 58.
Paum, Gomuti, 77.
Pandgrina morum, 281.
Parasite of Dytiscus, 255.
Parasitic Anemone, 157.
Pencil-tai), 230.
Pigment-cells, 106.
Pitcher-plant, 54.

Pixy Purses, 182.
Plantain, the, 232,

| Plamose Anemone, 155.

| Poison Apparatus of Viper, 131.
| Poplar Leaf, 56.

Pollen of Passion-flower, 43.
Pollen of Thunbergia, 45,

| Polycystina, 100.

Press for Sea-weeds, 176.

| Primrose, abnorma', 105.

| Rabsir Fur, 30.
Rhopaloeanium ornatum, 19!,
Rotifer vulgaris, 244.

SaLLow, Abnormal, 104.
Suprolegnia ferax, 133.

| Scale-moss, Fringed, 109.
| Scarabzeus, Sculptured, 98.
Scarabzeus, Winged, 98.

| Sculptured Scarabzus, 98.
Sea-Anemones, 155—158.
Sea Fir, 178.

Sea-hair Coralline, 179.
Sea-mat, 180.

Sea-Oak Coralline, 179.

| Sea-weed Press, 176.
Sea-weeds, 204, 205.
Seed-leaves of Pea, 54.
Serrated Wrack, 294.
Seychelles Cocoa-nut, 270.
Shukkur-ool-ashur, 252.
Sickle Coralline, 178.
Silurus, the, 57.

Small Eggar-moth, 126.
Small Wrack, 205.

Snake, Head of, 2.
Spanish Merino, 20.
Spiracle of Dytiscus, 251.
| Spiracles of Fly, 200.
Spiracles of Larva, 254,
Stage Forceps, 212.
Star-spored Fungus, 35.
Stephanastrum, 100.
Strawberry Anemone, 157.

TENENT Hairs, 254.
Tentacle of Anemone, 157.
Tit, Bearded, 26.
Toadflax, Abnormal, 104,
Toadstools, 225.

Tongue of Drone-fly, 83.
Tongue of House-fly, 83.
Trehala and Insect, 251.

| Trigona leviceps, 252.
Triple Mushroom, 29,

| Twin Peas, 103.

| Virer, Head of, 2.
Viper, Poison Apparatus, 13].
Volvox glohator, 244.

Winged Scarabeeus, 98.

Wire Clips, 189.
Wood-Anemone, Abnormal, 105.
| Wool, East-Indian, 29.

ZooLoey, 14, 38, 63, 86, 111, 135, 281.

WesstTsr’s Economic Condenser, 99.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

see

WHATS YOUR HOBBY?

Kivery good man has his Hobby, and every hard-working man should have one.—Athencum.

| aan a vulgar question, and withal a

somewhat impertinent one; but we
hope that the reader really has his “ hobby,”
and, in that case, he is sure to grant us a
free pardon. By a “hobby” we mean some
study or pursuit which is his own free selec-
tion, and to which he devotes himself in his
moments of leisure ; something in which he
takes delight after the toils and labours of
the day are over,—when the rough struggle
and mechanical routine are past, by means of
which substance is earned to supply the
wants, wishes, or luxuries of life; a some-
thing which comes “ like sunshine after rain,”
to brighten an otherwise monotonous career,
to supply food for reflection, and give zest
and interest to a country stroll, They deserve
little respect who can lay their hands upon
their hearts and affirm that they have no
“hobby ;” that all besides “daily work” in
their life is a blank. It may be that the
“hobby ” is one the name of which may
scarcely be quoted : it may supply no food for
the mind,—nothing for reflection,—no last-
ing pleasure,—yet it is a hobby nevertheless.
Our present object is to induce all whom we
have the good fortune to address, to answer
for themselves the question we have pro-
pounded ; and if they cannot do so with
satisfaction to themselves or their friends, to
set about acquiring a “hobby” at once.

To enable all who may desire a scientific
hobby of their own to make such a choice,
we will volunteer one or two suggestions.

I.

Let it be remembered that whilst we do so
it is by no means with the desire of depre-

ciating good hobbies of another kind. A

man may be an amateur artist, mathematician,
linguist, engineer, or devote himself to the
study of history, poetry, philosophy, logic, or
many other subjects equally as praiseworthy,
as effectual in supplying food for the mind,
and as certain to elevate his intellectual
character, as aught we may have to suggest.
Such, and such, we heartily wish “God speed.”
But if you have no hobby, it is cheap and
easy to acquire one. Ask of some friend, who
has been in the habit of strolling away from
your side whenever you have walked ten
miles into the country together, and come
suddenly upon a quarry or a chalk-pit, what
he thinks of a little geological knowledge as
an experiment, in the way of furnishing food
for reflection, that shall supply material on
which it can exercise itself, it may be, during
the merely mechanical operations of daily
life. He shall be your evidence that the toil
is lighter, and the day shorter, because the
intellectual as well as the physical man has
received food. He will probably finish with
the inquiry, “ What is your hobby ?”

It may be, that instead of seeking “ ser-
mons in stones,” your friend has been led
aside by the unknown whistle of some bird,
by the eccentric gyrations of some unknown
insect, by the desire to explore some silent,
muddy puddle, or ditch half-choked with
Ask of him whether there is any

B

weeds,

2 SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

solace, any mental enjoyment, any feeling of
manhood elevated in the pursuit of ornithology
or entomology, and he will answer you with
a smile, as if he doubted whether any one
could ask such a question in earnest; and
immediately, as he answers, he inquires,
“What is yous hobby ?”

Should you have a friend addicted to the
habit of bringing home bits of wild flowers
in his hat, mosses in his pocket, or occasionally
be caught with a flat, brown, japanned sand-
wich box, when you know that he never
carries sandwiches out in it, but will be seen
to bring home many strange things in it,—
ask of him, as he plucks petal from petal—
as simple girls are wont to do, in the hope
of unsolving thereby some hidden mystery of
the future—ask of him whether the pursuit
of his study of plant-life, of wild flowers, of
mosses, does not give an interest to every
half-hour’s stroll along a hedgerow or into a
wood, which it would not otherwise possess ;
whether it has not given to him a new sense ;
whether it has not unfolded to him a new
world ; whether, in fact, he is disposed to
relapse again into inanition ; and the chances
are that he will ask you, good-humour-
edly enough, in return, “ What is your
hobby ?”

But, above all, can you not purchase for
yourself a Microscope? One that will answer
all your purposes can be supplied you for a
moderate sum. What you will do with it
depends much upon yourself and your own
What you can do with it, is
Within
that instrument lies the revelation of a world

inclinations.
more than we have space to tell.

equally variable and populous,—nay, even
more variable and populous,—than that which
is revealed to the unaided eye ef man. If you
only know as much of the world of nature as
you can see with your naked eyes, you have
never seen half what you might have seen,
and really know nothing of the greatest
marvels in all Nature’s handiwork. Some of
the wonders of minute life, as seen through
this medium, will continually be presented to
the readers of these pages; but all that we
can ever hope to do, will be but as a drop of

{ Jaw. 1, 1865.

water from the ocean, and can only serve to
indicate the direction which those may pursue
who are in search of a “ hobby.”

If already these, or any similar pursuits
employ your moments, few though your
moments of leisure may be, you will need no
solicitation on our part to continue such a
course. The pleasure derived from the pur-
suit of knowledge; the power obtained by the
possession of knowledge; the vigour imparted
to the mind, the recognition of an object in life,
besides the mere toil for “daily bread,” all
exert their influences in one direction. And,
unless we are much mistaken, few indeed are
the instances in which, having mounted a
hobby of his own, the rider is disposed to be
unhorsed. This is especially the case where
the “hobby” costs but little to keep, and
when it partakes of a mental character.

VIPER

OR SNAKE?

VIPER.
VERYBODY involuntarily shudders at

the name of a snake. Very few possess
courage enough to attempt staring one out of
countenance, or staying to count the number
of scales on its head. Fancy oneself deeply
intent, with nose unusually low, seeking the
ruddy wild strawberry on a sunny hedge-
bank, and even whilst smacking the lips with
the relish of the tart little fruit but lately
conveyed there, about to pluck another yet
larger and redder, when lo! beneath our very
fingers glides the sleek, attenuated form of the
reptile—ay, within ten inches of our depressed
nose. Under such circumstances, should we

Jan. 1, 1865.]
be surprised at finding ourselves starting
back; at feeling a slight and momentary
sensation, as of a drop of water trickling down
our back ; or at forgetting to observe whether
the intruder was really a viper or a snake?

“Viper or snake, snake or viper? And is
there a pin to choose between them?” inquires
a voice at our ear. To this query we will
attempt an answer, because it is a presenti-
ment we have, that there is more romance
amongst us, and less sound knowledge, with
regard to reptiles, than any other of the
objects of natural history. Under the term
reptiles we include lizards, slow-worms,
snakes, vipers, frogs, toads, and newts. The
Jatter perhaps better known since aquariums
and vivariums have become fashionable than
ever they were before. All reptiles are cold-
blooded. They possess a heart, it is true ; but,
as compared with higher organisms, an im-
perfect one, inasmuch as it has but one ven-
tricle : the result of this is that respiration is
imperfect, and as respiration gives heat to the
blood, which in turn sustains the heat of the
body, it follows necessarily from their organi-
zation that the temperature in reptiles should
be very low. Let a frog leap upon your
hand, or take a newt between your fingers,
and the chilly, smooth, apparently slimy
appeal to the sense of touch, will carry
conviction far swifter than argument.

Of reptiles possessing the snake-like form
we have but three species indigenous to this
country, and one of these, the little “ slow-
worm,” differs sufficiently in a scientific sense,
as well as in its general size and appearance,
to be excluded from our present consideration.
The other two species are the common snake,
and the viper or adder. Although we may
have heard, in youthful days, of red vipers,
blue-bellied vipers, and black vipers, and
adders, yet there is but one species of reptile
to answer to all these synonyms.

It is well known that of the serpent race
there are some that are venomous, and others
that are not; each of these groups has its
representative in Britain, one being perfectly
gentle and harmless, the other dangerously,
even if not fatally, poisonous. It is a firmly-
rooted belief in some districts that the bite
of the adder, however slight, is certain death
to the victim; whilst amongst naturalists
there remains a doubt whether the fatal ter-
minations are not very exceptional. © Not-
withstanding the dread of the common snake
which is shared equally with the viper, it
cannot be dangerous or injurious, because it
possesses neither the glands for secreting, nor
fangs for injecting the poison. Only school-

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 3

boys; we should think, entertain the notion
that the slender forked tongue, so swift in its
movements, possesses the sting.

Without attempting to set forth, in scien-
tific form and terminology, the generic and
specific characters of snake and viper, we
may nevertheless endeavour to point out the
features by which one may be distinguished
from the other. The common or ringed
snake (called Vatrix torquata by scientific
men) grows to the length of three or four
feet ; the general colour above is of a greyish
olive with rows of black spots, it is of a
greenish-yellow orlead colour beneath, marbled
with black. At the back of the head are two
brightish yellow spots, behind which are two
black spots or bands, which sometimes become
confluent. The scales on the head are nine
in number and large. It is found all over
Britain, especially in the neighbourhood of
water, and in damper situations than the
viper. This reptile is easily tamed, and Mr.
Bell states, in his “History of British Rep-
tiles,” that he had one which knew him from
all other persons; and when let out of its
box would immediately go to him, and crawl
under the sleeve of his coat, where it would
lie perfectly still and enjoy the warmth. It
was accustomed to come to his hand for a
draught of milk every morning at breakfast,
of its own accord, but would fly from strangers,
and hiss if they meddled with it.

This snake, in common with others, changes
its skin at intervals, but not, as has been
stated, at regular periods, or once a year ;
but sometimes four or five times during the
year, and often less,according to circumstances.
In this “sloughing” process the reptile bursts
the cuticle about its neck, draws out its
head, the old skin is thrust back, and the
snake crawls out. In this process the skin is
turned inside out, and left on the grass to
scare unwary females into the belief that they
have seen a snake, little dreaming that they
have only been shuddering at its old clothes.

What does the snake eat 2—Undoubtedly it
delights in frogs, young birds, birds’ eggs, and
even mice. Imagine the little shudder and
start in which we indulged in boyhood, on
putting our hand, with felonious intent, into
a bird’s nest (we couldn’t see into it), and
finding our fingers come in contact with the
smooth cold folds of a coiled-up snake! It
was the last time we felt for eggs before seeing
them. That was an experiment too satisfac-
tory in its results to require repetition. The
author already quoted gives an interesting
account of a snake’s meal :—“If it be a frog,
it generally seizes it by the hinder leg, be-

B2

4 -SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Jan. 1, 1865.

cause it is usually taken in pursuit. As soon as
this takes place, the frog ceases to make any
struggle or attempt to escape. The whole
body and the legs are stretched out, as it
were, convulsively, and the snake gradually
draws in first the leg he has seized and after-
wards the rest of the animal, portion after
portion, by means of the peculiar mechanism
of the jaws, so admirably adapted for this
purpose. When a frog is in the process of
being swallowed in this manner, as soon as
the snake’s jaws have reached the body, the
other hind leg becomes turned forwards ; and
as the body gradually disappears, the three
legs and the head are seen standing forwards
out of the snake’s mouth in a very singular
manner. Should the snake, however, have
taken the frog by the middle of the body, it
invariably turns it, until the head is directed
towards the throat of the snake, and it is
then swallowed, head foremost.” The frog
is not only alive during the above process,
but often after it has reached the stomach.
Mr. Bell says, “I once saw a very small one,
which had been swallowed by a large snake
in my possession, leap again out of the mouth
of the latter, which happened to gape, as they
frequently do immediately after taking food.”

This species is truly oviparous. Its eggs,
from sixteen to twenty in number, attached
together by a glutinous secretion, are depo-
sited in some favourable locality, as a dung-
hill, and are hatched by the heat developed,
or that derived from direct exposure to the
sun. In this circumstance it will be seen to
differ from the viper, to which we must now
return,

The common viper (Pelias berus) is so
variable in minor features, especially in
colouring, that its varieties have been de-
scribed as new species. It is more common
in Scotland than the snake, and is everywhere
abundant in heaths, dry woods, and banks.
In many parts of England it is called the
adder, for between the adder and viper there
is no difference. Its general colour lies
between an olive and a red-brown. ‘There
is a mark between the eyes, and a zigzag
black line running the whole length of the
body, with a row of irregular triangular spots
on each side. The scales or plates on the
head are smaller, and those of the upper parts
of the body longer than in the snake.

The great difference exists in the posses-
sion by the viper of poison and fangs, and
facility in using them. In the upper jaw,
instead of a double row of teeth, as in the
snake, this reptile possesses two or three long
curved fangs, with a tubular passage down

them, communicating with the glands that
secrete venom at their base, and open at the
apex. When not in use these fangs recline
backwards upon the jaw, but are instantane-
ously erected, when required, by the aid of a
small muscle. The poison is a tasteless, yel-
lowish fluid, innocuous when swallowed, but
venomous when it enters the blood through a
wound. When the viper strikes its victim,
the pressure on the tooth forces a small drop
of the poison from the reservoir at its base,
along the tube into the wound. It is well
known that if venomous serpents of this kind
are irritated and caused to strike at a stick,
or some other object for a few times, the
store of venom becomes expended, and that
afterwards their bite is comparatively harm-
less, until a new supply of venom has been
secreted. If the snake can be regarded as
our miniature representative of the boa, the
viper deserves to be considered as a little
apology for the rattlesnake ; the rattle, of
course, being excepted.

Like many other poisonous reptiles, the
young of the viper are matured in the egg
whilst still in the uterus of its parent, and
the thin membrane which enclosed them is
ruptured at their birth, so that the viper
seems to be truly viviparous, as the eggs are
never excluded entire. There is a firm belief
extant amongst country people, who make
no aspirations to science, that the young of
the viper, from twelve to twenty in number,
when alarmed, rush to their mother, and
glide one by one down her throat for security,
whence they emerge again when the danger
is past. ‘This has been so often and so seri-
ously affirmed, that, however much we may
feel disposed to doubt, we are not in a posi-
tion to deny.

As neither vipers nor snakes are to be seen
during the winter months, it is but reasonable
to expect that some explanation of this cir-
cumstance should be given. Reptiles do not
generally like cold weather, therefore they
proceed to winter quarters—

Roll’d up like a ball
In their nest snug and small, :
And then they come out in the Spring, poor things,

Vipers and snakes hybernate in company,
coiled up and torpid, in hollows at roots of
trees, without food or requiring any ; and in
the spring resume life and activity. During
the winter the venomous species secrete no
poison, and if aroused and driven to the use
of their fangs, appear to be powerless for
mischief.

As the aim of our present chapter is to

Jan. 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 5

point out the features whereby the venomous
may be distinguished from the harmless
species, the wiper from the snake, it will be
well, in conclusion, to repeat what we have
advanced on this subject, in as concise a
manner as possible.

It is the snake that is harmless, and the
viper that is venomous ; the latter being in-
uocuous also in winter, and most dangerous
in the hottest weather. The snake is com-
monly the larger of the two, and is found in
the dampest situations, generally in near
proximity to water, in which it delights to
bask. The snake has large plates, or scales,
upon its head, few in number ; in the viper
they are numerous and small. The snake
has no continuous line of a darker colour
running along its body, but is spotted all
over ; the viper has a continuous line, zigzag
and blotched, running down its entire length.
The head in the snake is more depressed and
acutely pointed in front than in the viper,
which latter has a characteristic blotch some-
thing like the “ death’s head and thigh-bones”
of the “ death’s-head moth,” on the top of its
cranium. Whether or not its venom is fatal,
we would strongly advise our readers not to
permit the viper to make an experimental
dart at their shins. It is better to indulge
in a shudder when only a harmless snake
crosses our path, than make the mistake of
hugging a viper to our bosom.

DUCKWEEDS.

PWARDS of two thousand years ago,

there flourished in Greece a certain
philosopher, who, like Pliny and Aristotle,
devoted a portion of his time and talent to
the study of Natural History. The Grecian
gage to whom we refer was Theophrastus,
who wrote a treatise on plants somewhere
about B.C. 300. This same Greek was ac-
quainted with a certain aquatic plant, to
which he gave the name of Lemna ;* but
what the precise plant was to which he gave
that name is now uncertain ; it might have
been a “duckweed,” and it might have been
something else. In more recent times this
name has been adopted for a group, or genus,
of aquatic plants, known to every child, old

* Terma itself was probably suggested to Theo-
phrastus by the little island of Lemnos, in the
/#gean sea, apparently floatnmg on the water (to
compare large things with small), like the leaf of a
water-plant.

enough to float a mimic boat in a mud-puddle,
as “duckweed.” It is to these plants—small,
insignificant, and uninteresting, as they appear
to be—that we propose adverting, with the
view of pointing out wherein they differ
from each other. Because, though many,
pethaps, never looked at them with sufiicient
care or interest to recognise more than one
form, others have detected variations to such
an extent that they are enabled to point out
three or four types, with distinct features of
their own. Some may learn for the first}
time that four species of “duckweed” are |
found in Britain, others, cognizant of this.
fact, may wish to know more about them. '
In the first place, let us see in what points
they all agree, or, as botanists would say, let
us make out their generic character. Al!
are floating plants, in no way attached to the
soil, like the majority of plants, but vege-
tating and sailing like little boats on the face
of the water. There are no real stems, and
no real leaves, but the whole plant consists of
little green fronds which look like leaves, and
which are either separate, one from another,
or cohere two or three together. One, two, or
more little threads hang down from the under
side of these fronds into the water, after the
manner of rootlets, but they do not attach
themselves. These fronds are multiplied by
young ones growing out of the edges of those
that are mature. ‘The flowers, which are very
simple, and equally rare, are produced from
cracks or fissures in the edges of the fronds.
These flowers consist of a little bract en-
closing two stamens and a small ovary. In
these points all the four species which inhabit
this country agree.

To render our remarks on these species
more comprehensible we have given figures,

Fig. 1. Ivy-leaved Duckweed (Lemna trisulea)
Tig. 2. Lesser Duckweed (Lemna minor).

of which the first four represent the plants
in their actual size, z.e., The Ivy-leaved Duck-
weed (Lemna trisulea), the Lesser Duckweed
(Lemna minor), the Greater Duckweed
(Lemna polyrrhiza), and the Gibbous Duck-
weed (Lemna gibba).

6 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jan. 1, 1865. -

Such students of Botany as may be willing
to devote time and attention to these small
plants, will find that there is much to be
learnt respecting them. One species, the
Greater Duckweed, has never been seen in
flower in this country ; and two others, the
Ivy-leaved and Gibbous Duckweeds, flower
but rarely, whilst the fourth, or Lesser Duck-
weed, is more often met with in flower than
any other species ; but if we may judge from
our own experience, this occurs only under
rare and exceptional conditions, This ex-
treme rarity in flowering has compelled us to
go to other sources than nature. herself for
details of the floral organs, to meet with
more or less imperfection or dissatisfaction.

hy
Fie. 3. Greater Duckweed (Lemna polyrrhiza),
Fig. 4. Gibbous Duckweed (Lemna gibba).
This is true to such an extent of the Greater
Duckweed, that we have been compelled to
adopt, probably the only drawings in exist-
ence of the flowers of this particular species,
made in the first instance by poor artists from
very indifferent sketches, but we must take
such as we can get and “be thankful.”
These four species are to be found, more or
less abundantly, in this country, and the resi-
dent in London has the advantage of being
able to find them all in plenty, without going
out of sight of town. There is at least one
other species, to which we have not alluded,
closely resembling the Lesser Duckweed,
which may yet be found in Britain, though
its occurrence has not at present been recorded.

Fig. 5. Flower of Ivy-leaved Duckweed (Lemna
trisulea), from Sowerby.

Fis. 6. Details O8 fruit of the same, from Nees
von Esenbeck’s “ Genera Plantarum.”

“he Ivy-leaved Duckweed has fronds of a
very different shape from those of the other

species, and thinner. They are nearly half
aa inch in length, not quite half as broad,
narrowed towards one end, and attenuated
into a little stalk at the other, with a single
fibre produced from the under surface. This
also occurs plentifully in all the ditches in the
neighbourhood of Tottenham, and elsewhere.
The Greater Duckweed has fronds larger
than in any other species, nearly circular,
rather thick, and with a cluster of fibres pro-
ceeding from the under-surface of each frond.
Though said to be rare, it grows in abundance
in the Hampstead Ponds, and in all the
ditches and still waters bordering the Lea at
Tottenham, and the surrounding district.

Figs. 7, 8. Details of flower and fruit of Lesser Duck-
weed (Lemna minor), from Nees von Hsenbeck.

The Lesser (or common) Duckweed has
small ovate fronds, cohering three or four
together, with one fibre proceeding downwards
from the under surface of each, the ovary con-
tains but a single ovule ; at least such is the
character given by those who have examined
the fruit. Of course, this species occurs in
still water every where.

Tig. 9. Flower of Greater Duckweed (Z. polyr-
rhiza), trom Reichenbach’s “ Flora Germanica.”
Vie. 10. Flowers of the same species, from
Lamarck’s Encyclopedia. (We know of no

figure of the fruit of this species.)

The Gibbous Duckweed has fronds shaped
like those of the Common Duckweed, but
thicker and rather larger, flattened above, and
convex beneath. Hach frond has a single
rootlet. The ovary is said to contain two, or
more, ovules. This species is probably not of

Jan. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP, ii

such common occurrence. It may, however,
42 more common than is generally supposed,
us it is likely to be overlooked,

FIC .H & i2,

wos)

Pigs. 11, 12. Flowers of Gibbous Duckweed (Z.
gibba), from Sowerby (fruit not given).

it is more especially with respect to the
last two species that our remarks will hence-
forth apply. After a little observation and
practice in distinguishing these two plants in
the water, it will be noticed that the Gibbous
Duckweed has a more luxuriant appearance,
a brighter green colour, and a more polished
surface than its lesser neighbour. It will be
seen to display a more convex face, and its
habitat is quite different, for whilst the Lesser
Duckweed can be found only in tolerably clear
water, the Gibbous Duckweed affects those
localities where one might expect to find
’ typhus fever and cholera morbus rampant.
The amateur in search of the latter species
must look for a pestilent and loathsome
ditch, rich with the putrid remains of dead
dogs and defunct cats. In such a place
the Gibbous Duckweed grows and /uitens,
for, be it noted, this is probably the sole
cause of its gibbosity. If the said ditch
is followed towards one of its extremities,
where the water may be purer, it will cer-
tainly be found that the Gzbbows soon becomes
mixed with the Zesser, and, at last, in the
pure element the Lesser Duckweed reigns
supreme. The above circumstances first be-
came known to us by accident. Knowing
the Gibbous Duckweed to be rare, and the
“rarity” having at length been found, three or
four hundred fronds were collected, and placed
in an aquarium, covered with a flat glass to
induce flowering to take place, without the
least effect. In the course of three or four
days, a botanical friend was shown the plants
of the Gibbous Duckweed, and lo! they were
no longer gibba, but were all minor. 'The
experiment was repeated time after time, and
invariably with the same result, for, when-
ever the Gibbous Duckweed was taken from
its unclean element, and placed in purer
water, it immediately put the Banting pro-

cess into operation, and got rid of its super-
fluous fat, ultimately becoming a Lesser
Duckweed. This would tend to show that
these two species are one and the same, the
particular habitats causing the species to be-
coine either bloated or thin. It is necessary
to see how far this idea can stand the test of
investigation. The only trustworthy differ-
ence between the two species is in the ovules;
for whilst in the gibbous form, two or more
are said to be produced in each ovary, those
of the Lesser Duckweed produce but one.
The difficulty, therefore, is reduced to this,—
can a plant, which has normally a one-seeded
ovary, occasionally bear two ovules or seeds ?
In both species the ovules are probably al-
ways suspended, as in the Lesser Duckweed
(fig. 7), whilst in the Ivy-leaved Duckweed
the ovules are erect. We think that it is in
the experience of every botanist that a one-
seeded ovary, under certain conditions, will
bear two ovules ; and, if so, where is the line
of demarcation between these two species?
The only way to decide it would be to reduce
the gibbous form in pure water, and force tt to
Jlower, if possible, and see if, under the altered
conditions of the fronds, one ovule or two
would be produced.

A very economical aquarium may be ex-
temporized for these little plants in a tumbler,
a fish-globe, in fact any open glass vessel, and
there will always be something to study, often
something to learn. The mode of growth of
the fronds is very interesting, and can be seen
best in the Ivy-leaved Duckweed: an enlarged
figure, Jrawn from nature, is given (fig. 13).

=

Fig. 13. Fronds of Ivy-leaved Duckweed (en-
larged), showing mode of growth. :
Fig. 14. Section of frond of the same species.

If a single frond be taken, it will be found
that nearly the only part solid throughout is
where the midrib would be, if the frond were
a leaf. The leaf-like expansion on either side
consists of two plates, one at the top, and one
at the bottom, with a fissure between them
(as shown in the section, fig. 14). Within
this fissure, on either side, grow secondary
fronds, each with similar lateral fissures, from

8 SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

a

(Jan. 1, 1865.

which again grow other fronds, and so on ad
infinitum. The method of growth in the three
other species is precisely similar, and can be
clearly seen in all under a magnifying power.

Had it been the intention of this paper to
embrace any account of other living organisms
in the aquarium, a description might have
been given how the tadpoles were continually
biting off the rootlets of the Duckweeds ; how
the great beetles seized the tadpoles, and bit
their tails off, so that they could not rise to
the surface ; how thé tadpoles again in their
turn attached themselves, six or eight at a
time, to the sides of the carp, where they
hang for days together, going round and
round with the fish, sucking their juices, and
becoming veritable parasites; how the fish
were continually gulping down fronds of
duckweed, and as quickly disgorging them ;
how, when the tadpoles were dead, because
the aquarium and the beetles would not let
them become frogs, the snails were the objects
of the beetles’ fury ; and how, at length, the
beetles gave themselves up to unmitigated
cannibalism, and “did each other eat.” Such
a description would doubtless be instructive
and entertaining enough to induce us to
return to it on some future occasion.

W.G.8.

WHY OBJECTS APPEAR LARGER
THROUGH THE MICROSCOPE.

ITY objects under the microscope
appear so much larger than when
seen by the naked eye, is an inquiry that
would naturally suggest itself to the mind of
an intelligent lad or adult, who for the first
time in his life peered through the tube of
his friend’s microscope. The answer to such
an inquiry will, we believe, reveal to us the
principle on which the microscope itself is
constructed. A mere speck, undistinguishable
either in form or colour, is placed before us.
Our friend transfers it to the stage of his
microscope, adjusts the tube, and invites us to
take a peep. We do so. Astonishment seizes
upon us. Every part of that object is clearly
mapped out; every member of its body duly
displayed, and even a portion of its internal
organization is distinctly revealed. We de-
part to our homes mentally asking, By what
means such an addition of power is obtained
for the eye?
In what, then, does magnitude consist, that
at one time an object should appear large,

and at another time small? Let us endeavour
to unravel this mystery.

Tt will readily be admitted that we judge
of size by comparison—we compare one
object with another—and thus form an idea
of the extent 1t occupies in space. But had
we nothing with which we could make the
comparison, it would be impossible to judge
of size at all.

Tt will be found that the apparent size of
an object varies with the distance it may be
from the eye of the spectator. Thus, a
balloon at a great altitude, or a castle at a
distance, both appear vastly diminished in
bulk by reason of their remoteness ; and had
we no other means of judging their magni-
tude than those furnished by the eye, we
should unhesitatingly believe the first to be
no larger than a boy’s top, and the latter a
fitting residence for a child’s twopenny doll.
Even the sun himself, under similar cireum-
stances, would be dwarfed to the size of the
crown of one’s hat. Fortunately we have
other means at our disposal for correcting our
visual impressions.

If the aéronaut at our bidding suddenly
quitted the clouds and descended at our feet,
we should observe his balloon gradually ex-
pand in every direction until it assumed the
dimensions of a house. A small portion of
the balloon contained within one of the
lozenge-shaped meshes of the netting would
appear at this short space even larger than
the entire machine when seen from a distance.
So also with the castle. If we travel towards
it, we shall perceive it looming out larger and
larger, as the distance decreases between it
and ourselves. At last we stand beneath its
walls. We now see but a very small por-
tion of the building. It has so rapidly
increased in size that a single stone
covers with its image a larger space on
the retina of the eye than the whole struc-
ture when seen afar off. If, then, the mag-
nitude of an object depends on the distance
the eye of the spectator may be from it,
it ought to follow that the nearer the eye
the larger the appearance of the object ; and
this we think will be found to be the case.
There is, however, a limit to the eye in this
direction. In an ordinary healthy eye ten
inches is considered to be the distance at
which small objects can be most distinctly
seen, and this may be termed its natural
focus. When objects are brought nearer
than this they become indistinct and hazy.
They are then out of focus. ‘The eye is so
constructed that it cannot accommodate itself
toa shorter distance than its natural focus

Jan. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP. — 9

and see’ distinctly that which is submitted to
it. But we have every reason to suppose
that if the eye could be brought within an
inch of a small object, and see it clearly, it
would appear much larger than it does to
the unassisted eye at the ordinary distance.

The balloon and the castle as they came
nearer to the spectator kept increasing in
size, according to a well-known law, and
would have continued to do so had they not
been stopped by the inability of the eye to
see them distinctly at a lesser distance than
its proper focus. There are, however, strong-
sighted persons, whose eyes, having a much
shorter focus than their neighbours, are able
to look more closely into some matters than
their less-gifted brethren. Such may be seen
reading a favourite author with their noses
in contact with the page. Their vision is, in
fact, microscopic. They see everything on a
larger scale than ordinary folks. Try them
with the minutest specimens of caligraphy or
printing, and they excite your envy by read-
ing with ease that which you can barely
decipher by the aid of a lens. Whence this
power? It will be found, if we mistake not,
in the difference of the organization of such
an eye. Our friend the physiologist here
comes to our aid: by the light he has thrown
upon the subject we perceive that the cornea
of the short-sighted eye has a deeper curve
than the cornea of the ordinary eye, and this
may also apply to the crystalline lens. Such a
departure from the normal form tends greatly
to increase the refractive power of the eye,
and thus to shorten its focus. But whilst
an eye of this description has an advantage
in being able to see objects distinctly at a
short distance, and consequently much mag-
nified, it labours under the great disadvantage
in being unable to distinguish a friend from
a lamp-post on the opposite side of the street.
Without the aid of concave glasses to
elongate his vision it would be impossible for
a short-sighted person to realize the poet’s
expresslon—

°Tis distance lends enchantment to the view.

As we who possess ordinary eyes cannot
alter their natural organization, it is pretty
clear, if we wish to increase their power, that
we must seek for the material wherewith to
do so in the region of optics.

Ordinary objects are seen by the light they
reflect from all points of their surfaces.
Thousands of such rays emanate from the
objects that are round about us, each ray
bearing the form and colour of that particular
spot from whence it has proceeded, These

enter the eye through that small hole—the
pupil—and, in the aggregate, form on its retina
a perfect miniature picture. Such, however,
is the result only when the eye is at a proper
distance from an object ; when it approaches
too closely it fails to perceive it. There is no
distinct vision, owing to the light’s rays di-
verging at too great anangle. Many of them
do not enter the eye at all, but shoot by it;
while those rays that do gain an entrance are
still too divergent for the eye to bring them
into a proper condition for forming a perfect
image on the retina. Now as the mind can
receive no true idea of the form and colour of
external objects except through the instru-
mentality of the eye, it will necessarily follow
that distinct vision depends on the accuracy
of the picture formed on its retina. Where
the image produced is hazy and indistinct, the
mental impression will be equally obscure.
Knowledge is said to be power. It certainly
is so when applied to optics. By our re-
searches we become acquainted with the fact
that when a ray of light, in an oblique or
slanting direction, enters a transparent me-
dium denser than that through which it has
previously travelled (such as water or glass),
it suffers refraction ; that is, it is bent out of
its original course. Taking advantage of this
fact, we procure a piece of clear glass, give to
each of its surfaces a curve like that described
by a bent bow, and then highly polish them.
This is termed a convex lens, and when
mounted on an arm, or in some kind of handle,
it becomes a hand-magnifier, or simple micro-
scope. The action of such a lens on rays
diverging from a brilliant point (if that point
be in its focus) is to render them parallel, or
if the point be nearer to the lens than its true
focus, the divergentrays will be rendered lessso.
If parallel rays be transmitted they will come
to a point at some distance beyond the lens.
This is its true focus for parallel rays, and
any small object placed here and properly
illuminated would be more distinctly seen than
in any other position. By giving to our
piece of glass a deeper curve, or by selecting
a denser medium than glass, such as a
diamond or ruby, we obtain a lens still more
powerful in its refractive properties. We
have thus the means of providing ourselves
with lenses of longer or shorter foci, and of
different degrees of magnifying power. All
lenses of high power have short foci, and
must be held very close to an object in order
to see it ; in some instances almost in contact
with it. Now observe how cunningly that
animal, man, takes advantage of his own con-
trivance. He has by his skill construeted an

1h _ SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jan. 1, 1865.

artificial eye with a focus considerably shorter
than his own. He makes use of it by placing
his own living eye behind it, and looking
through it at that which is beyond it. His
own eye is thus brought much closer to the
object than it could be without the aid of his
lens—the result being an enormous accession
of enlarging power. Be it observed, how-
ever, that the lens does not augment the size ;
it only enables the eye to be brought nearer,
for could the eye see ata similar short distance
without the help of the lens, the result would
be precisely the same as that attained by the
use of the lens. The real service that our
piece of convex glass renders tous is this—
it takes the divergent rays which emanate
at all points from an object situated nearer to
the eye than its natural focus, and brings
them into a proper condition to be received
by the eye, which is then competent to deal
with them in forming a perfect image on its
retina. Without the lens this could not be
accomplished : the image would then not fall
on the retina, but at some distance beyond it.

Let us now apply this principle to the opti-
cal part of the compound microscope. At each
end of a brass tube some 10 inches in length
and 14 inch in diameter are placed the lenses
which produce such marvellous results. At
one end of the tube nearest to the eye of the
observer is placed the eye-piece, at the oppo-
site end is the object-glass, so called from its
proximity to the object. We will first deal
with the latter : it may be a lens or combina-
tion of lenses of high or low magnifying
power. By the mechanical aid of rackwork
and pinion we contrive to bring the lens into
focus with a small object placed on the stage
of the microscope. The light transmitted
or reflected from this object enters the
object-glass and at some distance in the
interior of the tube produces a _ faithful
copy of the object greatly increased in
size. For the sake of illustration we will
consider the copy, or image, thirty times
loager, broader, and deeper than the original.
Now, although the eye is not present at the
spot where this image is formed to receive it,
yet we very well know that it is actually
there, and placed, too, in a most convenient
pesition to be seen by looking at it through
the eye-piece. If the latter had the power of
doubling the size of the first image, the result
would be a second image twice the size of the
first, and sixty times larger in length, breadth,
and depth than the object itself. And this
is what really takes place in the compcund
microscope. We have, asit were, two simple
microscopes. The first deals with the object,

and the second with the enlarged image that
object forms. It is in consequence of this
compound arrangement that the modern
microscope has received its present name.

It is greatly superior to its predecessor, the
simple microscope, which labours under the
disadvantages of being more limited in its
range, the result of producing but one image,
and the necessity forced on the observer to
have both eye and lens almost in contact with
the object he may wish to investigate. The
compound microscope, while it preserves us
from these drawbacks, secures for us a double
advantage. Its magnifying power is much
greater in consequence of its ability to pro-
duce two images instead of one. And this is
secured to us, while the eye remains at the
ordinary distance of ten inches from an
object.

We have endeavoured to show in a simple
manner, without going into optical techni-
calities, why objects appear so greatly enlarged
when seen under the Microscope, and that
magnitude, or increase of size, depends on the
distance of an object from the eye—that the
closer the eye can approach to it and see it,
the larger it will appear, and that the lenses
employed in the construction of our Micro-
scopes are only helps to bring about sucha
result. f Rag 6

A DEAD FLY ON THE WINDOW.
§ 7 HO will prescribe for an unhappy fly-?

_ We were led to ask this question in
all simplicity the other day, by seeing one of
these disturbers cf our usual afternoon nap
apparently in the agonies of approaching
death. As we regarded his rotund and in-
flated body, vague notions of the veteriaary
art and even of Mr. Banting flitted through
our mind, but help seemed beyond the in-
sectile reach. Its beautiful arrangement of
feet to climb glass and walk in an inverted
position over our heads, its delicate wings of
prismatic hues, its minute spiracles so con-
structed for breathing as to render a nose a
useless appendage, and its numerous eyes
which enable it with equal readiness to see a
dainty morsel or a sinister enemy, all were
about to cease their functions, for disease had
arrested its playful gambols and_ thieving
propensities ; the sugar basin would “ know
it no more,” and our afternoon nap would be
disturbed by one intruder the less.

Still the death of a fly under these circum-
stances is not without its interest to those

Jaw. 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. an

who are observers of nature, in its minute
and more obscure forms, and who, amidst the
busy cares of life, have been content to leave
for a time the ceaseless anxieties of £ s. d.
and contemplate the world which is around
them. f

In the month of September last, the weather
having been exceedingly humid and oppres-
sive for several days, we observed, as the
dusk of evening approached, that an unusual
number of unhappy flies had come to an un-
timely end in various parts of the house, not
on the windows only, but, as a closer examina-
tion showed, they were tightly fixed to the
wainscoted wallsand other smooth and polished
surfaces. Varnished and glass-like objects
had been generally selected, although rarely
rougher surfaces had sufficed, the smoother
being evidently preferred as being probably
better adapted for adhesion, We could re-
member the time when we had seen dead
flies sticking to the windows, surrounded by a
little cloud, which in our ignorance we then
thought was only dust ; but the time arrived
when we learnt that the so-called dust was a
vegetable growth, and we were now aware
that these flies had died in consequence of
the overpowering attack of a fungus, to which
they had succumbed. The curiosity which at
times had possessed us so strongly as to make
us look with longing eyes at the victims on
our neighbour’s windows, and wish we might
be allowed to cut out a small piece of his
glass, say ‘three inches by one,’ induced us
now to investigate a little more closely than
hitherto the humble subjects of our remarks.

A diligent search rewarded our endeavours,
for after some time hed been spent in watch-
ing our small friends, we perceived one which
was not so lively as its companions, but rather
in a semi-torpid condition, which had extended
its proboscis and by aid of its two fore feet
appeared to be clutching the glass with a
spasmodic effort. Here then, at last, was an
opportunity of obtaining a good specimen for
further examination. One minute sufficed to
fetch a slip of glass, and then, carefully placing
the fly on the centre of it, we were gratified
at beholding the victim again extend its
proboscis, and, with the assistance of all its
legs, resume the position in which we first
saw it. For security we placed a large bell-
glass over it and resumed our hunt. Another
“incurable” quickly met our fond gaze, and
in its turn was placed on another glass slide.
Té proved as docile and tractable as its fellow,
and readily adhered to the glass. Teeling
we were now sufficiently supplied, we pro-
ceeded to watch with some attention, but

were not enlightened by any movement on
the part of the patients. Unlike the Daven-
port Brothers, they were evidently unable to
release themselves from the bonds which
restrained them, so we left them quietly for
an hour, and at the end of this period observed
a dulness on the glass, though it was so
slight as not to be easily discernible. At
the end of two hours, another peep revealed
the fact that what had appeared as only a
dulness before had now developed to a dis-
tinct white cloudiness, which extended for a
short space from each side of the abdomen,
and gave evidence of forthcoming work for
the microscope, as soon as the slides might be
safely moved, without risking the somewhat
fearful calamity of disturbing the innocent
subjects of our notice. We therefore left
them for the night, full of hope that the
returning day would reveal a further develop-
ment of this interesting parasitic plant.

With the “cock’s shrill clarion” we awoke
on the following morning, and no follower
of the chase ever left his bed-chamber more
eager for the sport than we were to ascertain
the state of our prisoners; nor were we
disappointed in our hopes as to the result of
the last eight hours. The flies were dead ;
bu& we did not grieve, on the contrary, we
rather preferred it, for it promoted the object
of our inquiry, by rendering the vegetation
of the plants more complete, as was proved
by the first glance we took at the glasses.
The white dust now extended to the edges,
although not at all in a regular and even
film, but seemed radiated in waves more or
less opaque, while the flies had maintained
their original position and consequently had
all the appearance of life.

Desirous to see the end cf this parasiti
growth, we refrained from disturbing it until
more than a week had elapsed, when we sub-
mitted one of the slips to examination under
the microscope. We then perceived that
what appeared to be a white dust, consisted
of innumerahle small disc-like spores or seeds,
which were wat and circular, each having a
nucleus and a few markings or rays extending
from the centre to the edge, so that they
might be familiarly compared to cart-wheels
in appearance. The fly itself also proved an
interesting subject for examination, as the
hairs which covered it in all directions were
beautifully decorated: with snow-white glo-
bules, like bunches of grapes. The wings,
legs, and proboscis were likewise dotted with
similar spores, while they were abundant at
the less horny parts, between the plates of
the abdomen,

12 SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jan. 1, 1865.

The house-fly is not the only insect which
is subject to the attacks of this mould, the
common dung-fly being equally hable to it.
The mould which attacks the silkworm (Bo-
trytis bassiana), producing the well-known
disease, muscardine, has been the subject of
earnest investigation by those cultivators who
to their cost have suffered the visitation.
The fly-mould, however, belongs to a simpler
and lower organization than the Botrytis, and
bears the name of Sporendonema musce. The
first of these is the generic, or name of the
genus, to which the fly-mould belongs, and is
derived from a combination of three Greek
words : sporos, “seed,” endon, “ within,” and
nema, a “thread.” The structure of the
moulds themselves suggested this compound
name, as the genus is characterized by pellucid
tubular threads, containing at first within
them the sporidia arranged in rows. This
particular species is called mascce, from museca,
“a fly.” The threads are simple, glued toge-
ther into somewhat lobed white tufts, which
assume a shape that we have already de-
scribed as resembling a cart-wheel. Some
observers have considered this fly-mould to
be the accompaniment of a disease, and only
developed after death ; but more recent in-
vestigations have undoubtedly established the
fact that the mould is the true predisposing
cause of death. Two other names have been
given to this mould by more recent authors,
consequent on referring it to other genera.*

Such is a brief account of the troubles of
a fly, which, having partaken of our choicest
dainties uninvited, sipped our divine nectar,
stolen our sugar, and escaped the perils of the
milk jug, at last pays the penalty of nature,
by exchanging the gambols of a merry life for
the tetanic embraces of a mouldy death.

W. M. B.

FOUR YEARS ACQUAINTANCE
WITH A TOAD.

{OUR years last September, as I was wan-
dering through the meadows at Hastings,

near the spot called “ Lover's Seat,” I captured
ayoung frog and also a young toad, and brought
them both, for the first time, ona visit to the
Great Metropolis. These creatures I placed in
a small conservatory, but poor Froggy soon
died. Toady, however, survived, and soon
appeared to have become acclimatized. I

* Tmpusa musce —Cohn, in Hedwigia, 1855.
“ntomophthora musce—Yresenius, i Botanische
Zeitung, 1856,

occasionally saw him, but found that one
of his propensities was to get out of sight.
About November of the same year, I lost
him altogether, and for some time grieved
over the absence of my pet. Imagine my
astonishment, one fine morning, in the latter
part of March, whilst at breakfast, to observe
my old friend creeping over some moss, greatly
increased in size and ugliness during his four
months’ absence. He would afterwards occa-
sionally absent himself for weeks, so that I
ceased to be alarmed for his welfare, even
though I might not have caught sight of him
fora month. In this manner we went on,
leaving ‘Toady -to take his holidays as he
pleased, until the spring of last year. During
one of his temporary vacations, I was watch-
ing the movements of some small insects, and
it appeared that my pet was watching them
also, for on their approaching within reach of
his tongue, that organ was instantaneously
thrust forward, and an insect disappeared.
Thus while losing sight of anew acquaintance
I became aware of the presence of an old
friend. I also derived fresh satisfaction in
observing his choice of food, and. mode of
taking it. Thenceforward I became diligent
in supplying him with the same kind of food,
so that he soon lost all appearance of shyness,
would come out of his hiding-place regularly,
day by day, until late in November, 1863,
when he again disappeared as the frost set in.
At this time the weather was very severe for
so early a period: the aquarium was frozen,
the fish were killed, the glass was broken,
and all its contents became a solid mass,
plants, animals, and everything, embedded, as
it were, in a large transparent crystal. Again,
I was agreeably surprised, one beautiful spring
day in the early part of April, to observe my
old friend moving about, as if to inform us
that he had returned again from his unknown
place of retreat. He had again grown fatter
and uglier than he was in the autumn, his
skin was blacker and coarser, and dark spots
covered the whole body. Yet his eye seemed
more brilliant and thoughtful. He came
direct to the same spot on which I had fed
him when last we met, more than four months
previously. He was supplied with what we
term “ garden-hogs,” woodlice, worms, and
the lively little black ant. None of these
would he touch, if dead, or did not show un-
mistakable signs of active life. Then would
he fix his calculating eye, until the object
came within reach of his tongue; this he
would dart at them, and in an instant the
object was gone. When satisfied, he would
return again to some quiet nook, out of sight.

Jan. 1, 1865. |

SCIENCH-GOSSIP. 13

This summer being long, and dry, I have
had some difficulty in providing him with
his necessary food. One day I placed him
in a large hole at the bottom of the garden,
where I collected the sweepings and rubbish,
and he literally became a “ toad-in-a-hole.”
This was some fifty yards from the. house, and
T left him to shift for himself amongst the
insect life of the rubbish. I afterwards
sought him to convey him back to his old
neighbourhood around the house, but he was
nowhere to be found, and this time I gave
him up for lost. Four days after, what was
my surprise, whilst seated at supper, to see
Toady come tumbling heels over head down
the step into the room, on a visit to his old
friends? The most remarkable feature in this
last freak is, the circuitous route he must
have taken before he arrived, and the ob-
stacles he must have encountered in his way.
Certainly this little creature has not been
endowed by nature with the most fascinating
exterior, but he has, in compensation, re-
ceived a beautifully brilliant eye, thoughtful,
calculating, and full of power. I think that,
were he better known, he would be less
despised, and instead of “ familiarity breeds
contempt,’ we should have to write, “ know
me, and love me ;” or, if not, we should be
less prejudiced, and give him credit for his
merits, HE. D.

THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE
STARLING.

_ Dear Sirn,—The writer has a pet starling
(Sturnus vulgaris), a short account of whose
tameness, &c., may interest, perhaps, some of
your readers. Our pet—whose adopted name
is Brilliant—is a bird of great observation
and intelligence, but, like many persons
of talent and genius, has a temper peculiarly
higown. We have accustomed our feathered
favourite to be placed at the breakfast
table, &c., at which time, in addition to his
regular diet of meat, bread, and seeds, he is
given a spoonful or two of milk, and other
suitable food ; these he is much pleased with,
and shows his approval of, by a merry song
or cheerful whistle, and utters “ Meat, meat,
good, good,” and often will he call out
“ More, more,” “ Piggy,” “ Yes, yes,” and
many words of one syllable, &. Brilliant
is quite a practical entomologist ; for he
delights in examiuing insects, and pays par-
ticular attention to all moths, flies, and
spiders brought under his notice, and they

soon disappear after being placed within his
reach. Brilliant shows a great dislike to
beggars and persons poorly dressed, and when
they approach the house he utters a harsh
repeated note, calling out “ Tramp, tramp,
tramp,” and shows other signs of extreme
indignation ; neither does he agree with
Exeter Hall proclivity, or abolition principles,
for he cannot bear the sight of a negro, and
when he has seen one (which has been the
case several times) he goes to the extremity
of the cage, and ‘makes a sound that can only
be compared to a hiss. To any member of
the family this bird is very tame and affec-
tionate, and delights to see us all assembled
together, and to listen to a lively conversa-
tion, and also always joins in the talk. The
appearance of the baker, grocer, and butcher
is an occasion of great pleasure, for then he
expresses “Good, good,” “Come, come.”
When let out of the cage (in a suitable room)
Brilliant generally examines every article in
the room, and takes great interest in the
mirror, standing before it for some minutes,
viewing his reflection in the glass, and per-
haps reflecting on his aérial dignity, calling
out at the same time, “ Oh,” “ Old boy,” &c.
After satisfying his curiosity he will alight
on the heads of all present, if not strangers,
and then return satisfied to his cage and
begin a cheerful tune.

Of course a bird with these acquired
qualities soon becomes a “ pet” with those
fond of the feathered tribe. This is but one
of the many instances that give evidence
that birds and other animals may, by
attention and kind treatment, become very
docile and most affectionate. Kindness to
the mute creation is an attribute of a noble
nature, while brutality towards them shows
a selfish and cowardly disposition. If we
really worship Almighty God, let us be
humane to all His creatures.—Yours truly,

W. iE, W.

FBacire-Kinuing ExtrraorpInary.—In Norway
the golden eagle is common, and, with the sea
eagle, is so numerous, that from a statistical account
of the sums paid each year by the Government for
the destruction of beasts and birds of prey, it ap-
pears that, in the five years ending December, 1850,
there were paid for, altogether, no less than 10,715
eagles! ‘The Sutherlandshire expedition of natural-
ists mention the number of eagles that had been
paid for between March, 1831, and March, 1884, to
have been 171, besides 53 nestlings or eggs. * * In
the south-west of that country a clever gamekeeper
trapped 15 eagles in three months of 1847, and
about as many in the winter of 1850-1, almost all of
them being mountain eagles—Ootheca Wolleyana,

14 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

4

ZOOLOGY.

Tur Common Surew (Sorex tetragonurus).—I
kept one of these pretty little animals for a few days
in a box with moss. It would eat almost any animal
substance, but seemed to prefer insects and earth-
worms: the former it seized with a spring, and it
would eat seven or eight house-flies at a time; if
more were given it hid them in the moss. Small
worms were caught by one end and munched slowly
without being bitten through. On giving it a large
one (about four or five inches long), it gave it a
sharp bite, then sprang back, then flew at it again,
until the worm was half dead, when it ate about
half and hid the rest. It slept during the middle of
the day, rolled up among the moss, but always
waked up at once if worms or flies were put into the
box. I believe that, when pressed for food, shrews
will kill and. eat frogs, but when a large one was
placed in the box the present specimen did not seem
inclined to prey upon it, although it now and then
gave it a slight bite on the hind leg; after they had
been together for some hours the poor frog was
taken away. The shrew seemed to be very cleanly,
constantly dressing its fur and “‘ washing” its face
with its fore paws, as rabbits do. It soon died by
an accident.—#, R. Alston in the Zoologist.

A Moa’s Kee.—The Nelson Hraminer states :—
“A moa’s ege is now being exhibited at Messrs.
Bethune and Hunter’s offices. It is about ten
inches long and five inches in diameter, of a dirty
white colour. It was found at the Kaikoros, in the
middle island, under singular circumstances. A
labourer in Mr. Fyffe’s employ, who was digging
the foundation for a house, came upon the egg, and,
unfortunately, with his pick broke some portions of
the shell. It was found in the hands of the skeleton
of a Maori, who was buried in a sitting posture, with
the egg resting in his hands and held opposite to
his head. The egg has been placed in a box of
rimu, and protected with a sheet of glass on the top.
In a drawer beneath, securely covered with glass,
are the fragments of the shell, which have been
carefully preserved. The injury, as the egg is
placed in the box, is not perceptible, and it appears
to be perfect.”

Gutis Looxine our.—Gulls hover about ships
in port, and often far out at sea, diligently watching
for the waste of the caboose. While the four great
fleets, English, French, Turkish, and Egyptian, were
lying in the Bosphorus, in the summer and autumn
of 1858, a young lady of my family called my atten-
tion to the fact that the gulls were far more nume:
rous about the ships of one of the fleets than about
the others. This was verified byrepeated observation,

[Jan. 1, 1865,

and the difference was owing no doubt to the greater
abundance of the refuse from the cook-rooms of the
naval squadron most frequented by the birds. Per-
sons acquainted with the economy of the navies of
the states in question, will be able to conjecture
which fleet was most favoured with these delicate
attentions.—Marsh’s Man and Nature.

ANECDOTE OF A StorK.—Birds do not often
yoluntarily take passage on board ships bound for
foreign countries, but I can testify to one such case.
A stork which had nested near one of the palaces on
the Bosphorus, had, by some accident, injured a
wing, and was unable to join his fellows when they
commenced their winter migration to the banks of
the Nile. Before he was able to fly again, he was
caught, and the flag of the nation to which the palace
belonged was tied to his leg, so that he was easily
identified at a considerable distance. As his wing
grew stronger, he made several unsatisfactory ex-
periments at flight, and at last, by a vigorous effort,
succeeded in reaching a passing ship bound south-
ward, and perched himself on a topsail yard. I
happened to witness this movement, and observed
him quietly maintaining his position as long as I
could discern him with a spy-glass. I suppose he
finished the voyage, for he certainly did not return
to the palace.—Jdid.

ANECDOTE OF THE Swirt.—Mr. Yarrell mentions
an instance of a sparrow accidentally hanging itself
in a noose from its own nest, and I was the other
day witness to an incident of a somewhat similar
nature, though fortunately less tragic in its termina-
tion. A pair of swifts (Cypselus apus) had built
their nest in a crevice under the eaves of a house,
and the aperture was so narrow that they could with
difficulty squeeze themselves through. My atten-
tion was one morning attracted by a loud flapping
of wings, and on hastening to the window to ascer-
tain the cause I perceived that one of the birds had,
by some means or other, caught one of its feet either ©
ina chink of the brickwork, or in some portion of
the materials of its nest (the height was too great
to see which), and was held a prisoner just at the
entrance. Its struggles were violent, and continued
without intermission for nearly three-quarters of an
hour. Sometimes the poor bird would hang fora
few seconds with its head downwards, as if dead,
and then again it would renew its efforts to escape.
At length, after a longer pause than usual, by a
sudden and vigorous exertion, it succeeded in cast-
ing itself free. I passed the kuilding several times
in the course of the day, but never saw either of the
birds near the place. The following morning, how-
ever, they were going in and out as usual.—//,
Weld, in Naturalist’s Scrap Book.

Jan. 1, 1865.]

ENTOMOLOGY.

To Kru InsEcts In GreenHousEs.—Mr. W. W.
Saunders stated, at a recent meeting of the Entomo-
logical Society, that for some years he had used
spirits of wine in his greenhouses for cleansing
plants and clearing them from insects; he mixed
the rectified spirits and pure water in equal propor-
tions, and this mixture, which was found to answer
better than undiluted spirit, was applied with a
brush. It was very eflicacious in the destruction of
the common mealy bug (especially when young) and
other common pests, and he recommended it as
worthy of application in the greenhouse generally.

SMALL TORTOISESHELL BurteRrity.—“ The larve
of this insect (Vanessa Urtice), and, I surmise, of
the genus Vanessa in general, are remarkably
exempt from the attacks of Ichneumons. Thus I
collected (at random from various places), last
July, about forty nearly adult larvee of this insect.
Every one of these became a pupa, and emerged
in due time. I observe that in rearing butterfly
larve, if from insufficient or inappropriate food
they have not attaimed their due size when they
enter the pupa state, they make their appearance
thereafter with the wings perfect, but are of
diminutive size. With moths, on the contrary,
under the like circumstances, the wings are
shrivelled and imperfect.”—The Entomologist.

Drato To Fres!—A grocer in Cathcart-street,
Glasgow, being annoyed at the superabundance of
the fly tribe in his shop, and being of a speculative
turn of mind, invested in a halfpenny fly-paper,
which he placed in the window, on a plate anda
little water. After it had lain thus for a week, on
the usual turn over of the window on Wednesday
afternoon, an immense number of dead flies were
collected from it. Astonished at the result,
curiosity led the young man to put them in the
scale, when he found their combined weight to be
two ounces and aquarter. He thereafter tried two
drams weight, and on counting them found there
were 600 init. Thus upon calculation it appeared
that the two ounces and a quarter would contain
10,800 dead flies. Besides these, it is considered that
nearly half as many more would be dusted out of
the window during the week, making a grand total
of 15,000 of the tribe slaughtered in a week by
this housewife’s benefactor. — Glasgow Morning
Journal,

Gatts.—At the meeting of the Entomological
Society, beld November 7th, Mr. W. W. Saunders
exhibited some galls which he had recently found on
the roots of an oak tree, at adepth of four feet below
the surface, and from which had since emerged a
number of specimens of a Cynips (C. aptera 7), the

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. . 15

whole of which were females. Also three other
kinds of gall, which he had found in Switzerland,
two of them upon species of willow, and the third
formed on the leaves of the beech. Mr. Stainton
also exhibited a gall of a woolly texture, found on
ai oak near. Bath.

SHEEP-ROT OR LivER-FLUKE.—The rot in sheep
is but too well known as one of the most destructive
pests connected with what may be termed the
animal economy of agriculture. Its ravages have
been in some seasons so extensive as to produce a
scarcity in the kind of stock which constitutes the
most general and wholesome kind of our ordinary
animal food, as well as a very important medium in
carrying out the necessary rotation of crops. A
writer in the Edinburgh Veterinary Review, quoted
by Dr. Cobbold, says, that “in the season of
1830-31, the estimated deaths of sheep from rof was
between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000. Supposing,”
proceeds our author, “the number to have been
1,500,000, this would represent a sum of something
like £4,000,000 sterling. ... As instances of its
disastrous effects upon the revenues of agricul-
turists, we may cite the statements of Duvaine, and
also individual cases recorded by Simonds. ‘ In the
neighbourhood of Arles alone, during the year 1812,
no less than 300,000 sheep perished, and at Nimes
and Montpelier 90,000. In the inner departments,
during the epidemic of the years 1853-54, many
cattle-breeders lost a fourth, a third, or even three-
fourths of their flocks.’ ... On the estate of Mr.
Cramp, of the Isle of Thanet, the rot epidemic of
1834 swept away £3,000 worth of his sheep in less
than three months, compelling him to give up his
farm. Scores of cases are on record where our
English farmers have lost three, four, five, six,
seven, and even eight hundred sheep in a single
season, and many agriculturists have thus become
completely ruined.” It is superfluous to inform our
readers that all this wholesale and ruinous mischief
is the effect of the existence of the “ liver-fluke”
(Fasciola hepatica) im the liver of the animal. The
number of flukes inhabiting a single sheep’s liver is
sometimes very considerable. ‘* Bidloo obtained
800, Leuwenhoeck about 900, and Duprey upwards
of 1,000 specimens. The bile contained in the
liver-ducts is loaded with flukes’ eggs. In some
cases there cannot be less than tens, or even hun-
dreds, of thousands.”—Athencum, on Dr. Cobbold’s
Eintozoa.

Heroic Names or Burterrriies.—“ In the vast
multitude of butterflies, the greatest part of which
are foreign and extra-European, and to whose food
and manner of life we are utter strangers, it was
impossible to give significant trivial names. Lin-
neeus, therefore, by way of simile, has taken the
names of the Equites from the Trojan history. They

oe

16 SCLIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Jan. 1, 1865.

consist of two troops or bodies; of which one con-
tains the sable, and, as it were, mourning nobles,
having red or bloody spots at the basis of their
wings. These receive names from the Trojan
nobles; andthe most splendid among them bear the
name of Priam. The other body, ornamented with
a variety of gay colours, are distinguished by the
names of the Grecian heroes; and, as in both
armies there are kings as well as officers of an
inferior rank, those elegant butterflies whose hinder
wings resemble tails are distinguished by some
royal name. ‘Thus when Paris is mentioned (know-
ing that he was a Trojan, and of royal blood) we
look for him among those of the first section; 7.e.,
those of a sable colour, spotted in the breast with
red, and having their hinder wings resembling tails.
When Agamemnon is named, we at once find him
among those nobles which have variegated and
swallow-tailed wings. But when Nereus is spoken
of, we readily know him to belong to the last
section, having wings but no tails.” The Hguites
are the first of the six classes into which naturalists
divide the genus Papilio ; the others being 2nd, Heli-
cout; 8rd, Parnassii; 4th, Danai; 5th, Nymph-
ales; 6th, Plebeii.— Translator’s Note to Hoff-
meister’s Travels in Ceylon.

FISH TATTLE.

Fisu-Lapprers on tHe TuameEs.—Two ladders
have already been erected, one at Moulsey and the
other at Teddington. Mr. Buckland thus describes
them :—‘ Two walls are constructed from the top to
the foot of the weir (on its slope). Slabs of iron or
stone (the stops) are then fixed at right angles into
these walls, reaching about four-fifths of the way
across the passage. The slots (or passages for the
fish between the wall and the end of the stop) come
alternately to the right and left, so that when the
water runs down the ladder it describes a zigzag (or
rather serpentine) course; the fish nosing about the
foot of the weir like timid foxhunters galloping up
and down a severe bullfinch in search for a gap, are
attracted to the foot of the ladder by the current
coming down it; they then make a rush through the
lowermost opening into the first box or step, then
into the next, and next, and so on till they get to
the top. If they are tired, they can rest as lone as
they please in the eddies between each of the stops.
It is found, however, in practice, that it does not
answer to make the ascent of the ladder too easy,
as, if the fish find themselves too comfortable in the
eddies, they will stay there, and be liable to become
a prey to poachers, as a reward for their laziness.”

ANGLING ror T'rncu.—Bustling men, who can-
not work and wait, may sneer if they will at the
silent patience cf the angler; what know they of

the still charm which creeps over the senses, helping
them to take in with half-unconscious appetite the
blessed influence of evening, when the coolness of
the earth meets the sinking fire of the sunbeam, and
sends an equal pulse of life through every blade and
leaf? Then the watcher who stands beside the pool
receives into his being that calm which marks the
brethren of his craft. He is angling, it is true; he
speculates on the indecision of the fish, which—
may be, even now deep in the cool water—are
circling with suspicious hunger round his bait, loath
to swallow, still more loath to leave, the luscious
worm. Yet meanwhile, he gathers in, through open
senses, store of Nature’s truth; he sees and marks,
with tenacious observation, countless traits of life—
the persevering industry of the insect, the sociable
intelligence of the bird, the short history of the
summer plant, ihe steady progress of the growing
tree, the shifting architecture of the clouds, the
ceaseless machinery of all around that dies to live
and lives to die in perpetual succession. But, look!
there is a bite. See, the float is uneasy—makes
little rings in the water. Now it moves slowly off—
and dips a quarter of an inch—now it rises up, and
lies on its side: that is sure symptom of a tench.
Draw in your slack line, lest you hit your rod against
an overhanging branch. Now, strike! Yes, you
have him. He is a fine fellow, too. Sce how he
rolls the water up with his tail, like the blade of a
revolving screw ; down again, head first! Give him
play, but by all means keep him in the midst of that
clear spot. Ah! heis yielding to the —to hin—
mysterious power from above. Another last dive,
and then he can barely keep his head below the sur-
face. Be quick, but gentle, with the landing-net;
tow him within its open mouth. There; he is safe
—at least, in our view of his position. No, poor
fellow, that muscular curving of your strong back is
of no use to you in the new element to which you
are transferred; your slimy life among the weeds is
over now; you have swallowed your last mouthful,
and must play an altogether passive part throughout
your next appearance at a feast.—Jones’s Holiday
Papers.

Satmon 1n Ausrratran Corontes.—The young
salmon deposited some time since in Badger’s
Creek, a tributary of the Yarra, are doing well, and
are now about three inches long. We have not
heard lately how the Hobart Town portion of the
ereat naturalization experiment is getting on, but by
last advices it was proceeding prosperously.

Satmon In Asra.—It is a remarkable fact that
no trout or salmon inhabit any of the rivers that fall
iito the Indian Ocean. ‘This widely distributed
order of fish (Sadmontde) is, however, found in the
Oxus, and in all the rivers of Central Asia that flow
north and west. The central Himalayan rivers oficn

Jan. 1, 1865. |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. ee Sy

rise in Tibet from lakes full of fish, but have none (at
least during the rains) in that rapid part of their
course from 10,000 to 14,000 feet elevation; below
that fish’abound, but invariably of different species
from those found at the sources of the same rivers.
The nature of the tropical ocean into which all the
Himalayan rivers débouche, is no doubt the proxi-
mate cause of the absence of Sulmontde.— Hooker’ s
Hinalayan Journal,

BOTANY.

Surer Sonne, in New Zeatanp.—One of the
ereatest pests of this country (on the cultivated
lands) is the common English Sheep-sorrel (Rumev
acetosella), called by the natives the red sorrel, and
said by them to be a native of Tasmania. This
plant spreads with singular rapidity, its roots
forming a perfect mat, and the smallest fragment
throwing up a stem. Where it is present in the
ground scarcely any of the ordinary crops can be
obtained. All the usual processes of cultivation,
such as fallows, &c., utterly fail even to mitigate
the evil, and farmers were in despair, until it was
found, that in the “ struggle for existence,” even
this weed could not make head against the greater
vigour of the white elover. I have seen hundreds
of acres of broken-up land so completely over-
grown withthis plant, as to appear like a uniform
red patch in the landscape, but upon which, at the
end of two years, after it had been “laid down”
with white clover and Italian rye-grass (which by
itself would have done no good), scarcely a speci-
men of the sorrct could be found.—Zravers, ¢#
Naturul History Review.

Most Perrect Prants. — Those plants are
most perfect, in which the organs discharging
different functions are most distinct both in
position and structure. ‘The thalloid fronds (cf
Cactacez) and the hypoblastoid embryos of En-
dogens indicate a lower degree of organization.
Plants which have the stamens and pistils either
naked or in the axil of an unmodified leaf (WVazas,
Hinpuris, Callitriche) are inferior to those whose
flowers are never complicated. Diclinous flowers are
lower in position than those which are hermaphro-
dite; ternary verticils lower than quiniary, spirally
arranged floral organs lower than those which are
verticillate, polypetalous flowers lower than gamo-
petalous, apocarpous ovaries lower tlian syncarpous,
atropous ovules lower than those which are inverted,
homogeneous embryos lower than those which are
fully developed. Trees and shrubs are more com-
mon among imperfect plants. In the lower order
flowers are very numerous, in the higher the

number of seeds produced by each flower is very
great. Yellow and green colours in the flowers of
the lowest rank are changed into red or white in
those of a higher order, and in the highest plants
the colour of the flower is generally blue.—J. G.
Agardh. Theoria Systematis Plantarum.

A Horsr-curestnut Trer.—Dr. Davy read a
paper at Bath on ¢he horse-chestnut; will any one
read a paper on @ horse-chestnut ? The tree stands
on a flat stone. Its root grows up through the air
for 7 feet, turns over a wall, and descends 7 fect
into the earth. So that the root passes for 14 feet
through the air before it enters the earth. The
eelebrated Dutrochet, by experiment, convinced the
still more celebrated De Candolle, and all European
vegetable physiologists, that roots will only grow
straight downwards. On this, I set to work to show
that they will grow in any direction in which they
can find food. If any one doubts this fucf, let him
inspect my tree, which is now twenty-one years old.
In imitation of Dutrochet’s beautiful experiment, I
placed a great variety of seeds (single as well as
double) in flower-pots, suspended them upside down
on wire-work, and watered them from above. Each
seed sent a tap-root down into the air, which died;
but the dranch roots (as I have named them) and
the plants grew, and corn ripened in this way. But
cuttings placed upside down, though they grew and
bore fruit for years, showed no root below. I thus
blundered on the fact that every seedling has a tap-
root, whose downward determination nothing can
pervert, a provision and contrivance for the fixing
of the plant, and a beautiful proof of the desigz of a
Creator. But the downward tap-root is as peculiar
to the seedling as the “seed-leaves” are, and all
branch roots will grow in all directions. I preserved
one horse-chestnut by placg it on a flat stone,
and replacing the flower-pot with a chimney-pot full
of earth, and, by degrees, raised a column of chimney-
pots. I then built up a column of earth on the
opposite side of the wall, turned the roots into it,
and when they were established in the ground, I
took away the two columns of earth. I think that
Virgil’s tap-rocted Esculus is the horse-chestnut.
Virgil mentions it as distinct from the guercus and
castanea, and Ovidas distinct from the fagus and tea.
It is, then, a feat to make its radix fexd to heaven
instead of to Tartarus. With regard to the name
from Esca, it is true that neither man, horses, nor
pigs will eat horse-chestnuts, but sheep, cows, aud
deer are ravenously eager for them.—Col. Greeu-
wood, in Atheneuit.

Prants Rootine in tun Sor.— Plants them-
selves send down their roots naturally to a depth
which, strange to say, is so little known as scarcely
In the case of beans, turnips, and
red clover, we are’ familiar with the fact, that their

c

18 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Tans 1, 1868.

roots penetrate to double the depth of ordinary
ploughing; we raise up the turnip on’ drills to help
it, and we expect the pulse and grass crop to perfo-
rate and deepen the soil to help us. But there is
not a cultivated plant which does not naturally send
down its roots beyond 9 inches. The cereals on
which our agriculture mainly depends are, indeed,
endowed with the power of forcing their roots deep
and far into the solid earth in search of food, and as
the investigation of drainage obstructions has lately
shown, it is impossible by any process short of actual
tracing, to fix the distance to which the roots of
trees and hedge plants will penetrate ; so is it found
that wheat and our other cultivated grasses extend
their roots much further into the soil than is at all
generallysupposed; Johnston, inhis drainage lecture,
says that deep-rooted plants, such as lucerne, often
fail, even in moderately deep soils, because an excess
of water, or the presence of some noxious ingredient
which deep drains would remove, prevents their
natural descent in search of food. “ Even plants,”
he adds, “which, like wheat or clover, do not usually
send down their roots so far, will yet, where the
subsoil is sound and dry, extend their fibres for three
or more feet in depth, in quest of more abundant
nourishment.” But, I repeat, it is not thoroughly
understood how deeply the roots even of wheat and
clover descend. The Earl of Macclesfield, in a letter
to the Society of Arts, mentions that a few years
ago, Mr. Badcock, a shrewd, sensible, observing, and
very considerable farmer, at Pyrton, Oxon, having
occasion to dig the foundation of a building on a
field under wheat, was much surprised by observing
the small fibres of the roots of the wheat much
deeper in the carth than he had any idea of. Endea-
vouring to trace how deep they really went, he had
the ground opened close to some plants, dug per-
pendicularly down to the depth of 6 feet, and having
fixed a narrow board close against it, proceeded in
the same manner on another side of the plant, and
so on till he had secured the earth to that depth
between four boards firmly lashed together. He then
had it placed upon an inclined plane, and carefully
removing the boards, with great caution and perse-
verance washed away all the earth adhering to the
root and its very small fibres, and was much sur-
prised at their extent. He repeated the trials on
several other wheat plants, and traced their depth
to within 5 or 6 feet. The late Mr. Fane, M.P. for
Oxfordshire, had one of these plants, now presented
by Lord Macclesfield to the Society of Arts, secured
in a close glass tube. My friend Dr. Atkin and
myself have traced the roots of wheat in Berwick-
shire, to 5 or 6 feet of perpendicular depth in garden
soil— Wallace Fyfe, Lecture at Royal Agricultural
College.

Cuina Grass.—The french Minister of Agricul-
ture and Commerce has ordered over a quantity of

China-grass seed (Behmeria nivea) from its native
country, in order to distribute it to all agriculturists
who may apply for it. If unsuccessful in the efforts
to acclimatise it in France, it will probably succeed
in Algeria. It may not be generally known that
this plant (which is a large nettle) yields a beauti-
fully soft, strong, and glossy fibre, applicable for
the manufacture of linen fabrics.

ABNORMAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PIMPERNEL.—
Dr. Marchand, in a recent contribution to botanical
science on vegetable monstrosities, gives a curious
account of abnormal forms in the common pimpernel
(Anagallis arvensis), which is thus summarized by
M. J. B. in the Gardener’s Chronicle:—

“We will take that instance first im which the
parts of the flower departed least from the more
normal condition, and then the others in their proper
order. In all the parts there was a greater or less
tendency to assume a green tint ; in some they were
entirely green, in others the brighter colours were
confined to the more recently developed parts.

“1. In the first case, then, the sepals and petals
were in their normal position, though rather more
dilated than usual; the anthers were fertile, the
principal change existing in the ovary, the upper
part of which was wanting, so that the ovules were
exposed seated on the central placenta.

“9. In the next step the calyx, more developed
than usual, was separated from the corolla by a long
peduncle ; and the ovary, which was ovate, contained
instead of a placenta a sort of plumule or young
shoot.

“3. In this case the corolla and calyx were dis-
tant from each other; there was no trace of stamens,
but the axis was continued from the centre of the
corolla, and ended in a leaf-bud. :

“4, The calyx and corolla nearly as before, but
instead of stamens a whorl of little leaves ‘was
developed, in the centre of which the axis was con-
tinued, bearing at its tip two whorls of leaflets alter-
nately three and three.

“5. In this case two out of the five stamens were
normal, the other three changed into leaves, show-
ing clearly the origin of the leaflets in the last case,
which took the place of the stamens.

“6, The ovary varied in different flowers. In
some the placenta was crowned with ovules; in
others the ovules were replaced by a single whorl of
leaflets; in others there was every shade of change
from ordinary ovules to perfect leaflets; while in
others, again, every ovule was converted into a leaf _
with a long petiole.

“7, We now come to another form in which
shoots were developed in the axils of the sepals, or
on the face of the petals between the point of their
insertion and that of the stamens, and, what is most.
curious, in the interior of the ovaries round the foot
of the placenta,

Jan. 1, 1865.]

“8, Here, again, we have a very singular. con-
dition: the calyx and corolla separated from each
other, the stamens partly developed, the axis con-
tinued beyond the corolla, branched and bearing
normal leaves so as exactly to resemble an ordinary
stem, while in consequence of the calyx and corolla
being bent down to the ground, adventitious roots
were developed from the axis on the under side
above each of them. In another case, where the
calyx and corolla were approximated, the ovary
was open above and sent out six shoots from
within, perfectly developed, clearly representing
the central placenta and five axile buds, and each
giving out a number of adventitious roots at its
base.”

HERMAPHRODITE CATKINS IN SALIX AURITA.—
I have this year gathered two species of willow,
namely, Salix fusca and 8. aurita, in which a gradual
transformation of stamens into pistils, that is, male
into female flowers, is apparent. The normal state
of the plants we know is dioicous. The bushes of
S. aurita from which my specimens were collected,
grow at the south end of the Gillbrook, in a very
moist, boggy place, and altogether spread over some
four or five square yards. All the catkins are more
or less hermaphrodite, from those fully developed to
those just emerging from the protective scales.
There are many bushes of the female plant growing
near, which present no unnatural variation. A
careful examination has enabled me to select a
long series (nearly thirty) of different conditions,
showing the stages of metamorphosis from one ex-
treme to the other. It appears from these, that the
change is very various in its character and extent in
individual flowers; almost all, however, range them-
selves under one of the forms mentioned below. No
change was perceptible in the scale or gland.

1. Filaments distinct, one bearing an ordinary
anther, the other having at its summit an ovarium,
sometimes with, and sometimes without, a small
mass of pollen on one side, in either case con-
taining ovules of less than the ordinary size. The
anther-bearing filament withers away.

2. Filaments united in the lower portion, dividing
about two-thirds up into two arms, each bearing a
small ovarium instead of an anther; one of these
when more developed is grey and silky, and in shape
rescmbles the ordinary lanceolate germen or carpel.
Its fellow apparently does not enlarge. Ovules
contained. The stigmas dark brown.

3. Fuaments united through their whole length,
short and thick, surmounted by a downy green
oyarium, cleft from the apex half or two-thirds of
the way down. On the inner face of one side pollen
is sometimes seen. There is perhaps in this form
more appearance of the union or cohesion of two
ovaries in their lower portion, than of actually being
oxe and cleft as stated above.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 19

4. Filaments united at the base, one stamen 1s
transformed into an ovarium, the other is not
enlarged, but terminates in a kind of stigma—
LM. Webb in Naturalists’ Scrap Book.

New British Licuzns.—In the dAznals of
Natural History the Rev. W..A. Leighton describes
and figures three species of lichens new to this
country. They are named respectively Thelocarpou
Laurert, Lecidea Caradocensis, and L. Friesii. The
first was found on a decorticated larch rail at
Middleton, in Shropshire. The second has been found
in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Leicestershire,
on oak palings, &c., and third on old oak trees and
stumps in Cleveland, Yorkshire.

StaRRy Porr Batt (Geaster hygrometricus).—
The Rev. H. H. Higgins exhibited a specimen of
this curious fungus at a mecting of the Liverpool
Literary and Philosophical Society, Nov. 14. It had
been recently found on a bank at Rainhill, growing
upon a portion of a decayed root of a birch tree.
It was remarked that all the larger species of earth
stars, or starry puff balls, were uncommon. This
constitutes the fourth species of Geaster found in
the neighbourhood of Liverpool.—ke Reader.

GHOLOGY.

Wuat Are Fosstrs?— Fossils are the actual
remains of animals and vegetables, or other cer-
tain indications of their existence, found on ex-
amining the rocks of which the earth’s crust is
made up. The time has been in the history of
science when the presence of the shells of marine
animals, or the teeth or bones of quadrupeds or
fishes in rocks, has been actually denied, de-
spised, or explained away. When, indeed, the
number of recorded examples of such fragments
was few, and the places where they were found
distant, this mode of escaping from a great difficulty
in natural history was thought fair and reasonable;
but now that almost every limestone, and a large
proportion of all sandstones, clays, and gravels, are
found to multiply evidence on the subject ; when the
microscope is daily discovering fresh proof of the
former existence of life in every direction; and when
no country is without large and remarkable collec-
tions of strange and unfamiliar forms of various
animals, obtained, not from the species actually
living now in the country, but from the soil and rock
beneath man’s feet ; it would be folly to waste time
in proving the interest and importance of a subject
so brought home to the senses. We now regard it
as an admiited fact that almost every rock contains
some fossils, and it remains only to consider what
are the conditions in which these occur, the kind of
animals or vegetables to which they belong, the

c2

20

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

(Jan. 1, 1868.

nature of the group which the species found in cer-
tain localities or certain similar rocks may afford,
and the circumstances under which the organic
beings in question have lived, died, and been pre-
served for future investigation.—<Azsted’s Llenen-
tary Course of Geology.

Lrtopon at Norwicu.—Mr. T. G. Bayfield has
recently called the attention of geologists to certain
fossils discovered in the chalk at Norwich. The pit
which yielded them is called the Lollard’s Pit,
whence a great quantity of chalk is annually re-
moved. 1n1858 a few vertebre of Letodon anceps
were discovered, and identified by a tooth which
was in their immediate proximity. In October,
1864, a number of bones of the same skeleton
were found, including six vertebre, a hundred frag-
ments of other bones, and two of the large cultrate
two-edged teeth, with two of the smaller kind from
the inner part of the mouth.

DEVILLINE.—A new mineral found in Cornwall
with lJaugite, from which it differs in its lighter
colour, its lamellar structure, and its silky lustre.
From its composition it appears to be a hydrated
subsulphate of copper, containing about 8 per cent.
of lime, and nearly 8 per cent. of protoxide of iron.

Tas Inrorp Mammotu.—A remarkably fine fossil
head of Llephas primigenius has been found in the
Pleistocene sands and clay at Ilford. The upper
molars remain in place, and both tusks have also
been preserved, one still in the socket, but seemingly
having been twisted round by the weight of the
head, when the fleshy tissue of its attachment had
decomposed, and before the skeleton was finally
embedded in the soil. The tusks are of spiral
curvature, and measure along their medial line above
10 feet 6 inches in length. No such perfect skull of
the true Mammoth has ever been found in England,
nor anything comparable with this important ex-
ample, so far as we are aware, except it may be the
fine fossil elephant in the Chichester Museum, a
specimen of which we have heard, but have not seen.
The present specimen in scientific value can only be
classed with the famous one at St. Petersburg, and
we are glad to add that it has, by the promptitude
of Mr. Waterhouse and the trustees, been obtained
for our National Collection; while to Mr. Davis,
who was despatched by the Museum authorities to
extricate this gigantic fragile mass from the rough
loose earth of the quarry, too much praise cannot be
given for the successful manner in which he has
accomplished that difficult task.—<Athen@um.

HymMrnornyitum TUNBRIDGENSE AND WILSONI.

—Great difficulty is sometimes experiencedin getting |

these tender ferns to grow in closed cases. A piece of
muslin placed at the top of the case to arrest some
of the hight has great influence,

MICROSCOPY.

Tue INVISIBLE WORLD REVEALED.—To an in-
telligent person, who has previously obtained a
general idea of the nature of the objects about to be
submitted to his inspection, a group of living ani-
malcules, seen under a powerful microscope for the
first time, presents a scene of extraordinary interest,
and never fails to call forth an expression of amaze-
ment and admiration. This statement admits of an
easy illustration; for example, from some water
containing aquatic plants, collected from a pond on
Clapham Common, I select a small twig, to which
are attached a few delicate flakes, apparently of
slime or jelly; some minute fibres, standing erect
here and there on the twig, are also dimly visible to
the naked eye. This twig with a drop or two of the
water, we will put between two thin plates of glass,
and place under the field of view of a microscope,
having lenses that magnify the image of an object
200 times in linear dimensions. Upon looking
through the instrument we find the fluid swarming
with animals of various shapes and magnitudes.
Some are darting through the water with great
rapidity, while others are pursuing and devouring
creatures more infinitesimal than themselves. Many
are attached to the twig by long delicate threads
(Vorticelle) ; several have their,bodies inclosed in a
transparent tube, from one end of which the animal
partly protrudes and then recedes ( Moscularia) ;
while numbers are covered by an elegant shell or
case (Brachionus). The minutest kinds (Mozads),
many of which are so small that millions might be
contained in a single drop of water, appear like ani-
mated globules, free, single, and of various colours,
sporting about in every direction. Numerous species
resemble pearly or opaline cups or vases, fringed
round the margin with delicate fibres that are in
constant oscillation (Vorticellz). Some of these are
attached by spiral tendrils; others are united by a
slender stem to one common trunk, appearing like a
bunch of hare-bells (Carchestum). Others are of a
globular form, and grouped together in a definite
pattern on a tabular or spherical inembraneous case,
for a certain period of their existence, and ultimately
become detached and locomotive (Gotan and Vol-
vox); while many are permanently clustered togcther,
and die if separated from the parent mass. No
organs of progressive motion, similar to those of
beasts, birds, or fishes, are observable in these
beings; yet they traverse the water with rapidity
without the aid of limbs or fins; and, though many
species are destitute of eyes, yet all possess an
accurate perception of the presence of other bodics,
and pursue and capture their prey with unerring
purpose.—Dr. Aantell’s Thoughts on Animateules,

Tur Microscorr Inpoors.—For amusement and
instruction with the microscope, we need scarcely

Jan. 1, 1863.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 21

stir out of ourrooms. The very hairs on our head
may be made objects of interesting investigation ;
and especially if we compare them with the hairs of
other animals, and the appendages generally of the
skin. The fine outer coating of the skin is composed
of minute scales, which are flattened cells, and may
be easily observed by scraping a portion of the skin
on to a glass slide, with a drop of wateron it. The
nails, the hairs, and other appendages of the skin,
are composed of the same kind of scales or cells.
These cells are developed in little pits, or follicles,
from which the hair is projected, as it were, by their
erowth from below. Under a low power the cells of
the human hair cannot be observed. It presents, how-
ever, a well-marked distinction between the outside,
or cortical layer, and the interior, or pelp. The
latter, by a high power, especially if the haix has
been first submitted to the action of sulphuric acid,
will be found to contain cells more or less spherical,
whilst the former contains cells more or less flattened.
These project a little beyond the edge of the hair, so
that its sides are not quite smooth. By placing
a hair between two pieces of cork, fine transverse
sections of it may be made by means of a sharp
razor. Jf these are put under the microscope,
the pulpy portions will present a dark appear-
ance in the centre. The hairs of animals offer a
great variety in the disposition of the cells of which
they are composed. ‘The hairs of the mouse present
a series of dark partitions running across the hair
between the cells. In the younger hairs, these
partitions are single, whilst in the older ones they
appear double. The hairs from the ear of the mouse
present these dark partitions very distinctly. Such
hairs stand intermediate between true hair and
wool. <A piece of flannel, or blanket, will afford a
good illustration of the latter. In this case it will
be scen that the scales, or cells, of the cortical part,
project beyond the surface, and render the wool
rough. This roughness of the outside is supposed
to render such haurs fitted to be used in the process
of felting; the rough sides of the hairs adhering
together. The chemical composition of the hair has
also something to do with this process. Human,
and other smooth hairs, will not felt.—Dr. Lankester’s
Half-hours with the Microscope.

Tue ScaLes or Insects.—The fine dust upon
the wings of moths and butterflies, which is so
readily removed when handled carelessly, is what is
generally called scales. 'Tothese the wing owes the
magnificent colours which so often are seen upon it ;
every particle being what may be termed a distinct
flat feather. How these are placed (somewhat like
tiles upon a roof) may he easily seen in the wing of
any butterfly, a few being removed to aid the inves-
tigation. The form of them is usually that of the
“battledore” with which the common game is

played, but the handle or base of the scale is citen
short, and the broad part varies in proportionate
length and breadth in different specimens. The
markings upon these also vary, some being mostly
composed of lines running from the base to the
apex, others reminding us of network — bead-like
spots only are seen in some—indeed, almost endless
changes are found amongst them. ‘These scales are
not confined to butterflies and moths, nor indeed to
the wings of insects. The diferent gnats supply
some most beautiful specimens, not only from the
wings, but also from the proboscis, &c.; whilst from
still more minute insects, as the podura, scales are
taken which were at one time esteemed as a most
delicate test. The gorgeous colours which the
diamond beetles also show when under the micro-
scope are produced by light reflected from minute
scales with which the insects are covered.

In mounting these objects for the microscope itis
well to have the part of the insect from which the
scales are usually taken as a separate slide, so that
the natural arrangement of them may be seen.
This is easily accomplished with the wings of but-
terflies, gnats, &c., as they require no extraordinary
care. In mounting the scz/es they may be placed
upon slides, by passing the wings over the surface
or by gently scraping the wing upon the slide, when
they must be covered with the thin glass. Ofcourse,
the extreme tenuity of these objects does away with
the necessity of any cell excepting that formed by
the gold-size or other cement used to attach the
cover. The scales of the podura should be placed
upon the slide in a somewhat different manner.
This insect is without wings, and is no longer than
the common flea. It is often found amongst the
sawdust in wine-cellars, continually leaping about
by the aid of its tail, which is bent underneath its
body. Dr. Carpenter says :—“ Poduree may be ob-
tained by sprinkling a little oatmeal on a piece of
black paper near their haunts; and after leaving it
there for a few hours, removing it carefully to alarge
glazed basin, so that, when they leap from the paper
(as they will when brought to the light), they may
fall into the basin, and may thus separate themselves
from the meal. The best way of obtaiming their
scales is to confine several of them together beneath
a wine-glass inverted upoa a piece of fine smooth
paper; for the scales will become detached by their
leaps against the glass, and will fall upon the paper.”
These scales are removed to the slide, and mounted
as those from the gnats, &e. When the podura has
been caught without the aid of the meal, it may be
placed upon the slide, under a test-tube, or by any
other mode of confinement, and thus save the trouble
of transfer from the paper before mentioned. An-
other method is to scize the insect by the leg with
the forceps and drag it across the slide, when a suf
ficient quantity of scales will probably be left upon

22 SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Taw. 1, 1865.

it. These scales are usually mounted “dry;” but
Hogg recommends the use of Canada Balsam as
rendering their structure more definite when illu-
minated with Wenham’s parabolic reflector. —Davies
on Preparing and Mounting Microscopie Objects.

ILLUMINATION OF OBJECTS MAGNIFIED BY VERY
HIGH PowERs.—Successful observation with very
high powers is mainly dependent upon illumination.
Indeed, by ordinary means it is not possible to
obtain a light sufficiently intense to illustrate an
object magnified 3,000 diameters. I have tried with
greater or less success many different plans, and
have used prisms, concave mirrors, and various
kinds of condensers. I have, however, arrived at
the conclusion that the most satisfactory results by
far are obtained by the use of Kelner’s eye-piece as
a condenser, as suggested by my friend Mr. Brooke.
By this means I can obtain a light sufficient for a
magnifying power of 10,000 linear. I have tried the
lime light, but have not found that it possesses any
advantages over the belmontine or paraffin lamp,
while the glare from it is much greater.—D?, Beale’s
* How to work with the Microscope.”

Microscopic Mires on Sronrs.— A gentle-
man having forwarded a packet of small stones
covered with very minute white objects and
acari, to Mr. Westwood, received the following
reply :—“ The minute white objects on the stones,
are the eggs of the mite Zrombidium (Tetranychus)
lapidum, first figured by Hammer in Hermann’s
Mémoire Apterologique (pl. 7, fig. 7-8), with the
eges which were discovered in similar situations.
Hammer’s correspondent found with the eggs
minute red-coloured siz-legged mites which had
been hatched from the eggs, and which ran very
quickly. Accompanying these mites (with six legs)
were always found others, two or three times
larger, of a brown colour, and with eight legs, but
these latter wanted the long se¢@ at the end of the
four anterior legs of the small individuals. Hammer
thought these constituted two distinct species, and
that they were not varieties, different in stage or
sex, because no metamorphoses had been noticed in
these insects, and no individuals intermediate in
size had been observed. He also inclined to regard
the so-called eggs in consequence of their com-
paratively large size to that of the insects, as a kind
of crysalid enclosing the mite in a sort of nymph
state. From what has since been observed of the
changes of these mites, however, there can be no
doubt that the large specimens are full-grown
individuals which had previously borne the appear-
ance of the smaller ones. All this is the more
necessary to be explained, because, in his note, Mr.
Weatherhead states that the eight-legged mites
were produced fromthe eggs. This, I believe, must
bea mistake, Unfortunately I cannot make out

‘the number of legs, the specimens in the small

phial having been so battered by the particles of
stone, that some of the legs may have been, as
some certainly have been, detached in the journey
from shaking about. I suppose also that this
species is szz-legged in the larval state. The eggs
are beautiful microscopic objects.”’—Lxtomologist’s
Monthly Magazine,

REPORTS OF SOCIETIES.

EwtomonioeicaL Socrzty, Dec. 5.—Mr. J. Weir
exhibited some microscopic preparations of the spiral
tongues of butterflies, for the purpose of showing
the variation in the striation of the tongue in dif-
ferent species, and in the papille which exist at the
end of the tongue.—Mr. Bond exhibited a coloured
drawing of the larvee of Acronycta strigosa, and a
photograph of a remarkable negro variety of ddraxras
grossulariata—Mr. F. Smith exhibited a parti-
coloured wasy’s-nest, constructed by two species of
wasp, the Vespa Germanica and V. vulgaris —Myr.
W. F. Evans sent for exhibition a box full of frag-
ments of a Lamellicorn beetle, which had been picked
out of some New Zealand wool: the insects proved
to be Pyronota festiva, and it was conceived that, in
the course of their flight, they had come in contact
with the sheep and became entangled in the fleeces
so as to prevent their escape.—The President ex-
hibited some globular spiders’ nests from South
Australia, which were remarkable for their resem-
blance to the fruit of Leptospermum, the tea-plant
of Australia, whilst the spiders themselves were
described as looking like the excrement of a bird.—
Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited several pairs of Cheirolasia
Burkei, one of the rare Goliath beetles of tropical
Africa; he also read a letter from M. Du Chaiilu,
dated Fernand-Vaz River, Aug. 20, 1864, in which
the writer announced the despatch to England of a
large collection of insects.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL Society, Dec. 6.—Mr. 8.
Laing exhibited. an_ interesting collection, and
read a Paper on “The Pre-Historic remains of
Caithness.” Mr. C. C. Blake also read a paper by
Mr. Roberts on the discovery of a large ]istraem
in the Muckle Hoeg, in the island of North Shetland,
with notes upon the human remains discovered
therein. An animated discussion on these Papers
pure in which Professor Owen and others took
part.

Royat Groerapnicat Society, Dec. 12.—A
Paper by Mr. J. Cameron, of Singapore, containing
“A Description of the Islands of IKalatoa and
Puloweh, north of Flores, in the Malay Archipelago.”
The former of these islands was said to be unin-
habited, the latter to contain a population of 5,000,
whose daily life was a repetition of the various
stages of intoxication, and that every evening
ended in a drunken brawl. Dr. Hector next read a
paper on “An Expedition to the West Coast of
Otago, New Fenland: and the Discovery of a practi-
cable Route over the Mountains to the Goldfields and
the East Coast.” Mr. Albert Walker also gave an
account of a hazardous journey which he performed,
In company with two other young men, along the
West Coast of the Middle Island, New Zealand.

Jan. 1, 1865.)

SCIENCE-GOSSIDP.

28

Tur Ernnonocican Socirty, Dec. 13.—Mr. 8.
Laing exhibited an interesting collection of human
remains, stone implements, and other articles which
had recently been obtained in some extensive exca-
vations which he has been carrying on at Caithness,
and which are believed to date from a very remote
period in the history of man. Mr. Laing gave an
account of his explorations and described the various
articles which had been found, and a lively discussion
followed, in which Professor Huxley, Dr. Thurnham,
and others took part.

MuicroscopicaL Soctety or Lonpon, December
14, 1864. — Various presents were announced,
amongst which was Mr. Bridgeman’s mahogany
rotating-table, a simple and ingenious contrivance,
whereby several persons may use the same micro-
scope without leaving their seats. It consists of a
stout board, sufliciently large to hold a microscope
and lamp, a heavy pivot of iron is fixed beneath at
one end, and at the two corners of the opposite end
two castors at such an angle as to cause the board
to rotate freely. It is very steady, and offers con-
siderable advantages to those who are indisposed
to incur the expense of an ordinary rotating-table.

Notice having been given of a subject for discus-
sion, viz., “The most advantageous means of illu-
minating objects under the microscope,” the presi-
dent explained at considerable length his experience
in the matter, and confined himself more particularly
to—l, sources of light; 2, condensed or uncondensed
light; 8, histiological subjects; and 4, minute
structures, diatoms, &c. Having tried gas, naptha-
lized gas, camphine, and the other volatile oils, he
considered Belmontine to possess a greater amount
of those properties so very desirable for microscopic
work, than any of the others he had named, as it
gives a white light, burns steadily, and does not
readily carbonize. He likewise generally approved
of oblique rays. One member strongly advocated
direct rays, whilst another referred to the frequent
advantage of diffused light. Mr. Shadbolt disap-
proved of the Belmontine of the present day, but
spoke favourably of “ Diamond Crystal oil.’ Mr.
Glaisher stated he had used gas and camphine, but
both had been set aside in favour of “ Carbonile,” a
recent invention, which after a three months’ trial,
he thought superior to anything he had hitherto
used. Mr. Tomkins exhibited a small working
model of the necessary arrangement for obtaining
this light, by passing ordinary coal gas over the
“ carbonile” contained in a vessel constructed for
the purpose. ‘The effect was magical, and the light
dazzling, the flame being solid and white compared
to the common gas flame, which in comparison was
pale, thin, and vapoury. It was stated that it gives
three times the ordinary light by an equal consump-
tion of gas; consequently those who are content
with their present amount of light can, by means of
“ carbonile,” obtain it at one-third the cost for gas.
Mr. Slack was announced to read a paper on the
“Vinegar Plant ” at the next meeting.

Society or AMATEUR Botanists (Lozdon).—The
Second Annual Meeting of this Society was held at
92, Piccadilly, on Wednesday evening, Dec. 21st,
when the President delivered an Address embodying
a Report of the Society’s Proceedings during the
past year. He stated that. the excursions on Satur-
day afternoons had taken place during the favourable
weather, with more or less success. The annual
excursion, to which a special day was devoted, was
this year taken to Darenth Wood, in Kent, The

interchange of specimens had hitherto been confined
nearly exclusively to members, but it was hoped, at
no very distant period, to extend it to other societies
having similar objects. Papers had been read with
tolerable regularity, and some of these had been
deemed of sufficient importance and interest to be
solicited for publication in the Journal of Botany,
in which two or three had appeared. The Library
and Herbarium were gradually increasing in extent
and usefulness. The aggregate number of members
was reported to be forty-seven, of whom fifteen had
been elected during the year. The Treasurer pre-
sented a balance-sheet, showing a balance of upwards
of £5 in favour of the Society, which, considering
the very low rate of annual subscription, was ad-
mitted to be highly satisfactory. After the usua!
complimentary resolutions of thanks to the Officers,
they were unanimously re-elected for the ensuing
year, and a Council of four members was constituted
to conduct the business of the Society, so as to leave
the entire evenings of meeting, for the future, free
for the consideration of the subjects brought forward
by members in their papers.

MancuesterR Fretp Naturatists’ Society.—
The Report of the Committee for the year 1863
proves this Society to be in a flourishing condition.
The aggregate number of members is 5387; there is
cash in the bank, property which it has been con-
sidered advisable to insure for £300, and evidence
of good work done. The Saturday afternoon excur-
sions have been well attended, and the winter soirées
completely successful. These facts seem to prove
the truth of the assertion at the commencement of
the report, “ of a daily-extending interest in the city
and its neighbourhood, with respect to pursuits and
studies such as the Field Naturalists’ Society was
mainly instituted to promote.’ One work which
this Society has accomplished will commend itself
to bstanists all over the country. It is the registra-
tion and publication of a list of all the mosses found
in the neighbourhood of Manchester, which list is
appended to the Report. Mr. G. E. Hunt, who was
the presiding genius of this work, has conferred a
boon on Bryologists, and set an example which
other local societies would do well to imitate..

Morey Naturauists’ Sociuty.—A society of
naturalists has been formed, with every prospect of
success, at the Star and Birch Inn, Morley. The
meetings are held fortnightly. Mr. Daniel Slack
has been elected president, and the Society numbers
twelve members,

zn. Hunrer’s Harty Worr.—On his arrival in
London, Mr. Thomas, in company with Mr. Nicol,
called on Dr. Hunter; they found him dressing.
“Well, young gentleman,” said Hunter, when the
first ceremonies of introduction were over, “so you
are come to town te be a surgeon; and how long do

op aes 2 «6 pinata ates :
you. intend to stay ? One year,” was the reply
“hen,” said he, “Vil tell you what, that won’t do
T’ve been here a great many years, have worked hard,
too, and yet I don’t know the principles of the art !”
After some further conversation, Mr. T. was directed
to call again in an hour, which he did, and accom-
panied Hunter to the hospital, where he said to him,
after the business was over, “Come to me to-morrow
morning, young gentleman, and I will put you fur-
ther in the way of things; come early in the morning,
as soon after four as you can.” It was summer:
Mr. Thomas kept the appointment, and found
Hunter, at that. early hour, busily engaged in dis-
secting beetles.—Hunter’s Memoirs,

24 SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

(Jan. 1, 1865.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

A Youre Microscopist desires to know if he
can procure any of the diatomaceous earths, such as
Tripoli and other foreign deposits, and where ?

Dors tire Sprper Hat its own Wrz ?—Blom-
field affirms that it does. Is this merely a fiction
of the poet, or a fact vouched for by naturalists ?
Satisfactory information based on personal observa-
tion is desirable.

Do Flowers that are normally blue become white
or pink when propagated from buds or cuttings, in
all cases? And do blue flowers, such as those of
Campanula rotundifolia become white in seedlings.
If so, under what conditions do these changes occur ?

Tw poisoning plants for the herbarium some use a
solution of corrosive sublimate, and with it wash
over the entire specimen with a camel-hair pencil.
On the other hand, some only mount their specimens
with thin glue in which some corrosive sublimate
has been mixed. ‘The latter is by far the simplest
plan—has experience proved it suilicient ?

Veins oF Lraves.—Professor De Candolle has
recently observed that in some genera of plants (as
Fagus) the lateral veins terminate in some species in
the marginal teeth, in other species they terminate
in the sinuses between the teeth, and in others they
terminate partly in the teeth and partly in the
sinuses. Have any of our correspondents noticed
similar instances, or if they should observe such will
they communicate the result of their observations ?

Moprrw Miritary Botany.—A military gentle-
man recommended to the Cotton Supply Reporter, in
a letter recently published, “in order to produce
new and beautiful species of the cotton plant, as
well as to insure good annual crops, fo cross the
several kinds of seeds by burying them together in a
large hole about nine inches deep.’ We adds, “1 beg
to observe that I firmly believe that the Graphalium,
cud-weed, or dwarf cotton, is the parent stock of all
cotton.”—Does not such a Solomon as this deserve
a Marshal’s baton ?

Potyxenta ALDERI.—During a marine excursion
in search of animals for the aquarium, Mr. Hughes
gives a humorous account of a colloquy which took
place between himself and the boatman who was
with him when the above-named was captured :—
* Looking, as I dare say he did, with considerable
disgust at my sport, and wondering why I did not
follow his example in the more utilitarian object of
mackerel-fishing, he asked, with some degree of
superciliousness, ‘And what might be the name of
that jelly-fish, sir, that you’ve just took?’ ‘It
would not interest you very much, my friend,’ said
I; ‘but, as you seem to take an interest in the
specimen, I will tell you: it is Polyxenia Alderi.’
‘ Well, to be sure,’ replied he, ‘it do look summat
like a X’ He alluded to the cruciform appearance
of the peduncle seen from below !—Vhe Zoologist.

Deatu or Prorrssor Sintiman.—It is with
much regret that we have learnt of the death of this
veteran in scienee. The journal he edited, and
which was known by his name all over Europe, as
well as in America, expired just before him. Jor
nearly half a century he held a high position amongst
scientific men on the other side the Atlantic,

Pricxty Prars Four a Prenny!—This cry has
been heard from street-vendors cf fruit in the metro-
polis during the last two or three weeks. The fruit
itself is not commonly imported. It is about the
size and shape of a goose’s egg, witha large concave
depression at the apex, in which one may thrust the
end ofa thumb. Externally it is yellow, with a red-
dish tint on one side; small brown warts are scat-
tered over the surface at regular distances of about
three-fourths of an inch; from each of these in its
early stage sharp spines are developed, but they fall
away as the fruit ripens. Internally the fruit con-
sists of a granular pulp of a deep rose colour, in
which numerous a he about the size of hemp-seed,
are imbedded. The taste is rather insipid, and the
profusion of hard seeds scattered everywhere through
the pulp isa great disadvantage. It does not suit
the English taste, we imagine, and will scarce be-
come a regular article of commerce. The Prickly
Pear is the produce of a species of Cactus (Opuntia
vulgaris), a native of North America, and_ closely
allied to the plant on which the cochineal insect
feeds. This Cactus has been introduced into the
South of Europe, whence, probably, our recent
importations have been derived.

Forty Yrars Aco!—In the first volume of
*TLoudon’s Magazine of Natural History” it is
stated, “The common rosewood of cabinet-makers
is the root of Convolvulus scopartus, common in the
Canary Islands, in Rhodes, and Cyprus.” No ecm-
ment 1s necessary.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

All communications for the Editor should be addressed
to No. 192, Prccapinuy, W.

F. M.—Being a collector of galls, of every kind, for
the purpose of ascertaining what are the insects
which produce them, would be glad to receive
fresh specimens of any except the commonest
kinds, from correspondents who would forward
them to our publisher for that purpose.

Mossrs.—Correspondents wishing for specimens of
British mosses, especially those found in the
Scottish Highlands, are advised to communicate
a list of their desiderata to the editor.

H. C.—We regret that your MS. arrived too late
for insertion in the current number, but it shall
have a place in the next. ‘To avoid any disap-

ointment, contributions should be received on or
yefore the 15th of each month.

R. H.—We have returned our correspondent’s MS.,
but, for the information of all our contributors,
take this opportunity of intimating that it is
amongst our firmest resolves not to admit either
lists or tables, whether of plants or insects, into
our pages; because, however useful or interesting
they may be to a favoured few, their interest
would be very small with the majority of
readers. We therefore prefer exclusion in all
cases to making invidious exceptions.

Secretaries of Field Clubs and Natural History
Societics are solicited to forward accounts of
their ordinary mectings, excursions, and pro-
ceedings, throughout the year. <A portion of
the Science Gossip being devoted to the service
of such associations, it is the wish of the pro-
moters that it should be rendered as truly ser-
viceable as possible.

TEMP ci7 MI
Cerrar
ix oNG hy : y
OA EE |

CW “3. N: On?

“Surely, my friends, plenty of bacon is good and indispensable: but, I doubt, you will never get even

bacon by aiming only at that.

E English people have the credit of
being one of the most utilitarian
nations under the sun; yet, amongst our-
selves, as though we believed it not, we
call the present a wtivitarian age, and flat-
ter ourselves that during this nineteenth
century we have become more practical.
Now-a-days we are too utilitarian to erect
handsome structures or do handsome things
without first inquiring, What good will come
of it ?

tion and subtraction, there appears a good

If, after a long sum in compound addi-

balance in favour of the project, “ Cui bono”
Can

we be surprised, then, after having worshipped

kicks the beam, and the thing is done,

this idol all the day, at having it flung at our
heads at night ?
our counting-houses, make the Ledger our
prayer-book, and Contracts our homilies, and
go home without expecting to see the shadow
of the idol there?
“ Porter's Progress,” let’s be true and faithful

Shall we bend before it in

INo! by the manes of

worshippers, even though we cast ourselves
beneath the wheels, so that the car of Jugger-
nath may pass over us !

Try the experiment with our youthful
Pick up a little weed from the
wayside in their presence ; gaze at it earnestly,
blow back the petals of the flower, take out a
pocket lens, examine yet more closely, turn
over the leaves, thoughtfully, but carefully,
inspect it thoroughly, -minutely ; place it

population.

erect within the lining of your hat; return
that undignified cylinder to its place of honour
on the top of your head, and move on. Think
you that this operation can be brought to a
conclusion before you are assailed with the
inquiry, “ What are you going to do with it,
what good is it?” Vain hope, for should

You are men, not animals of prey.”’—Thomas Carlyle.

you perchance escape it there, it will be at
home waiting your return, and no sooner will
you take the innocent little weed from its
resting-place, than you will have to give an
account of all the pleasures and profits, uses
and benefits that you are ever likely to derive
from preserving such rubbish between clean
sheets of paper.
circumstances, to attempt to convey to the

How vain is if, under such

vind of the inquirer any conviction unasso-
ciated with money-value or domestic economy !
Ifit can be proved that your little plant of
knotgrass, or pimpernel, or harebell is a cer-
tain cure for croup, or will flavour a stew like
parsley or tarragon, then it would be admitted
that it really 7s of use; or that a handful
would realiz2 a shilling in Covent Garden
Market, in that case they would even turn
botanists themselves ; but, not to be worth a
farthing in hard cash, or furnish food for a
canary, is sufficient to prove them worthy of
wholesale condemnation as rubbish, and the
collector little better than a fool.

Mrs. Partington, with the encroaching sea
at the end of her mop, could not have trun-
dled more fruitlessly than those kind friends
who by their efforts would stay the pro-
gress of inquiry and investigation in the young
student of nature, by throwing a Cut Lono at
his head, provided he has acquired just sufli-
cient knowledge to direct his investigations
If man could live by
bread alone ; if his sole mission were to eat,
sleep, and die; if he were content to measure
his happiness by twopences, and _ his ecstacies

into a right channel.

by biscuits, then it would be legitimate to in-
quire of every pursuit that did not end in
twopences or bisenits, “What good is it?”
But inasmuch as there is a higher aim in life,

96 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Fus. 1, 1865,

a better source of pleasure than the gratifica-
tion of animal propensities, it indicates but a
sorry intellectual capacity in those who in-
quire concerning every pursuit that is un-
connected with the necessities of life—Cw#
Bono, “ What good is it?”

“T have never known a man,” says an old
author, “become a worse husband, a worse
father, or a worse friend, because he shared
his love with a bird, a beetle, or a buttery ;
and such an one is no less entitled to respect
because he does not scorn to learn a lesson
from the meanest thing that God has made.”

A TIT IN MOUSTACHES!

N these modern days of hirsute appendages,
when bipeds in moustaches are by no
means rare, it may be a novelty to some to
learn that the infection of fashion extends to
“ bipeds with feathers,” and that a little bird,
a Tit, is indigenous to our own. country, which
bears a most unmistakeable pair of sleek,
black, pointed moustaches, but with which
the males only are furnished. The Tits are a
daring, impudent family from the Great Tit
down to Tomtit, and carry a saucy appear-
ance in theirvery physiognomy. Everyone who
has an orchard knows the Blue Tit, and his
lively fantastic evolutions about the branches
of apple trees, sometimes on one side of a
bough and then on the other ; as often head
downwards as with his head uppermost ; with
his rough hair-like coat of feathers blowing
about like that of a Skye terrier, or the shaggy
tuft which surmounts the head of a little city
Arab. Our Titis a far sleeker, smarter bird,
he is in fact the “exquisite” of the family of
Tits, and so far has severed connection with
the plebeian Tits, that he has taken to himself

a new family name, and is regarded by natu-
ralists as the type and scion of a new hcuse,
allied by family ties and old associations with
the Tits, but no longer destined to bear their
classical name (Parus). The Bearded Tit, for
so it is most commonly called, has been digni-
fied with a more aristocratic title (Calamo-
philus*) long enough to satisfy the most
emulous of birds, and it no doubt glories, if
bird can glory, in its trim, sleek, aristocratic
appearance, an aristocratic pair of long black
moustaches, and an aristocratic name. Little
boys in Norfolk make “ game” of it and call
it reed pheasant, but it bears the sobriquet
without complaint. Neither does it resent
being called ‘ Pinnock” as in some localities,
though perfectly innocent of “Catechisms.”
Specimens of this bird mounted on little
wooden perches, and placed on the shelves of
glazed cases in public museums, are gross
libels upon the bird in its state of nature.
We have never seen a stuffed specimen quite
to our mind, and scores that we strongly
object to. Amongst his native reeds he is
the liveliest little “acrobat” one ever saw,
running up and down, sometimes with head
uppermost, but as often with the long tail
thrust out towards the zenith, and his head
where ordinary and less vivacious birds seem
by their conduct to consider that the tail
ought to be. One of the best descriptions yet
given of this bird in its native habitat, is that
of an observer, in the eighth number of
Loudon’s Magazine, nearly forty years ago,
but the facts are true still. “I went,” he
wrote, “accompanied by one person and a
dog to a piece of reeds below Barking Creek,
on a cold, windy, dull morning, weather by
no means favourable for my purpose. Arrived
on our ground, we traversed it for some time
without success ; and were about to leave it,
when our attention was roused by the alarm
cry of this species, and looking up, we saw
eight or ten of these beautiful little creatures
on the wing, just topping the reeds over our
heads, uttering in full chorus their sweetly
musical note, which resembles (if it may be
likened to a word) the monosyllable ping, ping ;
pronounced at first slow and single, then two
or three timés in a more hurried manner: it
may be compared to the music of very small
cymbals; is clear and ringing, though soft,
and corresponds well with the delicacy and
beauty of the form and colour of the bird.
We saw several flocks during the morning,

* Perhaps the most recently adopted or revived
scientific name for this bird is that given by Mr.
G. R. Gray in his catalogue—Panurus biarmicus.

ae

Fes. 1, 1865.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP 27

or, what is more probable, the same flock
several times, Their flights are short and
low, only sufficient to clear the reeds; on the
seedy tops of which they alight to feed. If
disturbed, they immediately descend by run-
ning, or rather by dropping. The movement
is rapid along the stalk to the bottom, where
they creep and flit, perfectly concealed from
view by the closeness of the covert and the
resembling tints of their plumage.

“ We could hear, but not see, our dog hunt-
ing; and we thought he was of service in point-
ing out to us whereabouts the birds were. His
being near them, however, did not make them
easily take wing ; they seemed to follow hin,
hovering and crying about him. I question
if we should have seen, or even heard, a single
bird without his assistance. We were for-
tunate enough to shoot one (a male) in fine
plumage. I held it in my hand when scarcely
dead. Nothing could exceed the beauty of
the eye ; the bright orange of the iris, nearly
surrounded as it is by the deep glossy black
of the moustaches and streak above, receives
additional brilliancy from the contrast, and
struck me as a masterpiece of arrangement in
colour and neatness. The bill also was of a
fine clear delicate orange ; but this, too, soon
became dull and opaque.”

Their food is said to consist of the seeds of
the reed, as well as insects and small snails,
but we are disposed to conclude from the
contents of their crops that they are more
insectivorous than otherwise, at least, during
the summer months.

The Bearded Tit is found amongst reeds in
various parts of Great Britain. We have
seen it commonly in Norfolk, and know that
it is found also in Cambridgeshire, and along
the banks of the Thames. [It is also recorded
to occur in Suffolk and Lincolnshire, and a
very few other localities. In Scotland it ap-
pears to be unknown, and in Ireland to have
been seen but once.

During the month of April, this Tit builds
its nest amongst the dry stems of grass, reeds,
and sedges ; these it binds together around
its nest by interlacing them with the outer
layer of reed leaves, of which the structure is
composed. The nest is sometimes in such a
position amongst reeds, that it is scarcely pos-
sible to reach it from the shore, unless by
wading in three feet of water and mud, into
the depths of reed-clumps. The marshmen
know more of the homes, haunts, and habits
of this bird than any one else, or at least
might do if they not only saw but observed,
and the nests are seldom taken by any except
themselves. We have seen a great many

nests in our time, and not one taken from the
ground, but from within a few inches toa foot -
of the surface, or suspended amongst dry grass,
reeds, or, rarely, ina clump of fragrant “ gale,”
or “guile,” as it is locally termed (Myrica
gale). The eggs are commonly but four or
five, of a pinkish-white, irregularly spotted
and streaked with reddish-brown, and larger
than those of any other British Tit, except
the Great Tit. In process of time the eggs
are hatched, and a young progeny grow up,
to gambol and sommersault amongst the reeds,

—-and wear moustaches,
M,C. CG.

DIATOMS.
WHAT THEY ARE, AND WHERE TO FIND THEM.

OME months since, availing myself of a
fine afternoon and a few hours’ leisure, I
made an excursion into the country in search
of objects for my microscope. I had scarcely
commenced operations, when [I fell in with a
gentleman, who, as I soon discovered, was on
the same pursuit as myself: the similarity
of our object superseded the necessity of a
formal introduction ; by a kind of instinct we
became mutually attracted to each other, and
in a few minutes were as free and familiar as
old friends.

I found my friend, for so I shall now call
him, was the possessor of one of the best
microscopes, with objectives ranging from 2 in.
to 4, and all the et ceteras, that placed within
his reach every facility for microscopic re-
search. On the present cccasion he was
hunting for Entomostraca, Rotifera, and any
other kind of Infusoria that might come to
hand. In the course of conversation, | said,
“Are you well up in Diatoms?” To my
astonishment, he replied by asking, “ What
isa Diatom?” Forthe moment I thought I
had unconsciously met with some learned
professor, and that his interrogatory was in-
tended to probe the depth of my knowledge
on this interesting question, but I soon found
that he did not know what I meant by a Dia-
tom, and that he was really unconscious of
ever having seen one.

I do.not suppose that amongst our readers
there is one so thoroughly ignorant on a sub-
ject familiar to almost every microscopist ;
there may, perhaps, be some to whom the fol-
lowing hints on Diatomacee would not be
uninteresting.

The Diatomacece are a large family of tiny
plants, almost invisible to the naked eye, re-

28

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Fes. 1, 1865.

quiring the art of the optician to reveal their
beautiful diversity of forms, and their extreme
delicacy of structure. They are inhabitants
of the water, and so widely distributed, that
there is scarcely a pool, a ditch, or a water-
course where they are not to be found, at-
tached to submerged weeds, or mixed with
floating debris, or deposited on old piles sub-
ject to tidal influences, or forming a cover-
ing on the surface of the mud, arranged in
patches, and varying in colour from a yellow-
ish brown to a dark chocolate. Some species
are indigenous to fresh, some to salt, and
some te brackish water, but those common to
the one are never found in a lively and
healthy state in the other.

In the early history of Diatomacew, they
were placed by naturalists in the animal
kingdom, in consequence of their curious move-
ments ; a@ more intimate acquaintance with
their nature and habits, acquired by the aid
of improved microscopes, and confirmed by
chemical experiments, has resulted in their
being transferred to the vegetable kingdom
by the unanimous consent of all competent
judges. It is now ascertained that the power
of locomotion is not peculiar to the Dzato-
mace, but that many of the simple plants,
such as Oscillatoria, the Desmidiacee, Pro-
fococcus, and others, possess this power in com-
mon with the Diatoms, and some of them, in
certain stages of their existence, are much
more active in their movements than any of
the Diatomacec.

The characteristic feature of the Diatom is
its silicious envelope covered with a net-work
of fine markings, diversified in pattern, and
in some of the species so exquisitely delicate
as to require the best objectives and the high-
est powers to resolve them. Being composed
of silica, these frustules are indestructible by
the usual agents of decomposition ; when,
therefore, they are cleansed by being boiled
for a few minutes in hydrochloric or nitric
acid, they become objects of permanent in-
terest, and may be preserved by mounting,
either dry or in Canada balsam.

In order to secure clean and good specimens
for mounting, it is absolutely necessary to
separate the Diatoms from all foreign matter,
which unavoidably becomes mixed with them
in collecting. The following is a plan I have
tried with great success. On returning home
allow your bottles to stand for an hour, by
which time the Diatoms and debris will have
settled at the bottom, pour off the greater
portion of the water, then shaking the bottle
briskly, empty its contents into a soup-plate,
place the plate in a window for an hour or

two, when it will be found that the Diatoms,
attracted by the light, will have arranged
themselves on the surface of the mud; by
gently rotating the plate they become loosened
and may be poured off in a pure state, and are
ready for being examined alive, or for boiling
in acid,

In collecting Diatoms, half a dozen wide-
mouthed bottles, a large-bowled spoon as thin
as possible, and a stick with a hook at one
end, are all the apparatus required. The
spoon for carefully skimming the mud, the
stick for pulling in any submerged plants or
floating rubbish, and the bottles to hold your
gatherings, taking care to place the different
kinds in separate bottles, being furnished with
a Coddington lens to examine your specimens
on the spot.

The marine forms of Diafomaceew may fre-
quently be found attached to seaweed; but
some of the rarer kinds must be sought for
from the stomach of lobsters, oysters, whelks,
and other mollusks.

The favourite habitats of those common to
brackish water are marsh-ditches exposed to
tidal influences, where they may generally be
obtained in great quantities and many varie-
ties.

The best localities near London are the
marshes at Erith on the opposite side of the
road from the entrance to the Railway station,
and Swanscombe Salt Marsh, lying towards
the river, about half a mile from Northfleet
Railway Station. At both of these places
I have always been able to get many inter-
esting forms, together with fine specimens of
living Gromia, and a variety of beautiful
animal Infusoria. Others may be procured
from the marsh ditches at North Woolwich,
immediately beyond the Gardens by the
Railway Station.

Fresh water Diatomg, in one form or other,
are almost ubiquitous. They may be found
deposited in brown tufts on the sides and
bottom of nearly every clean ditch and every
running stream. They line the sides of the
locks up the river, fringe the leaves of the
larger water-“Jants, and float in every collec-
tion of scu... Pinnularia cuspidata, Star-
roneis, &c., may be obtained from a rill run-
ning across Keston Common, near Bromley,
Kent, and all these forms, together with the
beautiful Swrirella biseriata and Surirelia
splendida, abound in the boggy pools on
Winter Down, lying to the right of the main
road one and a-half or two miles through
Esher, opposite to Claremont Park.

I must reserve a few remarks upon the
subject of illumination, and the best mode of

Fes. 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

29

resolving the difficult markings on some of
the finer forms of Diatomacew, to a future op-
portunity. J. 8,

A CHAPTER ON HAIRS.

Nga as the numerous subjects which
animal products supply for the worker
with the microscope, there are few which are
more interesting, or which offer a greater
variety of structure, than those delicate fila-
mentous processes which constitute the sub-
stance we knowas hair. To pluck out a hair
from the head of a playmate, and look at it
with asimple microscope, is one of the first
experiments of schoolboy days, although the
result of the investigation is not always satis-
factory, for reasons which will be presently
apparent. Although this epidermal substance
is not confined to hair only, but under various
circumstances takes the form of horn, hoof,
and nail, yet, as an external appendage, hairs
are found not only on the superior orders of
animals, but are likewise developed on the
lower orders, on various insects, and to a
limited extent on crustaceous animals ; hence
it naturally follows that the variety of hair is
very great, its limits not being confined to the
quills of the porcupine on the one land, or
tue delicate hairs of the butterfly on the
other ; examination having proved that the
horn of the rhinoceros is but a mass of hairs
firmly united together, while the revelations
of the microscope render it difficult to say
how small those hairs may be which the in-
sect world possesses.

tt will be sufficient for our present purpose
to refer more particularly to hair as commonly
understood, and we may accept as a type of
it, that with which we are most familiar, viz.,
human hair. This substance originates in a

rice tier Hane

bulbous root, contained in a depression of the
skin, termed a “hair-follicle,”’? and it is by an
accumulation of the pulp within the bulb, that
the hair is formed and in due course pushed

upwards. When viewed through a micro-
scope with reflected light, the external cover-
ing only is seen, which is called the cuticle,
and consists of a thin membranous substance,
freely marked with irregular lines, which
result from the imbricated edges of scales or
compressed cells with which the shaft is en-
veloped (fig. 1).

When viewed with transmitted light, a
dark line is seen to run up the centre, which
for a long time sustained the notion that
human hair was tubular. A more careful
investigation, however, has shown that the
dark line is due to air, contained in cells,
forming a pith or medullary substance. Sur-
rounding this central column, and forming
the bulk of the hair, is a fibrous substance
termed the cortex, which, like the medulla,
consists of cells, and to this horny portion of
the hair is due its peculiar properties of
strength and elasticity. There are likewise
anumber of pigment granules, exceedingly
small, but which give to hair its various
shades of colour, according as they are more
or less numerous.

The microscopist will find a never ending
variety in the structure of hair, both with
regard to the internal and external arvange-
ments of the scales, cells, and pigment. Thus,
while human hair is comparatively smooth,
the hairs of many animals are rough, and the
scales on their surface looser. This is a prin-
cipal reason why wools are so useful for
weaving and felting, processes for which
human hair is not epplicatle. f

A reference

Fig. 2—East Inp1a Woot.

to figs. 1, 2, and.3 will illustrate the difference
between human hair and wool, which is but
a modification of hair, and will explain why
Merino wool is so esteemed by the manufac-
turers.

The wool of some kinds of goats, termed
mohair (fig. 4), is of a similar character, but
much finer in substance. The hair of the
bat tribe affords most interesting objects,
from the peculiar arrangement of the cortical
scales, which project very much from the

30 SCIENCE-GOSSLP.

[Frs. 1, 1865.

surface, and in the case of one of the Indian

bats, the scales are arranged in curious whorls

at regular intervals, not unlike the stem of
my = ”

the weil-known plant “ Equisetum.” The

Fig. 8.—Spaniso MrErino.

hairs of the mouse (fig. 5), and rabbit (fig. 6),
as well as all the rodents, are admirable ob-
jects, from their distinctly serrated surfaces.

Fig, 4.—Mowatr.

Without attempting to enumerate the ani-
mals whence these interesting objects can be
obtained, it may be briefly stated that every
hair has its own peculiar characters, and is

- worth all the patience and time which can be

devoted to it. For examination under the
polariscope hairs of all kinds, when properly
mounted, are popular objects of admiration,
exhibiting with extreme brilliancy charac-
ters and definitions otherwise unattainable.
For the critical examination of hairs, recourse
must be had to the use of acids and alkalies,
aided by pressure and gentle heat ; but for
nounting hairs or sections of hairs on glass
slides a different method must be adopted.

Macerate in ether to cleanse them from fatty
matters, and if opaque they must be soaked
in turpentine, then mount them in balsam.

Fig. 6.—Rapait For.

hairs together and then slicing them with a
sharp knife or razor.

In concluding this brief notice of hairs, the
young microscopist is reminded that the field
is a wide one, and that it is not at all neces-
sary to go beyond the boundaries of his native
haunts to obtain materials for au extensive
cabinet of interesting specimens.

W. M. &B.

THE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY AND
ITS METAMORPHOSES.

BY PROFESSOR A. DE QUATREFAGES,

(EXTERNAL PHASES.)

Fe Ver our readers must have seen the cab-
bage-butterflies (Pieris Brassicw) in their
gardens, or in the country; they have black
bodies, white ringed antenne, and wings
which are white on the upper side, but yel-
lowish below, and covered with black spots,
whose number and position mark the sexes.
They are frequently seen in the months of
August and September flying in pairs, some-
times in pursuit of each other, and occasionally
rushing round and round, as though engaged
in some severe contest. It seems as if a real
struggle was going on, but it is absolutely
nothing of the sort. The male urges his suit,
and the female rejects it in true coquettish
spirit. Finally, she settles down, but her
wings are closely applied to each other, in this
way covering the entire body. The male
moves round and round her for a few moments,
and then, asif he had taken his final departure,
flies almost out of sight ; but this is evidently
a ruse. As soon as the female unfolds her
wings and exhibits her entire form, he
returns quickly enough, but to no purpose ;

Fer. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. al

for she folds her wings together on his
approach, and then the flirtations, pursuits,
refusals, and pretended departures commence
again.

These performances sometimes last for
more than half an hour, no inconsiderable
portion of a butierfly’s lifetime. When they
have ended, the female deposits its eggs,
several hundred in number, upon some por-
tion of a cabbage-leaf. The eggs are like
little pyramids, three or four times as high as
wide, and grooved by deep channels, which
separate the rounded, undulating sides from
each other. The Pieris arranges its eggs in
a most artistic manner, side by side, and,
having glued them firmly to the leaf, leaves
them entirely to their fate. By far the
greater number of them perish, but still some
are hatched, and thus insure the perpetuation
of the species. ,

Every one knows that there springs from
each of these eggs a worm-like animal called
a caterpillar, which must pass into the inter-
mediate condition of chrysalis before it will
become a perfect butterfly.

The egg which our Pieris lays is much
smaller than a millet-seed, and the caterpillar
which emerges from it is proportionally dimi-
nutive. When fully formed, however, it
measures one inch anda half in length, and
about 1-5th of an inch in width, and 1-6thin
depth. We see what a great difference there
is in size between the animal when it emerges
from the egg, and when it is fully formed,
and how rapidly the increase takes place.
Moreover, this growth is not gradual, as in
most other animals. We may describe it as
occurring suddenly, and by a series of forma-
tive leaps taken at each of those periods
ordinarily called moultings. In fact, as soon
as it leaves the egg the young caterpillar eats
with a voracity too familiar to our gardeners,
but, nevertheless, does not increase in size.

After some days this enormous appetite is
lost ; the caterpillar becomes quite languid,
and its skin loses its colour and appears to
wither. It then crawls away to some
sheltered locality. If we follow it to its
retreat, we shall see it attach itself firmly to
the ground, alternately contracting and infla-
ting its body and twisting it about in every
way ; then resting for a while, as if com-
pletely exhausted, and finally commencing
anew. Sometimes whole hours are spent
before we can see the object of all these tire-
some operations. Eventually the skin bursts
at the third or fourth ring, and splits im a
straight line from one end of the body to the
other. ‘The caterpillar now pushes out first

its head and afterwards its entire body, and
appears in a new skin as flexible and as
brilliantly-coloured as ever. It has also
increased in size, so that it would be quite
impossible to enclose it in the case which
before enveloped it. Its organs have increased
in volume, but having been pent up and
compressed by the old skin, when suddenly
liberated they attained their proper size, as it
were, through their natural elasticity.

There are several moultings gone through
before the caterpillar arrives at its adult size
and acquires its final characters. At this
period we can distinguish but two anatomical
regions in our insect—the head and the trunk.
The head is small, of a blue colour picked
with black, covered with a hard skin, and
provided with six simple eyes, which are
quite separate from each other. The mouth,
as in other caterpillars, is formed for dividing
and chewing the tough leaves of cabbage and
other cruciferous plants. It is provided
laterally with a pair of solid horny mandibles,
and a pair of less powerful jaws, which are
partly concealed by an upper lip and a wide
lower one. In the middle of the latter may
be seen a small tubular elongated organ,
pierced by a microscopic aperture ; this is the
spinning apparatus, by which is made the
soft wool-like material which the animal will
soon require.

The body of the caterpillar is of cylindrical
form, and is composed of twelve almost similar
rings. It is of a greenish or yellowish grey
colour, marked by three yellow bands which
pass from end to end,and is covered with black
spots. These spots are little tubercles, each
of which carries a white hair, easily seen with
a pocket lens. There are eight pairs of feet
for the purpose of locomotion, and, as in all
caterpillars, these are of two kinds. The three
first of each side are conical, jointed, and ter-
minated by hookleis or little claws ; these are
the horny ov true fect. The others are termed
rsembranous or false feet. The latter are
like large tubercles, whose ends are truncated
and furnished with a circle of hooklets. The
most remarkable feature in connection with
these is, that the caterpillar can move them
in every direction, can push them out, or
draw them into the body so completely that
there is hardly a trace left of the positions
they occupied. There is on each side of its
body and extending over ten segments, 4
series of little orifices, each of which is sur-
rounded by a brown circle; these are the
stigmata, or apertures through which the air
is admitted to the respiratory organs.

The caterpillar of the cabbage butterfly

32

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Exs. 1, 1865.

completes its growth about the month of
October or November. It now prepares for
its first metamorphosis by ceasing to eat, and
thus completely emptying its digestive tube ;
then it seeks the hollow of some tree, or hole
in some neighbouring wall, and having found
a suitable spot, it begins its preparations.

Unlike the silkworm, this caterpillar spins
no cocoon for its concealment and protection,
but undergoes its metamorphosis in the open
air. It now commences covering the spot it
has chosen with filaments which cross each
other in every direction; and this silken
couch, delicate in texture, but withal of con-
siderable strength, serves as a solid and firm
support for the hinder limbs. Then bending
its trunk and head posteriorly almost to the
middle of the back—like an acrobat who
makes a hoop of his body—it fixes a thread
first on one side and then upon the other,
and continues the operation till it has formed
a kind of girth, composed of about fifty fila-
ments. This done, it straightens its body,
and undergoes its last moulting ; the animal
however which emerges from the cast-off skin
is no longer a caterpillar, but a chrysalis,
which is sustained horizontally by the hook-
lets of its tail and the girth we have de-
scribed.

The Pierts in the new condition which it
will maintain during the winter, bears hardly
any resemblance to the caterpillar. The skin,
which is dense and horny, is covered with a
sort of varnish, thrown out at the moment of
the metamorphosis, and rapidly dried. It
has now assumed an ashy hue, picked out
with black and yellow. The body has be-
come thicker, but, as it were to compensate
for this increase, has been shortened by about
one-third. Instead of being made up of
rings from end to eud, 1b now exhibits two
principal segments. The hinder one alone,
which is short and conical, presents the
annulose condition, although there is a keel-
like elevation upon the dorsal portion of
the anterior segment, and a kind of crest
upon its undersurface. The head and feet
seem at first sight to have disappeared
altogether. On closer examination, however,
we can detect a series of rounded elevations
and projections, arranged symmetrically.
Knowing what this inert mass will even-
tually become, we can almost fancy that we
see the various organs beneath the skin, or
rather beneath the cement which invests it ;
the proboscis, antennee, and wings being indi-
cated in the same mamner as the form and
proportions of a mummy are rudely mapped
out by the bandages which enshroud it. To

all intents and purposes the chrysalis is a
mummy.

About the middle of spring, or beginning
of summer, the Pieris undergoes its second
metamorphosis, Its envelope splits along
the dorsal portion, and the organs which had
been inclosed by the crests and elevations
come out, as if from a case ; then the entire
animal disengages itself, and from the chry-
salis coffin there emerges a perfect butterfly.
At first its feet are of too pliant a character
to support the body; the wings are heavy,
thrown into microscopic zigzag folds, and
unfit for flight; and the proboscis with its
component halves often separate, is extended
ina right line. But after a while the sur-
rounding liquids are evaporated, the limbs
are strengthened, the proboscis is adjusted
and coiled up, the wings are unfolded, and
the insect, which in its early days was “a
creeping thing,” and afterwards a motionless
one, flies to the nearest flower and makes its
first repast.

VARIATIONS IN BRITISH PLANTS.

HAVE here set down a few examples of

variation which have come under my notice
during the last two or three years. I have
observed that the species contained in the
order Ranunculacee have a peculiar tendency
to depart from their ordinary forms; and
many instances of such variations occur in
the earlier numbers of the Naturalist. In
addition to those therein recorded, I may
mention that I have observed in Brompton
cemetery a curious variety of the Bulbous
Crowfoot (Renwiculus buibosus), which bears
flowers of apale yellow orcream colour; though
it differs in no other respect from the typical
form: this variety is apparently constant,
about a dozen exaiaples having been observed
in the same spot for the last four or five
years. A friend has observed a single plant
of the same species, at High Wycombe, Bucks,
having blossoms “as double as those of the
Dahlia,” the whole of the stamens being trans-
formed into petals. Another. species, the
Creeping Crowfoot (2. repens) is peculiarly
variable in the relative number of stamens
and petals; and semi-double varieties are in
some places equally common with the ordinary
form. The Lesser Spearwort (i. /lammula)
also occasionally exhibits a similar peculiarity.
The singularly deformed petals of the Wood
Crowfoot (2. auricomus) must be familiar to
all who know the plant; regularly shaped

Fes. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 33

blossoms being quite the exception. The
Pilewort (. /icaria) varies greatly in the
number of its petals, instances being on record
in which the flowers have been entirely
double. Babington, in his Manual, assigns
April and May as the time of the blossoming
of this species ; I have always observed it in
flower by the end of February or the begin-
ning of March; and have twice or thrice
noticed it on Christmas day. In some neigh-
bourhoods the blossoms of the Wood Anemone
(Anemone nemorosa) occasionally assume a
deep pink tinge; and this is especially the
case when they are somewhat past their
prime. Yet it is a curious fact that all, or
even the majority of, specimens do not par-
take of this peculiarity, as I have observed
it in a wood near High Wycombe, in which
the fading specimens retained their original
white, with the exception of one single patch,
of which all the blossoms were deep pink. I
met with a curious form of the Field Larkspur
(Delphiniwm Consolida) on some waste ground
in Chelsea last year,in which the petals were
entirely wanting.

IT have recently observed, in Wycombe
Park, a variety of the common Bittercress
(Cardamine pratensis) presenting features
similar to that mentioned in Part 16 of the
“ Liverpool Naturalist’s Scrap-Book,” having
young shoots growing from the base of the
terminal leaflet, which was much enlarged.
The blossoms of the Bitter Candytuft (/beris
amara) are sometimes of a purple colour,
differing widely from the chalky-white which
is their usual hue.

I last year received from a botanical cor-
respondent residing at Durham the very
beautiful variety of the Wood Sorrel (Oxalis
Acetosella) which was recorded by Dr. Richard-

son, in Ray’s Synopsis, under the name of |
’ »; Y or: ?

O flore purpurco, as having occurred “in a
hollow lane betwixt North Ouram and Halifax
in plenty.” My specimens came from a wood
near Byer’s Green, Durham, where I am in-
formed that it occurred in abundance: and
the same friend found it subsequently in
Rokeby Wood, Yorkshire ; he remarks that
it blossoms Jater than the ordinary form. It
appears to be rather unfrequent, and so con-
spicuous a plant could hardly be overlooked ;
it is reported from Chiselhurst, Kent ; Shrop-
shire; and Wales.

The proliferous variety of the White Clover
(Trifolium repens) occurred last year in great
abundance on the Balham end of Wandsworth
Common ; I had previously observed it in
the grounds of Chelsea College. The blossoms
of this species occasionally vary to a pinkish

hue, somewhat similar to those of the variety
known as the Scilly Trefoil, but of a much
lighter shade; while those of the Purple Clo-
ver (7 pratense) are sometimes, though rarely,
of a pure white. In the latter plant the
calyx is occasionally much enlarged, and the
flowers are almost hidden from view ; this I
imagine must be the variety called little-flow-
ered (parviflorum) by some authors; it may
usually be found on the Balham end of
Wandsworth Common. The white variety
above referred to I found last year in a field
near Downley, Bucks, with a variety of the
Hop Trefoil (2. procumbens), distinguished by
Schreber asa species under the name of 7.
campestre, Iam not aware that this last has
been previously recorded as having occurred
in Britain; it is much larger in all its parts
than the Hop Trefoil (Z. procumbens), and
more robust in its growth; the leaves and
flowers are also of a darker hue, and the for-
mer clasp the stem very closely, giving a
shrubby character to the plant. The field in
which I gathered it was sown with 7. hybri-
dum, and the former had evidently been in-
troduced with it ; but though it occurred in
some plenty it did not appear to be part of
the crop.

A curious variety of the Wild Carrot
(Daucus carota) was noticed in the same
neighbourhood, having umbellets, or small
umbels, springing from the main head of
blossom. This peculiarity was observed in
but one plant. The lilac or blue hue, which
is, with one exception, characteristic of our
British Teazle Worts (Dipsacacee), is, as far
as my experience goes, extremely variable—
the shade of colour differing greatly in
different plants. In the neighbourhood of
High Wycombe, I last year found specimens of
the Field Scabious (Anautia arvensis) and the
Small Scabious (Scabtosa columbaria), having
perfectly white blossoms, the latter occurring
in one or two places; and at Whittington
Park, in the same vicinity, a very pretty
variety of the devil's bit (S. succisa) was ob-
served, the flowers of which were of a pale
pink, or flesh colour, The ordinary form of
this plant is one of the last to yield to the
approach of winter. I gathered a pretty
bunch of its blossoms at the end of November
last.

The order Composite, though large, does
not furnish so many varieties as might be
expected. The most interesting which I
have noticed is one of the Nipple Wort (Zap-
sana communis), the flower-heads of which
were proliferous, having smaller ones growing
from their centre: this also occurred in the

D

34 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

| Frs. 1, 1865.

field near Downley, Bucks, above-mentioned :
Tam not aware that it has been previously
observed. The pink hue occasionally as-
sumed by the blossoms of the Milfoil (Achillea
nullefolium) is, I believe, caused by a pecu-
liavity in the soil in which it grows; I have
noticed a similar occurrence in the flowers
of the Whitethorn (Crategus Oxyacantha),
though only on one or two occasions. The
only other variety in this order worthy of
note is one of the Great Knapweed (Centawrea
scabiosa), having white flowers, which I have
once or twice met with near Wycombe.

I may here mention a peculiar form of the
Common Calamint (Calamintha officinalis)
which occurs near Wycombe, and which has al-
ready been noticed in the Botanists Chronicle.
[ first observed it in 1861, when I labelled
it without hesitation C. officinalis, having
found it to agree pretty well with the
description of that plant, and not being
acquainted with the ordinary form of it.
Last year I received specimens of the same
plant from the same locality, ticketed C.
nepeta : J of course made inquiries, and was in-
formed that they really belonged to that species.
Later in the season, I found the ordinary
form of C. officinalis, which certainly appeared
very different from the plant which I had
previously named as such, though it agreed
at least equally well with the description
given of that species. Thus in doubt, I sent
specimens of each to a botanical friend, who
kindly informed me that he believed both
plants to be the Common Calamint (C. offici-
nalis), and the discovery of a specimen, com-
bining the characteristics of both forms
satisfied me that the above conclusion was
correct. The forms certainly differed widely
in appearance; that which I had been induced
to consider the Lesser Calamint (C. nepeta)
being a larger plant, with hoary leaves and
stems, and having pale lilac blossoms, spotted
with purple ; while the true officinalis had
leaves of a brighter green, and deep pink
flowers, mottled with white and red, and was
altogether a more slender and graceful plant.
It has been suggested to me that the former
of these is but the second year’s growth of
C. officinalis ; but I do not think that such
is the case, though another year will settle
the question,—it is certainly a persistent
form, and grows in three or four places about
High Wycombe, while the latter is apparently
Jess common in the neighbourhood.

A pretty variety of the common bugle
(Ajuga reptans), having white blossoms, oceurs
near Battsbury, Essex, where it has appeared
in some plenty for several years. The Forget-

me-not (Myosotis palustris) occasionally retains
the pink colour, which its buds frequently
assume throughout the entire period of blos-
soming. At Medmenham, by the Thames,
last year, I observed a form of Loosestrife
(Lysimachia vulgaris), which had a red spot
at the base of each division of the corolla ;
the whole plant was slenderer than is usual
in the species ; and a form of the great plan-
tain (Plantago major), having a leafy flower-
spike, was recently gathered at Chelsea. I
have noticed that the entire habit of the Eng-
lish Blue-bell (Agraphis nutans) is changed by
cultivation : the flower-stalk becomes shorter,
and the blossoms fail to retain their drooping
position, becoming erect, and changing in
colour from dark to pale blue. A variety,
having white flowers may be found in most
neighbourhoods ; and near Bristol this is
said to be as common as the ordinary form :
one with pink flowers is cultivated in cottage
gardens, but I have never seen it in a wild
state: and another with yellow blossoms is
recorded as having occurred; if this was
really the case, it affords a curious exception
to one of the laws of colour.
B.

Rustic Work ror Fern Cases, &c.—The cul-
tivation of Ferns and In-door Plants has led to a
curious article of importation. ‘he outer bark of
the Cork-tree, hitherto looked upon as waste, has
recently been brought to this country in large quan-
tities. From its lightness and durability, it makes
an excellent article for rustic work where wood and
other heavy materials are inadmissible.

Our Lapy or TouLousr. — Clemence Isaure, a
lady of Toulouse, who lived in the fifteenth century,
and who had often presided at the celebrated Floral
Games of that ancient city, presented the citizens
with magnificent markets, erected at her own cost,
on condition that the games should be held in future
within the hall which formed part of her donation,
and that roses should be strewed upon her tomb.
Her statue now adorns the hall of the Academy of
Floral Games in Toulouse, and is annually crowned
Ha brilliant flowers.—/diin Lees’ Botanical Looker-

ut.

SUPERSTITION RELATING To Bres.—The super-
stitious practice of informing the bees of a death
that takes place in a family, is very well known, and
still prevails among the lower orders In some coun-
ties. The disastrous consequence to be apprehended
from noncompliance with this strange custom is said
to be that the bees will dwindle and die. The man-
ner of communicating the intelligence to the little
community, with due form and ceremony, is this:
to take the key of the house, and knock with it
three times against the hive, telling the immates, at
the same time, that their master or mistress, &c.
(as the case may be) is dead!

les. 1, 1865. ]

SIMPLE OBJECTS.—No. IL

STAR-SPORED FUNGUS (Asterosporium Hoffmanni).

HE subject of our illustration is a small
fungus which is very common on dead
twigs of beech, lime, &c. It occurs in the
form of black pustules which break through
the bark, forming small orifices with a ragged,
irregular mouth, within which the black mass
of spores, about the size of a cabbage seed, is
contained. The spores appear to be aggluti-
nated together into a hard friable heap soon
after the bursting of the cuticle, but at first
they ooze out ina pasty mass. These spores
ave of a star-like form with three or four
limbs, each of which is divided transversely
by septa. When viewed by transmitted light
they are almost of an amber colour. During
the summer the pustules may be found on
nearly every dead twig of beech or lime
which still remains attached to the parent
ELEC,

Mounting.—A little fragment of the black
mass, taken out from one of the pustules, on
the point of a penknife, may be laid on a
glass slide, and a drop of spirit added, which
assists In breaking it up into its constituent
spores, whilst at the same time it expels the
air. A portion of this muddy-looking fluid
may be transferred to a clean slide, and as the
spirit evaporates a drop of balsam may be let
fall upon it, and covered with thin glass; or
it may be mounted in the ordinary way with
glycerine in a shallow cell. A piece of twig
may be preserved for years with this fungus

upon it, and will be as good as ever.* Our
figure is magnified 420 diameters.
M. ©. C.

* A limited number of fragments can be Supe Led
to our subscribers on receipt of stamped envelopes.

SCLENCE-GOSSIP. 35

NOTES ON LOCAL NAMES.

T wave often thought that a complete collection
of the names by which our British plants and
animals are known in country places would be
interesting, and would be, besides, not without its
utility.

Many of these names are exceedingly pretty,—far
prettier than those by which they are generally
known,—at any rate in works on Natural History.
Some conjure up poetical associations, or remind us
of traditions or stories connected with the plants
themselves, or point out uses which have, perhaps,
now become obsolete. Many local names, too, are
no doubt very ancient ; some being of Saxon, some
of Norse, and others of Celtic origin; and these
ancient names would be avery sure means of deter-
mining whether the plants which bear them were
true natives, or were troduced amongst us, and by
whom, in later times.

One fact would be very observable in such a
collection, namely, that many different plants are
known in different places by the same name; and,
no doubt, the same would be true to a certain
extent with regard to animals. Thus “ Robin run
by the hedge” is a name which, I believe, is generally
applied to ground ivy (Glechoma hederaced) ; but I
have heard the same name given to red campion
(Lychnis dioica). Harebells, or hairbells, or airbells
(Campanula rotundifolia, but which may be the cor-
rect Mnglish name | have not yet been able to make
out) are often called “bluebells,” and the same
name is frequently applied to the wild hyacinth
(Hyacinthus nonscriptus). Tam told that in Sussex
the greater bindweed (Convolvulus sepiunc) is called
“woodbine,” the name which in most places serves
to distinguish the honeysuckle (Zoxicera), which in
Cumberland is called “‘bindwood”—a name not
quite so euphonious as woodbine, but evidently
meaning the same, and merely differing in the trans-
position of its parts. In Cheshire “ bindweed” means
the twining knotgrass (Polygonum convolvulus) ; but
all these plants are characterised by their twining
around others for support, and it is only likely that
they should have received the same, or very similar
names. As a rule, labouring men do not recognise
minute differences in plants, and classify much more
by similarity of leaves or habit than by resemblance
in the flowers; thus many plants that have large
coarse leaves are called ‘“‘docks”—as “burdock ;”
while, in Cheshire, waterlilies are “ flatter-docks ”
or floating docks. In that county, too, Polygonum
amnphibium is called ground willow because its leaves
are just the shape of willow leaves, and the different.
kinds of Zamium are everywhere called “dead
nettles’? only because their leaves are like the leaves
of the true or stinging nettle.

A source of error probably exists in this fact of the
same name being given to different plants in dif-
ferent places, for it is not at all unlikely that locali-
ties have been erroneously recorded for both plants
and animals from a confusion of English names. I
can quite well remember that for years I mistook
the eggs of the black-headed bunting (Hnberiza
scheniclus) for those of the blackcap warbler (Czv;-
ruca atricapilla), because some of my schoolfellows
who found them were accustomed to hear the black-
headed bunting, otherwise red sparrow, called black-
cap, whereas 1 understood by that name a very dif-
ferent bird.

Such mistakes would be very much obviated by

| some good-natured naturalist taking the trouble

p 2

36

(and it would cost a good deal of trouble) to com-
pile a volume containing the scientific names of
every British plant and animal, with all the local
synonyms printed under each. ;

Some local names are exceedingly curious, and it
is somewhat puzzling to find out their derivations.
In Cumberland the bistort (Polygonum bistorta) is
called by the strange name of aster man-giants.
The only derivation that L can suggest for this appel-
lation,—and I think it is the right one,—is that being
sometimes in that country eaten in the spring about
Vaster-time, the leaves being boiled as a vegetable,
the word “mangiant” must be derived from the
French manger, “to eat.’ In Cheshire, the edible
qualities of the plant are well known, but it is there
called “patient dock,” which is rather remarkable,
as that name is given in botanical books to a different
plant, “ Rumer patientia,’—this latter plant being
unknown in Cheshire.

In Gloucestershire, the purple orchis has a very
ominous name; it is called “bloody man’s fingers”
—why, I do not know; but the country people have
as much horror of it as if there were some terrible
foundation for the name. If children gather wild
flowers and bring them home, the orehises are care-
fully sorted out by their mothers and thrown away,
lest bloody man’s fingers should enter the house.

The local names of birds are quite as varied as
those of plants. In Cheshire, the magpie is “ pian-
net,” a rather pretty name; titmice are “tomtits,”
or “‘tittimaws,’ hedge-sparrows are “dunnocks.”
The starling is called “shepster,’ the long-tailed
titmouse is “churn,” the spotted flycatcher is “old
man,” the peewit isa “happinch,” the chaflinch is
“ yicdfinch,”’ the missel thrush is a “sedcock,” the
yellow-hammer is in Yorkshire called ‘ yellow-yow-
ley,’ but m Cheshire it is generally known as a
* ooldfinch,” a name which it certainly merits more
than the real goldfinch, while the latter bird is fre-
quently called “ved linet,’ and very often also
* knicker-knocker.”

Tf any naturalist should think it worth while to
act upon the suggestions thrown out in these
notes, and should wish to collect all the local names,
I should be very glad to help him as_ regards

Cheshire. Ree

(N.B.—We are prepared to act as custodian for
all local names of Birds and Plants, which will be
acknowledged and retained untilin sufficient number

Y

to construct a summary.—LV/. Se. G.
J

ees,

SPIDER EATING ITS WEB.

In the first number of “Science Gossip,” under
the head of ‘Notes and Queries,”’ I observe that
one of your correspondents asks the question, “ Does
the Spider eat its own Web?” Rennie, in his work
on “Insect Architecture,” states that the poet
Bloomfield affirms that it does. But this Rennie
seems inclined to regard rather as a fiction of the
poct’s brain than a well-authenticated fact. Perhaps
the strangeness of the fact startled the accomplished
naturalist, and led him to doubt the statement of
one who from the very nature of his profession is
privileged to take a “poet’s licence” with the
materials he works with. Still Rennie ought to
have known that “truth is stranger than fiction.’
Any one who reads the “Farmez’s Boy” cannot
help being struck with the poct’s admirable powers
for observing and describing what he saw. Bloom-

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

[Frx. 1, 1865.

field was without doubt a dorz naturalist, whose
poctic temperament led him to adopt song rather
than prose as the vehicle of his thoughts and obser-
vations. Being well acquainted with the poet’s
productions, I have always entertained a lively faith
im the accuracy of his statements, and was led to
make the experiment I now record more for the
vindication of the poet’s character than for the satis-
faction of my own mind.

The means for domg so were simple enough, and
they were at hand. In a small garden, some 12
feet by 10, situated at the back of the house, a
colony of garden spiders. (/peira diadema) had
established themselves, and spread a perfect net-
work of webs amongst my choicest chrysanthemums.
I took great interest in watching the habits of these
sagacious little creatures, and would not allow them
to be disturbed although they did restrict my
peregrinations by weaving their nets across the
gravel path, and retarded the development of my
flowers by encasing their buds in silken network.
The instruction they afforded me more than counter:
balanced ihe inconvenience they caused, so they
were allowed to remain without molestation to
increase aud multiply in accordance with their
natural imstinets,

My first step in the experiment was to provide
myself with a pair of sharp scissors, and my next to
select one of the largest and most perfect specimens
of a geometric web my garden contained. At that
moment the little architect, contrary to custom,
happened to be in the centre of his domains, looking
much like an Alexander Selkirk—

“ Monarch of all he surveyed,
Whose right there was none to dispute.”

After a leisure survey, taken with the object of
discovering the principal lines on which the web was
supported, I rapidly cut them asunder with my
scissors. The web instantly collapsed, and would
have fallen to the ground but for one point of sup-
port which I had intentionally left untouched. From
this point, bung dangling, like tangled threads, all that
remained of this once beautiful structure. Stunned
by the suddenness of the catastrophe, the spider for
a moment remained motionless, but quickly collect-
ing his scattered senses, he nimbly disengaged him-
self from the wreck, and plying his busy feet with
the manipulative skill of as many hands rapidly
rolled up the fragments of his web into a round ball
the size of a small pea. This he held firmly between
his mandibles, and courting retirement aitached
himself by his spimnarets to the underside of a leaf.
I now seated myself in a convenient position from
whence I could observe every movement of the
little creature without being observed in turn, and I
had moreover provided myself with an excellent
Coddington lens of low magnifying power. My
first peep at my small friend convinced me (notwith-
standing what Rennie had said) that he evidently
contemplated the feat of cating his own web. If
this were not his intention, why should he be so
busily engaged, under the shadow of his retreat, with
feet and jaws endeavouring to bring the ravelled
threads of his net into a more compact and commo-
dious form? And why, when the dry loose materials
resisted all his attempts at compression, did he
saturate them with a glutinous fluid which |
observed repeatedly exude from his mouth, causing
them to adhere more closely to one another?
And why should he take the trouble to knead
them together and fashion them into a shape

2

Fes. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOS8SIP. oi

suitable for the gape of his royal mouth? All
this with eye and lens I carefully noted, also the
gradual diminution of the mass and its total dis-
appearance down the gullet of the animal. All was
engulphed, not a particle or vestige remained. From
first to last the performance oecupicd just twenty
minutes, and I would that every twenty minutes in
a man’s existence were as pleasantly and as profit-
ably spent. During this time I never once removed
iy eyes from my little friend. Had he been disposed
to play me a scurvy trick by tossing the pellet over-
board, or otherwise attempting to conceal it, he
could not have done so. Such an act would not
have escaped my vigilant eye. The various processes
through which the pellet passed, and its gradual
consumption, all tending to one end, preclude the
possibility of my arriving at any other conclusion
that that which the poet affirmed when he said that
spiders eat their owu webs. After the conclusion of
the experiment, I took the animal into my hand and
overhauled every part of his body most carefully
with my Coddington lens, but failed to discover any
trace of the missing web. I might have killed and
dissected the object of my study and should probably
have exhumed some portion of the web from his
stomach, but had I done so, it would not have strength-
ened my faith in the poet’s statement which from
henceforth I think should be received by a prosy
public not as a fiction of the poet’s brain, but as
a well-authenticated fact, ee

THE PRESERVATIVE POWER OF FERNS.

Dovunrriess many of the readers of this journal
when passing the shops of large fruiterers in London
and elsewhere have observed apples, pears, and other
fruit packed in hampers containing fern-leaves, and
had they but inquired why these leaves in particular
vere used, the more intelligent of the vendors would
probably have told them they assisted in preserving
the fruit from mildew and decay. Some years ago,
when residing in the Isle of Man, f noticed that the
bracken (Péeris aguilina) was im large demand for
packing the fresh-caught herring forwarded daily
i steamboats to the Liverpool markets; and more
recently, during a brief sojourn at Frodsham, in
Cheshire, brackens were collected on the Overton
liill to line the hampers of new potatoes transmitted
to the Manchester markets. Upon my return to the
north of England, in a year when the potatoe disease
was threatening the destruction of that valuable
esculent, the rector of a parish in my neighbourhood
it my suggestion induced one of his farmers to
“hog” his winter potatoes on the ground where they
grew, and to cover them with bracken instead of the
customary straw. The farmer, sceptical about the
result, only covered half the “hog” with ferns,
leaving the other half protected by straw; earth-
ing and sodding up the mound to exclude rain
aud frost. Winter arrived, and the “hog” was
opened for a fresh supply of tubers, when it was
discovered that those potatoes which had been
stored in brackens were sound and good, whilst
those protected by straw were so much decayed as
to be scarcely worth the labour of removing. ‘I'o
me this experiment was very satisfactory and sug-
eestive.

That ferns contain some peculiar preservative
property there can be little doubt. Both the brac-

was once used by the manufacturers of soap and
glass, and their astringent properties are well known
to country people, and the dressers of leather. I
believe the aroma from this family of plants to be
repugnant to most insects and inimical to the growth
of that species of fungi known as mould. I cannot
now recall to my recollection ever having seen the
larvee of any lepidopterous insect feeding upon the
fronds of onr common ferns, nor do I remember
having noticed insects of any orders resting upon
them unless it were for shelter during a shower of
rain. The peculiar odour thrown off by ferns must
be familiar to all who have wandered near their place
of growth. Is it due to an essential oil? The
Russian leather so much prized in this country for
its enduring properties and grateful smell is said to
be prepared with oil distilled from the birch tree,
and it has been stated that bales of this valuable
leather frequently lie for months in damp ware-
houses at the London Docks without spotting or
being otherwise injured by mildew. That essential
oils of all kinds will prevent to a great extent the
growth of fungi, we have but to mix a few drops in
our flour-paste and see how long a time we may keep
it unattacked by their sporules. Ferns boiled up
with our paste would probably answer the same
purpose. Hops, also, possess antiseptic properties,
and dead game has been preserved in them fora
lengthened period without showing any signs of de-
composition. ‘The root of the male shield-fern
(Lastrea filiz mas), when administered in the form of
powder or decoction, is a powerful anthelmintic, and
1s frequently made _ use of for the expulsion of that
pest of our race—the tape-worm. The young unex-
panded fronds of this fern when cooked are said to
be equal to asparagus. Dried ferns make a most
enduring thatch for outbuildings on the farm, and
should be largely used for the bedding of all animals
affected with entozoaic diseases—the pig in particu-
lar. If in some parts of Germany and Denmark
beech leaves are used to stuff mattresses in which
fleas and bugs cannot exist, I think the poor
of our own land might profitably collect the dead
fronds of our ferns for the same purpose and ensure
the same immunity from these midnight tormentors.
Reading. H. M.

SNAKE STONES.

Attow me to call attention to the following state-
ment, copied from No. 189 of All the Year Rouwnd—
“Description of a Snake-stone on the Island of
Corfu, Lonian Isles.—Description of the Blue Stone.
—'This stone is of an ovai shape, 12 long, 34 broad,
3, thick, and having been broken formerly, is now
set in gold.

“When a person is bitten bya poisonous snake,
the bite must be opened by a cut of a lancet or razor
longways, and the stone applied within twenty-four
hours. ‘I'he stone then attaches itself firmly on the
wound, and when it has done its office falls off; the
cure is then complete. The stone must then be
thrown into milk, whereupon it vomits the poison it
has absorbed, which remains green upon the top of
the milk, and the stone is then again fit for use.

“This stone has been from time immemorial in
the family of Ventura, of Corfu, a house of Italian
origin, and is notorious, so that peasants mmme-
diately apply for its aid. Its virtue has not been
impaired by the fracture ; its nature or composition

ken and male fern abound in alkaline matter, which ; is unknown.

33

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

(Fen. 1, 1865.

“Tn a case where two were stung at the same
time by serpents, the stone was applied to one who
recovered, but the other for whom it could not be
used died. : ;
“Tt never failed but once, and then it was applied
after the twenty-four hours. ee
“Tts colour is so dark as not to be distinguished
from black. “P, M. CoLtqunoun.
“ Corfu, 7th Nov. 1860.”

Upon the above I wish to make a few remarks.
While in Corfu, where I resided some years, I be-
came slightly acquainted with the gentleman in
question, Signor Ventura, of the Strada Reale,
Corfu. His family is, as stated, of great antiquity
in the island; he does not know exactly when the
stone first came in their possession, but conjectures
it was brought from India by one of his ancestors.
L have myself never seen this remarkable stone, but
Tam fully satisfied as to its efficacy, as 1 have con-
stantly heard of people being cured by it; in fact
the first thing the Greeks do when bitten by a veno-
mous snake, of which there are several species in
Greece, is to apply at once to Signor Ventura. The
stone is then applied in exactly the manner described
above, aud the patient in due time is cured.

The instance alluded to where one died while it
was being used for another, is of a countryman who
was bitten by the olia or viper (whose bite is I
think more deadly there than in England, owing, no
doubt, to the greater heat of the climate) while cut-
ting myrtle or bay for church decoration. He, as
soon as bitten, ran to the town, distant some miles,
and arrived when the stone was in use. When it
was procured for him it would not adhere, for it
seems this singular stone requires to rest in milk
for some time, to vomit as it were the poison ab-
sorbed. Before it was fit for use again the man
died.

The stone was broken by avery clever but unscru-
pulousnative physician, who procured it to look at, as
he said, but who broke it in halves, and subjected one
half to the most severe tests, totally failing, however,
to discover its component parts. Contrary to the
opinion expressed in the preceding extract, the
fracture of the stone Aas slightly impaired its cura-
tive power, and in consequence I have heard the
physician, “ Dottore ——,” railed at in no very
measured language by the Greeks.

There is a current rumour in Corfu that the Jews
possess another and larger stone; but I will not
vouch for the accuracy of this, nor do I profess to
give an opinion as to the nature of these mysterious
stones, but we have all heard of the so-called
“‘ Bezoar Stone,” taken as is said from the inside of
goats, monkeys, snakes, and toads, and its power in
rendering the bites of snakes inmocuous. [have read
of such things im the works of Dumas and other
authors, and have always regarded such as fables,
but I had my faith greatly shaken in Corfu, and at
last became a convert, per force, to public opinion
and the wonders of this, which be it a bezoar-stone
or what, does, it is certain, cure snake bites in
every instance when properly applied. The wonder
is that no one seems to know its composition, whe-
ther it is m reality the secretion of some animal or
a stone of aa earthly absorbent nature. Once, on
mentioning it to an Indian acquaintance, he did not
seem surprised, as he told me that he had seen a
stone in India, known to possess the like powers,
and which was taken from the body of a deer.

J have mentioned these facts and my own crude
remarks in the hope that some morc scientific per-
son than myself can give a satisfactory explanation

of the nature of such stones, or adduce fresh evi-
dence in their support. A. M. B.

Nore.—Zuhr Mohra, a blackish stone, is used in
India for external application in cases of snake bites.
Sir W. B. O’Shaughnessy states that the Zeher
Morah is a kind of Bezoar, of which some are cele-
brated in Eastern works as remedies for snake-bites,
hydrophobia, &c. Ainslie says that the Hindoos
suppose it to possess sovereign virtues, as an exter-
nal application in cases of snake-bites or stings of
scorpions; and its various oriental names imply
that it destroys poisons. Dr. Davy, on examining
what are called snake-stones in India, found them
to be dezoar. They are simply absorbents. The goat,
bezoar has a smooth, glossy surface, and a dark
grecn or olive colour.—L. S. G.

ZOOLOGY.

Tre Gorttta—Three skulls of the gorilla, from
M. Du Chaillu, were exhibited at the Royal Society,
at the meeting on the 16th of January.

Buonaparts’s Guru (Larus Buonapartit)—Oc-
curred in Falmouth Harbour on the 4th January.
This is its first recorded visit to England. Twice
it has visited Ireland, and once Scotland. Its first
occurrence was in 1848,

A rew days ago, whilst on a visit in Shropshire, a
lady who heard me putting in a plea for the birds,
gave me this fact. She was watching the trussing
of a pheasant for dinner, and as the crop was much
distended she had it opened, and the contents were
wire-worms ; of these real pests to the farmer there
were, she said, as many as would filla teacup. This
occurred at a farmhouse in Salop, where game of all
kinds is in bad repute.—J. W. Bedford.

Notice or 4 Mute Brerpinc.— Mr. A. Fon-
blanque, of the British Consulate at Alexandria, has
communicated to Mr. Darwin a notice of a “ curious
birth,” which has lately taken place at Cairo—that
of a foal produced by a mule. He says, so great
was the excitement at this unheard-of event amongst
the native population, that it produced an official
inquiry. The mule is twenty-two years of age, has
no milk, and the jennet has to be fed.—Natural
History Review.

In wat Nest poES THE CUCKOO LAY HER
Eces ?—Mr. Brockholes says, “ [have always found
the titlark’s nest the favourite with the cuckoo for
the deposition of its eggs. The skylark’s appears
to be the next most favoured nest. I have also had
the egg from the nests of the sedge warbler, yellow
wagtail, yellow bunting, common bunting, and spar-
row ; but 1 do not remember an instance of two eggs
in the same nest.”

A STARLING WHO HAD SEEN THE Wortp.—l
remember one poor bird (a starling) that had escaped
from domestication, in which it had entirely lost, or
probably never knew, the language or manners of
its race, and acquired only the name of its mistress ;
disliked and avoided by its congeners, it would sit,
by the hour together, sunning on some tall elm,
calling in a most plaintive strain, “‘ Nanny, Nanny,”
but no Nanny came; and our poor solitary either
pined itself to death, or was killed, as its note
ceased.—Anapp’s Journal of a Naturalist,

Ves. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP. 39

A Live Porrotsr.—At length a real live por-
poise has reached the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s
Park, in safety. At present it is said to be in rather
delicate health, but it is hoped soon to be “‘at home”
to visitors,

Sone or THE SxytarK (Alauda vulgaris). —
White, in his “‘ Natural History of Selborne ” (Let-
ter 27), says that the skylark sings in “ February,
and on to October.” ‘This year, on the morning of
the 12th of December, I saw a lark rise out of a
pasture by the road, and ascend about the usual
height, singing as heartily as if his mate sat in the
daisied sod beneath. The welcome strain at such an
unusual time, and so unexpected, was doubly sweet,
and I could not help exclaiming, with honest Izaak,
** Lord, what music hast thou provided for the saints
in heaven, when thou affordest bad men such music
on earth! ”"—Jno. Ranson, York.

Cotour oF Brrps’ Eecs.—The popular idea as to
the colouring of eggs I think is quite at variance
with fact, Idon’t say that old birds have not finer
coloured eggs than young birds have, but from
many experiments, made some years ago, when the
question was mooted by a number of young ornitho-
logists, we found the first eggs laid were the best
coloured. By removing the eggs of the sparrow-
hawk daily, the eighth or tenth egg will be quite
white. By the same rule, if its nest is taken, and
it builds again, the second batch will be light varie-
ties, and one or more of them without any blotch.
So with other birds, and the reason is obvious. The
colouring matter is contained in what I may be ex-
cused calling “ colour cells,” and the egg is coloured
as it leaves the ovary, the colour being exhausted
ihe eges are light.—C. 8. Gregson, in Naturalist’s

crap Book.

Dovste yotKEp Eecs.—A correspondent observes
in the “ Naturalist’s Scrap Book” that he found an
uncommonly large nest of the green linnet (Frin-
gilla chtoris) containing four eggs, two of which
presented nothing worthy of remark, the third was
much longer and curiously pointed, whilst the fourth
was the size of an average skylark’s. uch of the
latter contained ¢wo birds and, unfortunately, incuba-
tion had proceeded so far, there was no chance of
preserving the shells which were tender and thin to
an extreme. He adds that he had not the slightest
doubt, had another week elapsed without disturb-
ance, that three live birds, if not four, would have
been hatched from the two eggs.

THE SpIpER AND THE Wasp.—I once saw in a
hothouse in Shropshire a large female wasp caught
in the irregular web of a quite small spider; and
this spider, instead of cutting the web, most per-
severingly continued to entangle the body, and
especially the wings of its prey. The wasp at first
aimed in vain repeated thrusts with its sting at its
little antagonist. Pitying the wasp, after allowing
it to struggle for more than an hour, I killed it and
put it back into the web. The spider soon returned,
and an hour afterwards I was much surprised to
find it with its jaws buried in the orifice through
which the sting is protruded in the living wasp.
drove the spider away two or three times, but for
the next twenty-four hours I always found it again
sucking at the same place. The spider became much
distended by the juices of its prey, which was many
times larger than itself—Darwin’s Journal of Re-
searches,

Tue Gotprn Eacrr.—a few days ago, while one
of the Earl of Breadalbane’s gamekeepers was out
shooting rabbits, he observed a golden eagle, and,
taking aim, succeeded in bringing it to the ground.
The bird is a beautiful specimen, and measures six
feet nine inches from tip to tip of the wings. Within
the last few weeks four eagles have been shot aud
trapped on the Breadalbane estate; and the noble
birds are now getting very scarce.—Daily Telegraph.

Spripers AT Home.—A friend of mine, who was in
Australia some years, informed me he used to destroy
all the large spiders he found in his house, until he
discovered the nest of one of them surrounded by
the remains of dead bugs with which the house was
sadly pestered. Since this I have told many people
to allow the spider a location in their dwellings,
in places where the eye is not offended by the sight
of their webs. I follow this plan myself, and my
house is free from other insects; only two bugs
were found in my house the past twelve months on
bedelothes, none in crevices of furniture; these two
I suppose to have been brougitt from the places of
amusement which had been previously visited —
Thos. W. Brown.

Brive Tirs.—Mr. Artroyd, of Chester, relates the
following anecdote in the “ Naturalist’s Scrap Book.”
In the winter season his garden was frequented by
some tomtits (Parus ewruleus), and wishing to amuse
himself with the active little creatures he attached
a piece of fat mutton to a string and hung it on the
bough of a pear tree growing near one of the win-
dows. The birds tried various means to get at the
meat and failed for some time; at last a male bird
flew at it, fixed his claws, and succeeded in hanging
on until he had made a hearty meal. The female,
after trying several times, alighted on the branch
from which the string was suspended, and by means
of her beak and claws hauled up the meat. After
eating as much as she required she flew away, letting
the meat drop to the length of the string again.
The same pair of birds continued to feed in the
same way for a considerable time, 7.e., the cock flying
boldly at the meat and hanging on by its claws,
while the female waited on the branch ready to draw
up. If the cock bird remained longer than her lady-
ship thought proper she would begin pulling up the
string, and letting it go suddenly, whereby she never
failed to shake off her tardy mate. No other birds
were permitted to interfere; these alone had dis-
covered the secret, and took care to keep possession
of the well-earned prize.

Newts In ConFINEMENT.—In March, 1861, while
fishing for water insects on Barnes Common, a
female smooth newt made its appearance close to
my net. I immediately made a dab at it, and fished
it out, accompanied by a male of the same specics,
and putting them in a glass bottle brought them up
to London, and placed them in a fern-case about
3 ft. by 1 ft. 6 in. in area. The male did not thrive
so well as the female; he gradually got thinner,
and as I have not seen him since the autumn of 1868,
I conclude he is dead, though I have not searched
particularly for him. The female is still alive, and
is now out and about, looking nearly in as good con-
dition as usual. In the fern-case I formed a small
pond of water, thinking that as effets are mostly
found in ponds during the day, in summer they
would enjoy the luxury of a bath. Not so, however.
T never saw them voluntarily go into the water, and
when thrown in they always scrambled out as soon
as possible. The same thing occurs in keeping them

40

lizards. My third venture, the newts, were a great
success; they soon cleared off all the green fly within
reach, crawling to nearly the top of the ponds for
that purpose. Ihave never had any trouble with
the green fly since their introduction to the case,
which has recently been removed into the country,
and advise all fern-growers to try this simple remedy.
—H, F., Jun.

Voracity oF Ses ANEMONES.—Having kept a
marine aquarium for a considerable period, on one
occasion | noticed that a specimen of the common
smooth anemone (detinia mesembryanthenun) which
for some time previous had been adhering to the
side of the tank, had become detached, and was then
floating, base upwards, on the surface of the water,
and directly over a jutting piece of rock, about two
inches below, on which was adhering a fine specimen
of the daisy anemone (Sagertia bellis). Having
occasion to look into the tank a few hours after-
vards, my attention was arrested by the peculiar
appearance of the daisy, the top of which then
appeared of a bright red colour. A closer inspec-
tion, however, showed this red to be a portion of
the red mesembryanthemum, which had been seized
by the tentacles of the daisy, and was being drawn
slowly and surely into its stomach. A few minutes
afterwards it disappeared, while the daisy beautifully
expanded, as if enjoying the meal. Here, then, was
an illustration of a fact in natural history of which
I had been ignorant, and which 1 have not scen
noticed m any work on the subject, namely, that
sea anemones will feed on their own species. And
here also is a possible solution of the mystery
attending the occasional disappearance of a_speci-
men on which some store has been set.—IV. H, C.

A SquIrRreL FonD oF Toapstoors.—Walking in
the pleasure grounds of my home in Warwickshire
one morning in September, some years ago, I
noticed a tall, well-grown toadstool springing up
from the grass in a grove of irces. Being perfectly
ignorant of “fungi” I can only say that this one
was quite white throughout, and in shape like a well-
expanded mushroom on a taller stem. A _ little
squirrel descended from one of the trees, and made
straight for the toadstool without noticing me,
felled it in the neatest and most workman-like man-
ner, by biting through its stem close to the ground;
then, taking 1t its mouth by the stem, he ran up
the tree from which he had descended, and, having
found a convenient seat, proceeded to eat the toad-
stool with much apparent satisfaction. A friend of
mine has since told me that he had witnessed a

his squirrel was of a similar kind. Perhaps some
of your readers may be able to inform me whether
fungi are known to constitute a portion of the
staple diet of squirrels, or are only reverted to in
the dearth of other food; also whether they will eat
all kinds indiscriminately —l.

A Martin in Drericutry.—A young martin (at
Nochester, in Kent) had the misfortune to become
entangled in what appeared to me, at a short dis-
tance, to be a piece of thread. Having no means of
extricating it, I was obliged to content myself with
watching the cfforts it made to effect its liberty, and
the manceuvres of its parents for that same object
Occasionally it struggled violently until exhausted,
and then would remain quiet until it had recovered
a little strength, when it renewed its struggles. In
the meantime, the old birds showed their distress in
loud twitterings, and by circling round their hapless
offspring, frequently flying full tilt against it, pre-
bably trusting that the impetus they thus gave
would be sufficient to release the captive. At last
one of the parents managed to alight upon its young
one, but the additional weight was insufficient to
break the thread; the other parent then clung on
also, but still without success, and alter trying this
several times, they seemed to become disheartencd,
and relinquished their efforts, leaving the young bird
to its fate; but this was more propitious than might
have been expected, and I had the pleasure of at
last seeing the persevering efforts crowned with suc-
cess, its repeated endeavours (like water which by
constant dropping wears away stone) in time wore
away the thread, and its release was attained.—
A, BF.

Fresu-wors Diszase.—Trichinosis is a malady
of the human frame which has probably raged with
unremitting virulence for six thousand years, but of
which man has unfortunately lived in profound igno-
rance; it has becn working insidiously, concealed,
underground I was about to say, but I only mean
under-skin. How great has been our loss I need
scarcely say; let us at once seek to repair it: six
thousand years have been lost to us for ever. Jgno-
rant of the existence of the disease, we have soueht
no cure; like the inhabitants of the Happy Valley,
we have not known of our misery; at last Dr.
Althaus, to whose name be every honour, has not
only detected the evil, but has provideda cure. A
worm, a little insignificant worm, a microscopic
worm, inhabits the bodies of swine, pussy-cats, jack-
daws and badgers, frogs and moles, crows, hedge-
hogs and hawks, and when man consumes the flesh
of them he takes the living worms into his stomach,
and thus offers his own body to them as a domicile.
Microseopists have been for years acquainted with
the existence of a minute vermiform entozoon inha-
biting the human body, and until lately it was
regarded as a harmless animal, and rather a micro-
scopic curiosity than a source of danger. Its origin,
as well as its life-history, long remained a problem,
for which neither medical practitioners nor zoologists
could offer a satisfactory solution; and the untenable
hypothesis of spontaneous generation—that ever-
present refuge of the ignorant—was freely resorted
to by way of explanation. From experiments made
by Virchow, Leuckart and Claus, it has, however,
been clearly established that if animals, as dogs and
cats, be fed with flesh containing Trichine, that
other Trichine are produced in the intestines, and
{hat these produce eggs and living progeny, which

Fen. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

4}

latter penetrate the coats of the intestines and
“migrate into the body, more especially into the
striated muscles, where, unless the animal in which
they are contained should previously die, they are,
after a time, encysted, and wait for the moment
wuen they may be eaten by another man or animal
‘o undergo the same changes as before.—7Zhe
Ao0logist.

Way was THE Cat sAcRED TO HxecatTE ?—
That the cat was domesticated among the Egyptians,
we have pregnant evidence, not only in their cus-
tom of shaving their brows when their cats died a
natural death, but also in the mummies found in
their catacombs, and in the figures of these animals
on the monuments of that ancient country—perched
on the top of the sis¢rwm, for instance, and supposed
to represent the moon—probably from the following
mythological legends :—

Jove, tired of state affairs and Juno’s tongue,
sought, one day, a little relaxation in the company
of his pretty Latona twins, Apollo and Hecate. To
amuse them, he bade them try their hand at creation,
and do something towards filling the empty globule,
now called earth. Apollo set lis wits to work and
produced Man. No one likes to be outdone; so,
as Diana saw ata glance that there was no gomg
beyond her brother’s handiwork, ‘she tried to turn
the laugh against him, and concocted a sort of H. B.
of her brother’s production in the form of an ape.
No one likes to be laughed at, so Pol cut his sister’s
fun rather short, by turning up a ramping Zion, Di,
however, was not to be frightened, and played
another card of ridicule in the shape of a caf.
Apollo, upon this, got into good humour, and, deter-
mmed to beat his lively antagonist at her own
weapons, made a mouse, which Hecate’s cat imme-
diately ate up. The lovely sex always have it
hollow in matters of finesse.

Her success at this game seems to have pleased
the Goddess of Hunting; for when 'yphon and his
ejant host pressed the gods so hard that they were
compelled to flee into Egypt, and save themselves
from his fury by shooting their souls into the bodics
of quadrupeds and birds, she chose the form of a cat
for her metamorphosis; whilst her brother was glad
to escape into the person of a crow, and her papa
into the woolly carcase of a ram.

No, say others, tAat is a fable; but the reason
why the cat was sacred to Hecate is this: ‘The
triple night consequent on Jupiter’s visit to Alemena
set all Olympus a wondering; and it was not long
before Juno, whose acuteness was not suffered to
beeome dull for want of exercise, soon discovered
the liaison. The months rolled on. The Queen of
Heaven sent for the Parc, and gave them her
imperial orders, which they sternly obeyed, and poor
Alemena had a weary time of it. Her gossip,
Galinthias, after scolding, beseeching, and saying
and doing all that a kind woman, almost at her wits
ends, from witnessing the agonies of her bosom
friend, could, to make an impression on their stony
hearts, had recourse to a little deception. She per-
suaded the lates and Lucina, that it was the will of
Jove that Hercules should be born. They believed
her, and dissolved the spell. The good Galinthias,
however, paid dearly for her friendly rwse: she had
provoked the fiercest of all vengeance—that of a
deceived Queen, and was turned intoacat. Hecate,
though a bit of a prude, was so struck with
commiseration, that she chose the metamorphosed
dame as her ecusecrated attendant. Accordingly it
was said that the number of the eat’s offspring was

a gradual progression—one, tio, three, four, and so
on, always augmenting, till a litter of seven was
produced, and the total amounted to twenty-eight
the days of a lunation, and that the pupil of the cat’s
juminous eye dilated and diminished as the moon
waxed or waned.—Recreations in Natural History,

ENTOMOLOGY.

Strexeto or Dorr-Beette.--Having repeatedly
placed one of these creatures (Dorr-bectles), weigh-
ing 15 grains, under a weight equal to 4,796 grains,
suflicient, 16 would be considered, to crush its body,
319 times its own weight! it heaved it up and with-
drew, and the same pressure being placed on its leg,
was immediately disengaged by the powers of the
other. Man effects his objects by the reasonings of
his mind, mechanical agencies, or the strength of
others; had he depended upon mere animal power
to accomplish his wishes, in order to equal the means
of a common beetle, he must have raised his body
from an incumbent pressure of perhaps 20 tons.—
Knapps Journal of a Naturalist.

Deatn’s-Hrap Movi ar Sea.—Mr. Thomas
Moore, of Liverpool, had a fine specimen of the
Deatl’s-Head Moth brought to him alive on the 26th
Sept., 1863, by two fishermen who had captured it in
their boat when about 30 miles south of the Isle of
Man, between 6 and 7 p.m. on the previous day.
Fishermen are not remarkable for delicacy of fingers,
nor does a fishing-boat afford very promising mate-
rial for entomological purposes. Jack and his mate,
however, were equal to the occasion and brought
their prize safely into port, and in excellent condition,
enclosed ina Pectex shell.

Kyoprern Gatis. — The eurious galls called
* Knoppern,” are produced in the North of Europe,
on the acorn cups of the
‘Turkeyoak (Quercus cerris),
alteringand deforming them
very much, as may be seen
in our figure. The insect
which causes this malfor-
mation is a species of Cy-
nips, said to be Cynips quer-
cus-calycis. he galls are
very astringent, and are
employed in dyeing silk.

Excusn Berts.—I

LIGURIAN
placed «a Ligunian Queen ina box having a perfo-
rated zine communication, for some hours on the top
of a stock from which the queen had been removed

QUEENS AND

two days. I then admitted to tlie box one bee ata
time, and they behaved very well until half a dozen
had joined the queen, when they seized and attacked
her, and I could not separate them from her without
taking her up in my fingers, and actually pulling the
bees from her. This took place four times, when,
seeing that the bees would not accept her, I put: her
over another stock, and when | admitted the bees in
this instance they received her joyfully. I then
offered the stock that had rejected the queen in
question another of the imported Ligurian Queens,
and in this ease the bees received her in a friendly
way and conducted her in triamph into the hive.—
W. Care, in Gardeners Chronicle,

49 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

| Fes. 1, 1865.

Wasprs 1n Captivity.—Last year I procured a
wasps’ nest by placing equal parts of gunpowder
and sulphur into the hole, covering the top witha
sod, applying a match, and thus rendering the in-
mates harmless fora time. I then dug out the nest
whole and placed it with its insensible inmates on a
board, covering the nest over with a bell-glass suffi-
ciently raised by four thin wedges of wood to admit
air, and to enable me with a wire to clean away any
refuse dead wasps, &c., but not high enough to allow
any of the wasps to escape. I then fed them every
morning with sugar, and thus kept them till the first
week in November, when, I regret to say, I cleared
them away. During the last few days only nine of
them appeared, and these only in the middle
of the day; in the morning and night they either
disappeared into the nest, or clung to the outside
and appeared quite dormant. It would be very in-
teresting to watch them through the winter and on
the return of spring. I shall endeavour to do so
this year. Perhaps some of your readers will do the
same. By the way, can you tell me how it is that
there are no wasps in London ?—/. #.

CRICKETS AND CocKroAcHEs.—My present resi-
dence, an old country house, was neither infested
with cockroaches nor crickets until very lately.
The cockroaches made their appearance about four
years ago, and increased so rapidly and to such an
extent that every night the kitchen-floor was black
with them when the candle had been out about an
hour. ‘They made their way into every place, and
although we tried every means to kill them they

seemed to increase the faster, as if in mockery of

our efforts. During last winter the chirp of the
cricket. was heard by the fire-side, and they in-
creased from the solitary one to a full and noisy
chorus, and as they imecreased the cockroaches
decreased, and now (August) there is not a cock-
roach to be found. It has long been one of the
articles of “folk-lore” that the two will not live
together, and here is a proof. A neighbour of mine,
a large farmer, has lost the crickets and is pestered
with the cockroaches, which live and increase in
spite of shoe-heel, traps, poppy-leaves, elder-
leaves, or beetle-poison.—J. Runson, York.

FISH TATTLE.

Tun New Fisu,—Fourteen young specimens of a
new edible fish (Sv/urus glanis) have been recently
imported from Wallachia, for the purpose of intro-
ducing them into the waters of this country.

SaLtMon Breepine in THE Tay.—The report
recently published states that the late spawning
season 1s the best that has been known in the Stor-
montfield ponds since their establishment ten years
ago. Up to the 22nd of December last, upwards
of 300,000 salmon eggs had been deposited in the
breeding-boxes, and the ponds were swarming with
young salmon hatched in March and April last. The
average length of time required at Stormontfield for
salmon eggs to ripen into fish is 120 days. It has
also been ascertained beyond doubt that a smolt of
a year old gomg down to the sea may return ina
few months as a grilse of four pounds’ weight, while
its brother and sister fish which have not visited the
sca remain tiny pairs of about half-an-ounce weight.
‘he various stages of development at Stormontfield

appear to take place at the following dates. An egg
deposited in the ponds about Christmas comes to
life in April, remains a parr until about April the
following year, when, being seized with its migratory
instinct, it departs for the sea. If recaptured in
July it has become a grilse, weighing about four
pounds, and if again set free and recaptured ata
later period it will be a salmon weighing ten or twelve
pounds. Upwards of a million of pond-bred fish
have now been set at liberty in the Tay, and the re-
sult has been a satisfactory rise in the salmon rental
of that fine river. ‘The most curious speciality in
connexion with the piscicultural operations at Stor-
montfield is the circumstance that only one-half of a
brood of young salmon go down to the sea at the
expiration of about a year from their birth, the
others remain in the ponds a year longer, and do not
become smolts until they are turned two years old.
The operations at Stormontfield have been so suc-
cessful that it is intended to increase the number of
breeding-boxes.— Athenaum.

SatMon in AvstratiA.—At the third annual
meeting of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria,
held at Melbourne on the 11th Nov. last, Dr. F. Black
reported that the salmon at Badger’s Creek were
going on as prosperously as could be wished. Dr.
Officer, a visitor from Tasmania, gave a long account
of the salmon and trout in Tasmania, hatched from
ova sent there by the Acclimatisation Society, which
were going on exceedingly well. There were about
4,000 salmon and 800 trout; and the former were
expected to be on their return trip from the ocean
inatwelvemonth. So far the experiment has been
perfectly successful. Arrangements have been made
to ee a fresh supply of salmon ova from England.

Gopies IN AN AQuartum.—I kept some gobies
for a length of time ina salt-water aquarium, and
used to feed them with bread-crumbs, which I drop-
ped into the water a few atatime. Ina short time
the gobies quite recognized us when we came near
the. aquarium, and would all swim at once to the
side, and they were so tame that they would take
the bread from my fingers, and even jump out of the
water to get it. After ] had had them some little
time they began to breed, and attached their cegs
to the side of the aquarium in the same kind of way
in which a caterpillar affixes its egg to a leaf. Then
the male goby at once set-to to guard, and it was
very amusing to watch how fiercely he would attack
any creature coming near, pulfing his cheeks out in
a curious manner. He constantly attached himself
by his pectoral fins close to the eggs, or kept swim-
ming near them. Unfortunately none were hatched,
as the crabs and periwinkles were too much for
them, and devoured them, though there were several
batches of eggs laid. J am sorry to say, that having
to leave home, the aquarium was neglected and
spoilt, since which time I have not renewed it. I
see some gobies are said to build nests; but they
must be of a different specics.—F#. J. &.

*T have seen
A curious child, who dwelt upon a tract
Of inland ground, applying to his ear
he convolutions of a smooth-lipped shell ;
‘lo which, in silence hushed, his very soul
Listened intensely, and his countenance soon
Brightened with joy ; for from within were heard
Murmurings, whereby the monitor expressed
Mysterious union with its native sea.”

Wordsworth,

Frx. 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 43

BOTANY.

Tue town of Almora, in Kumaon, India, is said
to have been so named from the abundance of U/-
moreh, or wild sorrel (Rumer hastatus), which grows
jn its vicinity.

Prants Rootine in tHE Sort.—In the notice
about plants rooting in the soil (p. 18) they are
said to go down about five or six feet. 1 know of a
case where the roots of wheat were traced fourteen
feet deep.—Z#. J. 8.

Brack Hottynocxs.—These flowers are being
extensively cultivated, near Nuremberg, for the sake
of the colouring matter they contain, and which is
said to be chiefly exported to England for printing
and dyeing fabrics.—La Belgique Horticole.

Cottectinc Roszs. — M. Crepin recommends
that roses should be collected between the hours of
eight and eleven inthe morning; after that time the
pollen is removed and scattered by bees, &c., and
if such be the case the petals will detach during
drying, whatever pains may be taken to prevent it.

How to Mount Mossrs.— To disentangle the
stems of WVeissia verticil/ata and other fragile mosses,
Mr. Wilson recommends that they should be im-
mersed for atime in diluted nitric acid, which dis-
solves the earthy matter. By this means, he adds,
the brittle species of Chara may also be preserved.

CysBreLe Hreernica, on the plan of the “Cybele
Britannica,” is in course of preparation. At first,
on,account of the deficiency of information regard-
ing the midland prov'n-es, it will appear as “ Con-
tributions towards a Cybele Hibernica,’”’ under the
es of Dr. Moore, of Glasnevin, and Mr. A.

r. More.

Eriopuorum AvuGustrroLtum.—In. Apyil, 1863,
T noticed the following forms:—1l, the sexes in dif-
ferent plants; 2, the sexes in different spikes on the
same plant; 8, the sexes in different flowers of the
same spike. These forms were in Sunninghill Bog,
Berkshire. I could not find any hermaphrodite
flowers there. —G. H. Sawyer, in Gardener's
Chronicle.

e

Wautcu 1s Rigut?— Professor Parlatore is en-
gaged on a monograph of the species of cotton
(Gossypium) of which he considers there are but five.
Professor Todaro is performing a similar task, and
enumerates thirty-four. Dr. Hooker, it is stated,
has faith only in three, whilst Dr. Seemann recog-
nizes upwards of thirty. Dr. Royle thought that
there were but four, and some other authors believe
in forty. Who shall decide when doctors disagree ?

Seep Lyrse Dormant.—A friend of mine had a
small plot of ground (about half an acre) planted
with turnips for seed. At the proper time the seed
was pulled, dried, and thrashed. Immediately after
the crop was carried away the ground was trenched
“a spit deep;’ and in the autumn planted with
filbert trees. It continued as a filbert orchard for
twenty-one years, when the trees were grubbed up,
and the ground trenched as before, after which it
was soon covered with a luxuriant crop of turnips,
doubtlessly from the shaken seed when it grew the
crop of turnip-seed twenty-one years before.—/.
Ranson, York,

Art arecent meeting of the Natural History Society
of Dublin, Mr. F. J. Foot read a very useful paper,
panes “Botanical Notes in the Midland Coun-

1eseg:

Tue Yuw-in-THE-OaK.—The yew occasionally
presents itself in very curious positions, from its
berries having been carried off id dropped or hidden
by birds. I have more than once seen it as an
epiphyte upon the willow, and one of considerable
bulk is now growing within an oak, near Ribbes-
ford, Worcestershire; and from its size and the
wrenching power it has exerted upon the broken
trunk of its sustainer, has evidently grown there
for a period exceeding a century. The intertwining
of the contrasting foliage of the two trees has a
most remarkable effect. The ordnance surveyors
have even recorded the circumstance, and “ the yew-
in-the-oak ” appears marked in their map.—Zdiwin
Lees’ Botanical Looker-out.

A Fry-Catcnine Piant. — We have one plant
in our gardens, a native of North America, than
which none can be more cruelly destructive of insect
life, the dogsbane (Apocynum androsemifolium) which
is generally conducive to the death of every fly that
settles upon it. Allured by ‘the honey on the nec-
tary of the expanded blossom, the instant the trunk
is protruded to feed on it, the filaments close, and,
catching the fly by the extremity of its proboscis,
detain the poor prisoner writhing in protracted
struggles till released by death, a death apparently
occasioned by exhaustion alone; the filaments then
relax, and the body falls to the ground. The plant
will at times be dusky from the numbers of im-
prisoned wretches.—Axapp’s Journal of a Naturalist.

Tur Uses or Horsz-Cuxstnuts.—For a great
number of years M. Klose of Berlin has operated on
a large scale on the horse-chestnut, and obtained the
following products :—

1. From the burnt pericarp an alkaline ley.

2. From the skin or husk (episperm) avery fine
charcoal, which forms the base of different printing
inks,

3. From the amylaceous portion is extracted the
fecula, which can be transformed into dextrine, glu-
cose (sugar), alcohol, or vinegar, and which are all
adapted to industrial use.

4. The fatty matter extracted serves to make a
kind of soap, and to render certain mineral colours
more fixed and solid.

5. A yellow colouring matter which serves for dif-
ferent purposes.

The use of the horse chestnut was commenced on
a large scale in France in 1855, by M. de Callias,
and is still continued. He operates on more than
forty millions of pounds annually. —7Zhe Technologist.

Features or Prants.—To learn how to dis-
tinguish plants, and to identify those we have seen
before, and to qualify ourselves to give the reasons
how and why we know them again, and are sure
about them, is the first thing, accordingly, that we
have to do when we would become botanists. It
is not enough to remember a plant by its general
aspect, or to say of a lily, for instance, that it is
white, and smells sweet. A hundred other flowers,
which are not lilies, are white and fragrant, so that
the description goes for nothing unless we can
follow it up with an intelligible account of the
shape and structure of the plant, which will not only
be correct in regard to the lily, and apply to nothing
else, but convey a fair notion of the lily to a person

7m

SCIENCE

-GOSSIP. (Fen. 1, 1868.

who has never seen one. ‘This is no difficult matter,
every plant in the world being stamped, as already
said, with peculiarities which, if they do not render
it unique, serve at least to give it character and
physiognomy. All the parts of plants supply these
signs and tokens, though some more immediately
thin others. The Flower and Fruit, as the loveliest
and noblest, and the parts to which all the aims
and energies of the plant are directed from the
first moment, naturally stand foremost. Next in
importance comes the Leaves, then the Stem and
inferior members, the value of each part, as a witness
toidentity, gradually diminishing in the degree that
it is coarser and less perishable. [verywhere in
nature, that which most powerfully characterizes a
thing is its most fragile part, and however fre-
quently renewed is, like the sparkle of a diamond,
the quickest to come and go.—Grindows British
and Garden Botany.

Britisu Seecres or Burvocx. —-In the last
number of the Aniuls of Natural History, Professor
Babingion has worked up the English species of
Arctium, which he mareiders to be certainly four,
vith a doubtful fifth. These are 4. majus, inter-
medium, minus, and the Llanberris plant, which is
named 4. zenorosum, Lej}.; the doubtful one is 4.
tomentosum, Schkr. It should be observed that these
are not all the plants described under the same
names in his “ Manual,” of which 4. tomentosum is
the present 4. majus; A. pubens is A. tutermedium ;
and A. intermedium is A. nemorosum. Bentham in-
clades all these forms under Aretium Lappa.

Toms or Van Ruepe. — Under an imposing
monument, at Surat, lie the bones of Van Rhede,
formerly chief of the Dutch possessions in Ceylon,
and afterwards of the Dutch Factory at Surat. He
was an enlightened Protestant, accordmg to the
ideas of enlightenment prevalent in the seventeenth
century, and really a man of science and learning.
tis business at Ceylon was hunting Jesuits, and
flogging their congregations; his amasement was
composing that noble work, the ‘“ Hortus Mala-
baricus,” with its magnificent plates, in twelve folio
volumes. He died in 1691.

Fern Growixne.—I have had Hymenophyllum
Tunbridgense growing im an earthenware dish in
company with afew common ferns, since the begin-
ning of 1861, covered with a common bell glass.
‘The taller ferns acted as a screen to their dwarfish
brother, and to them I attribute my success.
have, however, seen it in great luxuriance at Tun-
bridge Wells, where it is the custom to place it in
vessels by itself, and on a mound. I suppose this
latter assists drainage? My roots were found by
myself, growing ona huge piece of granite on the
Dewer Stone, i Vevonshire, the most beautiful spot,
by the by, which my eyes have ever rested upon.—
William Gibson.

GREEN SpLeENwOR? (Asplenium viride). — Dr.
Hooker has lately received a speeimen of this fern
from St. John’s, New Brunswick, collected on sea-
cliffs, Taylor’s Island. ‘This discovery is a most
interesting one in connection with the glacial migra-
tion of Scandinavian plants over the North American
continent; the plant being common in the sub-alpine
regions of Kurope, and also found in the Rocky
Mountains, but not occurring in Greenland, or in any
cther part of North America. — Natural History
Review,

GHOLOGY.

BicHorn at Brtrast.—A few weeks ago, a very
beautiful and perfect specimen of the Irish bighorn
(Megaceros Hibernicv) was found in the marl bed,
underlying a stratum of peat. It is a great mistake
to suppose that the bighorn is found in the bog or
peat ; it is always found in the marl below the peat,
as in this ease. ‘The locality of the bed in question
is the small peninsula to the north, as you go down
our Lough, called “Island Magee.”—J. Hartley,
Belfast.

Drirt oF THE Vast or VWnetanp.—A very in-
teresting paper on this subject was read by Mr. S.
V. Wood, jun., at the meeting of the Geological
Society, on Dec. 21st.

GLACIER Prenomena.—<A very interesting and
instructive chapter on this subject appeared in the
Tteader of the 21st January, tracing the history of
opinion thercon, and indicating the changes wrought
during a quarter of a century.

Gicgantic Fosstr Beaver.—Ata recent meeting
of the Norwich Geological Society, Mr. J. O. Harper
read a paper on the comparative anatomy of Rodents,
illustrated by numerous specimens, among others
several of Zrogontherium Cuviert (a gigantic fossil
beaver, found in the forest bed at Bacton, Norfolk),
from the Norwich Museum and the Rev. J. Gunn’s
collection.

Prrospnor Srone.—Towards the close of the
eighteenth century, ia a narrow winding street of
the old town of Bologna, a cobbler—Vincenzo
Caseariolo by name—might have been found more
intent on the pursuit of alchemy than in making or
repairing boots. While enjoying a walk one Sun-
day evening, near the Monte Paterno, not far from
the city, he picked up a stone, which, from its great
weight, struck him as peculiar, and from which le
fancied he could extract gold. This stone was
sulphate of Baryta, which Cascariolo, heating in his
erucible with charcoal, converted into a sulphuret of
Barium, and produced a body well known for its
strange property of giving out light after it has
been exposed for some time to the sun’s rays. Since
then, other substances have been discovered endowed
with this strange property, and from the most
remarkable of them, phosphorus, the name of
phosphorescence is derived.

GroLocicaL CHANGES IN Scorianp.—At a
meeting of the Geological Society (Jan. 11th), Mr.
T. F. Jameson read a paper on the “* History of the
last Geological Changes in Scotland,” which he divi-
ded into three periods,— Pre-glacial, Glacial, and
Post-glacial. The absence of later tertiary strata
leaves the first somewhat obscure. ‘The author con-
sidered it in some degree represented by some thick
masses of sand and gravel on the coast of Aberdeen-
shire, and he stated there were indications of the
mammoth inhabiting. Scotland at this period. The
Glacial period was sub-divided into the period of
Land-ice, the period of Depression, and the period
of Emergence of the land. ‘lo the Post-glacial pe-
riod Mr. Jameson referred ihe formation of subma-
rine forest beds, which he considered was succeeded
by a second period of Depression, and this again by
the elevation of the land to its present position. 1
is in the old estuary beds and beaches formed during
the second period of Depression that the author

Fen. 1, 1865.]

SCTENCE-GOSSIP.

45

finds the first traces of man in Scotland, while the
shell mounds with chipped flints he referred to the
same epoch as the blown sand and beds of peat, z.e.,
tothe most recent period during which the land was
raised to its present level.

MICROSCOPY.

Potten Gratns.—These are very interesting ob-
jects for the microscope, and offer a great variety of
form and markings—some are smooth, others tuber-
culated, spiny, or with convolute ridges. The
figures given are those of two climbing plants, a
species of Passion-flower (Passiflora incarnata) and
a Lhunbergia (T. alata), "these objects may be ex-
aniined with great facility, and mounted, either diy
or in fluid, with very little trouble.

1, PASSIFLORA INCARNATA. 2. THUNBERGIA ALATA

A Microscopic Ossect.—I have latcly mounted
as a microscopic object a portion of the scale at-
tached to the seed of the fir-tree (Pinits sylvestris).
‘’he spiral vessels are shown very clearly. As I
have never heard of this as a microscopic object be-
fore, I thought some of your readers would like to
make it an addition to their cabinets.--- 77. Gibson.

Toe Axapa.—-Tere is one of the most degraded
of animal forms—the little Amceba—a creature to
be found in pools of fresh water in the summer time,
but not so casily discovered as some of our natural-
ists would lead us to imagine. Watch him closely!
He is but an irregularly-shaped mass of jelly, and
very minute ; morcover, he is quite transparent, and
is not Gs our quack advertisements have it)
“troubled with a liver,’ nor indeed with any organ
at all. He is really, as a lady once remarked to me
of a snail—“‘all squash ;” and yet, as I said before,
watch him! Lo! a minute animaleule has just
brushed past him. Ah, luckless animaleule, uot
past / for the Amceba has thrown out a long whip-
like string of jelly, in which thou art entangled.
Struggles are unavailing. The relentless mouster
has seized his quarry; and sec! already he is throw-
ing out other arms, hydra-fashion—now two, now
four. Ina momenta dozen hungry arms have closed
around thee. Stay! “ What will he do with it?”
Art thou to be kept “in durance vile,” hapless
infusorian? 7Tis true thy cruel tyrant hath got no
Bastile in which to entomb thee; a far worse fate Is

cing prepared. The Amceba is gradually pushing
his prey into the substaice of his body. ‘This has
subsequently closed over it ; and what dowe behold ?
A transparent sphere enclosing the unfortunate ani-
maleule, who is now subserving the comfort of the
oppressor by undergoing rapid digestion. After
some time, when all the nutritious materials have
been abstracted, the remnants are quite wzcon-
cernedly forced out through some portion of the
eclatinous film.—Lazsows Popular Physiology.

Tire Ur1enest Power.—Messrs. Powell & Lea-
land have completed an object glass of 1-50th of an
inch focus. It was exhibited at the October mecting
of the Microscopical Society, at King’s College.
The object shown was a Podura scale, power 4,000
linear, perfectly free from chromatic and spherical
aberration, the definition and penetration excellent.
It was thought a wonder when this firm produced
a 1-16th, still greater when their 1-25th made its
appearance, but now they have reached a 1-50th, tlic
greatest wonder of all.

Why Onsects appear LARGER THROUGH THE
Microscopr.—'l’. K.’s Paper on the size of objects as
seen nearer or farther off by the eye is not quite
satisfactory, as he proves the fact, but does not show
how it is. The reason is, that as an object ap-
proaches the eye it is seen under a larger angle.
Thus, if at 10 inches from the eye an object is seen
at an angle of 50 degrees, if it be brought to 5 inches
from the eye the angle is then increased to 100 de-
grees, which being twice 50, the object is secn
apparently twice as large linear. And this is all a
lens does; it enables us to sce clearly an object at
a greater or Iess angle than it can be seen distinctly
by the naked cye.—Z. J. S.

rf Tue Fatay Sure (Chirocephalus diaphanus). —
They swim upon their back, and in fine, warm
weather, when the sun is not too strong, they may
be seen balancing themselves, as it were, near the
surface by means of their branchial feet, which are
in constant motion. -On the least disturbance, how-
ever, they strike the water rapidly with their tail
from right to left, and dart away like a fish, and
hasten to conceal themselves by diving into the soft
mud, or amongst the weeds at the bottom of the
pool. _It is certainly the most beautiful and elegant
of all Entomostraca.—Dr. Baird’s Mitowmostraca,

Mountine in BatsamM AND CaLornororm.—Take
a quantity of the oldest balsam, place it in an open
glass cup, pour on and mix aH it as much chloro-
form as will make the whole quite fiuid, so that a
very small quantity will drop from the lip of the
vessel. Having thoroughly mixed, pour the pre-
pared balsam into long thin half-ounce phials, cork
and set them aside for at least one month, now aud
then turning the corks to keep them loose. It sets
quicker than if only mixed when wanted. I use no
heat either to the balsam or the glass slide, nor, in
fact, in any part of the process. Objects which have
been immersed in turpentine need only be rinsed in
clean turpentine, placed in position on the glass
slide, a sufficient quantity of balsam dropped trom
the lip of the half-ounce bottle, and the cover laid on
gently without delay. In a_few days, or at most a
week, the slides may be safely used with care; ina
fortnight the balsam will be firmly set.—W. @. Heys
in Microscopical Journal,

A Lirrtn Riarsopy.—The following choice sen-
tence, containing the statement of a circumstance
new to botanical science, is extracted from a little
work entitled “Shrines of Bucks” (p. 57) :—“ The
blush rose, climbing with loving arms around the
hawthorns and other shrubs, that form the boundary
line of the fields, and ¢he bixdweed, azure-hued as the
blue sky above us, mingles its bright. flowers with
the fragrant honeysuckle, or the thorny, sweet-
brier, that fills the soft summer breeze with i:.-
grance.’—B.

REPORTS OF SOCIETIES.

MancutsteR LIteRARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL
Socrery, Dec. 13¢4.—Some spores of plants found
in the splint coal of Methill, Fifeshire, were ex-
hibited; also some larger spores found in the
Derbyshire coalfield. Myr. W. Brookbank read
a paper on the “Discovery of the bones of the
Mammoth in a fissure of the Carboniferous Lime-
stone at Waterhouses, near Leek.” ‘The fissure in
which these remains were found occurs in the upper
beds, and has been exposed by the working of a
quarry. All the bones from the dryer side of the
fissure were recovered in good condilion. A con-
siderable part of the fissure remains to be explored,
which is already in progress.

Microscopican Section, WVov. Qist.—Mr. G. E.
Hunt announced his discovery of Potamogeton nitens
in Loch Ascog, Rothsay. This plant was first ob-
served as British by Mr. David Moore, Dublin, in
a lake near the sea at Castle Gregory, County of
Kerry, in July last.

Linnaan, Dec. 15¢h.—Dr. St. Brady exhibited
specimens of Amimi glaucifolium, L., gathered by him
on the banks of the Severn, near Gloucester, in
September last. A paper was read on “ Potfamogeton
trichoides, Cham., in England,” by Dr. R. Caspary,
and “ Notice of two forms of Lriophorum augusti-
Solium,”? by Dr. Dickie.

Etunonocican, Dec. 27th—Mr. John Evans,
F.R.S., read a paper “On Flint Implements from
Salisbury Hill, near Bath.” These implements, con-
sisting chiefly of small arrow-heads, and flint cores
from which such articles had been flaked, were
found on an colitic hill, to the natural soil of which
flint was a foreign material, The author did not
attempt to assign these relics to any definite age,
though he considered it would be justifiable to refer
them to the pre-Roman period, and that for the first
occupation of Salisbury Hill a date might be claimed
far earlier than those Saxon times to which Collinson
SaIOy of Somerset) has ascribed the encamp-
ment.

EntomoLocicat, Jaz. 2nd.—Mr. Bond exhibited
Depressarvia olerella, a new addition to the list of
species of British moths, and some remarkable varie-
ties of the ghost moth, Hepialus humuli, from the
Shetlands. Mr. Dunning mentioned the capture, near
Huddersfield, of a large number of Dasypolia Templi.
Mr. F. Smith communicated a paper on “‘ Wasps and
their Parasites in 1864,” by Mr. 8. Stone.

AMATEUR Botanists (London), Jan. 4¢h.—Paper
by Mr. Harland Coultas on “Plant Paleontology.”

Microscortcan, Jaz. 11¢h.—Paper by Mr. Slack
on the “ Vinegar Plant.” A committee was after-
wards formed to work in association with Mr. Slack,
in order that some important points, still open for
elucidation on this subject, may be more thoroughly
investigated.

Secretaries of Field Clubs and Natural His-
tory Societies are solicited to forward accounts
of their ordinary meetings, excursions, and pro-
ceedings, throughout the year. A portion of the
Science Gossip being devoted to the service of
such associations, it is the wish of the promoters
that it should be rendered as truly serviceable as
possible,

46 SCLENCE-GOSSTP,

[Fes. 1, 1865.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

In the woods, a man casts off his years, as the
snake his slough, and, at what period soever of li!e,
is always a child.—/imerson.

ZoonocicaL GaRDENS In Inp1a.—It is reported
that Zoological Gardens are about being established
in Bombay.

Movuytine Prants.—Corrosive sublimate mixed
with glue will be of little service, as the glue decom-
poses it.—#, J. S.

Death or Dr. Barxre. — This_ enterprizing
African explorer lately died on board ship on his
return homewards from West Africa, after many
years’ residence on the Upper Niger.

WatrEriInc VEGETABLES with Iron SoLuTion.
—lIt is stated as a new discovery that wonderful
effects may be obtained by watering fruit-trees and
vegetables with a solution of sulphate of iron.
Under this system beans will grow to nearly double
the size, and will acquire a much more savoury
taste. The pear seems to be particularly well
adapted for this treatment. Old nails thrown into
water and left to rust there will impart to it all the
necessary qualities for forcing vegetation as de-
scribed.— Times, Dec. 5, 1864.

Man’s Prace 1n Naturz.—The fairy in Kings-
ley’s “ Water-Babies” tells her pupil, “Folks say,
now, that I can make beasts into men, by circum-
stance, and selection, and competition, and so forth.
Well, perhaps they are wrong, and perhaps again
they are right. Whatever their ancestors were,
men they ave, and I advise them to behave as such,
and act accordingly. Let them recollect this, that
there are two sides to every question, and a down-
hill as well as an uphill road; and if I can turn
beasts into men, I can, by the same laws of circum-
fence ad selection, and competition, turn men into

easts.

No Knowineper witnout WorKk.—Many per-
sons, in a scientific age, would become scientific
without the labour of study, and imagine that know-
ledge may be acquired by some popular but ideal
method, requiring no more mental fatigue or patient
research than reading a novel or perusing a love
ditty. Ladies would fain study chemistry as they
sigh over the last new novel; while the “sworn
horse-courser ” wonders that the marvels of astro-
nomy are not so much adapted to his capacity for
knowledge as are the lucubrations of the Racing
Calendar, or that the perigee is more intricate than
the pedigree of an “Eclipse? — Symonds’? Old
Bones.

OriGIN oF Proverns.—The memorable words of
history, and the proverbs of nations, consist usually
of a natural fact, selected as a picture, or parable,
of a moral truth. Thus—a rollig stone gathers no
moss; a bird in the hand is-worth two in the bush ;
a cripple, in the right way, will beat a racer in the
wrong; make hay whilst the sun shines; ’tis hard
to carry a full cup even; vinegar is the son of wine;
the last ounce broke the camel’s back; long-lived
trees make roots first—and the like. In their pri-
mary sense these are trivial facts, but we repeat
them for the value of their analogical import. What
is true of proverbs, is true of all fables, parables,
and allegories. —merson.

Eps. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

47

SPHAGNUM RUBELLUM.—Can any one send us
specimens in exchange for other mosses which the
querist (Z.) may possess in duplicate ?

Cotour or Brro’s Eacs. — Will our ornitholo-
gical correspondents please to observe, during the
coming season, the colours and markings of birds’
eggs, so as to determine whether the earliest or latest
produced by the same bird are deepest in colour, or
most definitely marked ?

CLEANING Sections. — A correspondent (K.) has
succeeded in rubbing down some thin sections of
the spine of an #ehinus, for the microscope, but
finds himself unable to cleanse them to his satisfac-
tion from the debris of grinding. Can any of our
subscribers assist him with practical advice ?

From what plants are the leaves, in which oranges
are sent to our markets, obtaimed; also the leaves
lining tea-chests ; and from what tree might the pegs
which bind the leaves together be derived? There is
also a kind of wicker-work encasing Florence oil-
flasks, the name of which I should like to know.

“Tam sure,” said Gentleman Waife, “ that there
are not two house-flies on a window-pane, two
minnows in that water, that would not present to
us interesting points of contrast as to temper and
dispositions. If house-flies and minnows could but
coi money, or set up a manufacture, contrive
something, in short, to buy or sell attractive to
Anglo-Saxon enterprise and intelligence, of course
we should soon have diplomatic relations with them ;
and our despatches and newspapers would instruct
us to a I’ in the characters and propensities of
their leading personages. But where man has no
pecuniary nor ambitious interests at stake in his
commerce with any class of his fellow-creatures, his
information about them is extremely confused and
superficial. The best naturalists are mere gene-
ralizers, and think they have done a vast deal when
they classify a species. What should we know of
mankind if we had only a naturalist’s definition of
man? We only know mankind by knocking classi-
fication on the head, and studying each man as a
class in himself. Compare Buffon with Shakespeare!
Alas, sir, can we never have aShakespeare for house-
flies and minnows?”—Bulwers What will he do
with it ?

AGArpH’s Visw oF Naturz.— To me, nature
appears neither a simple nor a reticulated series, but
an infinite and innumerable multitude of series
advancing from a lower to a higher grade, from any
part of which lesser series may project like rays,
some diverging more, some less, much as the trunk
of a tree is divided into larger branches, these again
into lesser and lesser ones, and at last into an almost
infinite number of leaves. One branch of the tree
becomes thick and strong, ramifies much, and reaches
the top of the tree, while another remains weak, and
a third may be scarcely developed at all. In dcter-
mining natural affinities we must take nature as our
guide in everything. It is not enough to take into
consideration all the characters of the forms which
we are investigating, and to develop the essence of
the family from a knowledge of all the forms be-
longing to it. We must further seek to discover
the direction of the evolution of each series, and
inquire whether its forms are advancing this way or
that. It is only after this has been done that we
can decide to which series a plant should be referred,
and whether apparent resemblances are to be con-
sidered affinities or analogies.”

Tue Smootm SyaKeE (Coronella levis, Boie).—
Is this a variety of the common snake? Certainly
not. It belongs, not only to a different genus, but
also to a different family of Colubrines. Js zf a
native of Britain? Perhaps it is. The published
evidence is very imperfect in dates and localities.
This may do for “ Gossip” but not for “ Science.”

OniciIn oF SowerBy’s Enetisnh Botany.—A
letter from the son of James Sowerby, printed in
1828, gives some information which may interest
those who now see that national work in its third
edition. The work owed its origin to the circum-
stance of Mr. Sowerby having made a number of
sketches of plants, to be introduced in the fore-
grounds of landscapes, which he was in the habit of
painting from nature. These sketches were shown
to various botanical friends, at whose suggestion
the work was begun, with the valuable assistance of
Sir J. H. Smith ; and the only descriptions that were
not written by that gentleman were supplied by the
late Dr. Shar. In addition to the praise due to
Mr. Sowerby, for the excellence of the drawings and
engravings in that work, some portion is due to him
for the spirit of enterprise with which he carried it
on; for, although he had to depend upon portrait-
painting for the capital required, he still industriously
and steadily pursued his expensive project, until it
began to remunerate him (wiich was not for several
years), and he finally brought up a numerous family
to enjoy its profits, and lament the loss of one of the
best of parents.

ORNITHOLOGICAL QuERirs.—lst. The passage of
wild geese has been lately much commented on in
the Zimes, and from the fact of their traversing
England, from high northern latitudes, by routes
somewhat divergent from those generally observed
locally, the correspondents of that paper have de-
duced the certainty of an unusually hard winter
here! Query, why should szch a conclusion be
enunciated, when we know that these, and many other
winter tmmigrant birds, seek yearly the milder
European latitudes ?—2nd. If, as travellers tell us
is the case, the Jreeding resort of woodcocks he in
the marshy districts of Finland and Lapland (where
their nests are found in thousands among the dwarf
birch scrub of those parts), why should these birds
first make their appearance on the Devon and
Cornish, and south west coast of Ireland, for, by
geographical consistency, their flight, from the head
of the Gulf of Bothnia, in lat. 85° N., long. 22° W.,
to lat. N. 50°, and long. 4° and 9° W. respectively,
ought to be primarily the Lincolnshire fen-district,
as they fly defore the N.H. wind, on moonlight
nights mostly, and mst pass over that temptingfeeding
ground ex route, if their flight be the direct track,
which I imagine it to be?—3rd. Can it be proved
that wild geese, woodcocks, and other northern
birds alight anywhere when thus 7 ¢ransitu, or do
they accomplish their 1,800 miles of flight (from
the North Cape, that is, the geese and duck species)
in a single stretch ?—4th. Can any of your corre-
spondents inform me whether the west coasts of
Ireland and Scotland receive these their winter
visitants from the N.N.W. or E.N.E. points of the
compass, for, if Ireland and South Greenland be
their Avbitaf in summer, their flight thence, per
direct N.N.W. route, might follow zaturally ; and
they need not traverse England intermediately, as
they must do by the opposite route >—W. &. A.

48 : SCLENCE-GOSSIP..

(Bes. 1, 1865.

NOTICHS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ALL communications for the Editor should be
addressed to No. 192, Piccadilly, W. ‘l'o avoid
disappointment contributions should be received
on or before the 15th of each month. No notice
can be taken of anonymous communications. All
notes, queries, or articles for insertion must be
guaranteed by the name and address of the writer,
which may be withheld from publication if so
desired. Nows-de-plume are inadimssible, under
any circumstances, but initials may be used.
Records of facts and occurrences should bear
the simple name and address of their au-
thority. The good sense of our correspondents
will dictate the omission of four or five “ capital
letters’? after their names. Books intended
for notice should be left with the Publisher.
It is not our intention to review hooks; extracts
will be given, from which our readers will draw
their own conclusions, instead of formal re-
view. It is hoped that copies will be kept by
the writers of all communications, as we cannot
undertake to return any which inay not be suited
to our columns. Notes on migration of birds,
contents of erops, &e. cannot be published 7
exfenso, but will be acknowledged, and retained
until a summary of results can be given. It is
execedingly advisable that all names, whether of
persons, places, animals, or plants, should be
written as legibly as possible.

Preserving Brmops anp Animars.— Tally Ho!”
asks us fora receipt for preserving the skins of small
animals. Arsenical soap is commonly employed.
Arseniated Soap. Arsenic, 1 0z.; white soap, 1 o2.;
carbonate of potash, 1 dram; distilled water, 6
drams; camphor, 2 drams. Mix under a gentle
heat. It may be made into cakes, and dried for
future use. When used form a lather with any
spirituous liquor, and apply with a brush. Zech
Arsenical Soap. Camphor, 5 oz.; powdered
arsenic, 2 lbs.; white soap, 2 lbs.; salt of tartar,
12 0z.; powdered chalk, 4.02. Cut the soap into
thin slices, dissolve witha little water over a
gentle fire, stirring with a wooden spoon; when
dissolved add salt of tartar and chalk, when mixed
take it off the fire, add the arsenic; pound the
camphor in a mortar with spirits of wine, and add
this to the mixture last. When mixed together
it will be of the consistence of paste. When used
it may be diluted with cold water. We have
always used this, and never had a specimen touched
by insects. Take care to label your vessel in
which it is kept—Porson.

SKELETON Leaves.—dJ. F. G. may try the following
method:—A table-spoonful of chloride of lime,
in a liquid state, mixed with a quart of pure
spring water. Leaves or seed vessels to be
soaked in this mixture for four hours, then taken
out and well washed in clean water, afterwards
left to dry with free exposure to light and air.
Rigid leaves may require more than four hours’
souking.

SKELETONS oF Fisu.—We know no “royal”
method. The process is difficult, and F. N. L. is
advised to get his skeletons prepared for him by
a regular practitioner.

Fresn-watrr Aquania.—We hope soon to give
* Robin” the opportunity of reading some “ Hints”
on this subject.

Virers—We have received several communications,
some affirming positively that the viper swallows
its young, others, equal as positively, that it does
not. Our private opinion is that of the latter.
We cannot print all, therefore publish none.

W. Hl. N.—The following works are published on
British Conchology :—Jeffreys’s British Concho-
logy ; Woodward’s Manual of Mollusea ; Catlow’s
Popular Conchology; Reeve’s Land and Fresh-
water Mollusks of the British Isles; Sowerby’s
Illustrated Index of British Shells; Sowerby’s
Popular British Concholozy ; Turton’s Manual of
Land and Fresh-water Shells of Britain.

B, B. 8.—Notes a Kestrel hovering over Chelsea
Suspension Bridge.

J. B.—Notes a Grey Shrike at Everton, Yorkshire.

W.E. P.—Informs us of a Kingfisher plying his
avocation in the Serpentine in August, 1S44. We

know of no record of Birds observed 1n Kensing-
ton Gardens.

W.S. B.—* Wet Streets” and “ Metric Systems”
are not subjects of Natural History.

A. M. B.—Desires to know if it is usual for the
Common Sandpiper to dive when wounded ?

Naturauist inquires, “ Where could I obtain a
chameleon, and at what price ?”

W.W.—Your fungus is Auricularia mesenterica.
Not uncommon.

WiiitaM.—In narration of ancedote “ Brevity is
the soul of wit.”

J. ¥. Cranswicx.—We cannot devote space to other
than Queries in Natural History.

O, O.—The microscope you name has an excellent
reputation.

J. L.—We cannot open controversies, as our space
is zof walimited.

BuckincGHamsurre Jrorna.—Mr. James Britten is
collecting notes, and would be glad of any informa-
tion. 18, Shawfield-street, Chelsea, 8.W.

Mossrs.—We cannot undertake to name two dozen
specimens at a time, and the majority barren.
Applications for specimens received from W.
Gibson; J. I. Cranswick; Young Bryologist :
Botanist—will be attended to in turn.

Mreratory Birps.—Acknowledged from H. Wick-
ham; C. Wiliams; J. Ranson.

Si ee Question.—-Received from G. E. D.;

° ¥ fe

Tuanks For Communications.—T. K.; I..(War-
wick)s Jp: Hyd. 83 BoB: Jo dW Gaps
son: “A.D. Fs SHO Ms “A. ML Bey asDonnlae
son; T. W. Brown; Orniphilos ; Prof. Buckman ;
W: H.C.; W. i. Wilhams, Jr.; BE. D.; W. G.:
VV. A. Si: By; WS. B.: -G. HoSRae Wels
H. J. C. B.; J. Webster (we should see it
first); .G.C. Davies; W. J.3.

Recrtvep.—¥. N.L.; D. R. R.; G. T. G.; Robin
W. 2. Page; H. A. A. (declined); S. A. 8.; Zeta;
R, A. C. (declined). T. F. I’. is thanked for
promised aid, as also J. Plummer. W. 1. W. and
J. H. (thanked for Infusorial and Diatomaccous
Earths).

Books Recrivep.—“ British and Garden Botany,”
by Leo H, Grindon. London. Routledge. “ Meta-
morphoses of Man and the Lower Animals,” by
Professor Quatrefages. Translated by Dr. Law-
son. London. Hardwicke.

D9 a>
-. =a & aS) th to
a 04 BER,

oA
ot

7A

ING,

SHORT-COMMONS.

* Ts there no nook of English ground secure
V'rom rash assault ?—if human hearts be dead,
Speak, passing winds; ye torrents, with your strong
And constant voice, protest against the wrong.”—Wordsworth,

OLITICAL agitations do not originate |

from the laboratories or libraries of men
of science, neither do these generally enter
upon the political arena, or take an active
part in discussing the merits of new measures,
It is only when
changes are proposed, or innovations are
threatened, which are likely to influence their
favourite pursuits, that they awake, as it were
from a dream, and inquire, What do these
things mean? And even then they do not
speak or act as diplomatists, and their con-
ception of the question is bounded only by
the good or ill which is likely to accrue to
them and their “hobby.” We are not am-
bitious to be regarded as politicians of any
school.

or the measures of new men.

Scarcely able to define the genus or
species of any legislative phenomenon who
figures in the pages of Hansard, or to unravel
the mysteries of a twelve hours’ debate, we

evertheless arouse now and then to a sound
ef “Enclosure of Waste Lands,” which we
translate into the more homely phrase of
“ Short-Commons.” Whether or not there is
any present fear of more absorption in this
direction we are not prophets enough to tell,
and we care little to inquire. It is sufficient
for us to suffer the hallucination of Hamp-
stead Heath laid out in squares, adorned with
villas, cut up into terraces, and sacrificed to

the demon of bricks and mortar. For us the

vision of Wimbledon Common surrounded by

miles of monotonous palisades, and laid out in
trim parallelograms of level grass, intersected
by the cleanest of gravel walks, is enough, be
it only a vision, to arouse us from exploring
the “ Origin of Species” to protest against

3

the “ Origin of Parks,” and the absorption of
‘the last of commons.”

Not “the last of the commons,” and not
“closed to the public” are the pleas put in
against us. Are not Wandsworth Common
and the Black Sea left ? Is there not a common
at Barnes, or Esher, or Weybridge? And if
Hainault is gone, and Epping is going, is not
the New Forest left? We are not politicians,
so perhaps all this is as it should be. It may
be right enough to give to “Labour” its
Saturday half-holiday, that it may go out of
town and enjoy itself, and hold converse with
Nature face to face, and at the same time
drive Nature so far out of town, that a half-
day is too short to reach her domains. Such
changes may be in perfect accordance with
the spirit of improvement, and our spirit may
be stupid and stubborn to rebel. We might
know better if we were politicians. Let our
friend the mechanic, who has for five days.
anda half laboured in hope that during the
latter half of tle sixth day he shall run down
to Wimbledon to collect a few plants or in-
sects, hear the birds sing, scramble amongst
the furze, and feel the cool fresh breeze blow-
ing the smoke out of his hair, pause awhile,
In that day
there shall be no more furze, or heather, or
buttercups and daisies ; the bluebell and the
fern must give place to asters and chrysanthe-

and picture to himself a future.

mums, and the furze be uprooted that the
No
daisy must dave to bloom in the shorn grass
The butterfly
and dragon-fiy, no longer denizens, but poach-
seek the recesses of

laurel and Awcuba may stand in its place.
under peril of decapitation.

ers or burglars, must
E

50

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Marcu 1, 1865.

Combe, where none may dare to follow. The
lark, poor bird, may sing in the sky, for that
is not farmed out, but his mate has no nest in
the turf below, the grass not long enough
to shelter it, and the gold-banded beadle will
tell her to move on, or charge her a penny a-
day for rent, should she dare to venture on
the experiment. In that day the gravel walks
will be trim and neat, now straight as an ar-
row, now winding in graceful curves, through
lawns, and groves, and dells, adorned by
shrubs, and trees, and flowers, too well trained
to grow crooked, or stunted, or with undue
luxuriance. Then may he rest on painted
seats, and gaze on ponds of geometric form on
which tame ducks may float, while visions of
the past float too above the ducks, and the
water, and the new park, and out of the reach
of the lord of the manor. What, in such a
paradise, coull be the vision of the Saturday
stroller? Perhaps, it might be the Old
Common, where, amongst furze bushes, and
mud puddles, and tall bracken, and swamp,
he could find, year in and year out, always
something new ; when the time passed so
swiftly away that he could chide the dusky
evening for coming so speedily, and when
enough had been found, or seen, to send him
home with something to think about all the
week ; when the only feeling that could find
a place in his breast was that of increased
love for all created things; and when the
ouly exclamation that could escape his lips
was, “How manifold are Thy works, in wis-
dom hast Thou made them all!”

‘We by no means despise “ parks, palaces,
or public buildings,” nor condemn the legis-
lative wisdom that called them into existence,
Against the parks of our metropolis, whether
patrician or plebeian, we have nought to urge;
but against the appropriation of all the waste
places within range of a Cockney stroll we
dare to protest, because it tends to deprive
those of legitimate hunting grounds, who have
no other “preserves,” and whose “little
; butterflies, and

game” are birds, beetles,
flowers, or
(4501 9)

Rats and mice, and such small deer ;”
because the rugged beauty, wild grandeur,

and infinite variety of nature, have powers
superior to the most elaborate art, in charm-
ing the healthy mind; and because the con-
summation of such appropriation will be—
not only to deprive the operative classes of a
patrimony in which they can stand erect, and
feel themselves “at home” and at ease, but
to check them in the enjoyment of rational
amusement whilst in the pursuit of some
branch of natural history for which no other
and compensatory provision is made. ‘There-
fore, should we ever suffer metamorphosis
into the body of a politician, one point in our
charter would probably be, not favourable,
but antagonistic to “Short-Commons.”

.

GOSSIP ABOUT MAN-SUCKERS.
By J. K. Lorp, F.Z8.

) HEADER, have you ever tried a cruise
on the sea in an Indian canoe? I can
vividly recall even now my early exploits in
this most upsetable craft, spearing Octope
(“the Man-Suckers” of our fishermen) on
the coast of Vancouver Island.

Canoes are generally supposed by the
uninitiated “to glide over silvery streams,”
or “like an arrow shoot foaming rapids,” and
ride like sea-birds “over the ever-heaving
ocean.” I only wish those who entertain
these poetic fancies could be indulged with
one short excursion. First and foremost you
have to get in. This is at all times, except to
the natives or the most experienced voyageur,
a service of extreme risk. If you are not
extremely careful to place one foot in the
exact centre of the canoe, then balancing
yourself like an acrobat to bring the other
foot alongside it, over goes the “ fairy barque,”
and you take a sudden header into “ Daddy
Neptune's” diggings. This contingency
avoided, and a successful entrée accomplished,
the next performance is, to sit down flat in
the bottom. This requires a careful and inge-
nious system of lowering—the slightest lurch
to either side, and you bathe to a certainty ;
once down, you sit with your legs straight
out, and as there are no thawts to lean the
back against, the position is very nearly such
as would be enjoyed in the parish stocks.
Behind you, steering, sits a grim red-skin
frescoed with war-paint ; before you a similar
unprepossessing specimen of humanity—the
paddler, Your range of vision being limited

Manca 1, 1585. |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 51

to the amount of rotatory power your neck
may possess, is not by any means extensive ;
one naturally grows restless, or perhaps gets
a sharp twinge of cramp, and feels he must
move. ‘To accomplish this an arm is rested
on the edge of the canoe, and you lift your-
self just a little. A sudden heeling over, a
splash, a frantic yell from the savages, with
a lively consciousness that you are sitting up
to your hips in water, recalls you at once to
the indiscretion you have been guilty of.
Add to all this a perpetual dread of being
suddenly brained and scalped by the savage
sitting behind, and you get a rough outline
of canoeing.

Safely in, and safely seated, I started one
bright summer morning from our barracks
at Esquimalt (Van Island) to cross the har-
bour. The Indians were going after the
Octopus, and I felt a strong curiosity to see
how they caught him, at the same time to
acquire a knowledge of his habits.

‘The anatomical structure of the Octopus is
well known—his habits but little if at all.

The Oclopue of our own seas is a mere
dwarf as compared to the gigantic size he
obtains in the land-locked harbours so com-
mon to the east side of Vancouver Island.
These places are natural sea-nurseries, where
the Octopus grows to an enormous size.
Safe from heavy breakers, he enjoys life as in
an aquarium.

His modes of locomotion are curious and
varied ; he is a good swimmer—using his
eight arms as paddles, he rows himself along
with ease and celerity ; he can ramble at will
through his pelagic parks, by converting his
arms into legs marching on like a huge
spider, He is a gymnast of the highest
order: clinging to the wrack and _ sea-weed,
goes about back downwards like a marine
sloth. Of courge he varies in size. I have
measured the arm five feet long, and where
it joins the central disc, as large as my wrist.
Should he by chance wind his sucker-armed
cable round a luckless bather, fatal would be the
embrace, From watching him carefully, I do
not think he often catches prey, on the ground
on the rocks, but waits for them as a spider
would, only that the Octopus converts him-
self into a net. Coiling one arm round the
wrack, he stiffens out the other seven, and in
this position you would hardly distinguish
him from the brown sea-weed amongst which
he is concealed. A shoal of fish come gaily
on, threading their way through the sea-trees,
two or three of them rab against the out-
stretched arms of the Octopus ~—fatal touch !
As though a powerful galvanic shock passed

through the fish and knocked him senseless,
so does the arm of the Octopus paralyze its
victim—then dragging the palsied fish to
the centre of the disc, the beaked mouth seizes
on it and sucks it in.

1 feel sure that the Octopus possesses the
power of numbing its prey ; and the suckers
along each ray are as much for the purpose
of climbing and holding on with, as for
detaining slippery captives. Tyrant and
cannibal as he is, yet he has an enemy that
hunts him with untiring pertinacity—that
enemy is the Indian. He estimates the
Octopus as we do turtle, and devours him
with as much gusto and relish, only the red-
skin roasts his glutinous carcase instead of
boiling. And now to catch him.

The Indian well knows, from long ex-
perience, that were the Octopus to get his
huge arms over the side of the canoe, and at
the same time a hold-fast on the wrack, he
could just as easily upset the canoe as a
child could a basket, but he takes care not
to give him a chance; paddling the canoe
slowly and quietly amongst the wrack, he
steadily looks through the crystal water until
his practised eye detects the Octopus, his
great arms stiffened out, patiently biding his
prey. Armed with a formidable spear care-
fully barbed, and about twelve feet in length,
the savage passes it carefully through the
water until within an inch or so of his great
pear-shaped centre, then sends it in as deep
as he can plunge it. Twisting and writhing
with pain and passion, the monster coils his
terrible arms round and round the spear ;
then the savage, resting the spear on the side
of the canoe, keeps him well away and raises
him to the surface of the water. He must be
dealt warily with now, for he is dangerous !
If he could get a holdfast on either savage or
canoe, nothing save chopping him off piecce-
meal would be of any service ; but the wily
spearsman knows all this, and has ready
another spear, long, smooth, unbarbed, and
very sharp, and with this he stabs the
Octopus where the arms join the body. I
imagine the spear must break down the
nervous centres giving motive power, for the
stabbed arm is at once deprived of its strength
and tenacity; the countless suckers, that
held on with a force no human power could
have overcome, relax their grip, and the arm
hangs, adead, lifeless mass of gelatinous matter.

Thus the Indian stabs and stabs until the
Octopus, devoid of life and motion, is dragged
into the canoe—a great quivering brown-look-
ing lump—destined to supply a roast and a
revel by the log fire of bis red-skinned captors.

E 2

52

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Marcx 1, 1865.

CLEANING DIATOMACEA.
By A. J. Roperts.

T is often a source of difficulty to a micro-
scopist who for the first time attempts
the study of the various forms of Diatomacee
contained in infusorial earths and guano to
entirely free them from foreign matters. In
order to do this some knowledge of chemistry
is requisite, more, indeed, than is often pos-
sessed by microscopists ; it is, therefore, the
object of the writer in the following remarks
to supply this to a certain extent by pointing
out some of the constituents of these deposits
and guanos, which are the principal sources
of our foreign and some of our fossil Diato-
nuacece.

The shells of the Diatomacee, it is well
known, are composed of silex, or, in common
parlance, flint, and are consequently not acted
on by any of the ordinary mineral acids in
common use, viz., the nitric, hydrochloric, or
sulphuric ; but, on the other hand, boiling
in solution of the caustic alkalies, soda and
potash, will dissolve them. It is also to be
observed, that they are unalterable by the
action of a red heat, but if heated with either
soda or potash, the silex combines with the
alkali, and fusion, and consequent loss, takes
place.

These facts are well to be noted, that the
operator may know what chemical agents are
to be avoided in working on substances con-
taining these minute organisms.

With regard to the constituents of the
earths in which the shells are found, these

consist principally of lime in various states of |

combination, usually either carbonate or sul-
phate, or perhaps both, frequently coloured
with oxide of iron, and also silex in the form
of sand, which latter can only be separated
by careful fractional washing.

The carbonate of lime is soluble with effer-
vescence in nitric or hydrochloric acid ; either
of these will form a soluble salt which may
easily be removed by washing. Sulphuric
acid should be avoided, for it forms with the
lime a sparingly soluble sulphate. Sulphate
of lime, if present asa constituent, will proba-
bly not be in very large quantity, and may be
removed by frequent washing, as it is soluble
to a certain extent in water. The oxide of
iron, also small in quantity, may be dissolved
by the nitric or hydrochloric acid, and should
these fail when used separately (which will
sometimes be the case from the peculiar state
of combination in which the iron exists), they

may be employed mixed together, forming |

aqua regia. ‘The process of cleaning may be
known to be completed when the deposit is
quite white and acid have no further action
on it ; a small! portion should then be exam-
ined (under water) by the microscope, and if
quite clean should be well washed, first with
common water, and finally with distilled
water. The latter is indispensable to com-
plete the operation, that all traces of acid and
soluble salts may be removed.

If the earth under examination occurs in
tolerable sized masses it should be broken into
fragments about as large as a small pea, and
then dropped gradually into a Florence flask
or open evaporating basin, about half full of
nitric or hydrochloric acid, diluted with one-
third of its volume of distilled water. It is
better to drop the substance under operation
into the acid than to pour the acids on the
material, as the action takes place more gra-
dually and with less frothing than is generally
the case when much carbonate is present,
which sometimes causes the liquid to escape
from the vessels, and consequent loss) When
the acid ceases to act, heat may be applied by
any suitable means, and when all action ceases
the mixture should be allowed to rest, that
the deposit may subside, and the liquid
poured off as close as possible, and replaced
by strong acid, and the acid again aided by
gentle heat. Should the deposit not be quite
white the mixed acids must be employed, and
the process finished by washing with distilled
water.

To proceed to guanos; these present more
difliculty, their composition being much more
complex, and containing, besides the lime salts
and oxide of iron above mentioned, salts of
soda, potash, and ammonia ; also much animal
matter, and some phosphate of lime. The
salts of the alkalies are soluble in water, and
the guano being usually in a more or less dis-
integrated state, it should be first well washed
with boiling water, either on a paper filter or
by repeated affusions, until the liquid comes
off tasteless. Boiling water is preferable to
cold, for the heat expels air-bubbles and causes
the deposit to settle down into a smaller space;
then the deposit must be subjected to the
action of the acids as directed for the prepara-
tion of earths, to get rid of the lime salts. The
partially cleaned deposit, which is now much
smaller in bulk, must be separated as much as
possible from the liquid, and strong sulphuric
acid, in sufficient quantity to cover it, poured on
to about the depth of half an inch, heat applied
and continued for some time, but the liquid
must not be made to boil ; the result will be
an almost immediate blackening of the liquid,

Mancu 1, 1865, ]

SCLENCE-GOSSIP. 53

which gradually becomes deeper, and a dirty,
inky-looking compound is ultimately produced.
When this has taken place, chlorate of potash
in fine powder must be dropped into the hot
mixture very gradually until the black colour
disappears. This must be done cautiously, for
the action is so violent that much spurting is
cecasioned, and the liquid being very corrosive
a tolerably capacious vessel should be used in
order to keep the splashes within reasonable
bounds, or serious damage to the operator’s
clothes may ensue.

The nearly decolourized liquid must now
be diluted with a considerable quantity of
water, and the deposit allowed to subside, the
supernatant liquid poured off, and the pro-
cess of heating with sulphuric acid and addi-
tion of chlorate of potash repeated, until the
sulphuric acid occasions no further blackening,
then the cleaning may be finished in the usual
way by washing.

The chemistry of this process is thus ex-
plained :— When strong sulphuric acid is
brought in contact with organic matter it
abstracts the greater part of the water, setting
free the carbon in an imperfectly dissolved,
or,at least, finely divided state. Other changes
also take place of a somewhat complex nature.
The chlorate of potash being now added to
this mixture is immediately decomposed by
the sulphuric acid, supplying oxygen to the
carbon, with which it forms carbonic acid gas,
which escapes with some free chlorine. Other
oxidizing agents may be used; nitrate of
potash may be added in the same way as the
chlorate, or nitric acid itself may be used, but
they are all inferior to the chlorate. This
process was published some few years back,
and has been found by experience to be the
most efficacious method of operating on guano
for Diatomacee. The operator requires no
small share of patience in working on guanos,
for it sometimes happens that some samples
yield none, or so few as to be scarcely worth
the trouble of cleaning. When, however, the
yield is good, the experimenter is well repaid
for his time and materials.

In consequence of guano being solargely com-
posed of organic matter it is well to work on a
tolerably large quantity, say a pound, or, at all
events, not less than four ounces. The writer
has found the Peruvian and Californian to
yield a very rich variety of these minute
objects. It may be as well to mention that
the above processes may be well applied to
the cleaning of the siliceous cases of our native
species. The matters containing them should
be allowed to dry before being subjected to
the action of the acids,

It is scarcely necessary to add a caution as
to the corrosive nature of the acids here em-
ployed; the operations should also take place
under a chimney or in a well-ventilated
apartment. In case of accident apply plenty
of cold water, then any alkali at hand, chalk,
or whitening.

LEAF TEACHINGS,
By W. WaAtuace FYFE.
ERSTED observes, in his ‘Soul of

Nature,” that organic beings constitute
the elementary, and inorganic the higher
geometry of nature; and, although we meet
with many regular mathematical forms in the
leaves of plants, whether triangular, poly-
gonal, cylindrical, spherical, or elliptical (for in
what may be scientifically termed leaves we
have all these), nevertheless, in the shapes of
leaves and the flow of their venation we
have seldom figures that are severely exact ;
yet, for all that, every atom of the most
waving lines and. outlines is capable of being
reduced to a regular curve. It was Goethe
who defined all the appendages of the plant
as leaves *—transformed leaves. We do not go
so far as the German poet and philosopher, but
deem it sufficient to recognise the truth that
all are modelled after the leaf. The form of the
leaf, therefore, becomes a generic principle in
structural botany. The structure of a leaf
is founded on what have been termed archi-
tectural principles ; but in truth it is archi-
tectural principles that have been derived
from it, since Sir Joseph Paxton has acknow-
ledged that to the ribbing so peculiarly
adapted for bearing up the broad floating leaf
of the vast Victoria Regia and its massive
inflorescence, he was mainly indebted for the
idea of his palace of glass, which has so
wonderfully resisted, in its fairy-like frailty of
appearance, the storms of time. If we are
entitled, with Goethe, to extend this principle
of structure from the leaf to the tree, we
shall find that to it also Smeaton was in-
debted for the design of the Eddystone Light-
house—a structure calculated to sustain weight
and resist pressure—since he derived it from
the bole of a tree. The elements of plant
structure are found, however, in the cell—
the lower forms of plants being simply cells
separate and independent ; the higher forms,

* TLinneeus had previously affirmed the leaf to be
the type of all the floral organs. Gocthe’s Versuch
die Metumorphose der Pflanzen zu erklaren was
published in 1790,

54. SCIENCE-GOSSIP,

[Marcu 1, 1865,

merely cells combined in several varieties
of texture. Now, theorists assume the
primary form of cells to be spherical—nature
or vital defects in nature (.¢, in growth or
development) occasioning deviations, and
also causing modifications of the cell where
some particular end of plant life is to be
accomplished. Thus it is that woody fibre
comes to consist of elongated cells thickened
by secondary deposits so as to attain great
tenacity ; and thus also that the ducts and
spiral vessels of the vascular tissue, and the
peculiar vessels of plants having a milky sap,
are cells of special modification, in which the
adjoining tubes have often free communica-
tion with or run into one another. Indeed,
the ultimate results of vegetation, the fruits

mica; Fie, 2.

of the earth, may be separated into leaf-masses
and resolved into cellular modifications. Thus
the dicotyledons give, as everyone knows,
two seed lobes, or actual seed leaves in
germination, as in the case of the pea (fig. 1) ;
whilst the monocotyledons, represented by the

4

Hig. 3.

exaggerated section of oat (fig. 2), exhibit the

Vie, 4,

rudimentary forms of future leaves. In the
leaf itself, whether we take the curved or
divergent venation of endogen (as in figs, 3

and 4), or the netted venation of exogen (as
in fig. 5), we can see, through the outer
cuticle or skin, the veins ramifying through
the inner portion or parenchyma; and
botanists all admit these to be modifications

Pigs). HiesO:

of the eell—the veins in the first instance

| (fig. 3) running parallel to one another from

end to end of the leaf ; in the second instance
(fig. 4) they are given off from one principal
vein or midrib; and in the last case (fig. 5)
constitute a complicated net-work of nume-
rous branches and branchlets. The parallel
venation will be found in the leaves of lilies,
palms, bananas ; the netted, in those of oaks,
beeches, &e.* The most remarkable modifi-
cations of the Jeaftype are probably the
Indian cups (Sarracenia) of North America,
and. the still more elegant shapes of the
pitcher-plant (Wepenthes) (fig. 6). Some-
times, as in Gloriosa superba, the midrib,
which, as shown above, is in fact the principal
vein of the leaf, becomes lengthened out into
atendril. The tendrils in the vine proceed
from the Jateral leaf-buds; those of the
passion-flower from the terminal ; whilst the
solitary thread-like attachment of the cucum-
ber leaf is a sort of stipule, the stipules being
leaf-like organs situated on either side of the
point at which the leaf is attached to the
stem. The pea and vetch having compound
leaves, the tendril is formed of the end of the
common footstalk, whilst in the vanilla-plant
the whole leaf is sometimes elongated into a
tendril.

Tf we notice the arrangement of leaves on
the stems of plants, we will find that it pro-
ceeds invariably in a spiral—a favourite mode

oe tp ot ee ee

* Amongst monocotyledons, drum, Calla, Inlium
giganteum, &¢e., are cousidered exceptions to the
general rule, from having netted venation; and
amongst dicotyledons, Nerewm, &¢., from haying
parallel.

Marca J, 1865.]

of progression or development all throughout
nature, and beautifully marked upon a branch
of Araucaria, or the cone of a fir. The volute
may be greater or it may be less, and the in-
vestigations of Braun and MHenslow have
reduced the spiral regulation of leaves to
mathematical precision. Jt is well known
that the leaf upon the stem or branch origi-
nates in a node, the leaves being “alternate ”
when each node produces a single leaf on
different sides in succession ; and “ opposite ”
when two leaves originate in a node and stand
out face to face. ‘Two spirals are in the latter
case to be considered as passing up the stem ;
and in the case of three or more leaves from
the same node forming a whorl, the spiral is
held to be reduced toa circle. The stems of
twining-plants, like honeysuckle and convol-
vulus, evince the disposition of the entire
structure to take the spiral twist. The
leaves of banana exhibit the same ten-
dency, in common with the leaves of many
plants while in the bud, and in common also
with tendrils and similar modifications of
leaves which follow the same law, and even
with the flower-stalk in Cyclamen, and the
seed-vessel in Sérepiocarpus. In the ripe
strawberry the numerous small pistils, erro-
neously termed seeds, dotted over its surface
follow the spiral arrangement ; for as the soft
juicy part of the strawberry is only an en-
larged foot-stalk, the numerous minute pistils
or seed-vessels which it bears are arranged
according to the law which regulates the
position of leaves. The peas in the interior
of a pod alternate with each other on the
opposite sides on the true spiral arrangement,
and even the seeds in the seed-vessel of the
wallflower, though far more numerous ; nay,
those in the common foxglove (Digitalis),
which are more abundant still.

The leaf of every tree possesses individuality.
Tts aggregate of leaves make up the character
by which the tree is known. No doubt the
tree possesses also what arboriculturists term
its own “habit,” and by that in some measure
it is known and recognised. Nevertheless,
the leaf is its characteristic element and em-
blem, and in all probability imparts the habit
in question. In the following figures we
have the cherry leaf and theleavesof the beech,
the lime, and the poplar (figs. 7, 8, 9, 10) :—

- And it has been ascertained from minute
comparisons that the leaf is tc a great extent
a model of the tree. For instance, the beech
leaf, it will be seen (fig. 7), has little or no
leaf-stalk ; now, the beech tree in its growth
is naturally feathered, from its base, with
branches. Accordingly the leaves of the

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

55

beech, the oak, the elm, the box, the holly,

the laurel, the bay, arbutus, laurustinus,
privet, and snowberry, whose natural tendency
is to cover the ground from the base, have

Fic. 7, BEECH,

either a very short petiole or none at all.
The beech leaf, too, like its branches, will be
observed to throw ous a venation nearly pa-
rallel—the angle being from 45° to 50°, whilst

Ly

yr WV

Fic. 8, CuErnry.

the midrib is rather inclined to zigzag. The
cherry leaf (fig. 8), and the leaves of the lime
and poplar (figs. 9 and 10), are endowed with
leaf-stalks, and represent trees with a bare
trunk, as do the leaves of the apple, the pear,
the birch, the chesnut, and sycamore. The
lime leaf (fig. 9) affords an illustration of the

56

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Manrcn 1], 1865.

correspondence between the distribution of
the branches on the tree and the veins in the
leaf, The veins are clustered or whorled with
a nearly parallel venation at the point where

WIV OPPs

Fic. 9, Live.

they begin to come off; the lateral veins
making, with the midrib, an angle of 42°, and
the veins proceeding from them an angle of

Tic. 10, Popnar.

50°—these last, corresponding with the angle |

of the peduncle, form the branch. A curious

observer will in like manner discover that the
horse-chesnut, which sends off at the top of
its bare trunk seven branches, has its. leaf
commonly divided into seven leaflets ; whilst
the sycamore, sending off at eight or ten feet
from the ground four or five large branches,
has a long leaf-stalk dividing into five midribs.
In like manner, laburnum and broom, with
their triplet leaves, divide into three main
branches ; and rhododendrons, barberries, and
azaleas, whose leaves issue from the stem in
whorls, branch in a kindred manner. Not
only these, but the triplet leaf and stalk of —
the marsh trefoil, the wood sorrel, the clover,
adopt the law in question ; as do likewise the
lady’s-mantle, geranium, mallow, and lupin,
with their clustered leaves or midribs,

THE NEW FISH.

ib was announced in our last that a new
fish had been introduced into our waters
from Wallachia. The Acclimatisation Society
has received fourteen living specimens from
Sir Stephen Lakeman’s estate at Kapochein,
or rather from the river Argich which flows
past that nobleman’s Wallachian domain,
A. brief notice of these visitors may prove
acceptable as an adjunct to the portrait
which stands above it. It should be pre-
mised that this species is noticed in Yarrell’s
British Fishes ; not that this author believed
it a native, but because it had the reputation
of having been found here, on the faith of a
paragraph in Sibbald’s “Scotia ILllustrata.”
There is no doubt, that the conclusion ar-
rived ab was a wrong one, not admitted by
Cuvier and Valenciennes in their great work
on the “Natural History of Fishes,” who
state that its distribution in Europe does not
extend to the British Isles.

The Siurus was originally classed by
Cuvier between the pike and salmon families,
To the former of these it may be supposed to
claim kindred by its voracious habits, and to
the latter, if all accounts be true, by the
excellence of its flesh as an article of food.
Notwithstanding these somewhat poetical afii-
nities, it hasanother position assigned to it now.
Onc evident characteristic in this fish is the
absence of true scales, a feature which cha-
racterizes the group to which it belongs.
Another important difference will be noticed
in the great length of the anal fin, which
extends to the tail; but, above all, the
barbules will attract attention. Whether or
not these are to be considered as substitutes
for beard and moustaches, probably the

Marcu I, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 57

Tne Evropran Sriurus (Stlurus glanis, Boie),

Silurus finds them equally useful, and re-
gards them as highly ornamental. The two
longest barbules have their origin, one on
each side just above the angle of the mouth,
the four others tend downwards from beneath
the lower jaw. This will certainly be the
largest of our fresh-water fishes, for Cuvier
states that it is sometimes upwards of six
feet in length, and is said to weigh three
hundred French pounds. In the course of
four years, if food is plentiful, it will attain
the weight of fifty-six pounds. In appear-
ance it is anything but prepossessing—the
large flattened head, broad capacious mouth,
and frog-like eyes, may perhaps earn for it the
name of frog-fish, which its known partiality
for frogs may serve to strengthen.

Mr. Yarrell says, “The Stlurus is repre-
sented as sluggish in its habits, and a slow
swimmer, taking its prey by lying in wait
for it, ina manner somewhat similar to the
angler (Lophius) ; hiding itself in holes or
soft mud, and apparently depending upon the
accidental approach of fishes or other animals,
of which its long and numerous barbules may
be at the same time the source of attraction to
the victims, and the means of warning to the
devourer, From its formidable size, it can
have but few enemies in the fresh water,
and from them its dark colour, in addition to
its habit of secreting itself either in holes or
soft mud, would be a sufficient security. In
spring the male and female may be seen
together, about the middle of the day, near

’

the banks or edges of the water, but soon
return to their usual retreats. The ova
when deposited are gree: ; and the young
are excluded between the sixteenth and
nineteenth days. The flesh is white, fat, and
agreeable to many persons as food, particu-
larly the part of the fish near the tail; but
on account of its being luscious, soft, and
difficult to digest, it is not recommended to
those who have weak stomachs. In the
northern countries of Europe the flesh is
preserved by drying, and the fat is used as
lard.”

The Stfurus finds its food in the frogs that
pass into the rivers, and the small fish tha:
abide there, but it is not very ‘‘ dainty” in
its tastes, if all accounts be true. The authors
of the “Natural History of Fishes” state
that it is so voracious that “it has been
known in several instances to devour children ;
and in one instance the body of a woman
was found in one of these fishes.” To this
account we can only add, that either the fish
must have been “a mighty large one,” or the
woman uncommonly small. Old Izaak says,
‘*The mighty luce, or pike, is taken to be the
tyrant, as the salmon is the king, of fresh
waters,” but here isa tyrant before whom the
pike would be obliged to succumb. Should
the Silurws take kindly to his new home in
the bosom of father Thames, and increase,
multiply, and replenish the waters, we may
well inquire, “ What would old Izaak Walton
say 1” C,

58

Jetty ANrMALcuLE (Ophrydiam versatile).

N a bright clear stream you may sometimes
I notice masses of a green jelly-like sub-
stance, attached to the stones, and varying in
size from a pea to anorange. Ifa portion of
one of these is placed under the microsccpe,
it will be found to consist of a multitude of
very pretty animalcules, lying imbedded in a
gelatinous substance, each moored at one ex-
tremity by a delicate filament.

These animalcules present at first the
appearance of spherical or oval bodies, spotted
over with green granules, like the chlorophyll
of leaves. But in a little time they elongate
themselves, and the free extremity opens,
displaying a double set of cilia, one fringing
the extremity ; the other a little below, at
the side (figs. 4, 5, 6) surrounding the mouth.
By the rapid movements of these, currents are
formed in the water, by which the substances
which serve as food forthe creature are brought
to its mouth, and the rejected substances, by
a contrary current, conveyed away. When

SCINNCH-GOSSIP.

[Marcu 1, 1865.

any substance touches the mouth the cilia are
immediately drawn in, and the animalcule
contracts itself into the spherical form again ;
when the external covering of the animal
may be seen gathered into a series of folds
(fig. 3). This external covering is colourless,
and contains in its substance very minute
dark-coloured granules.

Each animaleule has the power of detaching
ilself from the rest, and of swimming freely,
apparently that it may establish a new colony.
‘The bottle in which the Ophrydiuwm is kept
will in a few days display along its sides
several of these new colonies. In this free
condition, a new ring of cilia appears towards
the lower extremity of the animalcule (fig. 9),
by which it swims rapidly through the water
backwards way.

‘These new colonies are apparently increased
by the process of gemmation (fig. 7). The
young animalcule buds off from the side of
its parent, having its own nucleus, surrounded
with minute granulations, and a few scattered
green granules. The animaleules are said
‘to undergo the encysting process, and assume
the Acineta form.” * In some individuals the
green granules are less abundant, and are
mixed with brown granules (fig. 8); the
course of which may perhaps indicate the
place of the cesophagus. A nucleus in this
case is very apparent. The cilia also may be
seen in motion within the body of the animal-
cule (as at ¢, fig. 8).

The Ophrydium may be kept in water for
several months in an open vessel.

Jeol.

Lueplanation of Figures,
of

1. A’ group animalcules in the gelatinous
envelope.

9,3, 4. Separate individuals in different condi-
tions, showing (2) the filamentous bond; (8) folds
in the external covering; (4) the animal extended
with the cilia in motion.

5, 6. The head more magnified.

7. Young animalcule forming by gemmation.

§. Animalcule showing the nucleus, and Jrowz
granules mixed with the grew. :

9, Swimming animalcule.

New Hotianp in iunore.—A lecture on this

subject, delivered by Dr. I. Unger, Professor of
Botany, Vienna University, has been translated into
English, and the pages of Seemann’s Journal. he
professor directs attention to the occurrence of cha-
racteristic New. Holland plants in the European
Eocene formation; deduces therefrom that ‘‘ Hurope
stood in some kind of connection with that distant
continent ;”? and that “at the Eocene period Kurope
must have had a climate like that of New Holland at
the present day.”

* Micrographical Dictionary, p. 507.

\

Marcu 1, i868, ]

A FRIENDLY NOTICE OF THE TOMTIT.
(PARUS CHRULEUS.)

EVERYBODY is now acquainted with the now cak-
gall, so much like the nut-gall from which ink is
prepared, as it is now met with in nearly if not in
every county in England and Wales, and for aught
we know has penctrated into Scotland. We still
call it zew, because no longer ago than 1853 these
galls were confined to Devonshire, and we have
traced their gradnal spread from this county over a
lasge part of our island: at first, only as great rari-
ties, difficult to discover; but in 1862 they were so
abundant around Cirencester that we had no dif-
ficulty in procuring large bunches for the use of our
pupils and lectures. Guess, then, our astonishment to
find the same localities the following year, 1863, so
scarce as to disappoint most of the members of our
class who went in search of them.

Now, as we had heretofore observed these galls
to increase from year to year, until, indeed, they
have become a great pest, as threatening the very
existence of young oaks, we were at first not a
little puzzled; but on examining more closely into
the matter, we saw quantities of freshly-broken
galls beneath the trees, whilst those not so much
broken were pierced to the centre—just sufficient to
extract the grub by which the gall is caused—and
the like was observed in the few examples then
found on the trees.

Having observed so much, of course we concluded
that some bird had pierced the galls for the sake of
the fat maggot; and as we love birds, and quite agree
with Coleridge— :

“He prayeth best who loveth best
All things, both great and small ;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.”
—Ancient Mariner.

—Yes, with this sentiment wewatched for our friend,
and a little patience discovered to us that pretty little
bird known as the d/uecap, or tomtit (Parus ceruleus),
busily engaged in pecking a triangular hole in the
sides of the galls and extracting the grubs, looking
all the time as cheerful and happy as though he had
made a new discovery, and felt himself rewarded for
his ingenuity. That this was a new discovery to
good “little tommy titmouse”’ we have no doubt;
because, though this bird abounds in the locality, we
had scarcely observed their attack upon the galls on
any previous season.

Mr. Hewitson says of this bird—“ Although he has
long been outlawed, and a price set upon his guilt-
less head, he is of a race still sufficiently numerous
to rid us of countless insects, and to heap benefits
upon us in return for all the persecution that he has
met with.”

In the county in which we now live—Dorset—these
galls are so abundant that we this autumn gathered,
for experiment, no less than six bushels from our
own farm, where they are so thick that bunches of
from 80 to 50 are not uncommon at the tops of two-
year-old twigs; from one such bunch we had the
pleasure of observing the plump little flies make
their exit by dozens. Here some of the galls have
been perforated for the maggots in the manner de-
scribed; but, alas! our dexterous little tit is not
common with us. We hope, however, after this, that
the readers of Sctrencr-Gossre will join with us in
wishing that there were more of them, and extend

SCIENCE-GOSSIP,

59

their protection not only to this but to the other
species of a most beautiful, interesting, harmless,
nay, emimently useful genus of birds.

We append a drawing cf a small bunch of these
galls. Fine bunches are to be got from the hedge-
rows of Woking Common and other places round
London. If gathered as late as September or
October, the larvee will be found in their centres ; but
later, the perfect fly makes its exit by a round orifice,
as scen in the left-hand gall of our cut—unless, in-
deed, they should be matured late, and then the fly
is not hatched until the following spring.

James BuckMAN,

AQUARIUM EXPERIENCES,

Tur Sea-Worat (Nereis biliceata)—We were
introduced to the pages of ScrENcE-Gossip by a
friend, who sent us a copy of the first number, re-
questing us not only to take it in and read it, but
to contribute occasionally some of our small ex-
periences in the circles of natural history. We are
most unlearned in technical phraseology; but still,
as we wander through the world with our eyes open,
and have an intense and appreciative love for the
beauties which the Great Giver has so bountifully
laid even at our very feet, we sometimes wish all
the world could enjoy them with us; and here in
your unpretending columns we have founda medium
through which we can direct the attention of our
readers to these pleasant subjects, assuring them
that ext could never visit the mind of one con-
stantly employed in unfolding the secrets contained
in nature’s charming page, which lies ever open
before them, and which gives to her perusers food
for sweet thought and contemplation.

Just now our own sphere of observation is neces-
sarily circumscribed, and an aquarium receives much
of our attention. Pray do not lift your brow, gentle
reader, and exclaim, “That hobby has been severely

60 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

ridden ;’ for we wish to interest you in a little pet
we have there. A worm it is; but such a worm!
The Nereis biliceata it is called. A few months
since, a hermit-crab and the shell it inhabits found a
place in our aquariam; but soon, alas! the days of
poor Pagurus were numbered, and its body became
food for Anthea and her floral sisters. We were
on the point of casting forth the deserted shell,
when our suspicions were aroused that it was not
so tenantless as we first imagined, for there seemed
to be a little domicile within composed of tiny
pebbles. We waited many days in vain for sight of
ne thing. One evening, passing the vase, candle
in hand, we caught sight of what appeared a beau-
tiful caterpillar; but the shy beauty instantly
vanished into the recesses of the shell. You may
imagine with what patience—or impatience, if you
like—we watched lis re-appearance.

Tn vain we tempted him with juicy beef and other
delicacies with which we regale our numerous pets.
He was proof against all our bribes. At length,
growing desperate, we thought to frighten him into
displaying himself; so, takmg up our tube, we
tapped gently at his portals, and waited breathlessly
the result; when, Jo! to our astonishment, curio-
sity we suppose overcame his shyness, and he
cautiously peeped to see whether friend or foe re-
quested admittance. Being satisfied of our amicable
intentions, he waxed bolder, and displayed to our
delighted gaze, again and again, his graceful form
and bright brown and golden stripes.

We never fail, in this way, to summon hin to
our presence, much to the amusement of our young
friends. And we would advise those who are for-
tunate enough to number this pretty worm among
their pets, and lament his shyness, to give a lady-
hike double knock at his door, and we trust Mr.
Nereis will obligingly open to them in person.

That delightful marine biographer, Mr. Gosse,
tells us, in his “ Aquarium,” that the Nerezs is com-
monly found associated with the hermit-crab in old
whelk shells; and it would appear that the worm
has good reasons for entering into this partnership,
as he expects Mr. Pagurus to cater for them both,
frequently disputing even the possession of a tender
morsel with his amiable companion; aye, even car-
rying his greed so far as to drag poor crabby’s meal
from his very jaws, and retiring into the recesses of
the shell to discuss it at his leisure.

he sense of smell does not seem to be very acute
in this little creature, for we have many times
dropped picces of meat into the shell, but have
never seen them eaten ; and if Nereis stumbled upon
them, we believe it was more by luck than judg-
ment. We fancy, indeed, that perhaps, after all,
the shelter afforded by his friend’s domicile is more
essential to him than any provision made for his
creature comfort, as our worm has flourished, and
still continues to do so, after a six months’ separa-
tion. ‘The motives that lead to this companionship
seem rather obscure, and we trust some of our
young friends may be induced to pursue this inte-
resting Inquiry, and by personal observation endea-
vour to throw some light upon the subject.

M.

Carontina Craku IN Finananp.—At a meeting
of the Zoological Society, Fe. 14th, Mr. A. Newton
exhibited a specimen of il eC wrolina Crake (Porzana
Carolina), stated to have | ¢>1 recently obtained on
the Kennett, near Newbury, ocing the first recorded

instance of its occurrence in this country,

[Marcu J, 1865.

THE DEATH-WATCH.
(ANOBIUM TESSELATUM.)

“The solemn death-watch clicks the hour of death.”

TABLE-TURNING, Spirit-rapping, and all other
modern manifestations were in their infancy when L
was a child, but a superstitious belief in the idea
that the noise made by this small insect indicated
an approaching death in the house was firmly
credited.

You probably remember Dean Swift’s lines :—

* Because like a watch, it always cries ‘ click,’
Then woe be to those in the house who are sick;
For, sure as a gun, they will give up the ghost,
If the maggot cries click when it scratches the post.”

The habits of this deetle were evidently not so
well known in the days of Queen Anne as they are
in the present time, otherwise the great satirist
would not have fallen into the error of making the
* maggot”? cry click, it being the perfect insect only,
and not the larve, which makes fits noise.

This pigmy beetle is constantly found in old
houses. Its antenne, or horns, are red, having their
three last joints longer than the others, and clubbed;
the body is brown, but the wing-cases and breast
are spotted—‘‘ handsomely tesselated,’ as some
writers term it—and covered with an ash-coloured
down; the legs are brown, of the same hue as the
body. 4t is very slow in its motions, will rarely fly,
and on being touched counterfeits death for a long
time. All the species possess this power, and hence
their generic name, from “ resuscitated.” They will
actually allow themselves to be pulled to pieces
without showing a sign of life.

The larve look like little soft, white worms—
the entire insect is only about a quarter of an inch
in length—and they are especially destructive in
their tastes. Woe betide the case of birds or pre-
pared insects which they find their way to; old fur-
niture, books, various sorts of grains, wafers, &.,
are all in their line. They conceal themselves in
erooves, and pass the nymph state im cells lined with
a few silken threads. People formerly attributed
the tickings of the death-watch to a species of wood-
louse and of spider. I believe some of the wood-
louse genus have the power of making a similar
tick, but the death-watch best known to us belongs
to the genus dvobium. According to naturalists,
ten species found in Great Britain make the dreaded
sound; our death-watch, however, on the present
occasion is the Axobium tesselatum, and the way in
which this insect chronometer goes to work is as
follows :—It raises itself on its hind legs, and, with
its body slightly inclined, beats its head against the
wood with considerable force seven or eight times in
rapid succession. ‘The sound produced in some in-
stances resembles that made by rapping gently with
a finger-nail on the table, and 1s supposed to be tlie
means whereby Mr. and Mrs. Axobium Tesselatun
inform each other of their change of residence, and
give notice of their being at home to their friends—
notes of invitation, in fact, which are generally sent
out in spring and summer.

I was staying many years ago at an old country-
house, on a visit to a little schoolfellow friend, whose
papa was taken exceedingly ill during my stay. The
ancient nurse—a quaint, kind old creature, strongly
infected with superstitious notions—came into the
play-room one day, and Sara, my friend, bemg ab-
sent, proceeded to inform Naney, the head of the

Marcu 1, 1865.]

SCIENCKH-GOSSIP.

61

nursery precincts, that “poor dear master could not
live, because the death-watch was a-ticking like mad
all night long in his room.” I, in great sorrow, told
my playfellow of her papa’s doom; she repeated the
tale to her mamma, a nervous, credulous woman, who
became very desponding, and actually shook her
head at the family doctor on the occasion of his next
visit, when he was trying to inspire her with hope of
his patient’s recovery, repeating old nurse Jones’s
words.

I think I see the expression of his face now, as
he quoted the following lines

* A kettle of scalding hot water injected,
Tnfallibly cures the timber affected ;
The omen is broken, the danger is over,
The insect will die, and the sick will recover” —

and proceeded to tell Sara and myself all about the
tiny beetle that made the noise. H. Watney.

SNAKE STONES.

Iv is well known that many lives have been lost
by wounds received in anatomical research. The
symptoms are those of hydrophobia, &c., and other
modifications of blood poison. Ii is usual, there-
fore, in medical schools, to warn young students, and
tell them the remedy. The advice is generally this:
Tf the wound be slight, and no blood flows, it is the
more dangerous; if deeper, so that there is a free
flow of blood, less so. Always suck the poison out
in the first case, and wash it well afterwards. This
explains the lancet and porous stone absorption.
As regards the milk, has anything else in which the
virus is soluble been experimented on? Perhaps
this latter custom may be well placed side by side
with the custom of old doctors, of administering
such simples as ammonia, albumen, &c., in the most
nauseous forms, upon the principle—“ B credule-
tatis quant. suff.’’

“ Berthollet mentions eight kinds, chiefly phos-
phates, some resinous, biliary, andligniform. Bezoars
were deemed efficacious, not only when taken as
medicine, but even when merely carried about the
person; so that credulcus people would hire them
for particular occasions at a ducat per diem... A
single oriental bezoar has been known to sell for
6,000 livres. . . They have now lost all reputation,
and are never used. . . Factitious bezoars have been
made of various materials, the nearest probably made
from gypsum stamed by some vegetable juice. It
is said, however, that tobacco-pipe clay tinged with
ox-gall is commonly employed, since it answers to
the genuine tests (vegetable stains do not)—Ist, a
ycllow tint to paper rubbed with chalk; 2nd, green
eclour to paper rubbed over with quicklime.
Bezour orientale conerction found in 4th stomach of
Cupre _agagrus of Persia (said to be), oblong, size
of kidney-bean, shining olive or dark green in
colour. Bezoar occidentale, 4th stomach of chamois
of Piedmont sometimes as large as a hen’s egg; sur-
face rongh ; colour green, greyish, or brown.” ‘The
old terms Bezcoar Bovinum, B. Hystricis, B. Sinia,
BL. Hominis (2), will of course explain themselves to
your zoological readers. As les tan

_Tne Moyarcu or tur Forrest.—The most mag-
nificcut oak ever known to liave grown in England
was probably that dug out of Hatfield bog; it was 120
fect in length, 12 in diameter at the base, 10 in the
middle, and 6 at the smaller end where broken off ;
so that the butt for 60 feet squared 7 feet of timber,
and 4 for its entire length. Twenty pounds were
offered for this tree—Awnapy’s Journal,

NOTES ON SOME BRITISH LAND AND
FRESH-WATER SHELLS.

Helix obvoluta.—The principal locality for this
shell is Ditcham Wood, Hampshire, where it may
be found in abundance, but may be overlooked by
one. who is not familiar with the habits of this
mollusk. The snail, like Bulimus montanus, is a
great climber, and may be seen on the trunks of
agus sylvatica as far up as the eye can distinguish
them—a peculiarity that is not noted in our manuals.
One, then, who would be repaid for his shell hunt
must take pattern from that, that he would secure
and ascend the trees; for among the moss and
leaves at the base only dead specimens are met with.
Living specimens of all ages show the epidermis
clothed with hairs.

Clausilia Mortilletii—In a list of the land and
fresh-water shells of the neighbourhood of Hastings,
inserted by me in the ‘‘ Magazine of Natural
History” and ‘ Naturalist,” 1858, p. 99, a variety
of C. Rolphi is alluded to, but is not referred to
any published form. My examples I subsequently
submitted for determination to Mr. W. Benson,
who at once recognised them as C. Mortilleti, This
species had only been then discovered two years,
and has been found in three localities—Charing, in
Kent; and Birdlip and Charlton, near Cheltenham.
I would now record a fourth, that of Hastings. I
have not seen indicated the character of the situa-
tions in which the Kentish and Gloucestershire
shells are found, but from the different conditions
under which I find C. RolpAi and its ally in the
Hastings district, 1 am convinced that the latter is
but a variety of the former. The C. Mortilleti is a
less ventricose shell, of a paler colour, and without
the small plaits; but all these variations may be
attributed to the differences that prevail inthe habits
of the respective forms. Thus var. Aortilleti [found
only in the damp and shady recesses of Coghurst
Wood, while C. Rolphi oecurred very plentifuily in
the dry and open parts of the wood at Fairlight Glen.
That C. Mortilleti isa mere synonym of C. Rolphi
I do not agree with.

Achatina acicula.—This shell has occurred to me
only in two districts—one, among the stones of the
walls of Hastings Castle; the other, on the Cotswold
poe over an extensive area—in the former
ocality at an elevation of 200 fect, and in the
sccond of 500 to 1,000 feet, above the level of the
sea. These situations are dry and bleak, and are not
habitats assigned to this species—for it is said to be
found at low altitudes, and only in a living state at
a depth of some inches beneath the surface. Are
these unobserved facts ?

Planorbis corneus.—My. J. G. Jeffreys writes of
the coil-shells, that ‘some of the smaller species of
Planorbis, inhabiting marshes and very shallow
water, which are dried up in summer, close the mouth
of their shell with an epiphragm or filmy covering
like that of some land-snails.” I have recently ob-
served this peculiarity in the largest of the British
species of that genus, P. corneuvs. Some living
specimens of this species, which I had taken from
the pond on Hampstead Heath in September last,
were placed in my botanical box, where they re-
mained disregarded for several days; on examining
them, I found that the mouths of both young and
old shells were closed by a pellucid pellicle of dried
mucus, and presenting a minute respiratory aperture
towards the lower corner, Rauru Tats, F.G.8,

62 SCIEN

FURTHER EXPERIENCES WITH TOADS.

My observations relate chiefly to the habits of the
toad whilst feeding, and may be taken as a second
chapter of H. D.’s very interesting paper (p. 12).

My toads, two in number, had “lived for a year or
twoima hothouse which was devoted to the growth

of pineapples. ‘They were, I think, first placed there
purposely by the oardener, who found them very
useful in destroying insects. I used frequently
to visit the place and amuse myself with feeding the
toads with worms, and with watching their habits.
The heat of the place, which was considerable, did
not seem to inconvenience them in the least, for
they were remarkably active, and of a large size ;
but at the same time they seemed greatly to enjoy
the artificial showers when the plants were syringed,
and would come out from their hiding-places to be
rained upon, They usually remained _ amongst the
pineapple plants, which grew on a bed raised some
four feet from the eround, where they sat under the
long leaves; but when the place was watered they
would not unfrequently j jump down and lie upon the
cool, wet tiles of the floor, spreading themselves out
as flat as possible. How they climbed up to the
pine-bed again L cannot say, for I never saw them
0.1

They evinced very little shyness, taking worms
readily when offered to them. When feeding, their
actions were very curious. Upon placing a worm
about three inches from a toad, it would instantly
fix its attention upon it. Then its whole appearance
was changed. Instead of the dull, lethargic-looking
animal that the toad generally appears, it was all
vivacity ; the body was ; instantly thrown somewhat
back, and the head bent a Tittle downwards, its
bright eye riveted upon its prey; and though ‘the
toad was perfectly ai as long as the worm remained

motionless or nearly so, yet ifs attitude and its eager
gaze were full of hfe and animation. Directly ihe
worm made any active movement, the toad would
dart forward, open its mouth from ear to ear, and
seize it, generally about the middle. A curious
scene now took place ; mouth and feet went to work
in good earnest; the worm was gulped down by a
series of spasmodic jerks, trying to make its escape
every time the mouth was opened, the toad thrusting
it back all the time, and forcing "it down its throat
by the aid of its fore fect. Altogether it was rather
a disgusting sight, and gave one the idea that the
toad is an uncommonly ereedy animal.

Having got the worm down was by no means a

‘cason that it would stay there, for I have some-
fifties seen a worm rather larger than usual make its
way up again; however, the feet would immediately

go to work a second time, and the toad would at
lengt h remain the undisputed possessor of its own
dinner.

Frequently Lused to cheat the toads by moving
a small twig before them. They would seize it
cirecily, imagining it to be a worm, and would
regard it with st upid astonishment when they dis-
covered their mistake.

i never had the good fortune to see my friends
ae c heetles or other small prey ; but these the gar-

loner told me were never seize d with the mouth,
nah were caught with unerring aim upon the point
of the loug tongue.

I observe that toads will sometimes establish

hemselves inside a cucumbe er-frame, where no doubt
they are very useful in destroying ants, spiders, and
other small inseets that would siterrare be very
troublesome,

CHE-GOSSIP.

i Marci 1, 1865.

SLUG OR SNAIL.

In answer to “ W. Q. C.’—What is the difference
between a snail and a slug?

The most obvious distinction between a slug and
a snailis, that the body of the former is elongated
and naked, while in the latter it is more or less
spiral, and “covered by a more or less spiral shell.

The ¢ gasteropods, animals such as the garden
snail, whelk, aud slug, have a distinct foot placed
under the body for crawling, and have a distinct
head with tentacles, or, as they are commonly called,
horns. They are divided into two great divisions—
Istly, those which breathe by means of gills, as the
whelk, a and chiefly inhabit the sea—some, however,
occur in our ponds and rivers; 2ndly, those which
breathe by means of a lung, as the carden snail ancl
pond snail, which latter, though living j in the water,
are obliged to come to the surface for the purpose
of inhaling the air.

Now, in both these divisions are animals provided
with shells, and others without them; to the first
we give the name of snails, and the second we call
slugs, And thus we have marine snails, as the

whelk ; slugs of the sea, as the sea hare; land and
fresh-water. snails, as the garden snail and pond
shells; and land slugs, which, however, are more
generally known as sin gs.

With regard to the land snails and slugs, which
are very similarly erences there occur many con-
necting links, from the pe rfectly naked and elongate
slug to the spirally- coiled garden-snail, capable of
retiring within its shell. The land easteropods of
our own island furnish us with ample illustrations
of forms intermediate between these two extremes.
In the first place, there is the common black slug
or land sole (Arion ater), without any shelly covering ;
then there naturally follows the spotted slug (Limaxr
maximus) of Our cellars and gardens, with the same
slug-like body, but is provided with a rudimentary
shell—where? Mark that oblong, shield-like ae
vation, immediately behind the head, as the animal
1s crawling ; beneath that you may find a thin, shelly
plate—this is the rudimentary shell. In a very re-
markable slug (Zestacellus haliotideus), a small ear-
shaped shell is placed externally at the hinder
extremity of the animal. More markedly, there is

the little green, glassy snail (Vitrina pellucida), so
frequent in our woods anongst moss and decaying
leaves, and rendered conspicuous by its green,
elassy_ shell; it is intermediate in form between the
slug and the snail, for it has the shield-like protu-
berance of the one and the spiral and external shell
of the other; and further, some of the species of
the genus (Vitrina) to which that snail belongs can-
not withdraw themselves into their shells. aoa

Tur Burrerriy anp THE Nertie.—Watch the
beauteous Vanessa Atalanta butterfly, lovely as the
rose over which she flutters—see her sporting in the
balmy air as if she had derived her origin from
heaven, and was returning thither. But when she
has_ to provide for her future progeny, does she
deposit her eggs on the brilliant flowers where she
spent her bridal? No! she retires to the nettles,
and there safely leaves the infant embryo of a future

race secure amidst the armature of the Urtice. Thus
a host of insects are sustained by an apparently use-
less weed, which is itself kept within due bounds by
the cater pillars that feed upon it.—Ldiein Lee.

Manca 1, 1865.

SCIENCE-GOS SIP.

63

Z00LO0GY.

Capture or Bapgenrs.—Six badgers, two old
ones and four young ones, were captured together in
April, 1863, at Stanner-rocks, near Kington. The
young ones were supposed to be about five weeks
old. The old ones and three of the young ones were
preserved by Mr. J. B. Smith, of Kington.—J. IV. L.

THe Porpoisze.—l regret to have to state that
the porpoise, which I lately deseribed as having
been brought alive to the Zoological Gardens, is
dead. We suppose that the cause of death was,
either that the severe frost chilled htm so much that
even his thick greatcoat of blubber was not able to
protect him, or else that he died from eating too
many pounds of eels and sprats. The porpoise has
been sent to the Royal College of Surgeons, where
he will probably one day figure as a beautiful white
skeleton. We do not yet despair of getting a tam
porpoise, and possibly, some day or other, a whale.—
frank Buckland, i The Field.

Kees oF THE Lanp-Tortorsr.—Some years ago
I became the possessor of a land-tortoise of about ten
inchesin length, which I placedina walled fruit-garden.
At first it was decidedly of a retiring disposition, sub-
siding into its shell on the gentlest approach or the
slightest noise; but after a short acquaintance it
became quite familiar, and would take from my hand
lettuce-leaves, bread-and-milk, and such-like delica-
cies. In the summer it was found necessary to restrict
its liberty, for after destroying the hearts of innumer-
able lettuces, it showed an inordinate affection for
strawberries, and, as it always chose the ripest and
best, would crush half-a-dozen in the attempt to
reach one which particularly attracted its fancy.
During the winter it resided generally among the
manure of the hot-bed, crawling out on a sunny
day, and tilting its shell against the wall, so as to
catch all the sun’s rays possible (resembling in this
respect the more famous tortoise with which every
reader of Gilbert White’s “Selborne” must be
acquainted), but quickly retiring when the sunshine
passed away, or the least shower fell; indeed, it
showed a wholesome dislike to water generally.
When I had had it about a year, the gardener, in
turning over an old cabbage-bed, dug up three eggs,
which, undoubtedly, belonged to the tortoise. ‘hey
were about the size of pigeons’ eggs, but more
rounded, with hard, unpolished, white shells; and
one, which was accidentally broken, contained an
abundant pale yellow yolk. The other two were
placed in a bag of mould, in the greenhouse, for
some time, but were eventually blown, and added
to a collection of eggs. Like most pets, my poor
tortoise came to an untimely end; a boy, at work
in the garden, met it in its travels, and, attacking it
with mistaken zeal, quickly deprived me of my
tortoise, and the poor creature of its existence.—
Gul BR:

A Fasrtz.—* T have something more to ask you,”
said a young eagle to a learned, melancholy owl;
“men say there is a bird, named Merops,. who,
when he rises in the air, flies with his tail upwards,
and his head towards the ground; is that true?”
* Certainly not!” answered the owl, “itis only a
foolish tradition of man; he is himsclf a Merops,
for he would fly to heaven without for a moment
losing sight of earth.”—Lessing.

Tue Sxytarx.—Last December I frequently saw
and heard the skylark in this neighbourhood (about
four miles west of Glasgow) ; and early last February
I also saw and heard the same bird during a fall of
sleet! It can therefore, in my humble opinion, be
affirmed of the d/auda vulgaris that January is the
only month in which the music is not heard.—P. 8.

SWALLOWS UNDER THE Haves.—One summer, we
were much troubled with swallows building under
the eaves of our house. We tried knocking the
nests down continually, but to no purpose: they
built again. A friend, seeing us thus employed, re-
commended our rubbing the place where they built
with soft soap, which answered perfectly, as the clay
would not adhere where the soft soap had been
rubbed.—Z. IV.

Dovsin-yotKED Heas.—Seeing this subject
quoted in your last number, I mention the following
fact, which I know to be true:—One of my family
had a goose sitting on twelve eggs, one of which was
double-sized. When the time of hatching came, a
beak was seen at each end, and two perfect goslings

came out. The twelve eggs produced thirteen
goslings. The twins were as fine as the others, and

lived a fortnight, when they were killed by an
accident.—L, IV.

SANDPIPER DIVING WHEN WouUNDED.—In answer
to A. M. B.’s query as to the behaviour of the com-
mon sandpiper (Zotanus hypoleucos) when wounded,
allow me to say that, as far as my personal know-
ledge extends, this bird does dive when wounded.
I shot one (April 29th, 1863) as it was flymg up
the river Tour. The bird fell on a little spit of
land, jutting out from the opposite bank; and, just
as lwas going round to secure it, congratulating
myself on its feathers being dry, as [ wished to have
it stuffed, it dived straight across to where I was
standing, and then paddled up the bed of ihe river
very quickly, using—wounded as it was—both legs
and wings as propellers whilst under the water.
The stream was clear, and only about three or four
feet deep at the spot; so that 1 could clearly see its
every movement. After a little wading and trouble,
T caught it.—A. J. N. AZ, Taunton.

Preservinc Brrps anp Animats.—In No. 2
of Scrence-Gossie I see amongst the ‘‘ Notices to
Correspondents” a paragraph relating to this sub-
ject. Now, allow me to give you the recipe of a
powder and solution that [I have used for some
time, and which I find to answer in every respect, as
well as arsenical soap. Besides, it has the advantage
of not being so dangerous as that compound from the
use of which scrious consequences often result,
owing to its getting between the nails or into any
cut that the operator may have on his fingers when
using it.

POWDER FOR PRESERVING THE SKINS OF BrrDs,
Etc. — Nutgalls, 1 ounce; corrosive sublimate, 2
drachms; white arsenic, 2 drachms; powdered
camphor, 6 drachms; sal ammoniac, + ounce; pow-
dered capsicum, 4 ounce. Mix all well together.

SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING BIRDS AND QUADRU-
PEDS.—Corrosive sublimate, 1 drachm; spirit of
salts, 2 drachms; spirits of camphor, 6 ounces.
Dissolve the corrosive sublimate in the spirit, and
add the acid.

The above recipes are from Mr. Gardnev’s useful
little work, “Taxidermy, or, Bird-stufling made
easy."—J, Aspdin, Richmond, Yorkshire.

OL

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Marcu I, 1865.

ReED-BACKED SurikE, Lesser Butcher-Bird (La-
nius collurio)—Mudie, in his description of the
above-named bird, observes that “the larger beetles
appear to be the principal food of these birds, though
they are also a to eat mice and to kill little birds,
much after the fashion of the great shrike. There
is, however, a want of precision in the description of
their habits, as they seem to have been mixed up
with those of the other; and they are given by
British ornithologists more at second hand than
from observation.” Now, certainly, in Montagu’s
Ornithological Dictionary, edited by J. Rennie, there
is a mixing up of the two species; for the great
shrike (Lanius excubitor) is an extremely rare bird
in England; and I much question if it has ever
been known to breed here; and yet, he makes the
following quotation from Knapp, the Gloucestershire
naturalist, under the head of the larger butcher-
bird :—“1 could never observe that this bird de-
stroyed others smaller than itself, or even fed upon
flesh. I have hung up dead young birds, and even
parts of them, near their nests, but never found
that. they were touched by the shrike.’ It was
evidently the red-backed shrike which Mr. Knapp
was here speaking of, which is not uncommon in ie
part of Gloucestershire where he resided ; it could
not be the species to which Montagu applies this
passage from the naturalist. After alluding to these
opinions by well-known writers on ornithology, it
has oceurred to me that a little incident, which fell
under my own observation when on a visit to Lyme
Regis, two summers ago, may be worth insertion in
your entertaining periodical. While walking along
afield pathway near the town, I noticed ared-backed
shrike making a great fluttermg and bustle near the
top of a high hedge, at a short distance off; and
after watching his movements for a few minutes, I
crossed the grass to the spot, in order to ascertain
what could be the cause of the disturbance, when I
discovered a small branch with peculiarly long
thorns, on one of which a young robin still warm
had just been fixed; and on adjoining thorns were
the wings of some other young bird, also the ske-
leton of a small mouse and portions of beetles. I
had evidently lighted wpon the larder of a pair of
butcher-birds. Again, last summer, when crossing
a field in the same neighbourhood, a bird flew across
me with great difficulty apparently from being en-
tangled with a piece of wood; it alighted in a pollard
elm close by; and thither 1 followed it; on clapping
my hands, out came a butcher-bird, carrying in its
claws, as I think, a young thrush; at all events the
bird it was carrying looked much larger than itself.
It struggled on to another tree near; andthe ground
being very steep and much timbered, I was unable
to follow it up with sufficient promptitude to compel
it to drop its prey. However, these two incidents
oxrove beyond a doubt that this little bird, scarcely
ee than a house-sparrow, does destroy other
birds, and does likewise transfix them upon thorns,
in order, we may suppose, more conveniently to feed
upon them.—#H. 8. 8.

Water-prprt (Anthus spinoletta).—At the meeting
of the Zoological Society, January 24th, My. Sclater
exhibited a specimen of this continental bird from
the Collection of the Bishop of Oxford, stated to
have been obtained near Brighton in the winter of
1859-1860.—The Reader. We hope to give further
information of the oceurrence of this bird in the
British isles in our next.—Ld. 8. G.

Weaturr Forrronp py tur Ropin.—lew ob-
servers of nature can have passed unheeded the

|

sweetness aud peculiarity of the song of the robin,
and its various mdications of atmospheric changes;
the mellow liquid notes of spring and summer, the
melancholy sweet pipings of autumn, and the jerking
chirps of winter. In spring, when about to change
his winter song for the vernal, he, for a short time,
warbles in so unusual a strain, as, at first, to startle
and puzzle even those ears most experienced in the
notes of birds. He may be considered as part of
the naturalist’s barometer. On a summer evening,
though the weather be im an unsettled and rainy
state, he sometimes takes his stand—

“On the topmost twig that looks up to the sky,”
or on the housetop, singing cheerfully and sweetly.
When this is observed, it is an unerring promise of
succeeding fine days. Sometimes, though the atmo-
sphere be dry and warm, he may be seen melancholy,
Ae and brooding in a bush, or low in a hedge ;
this promises the reverse of his merry lay and exalted
station. —G@. 7. Goodwin.

AnotueEr Swirt rn Dirricuttries.—One evening,
shortly before dusk, my attention was drawn to a
swift (Cypselus apus) endeavouring to cling on the
plaistered side of a house. This it attempted several
times, but from the evenness of the surface it could
not manage to stay for any time, and invariably
slipped down. After each futile effort, it would take
a short circle in the air, and then return, to be again
foiled. At last it seemed to give it up as useless,
and flew off some distance, mingling with others who
were sporting near; but they immediately pursued
it, and drove it from them. Then it returned to the
house, and renewed its efforts; at last, when dark-
ness had set in, and all the other swifts had gone to
their nests, this bird managed to cling to some slight
projection; and as it evidently intended to remain
there during the night, I was anxious to find out the
cause of this occurrence; so about ten o’clock p.m.
I mounted my insect-net upon a stout fishing-rod,
and, with the further assistance of a ladder, managed
to place the net over the bird (having previously
ascertained its whereabouts with the aid of a lantern).
Upon examining it, I found the legs had become en-
taugled in a quantity of fine cotton, and this I
imagine was the cause of the exclusion from the
society of other birds; but how it became thus en-
tangled I know not, unless some sparrow had taken
the cotton, for domestic purposes, into the same hole
in which the swift also had its nest, or while purloin-
ing materials from the nest of a sparrow (I have seen
it mentioned that it does do such things), it had met
with the misfortune alluded to.—4. B. Lf’,

Tue Brampiinc. — During the recent severe
weather large flocks of the brambling, or mountain
finch (Lringilla montifringilla), have been observed
in this neighbourhood. The bird is a native of
the northern parts cf Europe, and is only known
to us as a winter visitant. It is of handsome ap-
pearance, and rather larger than the chaflinch,
which, m habits, it closely resembles. Although
few winters pass without our being visited by a few
of these birds, the large number that have been
observed this season is unusual, and is, in all proba-
bility, occasioned by the state of weather, as regu-
lating the direction and extent of their migration
southwards.—dlnwich Mercury, R. T.

Cave Sararon.—Under this name the “ Geel-
beck ” (Ofolithus equidens), one of the edible fishes
of the Cape, has been eulogized. Dr. Pappe says,
“the flesh is dry, but fit for salting. It forms food
for the poor and lazy.’ Why call it Cape Salmon ?

Marcu 1, 1865.]

SCLENCE-GOSSIP. 65

Sprpers’ Weps.— When we walk ona bright sum-
mer’s morning alongside our garden walls, those who
have avery quick eyesight, or a common eyeglass, may
see the net-like webs of the common garden spider
studded with minute drops glittering like dew ; but
as these do not evaporate when the sun advances,
they must be something more substantial. Under
the microscope, they will be seen arranged with
beautiful regularity on the cross-bars of the web
only. They are viscid to the touch; the web, in this
way, being delicately lined, to take the smallest in-
sects striking against it. When mounted as objects
for the microscope, as they often are, the surprising
fact at length grows upon us, that these minute
beads of fluid, though kept in dry rooms and cabinets
for months, and even years, never dry up, and appa-
rently never change. What makes up these little
persistent globules, and how are they arranged so
evenly? Ifa newly-spun web is brought down upon
a slip of glass, and made to adhere to it, the viscid
drops spread upon the surface, and show a little
nucleus or core of gum in the centre of each ; it will
be seen too, that the viscid fluid surrounds not only
the cores but the whole line of the cross-bar, being
collected only moze copiously on the little cores
dotted along it, and which have served as centres of
attraction; but for these, the fluid, when poured
upon the web, would have run into larger drops and
fallen to the ground, or at least have been unequally
distributed. The cores adhere but loosely to the
web, and may be easily moved with a fine mounted
hair; and, in doing so, it will be found that the
cross bars, unlike the other lines of the web, are
highly elastic. If the fresh viscid drops (still under
the microscope) are made to touch blue litmus paper,
they instantly sink into and redden it. The com-
mon solution of chloride of calcium also reddens the
test paper; and it seems not unlikely that to the
presence of this, or some other highly deliquescent
salt, the undrying nature of the viscid fluid may be
due. This spider’s web is a complicated structure,
and is composed of various materials: the side and
radial lines of a fluid, which, like silk, hardens as it
leaves the spinneret; the elastic cross bars which
never harden, the little cores of transparent gum
dotted along them, and the saline and viscid fluid
poured over all; and yet, upon close examination of
the spinneret, it is comprehensible that the web
should be completed at one operation, that is, that
no part of it higuld be gone over twice. A view of
the insect at her work might clear up this point, and
our fern-cases might, perhaps, be turned to further
good account for this purpose. But the spiders
have now gone into winter quarters, and we must
wait another summer. Meantime these few facts
and queries may show us that there is something

yet to learn of this curious and beautiful structure.— -

S.S., tt Gardeners Chronicle,
)

Lists or Acart.—Can you refer me to complete
list of Acari?—R. B.

Kocn’s continuation of Hahn’s Arachniden; and
Koch’s series of Apterous Insects in Henrich
Schaffer’s continuation of Panze:’s German Insects,
contain the most complete series of deart, An
excellent summary is given in Walckenaer’s Hist.
Nat. Ins. Apteres, in the Suites & Buffon, vols. 3
and 4,—J. O. WV.

Empryonic Devrtorment.—All organs spring
from a blastema, which is primarily composed of
sarcode, and gradually assume their special features
afterwards ; but when first perceived they differ only
in size from the adult forms. The embryo, in point of
fact, isa miniature of the perfect being. In the course
of development every animal exhibits very strange
phenomena, both as to its entire economy, and in
regard to special organs; and this is particularly
the case with reference to mammalia. Daily, ay,
even hourly, the scene is changed, and this unsettled
condition applies not only to essential, but also to
merely accessory organs. One might fancy that
nature was feeling her way to a conclusion. Here
may be seen cavities being gradually partitioned off,
divided, as it were, into distinct chambers, or drawn
out in the form of canals, which, in their turn, are
often refilled with solid matter, and converted into
ligaments ; in another locality we observe previously
solid masses transformed into cavities, membranous
folds being rolled out into tubes, isolated portions of
tissue drawn together to form a continuous organ,
or even a mass hitherto entire, being cut up into
several new structures. Not only the form and
proportions, but the relations also of the various
mechanisms are being momentarily altered. Parts
which at first had been closely related separate from
each other and become distinct, and organs which
had heretofore been distant from each other form
ties of close alliance. Those apparatus whose
office is a temporary one rapidly increase in size,
acquire an enormous volume, and eventually dis-
appear altogether. Others are arrested in their
growth at a certain period, and, though all the
organs in their neighbourhood continue their de-
velopment, yet they remain in their primitive con-
dition, and may be detected in the adult, where
they testify to a former state of things very different
from the existing one. Thus we perceive that the
history of embryonic development may be summed
up as consisting in incessant transformations and
constantactivity.—Quatrefages’ Metamorphoses, trais-
lated by Dr. Lawson,

Tue TRRATIONALE oF SrpeEcH.—To the minute
philosopher, who holds that things are strange in
proportion to their commonness ; that the fit attitude
for the human mind is that of habitual wonder; and
that true science, so far from explaining phenomena,
only shows that they are inexplicable, or likely to
be so, not merely as to their final, but as to their
proximate causes ;—to him, I say, few things seem
more miraculous than human speech. He has not
time to ascend to the higher question of the meta-
ohysies of language; not even to that first question,

ow did the human race ever make the surprising
discovery that objects might be denoted by symbols,
by names; and how did they communicate that
discovery to each other? Puzzling as that question
is, he is stopped short of it in wonder by a puzzle
equally great—by the mere physical fact of articula-
tion, which man has in common with the parrot and
the daw.—The Lrrationale of Speech.

Movuntine Potyzoa.—A correspondent desires
to be informed of any process by means of which he
may be able to mount specimens of the Po/yzoa in
their expanded state. He has sought the informa-
tion in various text-books, and tried several methods,
alike without success,

Fr

66 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Marcu 1, 1865.

aes an

ENTOMOLOGY.

Insects Frrpine on Ferns.—H. M., ina paper
on “The Preservative Power of Ferns,” which
appeared. in the February number of ScrENcE-
GossrP, says, “ I cannot now recall to my recollec-
tion ever having seen the larvee of any lepidopterous
insect: feeding upon the fronds of our common ferns,
nor do I remember having noticed insects of any
orders resting upon them, unless it were for shelter
during rain”? 1 beg to inform the said writer, and
any who may feel an interest in the subject, that,
having a small garden in the heart of Cheltenham,
I have planted ferns along one sheltered and shady
side of it, and for the last two summers the larvee
of the great tiger-moth (Arctia caja) has been a
perfect pest. When I first observed my bunches of
lady-fern (Athyrium filiv femina) had been attacked
by an insect, I examined each closely without de-
tecting the intruder. I then gave the plants a
shake, and two or three of the little hairy cater-
pillars fell to the ground. Having for many years
reared the various species, lepidoptera, diurnal and
nocturnal, I was pretty sure I knew this furry little
gentleman; but accustomed to prove things for the
satisfaction of others, as well as myself, | put two
of them im a box, covering it with green gauze,
and giving it a supply of food, not of my Athyrinm
though, but of the common plantain (P. major)
where I regularly fed it till its change came, an
when from its pupa sleep it evolved into the imago.
Behold, I was right, Aretia caja displayed its
gorgeous wings. But in the meantime, what of my
ferns? A few days after having caught the first
spoilers, 1 went to look at my ferns again, and to
my consternation the Athyriums, which had been
looking lovely only a week before, were completely
eaten bare to the midrib, or rachis and secondary
rachids, scarcely a bit of the soft part of the fronds
remained, and on the little that was left, the “ woolly
bears’ were sedulously at work. I then observed
some fine specimens of jilia-mas had been attacked
and half demolished, also some of the other Lastreas,
especially Z. emula and dilatata, the latter the last
to be attacked. They also attacked my royal ferns
(Osmunda regalis), and had entirely destroyed one
or two fronds before I observed their depradations
in that quarter. Morning by morning myself and
a servant used to go out, and take from 25 to 30
sometimes off one plant, which, unwillmg as I am
to destroy life, I was obliged to suffer to be crushed,
their numbers were so prodigious. What I have
above related took place last summer, and the
summer before the last, namely, in 1864 and in 1868.
When the Athyrium, the Lastreas, and Osmunda fail,
these animals are not too dainty to put up with
Polystichum lobatum, but they prey upon that only
when they can get nothing more tender.—I/. G. C.

ARTAXERXES Burrerrry (Polyommatus Arta-
verves)—On the 17th August last, I obtained seven
eons of this butterfly, with other species, on
the drift sandhills at New Brighton, near Liverpool,
and have every reason to suppose that they fal be
as plentiful this coming season.—John W. Love.

Tue Hive-Ber anv rts Strne.—I have recently
met with astatement to the effect that the use of the
sting is always fatal to the hive-bee. How does this
accord with the generally received fact that when
there are two rival queens, the one is killed by the
sting of the other, who becomes monarch of the hive?
On the above hypothesis, the contest ought to be
equally fatal to both.— IV. IL. G.

Crickets AND CockroacHes.—In allusion to Mr.
Ranson’s observations (see p. 42), the editor of
The Entomologist, in No. 11, states :—‘ Mr. Ranson
is not the first to propose the patronizing of crickets
on account of their presumed tendency to extirpate,
or at least to drive away, the cockroaches ; regarded
as hypothetical the idea is excellent, but reduced to
practice it is scarcely so satisfactory : my own expe-
rience is that the two creatures live together in
exuberant abundance, and in the most sociable
communion, in the kitchen of—Adward Newman.”
With this extract our own experience harmonizes.
A correspondent gives the following reason in favour
of Mr. Ranson’s hypothesis :—‘ Often have I caught
a cockroach and placed it by the hole of a cricket,
and have not had to wait long before a cricket (some-
times half the size of the cockroach) would make his
appearance,and carry it away, and as I supposed to
eat it; but to make sure of that, I caught both a
cricket and a cockroach, and put them together
under a glass, where I left them for a day. Upon
paying them a visit there was only the cricket anda
few bits of the cockroach. From that time I have
not doubted whether the former eat the latter.’—
Charles Stanley Barnes. Another correspondent,
H. D. C., recommends the importation of a hedge-
hog into the kitchen as the safest cure for the plague
of cockroaches.

BOTANY.

AxPIng Rost (Rosa alpina, Dev) Av PrRtH.—
Dr. White recently announced that he had gathered
this rose in the depths of the woods on Kinnoul
Hill, near Perth, where it seems to have fairly
established itself. This plant is not uncommon on
the Continent.

A New Bristin-moutp.—A fourth species of the
venus Chetomium has been found in this country.
This is C. murorum, Corda. Tt is one of the small
fungi occurring on decaying straw, damp paper, &c.
The perithecium is generally clothed with rigid
bristles, and each looks like a small tuft of nearly
black mould on the surface of the substance upon
which it vegetates.

Tue Coppter Boranist.—Mr. Richard Buxton,
who_ nearly twenty years ago wrote a_“ Botanical
Guide to the Flowering Plants, Ferns, Mosses, and
Alege found indigenous within eighteen miles of
Manchester,” died on the 2nd January, in the 81st
year of his age. “ When abouttwelve years of age,”
ie says of himself, “I went to learn the trade of a
bat-maker—that is, a maker of children’s small
leathern shoes. ‘There I continued about a year
and a half, and then went and worked with one
James Hyde for several years. At this time I was
quite unable to read, and therefore got a spelling-
book to teach myself. I soon became master of it ;
and then proceeded to the New Testament, &c. Iam
well aware,” he adds, “that the narrative of the life
of a poor man like myself, who has had the greatest
difficulty in procuring the necessities of life in a
worn-out trade like that of a child’s leather-shoe
maker, and in delivering a few newspapers on a
Saturday, is anything but interesting.” In this as-
sertion he is mistaken ; there is great interest in the
history of a life devoted, under severe difficulties, to
the pursuit of science, and honourably closed at
last. Peace to thy manes, O Buxton! for what thou
ah contributed to the feeé of elildren and the heads
of men.

Marcu J, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 67

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Frora.—Mr. James Britten
is collecting notes for a Flora of Buckinghamshire.
Any communications relative to the plants of this
county may be addressed to 18, Shawfield-street,
Chelsea, S.W.

Matz Fern ss an ANTHELMINTIC.—(In reply to
A. B.)—The dose of recently prepared powder is
from one to three drachms—of oil, or ethereal ex-
tract, from half a drachm to a drachm, in the form
of electuary, emulsion, or pills.—Pereira’s Materia
Medica. Jt is not our province to give prescrip-
tions. We believe that the green fronds are used
for packing.

Fist Istanps Frora.—The first part of Dr. B.
Seemann’s “Flora Vitiensis,” or Flora of the Fiji
Islands, has just appeared.

Mossts Accumutatine Soit.—In March, 1842,
I took from the tiled roof of an outbuilding, at
Malvern Wells, a tuft of Brywm capillare, a moss
very common on walls and rocks. This tuft, with
the black soil collected at its base, weighed six
ounces, and on carefully extracting the mould by
repeated washings, the actual vegetation that re-
mained did not amount in weight to oze ounce; the
moss having thus, on a bare surface of tile, upon
which it had been cast by wind or rain, not only
subsisted itself, but amassed by its retentive quali-
ties, a rich humus, above five times its own weight.
—Lidwin Lees’ Botanical Look-out.

Iyrropucep Prants.—I quote the following from
the current number of a Lincolnshire paper :—
“Nearly all the favourite flowers in England are
exotics: the honeysuckle and hawthorn are from
America; the daffodil, from Italy; the foxglove,
from the Canaries; asparagus, from Asia; the goose-
berry, from Flanders ; and the raspberry, from Ame-
rica; the hop-plant came from the Netherlands.”
Seeing that the hawthorn and honeysuckle are both
mentioned by Chaucer, who died in 1400, and that
the discovery of America by Columbus dates 1492,
we must either suppose that the father of English
poetry had a marvellous insight into the future, or
that the editor of the newspaper has fallen ito
error. The other statements do not require com-
ment.—B,

Gemae or Mosses.—Will you inform me what
is among botanists understood to be the function of
the so-called gemme of Zetraphis pellucida and
Aulacomnion androgynum? Few will have long fol-
lowed the search for and examination of mosses
without meeting with these interesting species.
The beautiful golden baskets filled with bright green
apples, that at this season ornament the one, and
the bunches of pears that, grouped together on a
slender stem, adorn the other, are, under a micro-
scope with a low power, among the prettiest of
vegetable things. Are these apples and pears of
the nature of seeds, spores, off-sets, or really buds ?
for, surely, they are not, as some have suggested,
only rudimentary leaves.—C. F. W._ [They are ge-
nerally regarded as reproductive buds, analogous to
the bulbels of some flowering plants; their function
being, within certain limits, the perpetuation of the
species. In Zetraphis pellucida they arise from the
centre of abortive female flowers. Of a similar
character are the threads produced on the leaves of
some species of Orthotrichum and the granules of
Pottia cavifolia.—Ed. S. G.)

CiustER-cups.—If we take a stroll away from the
busy haunts of men, though only for a short dis-
tance,—say, for example (if from London), down to
New Cross,—and along the slopes of the railway-
cutting, we shall be sure to find the plant called the
goatsbeard (Zragopogon pratensis) in profusion. In
May or June the leaves and unopened involucres of
this plant will present a singular appearance, as if
sprinkled with gold-dust, or rather, being deficient
in lustre, seeming as though some fairy folk had
scattered over them a shower of orange-coloured
chrome or turmeric powder. Examine this singular
phenomenon more closely, and the poetry about the
pixies all vanishes; for the orange powder will be
seen to have issued from the plant itself. A pocket-
lens, or a Coddington, reveals the secret of the
mysterious dust. Hundreds of small orifices, like
little yellow cups, with a fringe of white teeth
around their margins, will be seen thickly scattered
over the under-surface of the leaves. ‘These cups
(called peridia) will appear to have burst through
the epidermis of the jeat and elevated themselves
above its surface, with the lower portion attached
to the substratum beneath. In the interior of these
cup-like excrescences, or peridia, a quantity of the
orange-coloured, satiation dust remains, whilst
much of it has been shed and dispersed over the
unoccupied portions of the leaves, the stems, and
probably on the leaves of the grass or other plants
growing in its immediate vicinity. These little cups
are fungi, the yellow dust the spores or ultimate
representatives of seed.— Rust, Smut, Mildew, and
Mould,

Tar Prnevicuta (P. grandiflora). — What
prompts me to write a brief description of this re-
markable little plant is the feeling that it is, pro-
bably, not very well known to most of my readers.
On account of its local habits, ] was at first under
the impression that it grew only in the bogs of the
south of Ireland, where I have seen it flourish in
great luxuriance. I noticed it later in the Gap of
Dunloe, near the Lakes of Killarney. And I find
by personal observation that it attains almost as fine
a growth on some of the mountain-side morasses of
Wales, especially in the district of the lead mines
in Radnorshire and Cardiganshire. It always in-
habits boggy or peaty soils that have a constant
supply of moisture. When walking in any of its
habitats, a flat cireular tuft of glossy light yellow
leaves is sure to meet the eye even of a very careless
observer. It has a small fibrous root, which does
not penetrate far into the soil. It flowers about the
beginning of summer. At this season there spring
from the centre of the tuft six or seven slender up-
right stalks, varying from two to three inches n
height. These support flowers, in shape much like
the common garden nasturtium, but about the size
of a large violet, and of a rich ee colour. The
leaves, which are very juicy, are said by the peasants
to be poisonous to sheep. The Pinguicula derives
its name, probably, from the Latin adjective pizguis,
fat, wa being a diminutive termination, on account
of its succulent leaves. It is called grandiflora, to
distinguish it from another and smaller pinguicula,
which bears pale pink flowers. I have tried several
means of keeping the plant alive, by transporting
with it a quantity of its native soil, and by giving It
a continual supply of moisture; but this and every
other plan of mine has failed, yet I have not given
up all hopes of preserving it away from its native
marshes.

EF 2

[Mancu 1, 1865.

GEOLOGY.

Tue Stupy or THE Past History or Wxistine
Species or PLants.—Ina recent paper on the “Oni-
in of the British Flora,” it was suggested, in proof of
its probable antiquity, that ligneous as well as herba-
ceous plants may have been preceded by numerous
eenerations. If we confine our remarks to the
existing species of oak, elm, maple, pine, yew, and
cedar, some of which we know to have lived for
hundreds of years, and, in the case of yew and
cedar, from fiftecn hundred to two thousand years—
since inductive science is not able to make us
understand extra-natural phenomena—we can only
determine the probable number of generations
which have preceded the birth of these monarchs
of the forest, or their botanical dynasty, by an
appeal to the testimony of the rocks. We kuow
from the evidence of the rocks, that existing vege-
tation is only a continuation, through numerous
eeological changes, of an anterior vegetation. How
long, then, have the existing species of oak, elm,
maple, pine, yew, and cedar, been in existence? at
what geological epoch were they introduced? and
{o what extinct species is their ancestry traceable ?
An attempt to answer these questions has yet to
be made. Our most eminent living geologists—
Lyell and Prestwich—will acknowledge as much.
Very little has yet been done in quaternary geology
by botanists, and what has been done seems to us
to be most unsatisfactory. The question as to the
successive epochs at which existing species have
made their appearance can only be determined by a
careful study of the botanical remains found in, com-
paratively speaking, recent geological formations ;
and as leaves appear to be the most common forms
in which these remains are found, in many instances
the nervation being most beautifully preserved, it
follows that the careful study of the nervation of
the leaves of existing species is a very suitable pre-
paration for these researches. As a means of en-
abling us to study the ramifications of the nerves
in the leaf, the process of nature-printing offers us
most invaluable aid. When we consider how
exceedingly polymorphous the leaves are on most
plants; how leaves, in the neighbourhood of the
flower, lose their lobes, teeth, and other incisions,
and take an entire edge, or lose their petiole and
become sessile, sliding imperceptibly into bracts,
and then into the sepals of the calyx, it must be
obvious that in the case of vegetable remains, where
leaves only are found, in determining a fossil plant
from its leaf, we must fall back on characters more
constant, and therefore more reliable. These cha-
racters are furnished by the nervation of the leaves.
Unhappily, we have not at present any work in the
Hnglish language in which a classification of the
various types of leaves has bcen effected, founded
on characters taken from their nervation. The only
work to which we can refer the reader is an exceed-
mgly expensive one, published by the Austrian
government. ‘In this work tre Austrian flora has
been copied by the nature-printing process. A
separate work has also been published on the ner-
vation of leaves. Thereis nothing to prevent such
English botanists, whose neighbourhoods afford the
necessary facilities, from working in this novel and
deeply interesting field. We want a list of our living
plants, and the relative ages of the geological form-
ations in which they are found. The most recent
beds are the most important, as bearing direetly
upon this question, as to the antiquity of the exist-
ing species of ligneous plants. We most earnestly

call the attention of botanists to this subject, re-
minding them that, wherever a plant is found,
whether on the earth’s surface or in its interior, it
is legitimate botanizing territory. It is certain that
nature is now preserving in modern lacustrine,
fluviatile, and estuarine deposits, specimens of
existing species; we know that she has done so at
former epochs; it is, therefore, apparent that it is
only in these modern formations that the lost
links will be discovered which unite the present
with the former plant creations. HG:

Tne Orprer or Succession IN tHE Drirt-
BEDs oF THE IstAnp or Arran.—At a meeting of
the Geological Society (Jan. 25), Dr. J. Bryce read a
paper on this subject. “In a paper read last year
before the Royal Society of Edmburgh, the Rev.
R. B. Watson described all these beds as boulder-
clay, and did not assign the shells which he had
discovered in them to any particular part of the
deposit. Dr. Bryce dissented from this view, and
in this paper pointed out the various causes of error
likely to mislead an observer in examining such
accumulations. He then described the various
sections of the deposits, and showed that. the lowest
bed is a hard, tough, unstratified clay, full of striated,
smoothed, and polished stones of all sizes, but
totally devoid of fossils, and that it is, in fact, the true
old boulder-clay of the geologists of the west of
Scotland. The shells are entirely confined to a bed
of clay of open texture, contaiming a few small
stones ; it rests immediately on the boulder-clay as
above defined, and is succeeded by various drift-
beds, consisting of seams of clay and sand inter-
mingled, containing stones that are rarely striated,
and without shells. Dr. Bryce then discussed the
probable origin of these drifts, and the amount of
depression which the land had sustained before the
shell-bed was deposited over the boulder-clay, which
he considered to have been formed by land-ice
emanating from central snow-fields, and covering
the whole surface of the country.”—The Reader.

Tue OccuRRENCE OF Breps IN THE WEST OF
SCOTLAND IN THE PosITIoN oF THE ENGLISH
Crac.—Dr. Bryce also read a paper on this subject at
the same time and place as the last. “In conse-
quence of the results arrived at from the investiga-
tion of the drift-beds of Arran, Dr. Bryce determined
to examine all the recorded cases of fossils occurring
in the boulder-clay, the Chapel Hall case having,
however, been already undertaken by the Rev. H.
W. Crosskey. The most celebrated case is that of
the occurrence of elephant-remains at Kilmaurs,
near Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire; and the author
showed, from a section of the quarry exposed for
the purpose by Mr. Turner, of Dean Castle, which
corresponded exactly with one already furnished to
him by an aged quarryman, that the elephant-remains,
the reindcer’s horn, and the shells, all occurred in
beds below the boulder-clay, and not 7 that
deposit, as has always been stated. The same
conclusion was arrived at respecting the occur-
rence of elephant-remains at. Airdrie and Bishop-
briggs, and of reindeer’s horn with shells at
Croftamie; and the author concluded by discussing
the question whether the fossils belong to the
Upper Crag period, or merely indicate a downward
extension of the Arctic fauna which characterizes
the beds directly above the boulder-clay, as described
in the last paper.”

Marcu 1, 1865.]

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

69

MICROSCOPY.

Potten Grains or Cepar.—l have a small quan-
tity of the Pollen of the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus
Libant), which forms an interesting object for the
microscope. I shall be happy to dole out my little
stock, as far as it will go, to any who like to send
me a stamped enyclope. W.H.G., 19, Claremont
Square, N.

BatsaM AND CoLoROFoRM.—(In answer to W. G.)
—This liquid is very convenient in some cases ; as alr-
bubbles are much more easily got rid of than when
undiluted Canada balsam is used. It also dries
readily, as the chloroform evaporates very quickly,
for which reason it must be preserved in a closely-
stoppered bottle. It has been said that this mixture
becomes cloudy with long keeping, but I have not
found it so in any cases where I have used it.
Should it, however, become so, a little heat will
readily dispel the opacity.—Davies on Mounting
Microscopie Objects.

Arr-Biappers oF Fisu.—The following account
of a microscopical observation may possibly be new to
some of the readers of the Sctpnce Goss1p.—In pre-
paring some fish which had been angled the previous
day, the air-bladders being unusually large were pre-
served, and as they promised to be of microscopical
interest they were submitted to the instrument. In
the blood-vessels interlacing them the corpuscles
were observed to be still in active circulation after
a period of some fifteen hours of their being caught
—an instance of the extraordinary vitality of the life
principle. Similar observations may facilitate the
investigation of this wondrous and zovel spectacle to
the young microscopist. The fish, | have subsequently
understood, were perch, a species wnusually tenacious
of life, and predatory in their habits —Z. R.

ASCERTAINING THE Macniryinc Power or
Guasses.—(In reply to T.O.)—The apparatus re-
quisite consists of a micrometer slide ealiated into
thousandths of an inch, each tenth division belg
marked by a longer line; or two separate slides, one
eraduated into thousandths, the other into hun-
dredths of an inch; and an ivory scale graduated
into inches, tenths, and hundredths. The simplest
method is that by double-sight, as it is called. The
micrometer slide is placed upon the stage, the lines
brought into focus, and the image of one of the
interspaces, as seen upon the stage with the open
eye, not used in looking through the microscope, is
measured with compasses. By then dividing the
measure of the image of the space by the known
measure of the unmagnified space, the quotient is
the required magnifying power. ‘Thus, if the space
on the micrometer scale is equal to the 1-100th of
an inch, and the image of the magnified space cor-
responds to 5-10ths of aninch, the space is magnified
50 times: 33,+335=50.—Micrographical Dictionary,

ForAMINIFERA.—It is now well known that
from common chalk it is an easy matter to obtain
interesting specimens of Foraminifera. Scrape
a small quantity of chalk from the mass and shake
it in water; leave this a few minutes, pour the
water away and add a fresh quantity, shake
up_as before, and repeat two or three times. ‘Take

a little of the residue, and spread it upon the |

stide, and when quite dry add a little turpentine.

If it is desired to preserve the slides, they may be
then mounted in Canada balsam. Mr. Guyon ob-
serves that the accumulation of the powder, by the
action of the rain or exposure to the atmospheric
action, at the foot or any projection of the chalk
cliffs, will afford us better specimens than that which
is “scraped,” as the organisms are less broken in
the former. When the Foraminifera are of a larger
size, though transparent enough to be mounted in
balsam, the air must be first expelled from the inte-
rior, otherwise the objects will be altogether unsatis-
factory. Toaccomplish this they must be immersed
in turpentine and submitted to the action of the air-
pump. So difficult is it to get rid of this enemy that
it is often necessary to employ three or four exhaus-
tions, leaving them for some time under each. When
all air has given place to the turpentine, they must
be mounted in the ordinary way.— Davies on Micro-
scopic Objects.

On CoLLEcTING OBJECTS FOR THE MICROSCOPE.—
The following will be found, on an excursion, a useful
addition tothe collector’s stock of wide-necked bottles.
Take the smallest sized japanned sandwich-box, about
four or five inches long, and a quantity of waste
paper—old envelopes, and letters torn so that when
folded across the pieces will go easily into the box.
On arriving at a likely spot by the side of a pool or
ditch, a sample of the produce, whether conferva,
bit of rotten stick, or what not, is placed between
the folds of one of the bits of waste paper and con-
signed to the box, the process being repeated as
often as agrecable during the ramble. On returning
home, the first thing to be done is to transfer the
contents of the papers to glasses or jars of water,
leaving them till next morning, when the observer’s
game will be found in excellent order, and ready for
the live box or glass slide. The writer has no wish
to disparage the Zottling system ; a well-corked wide-
necked bottle is undoubtedly the best thing, but half-
a-dozen such bottles are rather cumbrous, and are
soon filled ina productive locality. When this hap-
pens, the hunter would be glad to be able to go on
collecting and storing ina space no larger thana
pocket-book from twelve to twenty good gatherings.
Even the most fragile and delicate microscopic forms
may be thus brought home uninjured—Volvow, Forti
cella, Rotifers, Entomostraca, and, in fact, all the
various classes of organisms sought for by those
who practise this branch of fishery. Those who

| desire to command a more extensive range than is

alforded by the invaluable hook-ended walking-stick
are generally told to provide themselves with a cheap
fishing-rod. A much better thing is the handle of
an angler’s landing-net. These instruments may be
had at the fishing-tackle shops, with two or three
lengths sliding one within the other like the draws
of a telescope, and from their construction, the
lengths cannot separate when dragging to land a
heavy mass of weeds, as the joints of a fishing-rod
are apt to do.— Robert C. Douglas,

British Satmon.—Dr. A. Giinther is engaged in
a revision of the British Salmonide, and, from the
materials already at his command, is enabled to affirm
that we have at least four non-migratory species
which have not hitherto been recognized—one found
in the mountain lochs of Wales, one in Ireland, one

or eae ae OE Arar. in the lakes of the Orkneys, and one in the Frith
When viewed with a power of 250 diameters | y

this will generally show the organisms very well. |

of Forth.

70 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

REPORTS OF SOCIETIES.

BotanicaL oF Eptnpurcu, Jaz. 12.—Amongst
other communications, Professor Balfour read an
“Account of Excursions to the Mountains at the
Head of Loch Lomond, to Ben Lawers, and the Sow
of Athole, in August and September, 1864.”

Amateur Borantsts (London), “eb. 1—The
president (Mr. M. C. Cooke) introduced the business
of the evening by a brief explanation of the chief
groups of Microscopic Fungi, selecting the section
called Pucciniei of Uredinaceous, and the Spheriacei
of Ascigerous Fungi for special illustration. Several
microscopes having been provided, together with an
excellent series of mounted specimens, the members
proceeded, under direction of the president, to devote
the evening to their examination, with the view to a
better acquaintance with these interesting and little-
known plants.

Dumrries anp Gattoway Natura HisTory
AND AntTIQuARIAN Society, fed. 7.—Sir William
Jardine, Bart., of Applegarth, who presided, read a
paper upon the occurrence of the Roller (Coracias
garrula) in Dumfriesshire. He had heard of a
strange bird being seen on the borders of Annan-
dale, and its remains were afterwards found in a
state of decomposition; but from the feathers he
recognised it to be a Garrulous Roller. Dr. Gilchrist,
medical superintendent of the Crichton Lunatic
Asylum, read a paper on the proceedings of the
geological department of the Society during the
summer,

Tue Microscorican Society or Lonpon, Fed.
8.—The _ president, Mr. Brookes, delivered the
annual address, in the course of which he congratu-
lated Messrs. Powell and Lealand on their triumph
in producing azyth object glass, the effects of which
were marvellous. With regard to the examination
of the microscopes sent in for competition, he had to
state that some difficulties had arisen which had pre-
vented the committee from delivering their report
upon them on that occasion. Of the eighteen in-
struments sent in, five were at 10 guineas, seven at
7 guineas, five at 8 guineas, and one at a guinea; he
regretted, however, to observe that not one of the
leading London makers had responded to the invi-
tation of the Council. After some business of a
formal nature, Mr. Glaisher was unanimously elected
president for the ensuing twelvemonths.

Liverroot Naruratists’ Socrery.—The usual
fortnightly meeting of this Society was held, at the
residence of the secretary, on February 9th. Speci-
mens presented by Mr. Hartley to the Society were
exhibited, after which the following papers were
read :—“ Voleanic Islands,” by Mr. J. Hartley;
“The Cat,” by Mr. J. W, Love.

Naturat History Society or NortHuMBER-
LAND, Durtam, AND NEwcastLu-upon-TYNE, AND
Tynesipn Naturauists’ Frerp Crus, Fb. 9.—
The following papers were read :—‘‘ Entomological
Notes for 1864,” by 'T. J. Bold; “On Naturalists’
Vield Clubs—their Objects and Organization,” by
G. 5. Brady; “Reports on Deep Sea Dredging on
the Coasts of Northumberland and Durham,” edited
by George 8. Brady; “Descriptions of three new
or imperfectly known Polyzoa found on the Coasts
of Northumberland and Durham,” by Joshua Alder.
Mr. Bold’s paper gave an interesting account of the
severe attacks of insects on the various crops, and
especially turnips, during the last season, :

[Marcu 1, 1865.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Micratory Eris.—Does the common eel ata
certain period of the year leave the stagnant
ponds in which it is confined, and wriggle its way,
through the dewy grass, to the nearest water-
course P—O. O.

Tur SNAKE In Scottanp.—A “Scotch Adder”
will feel obliged by any of our correspondents men-
tioning authentic instances of the occurrence of the
snake (Natria torquata) in Scotland.

Brue-Borrrzes.—Can you account for the appear-
ance of great numbers of the common blue-bottle
fly at this inclement season? From the second
week of January to the 10th of February, I have
destroyed upon an average three per diem, and that
in the hardest frosts, the thermometer registering as
low as 12 degrees of frost. They appear only in the
warmest rooms of the house, where the usual tem-
perature is about 60°.—-7. H. £.

Tussitaco Hypripa.—We should be glad if any
of our readers would favour us with a fresh, flower-
ing specimen or two of this plant during the present
season. Our correspondent desires to subject it
to anatomical examination, for which purpose
* dried specimens” will not suffice. The specimens
should be sent to 192, Piccadilly, addressed to
“'Tussilago Hybrida.”

Diszasep Frres.—One day last summer I ob-
served a common house-fly having a number of
what appeared to be baggy protuberances of a
reddish brown colour attached to some of its legs,
and which I imagined to be some kind of disease.
I should have examined it in the microscope, but
failed to catch it. Have any of your readers seen
the same thing ?—J. L. #.

LEAVES FoR Pacxine.—The Querist in our last
should have sent specimens of the leaves he inquires
about. Oranges are packed with the sheaths
which enclose the ears of maize or Indian corn.
We know of no leavesemployed. The leaves of the
same plant are also pegged together with small
wooden pegs for packing ; but it 1s so long since we
saw them that we do not remember anything of the
structure of the pegs; probably, if from China, they
are little slips of bamboo.—£d. S. G.

Usz ror Nerties.—Dr. Rutty, in his “ Natural
History of Dublin,” after mentioning several curious
applications of the nettle, makes the following
observation :—“ There is another use of nettles well-
known and practised by our gardeners near Dublin,
namely, to make the green hairy gooseberry red, or
at least to improve the natural pale red, the red
being in most request, which is done by putting
them into a tub, and strewing it from the bottom
to the top with alternate layers of fresh nettles and
gooseberries, by which means they acquire a red
colour, superior to what they have upon the trees.”
Nat. Hist. of Co. Dublin, vol.i. p. 182. 1772. 1
have tried this experiment on a small scale with
pale-red gooseberries and the leaves of the common
nettle, and found that the fruit was considerably
darkened in colour after the lapse of some hours.
The formic acid at the base of the stinging hairs in
the nettle is probably the cause of the change.
Could any of your correspondents inform me of such
a practice being prevalent in any other locality ?—
VALS,

Marcw 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.: : 71

Parasites OF CaBBAGE Butrerrry.—lI have
always understood that the cabbage-worm eventu-
ally undergoes the transformations common to
the insect tribe. Now, in the autumn of 1864 I
observed some dark-green caterpillars, marbled on
the sides with yellow spots and streaks, making
ereat havoc of some winter greens in my garden.
squeezed one, by accident, and there exuded a
number of small cocoons about the size of those
belonging to the ants’ nest. Not long after this, I
found some of these larve climbing my window-
panes. ‘They deposited small heaps of these cocoons,
protecting them with a covering of yellow silk, the
caterpillars then, without changing to a chrysalis,
died, being merely nothing but skin. Are these
cocoons those of the Ichneumon fly ?—Z. H.——
The fly in question is one of the Braconidae, tribe
Ichneumonites ; it is the Ichneumon glomeratus of
Linneus, and the Microgaster glomeratus of modern
authors.—F. WV.

Tur Smoorn Snake Acain.—In reply to
8. L. N. 8.—The following is Dr. Giinther’s de-
scription of the smooth snake (Coroxella levis) :—
“Seales in twenty-one rows; anal bifid; upper
labials, seven. Brown. Back with two, sometimes
confluent, series of irregularly rounded dark spots.
Hinder maxillary tooth smooth.” Itmore resembles
the viper than the snake in general appearance, but
differs inthe number of plates on the head, is com-
monly smaller in size, with a double row of spots
down the back, and zof a single zigzag line as in the
viper.”

On BEHALF OF A SALAMANDER.—Will you oblige
a particular friend of mine, a salamander, byinforming
me what would be most likely to please his eftship’s
dainty palate? I became acquainted with this
gentleman some six months ago, and from that time
to the present he appears to have lost his appetite,
possibly because I dragged him from the society of
his friends, and have immured him in an aquarium
too small to please his high notions of his former
estate ; possibly because T have not tempted him
with a sufficiently delicious morsel, though I should
have thought a recherché blood-worm, dangling before
his uselessly large mouth, would have satisfied any
reptile. He ekes out a monotonous existence, en-
throned in a small cash-bow] filled with moss, which
floats on the top of my aquarium, looking down
upon fish, leeches, his cousins the newts, a tortoise,
&c., with the most supreme indifference, except that
occasionally, when disposed for a spree, he mounts
the back of the latter for a ride round his diminished
domains. The tortoise, on these occasions, seems
fully alive to his inferiority, and submits to be made
a horse of for his highness the salamander, without
so much asa murmur. I am the more puzzled to
know what to make of his digestive organs, or the
want of them, as he not only lives upon nothing,
but actually gets fat upon it. His forty days and
forty nights’ fast has been repeated five times over,
and I am beginning to get anxious about ‘the
subject. of our memoir.” Perhaps you will kindly
inquire of any of his family with whom you may
meet, of what their favourite dish consists, as I
should be sorry to be the cause of his untimely
death resulting from my inattention, and thus bring
upon my friend the fate of Timothy Daly.—Dytiscus
Marginalis,

AQUARIA AND Frrnery CompBineD.—I shall be
obliged by information upon this—The aquarium to
have a glass cover, the ferns placed under it on
floating cork jslands ; what would be a good assort-

ment, not only of ferns, but of any other suitable
plants, if possible bearing flowers? It is said all
the species of lycopodia will do well in this situa-
tion, but there may be many others. What descrip-
tion of growing moss or lichen would be suitable to
form a ground, those plants requiring least soil
to be preferred, also where the varieties recom-
mended may be procured? Will the glass cover
require apertures for ventilation? There is a film-
like spider’s web interlacing the plants in the
aquarium—what is this? The same fas been seen
in rivers. Is there any cure for the fungus that
grows on the fish in the aquarium ?—Z. 8,

_ Wasps In Lonpon.—Your correspondent J. E.
inquires how it is there are no wasps in London.
I live within four and a quarter miles of the Bank,
so there is no doubt as to whether I live in London.
In front_of my house there is a field in which I
destroyed four wasps’ nests last year ; so tormented
were we with them, that at any time during the
hot months, from five to twenty together might be
found in one room. After this [ hope J. BH. will not
imagine there are no wasps in London.—C. 8.
Barnes——([We. saw plenty of wasps in London
last year, some within three minutes’ walk of Charing
Cross.—Zd, S. G.]

ORNITHOLOGICAL QuERY.—Will any of your
readers, acquainted with Africa and South America,
inform me whither the hirundines of those countries
migrate, according as the rainy season affects each
country respectively? JI am iduced to ask this
question from reading, as follows, in Dr. Living-
stone’s South Africa:— During the first week of
June, 1855, in latitude 10° S., 19° W., saw many
goat-suckers, swifts, and different kinds of swallows;”
and again, during the last week of December, 1852,
“large flocks of swifts were observed flying over
the plains of Kuruman, 8. lat. 28°, long. HE. I
estimated one stream alone of these birds (on their
migratory route?) at 4,000 and over—can these be
the swifts that beset Europe?” Mr. W. H. Bates,
although seven years travelling in equatorial South
America, only ozce names swallows as being seen by
him, though so keen a naturalist, and this occurs at
p. 239, where he says: “On the 3rd January, 1854,
a kind of second summer setin at Villa Nova, 2°—3°
8. lat., when a species of sallow, of a brown colour,
with a short square tail SCotyle), made its appear-
ance in great numbers, and built their_nests cz holes
of the bank on which the village is built.’ Now,
Prince L. Bonaparte, in his beautiful work on
Ornithology, enumerates among his 63 varieties of
Hirundines, 10 distinct varieties for South America
alone, and seven varieties as peculiar to South Africa.
Where do all these hirundines migrate to, im each
continent, considering that they cannot overpass
that belt of intense rain (from 400 to 500 miles
broad) that oscillates, according to the sun’s decli-
nation, from north to south, from between lat. N.
15°, and lat. $.5°? Icannot but think that these
southern hirundines, take those of India, Australia,
and the Eastern Hemisphere generally (as do the
parakeets), all move north or south wthin their
respective countries ozly. What say your travelled
naturalist readers >—H, &. A,

Currinc Sections or Woop.—J. F. C., in-
quires what time of the year is the best for cutting
sections of wood for the microscope? As green
wood is not employed for this purpose, we see no
reason why any one period of the year should be
preferabie to another,

72 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

Me

es

[ Marcn 1, 1865.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Att communications for the Editor should be
addressed to No. 192, Piccadilly, W. ‘To avoid
disappointment contributions should be received
on or before the 15th of each month. No notice
can be taken of anonymous communications. All
notes, queries, or articles for insertion must be
euaranteed by the name and address of the writer,
which may be withheld from publication if so
“desired.

W. W. K.—The shells sent by our correspondent
are a somewhat elongated variety of Jimneus
péreger. The generic word Limneus is derived
from the Greck Ainyn (Limme), a marsh or pool ;
the specific name is from the Latin peregrinor,
“to travel through strange places.’ And thus
sve have the common name “the wandering mud-
shell.” It is the most frequent and widely dis-
persed of our fresh-water shells.—2. 7.

Astrerosportum HorrmManni.—The specimens were
distributed to the uttermost fragment ; still, nearly
fifty applicants were disappointed. The stamped
envelopes are retained, in the hope that ina
month or two we shall be able to supply all.
This promise cannot be extended to fresh appli-
cants.—M. C. C.

ORNITHOLOGICAL QuERIzs. —Page 47, five lines
from the bottom, ‘‘ Ireland” should have been
“Toeland.”—H. E. A.

P. Y. (Wigan).—Recommends “ Benzole” for kill-
ing, and also for preserving, insects. Greasy spe-
cimens may be renovated by soaking them an

hour or two, or all night, in “ Benzole,” and after-
wards drying them.—F. W.
Cuametrton.—G. H. R. states that during last

summer these reptiles could be purchased at 5s.
each, of Mr. King, 190, Great Portland Street.
G. H.G. says that they will not live through
the winter.

Triroti.—aA correspondent has a little of that sub-
stance (fossil remains of Infusoria), from Bohemia,
which he will send to applicants on receipt of
stamped envelope.—W. HK. Williams, Jun., M.D.,
Corsham, Wilts.

J. H. (Belfast).—Could you supply a lady with a
specimen of Diatomaceous earth ?

J. F.—“ Continued” articles are objectionable. We
do not pretend to teach any science. If you name
the order of insects which you desire to study, we
can enumerate text-books. Fora general intro-
duction to the study of insects read Westwood’s,
or Kirby & Spence’s. The latter can be had at
your price.

L. L. L.—Read our answer to J. F.

W. Q. C. — Your query will find its answer in “Slug
or Snail,” p. 62.

J, R.— Gan Ree aae ut “B.” is known to be too
good a botanist, and too careful an observer, to
confound Plantago major with Plantago coronopus.
A novice could hardly do it.

A. J.—The book named is the only one within your
limits.

SPEEDWELL.—W. R. B.—A Susscriper.—We pre-
fer zot to recommend any maker of microscopes
to the prejudice of others. Hach instrument has
its own merits and demerits,

S. A. anp P. B.—Refer to our report of the Mi-
croscopical Society, at page 70.

C. E.—Should communicate with the Curator of the
Society of Amateur Botanists relative to exchanges
of plants. Address to 192, Piccadilly, W.

CaLiBan.—Lists can only be inserted as advertisc-
ments.

T. O.—Apply for price-list to Claudet & Houghton,
High Holborn.

F. J. T.—What “sea-worm” ?
of our limits.

M. M. W.—Albino varieties in flowers, as in birds,
are not uncommon. As arule, we cannot under-
take to return specimens sent to be named.

T. R.—Use a Kelner (c.) eyepiece on the substage,

and reflect the light by means of the mirror.—
WM. B

Second query out

R. W.—We know of no complete work on the
Bibliography of the Natural Sciences—we wish
that we did. A good Bibliography of recent works
will be found in the later volumes of the “ Natural
History Review.” For Botanical works, consult
Pritzel’s “‘ Thesaurus.” For Zoological, Agassiz’s
* Bibliography ” (Ray Society).

8. W.—(No. 1) Wilson’s “Bryologia Britannica.”
Longmans. 1855. (Nos. 2 and 3) In our opinion
B (No. 4) Prohably “A.” (No. 5), Not by
experience; see Davies “On Preparing and
Mounting,” pp. 84 and 91.

W. 5S. K. (Llangollen).—The names of your mosses,
sent for iS noe are as follows :—1l, Hypnum

Schreberi; 2, H. uncinatum ; Oy ede filicinum ; 4,
H. ruscifolium ; 5, Zvgodon Mougeotii ; if Hyp-
num stellatum ; 6, ‘Aulacomnion palustre; 9,

Bryum roseum ; 11, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum ;
12; Orthotrichum anomalum, Wilson; 13, O
Liyelliis 14, O. tenellum; 15, O. Bruchiii—
G

THANKS FoR CommunIcAtTions.—A. P. H.; T. RB;
le Go Re Ret ; Dytiscus Marginalis;

A: AJIN M; WWE;
80; ABE: HSS; Ewe:
dil Opp Boge eho el ee NM. HL; A.J.R.; M.G.C.;

Re Be 5 ie ‘Be RB. S. B.
Paeue en Nee —Received, M. H. L.; L. 8.

DECLINED, witH THANKs.—H. J. C. Be E. L.;
Gc, Dos of D.. Babs 5 As. tiOke uG.Gs
Nee ey OA. Se RR. 2.

Recerven. —R. B. 8. (Lists are forbidden. oe
be glad to hear of otters or Bren ;
R. L. (Try benzole); M.H. L.; M.P. B.; J. R.
P.Y.: S.As Se ; E.S.; iB » TK. M.
ae know it) ; T TG: 0. .: 8.0, NS
PAL td: H. é i J. E.B.M. (Not suflicient

SEO J.C. C. (Try chloroform) ; J. F. 1
Ox H. D.C; E. T. S.; Raa P, BM
WL: C. P Bee edn us hE; Law
Calle (Durham) ; A.B.
D. RB. es ok, Ges ie
; i A. 3 WV. ch ce

we

ve

Books Recerven-—1 The Taare of Speech ;”

by a Minute Philosopher. London: Longmans.
“Rust, Smut, Mildew, and Mould: an In-
troduction to the Study of Microscopic Fungi;”
by M. C. Cooke. London: Hardwicke.

ELIE

LO

mae

\

SPLITTERS AND LUMPERS.

“ Strange that such difference sl.ould be
Twixt tweedle-dum and tiweedle-dee,”

HEN our good correspondents, in the sim-

plicity of their hearts, inquire of us what

these terms mean, and how they originated, they

little think what a courageous face they call upon

us to present, or how they challenge us to tread on

some one’s dearly beloved corns, in any venture to
reply.

Looking at the words themselves, they are very
good words in their proper places, very plain, and
very significant; therefore, it is only to some novel
application, forced or contorted, or it may be “cant”
acceptation of the Queen’s English, that such
querists refer. If we are to credit the historian
(satirist ?) there was once a court and a country
in which two factions raged. One party held that
on entering a temple the right foot should be first
placed over the threshold, the other that the left
foot should be so employed. A new minister, or
vizier, was appointed. Public curiosity was at its
height when, on the day of installation into his high
office, he should enter the temple. Will he place
the right or the left foot first ? was the universal
inquiry. The hour and the man came, and the
temple was entered, but neither the right nor the
left foot party exulted. On arriving at the
threshold the new minister placed his two heels
firmly side by side, and thus leaped over the diffi-
culty and the threshold together.

Wise or foolish in its origin or perpetuation, we
will not stay to ask : certain naturalists are honoured
with the title of Splitters, whilst others are denomi-
nated Lumpers, as if really there was a great
fundamental difference between them. Popular
creations in natural history are generally monsters ;
impossible beings such as sphinxes, centaurs, and
unicorns. So “Lumpers” are regarded as a faction
whose sole delight is in lumping together under one
name all analogous forms, and constituting a species
out of six or seven existing ones ; whilst “Splitters,”
on the other hand, are an equally industrious fac-
tion. whose occupation and amusement consist in
hunt.ng out the most trivial differences and dis-
tinctions, giving them a factitious value, and out of
one species constituting twenty new ones. We
need not add that such a character is unmerited by

either, It may be true that amongst naturalists
there is a difference of opinion as to what shall con-
stitute or be the limits of a “species.” If by any
patent method “what is a species’ could be cefi-
nitely and satisfactorily settled, Lumpers and
Splitters would be embalmed by the act with the
mummies of ancient Eeypt. All recognise, but with
different values, the variations amongst individuals ;
a group of individuals agreeing amongst themselves,
in some departure from a given type, with more or
less of permanence, is to one man, or one section of
men, worthy of regard as a variety, whilst others
esteem the differences to be such as merit specific
distinction, to be relatively permanent, and to be
entitled to retain a distinct name, and take rank as
aspecies. We think that were a young student to
ask our advice, we should recommend him to imitate
the most inveterate splitter that he could imagine,
because such a course would, of necessity, compel
him to a rigid scrutiny and comparison, which
might thenceforth grow into a habit of close obser-
vation. On the other hand, we should feel disposed
to caution the matured naturalist against new species,
recommending him to cultivate a “conservative”
spirit, and to regard all allied forms as the same
species until he recognized unmistakeable evidences
that they could not have diverged from each other,
to that extent, uder any ordinary conditions to
which animal or plant life might be submitted.

The whole community is not agreed as to what
is happiness, or what is honour, or what is taste;
and it is somewhat invidious to apply terms
intended to be anything but complimentary to those
who differ in their interpretation of what is a species.
We do not think that science suffers by including
in her ranks men of extreme opinions on such an
“open question.” Certainly if one reviews the
labours of the other carefully and candidly, or a
third looks on and balances the evidence on both sides,
there is more hope for the truth than if all were
unanimous. To inquire of us, “ What is the maxi-
mum speed of a cannon-ball ?” is bad enough, but to
ask us whether we belong to the high-heeled faction,
or the low-heeled party is worse, and all the reply
we can give is—Look at our boots and sce !

7 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

THE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY AND ITS
METAMORPHOSES.
BY PROFESSOR A, DE QUATREFAGES.
(INTERNAL PHASES.)

E shall now describe in a few words the being
produced from the little worm which sprung
from the Pieris’ egg (page 32).

The body, which is entirely clothed with hairs per-
ceptible to the naked eye, consists of three segments,
which are separated from each other by well-marked
constrictions; these three are: the head, the chest
or thorax, and the belly or abdomen. The head is
small, and has attached to it in front two long, horny,
jointed, club-shaped feelers, or axtenne, which had
no existence in the caterpillar. The little s¢mple eyes
are still present ; but in addition, alarge round mass
with a trellised surface may be seen on each side.
These masses are the compound eyes, each facette of
which isa true organ of vision; and since, according
to the calculations of several naturalists, there are
no less than thirty thousand of these facettes, it
follows that the animal has this enormous number of
distinct eyes. The mouth, which now, instead of
being used for division and mastication, is only em-
ployed for suction, is admirably adapted to its new
office. We can hardly find a trace of the upper and
lower lips or the mandibles. The jaws have been
immensely elongated; their horny tissue has disap-
peared, and flexor and extensor muscles have been
developed in its place. Fach jaw is penetrated by
nerves and trachee, and is grooved deeply on its inner
surface. These organs, when placed side by side and
soldered to each other, constitute a sort of tube twice
as long as the whole body, and continuous with the
mouth. From having been organs of mastication,
they are now converted by this process of fusion
into a proboscis, which the insect rolls or unrolls at
will, and which can penetrate the deepest calyx and
allow it to suck up the juices of the flower as per-
fectly as if a syphon had been employed.

The chest or thorax bears the legs and wings.
The first correspond to the horny feet of the cater-
pillar, but are very unlike them in appearance. The
limbs of the caterpillar were short and massive,
those of the butterfly are long and slender. Besides,
their structure is entirely different. In the butter-
fly’s limb there are five distinct parts, and the last
or tarsus is itself composed of five joints and a pair
of hooklets. The four wings are attached in pairs
to each side of the back. Each one is united to the
solid structures through the intervention of a chain
of horny pieces, connected together by strong liga-
ments and supplied with powerful muscles, and to
these are due the suppleness and force which are
exhibited in the movements of flight. From this

[Aprin 1, 1865.

basal portion spring four main nervures, which
diverge from each other, and by their ramifications
support the wing-membranes, whicharethus stretched
upon a horny frame. Notwithstanding their solid.
appearance, these nervures are really hollow in their
interior, and are pierced by trachea, or air-tubes,
which extend almost to their extremities. More-
over they are covered by two exquisitely delicate,
transparent membranes, which, firmly united to-
gether, clothe the upper and under surfaces. It is
to these that the little scales are attached which
give the peculiar colours to this and other butter-
flies, being implanted in the membrane somewhat in
the same manner as a bird’s feathers are implanted
in its skin. The caterpillar did not present the
slightest trace of these wings or their appendages.

The abdomen, which corresponds to the hinder
portion of the caterpillar’s body, has lost all its false
feet; but with that exception has undergone very
little alteration. The general form has been slightly
modified, the colour is no longer the same; but the
abdomen is invariably divided into seven rather
distinct rings.

These moultings, metamorphoses, and alterations,
although apparently occurring spasmodically, do not
do so inreality. Beneath the veil of skin, which
will be thrown off in course of time, even within
those parts which will eventually disappear or be
transformed into others, the new integument is
being gradually formed; the general plan of the
future animal is beige drawn out, and the various
organs which will afterwards be required are being
organized. The old garment alone is cast off, both
at the period of moulting and of metamorphosis. If
we cautiously detach the old but still vital skin, a
few days before the moulting takes place, we may
see its successors lying beneath it. By doing the
same with the caterpillar, a few days before it passes
into the chrysalis condition, we shall discover the
rudimentary wings and antenne. If at this period
we cut off the little scaly feet, we shall find that,
when the butterfly emerges from the case, its legs
will be imperfect.

Laying aside the internal changes which we have
already alluded to, we shall confine ourselves to the
study of the metamorphoses of some of the large
apparatus, and more especially of the digestive tube
aud nervous centres.

The digestive apparatus which this caterpillar
presents when it first springs from the egg, and even
when it commences its transformation, is very simple
in character. The alimentary canal begins as avery
short and wide wsophagus, and ends in an intestine,
somewhat of the same kind, but which can hardly
be said to consist of two regions. Between these
organs we find a stomach disproportionately large,
which fills almost the entire cavity of the body. In
addition to these, two salivary glands, composed of

. Aprit 1, 1865.)

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. ; 75

long tortuous tubes, are attached to them in front,
and six well-formed biliary canals, which represent
the liver, are connected with them behind. Opening
into the mouth and the spinning apparatus which we
alluded to before, may be seen two peculiar organs,
which extend in a tortuous manner along the entire
length of the stomach, and whose office is the secre-
tion of the fluid from which the silk is formed.
Every portion of this digestive apparatus is cal-
culated to extract the nutritious materials from the
crude masses of unsubstantial food which has been
imperfectly prepared by the action of the jaws.

Even on the second day after the caterpillar has
been converted into the chrysalis, very considerable
alterations may be observed. The cesophagus is
narrowed and elongated; the intestine, similarly
modified, is now divided into two well-marked
regions ; the stomach has been diminished by about
one-half of its breadth and a quarter of its length ;
the salivary and biliary glands have been shortened,
and the organs which secrete the silk have become
smaller. On the eighth day, the entire digestive tube
is exactly like a spindle one-half of which is covered
with thread, and which is loaded with lead in order
to balance it. The cesophagus represents the upper
portion of the spindle; the stomach corresponds
to the middle, which is covered with thread; the
small intestine to the thin portion, and the large in-
testine to the loaded part. At the same period the
salivary glands and biliary cceca are reduced by about
two-thirds, and the silk-secreting organs appear as
two very slender threads.

During the entire winter—that is to say, for five
or six months of the year—these operations are sus-
pended; but they are recommenced in fine weather,
and continued till the insect is fully formed. In a
short time the silk-forming canals have entirely dis-
appeared; hardly a trace of the salivary glands is to
be found; and the stomach, though preserving its
former shape, has decreased in size ; but to compen-
sate for this, it has developed a new cavity called
the crop, which is destined to assist im sucking up
the juices of the flowers, and retaining them till re-
quired by the insect. Moreover, the two intestinal
regions have become more distinct, and the large in-
testine has developed an accessory pouch, not a
trace of which existed hitherto.

We come now to the nervous system. In insects
in every condition, this system is composed of two
distinct portions. The drain is placed in the head
just abcve the cesophagus. The other nervous
masses, or ganglia, are situate below the digestive
tube, where they constitute a ganglionic chain. The
brain is united to the first ganglion, this to the
second, and so on, by a series of nervous filaments,
technically termed commissures. In each ring of
the caterpillar’s body there is a distinct ganglion;
consequently there are in all twelve of these struc-

tures, equally distant from each other, with the ex-
ception of the two first, which are more closely
approximated than the rest. The brain itself is
very small, and is composed of two smooth lobes
which are obliquely united, and give off a few slender
nervous filaments.

Two days after the caterpillar has been converted
into the chrysalis, the ganglionic chain has been
shortened one-fourth, and various changes of altera-
tion and concentration have begun. Some ganglia
are approximated; others, on the contrary, are sepa- “
rated. At about the eighth day the chain has been
shortened one-half. On the fourteenth the brain
and first ganglion have come so close together that
their commissures surround the cesophagus; the
fourth and fifth ganglia have been fused together ;
and the sixth and seventh are hardly perceptible.
Now there is a period of rest, brought about by the
approach of winter. Then, after the latter season,
the operations are recommenced, and when they are
again arrested, after the last apparent transforma-
tion, there are only eight ganglia to be seen. The
second, third, fourth, and fifth, have given rise, by
their fusion, to two large masses, which are placed
in the chest quite close to each other; the sixth and
seventh have completely disappeared, and their
former position is alone marked by the origin of a
few nervous filaments; the five posterior ones have
undergone little or no change. Finally, the brain
itself had become twice as large, its lobes have as-
sumed a transverse position, and each of them gives
origin to a large optic nerve which travels to one of
the compound eyes,

The changes which the organs of circulation and
respiration undergo are not by any means as well
known as those we have been describing, and this
ignorance is due, most likely, to the great simplicity
of the first, and the equally complex character of
the second. In this caterpillar, as in every other
one, the circulation is almost entirely lacunar. In
it, as in the butterfly, there is a distinct heart, or
rather its representation, in the form of a long
many-chambered canal, stretching from end to end
of the body. When the latter is shortened, this
dorsal vessel, as it is called, is also diminished in
length, and becomes more and more tortuous in
proportion as the regions of the body are mapped
out and separated from each other.

This degradation of the circulatory organ is
compensated for by the formation and distribution
of a series of respiratory organs, or tracheee. These
open externally at the stigmata to which we have
alluded already. They consist, in Péerds, as in all
other caterpillars, of two great lateral trunks,
reaching from end to end of the body, and giving
off hundreds of branches and ramifications, which
travel over the whole frame, penetrate the smallest
cavities, and supply the most delicate organs. In

76

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Arrin 1, 1865.

all insects with the power of flight, and consequently
in the Pieris, this apparatus develops a pair of
pouches destined to contain air, and thus, of course,
diminishes the specific gravity of the body. Ac-
cording to Newport, it is only in the chrysalis that
these organs are formed with rapidity. In Pieris,
they first appear some time in autumn, and are half-
formed before the winter; they remain At a stand-
still during the season, and assume their perfect
form a short time after the last metamorphosis.

The function of all the organs we have already
described is that of preserving or maintaining the
life of the individual. They are all, moreover, in the
full exercise of their duties from the moment that
the creature emerges from the egg. ‘Those organs
connected with the perpetuation of the species are
very differently situate. These are so slightly de-
veloped, and so imperceptible whilst the insect is in
the caterpillar stage, that the penetrating researches
of Herold could not demonstrate their existence.
These organs are quite rudimentary, even at a
period of five months after the conversion of the
caterpillar into a chrysalis. It is only at the last
moment, and just as the butterfly is about to make
its escape, that they are to be seen in process of
completion, whilst they undergo their entire develop-
ment only in the perfect insect.

Here we must notice a very significant fact, and
one which bears forcibly on the present subject.
The female Pieris dies soon after depositing her
eggs, and the male ceases to exist at a still earlier
period. Matrimony is as fatal to them as it is to all
insects, and their existence terminates when the pre-
servation of the species has been insured. There is,
however, an occasional circumstance which, by
preventing the discharge of the functions essential
to this final object, prolongs the usually short life of
these insects to an extent beyond that which is
intended. Some butterflies do not emerge from the
chrysalis case till late in autumn, and then the cold
temperature of the surrounding atmosphere retards
their development, and winter comes on ere they
have begun their amours.

In consequence of this, they retire to some
sheltered spot, remain there durmg the whole
season, and reappear in spring. ‘Thanks to this
condition of celibacy, the result rather of cireum-
stances than of desire, their lives, instead of being
limited to a few weeks, extend over several months.

THE WATER PIPL.

(Authus spinoletta L.)

VIE first intimation of the occurrence of this
- Continental bird in the British Isles, or at
least the first which was made public, was the exhi-

|

bition at a meeting of the Zoological Society, on
January 24th, 1865, of a specimen from the collec-
tion of the Bishop of Oxford, stated to have been
obtained near Brighton, in the winter of 1859-60
(see p. 64). From information afterwards received,
we were led to correspond with the Rev. H. B.
Tristram on the subject, and as the name of this
gentleman is well known to British zoologists, his
communication will be accepted with confidence.
He writes :—

“T have no hesitation in stating that I can dis-
tinguish no difference between a pair (male and
female) shot by me in January, 1861, on the island
of Rorkahill, on the east coast of Ireland, and spe-
cimens I have obtained in Greeee, Tunis, and Cyprus.
Jn this Tam borne out by my friend, Mr. A. Newton.
The common Northumbrian species is 4. odscurus,
and I never heard of 4. spinoletta on our northern
coast.”

Upon such authority, therefore, we can no longer
object to recognize the Water Pipit amongst our
occasional visitors.

This Pipit, during the breeding season and summer,
appears to be an inhabitant of the Swiss Alps, the .
Tyrol, the Pyrenees, and other mountainous dis-
tricts; but in the autumn and winter it descends
to the plains, and is found along the course of rivers.
It is probably to be met with at this season on both
shores of the Mediterranean, and in some of the
Mediterranean Islands. In the north of Europe it
is rarely found, being confined chiefly to the south
and west. This is not the place to enter upon the
question of its identity with at least aclosely allied
American species. Our species most resembling it
is the Rock Pipit (dizthus obscurus). From this it
differs chiefly in the following particulars : — In
the Rock Pipit the beak is of a dusky colour, yel-
lowish at the base, and the legs and feet reddish-
brown. In the Water Pipit the beak, legs, and feet
are black. In the Rock Pipit, the primaries, or
longer and outer wing feathers, have the outer feather
the longest, and the three next successively shorter.
In the Water Pipit the first four primaries are of
nearly equal length, but the third is slightly the
longest, and the first the shortest. In the Rock
Pipit those wing-feathers, which are termed the
wing-coverts, are dusky, edged with pale olive, but
not very distinctly, and in the Water Pipit they are
bordered with yellowish, so as to form two bands
across the wings. Any more minute description
would only be interesting to the scientific ornitho-
logist.

Having pointed out the most prominent features
whereby an ordinary observer may discover to which
of the two species any stray visitor may belong
that may find its way into his hands, we wait with
patience for further confirmation of its claims to be
included in the British Fauna.

Arrit 1, 1865.1] SCIENCE-GOSSIP. Ve,

“UNDER A PALM TREE!”

Gomutr Patm (Arenga saccharifera),

A LU who have read the Laureate’s poem, “Enoch
Arden,” will recognize the phrase which heads

this paper, and to them it will suggest many a re-
flection. It will not be entirely barren of thought

to those who, not having read the episode, have ne-
vertheless acquainted themselves with other writers,
ancient or modern, whose heroes may have rested
beneath the shadow of one of these time-honoured

78 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Apri ? 1, 1865.

trees. The allusions to Palms in sacred and profane
writers of all nations and ages, wherever these plants
flourish, are numerous; and he can have but little
poetic feeling in whom the mention of the name
excites no emotion. It is not, however, im their
artistic relations, or poetical associations, that Palms
claim our attention. Bound, as chroniclers of
science, to the rigid zone of fact, it may not be per-
mitted us to dilate on the romance of Palm history,
or relate “the loves of Palms,” but rather to confine
ourselves to a matter-of-fact sketch of the “ Princes
of the Vegetable World.” Those who may never
have gazed upon a Palm, even under the artificial
conditions in which they are placed in this country,
can scarcely realize a true mental picture of their
grandeur. Rising erect, with a simple unbranched
trunk, to a height of from ten to nearly two hundred
feet, according to the species, and with the summit
crowned with a magnificent tuft of feathery or fan-
like leaves spreading on each side for forty or fifty
feet, the appearance is one which finds no parallel
in our temperate climes. Beneath a tropical sky,
within an equatorial belt of some twenty degrees,
1s the great region of Palms, and here amid—

The slender coco’s drooping crown of plumes,
The lightning flash of insect and of bird,

The lustre of the long convolvuluses

That coil around the stately stems, the glows
And glories of the broad belt of the world—

subject to the reeking heat of a broiling sun, the
wearied traveller rejoices to rest for a few melting
moments “ under a Palm Tree,”

Only one species, the Dwarf Palm (Chamerops
humilis), is found in Europe, and that is only to be
met with on the most southern points. Our con-
tinent is zof the land of Palms. Dr. Martius,
author of the most magnificent book on this tribe
yet published, thinks that there are not less than
from one thousand to twelve hundred species; and
more than half this number areknown. Remote as
we are from Palm groves, and little as we know of
the trees themselves, their products are amongst
our most familiar things. To intimate that the
rattan-cane is the stem of a Palm may not suggest
pleasant reflections to the school-boy; but, as fifty
or sixty years bring him nearer to childhood again,
he will not despise the rest afforded by a cane-bot-
tomed chair. A large portion of our sugar is de-
rived from an East Indian Palm (Hate sylvestris).
From the Oil Palm of Western Africa, and the Cocoa
Palm of Ceylon, commerce derives its best of
“stearine candles,” and the microscopist his gly-
cerine. Coir and cocoa-nut matting are their own
advertisement ; but how many brushes, for a hundred
different uses, are entirely innocent of the fibres of
Palm-trees, the makers alone can tell. One of the
sources of the substance known as “vegetable
hair,” illustrates owr paper.

It is time we turn from such generalizations as
we have hitherto indulged in, to a few particulars of
the Ejoo or Gomuti Palm (Arenga saccharifera). It
is of importance, second only to that of the cocoa-
nut, writes Mr, Crawfurd, in the rural economy of
the Asiatic archipelago, from one extremity of it to
the other. Its chief and most valuable product is
its sap, obtained by bruising and cutting the in-
florescence. From this liquid, and not from the
juice of the cane, is made nearly all the sugar con-
sumed by the natives, while the sap itself, which
runs rapidly to the vinous fermentation, is their
chief intoxicating beverage. The sap, however, is
not the only product which is put to use. Between
the trunk and the fronds there are found three
different useful materials :—a black horsehair-like
substance, which makes the best cordage of the
western islands of the archipelago; a fine cottony
substance, which makes the best tinder, and is ex-
ported for this purpose; and strong stiff spines,
from which are made the pens of all the nations
that write on paper, with the arrows for the blow-
pipe of the rude tribes that still use this weapon.
The pith furnishes a sago. The seeds have been
made into a confection, while their pulpy envelopes
abound in a poisonous juice, a strong infusion of
them being used in the barbarian wars of the
natives. The young leaves are boiled and eaten, as
a kind of Palm-cabbage; and the Palm-wine is used
by the Chinese residents in fabricating the cele-
brated Batavian arrack. When any accident pre-
vents the collected juice from being manufactured
into “jaggery,” or coarse sugar, as it speedily fer-
ments,-and becomes sour, the acidification is taken
advantage of to produce a vinegar equal in strength
to that obtained by vinous fermentation in Europe.

Although a native of the Asiatic archipelago, this
Palm has been introduced into contmental India,
and some other countries possessing a suitable
climate, where it flourishes as in its native home.
To follow it in its migrations, digress in its praise,
or become prolix in its history, is not our aim;
therefore, to all who desire a better acquaintance
with it, or its companions in the order of Palms,
we commend Dr. Scemann’s interesting little volume,
entitled, “The Popular History of Palms ;” and, in
its perusal, we doubt not, many will, ever and anon,

wish themselves seated, “‘ Under a Palm Tree.”
MOMS.

Prizes FOR HerpartA.—The Horticultural So-
ciety prizes have been awarded. ‘Twenty-six silver
medals are to be distributed. Gold medals have
been assigned to Dr. St. Brody, Mr. Joshua Clarke,
and Miss L. E. Becker. The gold medal for any new
species found wild has been awarded to Mr. Joshua
Clarke, for Hrucastrum inodorum, collected near
Saffron Walden, from the mould of arailway-cutting.

Apnit 1, 1865.}

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 79

ABOUT THE OTTER’S-SHELL.
(Lutravia maxima.)
BY Jd. Ki LORD, Ba4:S.

HE Otter’s-shell, or, as it is more frequently

styled in the north-west, the Clam, has a some-

what wide geographical range. It is found in great

abundance on the coast of Vancouver Island, as

well as on the mainland fore-shore from the Bay of
San Francisco to Sitka, 53° N, lat.

This molluse attains an immense size, and to the
coast Indians is most valuable as an article of diet,
either fresh or dried for winter use in the smoke of
the lodge-fires. There are several monster speci-
mens in the British Museum shell-room—brought by
myself from Vancouver Island—visible to all who
may be curious in Clams after reading the following
episode on their manners and customs.

This bivalve spends the greater part of its time
buried in the mud, about two feet deep, the long
syphon reaching the surface discloses his place of
concealment by constantly squirting up small jets
of water. The rise and fall of the tide on these
coasts, often from thirty to forty feet, exposes at low
water great muddy flat banks that run out some-
times over a mile from shore. Here he lives; there
is nothing about him poetical or romantic—grovelling
in the mud, and feeding on the veriest filth he can
find, constitute the great pleasures of his life. It is
almost superfluous to remark that the Otter’s-shell
belongs to the family Mactridz, some of the larger
ones measuring eight inches from hinge to valve;
shell oblong and open at both ends, cartilage-plate
prominent, two small teeth in each valve, foot large,
syphons united.

As soon as the tide is off the flats, numbers of
Indian women (squaws) may be seen hastening to-
wards the mud-banks, guiltless of clothing, with the
exception of a small bit of skin tied round the
waist. They wade into the mud, a basket in one
hand, and in the other a bent stick, about four feet
long; and, thus equipped, commence digging up
the mud-houses of the Clam, guided by the jets of
water that disclose his residence. Pushing down
the bent stick, and getting it well under him, they
place a stone, as a fulcrum, behind the lever, against
which the squaw fixes her foot firmly, then lifts
away, and, as a skilful dentist whips out a tooth ere
you know the instrument is near it, so the bivalve is
hoisted from its mud-house, thence transformed into
the Indian’s basket ere he knows it. The basket
filled, they trudge back again to the lodge.

And now to open him—

He is not a zative that an oyster-knife is likely to
astonish. The wily Red-skin, if he never heard the
fable of the wiud, the sux, and the ¢raveller, prac-
tises the same principle on the luckless Clam as the

sun found so effectual on the obstinate pedestrian.
What force fails to do, a genial warmth accom-
plishes—more persuasive, perhaps, than pleasant—
to induce the Clam to open his shell.

The Indians hollow out a circle in the ground,
about eight inches deep, then fill it with heated
stones, on which they place the bivalve martyr.
The heat finds its way through his walls, and
his mansion scon gets too hot to hold him- so he
opens his door for a mouthful of fresh air; fully en-
joying the luxury, he incautiously opens it wider
and wider.

Slily watching his movements sits a squaw, grim
and dirty, armed with a long sharp stick; hotter
and more thirsty grows the poor Clam; gradually
the shelly portals are stretched apart, then down
upon him the savage pounces, and astonishes his
heated senses by thrusting the spear, with all her
force, through the quivering tissues. His chance is
over. Jerked off the heated stones, pitilessly his
stronghold is forced open; ropes, hinges, fastenings,
crack like thread, and the Clam is ruthlessly dragged
out, naked and lifeless.

I venture to give a story, told by an old hunter
(as we were wandering by the beach), of having
seen a duck trapped by an Otter’s-shell. And thus
he told it :—

“You see I was a cruising down these flats, jist
dead low water as it is now, when I see a big flock
of shoveller ducks busy as a dog-fish in herring-
time. So down I creeps, and slap I fires in among
?em. Six on ’em turned over, and away went the
rest, gallows skeert, quacking like mad, making
pretty tall travelling to pick up the dead uns. I
spied an old mallard a playin’ up all manner 0’
antics, Jumpin’, hackin’, flappin’, but fast by the
head tho’, as if he had his nose in a steel trap.

“What do you think had fixedhim? Tl be dog
gone, if a big Clam hadn’t nailed him fast by the
beak. The mallard might a tried his darndest, but,
may I never trap another martin, if the Clam
wouldn’t a held him agin all odds till the tide run
in, and he’d a been a gone shoyeller, you bet your
boots ?”

THE STUDY OF MOSSES.

HE study of mosses offers two great advan-
tages to persons whose time is much occupied

in business: Ist, that the year round every month
will afford numbers of new specimens—some dying
off as others come into fruit: and Qndly, that the
specimens gathered can be examined at any future
time, four or five years after; for, by merely placing
them into a little water, they will immediately re-
sume their life-like appearance. Having worked

this department of natural science for some time, I

80 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Aprit 1, 1865.

offer myself as a guide to give the benefit of my
experience, and am induced to do this from having
seen several papers on the mosses in various perio-
dicals, evidently written by persons who had not
studied what they wrote about; the advice given
being rather calculated to mislead those who acted
uponit. The first thing necessary (after making up
the mind that, if anything is to be studied at all, it
must be done in a proper, that is, in a scientific
manner, and entails veal work) is to provide a suit-
able text-book ; and the only serviceable one in the
Huglish language on the British mosses is Wilson’s
* Bryologia Britannica.”
a microscope—we shall want two: a dissecting, and
a good compound microscope; likewise a pocket-
magnifier; we shall also require a ¢eo-inch objective
to the microscope. Without good magnifying power
no real good can be accomplished. The following
are also requisite: a gross of glass sides, 3 inches
by 1; a gross of india-rubber rings, ?-inch diameter,
outside measurement ; an ounce of round, thin, glass
covers, 3-inch diaineter; some dead-black paper, and
asteel punch, ¢ inch diameter; a bottle of Canada
balsam ; a bottle of glycerine, to be mixed with equal
parts of camphor-water; a bottle of asphalte; and
a Shadbolt’s turn-table, for making shallow cells;
half-a-dozen glovers’ triangular needles, for dissect-
ing; a few camel-hair brushes; anda small vice, to
fix on the table (this last makes a splendid section-
machine, by placing the object between two pieces
of cork, and with a sharp knife or razor, made flat
on one side, taking a thin slice of the cork and object
together); afew quires of blotting paper, and a
memorandum-book, complete our requirements.

Before collecting, it will be advisable to get a
general idea of the Famitres and Grenrra of the
mosses; and this will be best accomplished by
carefully studying the descriptions given by Wilson,
at the same time constantly referring to lis beauti-
ful plates, until the family-likenesses ave imprinted
on our memory; and it is in addition a considerable
help to enter into the memorandum-book all the
most important parts of structure, and the principal
distinguishing marks of the genera. We shall thus,
from knowledge gradually and imperceptibly ac-
quired, know when we get a Sphagnum, a Weissia,
a Tortula, a Bryum, a Hypnum, &e.; and the genera
more closely alike—as, Zrichostomum and Tortula,
Racomitrium and Grimmia, Dicranum and Campy-
lopus—will also soon be easily distinguished.

Now for collecting; and all that is needful is a
bag of good, strong material (such as lawyers use),
a couple of newspapers torn into, say nine-inch
squares, and a good, strong oyster-knife.

My advice is, eschew all te” vaseulums. A. moss
having been found, take it carefully up (with the
knife), wrap it ina picec of paper, and place it in the
bag. The day’s work finished, on arriving home we

The next requirement is’

shall have clean, unbroken specimens, very different
from the unsightly heap turned out from an ordinary
vasculum. Having made out the names of several,
we put the specimens into cold water, clean by means
of a camel-hair brush, place on a white linen cloth,
gently press them, and then lay on a sheet of blot-
ting paper, with small slips bearing name, date, &c.,
cover with another sheet, and so on, put some large
book on top to press—avotding too great a weight ;
and when the specimens are dry, by means of gum
fasten them on to the zzside of the second leaf of a
sheet of note-paper; write on oxtside of first sheet
the family at top, the genus in the middle, and the
species, habitat, &c., at the very bottom, commencing
at extreme left hand. As, by the slightest pressure,
mosses lose much of their character, it is requisite
to have a quantity wxpressed, but classified and ar-
ranged for reference. ‘These specimens should be
made up in paper bags formed of note-paper, thus—

| os: jen

1

Take half a sheet, turn up the lower edge to within
half an inch of the top, fold the top over it, then
turn the sides about half an inch over and inwards,
open out the paper, and it will appear as represented
in the above figure; cut away the dotted part, fold
lon 2, then the sides 8 and 4 over that, and 5 over
all. The bags thus formed will contain your un-
pressed specimens; write genus, species, habitat, &c.,
on the outside of No. 1, and arrange in cigar or
other box.

We now come to the most fascinating part of our
study, viz., the collection of microscopic dissections
of leaves, capsules, peristomes, &c. These are in-
valuable even to the beginner. The first thing to be
done is to take the 3-inch punch, and cut a number
of cireles of dead-black paper; gum these upon the
ecutre of the 8-inches-by-1 slides; when dry, take

Apnit 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

81

au india-rubber ring, dip a camel-hair brush in
sphalte, and by it fasten the ring exactly over the
circle of black paper; reverse the slide, so that the
ring may dry and adhere evenly. Then take a few
more glass slides, and by the aid of the “turn-table”
make a circle of asphalte in the centre of each,
apply another coat of asphalte when the first is dry,
and we shall then have shallow cells for leaves, &c.
Let us now take a moss—say, the commonest
species, such as Funaria hygrometrica, or common
cord-moss,—select afew of the capsules (they are
mature when of a fine golden-brown colour); take
out a slide with an india-rubber ring on, the gum,
our dissecting microscope, and two glovers’ needles.
We first gum all over the dead-black paper; place
thereon, longitudinally, a capsule bearing calyptra,
&e., and a small portion of the seta; another capsule
with the calyptra off, showing the operculum side-
view; another with the operculum off, presenting a
side-view of the peristome. Then add upper half of
capsule cut in two ¢raxzsversely, and placed upon end
so as to show the peristome iz situ. Now take one
of the shallow cells made of asphalte, and fill it with
glycerine and camphor-water; in this place leaves
from the stem, branch, and perichetium ; use an-
other cell for the operculum, calyptra, and annulus,
and another for the inflorescence. When the slides
are finished, put a label on

SoS one end like this. The
5g 1 upper figures refer to the

family, 58 to the genus, 1 to
the species. ‘These slides
should then be arranged for
ready reference in_ boxes.
I find the shillmg boxes
holding two dozen most convenient, as they will
stand on end, and can be placed like books on a shelf
or in a hook-ease.

L have said nothing about manipulation, as that
can be obtained in any work on the microscope;
but would point out that the best method of dis-
secting the peristome is to run the smallest entomo-
logical pin you can get through the ceutre of the
capsule; fasten it down to a piece of cork, cut it in
two transversely, just below the mouth—nearly all
the spores will come out; transfer that portion
which has the peristome only to a slide with a little
water, and gently brush away the few spores that
may adhere; and then place on another slide, arrange,
and finish off. If we place the whole capsule on a
slide with water at once, we shall never get rid of
the clouds of spores, and after fruitless endeavours
to obtain a clear view of the peristome, be obliged to
give it up as a bad job.

In conclusion, I need only remark that if the
mosses are studied in the way I have endeavoured
to point out, the student will in time have a most
valuable collection ; and in its formation will derive

Lunaria
\ hygrometrica.

\ PERISTOME. /

an amount of pleasure never to be realized by the
person who merely sticks a smashed clump to a
sheet of paper, and calls it a specimen. By my
method he will find that—
“Here to charm the curious eye

A host of hidden treasures lie!

A microscopic world that tells

That not. alone in trees and flowers

The spirit bright of beauty dwells ;

That not alone in lofty bowers

The mighty hand of God is seen,

But more triumphant still—in things mancoun},

as mean.”

Roperick M‘Lrop.

[N.B.—Although sent as an original contribution,
we are aware that this paper has appeared in the
“Liverpool Naturalists’ Note Book,” but as very
few of our readers will have had the opportunity of
seeing it, no valid objection can be raised to its
appearance here. We may add, by way of request,
that our correspondents will not send communica-
tions “as original’? which have already been pub-
lished without a statement to that effect. If we
should fail to make the discovery, some one of our
readers would be sure to find it out.—Zd. Se. G.]

i M- AED GE HOG,

(Brinaceus Europaus.)

As I have formerly found this animal to. be a most
entertaining pet, I am sorry to know that he is daily
becoming less frequent amongst us, as persecution,
the result of prejudice, and the trimming up and
removal of old fences are tending to make this once
common creature somewhat of a rarity.

I have been for years a keen observer of the
habits of the hedgehog, and never yet saw a single
case for suspicion of any mischief belonging to him.
The notion of his sucking the cows, which once pre-
vailed, is now scarcely believed by the ‘‘ barn-door
savage,” a race still not uncommon, as testified by a
savage desire for killing anything.

As regards the charge of egg-sucking brought
against the hedgehog, I could never arrive at a tittle
of real evidence in its support.

Seen in the fields, the hedgehog would seem to be
a dull, inactive creature ; but in domestication I have
found them most “larking” individuals. I formerly
kept a couple in my geological museum, and though
they were comparatively quict in the day-time, yet
they were ever ready to come and eat bread and
milk from my hands. At night, they became as
“active as cats,’ and the rate at which they
would run along the corridors of my college, and
even get up and down-stairs, was surprising; and
here they were not a bad police, for as equally active
students would sometimes prowl from room to room
on “bolstering dire intent,” the chance of stepping
upon a hedgehog, or having him run against one’s

G

82 SCLUNCH-GOSSIP.

| Apri 1, 1865.

naked shins, was enough to establish a decided
“funk.”

These and other hedgehogs which I have kept, at
length got away, which, however well they are
treated, they always endeavour to do; in one case
(in as far as I could make out) falling over a ten-
foot wall into a river; and as I have occasionally
found them quite well at the bottoms of deep stone
quarries, L presume that their peculiar dermal arma-
ture, or their ball-shape, when coiled up, renders
a fall imnoecuous.

f have penned these remarks in the hope that
other observers might be enabied to say something
in favour of my pet; for, as he has ever appeared
to me not only harmless, but most useful as a de-
stroyer of insects, I shall be glad, if possible, if
Science Gossip, unlike usual gossip, may tend to
save a reputation, and so preserve a race.

J. Buckman, F,L.S., &e.

THE COMMON HOUSE-FLY.
WHICH IS THE COMMON HOUSE-FLY ?

ANY naturalists of considerable repute have

not thought it beneath them to study and
write the life and instincts of this insect. Notwith-
standing having made the little
creature my particular study since
last summer twelve months, it
still remains a problem with me
which is the common honse-fly.
Out of the numerous flies
which are frolicing about my
parlour, I have caught three,
which are now under the dis-
secting knife, two females and
one male; the two females are
to all appearance under the mi-
croscope exactly alike in size
and markings, the same pro-
boscis, brain, feet, spiracles, tra-
chess, ovipositor and position of

Pics 2:

the ova in the abdomen; but the material difference
is, that the so-called house-fly is oviparous, and its
congener ovoviviparous, We will, for distinction,
call the house-fly number one, its congener number
two, and the male number three: the ova of number
one is smooth and rather a long oval, requiring
several days to hatch, brings forth a maggot common

in appearance to that species (see figs. 1 and 2),
while number two brings forth its ova with the grub
alive, perfectly formed, and very lively; the egg is
somewhat obtuse, and partakes of a peculiar form,
similar to two lappets thrown back, which gives a-
thick appearance on the sides, while the centre,
which is beautifully honeyecombed, is quite trans-

parent; the opening is at the top, very simple,

something like a purse, through which the grub
passed in less than two minutes after the egg had
been deposited. I had previously covered the ova
with a drop of water to keep it moist, but it did not
impede the little creature’s progress in its endeavour
to eseane, Figs. 3 and 4 will give the exact drawing

Fie. 4.

of the ova and insect. I thought it worth while to
call a witness to its faithful representation, as I had
not at that moment an opportunity of mounting it
as a microscopic object; the grub resembled more
the caterpillar tribe, and certainly was a beautiful
little creature, so perfect in its form though so
minute. I will briefly give a description of the
insect: the trunk or proboscis appears like two
tubes attached together, at the bottom of which
are two immature eyes; the trachez and spiracles
were very distinct; it has ten legs on each side,
fleshy and covered with hair; the body is covered
with delicate spots and minute hairs, with ten fine
horizontal lines of division form top to bottom ;
the tail horn-shaped and fleshy. I have been rather
particular in my description, because it differs so
widely from anything of the kind I have ever met
with.

The male fly, number three, is not, I apprehend,
the mate of cither of the two females from the dis-
similarity of the proboscis (see figs. 5 and 6) ; in all
other respects the male appears the~same species,
only ‘smaller, which is the case generally. But I
am at a loss to find a mate for the male fly; in this
I may perhaps succeed in time. The number of
female flies in comparison with the males of the so-

Apri 1, 1865. |

=

|
di ‘

EE,

\ GE SKE
? 4 las willy UE

i
AN V/ \/
eZ H Na

|

—

Fia. 5.

called house-fly is upon the average of six to one in
my little compartment.

Mr. Samuelson and Dr. Hicks published in 1858
a small but interesting book in a series of eight
‘letters upon the “Common House-Fly,” and as
number one and two of mine represent theirs in
every particular, with the exception of number two
bringing forth a live grub, I would wish to ask-to
what class we are to place number two and three—
are they also to represent the common house-fly ?
If so, we have three distinct varieties, and in all
probability many others.

it occurred to me, and also to several of your
subscribers, that a paper upon this subject might
not be altogether uninteresting or out of place in
your instructive Screncer Gossip, as it may lead some
one more able than myself to solve the problem.

In the same series of letters to which I have made
reference, the facets in the eyes of various insects
are enumerated; among the number mentioned is
that of the dragon-fly (Zibelluia). I believe it is
not generally known, or perhaps only known to

SCIEN CHE-GOSSIP. 8

Fie, 6

myself, as I have never heard it mentioned, that tne
eye of the dragon-fly consists of three distinct sepa-
rate layers, which may with careful manipulation be
separated, showing the facets more distinctly. I
have one so obtained mounted for the microscope.
I acknowledge it will require a very steady hand, a
little skill, and plenty of patience. It is more than
ten years since I made this discovery, and perceiving
that no naturalist mentions the circumstance, 1
thought it might be interesting to those who are
fond of insect anatomy.

I will also mention another object which will
richly repay the trouble of mounting: the gizzard of
the flea, thoroughly cleansed and skinned, is a most
splendid object for an % objective (mounted im
Canada balsam). R. 8. BoswE tt.

| V.8.—Our correspondent’s drawing was toorougli
for engraving, and we have substituted ‘the tongue
of the drone-fly, which he states his own much
resembled, except that it was smaller, and more
opaque in the trunk.—Zd, Se. G.] ao

4

SCINUNCEH-GOSSIP.

[Arkin 1, 1865.

CRICKET ON THE HEARTH.

Own showing a very beautiful and perfect micro-
photogiaph, by Dr. Abercrombie, of the so-called
tongue (liyuwla) of the house-cricket (Achela do-
mestica), the question arose, “ What do crickets
eat?” Now, our little merry fireside-chirpers seem
never to have confided this secret to mortal ears,
not even in the celebrated duet on the hearth when
“kettle began it.” One reason for this may be that
the ladies of the family, who might be expected to

look after the larder, are dumb poor things. So
Xenarchus, or some crusty old Greek, wrote :—
“Happy are the crickets’ lives,
Since they all have silent wives.”
The power of emitting the “crique! crique!” we

hear is possessed only by the male insect, and is
produced by a truly musical instrument, a sort of
drum or tambourine formed of a part of the parch-
ment, or partially horny substance, of the short
upper wings, which in these Orthoptera take the
place of the more elaborate wing-sheaths, called
elytra, of the beetles; across or against this little
drum, the cricket has the power of rubbing the
toothed or corrugated inner edges of these upper
partially sheathing wings—sometimes called fegmina
—which fold a little over each other. In this way
a pretty loud sound can be produced.

There is an elegant legend quoted by Dr. Shaw,
in his volume VI.,as from the Greek, of a cicada,
which, as it might easily apply to our present friends,
it may be allowable to repeat as gossip :—‘ A tale
is related by ancient authors of two rival musicians,
Eunomus, of Locris, and Aristo, of Rhegiun, alter-
nately playing for a prize; when one of the can-
didates was so unfortunate as to break a string of
his lyre; by which accident he would certainly have
failed ; when a cicada, flying near, happened to settle
on his lyre, and by its own note supplied the de-
fective string, and thus enabled the favoured can-
didate to overcome his antagonist. So remarkable
was this event that a statue was erected to perpe-
tuate the memory of it, in which a man is represented
playing on a lyre, on which sits a cicada.”

Although the lady crickets are dumb, we must
presume they are not deaf; Shakespeare does not
consider them so when he says:—‘ TI will whisper
it gently, so that not even youx crickets shall hear.”
The cricket then sounds his gong to summon the
ladies from the tortuous passages and caves scooped
out by their strong mandibles in the mortar of our
walls, to join the festive board, when he finds some
dainty crumbs scattered on the floor, particularly if
they should be moist; for these chirpers are thirsty
creatures, and have been known to devour holes in
any wet woollen articles left by the kitchen-fire,—

most likely for the sake of the moisture. They are

{

said to have no objection to a savoury meal on a fat,
juicy cockroach, and that the latter always abscond
from places where crickets abound.

Sir W. Jardine states, on the authority of Koch,
that the cricket has the characteristics of omizi-
vorous animals, in possessing both incisive and
molar teeth, of which he gives a figure on Plate VI.
of his ‘‘Introduction to Entomology ” in the “ Na-
turalist’s Library ;”” and they appear to have astrong
propensity for nibblmg and gnawing. A tender,
young passion-flower was planted in a warm corner
of my conservatory, adjoining the kitchen-chimney,
where numbers of these crickets were continually
chirping, as fast as the poor little plant sent forth
promise of young leaves, they were eaten off, and
the tender twigs regularly decorticated by some sort
of little, nibbling teeth, just as rabbits often bark
young trees in a plantation. Now, the crickets were
never actually caught in the fact of feeding on th
plant; so their friends may consider this charge
against them as zot provex/ But as nothing else
likely to have eaten them could ever be traced, and
the crickets were constantly heard in suspicious
vicinity, there is at least strong presumptive evi-
dence which, perhaps, some keener observer may
be inclined to follow up.

The Rev. Gilbert White records that “in the
summer we have observed them to fly, when it be-
came dusk, out of the windows and over the neigh-
bouring roofs.”

M. Bory de Saint- Vincent relates that the Spaniards
have such an affection for these little creatures that
they construct neat little cages for them, and hang
them up like singing birds,

M. Latreille thinks they live chiefly on insects;
insummer, the house-crickets make long excursions
into the fields and gardens, where they sing away
merrily in the open air, during the warm summer-
evenings; but usually return by the end of August
to their haunts, near ovens, or kitchen-hearths,—a
habit which calls forth this little address from the
bard of Olney to the “ Cricket on the Hearth ? :—

“Thou surpassest, happier far,
Happiest grasshoppers that are :
Their’s is but a summer’s song ;
‘Thine endures the winter long,
Unimpaired and shrill and clear—
Melody throughout the year.”

PLS. B;

What we know, is a pomt to what we do not
know. Open any recent journal of science, and
weigh the problems suggested concerning light,
heat, electricity, magnetism, physiology, geology,
and judge whether the interest of natural science
is likely to be soon exhausted.—Hwmerson.

A man is fed, not that he may be fed, but that he
may work.—A/imerson,

STRANGE REMEDIES.

In all country places there are very strange reme-
dies recommended for various diseases. Generally,
there is but little reason for the method of treat-
ment. Often the doctrine that szmdlia similibus
curantur, or “like cures like,” is its only founda-
tion. Thus, the yellow bark of the berberry-tree is
in some places administered as a cure for jaundice,
only because it is yellow and the skin also is yellow
in that disease. Our wise forefathers called the
purple foxglove “ throatwort,”’ and prescribed it in
cases of ulcerated sore throat, because the inside or
throat of the flower is spotted like the human
throat in a diseased state, and they thought that by
these real or fancied resemblances nature pointed
out the uses to which different plants ought to be
applied. Whether the Digitalis was given internally,
or used as an external application, I cannot tell ;
but if the former, I think it must have been a “ kill
or cure” kind of remedy.

LT have heard of two remedies in Cheshire which
have not even this shadow for their rationale. I
observed a man intently hunting for something
in the long wet grass. I went to see what he was
looking for; in fact, he was trespassing in my own
orchard, so I had a special interest in watching him.
I found, however, that he was looking for some
little frogs, which, if found, were to be placed
(alive, I suppose) into the mouth of a child that
had got the thrush!

The other remedy is a hedgehog, which is con-
fidently recommended in cases of epilepsy! I have
never been able to learn, however, whether it is
to be cooked or raw, roasted or boiled, with spines
or without, or whether it is to be tortured in some
way, and made a charm of, as was sometimes done
with other animals by our aforesaid wise forefathers,
as in the following instance which I met with in an
old farriery book. The remedy was to be used,
“When a horse has been frightened or bitten by a
mouse in its manger.” The formula was :—“ Take
a mouse, and having cut a hole in the trunk of a
tree (I think some particular tree was specified),
there place the mouse, and fasten it up by nailing
a piece of wood over the hole. Then, whenever the
horse becomes unmanageable, or is frightened at
any thing, take him to the tree (not a very easy
matter, bemg unmanageable), and his fright will
instantly cease, and he will become manageable.”

Here, however, is a Cheshire remedy for warts,
which is most wonderful, and which is by many im-
plicitly believed in. Seal a piece of bacon. Rub
the warts with it. Then cut a slit in the bark
cf an ash-tree; raise up a piece of the bark; put
in the bacon, and close the bark down again. In
a short time the warts will dic away from the hand!

but will make their appearance on the bark of the |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 85

in

tree as rough excrescences!! This remedy has been
quite successful in the case of my man, who told

met!! R. H.

ON COLLECTING DIATOMS. °

THE collector of Diatoms, Desmids, and other
microscopic denizens of the waters, is often at a
loss where to seek for the objects of his search. In
the country every dirty ditch and stagnant pond or
running stream is a natural aquarium for him, but
the dweller in town has to.go some distance before
he can meet with a suitable hunting, or more pro-
perly, fishing-ground. It is to the latter, therefore,
the writer now specially commends the following
remarks. Of localities, the Londoner will find at
the west-end the Serpentine in Hyde Park, the
ornamental water in Regent’s and St. James’s Parks,
very rich in diatoms, particularly Diatoma, Surirella,
Synedra, Plurosigma, Pinnularia, and some others.

Northerly he will find the ponds on Hampstead-
heath and Highgate. In the east the docks, and in
the south the Surrey-canal, Clapham and Wands-
worth Commons, which contain many prolific ponds
and ditches; so that a ride by omnibus, or a few
miles’ walk from almost any part of London, will
bring the collector into the vicinity of his prey.

Then, as to collecting apparatus. The writer has
found the most simple to be the following :—Half-
a-dozen wide-mouthed bottles, one-ounce size, with
turned-back brim, fitted
with good corks, and placed
in a leather case for con-
venient carriage in the
pocket, which case should
also be provided with a
pocket to contain a good
stout india-rubber ring.
A walking-stick or umbrella
will complete his collecting
implements. The use of
the india-rubber ring will
now be apparent. On reach-
ing a likely spot for collecting, he is to remove
from the case one of the bottles and the india-rubber
ring. Having then placed his stick or umbrella
under his arm, double the india-rubber ring over
the ferrule end of the stick, and pass the neck of
the bottle through the two loops thus formed.

This plan has been used by the writer for some
years, and found to answer admirably; it has the
advantage of taking up very little room in the pocket,
and can be adjusted in an instant.

A, J, Ropers.

Art is nature passed through the alembic or man.
—LPnierson,

50 SCIUNCE-GOSSIP.

400L0GY.

Natrensack In IneLanp.—I met here again
(Ross Bay) that curious amphibian the natterjack
(Bufo calamita). Itis a pretty, harmless creature,
and its bell-like chorus at eventide could be heard
at a great distance. I had previously observed it
amongst the sand-flats of Southport an almost iden-
tical habitat.—Dr. Carrington’s Gleanings.

Mots anp Movsz.—Last winter, when the ground
was frozen very hard, I saw a bewildered mole trying
with all his might to bury himself in the ground. I
soon captured the little beast, and pocketed him.
Tn my walk I espied a poor field-mouse running
about for shelter; him I easily captured, and put
into the same pocket, which was large and capacious.
Very shortly after the introduction, I found a
considerable disturbance was going on between the
two, and, supposing they were trying to escape, I
closed the pocket to prevent their doing so. I
reached home in about half-an-hour, when, what was
my surprise, on fecling for my captives, to find the
poor mouse gone, all but his head. The mole had
disposed of him. I then placed the survivor on
the table, laying the head before him, when, with
all the coolness imaginable, he picked the bones of
his unfortunate companion, taking no heed of several
persons who stood round.—W. H. B.

DorEs THE SrrpeR Hat nis Wup?—Dig out the
coal, let the hearth be bright, and let the forge glow,
and then watch how the dark vapours creep and
spread over the sky like some mighty spider’s web.
The spider still eats its own web. Even this last
product of the furnace and the chimney is too pre-
cious to lose. Ten thousand green leaves attract
and suck itt the rich carbon which the atmosphere
has distilled from the smoke. Through their innu-
merable mouths the unwearied old planet swallows
her own workmanship again, as a tree extracts the
substance of its own falling leaves, or as the spider
eats his web, — Zhe Nonconformist, No. 1,009.
{What conscientious scruple could have haunted our
contemporary to prevent the publication of the
name of “the magazine for February,” which sup-
plied the title and subject of a “leader” of nearly

three columns, whence the above is quoted? ‘To-

this example we are “ nonconformists.”—HZd. 8. G.]

Your correspondent T. K. has so ably answered
the query respecting the garden spider eating its
own web, that I can with pleasure bear testimony to
the truth, having been a witness to the same nearly
forty years hack.—R. S. B.

Tue Cucxoo.—In the west of Scotland, the cuckoo
selects, without any exception within my experience
or knowledge, the nest of what is locally called the
“mosscheeper” (mossbunting) for its egg, one egg

[Apri 1, 1865.

only being found in any one nest. I have seen very
many of the usurped nests with eggs, and ultimately
with the solitary young cuckoo. The eggs cf both
birds are very similar in form and markings; but
that of the cuckoo is slightly the largest. It isa
fact familiar to most observers that a small bird
flies some twenty or thirty yards in the rear and
direct track of the cuckoo, and rests when the cuckoo
rests. This ] have observed during along course
of years; but I do not remember to have seen thie
fact on record. This devoted attendant is the foster-
bird—the buntineg—always under such cireumstances
called ¢he titling. A schoolboy-rhyme, in the form of
a puzzle, pointing to this connection, and likely
common over the whole country, runs thus :—
“The linty, and the linty-wheet,
The laverick, and the lark,

The cuckoo, and the titling,—

How many birds is that ? ”’ De RR;

Reprines In ConrineMEent.— In: a fern-case,
about 3 feet by 1 in area, I kept two toads, a small
frog, and a number of newts. The frog did not
appear fond of the water; the newts would not go
in, and if thrown in, immediately crawled out again.
The toads, on the contrary, appeared to enjoy an
occasional bath, remaining in the water, with the
mouth and eyes above the surface, for several hours
together. “H. EF. does not appear to have been
able to keep toads in his fern-case for long. Mine,
on the contrary, lived, the one for about a year, the
other for nearly two. The newts dropped off one
by one, the last surviving for, I think, upwards of
eighteen months. The frog lived for several months,
aud was a very interesting creature. When on the
upper part of the fern-fronds, where he delighted to
bask, he appeared of a distinctly greenish tint;
but when on the soil, at the bottom, the hue changed
to so decided a brown that it was difficult to find
him. During the time that these creatures were
among the ferns, I am not aware of having seen an
aphis, whereas, since their decease, the young fronds
(especially those of the Polypods) are, during the
summer-months, infested with them.—C, A,

Tur Brrtern.—A fine male specimenof the Bittern
(Ardea stellaris) was caught by a dog amongst some
rushes in a meadow near Northampton, in January,
1864, Another Bittern was shot by a gentleman,
near Wellingborough, in February of the same year.
I may also mention a male Bittern which was shot
within a few miles of Wellingborough, in 1856.
These, I believe, are the only recorded instances of
this bird being met wilh in Northamptonshire of
late years.—W. £,

A Sanppirer In Dirricuuties.—While walking
by the side of a small mountain-stream in the north
of Yorkshire, last summer, I was startled by a flutter-

| ing noise; and on looking round, saw a sandpiper

Aprit 1, 1865. }

SCIENCH-GOSSIP. 87

(Lotanus hypoleucus) fly away from my feet. I began
to look for its nest, thinking it might have built a
second time; but to my astonishment, I sawa young
sandpiper with one lee entangled in some wool,
which had stuck toa small nut-tree. I went some
distance off, for the purpose of seeing it try to
liberate itself. As soon as I had gone away, the
old bird came back again, and fed it. Having
watched it for some time, I at last walked up, and
set it free, but not without some difficulty; for the
wool had got so tight round its legs that it had cut
it in several places, and was covered with blood; so
I was obliged to use my knife to get it off. When
the bird was set free, it did not fly far; but hid
itself under the river’s bank. I never saw my little
prisoner again.—G@, R. B,

Hasits or tHe Toap.—Neither “KE. D,’ nor
“RR. H.” notice the comical habit which the toad
has of twitching his hind-toes with excitement when
watching an insect he intends to eat. The frog
does not do so, being much quicker in catching its
prey at a distance. It leaps toward it, and throws
out its tongue at the same time. I have at present
four tame toads and a frog, which I should always
be glad to show to any one calling. One of the
toads croaks loudly whenever handled, but never
dribbles now. I have also some natterjacks (Bufo
cadlamita), from Wisley, Surrey. I shall be glad to
catch and send specimens of this really handsome
species to all who will write and ask.—WV. R. Tate,
4, Grove-place, Denmark-hill, Camberwell.

Kee oF tar Stormy Perret.—tThe stormy petrel
(Porcellaria pelagica, L.) isthe smallest of the web-
footed birds, is very light, and but little larger than
a wren; but the ege she lays is the largest, for the
size of the bird, of any of the feathered race, being
13, of an inch long, 34 of an inch in diameter. She
lays two eggs, which are pure white, and full as
large as a pigeon’s egg, in the fissures of the rocks
on the rocky isles, near the coast, in almost inaccess-
ible places—W. W. K., St. Ives, Cornwall.

Economic Entomotocy.—In a cireular just is-
sued, the Entomological Society of London an-
nounces its anxiety especially to devote attention to
economic entomology, and requests the support of
agriculturists and horticulturists, and of all who are
interested in the habits and economy of insects, and
the best modes of cultivating the useful and de-
stroying the noxious species. The council has offered
two prizes, of the value of five guineas each, to be
awarded, at the end of the present year, to the
authors of essays or memoirs of sufficient merit on
subjects belonging to the economic department of
the science.

Tue BapeeR.—On the 19th of March, last year,

aman brought a live badger to Wycombe, which he

had dug out the previous night. It was a very fine
one; he sold it for ten shillings to a gentleman, who
has it now. I have a fine badger’s skull that was
dug up three years ago in our cemetery with several
other bones.—Henry Ullyett.

Cuckoo’s Eee In A Linnet’s Nest.—On the $ih
of July last I found a linnet’s nest with a cuckco’s
egg init. Is not this wmusual, the linnet being a
hard-billed bird? The spots on the egg were very
light, corroborating the opinion of a friend of mine,
who believes the cuckoo’s eggs to be light or dark in
shade, according to the nest in which they are laid.
—Henry Ullyett.

Cotour oF Birps’ Eeés.—I have had severai
eggs brought me, said to be those of yellow bunting,
totally destitute of colour. These were always laid
very late in the season, and this may serve to bear

| out the remark of Mr. Gregson, quoted in the Fe-

bruary number. Two white eggs were once brought
in the nest, which I believe to be those of wheatear.
This was late in the year, too.—Heury Ullyett.

New §1iK-propucine Insect. — M. Guérin-
Meneville presented a note to the Academy of
Sciences, Paris, recently, on a new sub-genus of Bom-
bycides producing silk —the Saturnia Bauhinia,
Guér., an inhabitant of Senegal, for which M. Guérin
proposes to found a new sub-genus under the name
of Faidherbia, in honour of General Faidherbe,
the commander of the French military expeditions
in the district of the Senegal, through whose instru-
mentality the silk-producing qualities of the insect
have been made known. Each cocoon contains 633
milligrammes of silk, those of the é¢ommon silk-
worm containing only 290, and those of the silk-
worms of the ailanthus and ricinus only 255 and
175 respectively. It is proposed to introduce the
cultivation of this new silkworm into Algeria.—Zke
Reader.

THE Man-sucknr, oR Octopus.—In the article
about the man-sucker (Octopus), I find the author
does not mention (which I have often seen) that the
Indians, after catching the creature, will eat it raw
with great gusto; and when I have been out all day
shooting with them it has been brought with them
raw as their luncheon. There is also another sea (1
do not know whether to call it animal or fish—at any
rate) creature, about as long and as thick as my arm,
which has no power of volition, but sticks to the
rocks by suckers; these I have scen the Indians
spear, and eat raw, with the sea-water, with which
they are filled, running down their beards.—/. Z.

To the attentive eye, each moment of the year
has its own beauty, and in the same field it beholds
every hour, a picture which was never seen before,
and which shall never be seen again.—/merson,

88 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Apri 1, 1865,

BOTANY.

Common Totnes Unxnown.—In the county of
Devon the cowslip, nightingale, and mistletoe are
unknown. The flower which in the county of
Somerset is called the daffodil, is in Devonshire
called the cowslip.—/. A.

Savantrra Rmatany.—All who are devoted to
the study of materia medica will be glad to learn
that Mr. Daniel Hanbury has determined the source
of the Savanilla rhatany root of commerce to be
that of Krameria Ivina Tr. and Pl.

Dr. F. C. Scuusrter has recently been no-
minated Professor of Botany and Director of the
Botanical Garden at Christiana.—Gardener’s Chro-
nicle.

New British Licuens—The Rev. W. A.
Leighton announces the discovery by him of two
other new British lichens. One of these (Lecidea
tantilla Nyl.) he found in October last on wood
palings at Stableford, near Bridgenorth, Shropshire;
the other (named by Dr. Nylander Odontotrema
longius) in January, 1865, on railings near Shrews-
bury. —Azuals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.

New Sovurcr or Turinze.—It has recently been
announced that theize, the chemical principle of tea
and coffee, has been found in the cola or guru-nut
of Soudan (Cola acuminata). “It would probably
prove a futile task to attempt the discovery
throughout the vegetable kingdom of tropical
West Africa of any analogous product that occupies
such an exalted position in the social or dietetic
economy of the negro tribes, or constitutes such an
important article of traffic in Soudan, as the seeds of
the cola-tree.”—Pharmaceutical Journal,

ANOTHER USE For Nettirs.—There is a use of
nettles well-known to the lower class in this neigh-
bourhood, namely, that of feeding pigs. The poor
people send out their children with thick gloves on

their hands, and aknife and rope; the children then |

cut down as many nettles as they can carry, round
which they tie the rope and trudge home, and boil
the nettles, which destroys the power of the formic
acid, leaving the nettles quite harmless, but forming
a very nutritious food for their pigs—/J. H., Bel-

Sast.

British Rosrs.—M. Deseglise has recently
completed a review of the roses of Britain and
France in the pages of the “ Naturalist.” Mr. J.
G. Baker (in Seemann’s “Journal of Botany’’)
says :—“ At length the true Rosa collina Jacq. may
take its place upon our British lists. Mr. T. R. A.
Briggs has met with it im considerable quantity in
hedges and thickets im the neighbourhood of
Plymouth, and as the stations are upon both sides

of the Tamar, they are consequently both in Devon
shire and Cornwall.”

VEGETABLE OricIn oF D1amonps.—Professor
Geeppert, who recently obtained the prize offered
by the Dutch Scientific Society for an essay on this
subject, says :—‘‘In my essay I have given ample
proof that at one time diamonds were soft bodies. . .
I have not yet attained any results with respect to
graphite, but in diamonds I have found numerous
foreign bodies enclosed, of which, if they cannot be
said to be evidently and undoubtedly vegetable in
their origin, it would, on the other hand, be difficult
to deny their vegetable nature altogether.—Sce-
mann s Journal of Botany.

Sr. Wivnerrip’s Bioop.— The _ blood-speckled
stones, at the bottom of St. Winefrid’s-well, at
Holywell, in Flintshire, were long appealed to as
miraculous relics of St. Winefrid’s blood, till the
prying botanist resolved them into an a/gotd produe-
tion, known as Palmella cruenta, which has been
frequently taken for blood spilt upon the ground,
Thus Caxton quaintly says :—

* Tn the welmes ofter than ones,
Ben found reed spercled stones,
In token of the blood reed
That the mayd Wenefrede

Shadd at that pytte
Whan hyr throte was kytte.”

—Lees Botanical Looker-out.

Servian Frora.—One peculiarity of Servia, Mr.
Denton says, will not fail to be noticed by an
English traveller. The flora is almost entirely
English. The banks skirting the roads which wind
through the forests are carpeted with the wild
strawberry, and the open glades which run into the
woods abound with the wild raspberry; the thin
soil on the steep sides of many of the hills is covered
with the whortleberry ; the weeds and wild flowers
of the fields also are those which are commonly met
with in England; violets and daisies, pansies and
spurge, primroses and oxlips, forget-me-nots and
speedwells, orchises of all shades, and wild garlic,
meadow saffron and the cuckoo flower, or ragged
robin. The hedges are powdered with honeysuckle
and the clematis, and fringed with yellow broom,
with bramble bushes, doe roses, and the white and
blackthorn. Trees, indeed, that are comparatively
rare in England are met with in profusion in Servia.
The wild pear and cherry, the plum, and the apple,
may be seen in great numbers in the woods; the
acacia and laburnum are met with by the sides of
the roads, and lilacs abound on all the hill sides.—
Quarterly Review. :

Apnormat Larcn Conrs.—As a field-naturalist
T have ever been fond of a ramble in the larch plan-
tation. In winter the ground beneath is strewn

Aprit 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. §9

with curious mosses and fungi, while in spring the
delicious odour—

“As the larch hath hung all its tassels forth,”

exhaled, not only by the larch buds, but by occa-
sional violets and primroses, gives the seclusion of the
crove a perpetual charm.

But we would now di-
rect attention to the
subject of our engraving,
which are some larch
cones of a previous year,
developed into branches,
which may soon be seen
budding into leaves,
and growing like other
branchlets on the tree.
With regard to these
curious productions, we
may conclude that ac-
cording to the theory of
arrested development,
the original cone was
formed from theelements
of abranchortwig, which
after the cone was formed got a new impetus of
erowth, and developed the branch at the termination
of thecone. In this cone, then, we may view the whole
of the multiple flower of the larch as so many whorls
of modified leaves, which, being no longer arrested,
have resulted in the elongation of the whole into an
abnormal branch, with all the elements of a fruit
and branch united. This sometimes occurs with
other coniferse, more particularly the spruce, but in
the latter it is seldom that the branch is so thoroughly
perforated —J. B.

BRoom-RArE IN a StRaNGE Prace.—I have found
the lesser broom-rape (Orobanche minor), a curious
parasitical plant, with purple stem and light-brown
flowers, on many of the walls of the castles of
Wales and Monmouthshire, which seems a curious
habitat for it, since it is supposed to grow only on
the roots of other plants, as the clover, &c.; and as
its seeds are not winged, it seems difficult to account
for its location there. I gathered this plant on the
top of Martin’s Tower, Chepstowe Castle, in 1839,
—LHdwin Lees.

TRuFFLEs.—Trufiles are found in several parts of
the South Downs. The only ones I have eaten were
grown at Lord Gage’s, at Firle Place. His lord-
ship informed me he had never found them except
under the shade of beech-trees in his park. They
are also found in Stanmer Park, and in the beech-
woods of West Sussex. They are usually hunted
by dogs, which so much affect this delicacy that
they can only be bribed into giving it up to the
hunter by a bit of raw meat. In Cartwright’s

“History of the Rape of Bramher,” 1830, p. 73, is
the following statement :—‘The beech-woods in
this parish (Patching) are very productive of the
truffle. About forty years ago (circa 1790), Wm.
Leach came from the West Indies with some dogs
accustomed to hunt for truffles, and proceeding along
the coast from the Land’s End to the mouth of the
Thames, determined to fix on the spot where he
found them most abundant. He took four years to
try the experiment, and at length settled in this
parish, where he carried on the business of truffic-
hunter till his death.” Pigs are occasionally used
for truffle-hunting—Mark Antony Lower, in Notes
and Queries,

THe Watnur (Juglans regia)—In the south of
England the walnut is a very common tree, not only
in pleasure-grounds and gardens, but by the wayside
in retired villages, as at Tickenham, Somersetshire,
and ripens its dainty fruit every year freely and
abundantly. In the north it is rather rare, and
found chiefly near old halls, and other residences of
note, and the fruit cannot be depended upon.
Raised from seed, it begins to bear at ten years old,
and every year, as it approaches maturity, it increases
in productiveness. The tap-root is unusually strong,
and gives the tree a powerful anchorage, so that it
is less liable to be torn up by tempests than any
other. There is good reason to believe that this
tree has been in England since the time of the
Romans, from whom it received the name of
Juglans, or Jupiter’s nut, in contradistiction to
acorns and beechmast.— Gvindon’s British and
Garden Botany.

Repropuction IN Ferns.—In ferns and their
allies the result of germination is the production of
a cellular expansion of various forms, whether glo-
bose or seale-like or irregular, whether more or less
differentiated and distinct from the spore itself, or
confluent with it externally or internally or both, on
which or within the substance of which, at least in
the more normal cases, two organs are produced of
different sexes, the one of which, called an “arche-
conium,” cousists of a pitcher-shaped cyst, within
which there is a single free cell at the base, which
is destined, after impregnation, to produce, first an
embryo, and then, by continued development, a
perfect plant like the parent; which either once
only, or annually through a shorter or longer suc-
cession of years, gives rise to fruit, consisting of a
sporangium filled with spores, destined after germi-
nation to go through the same circle of phenomena.
In some cases two different kinds of spores are pro-
duced, one of which gives rise to the male, the other
to the female organs. — Berkeley’s Handbook of
British Mosses,

90

MICROSCOPY.

An Economic ConpENsER.—The outline figures
below are given at the request of an amateur-
microscopist, and represent a cheap condenser,
which he has constructed for his own use, and now
) ublishes in the hope that it may be useful to others.
Having seen his own instrument, with the con-
denser, in operation, we were so well satisfied with
the results, as willingly to accord him space for his
explanation. The woodcuts are executed from draw-

Fre. 1.—A, spot-lens, about 3-inch focus. B, achro-
matic spot-lens, about 14 inch focus, placed at about
the same distance as in a Kelner eyepiece, in a tube
C, screwed in a flat ring of metal D, which is sup-
ported on a flat plate G, secured by a holdfast H,
allowing room between fora diaphragm F, to revolve
freely on its axis, which is done by a screw passing
through a holdfast into the plate G. H is a tube
inch long for carrying polariscope.

Me. 2.—Diaruracm. A, for direct light. B, fro
difficult test-objects. C, dark-ground illuminator. D
small aperture, with shutter 2, having a small hole
init. The features presented by this condenser are,
—that it is applicable for both high and low powers,

»

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

_ depth of tissue and perspective.

[Apri 1, 1865.

can be used by merely sliding it into a tube under
the stage, and never need be removed except for
cleaning.’ He adds, “it-would never make any
pecuniary difference to me whether this condenser
be used or not. All I have done is for the benefit
of any amateur microscopist like myself who,
wishing for a reasonably-priced condenser, can
gratify that wish.”— J. Webster.

WHAT WILL 35TH OBJECTIVE DO? — Par-
ticles too small to be discerned by a sixteenth
are well seen by a twenty-fifth or fiftieth, and
particles too transparent t6 be observed by the
twenty-fifth are distinctly demonstrated by the
fiftieth, and Dr. Beale suggests that the further
careful study, by the aid of these high powers of the
development and increase of some of the lowest
organisms, and the movemeiits which have been
seen to oceur in connection with certain forms of
living matter will lead to most valuable results
bearing upon the much-debated question of vital
actions. Another very great advantage resulting
from the use of the highest powers occurs in
minute investigations upon delicate structures -
which occupy different planes, as is the case in
many nervous organs. In studying the distribution
of the nerves in some of the peripheral organs of
vertebrate animals, very fine fibres can be followed
as they lie upon different planes. The most delicate
constituent nerve-fibres of the plexus in the summit
of the papilla of the frog’s tongue can be readily
traced by the aid of this power. The finest nerve-
fibres thus rendered visible are so thin, that in
a drawing they would be represented by fine single
lines. Near the summit of the papilla there is a
very intricate interlacement of nerve-tibres, which,
although scarcely brought out by the twenty-fifth,
is very clearly demonstrated by this power. In this
object the definition of the fibres, as they ramify in
various planes one behind another, is remarkable ;
and the flat appearance of the specimen as seen by
the twenty-fifth gives place to that of considerable
The finest nerve-

| fibres in the cornea and in certain forms of connective
_ tissue are beautifully brought out, and their relation
to the delicate processes from the connective-tissue

corpuscles more satisfactorily demonstrated than
with the twenty-fifth — The Reader.

Micro-PHorocrarus.—At the meeting of the
Microscopical Society, March 8th, an interesting
collection of dissolving views was exhibited by the
kindness of Mr, James How, of Foster-lane, by means
of slides prepared by Dr. Maddox. The forms of some
diatoms when thrown upon the screen measured
over twelve feet in diameter; a section of echinus
spine nine feet; a scale of a hawkmoth seven feet;
and the blood dises of a newt from two to three fect
long, every object being as sharp as a painting.

Aprtit 1, 1865.)

GEOLOGY.

A Coav’s Account or Itsetr.—“‘I cannot
exactly remember,” he went on to say, “ how I was
formed, except from tradition; but as the members
of our family (and it is a very large one, for I have
relations in Staffordshire, Lancashire, South Wales,
Newcastle, Scotland, and indeed in most parts of
the country) are pretty well agreed upon the point,
I may take it for granted that the account is
tolerably correct. You will scarcely believe me
when I tell you that the ancestors of myself, and all
my kith and kin, were trees—nothing more nor less
than stems and leaves, which the rays of the sun
had ripened and made green; and it almost makes
me believe in the doctrine of metempsychosis, to
find myself giving out that heat which the rays of
the sun stored up in the leaves of my fore-
fathers—so much so, that a celebrated engineer,
George Stephenson by name, actually called us
‘bottled sunshine” If you don’t believe it,
examine me closely through a microscope when I
have finished giving out my heat and become a
cinder, and you will find, by treating me with nitric
acid ina particular way, not only the structure of
the tree, but will also be able to tell from what
particular class of tree I descended.””—Oxce a Week.

THe MANvFACTURE OF Fosstts.—At a meeting
of the Manchester Geological Society Mr. J. Plant
called the attention of the meeting to a serious
fraud that had been going on for some time among
excavators at the Macclesfield New Cemetery.
The excavations had been made in gravels that
belonged to the drift, and a number of fragments
of sheils belonging to a recent period, and occa-
sionally a few nearly perfect, had been found by the
workmen, and these had fallen into the hands of
gentlemen interested in the geology of the locality.
Encouraged by the pecuniary results of their dis-
coveries some of the workmen had supplied spurious
shells, obtamed from their friends at Liverpool,
Southport, or Ireland, and they had even robbed
rookeries and garden plots that contained shellwork.
The shells so obtained were subjected to the action
of fire or acid, to deprive them of their epidermis,
and to bring out a thin coating of white lime; to
give them a true drift character they were after-
wards shaken ina basket of gravel, and had imparted
to them the necessary red tinge. Having no know-
ledge of species, some of the workmen had operated
on West Indian and African shells, specimens of
which Mr. Plant produced. But the most audacious
fraud that they had attempted was the manufacture
of a fossil. They had very cleverly set a mactra
(stultorum) in a piece of Ketton oolite.
which had the peculiar pink tinge of the species,
was so cleverly cemented with the oolite that even
an ordinary geologist might have been deceived.

SCIENCE-GOSSTP. ol

The shell, |

One-of the workmen had said to a gentleman
writing to Mr. Plant “that they had made a good
thing of it. They had deceived the museums of
London, Manchester, and Liverpool, and there had
been a fine set of people asking them for the shells.”
Such a dispersion might lead to very erroneous
deductions as to the origin of the diluvial drift of
Macclesfield, and he (Mr. Plant) thought it right
to mention the fraud-to the society, so that it might
be exposed.—Muanchester Guardian.

STANNER Rocxs.—I see a note in your last num-
ber respecting the capture of a female badger and
her cubs at Stanner Rocks, near Kington, Hereford-
shire. Some of the students and lovers of nature
who take ScimncE Gossip may be glad to know that
Stanner Rocks and the immediate neighbourhood
possess peculiar interest for the naturalist. Stanner
Rocks lie within a pleasant walk of the little country
town of Kington, on the borders of Radnorshire,
now easily reached by railway from Hereford or
Leominster. They are very striking from the bold,
rocky appearance they assume among the rounded
hills of Hergest-ridge and Bradnor-hill which flank
them. They are,in fact, the north-eastern extremity
of masses of volcanic rocks, which in Worsel Wood,
Hunter Hill, and Old Radnor Hill, are emptied in
this district though the lower Wenlock, or Wool-
hope limestone, which is altered and metamorphosed
into a crystalline, amorphous mass, well worthy of
observation. The volcanic rock of Stanner is a par-
ticularly hard, dark, hypersthenic rock; and Sir R.
Murchison, who described this ancient lava in his
“Silurian System,” five-and-twenty years ago, re-
marked that it resembled the hypersthenic Trap of
Cornish, in the Isle of Skye. Before the submer-
gence of by far the greater part of England during
the glacial period, the voléanie rocks of Stanner,
Hanter-hill, Worsel-wood, and Old Radnor were,
no doubt, connected. The valleys and hollows be-
tween were evidently eroded arid scooped out durme
that period, as large masses of this peculiar rock are
scattered over the different hills to the north-east
wid north of the district, and portions are found
in the drift that lies along the slopes of old red sand-
stone near Lyonshall, and other localities. The
botany of Stanner-rocks is almost as mteresting as
the geology. When I was last there, two summers
ago in the month of June, the rocks were purple
with that rare and loeal plant Lychuts viscaria and
the Geranium sanguineum, which grows nowhere
else in the Kington district. I also gathered that
very rare plant, Scleranthus perennis, which I believe
only grows in two or three localities in Great Britain.
A friend, who accompanied me, took several good
beetles; and what with scenery, rocks, geology,
botany, and entomology, we passed two very happy
days among the old volcanic rocks of Stanner.—

WSS:

92 SCIUNCE-GOSSIP.

[ApLin ], 1863,

WINDOW GARDENS AND AQUARIA.

Prants In THE AQuartum.—Mr. Shirley Hib-
berd says that in a large aquarium now in his pos-
session he has never introduced an aquatic plant of
any description, and has found, as the saying is,
“their room better than their company.” He used
large blocks of coke for rockwork, which, in course
of time, became covered with a microscopic green
vegetation, which he has found quite a sufficient
oxygen generator. His aquarium was placed in a
well-lighted hall, but he found that an excess of
light caused a too plentiful supply of the vegetation,
therefore he drew down the blind, and it has since
kept within bounds, the amount of light regulating
the amount of vegetation.

Kinuarney Frern.—It may not be generally
known that there is no fern so suitable to a room
and so easily managed as the MKiullarney fern
(Lrichomanes radicans), formerly considered so diffi-
cult to propagate, and it may not be altogether
uninteresting to some of your readers to hear of an
easy way to have such an ornamental favourite
crowing even in their bedrooms. My plan has been
to plant the fern in a suitable mixture of fibrous
bog-mould and sand (E) on potsherds broken very
small, with ¢horowgh drainage in an ornamental
pottery vase. Instead, however, of filling the
whole vase with soil, I leave a margin of two inches
or so between the soil and the inside of the vase.

(a)

This margin should be filled up all round and to the
full depth of the vase with moss, cocoa-nut fibre,
and broken potsherds or porous stone(M). The glass
used should cover only the fern and the soil imme-
diately round its roots, and need seldom be moved,
all necessary moisture being supplied through the
moss, &¢., which should be kept constantly wet.
Todea pellucida flourishes under the same treatment,
and is equally handsome. I subjoin a sketch of a
vase such as I have used.—ZZ, A.

Moss Curturn.—The cultivation of mosses may
be effected by lifting with a little care, towards the
end of the season, a good tuft of the species it is
desired to grow, and putting in a medium sized
flower-pot. A greater proportion of the drainage
should be given than fo» other plants, and the

tuft should be placed in immediate connection with
such material as most nearly resembles that on
which the moss grows naturally. Ifa trial be made
of such as grow on rocks, shores, or branches of
trees, and some of these succeed very well, they
should be for a time secured to these by a piece of
string or some other contrivance. Those which
like moisture, such as Bartramia fontana, Hypnum
cordifolium, and Dicranum squarrosum, should have
the pots placed in saucers filled constantly with
water, by which means they are supplied regularly
with moisture. A cold frame or shaded shelf of a
cool greenhouse does very well for them to stand in
while in a growing state, and at this season such
should each day have a watering with a fine-rosed
can, regulating the supply according to the degree
of moisture in the surrounding atmosphere. During
summer, which is a period of repose to most species,
and when they are cast into the shade by the more
brilliant tints of flowering plants, the pots may be
placed under ony shaded wall, taking the weather as
it comes. The only precaution necessary at this
time is to cover the assemblage of pots with some
garden netting to prevent the birds picking up the
tufts, which they are very ready to do in search of
insects and worms.—Robert M. Stark.

An Economic Aquartum.—Any vessel that will
hold water may be converted into an aquarium.
Opaque vessels have many disadvantages, and some-
thing made of glass is preferred. The most ready
and economic glass vessels are hand-glasses or
propagating glasses, such as are employed by
gardeners. These can be had of various sizes, and
when inverted, with the mouth upwards, may be
placed on a stand of turned wood, which forms a
base or pedestal, and may now be purchased often
at the same shop as the propagating glass. There
is no difficulty in obtaining such glasses in almost -
any locality in London, and probably in the majority
of our large towns. Having got your glass home,
cover the bottom for an inch or two in depth,
according to its size, with clean river sand. This is
the soil required for your plants, that is, if your
plants are such as require soil at all. Set your plants,
cover the sand all over with a layer of small pebbles
for another inch in depth, and then add the water,
pipe water, cistern water, river water, rain water,
or, if it must be, pump water. The latter is least to
be recommended. Add the water gently. Let it
trickle down the side of the vessel so as not to dis-
turb the soil at the bottom, and at the same time
become asrated. The glass being filled as high as
you desire, let it rest until your plants are settled
and promise growth, when you may commence
stocking it with animal life. What plants? what
animals? We will study to answer on a future
occasion,

Arnit I, 1865. |

SCIENCH-GOSSIP. 93

FISH TATTLE.

Eris anb Fist Ganpace.—Eels are particularly
fond of the offal of either mackerel, herrings, or
pilchards, and, by the aid of the oil as a clue, will
follow up-stream for a considerable distance, even
to the very hand of the person cleaning the fish. I
recollect one instance in particular, where the offal
was actually dragged from the hands of an individual
cleaning mackerel one evening in a Devonshire
brook ; and on another occasion, in Looe harbour, in
Cornwall, I was much amused in watching the actions
of the eels, flounders, and crabs, contending for the
possession of pilchard heads, &c., I had thrown
overboard. The eels and flounders would dispute
for the prize, but the crabs had it nearly all their
own way, and it was evident that both eels and
flounders held their pincers in great respect, and
were quite aware that the crabs were fully clad in
their suits of armour, without which they do not
venture far from some secure hiding-place, for
flounders and eels in tide-rivers prefer them to all
other food when they have cast their shel!. On the
occasion above-mentioned, by placing some pilchard
offal in a shrimp-net, I took an eel rather over a
pound weight.—J. C., iz the “* Field,”

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Common [Hrs.—In the
river Avon, at Guy’s Cliffe, near Warwick, there are
two distinct sorts, so far as appearance goes: the
black-skinned with white belly, and the olive-green
with white belly. Both are about the same size,
varying from 14 to 43lbs. The best bait to catch
them with, during the summer-months, is the large
red worm, known by the name of the maiden dew-
worm, which is plentiful on turf-land. They only
come out of the turf after dark of a summer-night,
when the dew is on it. Then, as to the question,
“Do eels come out on to the turf-land to feed on
the dew-worm ? ”’ I should say—and so would many
other eel-fishers that I have spoken to on the sub-
ject—“ Yes, I think so, though I have never seen
one out.” But I can say for a certainty that, if an
ecl is caught on anight-line and taken out of the
water at day-break, when the dew is on the grass,
and set at liberty, it is perfectly capable of getting
about the grass, quite as fast as a duck can walk,
and always makes towards the water. I have fre-
quently noticed that the best place to set an eel-line
af night, in summer-time, is in shallow water, and
about a yard from the bank-side, which shows that
the eel comes to the edge of the water to feed, if it
does not go out of it. During the winter-months,
the eel is supposed to bury itself in mud in deep
water. To catch them in winter, the deepest and
muddiest places are the best; the bait a small live
roach.—Stfephen Long.

WOTES AND QUERIES.

Wuy pip THE Bess Go ?—A lady, living near
here, who kept bees, found one day this month that
all the bees of one hive had flown away leaving the
honey of their winter store, and only two dead bees
could be found. Can any of your readers tell me
the cause of this?—Z, W., Rugby.

Movuntine Potyzoa.---Your correspondent may
insure success by adopting a very simple plan, viz.,
dipping the specimens, during life, into fresh water.
Of course care must be taken that the tentacula are
exposed at the moment of immersion (this can be
easily ascertained under the microscope), and that
the immersion be quite sudden. I have specimens
mounted last July, im which the tentacula are in
every stage of expansion. They ave mounted in
“Brunswick black” cells, in a medium of distilled
water, in which a few drops of creosote have been
placed, and then filtered. Nothing can exceed the
beauty of the expanded tentacula, each separate
thread retaining its original form and_ position.
This is particularly interesting in the case of the
Ctenostomatous polyzoa, im which the “invertile”
nature of the crown, from which the tentacula
spring, is well shown. ‘The Avicularia are also
fixed by the fresh water in the position in which the
“beak” chances to be at the moment of death,
whether entirely or partially raised. The vibracula,
on the contrary, are, I think, always pressed close to
the stem of the polyzoon. JI have never succeeded
well with the less highly developed polypi. Their
tentacula appear to be of a more perishable nature,
and soon fall into an undistinguishable mass.—
W.W. Spicer.

SKYLARK’s Sone IN January.—Several corre-
spondents write to inform us of the skylark singing
in January, so that it must be said of it that it sings
“all the year round.”

WoopiarK WantEep.—An anatomist pursuing
his researches on the structure of British birds,
requires a specimen of the woodlark, dead, but
fresh enough to dissect. Any correspondent able
and willing to aid him should apply to us for the
address. He will be repaid any incidental ex-
penses.

Fry Parasires.—In answer to J. L. E., I should
think it very probable that the baggy protuberances
he refers to were the parasite, so common to the
dung beetle, and also found on humble bees, as
eoue time ago I caught a fly covered with them.—
LL.

InrusoniAL Eartus (Triport).—I have tried
several examples obtained at the chemists’, but can
make nothing of it. I should be glad of a little
genuine, and also the modus operandi of preparing
for the microscope.—Z’. A.

Death among Youne Frrns.—I am interested
and practically engaged in the propagation of ferns
by spores, but have had the mortification of seemg
hemdrets of my young plants die before the first
frond had budded out. ‘The cause of death appears
to have been a fungus growth, which makes its
appearance first on the edges of the pots in small
round spots, and gradually becomes deposited also
on the ferns in very minute spots resembling the
mealy matter formed on the under surface of the
cold and silver ferns. Can you, or any of your
correspondents, inform me the best mode of pre-
venting the appearance of these, and of treating the
plants which have been attacked ?—M. Orievred.

04 SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

. he : gs

iy

[Aprin 1, 1865.

A QveEstTIon FoR OrnitHonocists.—Is there
any distinguishable feature in the male young of
kites, ravens, or magpies at an early age, so that
anyone wishing to rear a male bird might be able to
sclect one without rearing the whole nestlings for
the plumage to determine? If the males can be
scientifically defined, it would save a deal of trouble
to many.—ftoss.

SNAKE-STONES.— We have received several com-
munications, but do not think it prudent to occupy
more space with this subject; especially as they
contain no facts which have not already been pub-
lished in “The Zoologist,” p. 6,983, and Gosse’s
* Romance of Natural History.”—2H7. Se. G.

Creanine Hcurnus Sprnes:.—Our correspondent
(T. IX.) says that in rubbing down sections of the
spines, by whatever mode it is done, the numerous
cells accumulate foreign matters to a considerable
extent, and that no one has yet suggested a method
by which these sections can be made perfectly clean.
Methods applicable to bone and other equally hard
substances, are not necessarily successful in this
instance.

Fossiz, Sazeiu.—(In reply to Mrs. D.) The fossil
forwarded for identification, obtained from the rail-
way-cutting near Evesham, is Rhyuchonella tetrahe-
dra, Sowerby, one of the most characteristic fossils
of the zone of Ammonites margitatus, or the mar!-
stone of the middle lias.—R, 7’

Toaps IN Town.—Can you or any of your readers
inform me whether toads inhabit London houses ?
To-day, March 8th, my servant found a full-sized
toad in an underground and somewhat damp apart-
ment of my house; and he informs me that he found
a smaller one in the same place some months ago.
Jf the toad is an indigenous citizen, on what does
he subsist? Is he in any way injurious? Where
are the ova deposited >—A. R.

Garnets.—(In reply to W. M. F. P.)—Garnets
occur abundantly in mica slate, hornblende, slate,
and gneiss ; somewhat less frequently in granite and
granular limestone; sometimes in serpentine and lava.

A Fern Query.—Can you, or any of your readers,
explain to me why it is that if a frond of fern is
placed in mould for the purpose of rearing seedlings,
the young plants produced are zo? invariably of the
same description as the parent frond. Such is my
experience, and that of other fern-fanciers who
have spoken to me on the subject.—H. J. D.

CIRCULATION IN THE CosmariuM.—In last Oc-
tober I examined some specimens of the Cosmarium,
and was rather surprised to observe a brisk move-
ment of particles going on between the two lobes of
the plant, very similar to the circulation in the
ends of Closterium lunata, only the movement seemed
quicker, and the particles much more numerous and
alittle larger. Ireferred to ‘‘ Carpenter,” and other
books on Microscopy, but have not yet found any-
thing about any movement seen in the Cosmarium.
I have often seen this since, and in all cases the en-
dochrome has heen contracted towards the centre of
ihe lobes, leaving a transparent space between them,
in which the circulation took place. I shall be glad
to hear whether this has been seen before, or if I
may claim the honour of this discovery —W. H.
Holland.—{Our correspondent should have referred
to the “ Micrographical Dictionary,” p. 186, and read
as follows :—‘A peculiar swarming motion is ob-
servable at times in the cell contents of this genus,
agent from the circulation in Closterium.?—Hd.
Se. G.

Buack CEMENT ror Rocx-worKk.—l bought at
Covent Garden market a short time since a piece of
imitation rock-work made of cinders. I noticed
each piece was joined together with a black cement.
Can you, or any of your obliging correspondents,
tell me how it is made, or where it can be pur-
chased ?—Leicester.

Curtous Dietetic PrenomEenon.—lIt is a com-
mon custom in the north of Ireland for farmers,
whose holdings do not admit of their keeping two
horses, to mutually assist by lending to each other
alternately, one having the use of his own and his
neighbour’s horse on one day, while his neighbour
has both on the next. If, before leaving home, one
farmer gives his horse a feed of whins (Ulea Huro-
peus), which when pounded or beaten is a common
article of fodder, while the other feeds his horse on
hay or oats, when the horses are put into the
plough, the one that has been fed on the hay or
corn becomes quite sick, and only recovers when his

fellow is removed from lim, or the effects of his-

meal pass off. Can any of your readers offer any
explanation of this fact >—R.

Movuntine Poryzoa.—In reply to a correspon-
dent, as to the possibility of preparing specimens of
the fresh-water polyzoa, or indeed any of the marine
zoophytes, with the tentacula expanded, as_per-
manent objects for the microscope, I have found the
following method, though not uniformly satisfactory,
being sometimes rather uncertain in its results ; yet
with patience, and by operating upon a number of
slides at the same time, may give, in six cases out
of twelve, all that can be desired. First, of the
fresh-water species, say Lophopus ; a portion should
be placed in a cell—I prefer those formed by grind-
ing out a basin in the slip of glass with a drop of
water, and covered with thin glass; in a few minutes
this magnificent creature will expand its glorious
horseshoe-shaped head of tentacula, quivering with
ciliary action; then, while it is under the micro-
scope, allow a drop of pure alcohol to run under the
cover into the cai if instantly causes death, and
generally with the tentacula extended; in many
cases excessively so. The cell can then be cemented
with Brunswick black. But the greater certainty of
success is with the marine species, in consequence
of the support given by the polypidom. Coryne,
for instance, treated with Flconiol while in a living
state, as I have described, makes a beautiful per-
manent object, and illuminated with a parabaloid
or spotted lens, scarcely inferior to when in its living
state. Intromostraca, mounted with alcohol in a
similar way, scarcely ever fail—Z. D., Crouch End.

A Datnty SALAMANDER.—“ Dytiscus Marginalis?
should tempt his pet friend with a fine fat slug. I
think it very likely that he finds food to his taste in
the moss with which his prison-house is filled, and
that he has not absolutely fasted for six months.
Insects and slugs are possibly in the habit of visiting
the moss-cup. Tndeed, I should not be at all asto-
nished to hear that he has been sleeping half the
time, after the fashion of some of his order, the
Bufoide family. Tritons have, I understand, a trick
of swallowing their own skin; perchance Mr. Sala-
mander has dined on his cast-off suit of clothes, and
found them indigestible; or may be he took a fancy
to afew young relatives in their tadpole state, and, re-
penting himself of such a cannibalish trick, is now
fasting by way of penance. Aquatic imsects and
larve: are his natural food, but 1 think he indulges
in the freaks above described at times.—H. IV,

B

a

ua
%

Aprit 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 95

THE SANDPIPER.—In answer to the question, Does
the sandpiper dive when wounded? I can say it
does. One evening, in January last, | was out wild-
duck shooting on some flooded meadows at Guy’s
Cliffe, Warwick, and just at the edge of dusk I saw
a green sandpiper come flying past where I was
standing. Ishotatit,and wounded it. It dropped
on the water, and lay for, perhaps, half a mmute—
then recovered itself a little, and instantly dived out
of sight: But it was so fataily wounded that it came
to the top again and died on the water. I have had
the bird stuffed, as it is a very pretty one, and quite
rare in these parts. A few days before the sandpiper
was shot, the keeper at Guy’s Cliffe shot, in the
same flooded meadow, a pair of dun-birds, or po-
chards, as they are sometimes called. They are
something of the duck species, and very rare birds
in this part of the country.—S. Long, Guy's Cliffe,

Varwick,

PRESERVATIVE PowBRroF Frrns.—In this article
the writer inquires, Is it due to an essential cil?
‘Probably it is, at least as regards the male fern
(Lastrea jilix mas). When an ethereal tincture of
male fern is submitted to distillation the distillate
smells of the fern, and there is left behind in the
retort an oleo-resinous extract, which also has a well-
marked odour of the fern. From this it seems that
the preservative power is due to the volatile oil and
the esi, both which are inimical to insects, —
Ad kt,

Hts (Migratory).—The eel is a fresh-water
fish in reality, but it will migrate in the autumn
towards the sea, if it can by any possibility get into
rivers communicating with it, and as it can live fora
time out of water, provided its gill apertures are
kept moist, “O.O.” may continually meet with spe-
cimens of the Murenide tribe “ wriggling through
the dewy grass to the nearest water-course.” Hels
bury themselves in the mud during the winter, and
return im the spring up the rivers, together with
their young fry. L believe some persons say that eels
go out by night on a sort of poaching expedition in
pursuit of frogs and slugs; but I always fancied
that, when so met, they were on their travels from
“stagnant pond ” to purer quarters.—H. [Vatney.

HepGEHOG AMONG THE STRAWBERRIES. — In
your March number the tortoise was mentioned as
being fond of strawberries. We had, in our garden
at Worthing, a hedgehog who displayed the same
taste. Not, indeed, for eating the strawberries, so
far as we are aware, but for gathering them, both
green and ripe, and piling them in little pyramidal
heaps; thus causing more waste than the slugs, from
the depredations of which we expected him to de-
fend us. Are hedgehogs accustomed to feed upon
fruit as well as upon animal food ?—H. J. D.

ApsustMENTS.— Will you give me a little infor-
mation respecting what is termed “adjustments ”
to the object-glasses of the microscope, as, being
about to purchase a l-inch and 4-inch object-elasses,
I desire to know the advantage gained by the addi-
tional expense?—7'.Z.—(The adjustment is a contri-
vance by means of which the aberrations caused by
the varying thickness of the glass covers are over-
come, and is necessary for object-glasses of 4-inch,
or higher powers, only.)—7. AZ, B.

Can any of your readers inform me if they have
ever met with the Goxiwm pectoraie in water col-
lected from streams, ponds, or ditches, for micro-
agonig examination, and if so, under what conditions ?

Dracon-Frizrs.—* A young entomologist” asks
what is the best method of preserving the colour of
dragon-flies —If taken as soon as they emerge, and
before having eaten anything, their colours will re-
main bright. If this cannot be insured, the body
must be shit longitudinally on the underside, and
the contents removed, a small roll of blotting-paper
inserted, and the skin closed over it. Finally, the
insects must-be dried as speedily as possible: a /itéle
artificial heat is desirable, but not too much, or they
will become shrivelled—F. M.

Foop oF SALAMANDER (see page 71). — Sala-
manders do not live zz water, nor oz water, but in
the neighbourhood of water. Keep the reptile in a
good large fern-case, so arranged that he can get
out of sight under the rocks; he will appear every
now and then, during the summer, when he will
take a good piece of raw beef with a wide-mouthed
snap, handed to him on the point of a stick, and be
thankful for it. In winter he will quietly sleep for
months, awaking in the genial spring, and, re-
appearing for his food, relish it with an appetite.—
Charles Strauge.

Rosy FrataEer Star.—I spent some weeks, last
summer (1864), at Dinard, a charming little water-
ing-place near §. Malo. im the month of July I
had the satisfaction of finding no less than five or
six specimens of the young form of Comatula ro-
sacea long known as Pextacrinus Europeus. They
were all attached to Corallina officinalis, and were
washed ashore, with the exception of one which was
growing on a rock at about low-water mark. It was
exceedingly interesting to watch them under the
microscope, waving their long arms slowly to and
fro, probably just as their gigantic relatives, the
encrinites, did thousands of years ago! I saw two
of them detach themselves from tie stem. The
animals made no effort to swim, but sank to the
bottom of the glass, where they made feeble but
vain efforts to move, as the smooth surface of the
glass afforded no hold to the extremity of their arms,
which exactly resembles a bird’s-claw. Will any
reader say where this form of comatula has been
found on the English coast? Is it rare? It was
first seen by Mr. J. Thompson in the Cave of Cork,
in the year 1823.—WV. W. 8. [In Forbes’s “ British
Star Fishes,” it is said to be found on many parts
of the British coast, Penzance, Milford Haven,
west coast of Scotland, and near Dublin, at Cork,
and on the shores of Antrim and Down.—Z7. Se. G.

Wantep—A Diatom!—Could any of your cor-
respondents supply me with a little material con-
taining the diatom Hupodiscus Argus ? in return I
shall be glad to give either Richmond or Nova Scotia
diatomaceous earth, Upper Peruvian guano, or
soundings from China seas —W./. B.

What are tHe Fisu apout?—In a fresh-water
aquarium I possess, I have very frequently noticed the
fishes working with their mouths at the glass sides.
Is this owing to attractive microscopic matter col-
lected there, or because air-bells are generally so
plentifully on the sides, or are they only in search
of away out? I have observed this so very often
that I should much like an explanation of it.
—Z.Y, X.

Brtz or Virer.—Would you have the kindness
to inform me whether any danger would arise from
a wound by the fang of the viper (Pelias berus)
twenty-four hours after its death >—V. B. D

96 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ALL communications for the Editor should be
addressed to No. 192, Piccadilly, W. ‘To avoid
disappointment contributions should be reccived
on or before the 15th of each month. No notice
can be taken of anonymous communications. All
notes, queries, or articles for insertion must be
guaranteed by the name and address of the writer,
which may be withheld from publication if so
desired.

Qurnrirs.—Having been inundated with questions,
we are compelled to announce that we cannot
undertake to answer those of which the querist
might satisfy himself by an appeal to any ele-
mentary book on the subject. We are always
prepared to accept queries of a critical nature,
and to publish the replies, provided some of our
readers, beside the querist, are likely to take an
interest in them,

CanrponiLe.—F or information respecting this E. G.
must apply to the inventors, Messrs. Glover and
Sons, Ranelagh-road, Pimlico, 8.W.

M. X.—We are not aware that any of the lectures
you name have been published.

Asterosrorium Horrmanni. — Having obtained
other specimens, and distributed them, we hope
that now every one who was previously disap-
pointed has been supplied.

T. O. B.—We fear that, practically, we could not
carry out your suggestion i in a periodical.

J. W. (Amlweh).—Procure the “Manual of Strue-
tural Botany,” Hardwicke, ls. 6d.; and Oliver
and Henslow’s “ Botany,” about 5s.

F. M. H.—It is a dung beetle (Geotrupes puncticollis,
Steph.). This w i suggest the reason for your
being unsuccessful.

R.S. B.—It is quite a matter of taste.
insects in the British Museum.

Look at the

V. P.—Keep camphor, or some turpentine on a
sponge, with your skins.

H. G.—Westwood’s “ Introduction to Entomology,”
2 vols., about 14s., and Stephen’s “ Manual of
Beetles, ” 7s.; second-hand, at Mr. Wheldon’s,
bos Great Queen- street, London.

I. W.—Is referred to page 24, whence he will learn
that Zists and ¢ables are inadmissible.

C. A. J.—The excrescences are produced by a dip-
terous insect ; no one would venture to say what
species without seeing it.

T. C.—(1.) Some emerge, others become victims,
the pane hybemate. (2.) Look for the tivo
crowns. (3.) Yes. (4.) Doubtless, the snails.

A. Z—Queries which, with their replies, are only
likely to interest the querist, can only be answered
briefly here.

Cunator.—Asphalte is the best cement for ordinary
cells, and is easily manipulated with the aid of
Shacholt’s whirling table. The thin glass cover
is easily secured with the same coment,—WV, WZ. B.

[Apri 1, 1863.

nad Apa OF; —Consult Dr. Hassall’s “Food and its

" Adulterations.’—The brown scale frequently seen
on the rinds of oranges is the shield of a coccus
or scale insect. An interesting paper, with illus-
trations, on this subject, by Mr. Richard Beck,
will be. found in the Transactions of the Micro-
scopic Society of London, vol. ix., new scrics,
page 47.—IV.. a. B.

A. 8. (Glasgow).—Forward your address, and the

names of your mosses shall be sent. We cannot

afford space for so long a series.

W.S. K.—The cost of a camera lucida is from one to

two guineas; avery good substitute may be had
of some opticians for five shillings; of a Cod-
dington lens from five shillings.

W. M. F. P.—Fossils and minerals may be purchased

at any of the following shops in London; we can
say nothing of the “relative prices : :-—Tennant,
149, Strand : Calvert, 189, Strand; Wright, 36,
Great Russell-street.

J. N.—A very common trick with some birds.
Decunep.—J. E.—J. B. P.—F. T —C. 0. G.N.
Porutar Names.—C. A.—C. W. W.—F. M. H.
Communications Rrcetvep.—R. P. B.—E.S.—

J. W.—G. R. B.—Ross.—W. ue S5.—F. R. M.—
I. B. (In the present No.)—C. 8.—A.J; R.—A. I.
J, A.— ul, BW. LH: D. C=DoRER:
—H. W.—Sportsman (must be es by
the name and adores of the writer). —T. FP. Di—

W. J. B.—E. ory Bo th
J. A. ma O,. (Buisteny — (yes, 1f suit-
able).—Z. Y. X.—C. aw I. : W.—H. M. G.

als Rok Wykehamist (no name).—
Ss. T.—J. H.—W. W. K.—H. Boe W—
ii. R.—F. R.—W. J.—and_ T. (we are
not artists).—J. B.—H. U.—W. B. De A. H—
W.H.H.—F. L.N.S.—J. D. Mie —J.R.
Oe —F.W.—A. B.—V.P—H. G.—A.R.—
P—W.H. B.—C.D. (rather common).—G.F. F.
(we pcre none).—D.—G. G.—E.W. (Rugby).
EK. M.—W. K. B.—F. B.—Old Stones.—E. B.—
T.S.—G. B.—J.B.—F. E.W.—W. H. B.—¥. W.
—J. B.—F. B.—Leonora.—W. G—A. R. 8.—
Ki. Jones.—J. J—G. G. H.—Peter—F. R. S.—
W.S.K.—A.S.—M.P.B.—T.R.—R. 8. B.—AJ-R.
—J. G—P. 8. B.—R. H.—H. A.—R. Me L.—
W.M. B.—J. C.—J. G—A. B. C.—J.T. C.—
H. E. A—J. A.—J. A. H.—F. P. P.—F. J. BP —
W.G.8—B.—! Mo. WER Sims
yee en aa —C.8. B—R.S. B.—J.N.—
C.—L. M. P.—J. W. Aine: —A. B. F.—
&. K.—T. O. B.—W. W.S.—M. P. W.—A Sub-
scriber.—R. B].—P. G.—C, E.—H. W.—W. A.—
W. E. D.—A. M.—E. B.—J. G.—W. H. G.

Books Racetvep.—“Onour Knowledge ofthe Causes

of the Phenomena of Or ganic Nature, being six lec-
tures by Professor Huxley.” London: Hardwicke.

—‘‘ Oswestry and Welshpool Naturalists’ Field
Club Report for 1857-1864.” Oswestry: A.
Roberts. — Gleanings amongst the Irish Crypto-
gams,” by B. Carrington, M.D., E.LS.—" the
‘Anatomy and Physiology of the Perforating Ap-
paratus of Pholas Dactylus, ” by John Robertson.
Brighton: W. Pearce.—* Observations on the
Classification of the Genus Rosa,” by M. A. Dese-
glise, reprinted from the Naturalist. Tudders-
field’: W heatley & Co.—* The Stream of Life on
our Globe,” by J. L. Milton, M.R.C.S. London:
Hardwicke.

HOW TO BEGIN.

‘ Nothing so difficult as a beginning,
Unless, perhaps, the end.’”’—ByRron.

O begin is always very puzzling, and the school-
boy who essays to write his first letter home
to his parents knows it full well. A well-informed
and earnest supporter of our journal perhaps has a
fact or two, interesting and new, which he is desirous
of contributing to its pages, but he is lost in be-
wilderment at “ How to begin.” Another, equally
earnest, is equally puzzled, because he is desirous
of studying some branch of natural history, and, for
the life of him, does not know “ How to begin.” It
is for the especial benefit of the last-named indi-
vidual that we have begun this chapter.

First of all, we are bound to assume that our neo-
phyte is in earnest, This assumption being correct,
all the rest is comparatively easy. If he is in
earnest, a few disappointments will not discourage
him, a few failures will not dishearten him, and a
little work will not alarm him. If he show/dimagine
that it is all as easy as “Gossip,” he will soon
become disappointed, disheartened, and alarmed.
But to be earnest means a determination to succeed,
and with such a determination none can fail. To
begin well, he must have a clear conception of what
he would wish to do. Never mind the ambition
being a high one; the higher the aim, the more
success he is likely to achieve. He should decide
for himself to what his taste impels him, whether to
the study of insects or plants, high life or low life,
minute organisms, or only such as the unaided eye
can take cognizance of. Then let him muse still
further upon the subject, and select some well-
defined group or section. If he has a leaning to-
wards Insects, the field isa wide one; his time and
means limited, and his subject must be limited like-
wise. There are butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera),
beetles and ladybirds (Coleoptera), with sundry other
-opteras and -ipteras, from which he may choose;
but let him confine himself toone. We are continu-
ally being inquired of, ‘‘ What is the best book for a
beginner in the study of insects?” Our reply is,
“Books are very good servants, but very bad
masters.” “Insects” is such an indefinite term in
the way it is employed. To gain a general know-

ledge of the whole class is very useful, but that is
evidently zo¢ what the querists intend. 'Thercfore,
for the future, let them make up their minds “ where
to begin,” and begin at once. Suppose that the
choice should fall upon beetles. Let the student
immediately go out and find two or three of different
kinds, and then come home and examine them for
himself; see wherein they agree, and wherein they
differ; spend the whole evening over them. We
have spent many a pleasant evening over the exa-
mination of one minute portion of an insect, suchas
the tongue or foot of a fly; and felt at the close that
we could spend another on the same object, and
still leave something to learn, Books will neces-
sarily have to be applied to for the technicalities of
the science, for these must be mastered. There is
no science without technicalities, as there is no trade
or handicraft without them. We lately heard of a
class of working-men who had devoted themselves
during the evenings of a whole winter to the study
of Botany without technicalities, and then found
that they could not understand the Flora of their
own county, or any other botanical work, and had
to commence their elementary work over again. A
good friend is a great help, if, having a knowledge
of the subject, he is disposed to aid a beginner.
There may be sucha thing as false help, even though
well meant. For example, to send a friend twenty
or fifty specimens at a time, and persuade him to
name them for you, is abusing the friend, and doimg
yourself an injury. The truest friendship on the
part of such a friend would be to refuse. When
the student trusts to himself, he will examine the
object thoroughly; he will, of necessity, study the
classification closely, review the characteristic fea-
tures of allied genera and species, and through a
train of logical and silent argument arrive, at length,
at the wished-for goal. This may at first occupy
much time, but gradually the time occupied in de-
termining a species will be diminished, until ulti-
mately it can be done with facility. Ifa friend
names all but the most prominently marked and
easily recognized species, he may do so a hundred
H

98 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865,

times, and the student knows no better than before
what are the features whereby one species may be
truly known from its neighbour. An earnest stu-
dent is no foe to work, and this kind of work will
give him self-reliance. Whilst trusting to a friend
or the Editor of Scrmncz Gossip to name his speci-
mens “by the batch,” he not only will fail im
acquiring knowledge, but also reliance on his own
work, whenever he attempts to name for himself.

“Take nothing for granted” isa good maxim for
beginners. Take nothing for granted which you
can verify for yourself. It may be so, or it may not.
Investigate, examine, dissect, analyse, and do not
rest until you have proved the point. It may con-
sume time in the present, but will save time in the
future. Study nature rather than books, and things
rather than words. Observe trifles, for nothing is
so trifling as to be without importance. Cultivate
a habit of making notes of your observations. Keep
up a good resolution, have faith in the future, and
work earnestly in the present, and already you will
have learnt “‘ How to begin!”

LORD SCARABAU

A STORY

(ea

OF BEETLEDCHM.

GYPT is full of monuments of its grandeur and

its weakness, and the astonished traveller who

can spend days and weeks exploring its “ chambers
of imagery” still left amidst the stupendous ruins,
is overwhelmed with the eloquence of the sermons

GWe

Fig.62.—Scutprurep Scarasmus, from Egypt:

in those mighty stones. ‘The solitary column in the
grand temple of Carnac, erect amidst a heap of
ruins, is a touching emblem of the land “ over-
shadowing with wings beyond the river of Ethiopia.”
In the beginning, probably a deeper and a holier
meaning was attached to the mysteries of the wor-
ship of the Egyptians than in later times: the virtues
cud passions of the soul, aud the actions and attri-
butes of tlie Deity, were expressed by the figures of

animals, plants, and other symbolical characters;
but, ultimately, the meaning of these mysteries
became obscure, and was lost. As an example
of these symbols we may refer to that of the
hawk, which, having the most piercing of eyes and
the most rapid flight, served to express the divine
intelligence and activity ; and, placed on the highest
branches of a pictured tree, signified that God was
infinitely exalted above all matter. The winged
globe, found by the modern traveller over nearly
every temple door, encompassed with a serpent,
signified the invisible unity of the Deity, without
beginning orend; the serpent, the supreme wisdom ;
and the wings, that active spirit which animates and
gives light to all; and these three qualities or attri-
butes, united, still further indicated the Trinity,
whom they worshipped as Osiris, Isis, and Orus.
Amongst the symbols of the Deity which subse-
quently received divine honours, was the Scarabeeus,
or dung beetle, and a bricf examination of a fine
specimen recently brought over may not be unin-
teresting. It connects the present with the past
history of these interesting people, and its portrait
is precisely that which 3,000 years ago ornamented
the walls of Egypt’s palaces. It encloses its eggs

Tig. 63.— WINGED ScARABmus, from an Egyptian ornament.

in a ball of excrement formed by a protracted rolling
of the substance by means of its long hind legs; and
although the insect measures 13 to 2 inches in
length, the dung pellet in most instances exceeds
the size of the beetle. The head is flattened and
truncated, and gave to the earlier Egyptians an idea
of rays, as of the sun, whilst inability to distinguish
between the sexes led to a conclusion that all were
males; and this symbolised the exclusively mascu-
line character of the Deity, whilst almost every part
and action of the animal served to describe some
property im nature or some attribute of the Creator.
Hrom a yery old work upon natural history, written
upwards of a hundred and fifty years ago, before
the Entomological Society was born, or the modern
microsgope thought of, we make the following
curious and fanciful extract respecting the object
under consideration :—“ The principal of all those
animals, or that for which the Zyypdians had mostvene-
ration, was the deet¢/e, as well because of its wonderful
birth or production, as from the analogy or resem-
blance this animal has with the sun, and the strange
instinct in this creature to continue its own species ;
for when the male would produce, he seeks out the
dung of aux ox or bull, and having found it, he forms
ayound ball of the figure of the world, which, with

May J, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 99

his hind feet, he turns from east to west, and, turning
himself towards the east, he imitates the motions of
the world. Having thus rolled the ball, he puts it
in the ground, and leaves it there twenty-eight days,
which is the time that the moow passes through the
signs of the zodiack, and during that time he
hatches the little bectles in the ball; and the twenty-
ninth day, which is the day of the conjunction of
the moon with the sun, and the time productions
are made in nature, this little animal rolls its ball
into the water, where it opens, and the beetles get out.
It is upon this account, some say, that it is made the
emblem of dirth and the symbol of fathers, because
these insects have but one father, and no mother.
They represent all the world, because of the ball which
‘they form and turn round; and man, because there
are none but male beetles. They are of several
kinds, but those for which the Ayyptians have the
greatest veneration are such as have a head like a
cat, accompanied with rays, which gives occasion to
them to believe that these azimals have some
analogy to the sun; and the more because this
insect has thirty little paws, made like fingers,
which represent the thirty days that the sun makes
each month in passing through the signs of the
zodiack.”

This description is so unique that little remains
to be said. We need not remind our readers that
it is rather a fanciful sketch, but the pictures and
figures, of which we are promised photographs from
the hitherto darkened tombs, by means of the new
magnesium light, fully justify the poetical remarks
we have quoted. In the burial-place of Ramesis VII.
near Thebes was recently seen a gigantic scarabeeus
about three feet in height, standing erect on its
huge hind legs, painted on the walls, while Ham,
Noah’s second son, the supposed founder of the
kingdom, is drawing a red fluid, representing blood
or life, from one of its fore legs (!), and is humbly
prostrate during the operation. Here is the symbol
of life-giving, which afterwards led to the animal’s
being worshipped as the source of existence. “I have
frequently seen,” says a friend, “huge figures of the
beetle in the tombs of Egypt in the centre of an
ark, having a god on either side as inferior at-
tendants ; ”
highly was this offensive insect admired that the
honours of embalmment were bestowed upon it, and
preserved specimens are to be seen at Thebes ; whilst
purely executed scarabeeidee upon rare stones are not
unfrequently found in human mummy cases as
having been buried with their owners. Like many
of the other tribes of coleopterous insects, they
possess extraordinary muscular power, and a large
wine-glass recently placed over a living beetle soon
found its way to the remote end of the table. The
work of the insect is just that of an ordinary
scavenger, subordinating its affection for its young

indeed, in later Egyptian times, so,

Origin of Species.

to its work, and clearing away, in companies of
several hundreds, camel or buffalo dung, and forming
with the pellets a nidus for its eggs, as may be
observed in this country with beetles of a less pre-
tending character, but second cousins to our scara-
beeidean friend: standing on their fore-legs, their
motto appears to be that which we earnestly recom-
mend to our amateur friends in the study of natural ’
history, “nil desperandum ;” for the most untiring
energy is displayed in rolling their dung-pellets,
with their hind legs into a suitable locality for the
preservation of their offspring. And another pretty
lesson may indeed be learned from so humble a
creature in another branch of ‘‘social science,”
namely, connubial harmony in a division of labour;
for should a hill. lie between the object of their
search and their pellets, the male and female, like
the burying-beetles, work together, forcing it up the
incline every time it rolls to the bottom until the
object is accomplished. The scarabeide form a
very extensive group of the order Coleoptera, con-
taining probably 3,000 species. The antenne are
more club-shaped than our cockchafer; the legs,
like those of the mole crickets, are peculiarly suited
to their work, representing ornamental trowels, the
feet and tibia of the fore-legs more particularly. It
is said that with this scanty supply of tools in the
Egyptian desert the egg-ball is first made from a
mixture of sand or clay and camel’s dung, the rolling
process occupying a whole day, with the object ap-
parently of drying the material, the dung affording
a banquet to the larvee when hatched: this inference
is based upon the fact of their leaving off work if
the weather be cloudy, or at sunset, commencing
with sunrise, which custom probably gave rise to the
ancient idea of a symbol of the measure of time. A
colossal scarabeeus, sacred to the deity Tore, or
Cheper, and at a later period, the emblem of the
world, forming part of the Elgin collection from
Constantinople, may be seen amongst the Egyptian
antiquities at the British Museum.

J.C.

ty a recent communication to the British Meteoro
logical Society, Mr. Glaisher stated, as a result of
an elaborate inquiry, that our climate during the
last hundred years had altered—that, in fact, the
temperature of the year is two degrees warmer now
than it was then; the temperature of the month of
January has increased still more, and the winter
months are all much warmer.— Overland Mail.

Waar is it that constitutes and makes man what
he is? What is it but his power of language—that
language giving him the means of recording his
experience — making every generation somewhat
wiser than its predecessor, more in accordance with
the established order of the universe ?—Hualey’s

H 2

100

A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF
POLYCYSTINS.

By Mrs. P. 8. Bury.
Ww ILST engaged in 1861 and 1862 in deline-

' ating: the microscopic forms in some of the
Barbadoes earths brought to Eugland by Dr. Davy,
and beautifully prepared for the microscope by Mr.
Johnson, of Lancaster, the progress of my interest-
ing occupation being partially watched by the late

Fig. 64.—SrepHanastrum, Eh.

accomplished Dr. Boott, he exclaimed, “ You surely
have found the excavated toilette-service of Titania,
with all her essence-bottles and trinkets.” Yes, in
that dirty-looking, chalky earth are indeed found
exquisitely jewelled vases, and diamond crosses and
stars, to represent in fairy miniature the badges of
every order of knighthood. But what, then, are these
Polycystins? They are a family of the Rhizopods;
the ¢ype of which group, and the object most attain-
able for examination, is the amceba, which may so
frequently be found in the sediment of fresh-water
streams or pools, or even in the moss of damp
garden-walks, or similar situations, like drops of a
translucent jelly, each drop having within it, though
only discernible to practised microscopic eyes, a
speck, an atom, which physiologists term the zacleus,
and suppose it to be the first germ or commence-
ment of animal life in its lowest form. The enve-
loping jelly is called swrcode, and differs but slightly
from the cellulose of low vegetable forms of life.
The little lump or globule of sarcode is self-coherent,
though it is supposed to have no outer skin or inte-
gument to hold it together; and if watched under a
lens, it will be seen to shoot out small portions like
fingers, or as they are called pseudopedia (false fect),

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865.

with which it has the power of creeping along in its
native clement; nay, more wonderful still, it can
seize with them any small infusoria or alga, fre-
quently some small diatom, which it can completely
suck into, and bury in its own substance, melting
out, as it were, all the nutritious part for its own
sustenance, and then throwing the useless débris to
the outside of the mass of sarcode. “ Here, then,
we have,’—as Dr. W. B. Carpenter so eloquently
expresses it,—“living substances in which vital
operations are carried on without any special instru-
ments whatever; a little particle of apparently
homogeneous jelly, changing itself into a greater
variety of forms than the fabled Proteus, laying hold
of its food without members, swallowing it without
a mouth, digesting it without a stomach, appro-
priating its nutritious material without absorbent
vessels or a circulating system, moving from place
to place without muscles, feeling (if it has any power
to do so) without nerves; and not only this, but in
many instances forming shelly coverings of a sym-
metry and complexity not surpassed by those of any
testaceous animals.”

Now, the Polycystins are Zamps of sarcode; and it
is precisely this power of constructing shelly cover-
ings which attracts our notice to them. They ac-
tually do spin or weave for themselves coverings
resembling the most delicate and costly silver fila-
gree-work, rivalling in pattern the choicest pro-
ductions of the ancient Peruvians or modern
Easterns. Yet, our little Polycystin artificers choose
afar more beautiful material than silver, being a
shining transparent preparation of silex, which these
little lumps of apparently inert jelly possess,—a cun-
ning laboratory capable of extracting the silex from
the sea-water and fitting it for use. But it is not
only outer-corselets that they construct, there are
also solid internal pillars and rafters to support and
strengthen the fabric, in the exterior walls of which
suitable and convenient open spaces are carefully
left for the extrusion of the pseudopodia, which we
may suppose are sent out in all directions to collect
and bring home whatever is needful, either for
nourishment or for continuing their work. The
internal supports so much resemble the nature of
the spicule of sponges, as to bring the polycystins
and sponges into very near relationship, although
they belong to distinct groups of the family of
Rhizopods. As yet so fewnaturalists have observed
the Polycystins in a living state, that their history
seems hardly determined. Dr. Wallich has in store
amass of valuable information, which he has not yet
given to the public. Among the most diligent, careful,
and successful observers of these organisms was the
late Professor Johannes Miller, who fished them up
in quantities from their native habitats on the sea-
bed, under the clearest and purest sea-water of the
Mediterrancan, near St. Tropez and Cette. But

May 1, 1865.]

even with his greatest care and contrivances he could
seldom obtain them, without the mere pressure or
friction in drawing them up through the water
causing the pseudopodia to collapse and shrink, a
change to take place in the oil-globules, as he calls
them, of the sarcode, when death speedily ensued.
He found, however, that in the globe, or bell-shaped
species, such as the Hucyrtidiums, the sarcode sub-
stance was divided into four lobes or flaps (/appen) ;
and Dr.Carpenter follows this idea in the very short
notice he takes of Polycystina as a sub-order of
Rhizopods. Miller says, in the inside of the shell
the animal-substance consists of four folds arranged
round a central axis, which reaches more or less
deeply within the bell, The innermost part of these
lobes contains one or more oil-like balls; and in the
under-part, nearest to the open side of the sheli, are
some brown-yellow cells, and with them are also
other cells or transparent spaces, or vacuoles, which
have been conjectured to shadow forth the first
incipient symptoms of circulation.

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Fig. 67.—RHOPALOCANIUM ORNATUM.

It would be too long to name all the various
external shapes of the shells; but among the most
striking differences of form may be mentioned that

SCLIENCH-GOSSIP.

101

some are like numerous little globes growing out of
each other, beginning with a small one at the apex,
and each increasing in size as they descend, some-
times so gradually as to look like storied beehives
piled up one on the other. In others, the globes or
bells dilate greatly and rapidly towards the base,
till the lowermost exceed in width the most out-
rageous crinoline! Then there are single round
balls pierced through and through with spikes
sticking out in all directions, but ever pointing from
the centre. Again, to compare small things with
great, there are shapes of the Egyptian pyramids,
and others stretched out and narrowed into obelisks.

Different from all these, are very numerous flat-
tened disks, which appear to grow in concentric
circles, some becoming bordered, others spiked round
the edges, and many having very extraordinary
radiating arms in endless variety.

A very remarkable feature in the Polycystins is
their exuberant ouvt-growths. Sometimes there are
merely spines projecting in a tolerably regular, and
always radiating manner; but sometimes these
spines or projections branch out and subdivide in
the most whimsical arborescent forms, so as to
assume the shapes of stags’ antlers, or even the
more complicated delicate branchings of the once
famed bedeguar of the rose (which we used to seek
cut in childhood’s days, and call Robin-redbreast’s
pillow). Apparently these spines of the Polycystms,
whether simple or compound, always are to acertain
extent hollow, so as to have been permeated by the
sarcode substance during their growth; sometimes
instead of becoming finely attennated, they become
bulbous at their points; and these bulbils swell,
become cellular or foraminated, and assume very
much the appearance as if they were gemme from
the parent, and intended to break forth and com-
mence life as fresh individuals. Very remarkable
instances of this simulation of “ continued gemma-
tion,” as described by Dr. Carpenter as an attribute
of the newly-discovered Hozoon of the Canadian
rocks, occur in the Polycystinic forms called by
Professor Ehrenberg Astrommas and Stephanastrums:
in these a central spheroid body is enveloped by a
sort of fine siliceous web or sponge, which gradually
breaks away as the centre sends forth stalks (three
to six, but normally four), celled and chambered as
complicately as any foraminifer; and pushing their
way through the sponge-like envelope and beyond it,
their ends become club-shaped, often strongly spiked
at the extremity, but the swollen part containing
what looks like a reduplication of the central parent-
form; and these seem as if they might possibly
break away, and become in their turn centres of
growth.

If comparatively but few of these organisms have
been systematically examined in a /ivizg state, count-
less multitudes of their skeletons have_ been re-

102

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865,

vealed to us from their tombs in a stratum of
peculiar earth, extending through considerable
tracks in the island of Barbados. Sir Robert
Schomburgh, in his “History of Barbados,” describes
this track of deposit as having been thrown up from
some old sea-bottom by volcanic action, through
rents in the coral-reefs of which the island is
formed.

Dr. Davy, writing on 14th March, 1865, says,
speaking of these Polycystinic forms :—“ I find, on
referring to my note-books, that I first detected
them on the 12th of January, 1846, in the chalk
beneath the coral-rock, of which that remarkably-
formed peak, the Peak of Teneriffe, consists.” This
was before Sir R. Schomburgh came to Barbados.
During his visit I informed him of this fact, and of
other localities in which this same chalk-like matter
occurred, and showed him with my microscope the
skeletons of the infusoria in question; that they
were not known before, is not surprising, as there
was no microscope in the island, except the one I
had, capable of showing them. Sir R. 8. states in
his work (p. 560), how he had sent specimens of this
mud and marl to Professor Ehrenberg for examina-
tion, and adds in a note that I had previously dis-
covered them, and had made mention of them ina
discourse I delivered to the Agricultural Society of
Barbados, in July, 1846.

Among the specimens from this seemingly inex-
haustible mine of Barbadian fossils (the same which
has yielded also the subjects for many of Dr. Gre-
ville’s most exquisite figures of diatoms) are found
some symmetrical forms of Polycystins, the most
perfect of which have doubtless been selected by
Professor Khrenberg, for his most beautiful and
elaborate delineations given, among other objects,
on a few of the plates of that rare and costly
work, the ‘“ Mikrogeologie,” and the drawings
for which have been copied into Sir R. Schom-
burgh’s book and other works. But though some
of the -Polycystins are nearly symmetrical in
figure, they are by no means universally so; in fact,
the greater number assert their near relationship
with amebe and sponges by displaying the most
grotesque polymorphisms. or instance, you find a
Lhopalocanium of Ehrenberg, with the flowing out-
line of some elegant Etruscan vase with a tapering
base; the next specimen you see may have ugly
nose-shaped handles, adhering to its sides in a
clumsy way; in another example, the noselike pro-
tuberances enlarge, thicken, become wrinkled, and,
however droll-looking, militate sadly against one’s
ideas of elegance. Yet look again and again, and in
some favourably well-grown individual, lo! there
are the clumsy excrescences, lengthened out, curved,
refined, and developed into supports worthy of the
famed Delphic tripod of the Pythian priestess ; the
gently-swelling ends of the feet meanwhile indi-

cating appearances as of little reservoirs or deposits
of material accumulating for future use, either as
buds or for some further development.

Again, in some of the pyramid or obelisk shapes,
the fenestre, small at the apex, widen more and
more towards the base, and a fine imner lattice-work
is seen to line these too wide open windows. But
the variations in form assumed by these cunning
artificers are far too numerous to mention; and
although they do not work by mathematical rules
and compasses, as has been sometimes represented,
they have within themselves a mysterious unerring
rule, which guides every thread, every particle of
internal sarcode, or external silex, into the position,
shape, and size, best suited to the situation, sur-
rounding circumstances, and requirements of each
individual organism. We call these /ow forms of
existence; yet they are influenced by the same
unceasing All-pervading Power, that “ teaches the
rose to draw her crimson from the dark brown earth,
and the lily her shining white,” and has breathed
into man the spirit and capacity for investigating
even a small portion of these marvels, with feelings
of wonder, love, and praise !

RIVER-WATER IN BRAZIL,

HILST in the Brazils about four years since,

I was rather astonished on awakening after
my first night’s sleep in the little town of Malta de
Sao Joao, about 60 miles inland from the town of
Bahia, to find my hands swollen to such an extent as
to appear very much as though ensconced in boxing-
gloves, entirely preventing my closing them, at
which state of things I was naturally greatly
alarmed, imagining some serpent had stung me in
the night. I therefore summoned our two native
servants to see if they could solve the mystery,
which they quickly did, by saying that the swelling
was due entirely to my drinking the water obtained
from the little river Jacuinverim, which ran close
by, to which I was not yet acclimatized; they like-
wise said that most Huropeans on drinking its water
for the first time were affected in the same manner.
The water was perfectly pure, and as good as could
possibly be wished for, very different to what since
then I have been glad to drink from the swamps,
almost putrid, but which drunk with a little brandy
T have never found to cause any unpleasant effects
whatever; and although I continually drank from
rivers and swamps during the subsequent twelve
months, my hands have thereby never since been
disfigured, so as to warrant the inference which any
one unacquainted with my antecedents would have
formed that sazs doute I was amember of a pugilistic
society. Ay T,

May 1, 1865.]

SCIENCH-GOSSTIP.

103

ON SOME IMPERFECTLY
FLOWERS.

DEVELOPED

By Rozpert Horianp.

NIANTS and dwarfs, fat boys, Siamese twins,

4 and such-like mis-shapen monsters, are exhibi-
tions which ave much sought after. by the gaping
multitude. And yet there is something exceedingly
repulsive in such sights, and really very little, if
anything, to be learned from them in a scientific
point of view.

There are plenty of monstrosities, too, in the
vegetable kingdom, like Siamese twins, giants,
dwarts, nondescripts, and other apparent mistakes
in nature’s handiwork; but here, strange to say,
there is nothing unpleasant to contemplate, and
they also differ from animal monstrosities in offering
no attraction to any, save those who make natural
history their study; but such imperfect specimens
are always of great interest to the physiologist, as
teaching him facts relative to the life and growth of
plants, that a perfect flower would never have told
hin.

T have taken notes, and generally made drawings
of a considerable number of these curious forms
that have come within my observation, some of
which may interest a few of the readers of SCIENCE-
Gossip. J have taken them from my portfolio at
random, without any regard to the sequence of time
when they were found.

Twin Pras (fig, 68), gathered in 1861. These
_ were two perfect and full-sized pods proceeding
- from one calyx; the stalk quite single, showing

Tig, 68.—Twitn Pras.

that it was not two flowers anastomosed together,
as is not unfrequently seen, but that the pea blossom
had contained two pistils.

Hence Wounpwort, Stachys sylvatica (fig. 69),
gathered at Cirencester in 1849. In these specimens
the calyx was in every case unchanged. Corolla in
all cases monopétalous, but the segments somewhat

enlarged, rounded, nearly equal in size, ereenish in
colour, and distinctly marked with branched veins
like a leaf. Stamens absent. Pistils foliaceous,
consisting of two leaflets united at their bases
forming a tube, but spreading upwards into two
distinct leaves. Ovules also foliaceous, consisting

Fig. 69.—Heper Wounpworr.

4, Pistil,

@, Flower. ce, Pistil laid open.
of four minute green leaves attached to the inside
of the ovary, with an indication of a petiole to each
from the receptacle. I since found a complete
plantation of similar flowers in Cheshire, but I do
not remember the exact date, though I know the
precise spot, which I have revisited several times,
in the hope of finding more specimens, but always
without any success.

CHARLOCK, Stzapis arvensis (fig. 70), gathered at
Cirencester in 1849. In this specimen almost every

cS

Fig. 70.—CuArtocr (twice the natural size).

flower was foliaceous, the sepals and petals being
partially or altogether converted into leaves, of an
obovate, almost lyrate form, tapering at the base, in
colour either quite green, or yellow with a strong

104:

tinge of green. The stamens were in most cases
absent or converted into leaves, though it was im-
possible to say which leaves were the altered
stamens, for there was by no means a leaf for every
organ in the flower, as the four sepals, four petals,
six stamens, and one pistil—fifteen in all—were
represented in most cases by from three or four to
nine or ten leaves. The ovary was also foliaceous,
but not so fully developed as the outer organs.
There was this remarkable point connected with the
specimen, that whereas in charlock there is gene-
rally only a bunch of flowers out at once at the top
of the spike, the sepals and petals of the lower
flowers falling off very quickly, in this case all the
foliaceous flowers were persistent, forming a leafy
spike nine inches long.

GarvbreN Ross, the old fashioned “ union” with
red and white streaks, in which the calyx was trans-
formed into fine pinnated leaves, from the centre of
which was produced a stalk some two inches long
covered with irregular-shaped petals, some red,
some greenish, the whole surmounted by a second
bud with a green calyx. Such monstrosities are
not at all uncommon in the garden rose, some kinds
being very prone to form these irregular flowers.

Fig. 71.—TOADFLAX.

Fig. 72.—DalIsy.

Daisy, Bellis perennis (fig. 72), Cirencester, 1848,
in which several of the scales of the universal calyx
had grown into leaves more than half an inch long,
and similar in every respect to the radical leaves of
the plant.

A Puar, the fruit being apparently full grown,
but producing from its eye a branch some three
inches long, covered with large leaves. There is a
figure of a precisely similar pear in Lindley’s “ Ele-
ments of Botany ;” but this particular specimen was
brought from Yeovil, in Somersetshire, by a student
of the Royal Agricultural College, who showed it
to me.

Wuire Crover, Trifolium repens —The specimen
of which I have a drawing was gathered in Cheshire
in 1859; but the same thing is to be found every
year in almost every locality, the flower head con-
sisting of a few perfect flowers intermixed with

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865.

others in which the various organs, especially ovary
and ovules, have shot out into bunches of leaves.
Satiow, Salix Caprea (fig. 73). Female blossoms
of this plant gathered at Cirencester in 1848, in
which the ovaries had become pedunculate, the
stalks as long as the carpels, the greater number of

Fig. 73.—SALLOW.

ovaries being split open like the ripe follicles of
columbine or marsh marigold, and disclosmg a
xumber of small leaves within, attached to the
edges of the follicles, and which represented the
ovules.

Doa’s-tai Grass, Cynosurus cristatus—Ciren-
cester, 1848. In this the central floret of each
spikelet had extended into a bunch of leaves. A
common monstrosity in several species of grass. L
have a fine specimen of cock’s-foot grass (Dactylis
glomerata), of which every floret produces a bunch
of leaves.

Common Hearn, Erica tetralix, gathered on
Lindow Common, Cheshire, a year or two ago, with
polypetalous flowers, the urceolate corollas being
split up into their component petals.

Primrose, Primula vulgaris (fig. 74)—A most
curious deformity, gathered at Mobberley, Cheshire,
in 1863. I was attracted to this specimen, or rather
specimens, for there were two or three on the same
plant, by seeing a green, leafy sack protruding
from the eye of the flower, and gathered them
expecting to find that the ovary and ovules had
become foliaceous. They had become so, and much
more, for on dissecting the finest flower, I found
two complete flowers one within the other. There
was the ordinary five-pointed calyx, and the usual
five-lobed corolla, both the normal size, but all the
internal organs had become changed into a second
perfect flower. The green sack which protruded
from the eye of the primrose proved to be a second
fine-pointed calyx, containing a second corolla,
which, however, was only four-lobed and tubular

May I, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

105

like the flower of a cowslip; and within this were
five perfect stamens, and a perfect pistil.

Fig. 74.—Primrost.
a, External appearance. ec, Inner Corolla opened.
u, Calyx turned back, corolla removed, showing inner corolla.

Woop ANEMONE, Azemone nemorosa (fig. 75).—
A very interesting specimen gathered near Ciren-

SVJ

«
7.

Fig. 75.—Woopv ANEMONE.

cester in 1849 or 1850, The flower was perfect in
every respect, but there was an extra fully-developed
petal produced amongst the three leaves below the
flower, looking exactly as if it had fallen from the

| regular.

flower, and been caught by the leaves. But there
it grew, as firmly fixed as the leaves themselves,
showing that the three cauline leaves in this plant
are really part of the flower, and ought to be con-
sidered as calyx, the petals and other organs being
elevated on a stalk, as is the case with the pistils
only in Gexm vivale. Similarly the involucre of
Erianthus and some others may be considered as
true calyccs.

ToapFLax, Linaria vulgaris (fig. 71).—Mobberley,
Cheshire, 1848. A remarkably beautiful instance of
what is called the peloria form of the flower. The
plant had been cultivated ina garden, and I gathered
several spikes which produced flowers with two or
three spurs; but one flower had become perfectly
The general form of the flower was that
of a Florence oil flask, with a rather wide neck, the
mouth divided into six teeth which were rolled
backwards. There were six spurs curved upwards,
and set equally round the base of the flower; and
within the tube of the corolla were six equal stamens.

CaLcEOLARIA.—In 1857 L observed several flowers
of a calceolaria in a green-house, which had taken
on a perfectly regular form, being urceolate like the
flowers of a heath. The change was in this case
effected by the enlargement of the upper and smaller
lip of the corolla, which was well shown in scme
intermediate specimens where the change was only
half accomplished. Symmetry and regularity ap-
pear to be the rule in nature, and when we find a
flower irregular in form, it is on account of the total
suppression, the imperfect development, the abnor-
mal increase, or the multiplication of certain parts,
the change always taking place under ordinary cir-
cumstances; but the peloria form described in the
two cases above appears to be an effort of nature,
under the stimulus of extraordinary circumstances,
to return to the regular type; and yet it is rather
remarkable that when that effort is successful, and
a regular symmetrical flower is produced from an
irregular one, the result is not nearly so beautiful as
the irregular but usual form.

A CucUMBER grew a few years ago in my own
garden, where one of the short prickles upon the
fruit had grown out into a long curled tendril.

It would occupy too much space in this paper to
point out the various teachings of all these strange
forms. Such specimens exercise an important
bearing upon the doctrine of morphology, that
“Pons asinorum” of young botanists; but my
intention is not now to write an essay upon that
subject, but chiefly to direct the attention of begin-
ners to a very interesting branch of botany, and to
ask them to be on the look-out for imperfect as well
as perfect specimens of plants, assuring them that
careful notes of what they observe cannot fail to be
of some use in the cause of botanical science, and
may serve to elucidate hidden or imperfectly under-
stood points of physiology.

106

PIGMENT-CELLS.

HILE Ethnologists and others are debating
the knotty question as to whether our first
parents wandered about the garden of Eden in black
or white skins, it may not be altogether uninteresting
to consider wherein consists that striking difference
of colour which is found in the skin, hair, and eyes,
of the various human races, and which extends from
the African negro to the fairest of Europeans. liven
at the present day the peace and happiness of the
negro is sadly interfered with by the prejudice which
is entertained against him by reason of his sable
colour, which seems to be warranted to “ stand fast,”
notwithstanding the many efforts which have been
made to wash a blackamoor white. But although a
black skin has ever rendered the wearer of it liable
to a miserable bondage, curiously enough matters
are entirely reversed in Hurope, where the hard
task-master has been supplanted by a gentler nature,
and the captive no longer is black, but white.
Much might be said of the all-powerful glance cf
a woman’s eye, whether it proceed from that scru-
tinizing investigator of a Mrs. Caudle, or the not
less potent eyes of the Miss just out of her “ ¢eezs.”
Certain it is that the contemplation of sundry black,
blue, or hazel eyes, of raven locks and auburn tresses,
has given at all times such an amount of occupation
to poets to describe as is perfectly alarming to dwell
on. Itis all very well for dull, prosaic, matter-of-
fact people, like Mr. Weller, senior, to exclaim of
these glowing descriptions, “ Poetry’s unnat’ral !”
but when so many gentlemen, in and out of confine-
ment, have devoted so much of their valuable time
to the task of describing the effects of these colours,
we are ready to exclaim, “‘ There must be something
in it.” As we believe there is much in it which
may be profitably investigated by the microscopist,
the following notes may not be inappropriate.
; On examining a vertical section of the human
skin, one of the first things which attracts our atien-
tion is the general conformation of the various
layers, composed of cells and fibrous tissue, inter-
spersed with numerous delicate blood-vessels and
other minute structures, which, in a healthy condi-
tion, serve to give to the skin that extreme softness
and elasticity, which, mechanically considered, places
it so far beyond the skill of man to imitate. The
skin is composed chiefly of two parts, the lower part
being termed the cutis, or true skin, and the upper
or external portion, the epidermis, 'The latter is the
part which now interests us; as it is in and below
the epidermis we find those cells containing the
colouring-matter, and which are called ‘“ Pigment-
cells.’ The many tints and shades of colour which
in a ereat measure serve to distinguish the
human races as well as tlic lower animals are
dependent on the presence of these cells, which

SCIHENCH-GOSSIP.

[May J, 1865.

are more or less distributed throughout the epi-
dermis and its appendages, where the Pigment-cells
are usually fiat, and of a polygonal form. In dark-
coloured races and negroes the skin is very thick,
and is most liberally supplied with these cells; but
they are also found in the fairest European, although
in the latter they are fewer in number and lighter in
colour, as extreme paleness of complexion is not
an indication of their entire absence, but merely of
their pale colour.

The most remarkable accumulation of Pigment-
cells is found in the inner lining of that part of the
eye known as the choroid membrane, where they
exist in several layers, termed the Pigmentum nigrum,
and are beautifully-arranged in six-sided cells, mea-
suring from 1-2,000th to 1-5,000th in. in diameter, and
abounding in Pigment (fig. 77). Dr. Carpenter * says,

Fig. 77.—From Ox-eye.

Fig. 76..—From Bat’s-wing.

“The black colour is given by the accumulation of a
number of flat, rounded, or oval granules of extreme
minuteness, which exhibit an active movement when
set free from the cell, and even whilst enclosed with-
its

With regard to hair, the colour is given by the
presence of these cells, which are thoroughly incor-
porated with it; hence the difficulty which the few
followers of a recent absurd fashion experience, who,
possessing blue eyes, deem it necessary to have a
particular shade of light hair.

Occasionally it happens that not only animals, but
individuals, are entirely devoid of Pigment-cells.
We then call them Albinos ; for, as it is the presence
of these cells in the skin, hair, and eyes, which gives
colour to those parts of the body, so the entire
ausence of them gives the unusual appearance to
the Albinos. In their case the skin is leprously
white, and the hair corresponding with it. The eye
is likewise characteristic, for the Pigmentum nigrum
being absent, the delicate blood-vessels reflect theix
bright red colour, which the Pigment would other-
wise hide, and they are consequently so extremely
sensitive to the light that they are generally only
half opened, even in twilight. This peculiarity is,
of course, well known with regard to many of the
white animals.

A few years ago a paper was read to the Royal
Society, giving an account of the desquamation and

* “The Microscope and its Revelations.”

May 1, 1865.)

SCLENCE-GOSSTIP.

107

change of colour in a negro, who, from repeated
attacks of ague, was completely converted to a white
man, retaining the characteristic features and hair
of an Ethiopian. This change was accompanied
with a great sensibility in the skin to the heat of the
sun and of fire. In the course of a few months the
natural colour returned, first in patches which pre-
sented a singularly mottled appearance, and ulti-
mately the former black hue was thoroughly restored
to both skin and hair.

We have stated that the Pigment-cells are usually
polygonal; bat this is not always the case, as is
illustrated in the frog, where the cells of the choroid
coat vary very much, and in its skin are curiously
stellate. The production or intensity of Pigment
would seem to be greatly influenced by the sun’s
light and heat, a removal from such agencies speedily
enabling the skin to regain its former colour, as is
evidenced by the departure of freckles or browning
after afew weeks’ return from the exposure to them.
Little appears to be known of the chemistry of
animal Pigments, but their chief constituent is sup-
posed to be carbon. Ina beautiful German prepa-
ration of a section of the human chin now before us,
not only are the hair-follicles and sudoriparous
glands plainly discernible, but also the Pigment-
cells in the stumps of hair, which have been cleverly
sliced by the skilful operator. An experienced
writer says that the skin must be macerated for
some days, when the epidermis can be removed and
examined with the under-surface uppermost. If it
be that of a negro, or any other dark-skinned race,
the Pigment-cells will be very distinctly seen by
transmitted light. But as negroes are not within
the reach of every wicroscopist, we must in this
country be content to purchase a good specimen,
readily mounted, from one of our well-known
mounters. The eye of the ox yields an excellent
object for examination, as the choroid membrane
can be easily put up in glycerine, and mounted in a
shallow cell. W. M. B.

THE HAIR-WORM (Gordius aquaticus).
By Wm. Hetzer Batty, F.L.S., &e.

HILST taking a stroll with my family, in the
month of July, during last summer, along

the banks of the Dodder, at Milltown, near Dublin,
at which time the water is very shallow in certain
parts of that river; and as I am generally on the
look-out for objects of natural history, as well to
impart instruction tothe young folks, as to add to my
own imperfeet stock; on looking into the water I
observed, at its margin, an extraordinary hair-like
creature swimming rapidly with graceful and sinuous
motion like a miniature eel. It immediately struck
me as being the Gordius aguaticus, or Hair-worm,

|

although I had never seen one before. It was

easily captured; and on removing it from the water

evidently disliked the

change, becoming more

rigid, and when held

between the fingers ap-

pearing as if in much

distress, writhing about,

and, displaying great

elasticity, it made an

j attempt to tie itself up

rea into a kind of true

Hatreworm (Gordius aquaticus) lover's knot, such as

would perhaps, if it had

not uncoiled itself again, have puzzled even the
Davenport Brothers to unravel.

Being provided with an open-mouth jar of water,
on returning home it was transferred to a glass
globe, in which were some other fresh-water objects.
Tts restricted domains, or change of diet, did not,
however, appear to agree with it; and after a few
days it died before I could observe any change in its
appearance. It is said in the early stage of its life
to live parasitically in insects.

I obtained a sccond specimen from a moist place,
where there was little or no running water, on the
side of Carrick Movntain, near Rathdrum, in the
county of Wicklow. I was searching for Cambrian
fossils at the time, and on taking up a loose piece
of slate to examine it, found, instead of the Old-
hamia, one of these remarkable filiform worms. 1
kept this alive for some days, and on taking it to
our Natural History Society, a young medical friend,
who is doing good work in the investigation of
entozoa and parasitic animals, took a fancy to it,
and it was transferred to him.

There is a popular notion amongst boys, which
probably arose from seeing this hair-like worm in
motion, that if a horse-hair is put into water, and
left there for a few days, it will turn into an eel.

These worms, although placed with the Nema-
toidea, are distinguished from them by their struc-
ture, and especially by the absence of a posterior
aperture in the intestinal canal; they are included
in the genus Gordius Z., and are thus characterize:
—head rotund, mouth none, or not distinct, tail of
male bifid, and female rounded; its length is from
7 to 10 inches, and its thickness scarcely half a line.
Tt is represented on the woodcut of the natural size,
end shows the power it has of coiling itself up.

Tuk feeling of our dignity and our power grows
strong when we say to ourselves, My being is not
objectless and in vain; Iam a necessary link in the
great chain, which, from the full development of
consciousness in the first man, reaches forward into
eternity —Hyperion,

THE HEDGEHOG.

(pHe Hedgehogs kept by Professor Buckman in
the Geological Museum are old friends of
mine, for I was the curator of the said museum at
the time, and I took as great an interest in the
“pets” as my good friend and teacher did. I can
well remember, however, what Mr. Buckman has
not mentioned, that they were not the sweetest or
cleanest of pets, and decidedly untidy in their habits,
and that having once collected for them a quantity
of black slugs, they devoured them in so foul a
manner, leaving mutilated molluscous scraps in all
sorts of corners, that we gave them no more of
such juicy food, and, finally, voted them not quite
desirable zzdoor pets ; so, if I recollect rightly, they
were popped in a bag, and sent as a present to a
worthy clergyman in Cirencester, our former chap-
lain, from whose garden they very soon made their
escape.

I wonder if my friend remembers the snake we
had in the museum about the same time, and how,
one day, it was missing from its box, and what a
search was instituted from one end of the college to
the other,—

* Tn the highest, the lowest, the loveliest spots,’

and all to no purpose; and how, at length, it came
to the ears of our good matron, who never went to
bed afterwards for months without expecting to find
a snake coiled up between the sheets. Manya good
laugh we had about it.

The Hedgehog is still very common in the north
of England; at least there are plenty on my own
farm in Cheshire. I quite agree with Mr. Buckman
that itis one of our most useful animals, and I always
save a Hedgehog from the “ barn-door savages”
when I have an opportunity, pointing out to them
the absurdity of supposing that a cow would let such
a prickly milker have anything to do with her; but
I cannot quite acquit the Hedgehog of al/ mis-
chievous propensities, for I know that he will take
young chickens, having caught him in the very
act.

The summer before last we had a hen with a
brood of chickens placed in a coop near the back-
door, in which they were left to roost. One night,
as usual, I went out to look round just before going
to bed, and found that the hen had forced her way

out of the coop, and was covering her chickens out- |

side; and as I passed the coop I heard a slight
rustling and a sort of crouching noise within it, and
upon locking in I found that a Hedgehog had
pushed his way through the bars, and there he sat
making a fine feast of one of the chickens, and so
intent was he upon his meal, that, even when I
threw the light of my lantern upon him, he was not
« whit abashed, but, in the most impudent way pos-

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1863,

sible, sat crunching the bones before my very
eyes,

There is generally some foundation for most
widely-spread popular opinions, and looking at the
fact which I have just stated, I think there is every
probability that the Hedgehog will eat both the
eggs and the young of such birds as build their
nests upon the ground; and small blame to him.

Rozpert Horwanp.

VIPER SWALLOWING ITS YOUNG.

fl gees writer of the article at p. 4 clearly does not
~~ credit the assertion there alluded to, of the viper
swallowing its young. Now, “ seeing is believing,”
and I well remember having seen in my boyhood—
some 80 years ago—an instance of the fact, the truth
of which he doubts, because resting merely on the
testimony of unscientific country people. Now, I
have no pretensions to science, but I vouch for the
truth—above referred to—of having, in my boyhood,
—when out on a birds’-nesting expedition, in a
southern county, with some three or four companions,
—come suddenly upon a viper, sunning her young
brood on an open grassy spot in a broad hedge-
row: hedge-rows were common in those days. Im-
mediately she saw us, she began to hiss, and away
went the young, previously some feet from her,
“helter-skelter” towards their mother; rushed into
her mouth—expanded to an immense width for so
small a creature—and down her throat, one over the
other, while you could say “Jack Robinson.” The
space where she was recreating was some 20 feet
square, so that before she could beat to cover, we,
boylike, being armed with sticks, had beaten her to
death. This done, one of the party with his knife
opened the body, and out came again the little ones,
all of which we killed. I do not remember the exact
number, but my impression is that it was not more
than 6 or 8. In confirmation of this statement I
give you my real name and address below, and
here subscribe myself,
A Norro_k CLERGYMAN,

Nature isa great artist, when she is left to her-
self to suit her means to her end.—Lamartine.

TE vast cathedral of nature is full of holy serip-
tures, and shapes of deep, mysterious meaning;
but all is solitary and silent there; no bending
knee, no uplifted eye, no lip adoring, praying. Into
this vast cathedral comes the human soul, seeking
its Creator; and the universal silence is changed to
a sound, and the sound is harmonious, and has a
meaning, and is comprehended and felt.—Longfellow’s
Hyperion.

May 1, 1865.]

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

109

CULTIVATION OF FERNS.

NOTICE many questions in Science Gossip re-
lative to Fern Culture, and think that a few
words respecting the manner in which German gar-
deners propagate Ferns by seed may prove in-
teresting.

They take a cube of turfy peat about one inch
and a half square, and this they dip in boiling water
in order to destroy all the animal life it contains ;
all life, in fact, animal or vegetable, that is in it must
be destroyed; it is then laid in a flat saucer, and
the spores are sprinkled upon the upper side. A
small quantity of water must be poured into the
saucer, and it should be covered over with a bell-
glass. A little water should be added from time to
time, as evaporation takes place, but great care must
be taken to pour it in without washing the seeds off
the turf, and in five or six weeks a green moss-like
substance will cover the turf, and the young fronds
will gradually develope themselves.

It is a singular fact that fern-seed, which has
been gathered and dried three or four years, will,
when sown, germinate more quickly than fresh
spores.

One of your correspondents, “ W. Ormerod,”
seems in trouble respecting his young Ferns, which
are infested with a sort of fungus. I remember
being so vexed afew years ago, when I first began
to try and raise Ferns from seeds, by a black mould,
which my more experienced friends told me pro-
ceeded from the moisture of the soddened peat
rising to the surface through the sandstone. I gave
up all kinds of stone at once, and have used well-
burnt cinders ever since with decided success,
having never been troubled with fungus afterwards.
I should be inclined to attribute “ H. J. D.’s” find-
ing of strange Ferns in the pans where he had sown
his spores, to the wild Fern-seed in the soil.
The German method I have just described of pre-
paring the soil, z.¢., dipping the turf in boiling
water, effectually prevents this.

There are strange superstitions about Fern-seeds
in various parts of England, and I know of some
very curious ones in Wales. Ben Jonson, too,
and Beaumont & Fletcher, allude to the “in-
visibility”? of the person who carried Fern-seed
in his pockets; whilst the ancients believed that
Fern-seed was invisible from its very minuteness.

Shakespeare, however, with his usual good sense, |

ridiculed the idea that it conferred the power of
becoming invisible on the bearer.
HELEN Watney.

Wes behold all round about us one vast union, in
which no man can labour for himself, without
labouring at the same time for all others.—AHypevioz.

SIMPLE OBJECTS.—III.
FRINGED scALE-Moss (Pétlidium ciliare L.).

HIS is one of the most elegant of British scale-
mosses, and well worthy the attention of the
microscopist. It occurs abundantly in heathy places,
where it forms large purplish-brown patches, and,
at first sight, looks almost like a kind of moss, but
closer inspection dispels the fancied resemblance.
The stems are from one to three inches in length,
and prostrate, bearing on each side a profusion of
short branchlets, which are again and again sub-

Fig. 79.—FrInGED ScALE-Moss
(Natural size, and slightly magnified).

divided. The leaves overlap each other, and are
placed in two rows on opposite sides of the stem,
Each leaf is divided into two unequal lobes, and
each lobe is again cleft into two pointed segments,
all of which are fringed along their margins with

WE

Fig. 80.—Parr or Leaves (further magnified).

long, pointed, cellular hairs. At the base of the
leaves, on the under side of the stem, are smaller
leaves or stipules, which are likewise cleft and
fringed with hairs. All these parts, when viewed
with a higher power (x 3800) are found to consist of
roundish cells, having a disposition to become hexa-
gonal, except in the hairs, where the cells are cylin-
drical, and placed end to end.

Dr. Carrington recommends the following method
for the preparation and examination of these plants:
—“Take a leaf; place it between two slips of glass,
with a few drops of equal parts of Liguor potusse

110

and water; warm over a spirit-lamp until ebullition,
then wash the leaf in water, place on a fresh slip,
and add a drop of iodide of zine solution, and put
on the cover. If the leaf is dry, steep it previously

Fig, 81.—Showing Cell-arrangement.

in water. The preparations thus obtained are
amongst the most beautiful of microscopic objects,
and the physiologist cannot but be delighted with
the precision with which the different layers of the
cell are mapped out.” M. C. C.

ASSYRIAN BOTANY.

y MOST curious fact in natural history has recently

Leen brought to light by the decipherment of
Assyrian inscriptions. The history of the artificial
migration of plants—a very interesting and intricate
subject—has been carried back to a period of great
antiquity. Kuthami, a Mendaite writer in the
fourth century, a.p., tells us that the kings of

Assyria were accustomed to bring back with them | summer of 1857 or 1858, when strolling down a lane

from their campaigns in foreign countries any plant
which they thought would be valuable and useful ;
that in this way, for instance, the cherry was trans-
planted from the banks of the Jordan to the gardens
of Nineveh and Babylon. These statements are
strikingly confirmed by an inscription of Tiglath-
Pileser I, an Assyrian monarch, who was carried
captive to Babylon, p.c. 1110, The king therein
says :— The pine-tree, the likkarina-tree, and the
algum-tree, these trees, which none of the former
kings, my fathers, had planted, I took from the
countries which I subdued, and I planted them in
the groves of my own country, and I called (the
plantations) by the name of groves; whatever was
not in my own country I took and placed in the
groves of Assyria.” The translation “algum-tree”
is not quite certain; the word in the original is
alaka(ni), which certainly bears a greater resem-
hlance to the native Sanskrit name valgu(ka) than
does the Hebrew almag. If the identification can
he maintained, it will be a proof of the occupation
of the Malabar coast by the Aryans as carly as the
twelfth century B.c. This will not be the only case

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[May 1], 1865.

in which ethnology has received important aid from

the botanical department of natural history. The
northern home of our Aryan ancestors is borne evi-
dence to by the fact that the “birch ”—the denizen
of acold climate—is the only tree having the same
name both in Kastern and Western Aryan, 7.¢., both
in Sanskrit and in the various languages of Europe.
So, again, we learn from the fact that “flax”? (Lat.
linum, Greek Xivoy, Goth. /eiz) is known by different
names in Hasternand Western Aryan, that the sepa-
ration of the forefathers of the Hindus and of the
Greeks and Romans took place before either had
exchanged an agricultural for a pastoral life.

We have reason to hope that the present re-
searches into the early records of mankind may throw
some light upon the primitive history and cultiva-
tion of the cereals. A, Saycz.

oe

THE SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER BIRD.

N Scrence-Gosstp (p. 64), before quoting from
“ Knapp’s Journal of a Naturalist,” you say there
is some confusion between the accounts in ‘ Mon-
tague’s Ornithological Dictionary ” and “ Knapp’s
Journal” respecting the great and the red-backed
shrike. As a daughter of the late Mr. Knapp, I am
able to say the bird he mentions is Lantus collurio ;
that bird was common in Gloucestershire. I never
saw the great shrike except in a private collection of
stuffed birds; with us the red-backed shrike would
often attack the nests of the small birds, and carry
off the unfledged young.
In the neighbourhood I now live in, not far from
Whitehaven, Lanius collurio is often seen. In the

between the villages of Netherton and St. Bees
with my little boy, we fell in with a brood of young
butcher-birds with their parents; and while telling the
child why called butcher-birds, the constant buzzing of
the dorr beetle attracted my attention to a thorn bush,
where we found (besides moths) three or four dorrs,
not fixed as I have always before seen them with
the body spitted, but with the thorn in each instance
through one wing case, and these were spinning
round and round. This was recalled to my recol-
lection this summer, by finding a dorr beetle flying
about with a large round hole in one clytra; in all
probability this fortunate beetle, by long spinning,
had worn the hole, and thus been enabled to fly off
its spiked perch. L. M. P.

N.B.—The shrike in Cumberland is called skrike-
pie or skrike bird—L. M. P.

In the beauty of form, or of moral character, or
of the material creation, if is that which is most
veiled which is most beautiful.—Stoxemason of Saint
Point.

May 1, 1865.]

HERBARIUM INSECT.
(Atropos pulsatorius.)

HAVE long had in my possession a box of dried
ferns mounted on sheets of paper, in which little
insects, like paper-mites in size, live and breed, as may
be seen from the portrait below. The creature has
nothing to recommend him on the score of beauty,
for he is incorrigibly ugly, and at first sight through
the microscope quite startling to a novice in the
science of microscopy. On further examination,
however, this wears off, and many beauties may be
discovered. The antenne or feelers are very marvels
of constructive beauty, being formed of agreat number
of joints, by means of which they can be turned in
any direction with the greatest care and dexterity ;
the forceps are formed in the same way, all in joints;
so are the legs —that portion of them begins at the
termination of the thigh, and are in four or five
sections; besides this, there are scattered all over
the insect skort bristles, some round the mouth,
which give the little creature a very ferocious aspect ;

Fig. 82.

the back, as may be seen above, is striped across, and
these stripes or rings are indented. I have not at
present been able to discover any organs of vision,
and rather think he has none; they certainly would
not be of any use, because he always lives in the
dark. One thing, however, is certain that, seeing or
not, he continues to collect the spores of the ferns,
and builds with them a very pretty dome-shaped nest,
lined throughout with a white down, underneath
which he first deposits the egg. I found in one
of them a young one partly formed; the legs were
just cropping out from the sides. There appears
only to be one young bird in a nest, so that
the insect is not a very prolific breeder. I have
tried various means to rid the ferns of these little
creatures, but at present without having succeeded ;
and as it gives me an opportunity of sending you his
portrait, I feel rather; glad that I had not suc-
ceeded, and'also that I have discovered some hidden
beauties of secret nature, which I must have re-
mained ignorant of; and I am sure that no one can
be otherwise than better for a knowledge of .such
things, seeing that their contemplation must raise
our admiration and cause us to wonder more at the
majesty and power of the Great Creator, who should
have thought it well to bestow such infinite pains
on these tiny objects of His creation. G, Batuny.

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

doiet

ZO0O0LOGY.

Tue Nartrersack Toap (Bufo Culamita).—As
many readers of Scrmnce-Gossir have written to
me for specimens of this reptile, perhaps the follow-
ing short notice of my chase after them may not be
unacceptable :—On Thursday, April 6th, I was
lcoking about Wisley Heath all day for them, but
did not find one. After dark, or, at least, after the
rising of the moon, I was returning home across the
heath, and when near a pond something ran quickly
across the path. I took it up, and saw byits bright
vertebral stripe, showing clearly in the moonlight,
that it was a natterjack. I therefore commenced
looking round the pond, and caught no less than
fifty-seven of them. The noise they were making
was very great; their croak being hoarse, and one
continued note, instead of, as in the common toad
and frog, a suecession of short notes. The natter-
jacks showed more sense than the toads by leaving
off croaking, and squatting close to the ground to
escape observation whenever I approached one of
their haunts, while the toads kept croaking and
hopping. I found them always in shallow water
(in which they can sit with their heads out), and, as
their name implies, among reeds very often. On
Friday night I caught a still larger number. I see
now why their eyes are so much brighter by night
than by day, as they are evidently nocturnal in their
habits; but until this time I have always caught
them on hot sunny days going about the heath in
pairs.—W. &. Tate, 4, Grove-place, Denmark-hill,
Camberwell,

LocaL NAME ror tHE Toap.—About Wisley, in
Surrey, the common toad is called always the
“oeround toad,” in contradistinction to the natter-
jack or “ goldenback.”—W. &R. 7.

Cuitp Porsonrp By a Toap.—A young lad,
ten years of age, named Louis P , whose pareuts
are small tradespeople in the Faubourg Saint-
Antoine, was playing with some of his companions
near Bercy, not far from a building in the course of
demolition. This boy, who was of a delicate con-
stitution, had a slight abrasion of the skin of the
right hand. Having seen a lizard crawl into a hole
in an old wall, he put in his hand, but instead of the
lizard he drew out an enormous toad, which he im-
mediately threw on the ground. The skin of the
toad is covered with large tubercles formed by an
aggregation of small pustules open at their summit.
A milky liquid, of a yellowish white colour, very
thick, and of a fetid odour, escapes from these
tubercles when the animal is irritated. Whilst the
lad had the animal in his hand, this liquid, which is
a violent poison, was introduced through the wound
in his hand into the blood. He was soon after
seized with vertigo, vomitings, and faintings, and
was carried to the house of his parents, who called

112

in a doctor immediately ; but already the malady had
made such progress, that in spite of the most
energetic means employed the patient soon died.—
Petit Journal, 29th March.

THRUSH AND F'rog.—R. H., in p. 85, says he can
see no reason why, on the principle that s¢milia
similibus curantur, a frog should be sought as a
remedy for the childish disorder which is commonly
known as the thrush.
disorder is sometimes called “the frog.” —Humber.

Rosy FratuEer-Starn.—W. W. §., in his in-

teresting account of the larva of the Comatula, as |

observed by him near St. Malo, asks “if this form
of the feather-star has been found on the English
coast?”? Ihave no doubt that Dr. Carpenter has
had the satisfaction of procuring specimens of this
form of the Comatula since he discovered a habitat
for the perfect animal in the Bay of Lamlash, off
the Isle of Arran.
tour in the west of Scotland, I was busily engaged
dredging in Lamlash Bay, and frequently I was
delighted to find this beautiful star-fish among the
numerous “ treasures of the deep ” which we hauled
into the boat, and I fondly imagined, at the time,
that I had been the fortunate discoverer of this very
rare star-fish, little knowing that Dr. Carpenter was
before me. One of my specimens was unusually
large, being several inches in diameter, and of a fine
dark red colour. Being very anxious to preserve
hin, it occurred to me that I would mount him as a
sea-weed, on paper, well knowing that any attempt
to dry the creature, out of his native element, would
end in disappointment ; so, having cautiously placed
him in a deep dish of sea-water, I gently slipped a
piece of drawing-paper under him, and raising my
hand quickly out of the water, I had the satisfaction
of seeing the extended arms of the comatula fixed to
the paper, so securely, that notwithstanding the
efforts of the creature to free itself, it was unable to
detach any portion of the arms, except a few joints
near their connection with the disc-like body of the
animal, and this was accomplished only in conse-
quence of those portions of the arms being elevated
above the surface of the paper. The self-mutilating
propensity of these irritable creatures is well known,
and I therefore considered myself very fortunate in
having secured so much of a genuine specimen of
Comatula rosacea, The star-fish is now in the pos-
session of my friend Mr. 8. Highley, of Green-street,
Leicester-square, who would, doubtless, be happy to
show it to any one interested in this class of marine
animals.—W. H. Grattann.

Orrers.—Otters are very plentiful this year in
the Teme (a tributary of the Severn), as many as
five being seen together. A friend of mine started

one which tuned up an opening for a drain; he |

In this part of the country the |

Several years since, during a |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865.

followed, and hit it on the head with a spade, and
now has it stuffed ; it is a fine specimen of a dog.—
M.S. B.

Cora ReErs.—Captain Flinders, in the Gulf of
Carpentaria, held his course by the sides of lime-
stone reefs, five hundred miles in extent, with a
depth irregular and uncertain; and more recently,
Captain King seven hundred miles, almost a con-
tinent, of rock, increasing and visibly forming; all

_ drawn from the waters of the ocean by a minute

creature, that wonderful agent in the hands of Pro-
vidence — the coral insect.—Anapp’s Journal of a
Naturalist.

Deer PorsoneD By YEW-LEAVES.—A number of
the deer in the park of the Duke of Beaufort, at
Badminton, have been poisoned in a singular manner.
There is a large yew-tree inthe park, the branches
of which are some feet from the ground. The late
snow bore down the branches until they were within
reach of the deer. The animals nibbled the leaves,
and between thirty and forty have died, and a
number are still suffering from the effects of the
poisonous juice of the leaves. — Herts axd LHssex
Journal.

SPARROWS ON THE HovseE-ror.—At the house of
Lady Soame, in Hereford-square, Brompton, is a
Corinthian column reaching to the top, in the capital
of which, as long ago as last spring, a pair of
sparrows built their nest. About the time the
young birds were hatched Lady Soame had a cage
or covering of wire-work placed over the capital,

' one top of which came just under the nest; and it

happened that shortly afterwards two of the young
birds fell through. The meshes or openings of the
cage were just large enough to admit them, as they
then were, but not the old ones; and as they had
not strength, probably, to force their way out as
they came in, there they had to remain. The conse-
quence was, that in their progress to maturity, they
also became too large to pass through their prison-
bars; and there they have remained, imprisoned but
alive, from that time to this. The most extraor-
dinary part of the story is, that the old birds not
only continued to feed the young ones through the
wires of the cage while they remained unfledged,
but they have done so ever since. They have been
seen, from day to day, to bring them food; indeed,
had they not done so, it is plain the young ones
could not have been, as they now are, alive, and, to
all appearance, well. Could the old birds have ma-
naged by any means to give them water? or could
the young ones have obtained a supply from the
eavesdroppings, or in any other way? Or can birds
really exist without water ?—Hdward Morton, in the
Field.

May 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

113

ENTOMOLOGY.

EntomontocicaL Socirty or Lonpon.—The
council are making strenuous efforts to augment the
number of their members and subscribers, so as to
enable them to publish more of the valuable scien-
tific material in their hands. In this effort we wish
them entire success.

Tor Driver-ant.—Fire will frighten almost any
creature; but it has no terrors for the driver-ant,
which will dash at a glowing coal, fix its jaws in
the burning mass, and straightway shrivel up in the
heat.— Homes without Hands.

Wasps scarce In Loypon.—When we lived in
Walworth, we scarcely ever saw a wasp in or about
the house; but here on Denmark Hill they are tole-
rably plentiful. I think the fact of their extreme
scarcity in central London may be accounted for by
their seldom going more than two miles from their
nests. Wasps may be abundant enough at Barnes,
and yet quite unknown “in London.”—/V. R. Tate.

Hypernation or Fires.—On the 9th of October,
1863, I ascended a disused semaphore in Surrey for
the purpose of enjoying the view from the top. On
it was a flag-pole notched for climbing, like the
bears’ pole in Regent’s Park, and covered with red
baize. In order to climb this pole, I took hold of
it, when out tumbled, through holes in the baize,
and at the bottom of it, scores of bluebottles. I
conceive that they must have got there to pass
the winter in a state of torpidity, and probably
T. H. Fs were induced to leave their hyberna-
cula prematurely by the heat of his rooms.—//. RB.
Tate.

DEVELOPMENT oF BurrEerriy-wines.—Mr. Side-
bottom, ina paper read at the Literary and Philo-
sophical Society, Manchester, January 16th, said that
the great and rapid increase of size in the wings of
the Lepidoptera, soon after the imsect emerges from
the chrysalis, is caused hy air, taken in through the
spiracles, beg sent into the vessels of the wings ;
the membrane is expanded in consequence, and the
scales, which were before packed under each other
as closely as possible, are made to slide out until
they remain in the fully-developed wing like the
tiles of a roof. He exhibited preserved specimens
of the currant moth and the tiger-moth with the
wings, both in their small and in their expanded
state; also a coloured sketch of one of them; and
it was seen that in the unexpanded state the wings
lic flat without any folding; and all their markings
are a correct representation in miniature of what
they ultimately become.—7he Reader.

Tur Treasury has authorized the expenditure of
£3,000 for priuting the Royal Socicty’s “Index to
the Scientific Periodical Literature of the Nineteenth
Century.”

Wuat po Crickrts EAt?—I am afraid that my
own experience will not lead me to regard crickets
with a favourable eye, if I look at the useful rather
than the ornamental. Ihave by me at the present
moment a pair of slippers, the soles of which are
very much gnawed by the crickets. They must
plead guilty, for they were caught in the act. A
young friend of mine can tell you dolefully that
they do not confine their ravages to old boots.—R. B.

A Wasp anp Its Victim.—I once witnessed a
combat between a wasp and a yellow underwing
moth. The wasp espied the moth ina small out-
house, andimmediately attacked it; the moth, with
no offensive weapons, struggled bravely for nearly
half-an-hour. At last, however, the wasp killed it;
it immediately severed the head and body from the
tail, and flew off with it; it returned after about ten
minutes for the tail, with which it fled away too; it
did not take the wings.—J. 4. W/,

Ants Stortne Grar.—It is disputed by some
whether ants do carry off grain and store it; but the
following incident will show that they do so, and to
a considerable extent. At the side of my house at
Zante there was a threshing-floor, or rather the
paved space was converted temporarily into one, a
pole having becn fixed in the centre, to which horses
were attached, and driven round and round to
trample out the corn. <A pile of wheat was left here
unthreshed for a few days. In the meantime the
ants committed depredations upon it, and, on one of
their nests being opened, two good-sized tin cans-
ful of grain were found deposited in it.—J. J. Lake,
in Atheneum.

KiILtinG INSECTS FOR THE CABINET.— Years ago
I advocated cyanide of potassium for killing all
insects, or rather (if good. and easy setting be an
object) for stupifying them as immediately as by
chloroform, after which they may be killed with
oxalic acid if lepidopterous, &e., or by boiling if
coleopterous. A small fragment wrapped in blotting-
paper, and placed under a perforated-card false-
bottom in a wide-mouthed bottle, soon renders the
enclosed air more deadly than chloroform ; whilst
no expense or difficulty attends the use of this sub-
stance, which, for photographical purposes, may now
be met with everywhere; also, when combined with
old laurel-leaves, no stiffening will be found to
ensue, even when insects are suffered to die, and
remain all night in the bottle. My own plan with
Lepidoptera is to pill-box them, and then, as shortly
after as possible, to open the pill-box over the wide-
mouthed bottle containing the cyanide, into which
the moths almost immediately fall, when they may
be taken out, stabbed with oxalic acid, and sct or
left as preferred. By this means females may be
also left to deposit their eggs or not, without diffi-
culty.—IV. D. Crotch, Westou-super-Mare.

i

BOTANY.

PRIMROSES IN A Room.—There is a very easy,
but I do not know whether it is a commonly known,
way of keeping primroses inbloom ina room. The
whole plant should be taken up, and the mould
cleared from the roots. It should then be placed in
a shallow vessel kept well supplied with water (an
ordinary saucer will serve the turn admirably).
With a little moss placed round the plant, it forms
a very pleasing, although simple ornament to the
drawing-room table. he plant will continue to
bloom for weeks, and generally produces abundance
of flowers. These, after the first few weeks, be-
come of an unusually pale tint, and prove, I fancy,
that artists are right in saying that primrose-colour
is a delicate green. Some plants that have been
tried this year had flower-stalks seven, and even
more, inches in length.—F#. B/.

Tue Ivy (Hedera helix).—Is it a generally-known

fact that the ivy occasionally produces blossoms in
the early spring, as well as in the autumn? [ find
in my diary for last year an entry, under the date of
March 7, to the effect that I then observed, near
Parson’s-green, Middlesex, a branch of ivy, almost
leafless, bearing several heads of blossom of a bright
yellow colour; and on the 25th of last month, I
noticed, in a hedge near High Wycombe, a similar
specimen, having two or three heads of well-deve-
loped flower-buds. In both cases the specimens had
flowered in the previous autumn. Perhaps some
correspondent may be able to adduce similar in-
stances.—B.
_ Tunsripes Fern (Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense).
—This interesting. species is included in the last
number of “ Beddome’s Ferns of Southern India,”
where the author states that he has found it on the
mountains close to Chokampatty (Tinnevelly), at an
elevation of 5,000 feet. It had previously been
found in Ceylon, and also to extend to the Austra-
lasian Colonies.

DEVONSHIRE MistEToE (see p. 88).—Onur cor-
respondent was certainly wrong in affirming that
the misletoe and cowslip are unknown in Devonshire.
We have received several communications, which
we regret that our space will not allow us to publish.
Both plants have several localities in this county,
and the misletoe does not appear to be at allrare.—
Ld. Se. G.

Horst-cuEstnuts.—In avillage, about three miles
from Puteaux, near Paris, was, four years ago, a
large starch manufactory. The materials consisted
wholly of horse-chestnuts, and the starch was ex-
cellent.—P. B.S. J.

New Inisu Diatom.—The Microscopical Journal
contains an account of the discovery of Arachnoi-
discus ornatus in a pool of brackish water at Mala-
hide, in the county of Dublin.

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865.

THe LaneuaGe or FLowers.—Can you picture
to yourself a man going wooing with a “ Delphinum
Donkelerii” in his button-hole? Don’t you think
Snapdragon hardly an august enough translation of
“ Antirrhinum caryophylloides?”? No humble-bee
would venture to show its nose inan “ Indigofera-
coccinea endecaphylla,” and I should like you to
tell me, off-hand, what a ‘‘ Guiterezia gymnosper-
moides” smells like, or a “Cucumis aradac.”—Jones’
Holiday Papers.

Buioopy-man’s Fincers. — Adverting to p. 36,
the reason why some parents discard orchis-flowers
from their children’s nosegays, may have some su-
perstitious connection with the legend which states
that a species of Orchis grew plentifully on Mount
Calvary, and was unspotted until the crucifixion,
when some drops of blood fell, and spotted it.
There are many such legends, one of which, equally
authentic, states that the aspen has always been
tremulous since that event, because “the cross”
was made of its wood. It has also been affirmed,
on the same authority, that the fig-trce poisons all
other trees near it, having acquired this property
only since the curse was pronounced on “ the barren
fig-tree.’—d. V.

CRYPTOGAMIC VEGETATION IN SIKKIM HrMa-
LAyA.—There were few mosses; but crustaceous
lichens were numerous, and nearly all of them
Scotch, Alpine, European, and Arctic kinds. The
names of these, given by the classic Linneus and
Wahlenberg, tell in some eases of their birthplaces,
in others of their hardihood, their livid colours and
weather-beaten aspects; such as ¢vistis, gelida, gla-
cialis, arctica, alpina, savatilis, polaris, frigida, and
numerous others equally familiar to the Scotch
botanist. The lichen called geographicus was most
abundant, and is found to indicate a certain degree
of cold in every latitude: descending to the level of
the sea in lat. 52° N. and 59° 8., whilst in lower la-
titudes it is only to be seen on mountains. It flou-
rishes at 10,000 feet in the Himalaya, ascending
thence to 18,000 feet. Its name, however, was not
intended to indicate its wide range, but the curious
map-like patterns which its yellow crust forms on
the rocks.—Hooker’s Himalayan Journal.

Srxr-Frrtinization.—It is an astonishing fact
that self-fertilization should not have been an habi-
tual occurrence. It apparently demonstrates to us
that there must be something injurious in the pro-
cess. Nature thus tells us, in the most emphatic
manner, that she abhors perpetual self-fertilization.
—Darwin’s Fertilization of Orchids,

Mr. Darwin has announced a new work, entitled
“Domesticated Animals and Cultivated Plants, or
the Principles of Variation, Inheritance, Reunion,
Crossing, Interbreeding, and Selection under Domes-
tication.”

May 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

115

Furz5e-LEAVES TRIFOLIATE.—The seedling furze
(Ulex) has, at first, no spines. The young stem is
clothed with leaves from twelve to twenty in number;
these are shortly petiolate and trifoliate, consisting
each of three small elliptical hairy articulated leaf-
lets. When the stem becomes five or six inches in
length (usually), the trifoliate leaves cease to be
developed, and spines are then produced. We thus
see that in Ulex the perfect leaves appear during
the early period of the plant’s development, while
in the Australian Legumenose, their production is
delayed till the maturity of the plant. Ulex, how-
ever, is truly a plant with compound trifoliate leaves,
not simple-leaved, as stated in many works.—Pro-
fessor Lawson, in Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin,

Botany at THE Capr.—The Rev. Dr. Brown,
Colonial Botanist at Cape Town, has recently ad-
dressed a circular to the missionaries in South
Africa, beyond the Cape Colony, calling upon them
to procure coliections of plants, and forward them
through him, or direct, to Europe, so that the vege-
tation of that portion of the world may become
better known. A letter from the same gentleman,
containing further particulars of that singular plant,
the Welwitschia mirabilis, has also been printed and
circulated.

Notrs on Irish Prants.—1l. Barbarea inter-
media.—This species I inserted in my Flora of
Belfast as B. precor. Mr. G. More, F.L.S., a
few days since, suggested to me the probability
of its being B. intermedia, which he was the
first to discover in Great Britain, in the county of
Armagh. On-comparing the Irish plant with B.
precox and with a French specimen of B. intermedia,
its affinities with the latter were at once obvious.
This species first occurred to me, in 1862-63, very
sparingly about Belfast, but in several localities.
During the spring of last year it occurred in pro-
fusion on the borders of fields and on railway-banks,
on the light sandy soils of the valley of the river
Lagan, from Derriaghy to Hillsborough, especially
along the line of the new railway from Lisburn to
Hillsborough. From Hillsborough it rapidly de-
creased in numbers; but afew stragglers I had now
and then met with as far west as Bainbridge. Its
diminution in this direction is to be accounted by
the fact that a few yards west of Hillsborough the
underlying rock is an argillaceous slate-rock, or a
slaty shell.

2. Rubus Kehleri—A batch of Belfast rudz, sent
to me, and collected by my late companion in the
field, Mr. 8. A. Stewart, were kindly named a few
days since by Professor C. C. Babington ; he makes
the following note on one specimen :—“ Corylifolius
B=Kehlerit, alone is new to the country.” The
locality yielding this new species is Carmoney,
situated 33 miles to the north-east of Belfast, or
the slopes of the Belfast hill range.—Aalph Tate,
F.GS.

Preservative Power or Frrns.—In corrobora-
tion of your correspondent H. M.’s statement re-
specting the superior preserving quality of the
bracken fern over straw, I may mention that the
country people in this part of Somerset thatch over
their potatoe “buries” with it, saying that they
keep better under it than when straw is used.
Ferns possess a volatile oil and resin, to which
“the peculiar odour” noticed by H. M. is probably
due, and which most likely makes them distasteful
to insects, &c., though I weli remember one after-
noon last summer watching a hive-bee industriously
using its proboscis on the young shoots of the
bracken, and viewing it through a pocket magnifier,
I found it sucked the moisture exuding from the
young stems of the undeveloped fronds. The larvee
of Hepialis velleda (swift moth) feeds on the roots of
this fern. Our Exmoor ponies crop its young fronds
with avidity, and donkies also eat them and other
common ferns. ‘The young fronds of ferns are
sometimes attacked by caterpillars when cultivated
in a green-house, and I have found a white grub
banqueting on the dried fronds of Scolopendrium
vulgare in my herbarium. Ferns in tropical climates
are said to contain a greater degree of nutriment,
while the medicinal qualities are not so great as in
those of temperate regions. In India, New Zealand,
&e., several kinds are used as food, and it is
possible that the ferns of these countries may be
more tempting to the insect tribe than they are
with us. Hugh Miller in his “Testimony of the
Rocks” says, “The thickets of ferns which cover
our hill sides scarce support the existence of a
single creature,’ which, I believe, is a true state-
ment; but perhaps it is hardly correct to infer from
this, that the luxuriant ferns which formed the
earliest terrestrial flora of these islands were equally
unfavourable to the support of animal life: they
doubtless resembled in their qualities the ferns of
tropical climates; and it would be interesting to
learn from the observations of naturalists in those
climes, what insects and other animals feed upon
them. In Frémont’s “Journey to the Rocky
Mountains” he relates that their horses and mules
feed upon Lguisetum hyemale, and in another part
he speaks of their animals luxuriating on “ préle,”
that is, Hguisetum, commonly called “ horse-tails,”
allies of the fern genus. In the “ Botanical Chart ”
of my lamented friend Miss Warren it is statsd,
“that in the north of Europe starch is made from
the roots of Osmunda, and bread from those of
the bracken, and that in the times of Henry
the Sixth the people of England were reduced to the
use of this bread.” —J. Gifford.

Beriieve me, the talent of success is nothing
more than doing what you can do well, and doing
well whatever you do, without a thought of fame.
—Longfellow.

12

116

MICROSCOPY.

Prorosat to Lonpon Microscorists.—It ap-
pears to me that some association amongst the
amateur microscopists of London is desirable, which
shall afford greater facilities for the communication
of ideas and the resolution of difficulties than the
present Society affords, and which, whilst in no
respect hostile to the latter, shall give amateurs the
opportunity of assisting each other as members of
an amateur-society, with less pretensions, holding
monthly meetings in some central locality, at an
annual charge sufficient to cover the incidental ex-
penses—say five shillings a year—on the plan of the
Society of Amateur Botanists. By the publication
of this letter the general feeling of the parties in-
terested will be ascertained, and by this future action
determined.—WV. Gibson.

N.B—We insert our correspondent’s communi-
cation, and would be glad to hear from any micros-
copists desirous of co-operating with him in carry-
ing out his proposition.—d. Sc. @.

Movuntine OPaquE orn TRANSPARENT OBJECTS.
—In reference to a mode of mounting for opaque
objects I have found that, after trying card-
board, gutta percha, india-rubber, ivory, moulded
shellac, &c., none answer my purpose so well, or
look so neat, as those which are to be made from
fishing-rod rings. My modus operandi is as follows:
With a common gun-wad punch, punch out the
paper, to form the back-ground, a little less than
the ring, but slightly larger than its internal
diameter. The paper need not be dead black, as, if
so, its texture will be so coarse as to show its rough-
ness with a 2-inch objective. A very dark bronzed
highly-finished paper will be found the best. Have
ready a number of the rings, blacked inside with
Brunswick black, those measuring 34-inch external
diameter being most useful. Next, centre a slip
of glass on your turn-table, and with a little gum
fix the paper in the centre of the slide, and by the
time that you have thus papered, say six dozen, the
first slip will be ready for the next stage, when you
again centre on the turn-table, and just on the out-
side, but touching the paper, run a thin ring of gold-
size, upon which drop the prepared cell; and so on
with the remainder. When all are done, place them
on wooden trays, and bake them on the top of the
oven. In the course of a day or two again gold-size
the cell, letting the size extend only a short distance
onthe glass beyond the circumference of the cell.
When this second coat is dry, a third of Brunswick
black may be laid over the whole exterior, filling up,
as much as possible, the angle formed by the outcr
wall of the ring and the surface of the glass. In
placing the object, a sufficiently small portion of
gum may be generally taken up with a fine brush,
just enough to make the object adhere firmly, and

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[May ], 1863,

yet not to show beyond its margin. In fixing the
glass cover again use gold-size, as being probably the
most tenacious cement there is, and as being less
liable to “run in” than the majority of such. After
one or two applications, made at longish intervals,
the whole may be finished off with Brunswick black.
I say the applications are to be made at longish
intervals, because I find that most of my friends are
in far too great a hurry with their work, putting on
coat after coat long before the last application can
possibly be dry. Brunswick black and other brittle
cements should never be used where adhesion is of
the first consideration. As to the mounting of
transparent objects, 1 am now using the glyccrine
jelly, recommended by Mr. Lawrence in the AMicro-
scopical Journal, and referred to in that, to the
working microscopist, indispensable little brochure,
“The Preparation and Mounting of Microscopie
Objects,” by Mr. Davies, and in which work the
reader will find instructions for its employment. I
can certainly recommend it most highly as being
easily workable, clean, a most excellent preservative,
and the object quickly put up and finished; the
latter being a great desideratum with novices. If it
had no other advantage there is one greatly in its
favour, viz., that there is no fear of leakage. Whilst
confervoid growths—to which, it is said, the jelly is
somewhat liable, though I have not found it so
—might probably be entirely avoided by always
keeping the bottle closely corked, and carefully scaling
the object mounted by a ring of cement.—J. 1. WV.

GEOLOGY.

GRANITE.—Granite, generally and theoretically,”
consists of crystals of quartz, of felspar, and of mica.
embedded in crystalline quartz. Practically, all
porphyritic rocks are called granites. In many of
these rocks the mica is repleced by hornblende, the
result being the variety called Syenite. The mica
and hornblende are sometimes absent or present in
very small proportions. The quartz sometimes pre-
ponderates, and is sometimes almost absent. The
felspar is sometimes in distinct erystals and some-
times only crystalline. The felspathic portion of the
stone also is sometimes felspar proper, but occa-
sionally a/bite, in which the alkaline element is
chiefly soda instead of potash. The crystals vary in
size and in the mode of their distribution, so that
the granite may be coarse or fine grained. Some
kinds of granite are brittle, and others singularly
tough; some very easily break along lines of natural
fracture, and are comparatively soft while yet fresh
from the quarry, while other kinds resist any regular
fracture, and are only reduced to a desired shape
with extreme difficulty, even when first obtained.
Chemically, true granite is a silicate of alumina and
potash, with a little iron and lime, and with soda
sometimes replacing the potash and magnesia the

May 1, 1865. |

line. This analysis, however, only indicates the
ultimate elements, and not the mineral composition
of the rock ; and, to a certain extent, granites must
be regarded as mixtures of crystalline minerals in
various proportions. Thus it is also useful to ob-
serve that an average granite may be expected to
contain from two to three-fifth parts of crystals of
quartz or crystalline quartz, about the same, more or
less, of felspar, also partly crystalline and chiefly in
definite crystals, and the remainder (one-tenth part) of
mica. But the mica may form two or three-tenths and
the quartz three-fifths, or more, while the proportion
of felspar, as well as the particular composition of the
felspar, both vary extremely. Good ordinary granite
weighs 1663 lb. the cubic foot, and the cubic yard as
nearly as possible two tons. Fourteen cubic feet to
the ton is the usual estimate. Its toughness or re-
sistance to crushing weights is very great, and is
believed to vary a great deal in different samples.
For practical purposes it is safe to assume that fresh
unweathered granite will bear any direct crushing
weight to which it can be exposed. Granite contains
a certain amount of water capable of being driven
off by continued exposure to a heat insufficient to
produce any other change. ‘This quantity differs
much in different specimens, even of the same stone,
but it may be said to be represented by the “loss”
in the table of analysis. It averages, therefore,
about O'S per cent. ‘Taken in its ordinary state, and
containing this quantity of water, it is still some-
times capable of absorbing about one-fourth more
(or 0°2 per cent.), when placed in water fora few
hours. This quantity is, however, rather larger than
could be expected of a good sample. Expressed in
anotzer way, [ may say that a cubic yard, or two
tons weight of granite, contains, in its ordinary
state, something more than 33 gallons of water, and
some specimens can absorb nearly a gallon more on
being placed in pure water for a short period. Itis
important to notice this fact, as the influence of
frost on stone is in proportion to the water it takes
up, and determines its durability —Azsted’s Lectures
on Practical Geology.

Frstoons oF Driver-ants.—First a single ant
clung tightly to a branch, and then a second insect
crawled cautiously down its suspended body, and
hung to its long, outstretched limbs. Others fol-
lowed in rapid succession, until they had formed
a complete chain of ants, which swung about in the
wind. One of the largest workers then took its
stand immediately below the chain, held firmly to
the branch with its hind-limbs, and dexterously
caught with its forelegs the end of the living chain
as it swung past. The ladder was thus completed,
and fixed ready for the transit of insects; and ina
similar way the whole tree was covered with festoons
of ants, until it was blackened with their sable bodies.
—Homes without hands,

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

uy

WINDOW GARDENS AND AQUARIA.

RED-LEAVED SEA-WEED (Delesseria sanguinia).—
The eight leaves of this alga, sent herewith, are
taken from a specimen which grew in the aquarium
of the Zoological Gardens, Hamburg, in the winter
and spring of 1865. Is any other instance known
of the plant having thus grown from a very young
state, or from seed, ina tank? It is the first time
I have known it do so. I found it by accident in a
deep and nearly dark hole in a large tank in which
specimens were placed in the summer of 1864, but
which specimens died. The present specimen is pa-
rasitic on the stem of some long alga (probably a
Freas) ; but it is also so much covered with conferva
that not much of it can be seen. The conferva
does not grow on the Delesseria leaves. Last night,
on clearing out the tank in question, the alga was
for some hours exposed to the air, and this morn-
ing some of the leaves were found of an orange
colour—the colour of deatb, and these leaves are
those now sent; but the orange (decayed) parts are
not so apparent as when they were in water. But
there are still plenty more of much smaller leaves on
the same stem, and these will be watched carefully.
—IHV. Alford Lloyd, Keeper of the Aquarium,

AQUARIUM AND Fernery.—The salt-water aqua-
rium before me is about 16 inches diameter and
8 inches deep, covered with a bell-glass about 2 feet
high, but not fitting closely. The lower vessel is
two-thirds filled with sea-water ; in it, besides other
living organisms, are various anemones, of all sizes
and ages, gathered from different parts of our coast ;
fine shingle, bits of rock, coral, &¢., are strewn on
the bottom, many of the latter are covered with
bright emerald green vegetation of spontancous
growth. In the centre stands a tripod supporting a
wooden basin. The former consists of three strong
zinc wire legs; both these and the basin are concealed
by specimens of rocks, &c., collected from various
places and firmly fixed with good Roman cement.
In the basin filled with cocoa-nut fibre we have found
almost any kind of common fern will grow (4diaz-
tum capillus-veneris, cuneatum, pubescens, pedatum,
Asplenium viviparum, gracile, and Sandersonit, with
many others, grow well). Last year some sowed
themselves in the crevices of the rocks, forming a
pretty fringe just above the water The brushwood
in this miniature forest is any kind of Lycopodium,
except cesium, which does not succeed well with us.
T think succulent ferns do the best. The water is
in a good state, and has not been changed since last
October. Ihave grown ferns in pots in the room
for several years in unmixed cocoa-nut fibre with
charcoal for drainage, and the “mould” never ep-
peared,—-Leonora,

)

118

SCIEN CH-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Cars Picrtons.—(W. B. D.)—The birds thus
named by sailors are a species of Petrel (Daption
capensis), and the Cape hens are probably of the
same character belonging to a different species, or
perhaps a kind of gull. Something more than a
merely common name is necessary to determine them
with certainty.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE.—Why so strange a name
is given to Helianthus tuberosus, | cannot guess. I
lenow that its origmal name, ‘‘ Topimambour,” was
given from the American people Topinamboun, from
whom we had this alimentary root. That its first
English name, “Jerusalem,” is a corruption of the
Italian Girasole, French Tournesol, Latin Helianthus
(derived fram the Greek), or the English “ Sun-
flower,” I have no doubt. But why is it styled
“Artichoke?” The proper artichoke (Cynara sco-
lymus) has an Arabic origin, Aharchiof (whence the
Italian Carcioffo), and means a dog, or spiny-cole ;
but this has nothing to do with the commonly called
“Jerusalem Artichoke.” By the bye, does the
latter ever flower in England ?—/. G.

Manx Cats.—A. L. D. desires to be informed of
the origin of Manx cats, and whether any other race
of cats without tails exists ?

ReED Pens.—The Semitic nations are guiltless
of such an innovation as steel pens. In the Indian
archipelago pens are made of the petioles of the
Gomuti palm (4rexga saccharifera), and in Con-
tinental India two or three species of reed are
employed for the same purpose as the shur (Saccha-
rum Sara) and khuree (Saccharum fuscum and SS.
procerum). Reed pens are still employed in Egypt,
Arabia, Persia, &c. The style of pointed iron or
steel is also used for writing upon the leaves of the
talipot (Corypha umbraculifera), tara (Corypha ta-
liera), and palmyra (Borassus flabelliformis) in India,
Ceylon, Burmah, and elsewhere.

Patm Tinper.—A correspondent having taken
exception to the remark at p. 78 on the tinder of the
Gomuti-palm, we would be glad to know wherefore ?
It is well known that several species of palm yield
a substance of a similar nature, such as the sago-
palm (Raphia Rumphii), the date-palm (Phenia
dactylifera), and many others; that this palm-tinder
is largely consumed by the Chinese, Malays, and
inhabitants of the Indian archipelago, and is a
regular article of trade in those countries. We
must not conclude that, because we employ per-
cussion-caps and lucifer-matches, all the Oriental
nations follow our example.

Repropuction or tHE Krt.—A friend who has
much to do with fishes, tells me that he never found
anything like a “roe” in the eel. How, then, is it
reproduced ?—#, B.—[ Whether the eel be oviparous
or viviparous has been much discussed. The general
opinion is in favour of the former. |

Wnuat is 1r?—Lately a very fine specimen of the
badger tribe was captured by the gamekeeper on
Lord Digby’s estate at Mintern. ‘The animal was
of a pure white colour, a very rare species, and
weighed over 27 lb.—The Standard. Query: What
animal is this? Can anyone residing at or near
Mintern tell something more about it ?

Narrersack.—A. L. inquires the origin and
meaning of this word as applied to a species of
toad ?

MACHINE FOR PRopUCING STREAMS IN AQUARIA.
—Mr. Edwards, of Anglesey, announces in a cireu-
lar that he has an apparatus which is much wanted,
and which is cheap, single, and not liable to get out
of order, and which being placed below a marine
aquarium, and worked at for less than five minutes,
will produce a stream (of water, I presume) in the
tank above. Can anyone explain how it is done, or,
more to the purpose, can evidence be given as to the
contrivance having dane its work as stated for a
satisfactory period, without any repairs being needed,
or any hitch having occurred? How much water
does it deliver, and with what force during the six
hours, and is there nothing corrosive about the
thing >—H,

Partour Scrence.—The boiling of lobsters is a
process which, however speedy, one does not much
he to associate with salad, or supper. The first
thrill in the pot must be horrible, but it is soon over.
Whereas, a slow death in an aquarium, with great
eyes looking at you and offering quantities of un-
suitable food, together with the puzzling resistance
of the glass, like the mysterious detention of a
dream, must altogether make the last hours of a
“specimen” hideous. It must be as bad as dying
of nightmare. ‘Oh! my lovely star-fish are all
dead!”? says charming Angelina, as she joins the
breakfast-table, after nine hours of the soundest,
rosiest sleep. “They are only just dead, I think,”
says she, with her mouth full of toast and butter.
“T saw one of them move a little’’—very likely.
But what a night for the star-fish !—Jones’ Holiday
Papers.

MaANSsUCKER AND SEA-CucumBER.— “J.B.” says,
“The author does not mention that the Indians eat
the octopus raw.” I certainly did not, having but
seldom seen them eat it in other than a semi-cooked
condition, imagine that it is only from extreme
hunger, or the inability from want of time to cook,
or the absence of dry wood to build a fire, that in-
duces the “noble savage” to eat his “ugly native”
raw. The long sea-monster “J.B.” speaks of is one
of the Holothuris, common in the seas about Van-
couver Island, where it grows to an enormous size,
and, as he says, is much esteemed as a great dainty,
not only by the Indians, but by the Hudson’s Bay
traders. ‘There is a species closely allied (Holothu-
vie edulis), caught in vast quantities by the Malays,
dried for the Chinese market, and sold as trepang.
Another species is very common on the coast of
Cornwall, bitterly hated by the fishermen, who call
it the “ cotton-spimner,’—cottox being the slimy
threads that stretch out from the creature if one
touches it and then slowly draws away the finger ;
not a crab or lobster—so say the fishermen—will
enter a “crab-pot”’ if a cotton-spimner finds its way
in first. The “ sea-cucumber”—for such it is often
called—is very abundant on the Australian coasts.
I have frequently tasted it as prepared for the China
markets, and boiled like a lobster at Vancouver
Island, and think it very good eatine. “J. B.,” I
imagine, must be slightly mistaken, or must allude to
other Indians than those native to Vancouver Islands,
or the Oregon and British Columbia coasts, when he
speaks ‘‘ of seeing the sea-water running down their
beards.” With one or two solitary exceptions, I
never remember seeing a savage with a beard ; the
hair is invariably ¢eveezered out by the squaws as it
erows,—J. K. Lord, F.ZS.

May i, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

119

Fish i Aqguarta.—lI have several times had
fungus or parasites growing on gold fish, and have
always succeeded in restoring them to a perfectly
healthy state by placing them for two or three
weeks in a tub of cold water, in the cellar, and
allowing the water to drop from the tap, so as to
prevent stagnation.—Z. B.

British Lanp Suppzs (Achatina acicula) —Mr.
Ralph Tate asks if the presence of this mollusk ina
living state on the surface of the soil be a previously
unobserved fact ? In Jeffrey’s “ British Conchology”
it is stated that “its occurrence has been noticed
by Mr. Bridgman at Norwich, on a sunny bank
near the Thorpe tollbar, adhering to the roots of
grass, In the loose earth between the stones.” It
was not, however, at the roots of the grass beneath
the surface of the soil, but quite upon the top, and
also in the fine loose earth among the large flint
boulders, with which the bank is faced, and in the
first instance adhering to the flint itself. Had it
been within the soil, in all probability it would have
remained undetected; in passing the spot a dead
shell of carocolla hapicida, a species then un-
recorded for this district, had just been discovered
and it was in searching amongst the grass an
stones in the hope of finding the carocolla alive,
which we ultimately did, that my sons came upon
the achatina. It is now at least ten or twelve years
ago, and several dozens were taken at various times
during the year or two they were sought for, but it
does not appear that any have been found lately.—
W. Kencely Bridgman.

GREEN ConFrEerva.—lI wish very much to know
the name of this plant? It is a very common inha-
bitant of ‘pools by the wayside,” and forms masses
of a green substance. It isa very beautiful object
in the microscope, dark masses of greenin the midst
of tubes of hyaline.—#. S. [The specimen sent con-
sists principally of a young spirogyra, mixed with it is
also a diatom of the fragillaria, i broad bands with
narrow divisions, the width varying much according
to age. The species of the first, it is impossible at
so early a stage to decypher. The writer will find it
very interesting to watch it through the spring. It
will keep well in some of its own water in a glass
vessel.—J. B. H.]|

Srix-spot Burnet ?—In the Isle of Wight I have
observed a black moth, about half-an-inch in size, the
upper wings transparent, and spotted with red. The
caterpillar is green, with black dots placed at regular
intervals, and remains in the chrysalis state ina silky-
looking cocoon, attached to a blade of grass. They
were very numerous on a chalky spot above the
Undercliff. “A. R.”? would be glad to learn its name.
—[From the description, it would appear that your
insect is a species of Axuthrocera, probably Filipen-
dule, called the “Six-spot Burnet.” There are
three closely allied species, 7rifolit and Lonicere,

*with 5 crimson spots, and Filipendule, with 6 spots,
on eet oe You should have sent a specimen.
ei Y

Satmon Mavt.—It is the pleasure of many fol-
lowers of good old Izaak Walton, in North Lanca-
shire, to angle fora fish they call “salmon maut.”
The best sport is after heavy rain during the autumn
months. ‘the fish, Zo look at, are like young salmon,
and vary in weight from #2 lb. to 3 lb. Can any
lover of the rod kindly tell me why the name“maut ”
is given, how it is spelt, and whether the fish belong
to the salmon or the trout tribe?—/. 8. 7.

Wuat is aN Incu or Rarn?—The last weekly
return of the Registrar-General gives the following
interesting information in respect to rainfall :—
** Rain fell in London to the amount of 0°43 inches,
which is equivalent to 43. tons of rain per acre. The
rainfall during last week varied from 30 tons per acre
in Edinburgh to 215 tons per acre in Glasgow. An
English acre consists of 6,272,640 square inches,
and an ineh deep of rain on an acre wields 6,272,640
cubic inches of water, which at 277274 cubic inches
to the gallon makes 22,622°5 gallons; and, as a
gallon of distilled water weighs 10 b., the rainfall
on an acre is 226,225 lb. avoirdupois; but 2,240 lb. .
are a ton, and consequently an inch deep of rain
weighs 100°993 tons, or nearly 101 tons per acre.
For every 100th of an inch a ton of water falls per
acre.” If any agriculturist were to try the experi-
ment of distributing artificially that which nature
so bountifully supplies, he would soon feel inclined
to “rest and be thankful.”—7Zimes.

GEOLOGICAL QUERIES.

“mM R.” writes :—“ In my search for fossils among
flints I am frequently meeting with those which,
upon being broken, exhibit flinty casts in their inte-
rior of avery perfect conical form; excepting some im-
perfect circular groovings I cannot detect any reticu-
lations of the surface. They bear no resemblance to
echini, and I can hardly imagine them to be ventri-
culites.”’ They are casts of the alveolus, or conical
cavity, in which is lodged the phragmacone of De-
lemnitella mucronata.—R. T.

“F, P. P.’—We recommend the following works
to enable you to name your Petherwin fossils: —M.M.
Edwards and Haime’s *‘ Monograph of the Corals
from the Devonian Formation” (1853). The Pale-
onthographical Society’s Publication, vol. xvi., issued
for 1864, contains the first part of the “‘ Devonian
Brachiopoda,” by Mr. Davidson; this monograph
will be completed in the forthcoming volume. In
the same volume is commenced a “ Monograph of
British Trilobites,’’ by Mr. Salter; a few Devonian
species are described. For the remaining forms
* Phillips” must suflice.—A. 7.

“J. A.”’—Seven Oaks will well repay a visit. The
principal geological formation is the lower green-
sand, with the wealden on the south, and the upper
cretaceous on the north. The railway cutting and
tunnel, now in course of construction, afford excel-
lent opportunities for the examination of the lower
greensand and wealden. A few quarries are opened
in the lower greensand on the roadside from the
station to the town. To the south-west of the town
strike on to the railway cutting (Gt would be ad-
visable to obtain a pass from the secretary of the
South-Eastern Railway), and near the mouth of the
tunnel the Atherfield beds are finely exhibited, and
contain a few fossils; examine the dédris of the shafts
for weald-clay fossils in passing over the hill. At the
south-end of the tunnel the Hastings sands appear.
In a future number we propose giving a full account
of the natural history of this delightful locality.—

“J. W. C.” informs us that he has verified Mr.
Tate’s observations on “Planorbis Corncus” (see
ScruncE Gossip, No. 8, p 61).

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[May 1, 1865.

NOTICHS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Att communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of each
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations. All notes, queries, or articles for insertion, musé
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
may be withheld from publication if so desired.

Qurenirzs.—Having been inundated with questions, we are
compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer
those of which the querist might satisfy himself by an appeal
to any elementary book on the subject. Weare always pre-
pared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish
the replies, provided some of our readers, beside the querist,
are likely to take aninterest in them.

We cannot undertake to return “‘ rejected addresses.’’

J. G.—Both specimens marked Dicraneilu are Dicranum hete-
romallum.—G. BE. H.

J.W.L.—Your plant, resembling a coralline, is a species of
seaweed, bleached by exposure, known as Jania rubens.—
W. HH. H.

W. W. K.—The objects from the Baltic, called “ gold shells,”’
are insects; the scientific name is Murgarodes formicarum.
See paper on them in ‘‘ Linnzean Transactions,’’ Vol. XVI.,
p.115, and plate 12.—J. HE. G.

KE. B.—The galls on bramble are produced by Cynips aptera.
—F.M,

5S. A.J. (Brampton).—Will you fayour us with name and
address that we may comply with a request?

G. R., Jun. — Often observed and described in botanical
works,

Hrpcrnocs.—We have, during the past month, received
seventeen communications on this subject, some of con-
siderable length, which collectively would occupy at least
twelve pages. We may hereafter utilize one or two, but a
“hedgehog number’? is not a desideratum. Notwith-
standing which, all those correspondents will please to
accept our thanks.

W. W.S.—We have not seen any announcement of “‘ Busk’s
Marine Polyzoa.”’

M. P. W.—An immature specimen of fresh-water conferva
frora whence its name cannot be correctly determined. It
isin a bad condition.

A.T. L. (Sunhury).— Rivers’s Orchard House,’’ published
by Longmans, at half-a-crown, would, perhaps, answer
your purpose.

W. E. R.—To all the queries within our province, the answer
will be in the negative.

T. P. B. (Newcastle) would exchange Diatumacee slide for
slide with any one possessing duplicates of other species.
Lists can be exchanged through the Editor,

Hi. G. S.—Study ‘* Westwood’s Introduction to Entomology.”

8. A.—We think our contributor wrong in his apparent belief
that both are the same species. Lemna gibbu has been placed
ina separate genus, though not commonly recognized as
generically distinct. It would be well if you could find it
in flower.

Britisn Burrerrr.ics.—Is it possible that R. S. has not seen
Mr. E. Newman’s admirable “ Butterfly Number of Young
England?’’ It is a marvel, and the sixpence expended in
its purchase will never be regretted.

J.G.— Your supposed Cetraria is Cornicularia aculeata.

B. F.—Your query cannct be clearly answered in a word or
two. As soon as possible it shall receive an extended ex-
planation, which will, probably, prove acceptable to many
of our readers,

Z.Y. X.—In answer to your query, p. 95, a correspondent
writes :—* The phenomenon is owing to the desire of the
finny tribe to escape from confinement. ‘They open their
mouths to catch the insects which c nstitute their food.”
See also‘ Qwen’s Comparative Anatomy,” p.105.—L. N.

J. R. (Bognor).—Your supposed discovery certainly requires
confirmation.

H. A.—Gardner’s “ Taxidermy, or Bird-Stuffing made easy.’’
J. F. C.—The cats have never confided their secrets to us.

ACACIA FLOWERS.—A correspondent has preserved a number
of these with their pollen for distribution. A portion
mounted as an opaque object is strongly recommended for
the microscope. Stamped envelopes may be sent to J. M.,
Greenfield View, Egremont, Cheshire.

TussiILaco Hysripa.—Forwarded to its destination.

Mossus.—We regret that we do not possess the leisure to
name specimens. £ee also p. 97.

Britisn Herarics.—lIt is contemplated to issue a list, with
figures and descriptions of every species, at a very cheap
rate.

Wessrer’s Economic ConDENSER.—Several correspondents
having made inqniries of us concerning this condenser, we
are permitted to refer them to Mr. John Webster, 9, Ade-
laide Cottages.

J. W. (Amlwch).—The correct title of the book named in our
last is—‘‘Lessons on Elementary Botany by Professor
Henslow, edited by Professor Oliver,” published by Mac-
millan & Co.

C. 8. B.—See the same query, p. 71, and its answer, p. 119.

Nyssia Zonarta.—A correspondent writes us that during aa
excursion to the sand-hilis at New Brighton, Cheshire, in
search of this insect, he was successful in capturing both
male and female specimens in good condition; and that he
expects to secure the breed. Should any reader be wishful to
exchange, he would be glad to communicate with him,
several of the females having already deposited ova.—
D. Baxendale, Akroydon, Halifax.

FLorEeNce FLASK-Covers.—A subscriber informs us that
he has discovered the material employed for the basket-like
covers of Florence oil-flasks to be the sea-wrack (Zostera
marina).

J. F.C.—The pegs are most likely bamboo; the leaves are
not those of the maize, but possibly of a large-leaved species
of bamboo.

H. (Gishurne).—Your query has been sent, and replied to
elsewhere.

A Hint ror Contrisutors.—If our contributors will oblige
us by always using the common names of plants, animals,
insects, &c., wherever there is a common name in use, to
be followed by the scientific name in brackets, this will save
us alarge amount of trouble in sending their manuscript
to press. As we do not pretend to address scientific readers
alone, vernacular names are indispensable,

CoMMUNICATIONS REecE1VED.—J. B. (Humber).—P. B. St. J.
—D.E. G.—E. H. B.—R. H.—P. S.—A. S.—W. W. K.—J.
B.—E. B.—B. T.—T. P. B.—W. A. L.—F. W. (already re-
commended).—A. C. G.—R. K.—J. A.—A. F. L.—D. R. R.
—J.M.S.—C. A.J.—C. S. B.—S. A. S,—H. Gisburne.—A.
B. F.—Inquirer.—J. E. W.—W. R. T.—A. L. D.—J. R. J.
—J. W.—B. T.—A. J. R.—R. H.—R. BL—W. UU. B.—R. S.
—G. 8.—W. E. R.—H. G.S.—T. S. (not authenticated by
the writer’s name and address).—W. A. L.—W.—W. N.-—
W. Ross.—F. J.—J. F. C.—L. S.—A. L.—L. N.—E. B.—
J.W. (Amlwch).—F. J. F.—J. M.—Vigilans.—G,. L.—A. X.
M.—T. T. C.—A. O.—M. W. B.—E.C. E. (we think so).—
D. B.—A. M. B.—H. A.—J. 5. W.

PorutarR NAMEsS.—M. H. L.—uL. *

BOOKS RECEIVED.

‘“STAMMERING AND STUTTERING; THEIR NATURE
TREATMENT.”?. By James Hunt, Ph. D.,. &c.
edition. (Longmans.)

AND
Sixth

“Tye APPLICATIONS OF GEOLOGY TO THE ARTS AND Ma-
NuFACTURES.”? By Professor Ansted. (Hardwicke.)

“OLp Bones; or, Notes ror YOUNG NATURALISTS.’
By Rev. W. 8S. Symonds. (Hardwicke.)
“POPULAR SCIENCE RreViEW,’’? No. 15, April, 1865.
wicke. ) .

(ard~-

e> ‘
Paear wt fe
A) fees geek

TOM TIDLER’S GROUND.

Think of your home on “ Tom Tidler’s ground,”
Among the gold and silver.—Eliza Cook.

66 FAFXOM TIDLER’S GROUND” was the ro-

mantic El Dorado of our childhood, and
even now, when inexorable Time is planting his
crow’s-foot on our brow, we cannot forget the
stories or shake off the influences of the days of
our innocency. Old or young, rich or poor, we
have all our fairy land, whether in dreams or reali-
ties, and Tom Tidler’s Ground is a domain trodden
more or less by all. Some will skip over the plain
with a merry heart and a smiling face, kicking all
obstacles out of the way, or o’erleaping them ;
whilst others will be continually stumbling, tripping,
knocking their shins, and suffering manifold discom-
fitures; but it matters not, the great aim is still
kept in view—the object is still pursued,—

Along with the crowd on Tom Tidler’s ground,
Looking for gold and silver.

Wherever there is an earnest pursuit of some
worldly business, a striving early and late to push
their way in the world, to “make both ends meet,”
and ultimately to retire from the contest, and leave
the battle-field of competition to younger and more
active men, there is “Tom Tidler’s ground.” Wher-
ever there is some “hobby” followed zealously,
some occupation of leisure hours which absorbs the
cares of life, and creates out of a barren waste a
fairy land of order, harmony, and beauty, there is
“Tom Tidler’s ground.” Wherever there is a
family circle in which every member strives to ad-
vance the well-being of all, where petty jealousies are
unknown, where love is the motive power, and hap-
piness the aim of all, there is “ Tom idler’s ground.”
In fact, wherever as much of happiness can be
attained as this world can furnish, that is “Tom
Tidler’s ground.” And as for the “gold and silver ”
which children are apt to regard as the greatest
good, as the highest reward, as the most superlative
treasure in life, these are represented by different
objects, according as the pursuer estimates the prize
for which he constantly aims; and although some
adhere tenaciously to the letter of the old legend,
and seck veritable “ gold and silver ;” and though—

Youth may have vanish’d and manhood come round,
Yet how busy they are on Tom Tidler’s ground,
Looking for gold and silver ;—

there are others who rate at a higher value than
mere gold and silver that which elevates the mind,
enlarges the heart, and leads the possessor “ through
nature up to nature’s God.”

As the bright sun is inviting all that love beauty
to come abroad and warm themselves, and thaw
away the last icicle of selfishness from their hearts,
that they may gaze on the face of nature with sym-
pathy and affection, we cannot resist the impulse
once again to plead for the study of natural objects
as a worthy—

Tom Tidler’s ground,
Where springeth the gold and silver.

Everywhere treasures are being laid open for the
microscopist, and may be had for the trouble of
stooping and picking up. In the woodland the early
flowers are shedding their pollen, or their leaves are
spotted with unmistakable evidences of the develop-
ment of microscopic fungi. On the anemone, the
pilewort, the sheep’s sorrel, the nipplewort, the
coltsfoot, the nettle, the sanicle, and the violet,
cluster-cups are bursting through the cuticle, and
expanding their fringed lips. On the leaves of the
wild hyacinth, the dandelion, the common thistle, the
mercury, the hog-weed, the wild strawberry, and
many others, the golden or brown dust of Uredines
appear in patches. Mosses display their fringed
peristomes, and liverworts are green and glorious.
Every drop of stagnant water quivers with life.
Cyclops, volvox, and hydra, are well represented,
with a host of kindred spirits which constitute the
low-life of the animal world. Along the sea-shore,
zoophytes and sea-weeds, in variety sufficient to
employ the microscope for a month, may be
gathered in a day. Moths and butterflies yield their
curious antennee and multiform scales; flies offer
their eyes, tongues, and toes; spiders their legs and
feet; bees and wasps their tongues and stings ; and
all the air, the earth, and the ocean are peopled with
myriad forms, which only await the inquiring spirit

t
3

122

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

[JunE 1, 1865.

and the earnest will to be converted into an in-
exhaustible source of amusement and instruction,—

Wiiere you’d walk on eternal Tom Tidler’s ground,
Picking up gold and silver.

Over all, “the lark at heaven’s gate sings,” the
cuckoo utters its well-known note, the little birds
twitter in the boughs, the hawk suspends itself ’mid
air, and man alone, of all created things, is apt, in
getting or spending, to lay waste his powers, to
permit the literal El Dorado to absorb the ideal.
Where—

He is gathering up a worldly store;

Though holding enough, he is longing for more ;

And you’ll meet him, despite his text profound,

Along with the crowd on Tom Tidler’s ground,
Looking for gold and silver.

THE KEYHOLE LIMPET AND ITS
PARASITE.

BysJd. K. Lorn, 22:8.

pe Keyhole Limpet, I may briefly state for
the benefit of the unlearned in shell-fish, is a
gasteropodous mollusc, belonging to the family
Fissurellide, its generic name, fissurella, being
derived from the diminutive of fissura, a slit. In
shape and colour the shell closely resembles the
ordinary limpet (Patella vulgata), so common on
our British coasts; possessing a like power of
adhering to the rocks, with a tenacity requiring
knife and hammer to overcome,—an obstinate ad-
herence, giving rise to a popular saying, “ they stick
to you like a limpet to a rock”—its shape conical,
the base being occupied by a powerful muscle, which
is not confined entirely within the shell. It per-
forms the office of legs by its expansion and con-
traction, ameans by.which the creature moves from
place to place on the rocks; a system of progression
you may see for yourselves if you watch a garden-
snail taking a constitutional over a cabbage. This
muscle also enables it to fix itself at pleasure, aided
by atmospheric pressure 15 Ibs. to the square inch.
They browse on sea-weed, and are usually found
between tide-marks.

At the apex of the shell is a hole, somewhat oval;

=

hence the name of Keyhole. This orifice is for the
escape of the outgoing branchial current. There are
about 120 species inhabiting all parts of the world,
India, China, Australia, and the Pacific at Vancouver
Island. When shell-collecting near Esquimalt
Harbour (Vancouver Island), I frequently picked
up empty fissurellas on the beach, but diligent re-
search at dead low water, in the rock pools, failed
to discover the living fish, neither did the dredge
ever bring one up, from deep or shallow water.
The empty house, in this instance, was less de-
sirable than even a bad tenant, as the mansion
without its liege lord was a useless ruin.

The tide at Vancouver Island plays all sorts of
eccentric freaks, setting all tidal laws at defiance.
In May, June, and July, there is but one high and
one low water in twenty-four hours ; high water at
the change and full of the moon happening about
midnight. Springs range from 8 to 10 feet; neaps
from 4 to 5. In winter there is a complete reversal
of this process; but it will suffice for present pur-
poses to state that in summer the water is low
during the day, and in winter low during the night.

Macauley’s Pomt, a long ridge of slaty rocks
running far out to sea, but bare at low water, was
a favourite hunting-ground of mine, the snug little
rock basins generally affording some novelty, left
prisoner by the receding water. An usually low
tide disclosed a ridge of rocks I had never before
seen—an opportunity for exploration not to be neg-
lected. Clinging to the slippery wrack, and scram-
bling down a vertical ledge, I discovered a regular
cave, its sides and floor literally covered with the
strangest collection of marine wonders I shad ever
gazed on :—

It was a garden still beyond all price; .

E’en yet it was a place of paradise.
* *k

Here, too, were living flowers,

Which, like a bud compacted,

Their purple cups contracted,

Now, in open blossom spread,

Stretched, like green anthers, many a seeking head.
Others, like the broad banana growing,

Raised their long wrinkled leaves of purple hue,
Like streamers wide outflowing.— Kehuma.

* &

Actinia spread their treacherous petal-like arms,
gorgeous in every varicty of exquisite colouring ;
huge Holuthuria, like brilliantly-painted cucumbers,
clung to the dripping rock; star-fish of all
sizes and timts—chitons in black spiny mail —
shells of purpura and trochus, and hosts of kindred’
Annelides too were peeping from out their cases of
stone and horn, their exquisite feathery tufts, fish-
ing-lines, and traps wondrously beautiful, but, like
the embrace of a siren, fatal in its clasp ;—all these,
hungry and anxious, waited for the coming fide.
Biding his time like the rest in this stronghold was
Sir Keyhole Limpet.

JuNE 1, 1865. |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

123

T had found him at last, and at home, so pounced
upon him as a lawful and legitimate prize. Knife
and hammer soon severed his close attachment to
the rocks; and turning him up to take a peep at
his powerful ring of muscle and strangely-formed
breathing apparatus, I spied a worm evidently very
uneasy, about three inches long, brown, and in shape
like an ancient dagger-blade. He appeared to me
to be wriggling out from betwixt the folds of the
foot or the mantle, and apparently most anxious to
escape.

My first impression was, that he was a captive
that by some mischance had got imprisoned under
the shell of the fissurella; and thanking his lucky
stars for such a fortunate deliverance, wished to
make the best of his liberty, and rejoin his friends.
But in displacing other shells, I found in nearly
every one asimilar tenant: the secret was discovered
—the worm was a parasite, that lived in peace and
good fellowship with Sir Keyhole,—recalling to my
remembrance Ossian’s lines on the Pinna and the
parasitic crab—

~ One room contained them, and the partners dwell
Beneath the convex of one sloping shell,
Deep in the watery wastes the comrades rove,
And mutual interests bind their mutual love.

That the parasite does no harm is clearly proved
by the healthy state of the mollusc in whose shell
it takes up its abode. How far mutual interest may
conduce to mutual friendship, I am unable to say.

The illustration heading this article will give the
reader a good idea of the Fissurella and its para-
site.

On more carefully examining the position of the
worm, I found it was invariably coiled away in a
semicircle under the foot, like a ribbon on its edge;
never flat. This seems to me a wise provision; for
the pressure of the muscles when the limpet grips
the rock would crush a soft-bodied worm to death
if flat; but edge on, the position chosen, all risk of
harm is avoided, as it fits in a cleft between two
layers of soft material.

Tying several of them tightly round to prevent
the worm escaping, I brought them home zz sztu.
At least four out of every six contained a parasite,
and what is rather strange, the worms were nearly
all of one size. A query or two naturally suggest
themselves. How did this friend or intruder, which-
ever it may be, first get installed as alodger? Did
he get in as a baby, and thus become an adopted
child; or did he slip in as a full-grown annelide,
defying Sir Keyhole to turn him out? How does
he procure food ; and on what does he subsist? I
confess utter inability to give a satisfactory reply:
my impression, however, is, the parasite grows from
aminute germ (if that is a right term) in the place
and position in which I found it.

I put them in sea-water, after taking them out of
their sanctuary; but ia no single instance did one
ever go back again. I tried to replace them, but
could never accomplish it, or induce the worm to
remain. Not that this proves anything, inasmuch as
experience teaches me any interference with the
regular habits of any of the lower forms of life is at
once resented; and the power, or will it may be, to
adapt itself to altered circumstances is but slowly ac-
quired. I cannot conceive the possibility of a large
worm, the feet armed with curved bristles, like
bundles of minute fishhooks, being quietly permitted
to creep under the shell, force its way by crawling
round and round the foot, by a system of hook and
drag; for in no other way could it edge in, without
worrying and enraging the fissurella beyond all
power of endurance, ordinary pressure being only
needed to squeeze the intruder flat as a pancake.
By gently tickling it with a bit of sea-weed under
the shell, one would say that patience was a virtue
but little cultivated by the fissurella; the slightest
touch, and down goes the shell with a force that
cuts the weed in two like scissors. What chance
would a soft-bodied worm stand? Not the slightest.
The parasite, like Topsy, was “raised” where it
lives.

What part a worm, doomed, as far as we know, to
pass its whole life captive in the shell of a molluse,
plays on nature’s wide stage, is a problem beyond
human ken. We know nothing was created in vain
—that the tiny diatom has its use; and this insigni-
ficant annelide serves a purpose and fulfils a destiny
in the endless maze of life, as important as the
lordly lion, or even man himself.

For the benefit of our scientific readers, we annex
the specific description of this new parasitic worm.

Lrriponotus Lorpr (£aird).—This species is
about 3 inches long, and rather more than one-third
of an inch in diameter at the broadest part of the
body. It tapers gradually from the head to the tail,
which is only about $ of an inch broad. The colour
is of a light brown, a broad line of a much darker
brown running along the whole length of the centre
of the back. On the surface, a groove runs down
the centre of the body throughout its entire length.
The elytra are 35 pairs in number, thin, membranous,
and of a light-brown colour. The two first overlap
each other slightly in the middle; but for the rest
of its length the centre of the back is uncovered.
The antenne are five in number; the central one
short, of much the same length as the internal ones;
the two external ones the longest, white, with a
bright black ring round the upper part, but leaving
the point white, which is acute at the apex. The
feet are tolerably stout, and the two divisions are
both furnished with sharp but curved pointed
bristles. The superior cirrhi are white, and of a
moderate length; the inferior ones being short.

124

ORCHIDS, AND HOW TO GROW THEM.

fe any one in search of “a hobby,” I would re-
commend the study of orchids. There is no
necessity to pore over big books, or swallow hard
names, but grow and study the plants themselves.
There is only one book known to me in which the
growth of British orchids is treated; that is
“ Appleby’s Orchid Manual,”’ which is more general
than particular. A good treatise on the subject, by
David Cameron, appeared in the first part of the
third volume of the “Journal of the Horticultural
Society.” This includes nearly all the indigenous
species. But before one can indulge much in the
theory of growing the plants, they must be found or
purchased. The former plan is the des¢, and, except
for those who live in cities provided with a Covent
Garden, or similar market, the ov/y method which can
be adopted. I have generally found that not more
than one in every six of the orchids bought in the
market will grow, as their roots are nearly always
broken or injured in the digging. One or two of the
large nurserymen will supply them; but the best
way is to goand dig them for yourself. The greatest
care must be taken in removing the plants from
their native spots not to touch the roots. Let the
tool—be it spade or trowel—he inserted six inches
from the stem of the plant, and dig it out, with its
soil adhering to it, and in this state convey it home,
and pot or plant it in the open ground. The best
time, I think, for collecting orchids for cultivation
is after they have done flowering, at the close of the
summer, because the tubers for the next year are
then fully formed, and have not begun to make
roots.

Whichever mode is adopted in their cultivation,
whether in pots or in the open ground, good drain-
age is essential. This may be accomplished by a
sub-soil of broken lime rubbish. When watering
them, as far as possible, the water should be pre-
vented settling in the sheaths of the leaves, as the
latter are apt to rot off. This remark is applicable
to those grown in pots and under cover, since, when
exposed to the wind and air, superfluous water is
soon dispersed. What is essential to their well-
being is plenty of light and air, and the purer the
latter the better.

In potting orchids, the soil employed should be as
nearly as possible like that in which they were
found ; hence the advantage of bringing away plenty
of mould with the plants when collected. I have
employed in other cases a mixture of friable loam,
with peat and sand. In winter, if the plants are in
pots, they should be stood at, the base of a wall with
a southern or western aspect, and not watered. It
is advisable to cover the surface of the mould with
ashes, and strew ashes also on the ground about tlie

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[June 1, 1865.

pots, to preserve the plants from the attacks of
slugs, which are exceedingly partial to the roots and
young leaves. It isa good plan to look the plants
over once a week, and exterminate all such visitors.
If the orchids are planted in the open ground, each
spot should be covered with ashes.

Most of the species I am about to enumerate
are those which I have cultivated in the manner
already described.

Harty Purrie Orcuis (Orchis mascula, L.) has a
spike of pretty purplish flowers, and spotted leaves,
but rather disagreeable odour. The stem is nearly
afootinheight. This species requires a heavy soil
and plenty of room.

GREEN-wincEeD Merapow Orcuis (Orchis Morio,
L.) is very similar in external appearance to the last,
but the leaves are not spotted. Of course, there
are botanical differences, but with them we have, on
the present occasion, very little to do. The remark
about soil and room also applies to this.

Brown Orcuis (Orchis fusca, Jacq.).—A tall and
handsome species, with a rather dense spike of dark
purple variegated flowers. Grows on the chalky
hills of Kent. Requires a light soil.

Sporrep Orcuis (Orchis maculata, L.).—Very
pretty and common species in damp pastures,
heaths, and woods. It is very easy of cultivation
and is sure to succeed with any one.

Lizarp Orcuis (Orchis hircina, Scop.).—This is
a very rare, but snowy species, with a long dense
spike of large greenish-white flowers. It has been
found on the chalk hills of Kent and Surrey, but is
nowhere common, though widely diffused through
central and southern Europe.

Marsh Orcuis (Orchis latifolia, L.) is a
species subject to considerable variation, is more
luxuriant than the “ spotted orchis,’’ which it much
resembles, has purplish-erimson flowers, the leaves
sometimes spotted, and affects a moister locality
anda richer soil. It should be grown with plenty of
peat and be well supplied with water.

PyramMiIpAL Orcuis (Orchis pyramidalis, L.).—
Very handsome, with rosy-purple flowers in a dense
spike. Found in chalky pastures.

FRAGRANT OrncHIs (Gymnadenia conopsea, Br.).—
Has pretty rose-coloured flowers, and is possessed
of an agreeable odour. Rather widely dispersed
over Britain, in hilly pastures.

Man Orcuis (dAceras axthropophora, Br.).—A
rare and curious species, confined to the Hastern
counties of England, Flowers of a dull yellowish-
ereen.

Great Burrerrty Orcuts (Habenaria clorantha,
Bab.).—This is a handsome species, with white
flowers, and is found in moist woods and thickets.

Bre Orcuis (Ophrys apifera, Huds.).—So called
from the fancied resemblance of its flowers to a
“bee.” Found on chalky soilin the South and Hast

JUNE 1, 1868.]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

125

of England. Is: very handsome, and easy of cul-
tivation,

Sriper Orcuts (Ophrys aranifera, Wuds.).—
Much more rare than the last, but equally hand-
some, and easily grown.

Fry Orcuts (Ophrys muscifera, Wuds.).—More

~common than either of the preceding, is also curious
and handsome, but as difficult to cultivate as any
species which it has been my fortune to obtain.

Musk Orcuis (Horminium monorchis, Br.).—
Small, delicate, yellowish-green flowers, very fra-
erant, but confined to a few spots in the South of
Mneland.

CREEPING Orcuts (Goodyera repens, Br.).—With
a one-sided spike of greenish-white flowers. In
Britain, it is confined to the Scotch Highlands.

Lapy’s Tresszs (Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich.).—
Flowers white, with an odour of almonds, Abundant
on a dry chalky soil in most southern counties of
England. Flowers in the autumn.

Tway-BLADE (Listera ovata, Br.).—Insignificant
in appearance, but curious, common, and not difficult
to manage.

HEiienonine (Lpipactis latifolia, All.).—The
flowers are drooping, generally greenish, and not
particularly attractive. Flowers rather late in the
summer.

Wuitrr Hrriienonrine (Cephalanthera grandiflora,
Bab.).—Flowers large and white or cream-coloured.
Occurring in dense woods, on # calcareous soil.
Flowers in early summer.

Lapy’s Siiprer (Cypripedium Calceolus, L.).—Is
the most splendid of British species, but nearly ex-
tinct in these islands, so that only cultivated speci-
mens can be obtained, and these are diflicult of
cultivation to the amateur.

With the majority of the species I have noticed,
no great failure can be anticipated, under moderate
care, and I think that if the instructions I have
ventured to give are carried out, success is certain.
The study of these plants will, more than any
others, repay the labour expended in their cultiva-
tion. Any “Flora” will furnish the strictly botan-
ical characters ; which I have not attempted to give.

ArtHur B. Coxe.

RAT AND HAWK.

Sole years since, [ became possessed of a very
large and beautiful kestrel hen, which in a short
{ime became very docile and-even affectionate,
readily coming when whistled to, and perching upon
the hand, taking much delight in being fondled;
and in return rubbing her head against the hand
that caressed her.

During the day she had the run of a large and
high-walled garden, being prevented from flying

away by the close clipping of the secondary and
tertiary feathers of one wing, the primary feathers
being left untouched; so that, unless she spread
her wings, her beauty was unimpaired. Being thus
in a state of halfliberty, her health and courage
were not affected, and she kept her plumage and
feet most delicately clean.

At night she always roosted in a small building
at the end of a hothouse, where the stove was
placed, and which was used as a tool-house and for
other gardening purposes. Here she was always
shut in, till I let her out in the morning.

One day, after myself securing the door overnight
as usual, I was surprised to find that she was missing ;
and a long time was spent in vain attempts to find
her. Feeling perfectly sure that I had left her
secure, as I thought, I continued my search; and
after removing some bean-sticks which were piled
up in a corner, where the outside wall formed an
acute angle with the inner, discovered a solitary
feather sticking up in the ground. Stooping down
to pick it up, it proved to be the end of one of the
long feathers of the tail; and upon pulling it, up
came what remained of the half-eaten body of the
poor hawk, the surrounding soil having been care-
fully replaced after burying it. My first impression
was that a cat must have been the culprit; but
there was no opening by which so large an animal
could have got in or out, excepting the stove-pipe;
and as many feet of that were upright, and sur-
mounted by a tin top, it was out of the question.

After thinking the matter well over, I decided
upon placing the dead hawk in, as near as possible,
the same position as that in which I found it—re-
moving a little of the loose soil, and substituting a
small but strong pair of “clams” (an iron trap,
made of two semicircular rows of teeth, which
close with a spring when pressed upon), just over
the body, and very lightly covering it up as before ;
and so I left it, anxiously waiting for what the fol-
lowing night might bring forth.

The first thing next morning I hurriec to the
tool-house, and before the door was reached heard
the rattling of the chain by which the trap was
secured, showing that the murderer was caught.
Upon opening the door, what was my surprise at
seeing an enormous rat, caught by the loins; and,
although his back was broken, still full of fight.
However, I soon disposed of him, and, I must own,
with no small sense of satisfaction.

The rat measured 22 inches from nose to tip of
tail, with enormous teeth to match. He must have
stolen upon the hawk while she was asleep; or, in
spite of his size, she would have beaten him off.

LT have heard of hawks in a state of nature at-
tacking rats, but never before of the rat being the
aggressor.

RK.

126

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

a

{June 1, 1865.

A BROOD OF CATERPILLARS.

pee summer of 1857 was one of the hottest I
ever remember, and therefore one that ought to
have seen great things accomplished in the search
for truth among the lower ranks of animals. | am
now going to give an account of some roadside
inhabitants which fell in the way of my sister in that
year—not that they were of any peculiar kind, but
some of the things we observed in their habits were
very interesting, and will show what a large share
of that wonderful faculty, instinct—so profound
in its depths even in the lowest beings—has been
bestowed upon creatures holding this rank in the
scale of life.

It was on the 5th of June that, when passing
along the road on the moors close to the watering-
place of Clevedon, in the Bristol Channel, my sister
saw a white nest in the sloe bushes. On examining
it, she found it was full of tiny little black larve,
about as long as a finger-nail,* apparently not long
out of the eggs, but which had safely housed them-
selves, even at this tender age, within the precincts
of a snug home. Gently transferring the whole to
her handkerchief, that universal receptacle for
sundry sticks, stones, and creatures, when in the
possession of a naturalist of any type, she conveyed it
home in safety. There she prepared for her charge a
large deal box about 21 inches square, fitted with a
perforated zinc top to admit air and light. As the
days passed by, the little creatures grew marvel-
lously big creatures, and their appetites were even
more marvellous. My sister being unable to go out
to obtain food for them, I used to undertake that

ee ay

* The moth is the small Eggar (Eriogaster lanestris), one
of the Bombycidz, ox silk-spinning moths. It isa sort of
dingy brown, with some white spots on the wings, and a good
deal of soft fur about the head,

business every morning, bringing in arm-loads of
sloe bush, as much as 1 could carry; but in a short
space of time nota vestige of it remained but the
bare dry wood of the branches, and often I had to
eo out again and again to obtain more. ‘Those
voracious little creatures never would be satisfied I
thought, and sometimes I inwardly wished they had
remained on the moors—a wish never, however,
breathed to my sister. I think they would have
eaten up ourselves in ten minutes’ time if we had
only been made of sloe bushes. The moment the
box was opened, dozens of little black heads were
over the sides, and clambering on the branches
almost before they could be put in. They were like
a lot of hungry schoolboys. In the clamour and
confusion that prevailed when the box was opened,
it was no wonder if two or three of the naughty little
creatures made a clandestine escape. This occurred
several times, and my sister was surprised soon
afterwards, when seated in the drawing-room, to dis-
cover the long body of one of her friends eompla-
cently hanging to the fringe of her shawl, or by a
tickling sensation to feel it quietly creeping up her
wrist. Then the truant was speedily conveyed back
to its home, from whence it had strayed, with sundry
reprimands and reproofs.

They clung on to the edge of the leaf by their
numerous legs, and commenced eating, from the top
of the leaf, nibbling it straight downwards as far as
they could reach, then raising their heads again to the
top, they again nibbled downwards, thus forming a
curve in the edge of the leaf. Their habits of taking
their food and the times of their meals were as
regular as those of the most perfect epicure. They
filed out of the nest one at a time, crowding on the
heels of one another at their meal-hour, and took up
their station on the branches, each scrambling for a
corner at the repast. As soon as all had finished, as
if a signal-bell had been rung, with one consent they
marched back into the nest for sleep and digestion.
There were three or four holes in the silken web,
just large enough to admit one Caterpillar at a time.
These holes were beautifully finished at the edges,
no raw work or roughness could be detected; it was
the most beautiful selvidge I ever saw. When all.
went into the nest after eating, they left one lying
outside each hole as a sentinel to keep guard; thus
showing their perfect understanding of danger and
its consequent troubles. We tried experiments with
them, by tapping gently on the nest, or moving a bit
of the branch on which it lay, and immediately the
watchful sentinel made his signal, and out came
numbers of the little people from the city,—the sol-
diers of the community, I suppose. When they
found all was quiet, and that it was a false alarm,
they soon retreated again to their slumbers. If we
broke away a little bit of the nest, the masons were
immediately set on to repair the breach, and the in-

June 1, 1865.]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.,

127

dustrious little workmen never rested until their
labour was completed. As they grew bigger and
needed more accommodation, they enlarged the
boundaries of their silken fabric, and sometimes this
was almost a daily work. When the weather was
very hot, they must have found the inside of the
nest uncomfortably warm, for many of them would
come out and lie on the outside to sleep, packed in
a group together as tightly as they could lie. Then
these would go in after they had enjoyed sleeping
out for a time, and another party would come out in
the same way. When the Caterpillars were fully
grown, they were about two inches in length. There
were afew of them, about half a dozen, who were
much fatter and bigger than the rest, quite a kind of
aldermen in their way. Down each side of the body
were a row of small squares filled with a tuft of
light-brown hair, the lines forming the squares being
bright yellow. Down the middle of the back, be-
tween these rows on either side, was a rich purple
stripe. Their legs were red. When they were fully
grown, they showed signs of wishing to build their
cocoons and pass into their “ dead-alive” state. At
this time they evidently wished to separate; for
whenever the box was opened, they rushed out on
all sides with tenfold more eagerness than they had
ever done before. My sister kept them together,
however, as the box was amply large enough for
them to pass their changes in, and she wished to
trace them through the whole. They made for them-
selves small oval smooth cocoons of rather a hard
nature, brown in colour, some rather darker than
others. Each had one, and some two, tiny little
holes in the side, just like a minute needle-prick; I
conclude they were to afford air to the mysterious
being within. If this was their purpose, they would
show that respiration zs carried on by the chrysalis
and set at rest one point respecting the life of the
insect during this period of entombment. On the
17th July, they began to change. In the following
spring (1858) the moths emerged from their living
tombs into the glories of the sunlit-world. On March
20th, the first appeared, and the others, upwards of
400 in number, followed closely after. They had
beautifully contrived a little door in one end of the
cocoon with a hinge of the most perfect workmanship
which opened outwards, and, therefore, on being
pushed from within, made an outlet for the little
prisoner. By about the end of April, the short lives
of these little creatures were all ended, the one life
of each was gone for ever, their “narrow span.”
What “blessed toil” filled up each hour of that tiny
life we understand not fully, but they did their work
and did it bravely, each in that little home, the
builder and the soldier and the careful watcher, and
many another that was hidden from our view. They
worked out their little destiny, and that is the task
which is allotted to each of us. ANGRY.

A PUZZLE WORTH THINKING ABOUT,

N the course of a recent re-examination of some
of the Barbados-deposit slides, I came upon
an object not referable to any of the infusorial
forms I had ever seen; and on sending it to a friend
in Kdinburgh of the highest microscopical authority,
the answer reccived was, “It is undoubtedly the
scale of some Lepidopterous insect, possibly off the
wing of some antediluvian butterly.” How did it
get among the Polycystins? The first thing was to
ascertain from the careful, experienced, and most
skilful preparer of the slides, whether he had about
him any other material at the time he was manipulat-
ing the Barbados earth, from which this scale could
have been accidentally brought into the preparation,
No; the replies to these inquiries quite confirmed
the notion that the scale in question was an integral
part of the Barbados deposit. On further exami-
nation it appeared to be partially s¢dicified, which,
in fact, it must have been, not to be destroyed by
the repeated boilings and washings in strong acids
and alkalis to which the material had been sub-
jected.

Sir Henry de la Beche says (“Geological Ob-
server,” p. 631), in countries, and especially in
tropical islands, such as the West Indies, where the
off-shore or land winds are at times somewhat strong,
multitudes of insects are often borne out to sea,
where, though the greater proportion may become
the food of marine creatures, some fall in situations
to be entombed amid mud, silt, or
sand. In deposits chiefly formed of
organic remains, the probable chem1-
cal composition of objects intro- 3
duced amid the accumulations in
which they are found should not be
neglected. Whole layers may be
formed of the harder parts of infu-
soria; so that when these are sili- iii
ceous, they, and the spicule of many b ANG

;

ig Ups
93°99 9 OG

sponges, may serve to diffuse no smail
amount of silica amid deposits of a
different character. Has, then, our
little scale been brushed from the
wing of some ancient seaward-walted
butterfly, and thus preserved amid
the siliceous organic silt of that former
sea-bottom, now raised and forming
a stratum of dry earth under the
hard coral-rock of the Peak of Tene-
riffle? It is a beautiful object under
a high magnifying power; its scol-
loped end is transparent for a little
way down, and then the ear appears a roughened
and slightly opaque surface, while down each side is
a richly-ornamented border, or binding; and the
stalk or peduncle by which it was attached to the

128 SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[June 1, 1865.

wings of the insect is inserted between the layers
composing the scale, and forms a little raised ridge.

The accompanying figure is magnified about 600
diameters. We need not doubt the possibility of
so frail a subject as the dust off a butterfly’s wing
being preserved through ages of time; for many
delicate insect vestiges, even gnats and ants, have
been found in the Miocene beds, and associated
with the leayes and branches of fossil ferns in the
coal measures ; and Sir Charles Lyell, in his latest
work on geology, published in 1865, gives, on the
authority of Professor Oswald Heer, a very re-
markable instance of a fossil Vanessa (a tolerably
near relation of our English Camberwell beauty, or
peacock butterflies), in the brown coal of Radaboj,
near Angram, in Croatia, so perfect that the pattern
on the butterfly’s wing has escaped obliteration ;
“and when we reflect on the remoteness of the time
from which it has been faithfully transmitted to us,
this fact may inspire the reader with some confi-
dence as to the reliable nature of the characters
which other insects may afford.”

The Vanessa figured (see Lyell, p. 243), retains,
says Heer, some of its colours, and corresponds
with VY. Hadena of India. The accompanying
plants in the Miocene marlstone of Radaboj are

tropical, including several palms.
Pe.

WHAT DO CRICKETS EAT?

WAS smoking, and my chimney, from some cause
unexplained, and always most mysterious in

the habits of chimneys generally, deemed it ex-
pedient to smoke also, and pufling out spasmodically
vast volumes of pungent gas, drove me to seek
refuge in the cook’s sanctuary, the kitchen chimney
being the only one free from bad habits, and sociably
warm and comfortable, as a respectable and well-
conducted chimney ought to be. Everything was
still and quiet, and as I sat watching the curling
wreaths of fragrant smoke (as all Englishmen do),
that, making their way up from the cosy pipe, twist
and turn themselves into all sorts of strange fantastic
shapes, my reverie was disturbed by a slight rustling
noise, that evidently came from under the grate.
On looking down, I saw at first about a dozen
“nasty black-beetles” (cockroaches) making most
erratic and hurried gallops through the cinders. It
was quite clear that something was wrong. A
hawk suddenly wheeling over a hedge, and coming
plump among a flight of small birds—a_beadle
appearing like a ghost amidst a crowd of mischievous
urchins—would have hardly created a greater panic,
or produced a more general state of disturbance.
The cause was soon evident: slowly marching from
their holes in the walls, came a sortie of crickets—
big, powerful, handsome fellows they were. Just

as greyhounds course a hare, or the hunting-spider
pounces on his prey, so did the crickets set upon
and wage deadly war on the cockroaches. Quick
as thought a cricket pounced upon and seized a
cockroach much larger than himself, and, fixing his
powerful nippers on him, like a steel trap, dragged
him off to the hole, and, backing in, tugged the
luckless beetle to inevitable destruction. It was
often a stiff trial of strength, a rough-and-tumble
battle; but the “pale face” always had the best of
it, and invariably vanquished and tugged away his
dingy foe. Several crickets I watched backing up
the smooth iron of the stove, each with a heavy
beetle in its mouth; twice I saw a beetle slip from
its captor, and fall to the ground, but no sooner had
he reached the floor than another cricket had
him, or the one who had lost his prisoner would
rush down and again grab him savagely, and try the
system of backing up again. I never saw one at-
tempt to carry up the load; they knew, by some
inherent and marvellous intelligence, that it was
easier to drag it up than to carry it. There was
one Brobdingnag beetle, that evidently depended for
safety on size and strength; whether he scorned to
seek safety by running away, or whether he was
too fat and portly for rapid progression, I could not
clearly make out; at any rate, I saw him set upon
several times and seized; but “no go.” He was
manifestly too ponderous to be upset or towed
away, so he remained during the battle looking on
in sullen indifference. I watched this hunt among
the black-beetles for some time, until the cricket-
hunters, having each bagged his beetle, disappeared
into their lodges, and I, growing sleepy, turned into
bed, and turned over in my mind this to me novel
proceeding on the part of this household pet. i
have watched the “cricket on the hearth” on and
off since I was a boy, and knew him to be of a prowling,
dishonest, destructive disposition, given to nibbling
holes in stockings left to dry, eating the black off *
boots, making predatory excursions over the kitchen
dresser for stray bits of anything nice; but never
did I know he was such a blood-thirsty cannibal as
1 then discovered him to be.

A lady and gentleman witnessed the conflict as
well as myself, so I could not have been deceived,
or, having smoked myself into a state of nightmare,
have dreamt it. No, it was all true; the cherished
little minstrel enshrined in poetic fancies, celebrated
alike in song and story as gentle, innocent, com-
panionable, the embodiment of every domestic virtue,
was a sanguinary savage—a very Dahomey.

It may be said in his favour, that the black gentle-
man he destroyed was a most objectionable pest;
but, nevertheless, 1+ does not exempt him from the
charge of being a murderer, and all his poetry, like
“Othello’s occupation,” has gone from me for ever,

J. K. Lonp, F.Z.8.

JUNE 1, 1865.]

HINTS FOR MARINE AQUARIA.

eo the early part of last. year the rag-collecting

brigade commenced its cperations ; and one of
ihe most abundant articles of rubbish acquired by
its members proved to be old aquaria. This fact
faintly indicates two things; viz., that formerly
aquaria were very common in London, and that from
some cause or other, having ceased to be of interest
to their owners, they have been consigned to the
rubbish-heap. In many cases, probably, the loss of
interest arose from want of success. With a view,
therefore, of stimulating some to renew, and others
to begin, the cultivation of an aquarium, we wish to
give a few hints for keeping one, based upon the
experience of several years. The word “we” is
used by the writer because much of the experience
is that of other persons; while the tanks and bowls
mentioned towards the end of the paper belong to
a lady friend of his.

In the first place, let the reader discard the notion
that aquarium-keeping is easy, but let him be con-
vinced that what is worth doing at all, is worth
doing well, and that the more diligently the neces-
. sary conditions are considered, the greater is the
probability of success. Any attempt to cultivate
flowers without some knowledge of horticulture is
not likely to Icad to a satisfactory result; and to
expect to have a healthily-stocked aquarium without
some knowledge of the laws which govern the
health of its tenants, is quite as futile.

The crabs, star-fishes, gobies, molluscs, annelides,
&e., of our tanks so far resemble ourselves, that
their health and existence depend upon the quality
of the medium in which they are placed: we re-
quire good fresh air, while they require good fresh
sea-water. In an aquarium the same water is usually
retained as long as possible; hence it should con-
tain within it the means of supplying the requisite
gases, This is done by keeping up the growth of
a little seaweed. ach little creature is constantly
engaged in abstracting from the water the gaseous
and solid materials conducive to its existence and
increase, and restoring to it again those which are
not adapted to its nourishment. The water conse-
quently undergoes deterioration, and if the animals
-are too numerous, they either die off or struggle on
in an unhealthy state. Overstocking is a serious
fault; but, nevertheless, is very commonly met
with among aquaria-keepers. In order to keep a
large stock alive, many persons introduce a large
supply of weed into the tank, and force its growth
so as to obtain as many air-bubbles as possible, as
it is thought that the more numerous these are, the
larger is the stock of other animals they will be
able to keep. This, we believe, is a false principle,
since the water only absorbs a certain proportion of
the gases generated (chiefly oxygen), while the rest

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

129

rises to the surface and escapes into the air without
benefiting the inhabitants of the aquarium. More-
over, plants that are stimulated by strong light in
aquaria do not appear to be the healthiest. In
some special cases, as when water is made to flow
in a current through shallow vessels, plants may be
dispensed with, as the necessary supplies of oxygen
and nitrogen are absorbed by the water from the
atmosphere. The vegetation that grows sponta-
neously in the aquarium is much more likely to
thrive than such as has been introduced. Whether
the water is stationary or flowing, shallow vessels
are preferable to deep ones, as they will support a
larger amount of life for the same area, and the
creatures can be more easily seen and fed. The
increased capability of maintaining life is owing to
the more efficient aération of the water, there being
a smaller bulk of water to ths same extent of
aérially-exposed surface and of growing vegetation.

The regulation of the temperature is another im-
portant pomt. The seas off the British coast fluc-
tuate between 38° and 60° F., but-in tanks the
water should not be allowed to range beyond a
temperature limited by 44° and 65°. The best de-
gree of heat is from 50° to 58°, to maintain which
is one of the most difficult, at the same time that it
is one of the most important things todo. Warm
water absorbs less air than cold; so that a tank
may healthily support, say, twenty creatures at
58° F., but it would not do so at 80°, partly in con-
sequence of the diminished quantity of air in tlic
water. If, however, means be taken to ‘ensure the’
constant aération of the water, the temperature
may be allowed to rise considerably above 58°; but
there is always a large amount of risk thus incurred.
If the water sinks below 44°, the anemones, &c., do
not expand as usual. Variation in temperature
has considerable influence on the density of sea-
water when in small quantities; so that this should
be taken into account when fresh water is added;
the density should be kept as constant as possible
at 1026, an equal bulk of distilled water being equal
to 1000. This can be regulated by an hydrometer,
which ought to smk up to a line marked 1026 (or 26
as it is marked on some instruments).

By especial attention to temperature, which may
be regulated by opening or shutting doors and
windows, burning gas, partially covering the tanks
with damp cloths, and adopting other means, so as
to keep the thermometer within the limits we have
mentioned, at the same time taking care that the
temperature does not rise or fall rapidly, most of the
denizens of the aquarium may be kept in a flourish-
ing condition for prclonged periods.

The limited space at our disposal forbids our say-
ing more at present, but we may bricfly sum up
thus. Do not overstock; keep the aquarium in a
spot where the light does not exceed in intensity the

K

130

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[June J, 1865.

diffused light of day ; use shallow vessels; keep the
temperature as even as possible, and between 50° and
55°, and the density at 1026.

As some illustration of the success which has fol-
lowed attention to these hints, we may instance that
ina tank and several bowls, we have now, among
other creatures, a mullet and a rock blenny, which
have lived in good condition for 383 years In un-
changed water, and in vessels whose contents have
not been disturbed for four years; anemones of
various species, for from one to four years ; limpets,
three years, and colonies of Hydra tuba, for from
three to four years, which have this spring split up
into swarms of minute jelly-fishes, or meduse. We
have not spoken of the choice of creatures, and
other matters, such as feeding, which would require
this paper to be materially lengthened.

A. Ramsay, Jun.

MICROSCOPIC ILLUMINATION.

AVERY one accustomed to the use of the micro-
scope knows how much depends on proper
illumination in order to ensure successful results.
For purposes of microscopic investigation in general,
daylight is unquestionably the best source of illumi-
nation ; it is less trying tothe eyes, and is purer and
whiter than artificial light. But as, for obvious
reasons, only few persons have the opportunity of
using daylight, the question arises, which is the best
kind of artificial illumination to be employed? Some
microscopists give the preference to the Cambridge
lamp, which, in its mechanical arrangements, is very
convenient; others like the moderatorlamp, and some
use the small camphine lamp manufactured expressly
for the microscope. Having tried these and almost
every other description of artificial illumination,
I decidedly give the preference to the common Bel-
yontine lamp, which combines all the useful proper-
ties of the other kinds, and possesses the additional
advantage of a flat wick, which is of paramount
importance in the exhibition of fine-lined objects.
The markings on many of the most difficult forms
of the Diatomaceze may be perfectly displayed by
iUluminating from the sharp edge of the flame, when
by employing its flat surface, or a round flame, not
a trace of them would be apparent. It is sometimes
urged as an objection to the Belmontine lamp, that
it emits a disagreeable smell, and burns with a
smoky flame. These inconveniences may be entircly
obviated by a little careful management. All that
is required to make it act perfectly is to select a
tightly-spun wick, that fits closely into the metal
tube in which it runs, being careful to trim the wick
before lighting it.
The character and quantity of light required in
microscopic investigation depend very much on the
nature of the object to be looked at, for much light

willobliteratethe finer structuresof delicate and trans-
parent objects; whilst for more opaque objects it is
almost impossible to use too brilliant an illumina-
tion. For showing the superficial markings on many
of the frustules of Diatomacee, pencils of rays of
great obliquity will be required, especially for the
severest test-objects. Without entering upon the
question whether these markings be lines or dots,
they are evidently produced by inequalities of sur-
face, and are arranged in a linear direction; it fol-
lows, consequently, that the best mode of bringing
them into view will be to let the light fall upon the
object at right angles with its markings, so as to
cause the ridges or depressions tc casta shadow in the
opposite direction to the side illuminated. The striee
on many forms of Diatomacez, that were formerly
considered severe tests for objectives of high power,
may now be easilyresolved with a good+ or 4 of mo-
dern manufacture, using the concave mirror placed at
an angle, so as to reflect rays of considerable obliquity.
If, however, it be desired to exhibit the extremely de-
licate striee of the more difficult valves, object-glasses
of one-eighth or one-twelfth, of large angular aper-
ture, must be employed ; and as most, if not all, of
these beautiful and interesting forms have two sets
of markings, one running longitudinally and the
other crossing in a transverse direction, in order to
show both sets simultaneously, the light must be
managed so as to have two pencils of rays falling on
the object at right angles. This effect may be pro-
duced with two lamps, one placed on the side and
the other in front of the microscope, making use of
the rays from the mirror for illumination in one
direction, and interposing a prism, mounted on a
separate stand, between the other lamp and tlie
stage of the microscope. This, however, is a cum-
bersome and bungling performance. The simplest
and most successful mode of showing all difficult
tests is by employing an achromatic condenser,
such as manufactured by our best opticians, which
is fitted with a diaphragm-plate and stops, allowing
of every modification in the form and arrangement
of the light, and possessing optical appliances so
perfect in quality and of such large angular aperture
as to afford any amount of obliquity required.

There is another and much cheaper form of achro-
matic condenser, invented by Mr. Webster, of
Hanwell, and recently manufactured, which I have
seen perform excellently, in resolving difficult test-
objects; and, in addition to a large and varicd
range of capabilities as a condenser, it can be used
as adark ground illuminator with admirable effcct.

But microscopic illumination is just one of those
subjects that must be mastered by experiment and
patient attention. There are many little niceties
which can only be learnt by practice ; one evening’s
practical attention will teach more than a whole code
of written instructions. JES:

JuNE 1, 1865. ]

BITTEN BY A VIPER!

“T is a common belief that the venom of the viper,
and other serpents, is almost innocuous in
winter, and that its virulence is proportionate to
the heat of the weather, whether at home or abroad ;
hence that the snakes of tropical climes are more
deadly venomous than those of temperate countries,
on account of the greater heat. Recently Dr. Guyon
has set himself to investigate this subject, especially
whether the poison is innocuous in winter, with the
following results :—

Regarding its violence, he says there is a general
belief abroad that it is much more powerful in
summer than in winter; but this he does not con-
sider well authenticated, and quotes against it the

ase of one Drake, an exhibitor of snakes, who,
having in the summer of 1827, at Rouen, handled a
rattlesnake which he took to be dead, while it was
only benumbed by the cold, was bitten by it and
died in the course of nine hours. From a consider-
able number of observations, Dr. Guyon concludes
that the intensity or power of the venom is less
owing to difference of season than to the length of
time it has been accumulating in the reservoir of
the reptile; and the greatest accumulation neces-
sarily occurs during winter, because the animal is
in a torpid state and does not take any food during
that season. So it was in the case of Drake, and
so Dr. Guyon found it in that of a horned viper
which had been given to him at the caravanserai of
Sidi-Makhlouf, Algeria. This reptile had been put
into a bottle, which had since remained hermetically
closed. It had been in there for six weeks, without
food and without air, and looked quite dead, since
it could not stir in the bottle, which it filled entirely.
And yet, on opening the bottle, the doctor found
the reptile perfectly sound, and saw it killa large
fowl instantaneously with its sting. Our author
quotes another case, that of a scorpion, that had
been kept ina bottle for a long time, and on being
released killed two sparrows in less than a minute,
end a pigeon In three hours.

A circumstance has come to our knowledge which
cecurred in Warwickshire, of a boy that was bitten
Ly a viper during the winter.

“The 19th of January, 1864, was an unusually
warm and sunny day for the time of year. <A boy,
aged 11 years, started for a walk to Kenilworth,
about two miles from the village where he lived.
Under one part of the road flows asmall brook. The
boy had his dog with him, and he wished to see
whether he would follow him across, as the stream
was shallow, and there were some large stcnes to
step upon. The opposite bank is rathe: steep, and
there were several large pieces of wood and roots
projecting from it. One of his leggings was caught
in the roots and became unfastened, whereupon he

SCIENCH-GOSSITP.

131

sat down on one of the stumps to refasten it and
watch his dog in the water, but not for more than
two or three minutes. They then started off again, and
had not gone more than a quarter of a mile before
the boy felt a sharp pain in his wrist. On looking at
his wrist he saw plainly, and to his great. horror,
three little punctures and places, as though a nettle
had stung him. His first impression was that he
had been bitten by an adder, and he immediately
tried to bite out the piece of flesh. The first time
lie could not manage it, and after two unsuccessful
attempts, the third time he bit out the flesh, sucked
the wounded part, and at intervals spitting out the
potsoned blood.

“ Being fond of natural history, he remembered
reading some of the particulars about the bite of
an adder, and was frequently in the habit of ex-
pressing his fear of going where the grass was long,
lest he should meet with one. He went ona little
farther, but feeling faint and weak, and getting.
frightened about the bite, he returned home. On
arriving there he could hardly speak, from excite-
ment and the haste he had made; but his first words
were: ‘Mother, I think I have been bitten by an
adder: though I did not see one, I feel and see on
my wrist the hard white swelling which always
comes after a bite.’

“His mother immediately put his arm into very
hot water, and then applied a bread and oil poultice.
When the doctor arrived, he said all was done right,
and the boy had saved his own life by the courage
and presence of mind he had shown in at once biting
out the piece of flesh. The poison, however, had.
swelled up his arm through his veins as high as his
shoulder; but by the next day this black streak of
poison apparent in the veins of his arm had com-
pletely disappeared, and in the course of a few weeks
the boy was perfectly restored to health.”

The poison apparatus of the viper consists of the
gland in which it is secreted, the duct or canal along
which it travels, and the fazg by means of whichit
is injected. The gland is placed at the side of tho
head (a), and consists of an assemblage of lobes.

©
K 2

182

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[June 1, 1865.

The substance is soft and yellow, with a spongy ap-
pearance. The duct or canal through which the
poison is conveyed to the fang is a narrow cylindri-
cal tube swelling in the centre of its course into a
kind of reservoir, and terminating in the base of the
fang (0). This latter is atooth in the form of a tube,
much longer than the other teeth, and curved (d).
It is placed in the upper jaw, one on each side of the
mouth. On the outer surface of the fang, near the
apex, is an elongated opening or slit (¢), from which
a canal passes through the hollow in the interior of
the tooth, and is united to the duct which communi-
cates with the poison-gland. These fangs fall back-
wards, and lie concealed ina groove in the gum when
not in use.

The following elaborate description of the mode
by which the viper wounds and envenoms its prey
scarcely leaves anything to be desired :—“ When a
viper is struck, it first coils itself up, leaving its
head in the centre, or at the summit of the coil, and
drawn a little back, as if for the purpose of recon-
noitering. Speedily the animal uncoils itself like a
spring. Its body is then launched out with such
rapidity, that for a moment the eye cannot follow
it. In this movement the viper clears a space
nearly equal to its own length; but it never leaves
the ground, where it remains supported on its
_ tail or, posterior portion of the body, ready to
~ coil itself up again and aim afresh a second blow,
if the first should fail. To do this the viper distends
its mouth, draws back its fangs, arranges them in
the right direction, and then plunges them into its
enemy by a blow of the head or upper jaw: this
done, the fangs are withdrawn. The lower jaw,
which is closed at the same moment, serves as a
point of resistance, and favours the entrance of the
poison-fangs; but this assistance is very slight, and
the reptile acts by striking rather than biting.
There are times, however, when the viper bites
without coiling itself up and then darting forth. This
occurs, for instance, when it meets with some small
animal, which it destroys at leisure and without
anger, or when it is seized by the tail or middle of
the body, in which case it turns round and plunges
in its fangs. As the teeth are buried in the tissues
of the body struck, the poison is driven down the
canals, which pass through them by the action of
the muscles which close the mouth, and the injec-
tion takes place with a force proportionate to the
vigour and rage of the reptile, and the supply of
poison with which it is furnished”’* In the bite
there are two punctures corresponding to the
poison-fangs,

It has been taken for granted that the bite of the
viper proves fatal in this country, without, perhaps,
a knowledge of any instance in which it so termi-

nated. Professor Bell declares that he had never
seen a case which terminated in death, nor had he
been able to trace to an authentic source any of the
numerous reports of such a termination, which
have at various times been confidently promulgated.*
Nevertheless, in France and other continental coun-
tries many instances are recorded. Bedard, in his
lectures, relates a case of a young man in the neigh-
bourhood of Angers, who, falling down in a meadow,
was bitten by a viper in several places, and died in
consequence in a few hours. Matthiole records an
instance in which a countryman falling down ina
meadow happened to divide one of these reptiles in
the middle; he seized the portion of the trunk to
which the head was attached, in an awkward man-
ner, and was in consequence bitten in the finger
and died from the effects of the wound. It should
be remembered in connection with these instances,
that the reptile which is regarded as the common’
viper in France is the asp, and not the same species
as that which occurs in Britain, whilst our viper,
not uncommon also, is called “ the little viper.’ The

former of these is doubtless more venomous than
the latter.

Repropuction or Korrops.—The French Aca-
demy has awarded a prize to M. Gerbe for his dis-
covery of the reproduction of kolpods. In his re-
searches on the embryology of marine crustacea, he
observed that kolpods, after the manner of the con-
jugated conferve, connected themselves by pairs.
Following this conjunction, unique in the animal
kingdom, as far as is known at present, he has shown
that in the common gaxgve, or matrix, formed by the
fusion of the two individuals of each couple, the
reproductive organ of each is divided into two, and
four reproductive ovules are thus formed in the
matrix, which then dies. These oviform germs are
soon disengaged, showing living and moving kolpods
in precisely the same manner as does the newly-born
conferva. It will be seen that M. Gerbe’s observa-
tions supply us with an analogy between the genera-
tion of animals and that of plants—7Zhe Reader.

Perririep Human Remains.—In a volume re-
cently published, which, although a descriptive
poem, contains many allusions to natural phenomena
(“Beauties of Tropical Scenery, &c.” London:
Hardwicke), the petrified human skeletons found in
the island of Guadaloupe are mentioned at page 47.
Are these fossil remains of man to be considered of
ereat antiquity, or of comparatively recent forma-
tion? One of these petrified skeletons is preserved
in the British Museum.—Zzqutrer.

* M. Mogquin-Tandon’s “ Zoologie Médicale.”

* Bell’s “ British Reptiles,’ p. 59.

June 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. ic3

INSECT MOULDS.

(Saprolegnia ferax.)

On a Deap Sprper In Water.— A descrip-
of a fungus, which I observed last autumn
upon a dead spider in water, may not be unin-
teresting to the readers of Science Gossip. It
consisted of a mass of white filaments, from the
eighth to a quarter of an inch in length. Upon
examination under the microscope, these were re-
solved into two sets; one long and filamentous
(figs. 1, 2), the other slightly branching, with spores
either contained in spherical sacs, or arranged in
lines in the interior of the filament (fig. 5). The
former, which seem to be the male filaments,* are at
first filled towards the extremity with finely granu-
lated matter (fig. 1). This, after a time, appears to
break up, and develope into androspores, which are
gathered together in a separate cell at the end of
the filament. When the spores are ripe, the end

* These are noé male filaments, but produce zoospores, and
not androspores, as supposed,— Ep. S, G.

gives way, and they escape. If one of these be
burst by pressure, the contents which escape seem
to consist of finely granulated matter, similar to that
in the filaments. The other set of filaments exhibit
2 somewhat similar mode of growth. The cell-wall
bulges out on one side, until a pear-shaped sac is
formed, which, when filled with the granular matter, is
shut off by a cell-wall, and the contents are gradually
developed into circular spores, somewht larger than
the spores of the other filaments.

On a Drap Fry my Warer.—I observed
a very similar, if not the very same species of
fungus upon a dead fly in water. Figs. 6 to 9
show different stages in the development of the
spores. When mature, they exhibit small radicles,
which penetrate the wall of the sac. It seems
probable that the spores increase within the sac by
cell-divison, since some of them (figs. 11, 12) have
double nuclei. Abate ls

134

Fish Movutps anp Fry Mourns. — Several
times has attention been directed in these pages
io the mould which attacks fish in aquaria. This
las been either as a query or a brief reply.
The opportunity now occurs for making more ex-
tended observations on the subject. At page 10
appeared a communication on “ A Dead Fly on the
Window,”— this is singularly associated with the
present question. The little mould therein referred
to, called Lmpusina musce, is the terrestrial state of
what seems to be an amphibious species, which in
its aquatic condition has been named Saprolegnia
ferax, and generally regarded as an Alga, but some-
times asa Funeus. It is not our intention to enter
upon a dissertation as to its affinities and proper
place in the vegetable kingdom; but our own opi-
nion, strengthened by the recent investigations of Dr.
De Bary and others on Fungi producing zoospores,
certainly is in favour of regarding this mould andits
allies as Fungi. Ifsuch a diseased fly as those de-
scribed by W. M. B., in the paper already alluded
to, are cast into water and allowed to remain, it
soon developes a misty, filmy mouldiness around it,
in a similar manner to the mould on fish in aquaria,
and on the ova of fish, as well as upon molluses and
some other bodies, and just such a mouldas that de-
scribed and illustrated in the preceding page.

There are four genera known, each containing
a greater or less number of species, and all bearing
a great family likeness to each other, growing in
water on similar substances, and doubtfully referred
both to Algee and Fungi. The name of Achyla pro-
lifera cannot but be familiar to all who have paid
any attention to disputed botanical questions.

A brief description of the development of one of
these somewhat obscure vegetable productions must
serve as a type of the rest. The first appearance
presented by it is that of delicate threads, which are
either simple or but slightly branched. ‘These
whitish threads radiate in all directions from the
body whence they spring. The extremities of these
threads become filled with granular matter, as
figured on the other side (fig. 1), they gradually
swell, and a division is formed across the thread, be-
neath the granular contents, which become rounded
into little pellets (fig. 2). Each of these pellets
separates from the rest, becomes an ovate spore
which escapes by.an opening at the top of the
threads (fig. 3). These spores in Saprolegnia have
two thread-like appendages, by means of which they
move about in the water for a period as zoospores,
until ultimately the motion ceases and germination
commences. In Achyla prolifera the spores on is-
suing from the threads are at first enclosed in a
membrane, which soon ruptures and sets the zoo-
spores free.

A second form of fruit is also produced on other
threads, lateral branches ending in globular sacs are

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[June J, 1865.
formed, which contain resting spores (fig. 5), larger
than the zoospores. Similar branches contain
granular matter, which would appear to be anthe-
ridia, the function of which is to fertilize the resting
spores (figs. 6, 7, 8). These large spores are called
Qogonia. The walls of the globular sacs in which
they are developed are perforated, so that through
these perforations the resting spores are fertilized by
{he antheridia.

A third kind of fruit, described by Cienkowski,
appears to have been observed also by J. 8..7., in
which a spherical sac, resembling those which con-
tain the resting spores, is produced on a side branch,
and contains spherical spores with a long tubular
neck (fig. 9), which bore through the walls of the
sac enclosing them and discharge minute swarming
bodies into the water; these have not hitherto been
known to germinate. Further information on this
subject may be found in the “ Micrographical Dic-
tionary” under the head of AcnyYta, ana also under
SPORENDONEMA M. C. C.

THE “STANDARD” WASPS’ NEST.

R. BINGLEY, at a recent meeting of the
Sheffield Field Naturalists’ Society, gave a
very interesting account of a wasp’s nest which was
exhibited. In April, 1864, he had tied some pieces
of the Standard newspaper to a string, for the pur-
pose of keeping the birds off some seeds he had
sown in his garden at Whitley Hall. In May he
observed a number of small holes in the paper, as
if perforated by some insect. Watching it narrowly,
he at length discovered a party of wasps at work
upon it. By carefully following them, he traced
them to an ivy bush, where he found them busily
engaged building the nest exhibited, which he be-
lieved he was correct in stating to be constructed
entirely out of the Staxdard newspaper. ‘The
animals appeared in the first instance to puncture a
small hole in the paper, and then gather further
supplies by gnawing round its edges, working -it
into pulp at the place, and after getting as much as
they could carry, flying off with it to the nest. The
comb was constructed simultaneously with the outer
shell. The formation of the entire nest occupied
until the middle of June, and the greater part of
four whole newspapers were consumed in this man-
ner before it was completed. To his surprise the
nest was evacuated by them in the first week of
August.

Tue solubility of granite in pure water and in hy-
drochloric acid are among the tests of its value. An
indifferent granite was found to lose 0°25 per cent.
of its weight in the former and 5 per cent. in the
latter.—Austed’s Lectures on Practical Geology.

June 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

135

ZOOLOGY.

Tue House Sparrow in Inpra.—The house
sparrow is more widely distributed than any species
found in Hindostan; it is found all over India, and
northward even on the steppes of Chinese Tartary.
Inevery village and town of Hindostan it swarms in
countless thousands, and is the same dirty, noisome
bird as we find in the streets of London. During
summer evenings, in Cashmere, they assemble in
vast flocks on the chunar trees, accompanied by
myriads of jackdaws and maina birds (Acridotheres
tristis); their rough calls, mixed with the chirpings
of the sparrows, are anything but pleasant. In the
wild and barren Ladakh, the sparrow lives and dies
under the roofs of the rude inhabitants of that
desolate and dreary land. I recollect, when travel-
ling in that country, we came to an assemblage of
Tartar huts, after a long and fatiguing march of
twenty miles. Not asymptom of animated nature
was visible; long we waited at the doorway of a
miserable little hut; but no natives made thcir
appearance. At last a chirp was heard, and a
sparrow flew out of the hovel; this little fact was
convincing, for the sparrow loves man.—* The place
is inhabited ;” and so it was. <A short time after-
wards a flock of goats and sheep were seen winding
down the glen, and we were soon surrounded by
crowds of wondering Tartars.—d4. L. Adams, MB.

Tur Sone or THE WatTEr-pIprpER.—As I have
been fishing during the afternoons of several days
lately, I have had a very agreeable companion in a
water-dipper (Cizclus aqueticus), which I find daily
in the same locality, and very frequently on the same
stone. The song of this bird struck me as being
peculiarly sweet and harmonious, and as having a
bubbling, pipe-like sound. It is low, but very dis-
tinct, and can easily be heard above the babble and
roar of the shallows. I heard it singing in October
last, and, for the first time this year, in the middle
of March. Its spring song, in my estimation, is as
yet inferior to its autumn, thus reversing the general
rule. This may be merely owing to my hearing the
bird recording, rather than in full song. There is a
peculiar beauty in the posture of the bird, as he
leans forward, singing and jerking his tail, and then
stopping for an instant to plume himself, somewhat
in the manner of water-birds in general.—R. BI.

A Banger and five young ones, about five weeks
old (apparently), were presented, about the third
week in February, to the Clifton Zoological Gardens.
The young ones all died; the mother looked very
il—J. A. NV.

Rine Ovset.—The Welsh mountains appear to
be the head-quarters in Britain of this bird. It is
not uncommon to see three or four pairs during a
morning’s walk.— JZ, C. C.

Buriep Attve.—In the spring of 1863, I was in
want of a few eggs of the martin (Hirundo urbica),
aud while examining a number of their nests I came
upon one, the hele of which had apparently been
plastered up with the same material as the nest was
composed of. The well-known anecdote of the
sparrow, who, taking possession of a martin’s nest
and refusing to evacuate, was plastered up by the
martins and left to perish, at once occurred to me;
and I expected to find the remains of some poor
sparrow in the nest; but on taking it dewn I was
much surprised to find the dried remains of a com-
mon wren (Ziroglodytes Europeus), and three or four
martin’s eggs. What can have been the motive of
the wren in going there I cannot imagine; perhaps
some of your readers can enlighten me on the sub-
ject.—J. A. H.

Octorus.—In the Levant, among the Greek
islands, this creature, called “ Octopodia ” (eight
legs) by the fishermen, assumes large proportions,
and is exceedingly troublesome to them when alive,
but is much esteemed when dead as an article of
consumption. Boiled, and afterwards pickled in
vinegar, or stewed, it is really very palatable,
as I can vouch; yet had mine been the task
of preparing them, perhaps I should never have
been enabled to give an opinion, as the modus
operandi -is to beat them severely for an hour or
so against the nearest large stone until all their

sliminess exudes and leaves them fit for market.—
A.M. B,

VERY LIKE A SHRIMP.—Preserve me from the
distilled prattle of the conscientious quack who
erinds up facts out of a printed book, and then re-
peats them at haphazard, because he thinks educated
society expects some acquaintance with the phrase-
ology of science. Protect me from him, I should
only put him out; let him enjoy himself in his own
way, | in mine, out of shot. Perhaps, while I am
peopling a flat valley with ancient monsters, smacking
the slime with their great tails, gobbling, sleeping,
snorting, fighting—while I hear the shriek and the
rustle of strange birds in the air, but see the same
blessed sun above our heads, the same harvest moon,
though rising on the unreaped earth—while I am
thus out of date, or may be picturing to myself the
naked battle around the barrows on the windy downs,
my friend with the book shouts to me that he thinks
he has found a Coleopterum ridiculosum in the shin-
ele. Will I come and see? And the inspected
beast bounds off his open palm with an elastic
“sang,” very like a shrimp, as I tell him,—and is
gone past verification; is probably at the moment
hastily shoving himself, at great risk of bruiscs,
deep down among his native stones. But my friend
says, contemptuously, that it cannot be a shrimp—
because shrimps are red.—Jones’s Holiday Pupers.

156

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[June 1, 1865.

Tue Trust at Rome.—The thrush has for cen-
turies been avery popular bird inal] those countries
of which it is an inhabitant, and, as is well known
to all those of our readers who may be skilled in
classical lore, was highly prized by the Romans, not
merely for its song, but also for the delicacy of its
flesh. Thrushes were as common in the Roman
markets during the reigns of the twelve Ceesars as
larks are at the present day in our own Leadenhall,
and on account of the estimation in which they
were held, fetched on occasions very respectable
prices, frequently being sold for as high a figure as
would be reckoned by six shillings of our own money.
The fattening of thrushes for these markets was a
reeular branch of trade with Roman bird-catchers,
and the chief ingredients used in making the birds
plump and juicy for the table of epicures were ripe
fresh figs and wheat meal. Horace himself, a
regular don vivant, informs us that “nothing is
better than a fat thrush,” and he was certainly a
good judge of such matters.—Once a Week.

Newts.—On February 27th I obtained three
web-footed newts (Léssotriton palmipes). Two of
them, a male and female, died the followmg week ;
the other, a male, in which the filament in the tail
was just appearing, is living now. On March 15th he
changed his skin,and not succeeding in quite gctting
the old skin off one of his fore feet, the limb inflamed
very much, and after a few days came off just above
the foot. As the poor creature did not appear to
suffer much, but seemed to be enjoying himself, I
have since kept it in a glass alone. On visiting
the pond, in the end of April, from which I took
it, L found many newts in full dress, with fila-
ment and web, but the one in solitary confinement
has advanced no further, either in filament or web,
than he was on March Ist. The injured limb has be-
come apparently thoroughly healed now, and appears
to be growing longer. The newt never uses it in
swimming, but allows it to hang, or rather stand
out, quite motionless. Are there any authentic

instances of newts reproducing a limb that may be
lost >—R. Bl.

STUTTERERS IN THE FRontiers.— In Great
Britain, I think, there is an excess over the average
amount of stutterers in the North, where our lan-
guage meets the Gaelic. Where a mixed language
is spoken, the majority are unable to speak the one
or the other perfectly, and the result is, that they
find difficulties in both ; whence arises a certain hesi-
tation, the forerunner of stuttering. If this be true,
we might, @ prior, expect a large number of stut-
terers and stammerers at the frontiers of countries
in which the languages differ; and I believe this to
be the case.— Hunt on Stammering.

Tuer HurorpEaAn Swatiows (Hirundines).— Al-
Inding to the absence of Hirundo rufula from his
European list, Mr. Newman says:—“ This pretty

swallow is a native of Africa, and particularly
abundant in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good
Hope, from which cirewmstance it is ealled in
Gmelin’s ‘Systema Nature’ Hirundo capensis. Tt
occasionally comes more northward, and has been
seen in Heypt in flocks, and accidental stragglers have
been observed in Sicily ; several have been killed at
Palermo, and a few have killed themselves by flying
against the lighthouse at Messina. Temminck has
observed four or five females in the market of St. —
Gilles; and the Marquis of Durazzo possesses the
skins of a male and female killed in the neighbour-
hood of Genoa. Giving full credit to all these state-
ments, I still doubt whether I should mention this
South African bird were I again to enter on the task
of defining the purely European species of hirun-
dines. I may perhaps express my regret that
Temminck should have changed the name of this
bird from capensis to rufula; the first name is truth-
ful, and ought to have been retained. Another
species, the LHirundo Boissonneauti of Temminck,
has been twice found in the south of Spain; but I
cannot regard this as establishing a claim for it as
a Huropean species. I am, therefore, content to
abide by my list as already referred to.”—Hdward
Newman, in The Field.

Dryine Starrisu.—Starfishes may be dried so
as to retain their natural colours almost unimpaired
by immersing them in alcohol of moderate strength
for about a minute, or just long enough to destroy
life and produce contraction of the tissues, and
afterwards drying them rapidly by artificial heat.
The drying is best effected by placing them upon an
open cloth stretched tightly upon a frame and sup-
ported a few fect above a stove. Care should be
taken not to raise the heat too high, as the green
shades change to red at a temperature near that of
boiling water. By this process I have sueceeded in
preserving the delicate shades of red, purple, and
crange of the species found on the coast of New
England, specimens of which are in the Museum of
Yale College. The same process is equally appli-
cable to Hchini and Crustacea.—4. ZF Verrill, in
Silliman’s Journal.

Fossiz Treta anp Scares or Tisn are abun-
dant in the thin stratum of black shale which over-
lies the low main seam of coal at Dudley, Cramling-
ton, and West Cramlington collieries, Northumber-
land; and jaws, with teeth, and spines in excellent
preservation, are far from scarce in the same lo-
calities. The average depth of the collierics or
pits is 100 fathoms. I shall be glad to exchange
the teeth and scales for rare diatomacer.—7. P. B.

THE more we contemplate the symmetrical strue-
tures presented before us, the more do we find to
admire: the more we probe into their nature and
purpose, the greater our wonder,—Sir John Graham
Dalyell,

Jone 1, 1865.]

ENTOMOLOGY.

Witp Bess’ Nest.—A few weeks ago, on felling
some elm trees in the neighbourhood of Warwick,
a wild bees’ nest was discovered in a hollow part of
one of the elm trees, in a fork of the tree at about
twenty feet from the bottom. It appears that the
bees’ nest was built upon the débris of an old star-
ling’s nest, which might have been in existence for
several years. The bees were alive when the wood-
men discovered the nest, from which they extracted
nearly a bucket-full of honey of very fine quality.
Large portions of the comb, &c., remained in the
hollow place in the tree after the workmen had
destroyed the bees and collected the honey. There
were three separate entrances to the nest ; two were
ina bough which branched out immediately above
it, and the other one below, in the trunk of the tree.
We wish to be informed whether or not this is an
uncommon occurrence in apiology >—IV,

Karty Wasp.—I found this morning (March
17th) upon the window-sill (which has a due north
aspect, with the house standing upon a northern
slope, and quite in the country) a torpid wasp,
plump and bright-coloured, which, upon being placed
in warm water, immediately revived. What renders
the circumstance more extraordinary is, that the
weather for many days has been very cold, with east
wind, and almost total absence of sun, with slight
snow-fall on most days. In Markwick’s “ Naturalist’s
Calendar,” April 2nd is the earliest date of appear-
ance, and in Gilbert White’s, May 23rd.— FR. XK.

Prenprent Wasps’ Nest.—Late in the autumn of
1864, a curious wasps’ nest, of a round shape, and
hanging from a branch of a spruce-fir, was scnt to
me by a friend who had cut it from a fir-tree in
Wickwood Forest. It is of a round shape, measur-
ing in circumference about twenty-two inches and in
diameter seven inches, with the mouth hanging
downwards. The branch from which it is hanging
is three-eighths of an inch in thickness, and the nest
is fastened to the small twigs at the end of the
branch. Its shape, and the paper-like substance
with which it is covered, give it, at a distance, the
appearance of a huge cedar-ball. The cells which
are built at the mouth appear to me to be larger
than those of the nests which are built in the ground.
Perhaps some of your readers may be able to say if
this is a nest of the common wasp (Vespa vulgaris),
or of some other species.—George Scarsbrook, Chip-
ping Norton, Oxon.

Tue Mat Gatt-Fry (Cynips querciis-folit).—
Many distinguished students of the Diptera have, it
is well known, examined thousands of gall-nuts of
the oak, finding only a single female in each gall,
without ever finding a single male. No male speci-
men of Cyxips, it is believed, had ever been found,

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

137

or been alleged to be found, until September last,
when Mr. John Robertson (author of the “ Anatomy

| and Physiology of Pholas Dactylus’’), after ex-

amining many hundreds of galls, which he found in
great abundance on the sessifloral oaks in the neigh-
bourhood of Bognor, Sussex, discovered a male and
a female both in one gall. The crypt of the male
was only about a tenth of an inch from the outside
of the gall. In size the male erypt is scarecly a
third of the size of the female crypt. Of course, the
male is much smaller than the female; the difference
is less, however, between the size of the sexes than
between the size of the crypts. There is no mis-
taking the male when seen, if the observer is well
acquainted with the female. On being exposed to
the knife, the male fly, unlike the sluggish female,
was soon wide awake, alert, and nimble. He dis-
appeared before the means of capture could be
applied. This quickness, with the instinct of con-
cealment, and the locality of his crypt in the gall,
probably explain why he has never been found.
Split the gall, and the male is not likely to be
found ; but pare it, and he will be found by observers
with the patience and perseverance necessary to
examine a few hundred galls. Mr. John Robertson
shows the gall, with its male and female crypt, to any-
body who wishes to see it. During the approaching
autumn, this observation can be corrected or con-
firmed by the students of galls.

[N.B.—We publish the foregoing verbatim, as
communicated to us by Mr. Jolin Robertson, and
entirely at his request and upon his responsibility.
We do not think the facts proven. Confessedly, thie
male insect escaped, and a second insect was found
in the gall ; but if it did not remain to be examined,
what evidence can be produced that it was 2
male gall-fly, or even a Cyxips ?—Ep. Sc. Goss. |

BOTANY.

VEGETABLE Monsrrosities.—In reference to
Mr. Holland’s valuable paper in the last number of
Science Gossip, | may state that while walking to-
day (May 9th) through a wood near West Wycombe,
Bucks, I found a single example of the wood ane-
mone (Axzemone nemorosa) similar to the one there
figured. The white petal or sepal was, however,
quite perfect in shape, and rather larger than is
usually the case. In a field near the same wood
I noticed, among hundreds of examples of the
ribwort plantain (Plaxtago lanceolata) a specimen
bearing two flower-heads: at the base of each of
these were clustered five or six smaller ones, which
gave the plant a somewhat remarkable appearance.
—B,

138 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[June 1, 1865..

Srray Notes on Stray Prants.—In the summer
of 1864, I had two instances, one, at least, a re-
markable one, of the “ distribution of species,” and
of the way in which the flora of a country or district
may be enriched. 1. I found two plants of eandytuft
(Ideris) growing wild on the banks of the river
Wyre, a few miles below Garstang. Both were in
full bloom, and the flowers were quite equal, if not
even superior, in richness of colour and in size, to
those ordinarily seen in cottage gardens, where the
slant is, I believe, a favourite one. One plant was
far away up the stream from the other, which was a
quarter of a mile below a garden, the refuse from
which was generally thrown into the river. Un-
fortunately, I left the neighbourhood before I could
ascertain whether the plants brought thcir seeds to
perfection. 2. Inthe parish of Bredwardine, in which
I am now living, I found a solitary colony of Lung-
wort (Pulmonaria oficinalis), on the wooded bank
of a little hill stream. JI cannot see any apparent
reason for its being found there, seeing that it is, as
far as I can discover, after a careful examination,
the only colony of Lungwort (Pulmonaria) for some
distance round. There is a cottage at some little
distance, but there is no pulmonaria in the garden
at present. Possibly there may have been, for the
plant is sometimes a favourite, on account of its
variegated leaves.—R. Bl.

“STanNER Rocks.’-—i am surprised to find that
your correspondent “W. 8. 8.” should not have
met with the Welsh Speedwell (Veronica spicata B
hybrida) in the Stanner Rocks. It is quite as scarce
a plant as those he has mentioned. It grew there
between thirty and forty years ago, on asteep grassy
bank, near the foot of the rocks, at the point where
the rocks come nearest to the Kington Road. The
Scleranthus grew on the same bank. I gathered
one plant there of the white-flowered Speedwell
(Veronica flore-aibe), but all the rest were of the
usual colour. There was a good sprinkling of the
plant, and I can hardly believe it. to be distinct. I
examined only a very small portion of the rocks,
from my time being limited. I would mention that
the botany of the Stanner Rocks is almost identical
with that of the Breiddin in Montgomeryshire, the
Geranium sanguineum, the Lychnis viscaria, and
Veronica hybrida being common in each group, and
the geological formation is very similar.—Z’. 8.

Herz Paris.—This plant (Paris quadvifolia)
grows in abundance in ihe copse at Chilcombe, a
mile and a half from Winchester. I have found
plants with three, four, five, and six leaves.—B.B.S.

QUINQUEBRACTEAL ANEMONE.—At the last meet-
ing of the Society of Amateur Botanists the presi-
dent exhibited a specimen of wood-anemone with
five bracteal leaves instead of three,

CHESTNUT-TREE OF THE TuILERIES.—The cele-
brated chestnut-tree of the Tuileries that bursts
into leaf before its neighbours, and generally enters
an appearance by the Ist of March, is a laggard this
year. Crowds stare up at its bald crown in disap-
pointment. The tradition which has given the people
faith in the precocity of this tree dates—neither
from the birth of the King of Rome, nor from
Napolecn’s return from Elba. The date is the 20th
of March, 1746. A celebrated painter was accused
of having assassinated his rival at the Royal Academy
on that day. The paintez’s name was Joseph Vien.
He proved before the tribunal of the Chatelet that
at the moment of the murder he was standing,
gossiping with the Duchess de Roncevaux, under a
chestnut-tree. He said he could identify the tree,
for it was the only one in leaf. This “ alidz,” we
are told, saved Vien’s head; and from that time the
people have watched the precocious tree. It has .
seldom failed; but the cold of the present year has
been too much for it.

Tur CuLturn-or VALLISNERTA SPIRALIS.—This
most beautiful of our water-plants is much more
casily cultivated than most people imagine. Friends
on scemg the luxuriance of my plants, have fre-
quently asked me how it was that they had not at
tained the like success. I now proceed to give to
your readers the course pursued by myself during
the last five years. The best shaped vessels are those
used by confectioners, that is to say, if you wish to
crow the plant by itself; these may be purchased for
afew shillings at any of the shops where fern-glasses,
&e., are sold. On the bottom of the glass lay some stiff
mould, to the depth of about an inch; on this place
the roots of the Vallisneria, and cover them with
shingle, to keep them in their place. Water-beetles
are as good as anything to give it an air of life, ora
few minnows; but fish, I think, nip the tops of the
plants, and unless they are well established, this does
harm. I can fix no regular period for changing the
water, but whenever the conferve are getting ahead
this must be done. The sides of the glass may be
cleaned with a little rag and sand when necessary.
—IV. G.

A WonperfruL Tree.—tIn the birch wood of
Culloden there is a remarkable tree, well worthy of
note. Somewhere about thirty years ago a little
ejant of the forest was blown down in a storm, and
fell right across a deep gully or ravine, which it
completely spanned; and the top branches . tock
root on the other side. From the parent stem
no less than fifteen trees grew up perpendicularly,
all in a row; and there they still flourish in all
their splendour, while the parent stem evinces no
token of decay. Several of the trees are not less
than thirty feet high. Isnot this a forest curiosity
worthy of a visit by naturalists? The tree is a
larch fir.—Lnvergordon Times.

June 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 139

What is Mitprew ?—“ Mildew” is just one of
those loose terms which represent no definite idea,
or a very different one to different individuals. Talk
of mildew to a farmer, and instantly he scampers
mentally over his fields of standing corn in search
of the brown lines or irregular spots which indicate
the unwelcome presence of Puccinia graminis, known
to him, and to generations of farmers before him, as
“mildew.” Try to convince a Norfolk farmer that
anything else is “mildew,” and he will consider you
insane for your pains. Speak of mildew im your
own domestic circle, and inquire of wives, or
daughters, or servants, what it means, and without
hesitation another, and even more minute species of
fungus, which attacks damp linen, will be indicated
as the true mildew, to the exclusion of all others;
and with equal claims to antiquity. Go to Farn-
ham, or any other hop-growing district, and repeat
there your question,—What is mildew ?—and there
is every probability that you will be told that it is a
kind of mould which attacks the hop plant, but
which differs as much from both the mildew of the
farmer and the laundry-maid as they differ from
each other. The vine-grower has his mildew, the
gardener his mildewed onions, the stationer his
mildewed paper from damp cellars, the plasterer his
mildewed walls, and in almost every calling or
sphere in life, wherever a minute fungus commits
its ravages upon stock, crop, or chattels, to that in-
dividual owner it becomes a bugbear under the
name of “mildew.” — Rust, Smut, Mildew, and
Mould.

Trurries.—Truffies are plentiful occasionally in
Hampshire. In the village of Cheriton, about three
miles south of Alresford, when I was a boy, there
were two families whose principal means of support
depended upon the success of their truffle-hunting;
and their name was Leach. At present there are
three brothers in the village who follow the occupa-
tion of their sire. These men do not bribe the
dogs by giving them meat, to prevent their eating
the luxury; but they give them a piece of bread
now and then as a reward for their discoveries. Nor
do the dogs, as might be inferred, get possession of
the truffles. They find them, and their master digs
them up with a pike he carries for the purpose.
The dogs used by these men are white ones, very
similar to the French poodle. The hunting is not
limited to any particular places; but in all the
hedgerows round, and fir plantations are the truffles
found.—J. WV. Batchelor.

A New “ Rust.”—Mr. M. C. Cooke found during
his recent visit to North Wales, a species of “rust”
growing upon Lmpetrum nigrum, and known to my-
cologists as Uredo Empetri, DC. This is the first
record of its occurrence in Britain.

Intropuction or Rare Prants, &c.—The pro-
gramme for the season of the Manchester Field
Naturalists’ Association contains the following sug-
gestion:—Members who join in the excursions
might add to the beauty and interest of the country
round Manchester by taking with them any surplus
roots and seeds they may possess, especially of native
plants brought from a distance, and also living
fresh-water mollusea, and depositing them in places
where they would be likely to become permanently
established. No confusion would be caused, since
the Flora and Fauna of the neighbourhood are now
both well known, and the introduction of new species
would be a set-off also against any possible lessening
of the abundance of those produced spontaneously.
Members are invited to collect seeds, &c., for this
especial purpose, when at a distance from home, and
also to enrich the neighbourhood by a judicious
sowing of the seeds of exotic plants.

WELLINGTONIA GrcaAntTEA.—Prof. Brewer, of the
Californian State Geological Survey, announces to
Sir William Hooker the discovery “of the big trees
in great abundance on the’ western flanks of the
Sierra Nevada, in about latitude 36° or 87° ;” and
he describes them as “very abundant along a belt
at 5,000—7,000 feet altitude, for a distance of more
than twenty-five miles, sometimes In groves, at
others scattered through the forests in great num
bers.” One of the largest trees seen by Prof.
Brewer measured 106 feet in circumference at four
feet above the ground, and-was 276 feet in height.
“ You can have no idea,”’ he adds, ‘‘of the grandeur
they impart to the scenery, where at times a hun-
dred trees are in sight at once, over fifteen feet in
diameter, their rich foliage contrasting so finely
with their cinnamon-coloured bark.” It is satis-
factory to learn that there is no danger now of
speedy extinction of the species, for ‘“ immense
numbers ” of seedlings have been seen growing.—
Atheneum.

LAvpANuM, A Specizs or Dew.—Laudanum is
procured in acurious manner in some parts of the
isle of Cyprus. It is a species of dew, which falls
during the evening and night upon plants resembling
sage, the flowers of which are like those of the
eclantine. Before the sun rises, flocks of goats are
driven into the field, and the laudanum fastens on
their beards ; whence it is taken. It is of a viscous
nature, and, collected in this manner, is purer than
that which adheres to the plants; because these
plants are subject to being covered with dust during
the day.~-Bucke’s Beauties of Nature.

[Doubtless gum ladanum is meant, and not the
opiate with the above name. Ladanum is a resin
which exudes from several species of Cistus, espe-
cially Cistus creticus. Such paragraphs as the
above, containing as much romance as truth, are only
calculated to mislead. |

140

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[June 1, 1865.

MICROSCOPY.

Exotic Diatoms in British Locauitres.—The
discovery of isolated valves of exotic diatoms does not
prove thatthey everlived inthese isles. I have myself
found (very sparinely) mixed with fresh-water forms
species hitherto only detected in guano. Ina ga-
thering made from a small ditch, I found some frag-
ments and one perfect valve of Aulacodiscus scaber,
and also several valves of Triccratium alternans. No
doubt these forms had been washed out of the ad-
jacent fields, which had probably been manured with
Peruvian guano. I had not cleaned any guano for
many years. I have also occasionally observed marine
and brackish-water species in washings from moss.
In one gathering I detected a valve of Coscinodiscus
radiatus and several valves of Pleurosigma Alstuarii.
These must have been floating about in the air, and
then brought down by the rain. We may fairly
conclude that unless a species is found alive, and in
tolerable plenty, it is not a native of the locality in
which it is discovered, more particularly if the species
are exotic. ‘Thus, Arachnoidiscus has no claim to a
British habitat. I believe only three valves have been
found, one by M. de Brébisen, in a gathering from
Ilfracombe, and described inthe Syxopsis of British
Diatomacee, and two more twelve years after, by
Mr. Archer. It is very desirable that all who make
Diatoms their study should, before adding a new
species to the large number already (andin many cases
imperfectly) described, have found it plentiful and
alive. To describe it correctly it must be examined
living as well as dead. If the material is in sufficient
quantity, a portion may be well washed with liquor
ammoniee, and afterwards with distilled water. By
this means the stipes, or filaments, are preserved ;
and if the specimen is heated on the slide, it may then
be mounted dry or in balsam (Achinanthes longipes
and brevipes are beautiful objects prepared in this
way); a further portion may be acidized in the
usual manner, as it renders striation more distinct.—
red. Kitten, Norwich.

Guano, &c., In Excuancr.—I shall be glad to
exchange Upper Peruvian guano, Richmond earth,
Nova Scotia earth, or China sea-soundings, rich in
foraminifera, for any good foreign material contain-
ing diatomacez, or British gatherings of one species
only.—W. J. B.

ScaLes oN Wuirrt CasBaGe Burrerrty.—Will
auy of your correspondents kindly inform me on
what part of the white cabbage butterfly the elon-
gated and tufted scales are found which are used as
test objects ? [I have never been able to find such as
are deseribed and figured by Quekett and others.—
W. I, Reynolds.

WexsteEr’s ConpENSER (p.90) is now being manu-
factured by a London optician. (See advertisement.)

GEOLOGY.

SERPENTINE is used asa kind of marble. It is
a silicate of magnesia, coloured very richly by
metallic oxides, especially those of iron, nickel, and
chrome. One kind, obtained from Cornwall, where
the Lizard rock contains veins of extreme Leauty,
is remarkable for its brilliant red and mottled colour
contrasted by veins of the purest white, and taking
a very high polish. Itis well adapted for small
ornaments ; but when used for church work, such
as fonts, internal columns, &c., its appearance is
injured by its numerous veins and cracks. The po-
lish, though brilliant, does not stand exposure to
weather or damp air. The Italian serpentine (ophz/e)
is a different mineral, and far less brilliant, the rich
red tints being absent, and the colour generally
mottled dark green. It is used, however, for similar
purposes, and is of nearly the same value. It is
comparatively soft, and very easily worked. Irish
Connemara marble is a variety of serpentine, and is
a very beautiful material for columns, tables, altars,
and other decorative purposes. Its colour is much
paler than the Tuscan, which it otherwise resembles.
—Austed’s “ Practical Geology.”

Tipucation In Grotocy.—There is no greater
mistake in modern school tuition, and none so
general, as the neglect of the natural sciences; and
yet there are few departments of knowledge to
which boys are more readily and earnestly attracted.
The majority are naturally observers and collectors—
as witness their little cabinets of birds’ eggs, butter-
flies, and minerals; and it only requires encourage-
ment and direction to make them reasoners and
reflectors. If it be an important point in education
to foster habits of observation and discrimination,
then assuredly there is no theme so admirably
adapted as the field of nature, and no section so
accessible at all seasons as that of geology. It is true
that the ordinary branches of tuition must ever
occupy the main share of the schoolboy’s attention ;
but there are intervals when natural history would
be a recreation, and in that recreation the otherwise
dormant mind might be first awakened to interest
and energy. Get the mind by all means aroused to
self-exertion; let it once taste the pleasurable excite-
ment of knowing in one department, and the battle
is won. The desire for further knowledge increases
with the growth of that knowledge and strengthens
with its strength. Andeven where such subjects as
geology form no part of the regular curriculum, a
day in the field or an afternoon in the museum might
be given as a reward for diligence aud proficiency in
other departments, and in this way a certain amount
of available information might be imparted without
any attempt at formal instruction.—Page’s “ Geology
asa Branch of General Education.”

June 1, 1865.]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

141

FISH TATTLE.

Fish CuLturE on THE Lra.—It may prove
interesting to many of your readers, especially
Waltonians, to know that there is an_ establish-
ment for the cultivation of fish at Ponder’s-end,
on the river Lea. It is certainly on a smaller
scale than the one at Hampton, yet everything is in
a perfect state, and some thousands of salmon and
trout ova are to be seen in their different stages of
development. The proprietor is at all times willing
to permit inspection. I was much gratified myself,
and have no doubt so will others who take an interest
in pisciculture.—Daily Telegraph.

A Goop Prxr.—On the morning of May 9th, a
pike was caught in Grasmere Lake, weighing
934 lbs. Its length was forty-two, and extreme
girth twenty-one inches.—Edwin Green.

SALMON IN AUSTRALIA.—At a recent meeting of
the council of the Australasian Acclimatisation
Society, a letter from Mr. Green, of Badger Creek,
was read, stating that the salmon continue in the
best of health. My. Green also forwarded a memo-
randum of the temperature of the creek, by which it
appears that on the hottest day, when the temper-
ature of the air at noon was at 98°, that of the creek
was only 61°; thus proving that from this source no
danger is likely to arise that will in any way imperil
the undertaking.—2. 7’.

REPRODUCTION oF THE Hren.—In. reply -to
“i. B.,” no competent ichthyologist has the shghtest
doubt that eels are produced from deposited ova,
after the fashion of most fish, If “E. B.’s” friend
will open any eel, at almost any time of the year,
he will sce two beautiful white fatty fringes running
nearly the whole length of the body, one on each
side; these are the sexual organs. If a portion of
the fringe be submitted to microscopic examination,
it will be seen that it consists of a multitude of
round or oval grains, very minute, imbedded ina
mass of fat or oil globules. The oval grains are the
eggs of the female fish, the round ones are the milt
of the male. These latter are extremely minute;
the ova are readily discernible by the naked eye,
and may be seen by shaking or breaking up a portion
of the frige upon a glass slide with a little water.
The author to whom we are chiefly indebted for
having clearly demonstrated the oviparous nature
of the eel is M. Reinh. Fr. Maur. Hohnbaum-
fTornschuch, in his treatise, written in Latin, “‘De
Anguillarum Sexu ac Generatione.” The treatise,
which bears the date of 1842, is, I believe, rare. I
possess a copy in my library. It has one plate, with
accurate figures illustrating the sexual organs. If
your correspondent is interested in ecl-lore, he may
perhaps care to read an article of mine on this
subject in the “Quarterly Review,” No. 229,
January, 1864, W. Hoveuton.

WINDOW GARDENS AND AQUARIA.

Bricxe’s Lens.—I make frequent use of this
valuable little arrangement, manufactured (and sold
for fifteen shillings) by Messrs. Paetz & Flohr,
opticians, of No. 14, Under the Lindens, Berlin.
It consists of a one-slide achromatic telescope
measuring when closed about three inches long, and
an inch and a half in diameter, and its use is to mag-
nify small objects in aquaria, when they cannot be
closely approached or removed. Under these cir-
cumstances, and at distances varying from fifteen to
eight inches, this instrument produces the same
amount of amplification as is obtained by an ordinary
pocket-lens at distances of from one inch to half an
inch.— VW. Alford Lloyd.

AMERICAN WATER-WEED (Azacharis alsinastrum).
—This plant, commonly known as the “ American
water-weed,” was first noticed in England in
1842. Since then it has spread rapidly, and in
many counties has become almost ruinous, choking
up water-courses and canals, and threatening, in
some parts, a universal stoppage. It is found, also,
very commonly in ponds and ditches, where it soon
obtains a similar mastery. The best eradicators (if
introduced before the plant has become too powerful)
are said to be swans. After flowering, however, it
appears to decline of itself: it is also much affected
by severe frost. One reason of its enormous increase
in Britain is, probably, that the individuals are ail of
the feminine gender, since it is a matter of common
observation that plants prevented by any casualty
from ripening seed, and supplied at the same time
with plenty of nutriment, are prone to extra vege-
tative development. It should not be overlooked,
that although in one respect a hateful incumbrance,
the Anacharis produces good sanitary results; many
a ditch that was offensive before having become
clear through its purifying influence. Like others
of the family, it makes a becoming and cheerful
aquarium plant, and, preserved in a parlour, often
blooms freely.—Grindon’s British and Garden Bo-
tany.

Prants.—What are the most suitable plants for an
aquarium ? Not the oar-weeds or tangles ; for though
young specimens have an attractive appearance,
they will not live long in captivity ; they presently
begin to decay, and slough off in slimy membranous
shreds, filthy to. look at, and hurtful to the living
creatures. The /uci live pretty well, but their sli-
miness and ugliness are fatal to their pretensions.
From the red and the green orders we must make our
selection. The pieces of rock to which the plants
are attached should be as clean as possible. All ad-
hering sponges, in particular, should be carefully
scraped off, unless they are wanted for immediate
examination.— Gosse’s Aquarium.

sctud
fp
we

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Manx Cats.—In the Burmese empire this species
of eat is well known, and a military friend, who was
with the army in the conquest of that country,
brought me a pairfrom Ava, from which I had
quite a little family at Madras, and made a most
acceptable present of them to an officer on leaving
India. You are in error in stating that this species
of eat have not tails, for there is a little screw-like
knot, which forms a singular little round tuft of hair,
being the only tail, if such it may be called. [ know
the Manx cat very well, having seen them often at
Wiehton, in Galloway, where I was in early life, and
have since been upwards of thirty-six years in India,
of which I spent fifteen in Calcutta.—David Ross.

Insects oF Nova Scorra.—In 1863, being
obliged to leave Bermuda on account of failing
health, during the summer months I took my pas-
sage in the Cunard steamer 4/pha, and in four days
found myself in Halifax, Nova Scotia. ‘The passage
was an exceedingly pleasant one, and made very
attractive to me by having to cross the Gulf Stream.
That stream, as most of your readers may know, is
almost as clearly defined in the ocean as any river
can be inland. ‘he temperature and colour of the
water, the natural productions,. and especially the
gulf-weed, all proclaim that you are in it, and at
certain seasons of the year you are unmistakably
warned of its neighbourhood by the violent storms,
generally accompanied with lightning and thunder,
that agitate its surface. On arriving in Halifax, after
afew days spent in town, I proceeded to the house
of my friend, J. M. Jones, Esq. (author of “ ‘fhe
Naturalist in Bermuda’), a most ardent naturalist,
and with whom I had spent previcusly many happy
and interesting hours m Bermuda. His house is
situated in the woods, or rather, I should say, in the
“forest primeval,’ for man has never disturbed the
country in some directions for hundreds of miles.
There, roaming in the woods, J regained in great
measure the strength I sought for. Havine been an
enthusiastic entomologist in earlier days, 1 was soon
attracted by the number and beauty of the insects,
especially the buttertlies, flitting around me; so,
providing myself with a box, I set to work, and in a
few weeks filled it. Forms exceedingly rare in
England seemed quite common. he clouded yellow
was more abundant than our cabbage butterflies.
Ywo of the Fritillary tribe were very common
(Cybele and Aphrodite, I believe), and later in Sep-
tember the scarce painted-lady and the only white
butterfly in that part of the American continent,
Pieris oleracea. J captured duplicate specimens of
those | have mentioned, and shall be glad to send
them to any of your readers who may care to possess
them, as I do not desire to keep a collection of in-
sects myself, but am much interested in shells.
Where it is possible, I shall be very glad to receive
any English or foreign land-shell or fresh-water
duplicates in exchange (I may just mention that I
could make up a series or two of those of Bermuda
for any person who wished, and could exchange
others). I ought to mention the ‘‘ Camberwell
beauty,” which is a common sight in the streets of
Halifax ; but of such I was too late to capture many
specimens. I enclose my card, and should any of
your readers care to have the insects, my best plan
will be to forward the specimens to you.n—Z'. B. F.

Tue Hive-BEr AND Its Stine.— After using its
sting, the bee will always carefully withdraw it, if

SCIEN CHE-GOSSIP.

[June 1, 1865,

possible. In this case, the bee does not die; but
only when it loses its sting by being unable to with-
draw it. When two queen-bees fight, each takes all
possible care not to inflict the death-wound_ till she
can do so without being stung in return. Her ad-

ersary’s body is soft enough to allow her to with-
draw her sting uninjured. “EH. W.’s” query is one
which cannot always be answered. It is not an un-
common occurrence for bees to quit their hive
without any apparent cause.—l/, 4. L.

Cieaninc Ossects.—Will any correspondent
kindly tell me how to clean the pedicellaria of
echini and starfishes? By cleaning, [ mean getting
rid of the membrane by which both the head
and the stern are enveloped, and which renders them
opaque, even in balsam. Water is useless, and liquor
potassee causes the three members of the head to
separate and fall apart — 7. W. 8S.

Incupatine Rozin.—I cut the following para-
eraph from a Reading paper the other day; can any
of your readers corroborate the alleged fact ?—“ A
robin is now sitting on eggs in a garden near South-
ampton. ‘ihe nest isin a hole ina brick wall, near
the ground where a cat prowls. Redbreast, how
ever, is safe unless she should happen to be seen by
Grimalkin, for the hen bird cannot be scented during
incubation—a wise provision of nature. Hven the
female fox, when with young, has no scent, and can-
not be hunted.” I have said alleged fact, for I have
great doubts on the matter, my own experience
evidencing to the contrary. —/V. I. 8.

Care Hens.—The Cape hen belongs to the family
of the petrels, and is the Procellaria Atlantica of
Gould, andis one of the most common oceanic
birds.—W. 1. 8.

Cotour oF Brrps’ Eees.—A question is asked in
the February number of ScirrncE Gossip as to
whether the eges eurliest or latest laid are deepest in
colour, or most definitely marked. Many years’ close
observation leads me unhesitatingly to say that the
earliest-laid eggs possess this distinction. I have
paid much attention to the subject, and on two
occasious have had singularly favourable opportu-
nities for verifying my assertion. These were re-
spectively the eggs of the Nuthatch (Sitte Europea)
and the Robin. Both nests were in such a position
that I could examine them daily, and I founda
gradual diminution in the intensity of the ground-
colour and markings in the eggs of each species, the
jist-laid egg being far darker mn colour, and possess-
ing more numerous markings. I think this is a
result we might reasonably expect, for the glands
seereting the colouring matter would naturally
become more and more exhausted of their contents
as each egg passed through the oviduct. Before |
sa thie query I never heard this fact questioned.—

oe

Hisstne or Sxaxe AND Virer.—There is a dif-
ference between the hissing of these two serpents
which I think is not generally known. The viper
after each hiss always makes an equal noise in
drawing his breath in again. The snake hisses much
louder, but does not draw in again—/P. 2. Tate.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE.—On page 118 I observe
aquery: ‘ Does this plant ever flower in England ?”
In 1861 I saw several specimens in blossom in a
kitchen-garden in Brompton, Middlesex ; the owner
looked on them as great curiosities, having previously

Ps

JUNE 1, 1865. ]

SCLENCH-GOSSIP.

believed that the flowers were unknown in this
country. They much resemble those of the common
sunflower, a member of the same genus, but are
smaller in size—B. W.H. says it flowers occa-
sionally in Cornwall in kot summers, and Dr. Liveit
has had it flower several times during the past ten or
twelve years, at Wells, in Somersetshire.

A Sprper Hoax.—Several correspondents have
sent us the following, which is going the round of
the country papers :—‘ A sudden panic fell upon the
worshippers on Haster Sunday in a large church at
Lisbon. An enormous spider was suddenly seen to
descend to an ancient web that is said to have existed
for many years. The creature was so formidable,
that the women began to scream, and a scene of
general terror and excitement followed. When
Arachne was captured, she was found to be, with
legs extended, nearly five feet long. She weighed
six pounds.” Could this have originated in a mis-
take, or is it an intentional hoax? We should like
to see a fragment of its web.

Brrs’ Rematns.—The other day I saw, under a
shrub, the cases of five humble-bees; the head and
body were eaten away, but the fur and wings were
not the least injured; and when I first saw them, I
thought the bees were alive. Can you tell me what
had eaten them in this artistic manner ?—/. O.

An Aquarium QurERy.—Can you tell me any
way of preventing the curious fungus, or whatever
it is, like iron rust, which grows on the glass of
fresh-water aquariums ?—G. R. B.

A Virrr Story.—I have a well-authenticated
account of a viper followmg a woman from a wood
across two meadows and a plank thrown athwart a
stream, up to her cottage door, and even then
making an attempt to spring to an upper window
from which the pursued surveyed her pursuer. JI
can have no doubt of the fact from the character of
my informant, and his wife’s mother was the woman
in question. The reason of the creature’s perti-
nacity is said to be that the woman it followed was,
at the period in which the circumstance occurred,
suckling a child. Canit be true that a viper has a
predilection for baby’s food? Also, is the fat of a
roasted viper a certain cure for its bite? Of this I
am strongly assured.—A.

N.B.—It is a pity our correspondent did not
observe the fact himself. However, he accepts the
responsibility, and as a clergyman and a gentleman
we are bound to give him credence.—Ep. 8. G.

PARIS QUADRIFOLIA.—In gathermesomespecimens
of this plant I found two or three with five leaves
instead of four. All the other parts of the flowe:
had the usual number till I came to the pistil, where
one carpel was deficient, so that, taking the plant as
a whole, the number of parts were perfect, but the
distribution of them was imperfect. Can any of
your correspondents inform me whether, in the de-
viation from the normal condition of this plant, they
have noticed the same agreement in the aggregate?
—A. Grugeon.

VALERIANA DiIotca.—I gathered this plant some
years ago in Nazing Meads, Essex, where it was
very abundant, but only obtained two female flowers.
I have gathered the same plant again these last two
years in another locality, an“? have not succeeded in
obtaiing even one female: Is this disparity in the
sexes general, and if so, may not these same male
plants in some seasons produce female flowers ?—
Alfred Grugeon.

148

Ants AND CINERARIA Maritima.—Ants seem to
have a great liking for Cineraria maritima. Last
year in my garden I had many plants in divers
situations ; some in the ground, others in vases and
baskets; but no matter their situation, they were
severally chosen by the ants as a temporary abode,
and were built round by them like a tower, inclosing
the stem to the top of the plant, which of course
drooped and died under such treatment. I did not
disturb their work, being curious to know why
they did it.—Z#. W. Edmonds.

_AscLepias Seeps.—I havea small lot of American
silkweed or milkweed seeds (Asclepias Syriaca)
lately suggested as a new substitute for cotton, of
which I shall be pleased to send a few (for micro-
scopic examination, &c.) to those inclosing a
stamped directed envelope to VW. #. Williams, Jun.,
M.D., Corsham, IVilts.

ORNITHOLOGICAL QuERIES.—Will any of your
travelled readers tell me if they have ever scen, or
heard from reliable authority, of swallows being
seen in any numbers migrating towards Europe, in
the spring of the year, across France or Spain?
Also, if they have ever seen, or heard, of szvallows
existing in New Zealand? I ask these questions,
as 1 cannot, with all my research at the British Mu-
seum Library, discover aflirmative evidence of the
former fact, whilst I find it stated by Mr. E. Layard,
the naturalist, that “no swallows visit New Zealand,
though they abound in Australia, 1,200 miles distant
therefrom.” And another naturalist, Mr. O. Salvin,
reports that on his voyage to South America in the
steamer Atrato, May, 1859, ‘‘ they encountered
swallows (the Azrundo rustica species) 180 miles to
the N.W. of the Azores,” or, mm fact, 1,400 miles
from the west coast of Africa, whence they were
migrating (Qy. to Europe or North America?) As
the swallow is found in North and South Africa,
from Tunis to the Cape of Good Hope; in North
and South America, from Cape Horn to the Mac-
kenzie river, within the Arctic circle; and through-
out Europe and Asia, as high up as Bodoe, in
the former, lat. N. 67°, and Pekin in the latter,
why should it shun New Zealand so exceptionally,

-with its temperate climate and its food-abounding
lakes and woodlands 9—Z. LF. A.

HepGrnoes EATING Eces.—Ii kept one foratime,
and used to give it birds’ eggs as a treat, which it
appeared to enjoy very much.—. Bunnyard.

Natrersack.—‘ This word is a corruption of two
German words, Natter, ‘an adder, and jack,
‘cut short,’ ” writes Mr. W. R. Tate in reply to the
query at page. 118. We think that Wazter is in
itself probably derived from Neder, Anglo-Saxon
Nedre, “nether” or “lower,” from the creeping
habit of the adder to which it belonged, under the
form of eddre; and gager, “one who runs,” is very
applicable to such a running reptile as the Natter-
jack. Morecver, words compounded of xieder have
the signification of some place or object lying low,
and jager or gagd in such a combination would not
be inapplicable to the Natterjack tead.

Satuon Maut.—In answer to the note at page
119, R.A. quotes from an old ‘‘ Art of Angling” pub-
lished in 1774: “Those (salmon) that are taken in
the river Mersey in Cheshire, the first year are called
smelts, the second sprods, the third morts, the
fourth fork-tails, the fitth halffish, and in the sixth,
when they have attaimed their proper growth, are
‘thought worthy of the name of sa/mow,”

144.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jone 1, 1865.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Att communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of cach
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations. Allnotes, queries, or articles for insertion, must
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
may be withheld from publication if so desired.

Queries.—Having been inundated with questions, we are
compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer
those of which the querist might satisfy himself by an appeal
to any elementary book on the subject. Weare always pre-
pared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish
the replies, provided some of our readers, beside the querist,
are likely to take aniaterest in them.

We cannot undertake to return “rejected addresses.”’

SuppressEp NAMeES.—Our correspondent Mr. Ralph Tate
regrets that writers should suppress their names, because
publication would authenticate the facts narrated, and sup-
pression could scarcely be justified when the interests of
science are regarded. Other correspondents have communi-
cated similar views. We do not insert any communications
unless guaranteed by the name and address of the writer ;
and wherever facts are recorded, would always prefer pub-
lishing the names of the respective contributors, but we
cannot make it imperative. In ‘* Notes and Queries ’? we
think that querists are entitled to employ initials only.

InFusoRIAL Eartru.—A correspondent has a little from
Algeria, which he is willing to exchange for deposits from
other localities. Address F. White, 1, New Road East,
London.

CarBonite.—T. B. T. is referred to page 96.

J. M. McV.—No good can accrue from re-opening the
Snake-stone controversy; it has been widely discussed, and,
in default of fresh facts, would only occupy space which
might be better filled.

E. R.—We can only afford space to record fucts, and must
leave the deductions therefrom to our réaders. ~

J. A. N.—The siskin was not included in our list of migra-
tory birds, because a few remain with us through the year.

W. A.—Itis an occasional occurrence.

W.G.S.—it is clear that the entire paragraph alluded to
at page 88 was erroneous. See also note on page 114.

P. H. B.—We gave a list of works on shells at page 48.

W. B. D.—There are many places and many prices at which
land tortoises may be purchased in London. You had better
commission some friend in town to procure you one.

H. G. S.—See our reply to H. G. at page 96. Newman's
Butterfly number of ‘‘ Young England’? may be had either
of the author, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, London; or
of the publisher, Tweedie, Strand, London.

A. E. L.—(1.) At present we cannot. (2.) Because cinders,
having been burnt, contain no spores or mycelium of fungi.

W. A. L.—Aquarium article declined with thanks. The
fragment on “ Zoology at the Exhibition ’? we scarcely think
advisable to publish.

G. L. and R. B.—So many methods are recommended, and
all but partially successful. Beetle wafers, phosphor paste,
crickets, tortoises, hedgehogs, traps, cucumber parings, &c.,
all have their advocates. None, we believe, so effectual as
the hedgehog.

KE. M. E.—The Socicty of Amateur Botanists meets at 192,
Piccadilly. Ladies are eligible. Write to the Secretary fora
prospectus at the above address.

R. D. B.—A continuation of growth, for a limited period,
of such aquatic plants, when separated from their roots and
placed in water, is by no means extraordinary.

T. P. B.—Your suzgestion might be entertained, but for the
regulation at pp. 24 and 96, whence you will observe that lists
are inadmissible, and we have uo de-ire to depart from this
feature in our plan,

H. F.—Itis a common circumstance, unfortunately, for flsh
in aquaria to be thus attacked. Sce our present aud previous
numbers.

SALAMANDERS.—Mr. G. Hl. King, of 190, Great Portland
Street, informs us that he has plenty of these reptiles to dis-
pose of.

P. H. B.—Some fungi are very difficult to preserve. The
methods employed are detailed in Cooke’s ‘‘ British Fungi,”
published by Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly. Price 6s. Yours is
probably a morell, and, if suspended by a string, will dry in
acurrent of air, but shrivel a little in the process.

W. W. K.—Your nut is called “‘ Coquillo,”’ and is the fruit of
a palm known to botanists as Altalea funifera. The insects
Margarodes Jen belong to the Coccidz, a family of
beetles.— J. O.

P.C.— We ee of no means of acquiring the names of
plants without application. There is no ‘royal road to
knowledge.’? We should think ERentham’s ‘‘ Handbook of the
British Flora,’’ published at 12s., the easiest and best for your
purpose.

E. M. W.—The book you refer to is E. W. Janson’s
“ Beetles,” 29 plates, 4to., with many figures on each. It
could be obtained through any respectable bookseller. The
‘‘rose linnet’”’ is the ‘‘common linnet’’ in its nuptial dress.

G. Day.—The Entomological Society of London consists of
members (who pay an admission-fee cf two guineas and an
annual contribution of one guinea) and subscribers (who pay
the same annual contribution, but are exempt from any ad-
mission-fee). For further particulars apply to the Secretary,
12, Bedford-row, London, W.C.

Watrorp.—The poison of wasps and their allies is only
injurious when it enters the blood. In the case referred to
the child must have been stung internally. The stings of wasps
and bees are active for ten or twelve hours after the death of
the insect.

R.S. 8.—Your iridescent green beetles are called Chryso-
mela fustuosa, Linn. Their family is Chrysomelide. Weare
not aware that they have any economic application.—F. M.

A. L. D.—It is difficult, from so brief and general a descrip-
tion, to say what bird it was. It might possibly be a ‘‘ siskin.”

J.C.—Eggs of the chaffinch are occasionally found of a
uniform dull blue colour.

C. Carron.— Your specimen, sent some time since, on ash-
bark, is one of the incomplete or transitionary Con‘omycetal
fungi, possibly only spermogones, and, in that state at least
has not been named or described. The asci, of course, are
wanting ; spores free, fusiform, quadrilocular, ‘hyaline. If
you are very desirous of aname, call it Septoria frazinicola.

H. S.—There is no doubt about this microscope being still
to be had. We desire to give no opinion concerning any
particular instrument or maker.

E. $:—Your moss appears.to be a-variety of Brywm caspiti-
cium, but will be worthy of a re-examination when tlic
capsules are more mature. It is, at any rate, an interesting
variety.—J. E. W.

E. F. M.—Ozone test-papers may be had on application to
Haselden & Co., 18, Conduit-street, London.

W. (Ross).—Your name and address is lost.
replace it.

“AMATEUR MicroscopicaL Socrety.—Gentlemen willing
to join such a society, should it be instituted, are solicited
to contribute their names to W. G., care of Editor of ScIENCE-
Gossip, 192, Piccadilly.

Please to

—_—— 5

A Hint ror Conrrisurors.—lIf our contributors will oblige
us by always using the common names of plants, animals,
insects, &c., wherever there is a common name in use, to
be followed by the scientific name in brackets, this will save
us alarge amount of trouble in sending their manuscript
to press. As we do not pretend to address scientific readers -
alone, vernacular names are indispensable.

ComMUNICATIONS ReEcEIVED.—S, A. J.—R.—W. W. K.—
J.C. H.—R. T.—W. G.—M. J. C.—M. McV.—H. L.—W. A. L.
—F. W. M.—W. H. G.—G. R. B.—R. S. S.—L. W. G.—R.. B.
—A. L.—R. BL—W. W. S.—P. H. B.—A. E. L.—R. A.—
KE. M. E.—E. M. W.—G,. L.—J. B. F.—F. K.—S. W.—E. R.—
J.H.B.—T.S.—H. F.—A. G.— Watford.—G. H. G.— W. E. W.
—J.S.—H. W.—W. G. S.—T. P. B.—W. J. B.—H. B.—J. H.
—R. H.—W. W. K.—J.C.—A. M. B.—J. B. A.—H. E. A.—
ale ee M.—E. F. M.—W. B. D.—R. D. B.—W. M.—
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—sS.O.—B. J.—W. W. C.—G. G. L.—M. P.—H. Janson.—
R. H. M.—McI.—J. A.—G. H. K.—E. M.—B. B. S8.—A. H.—
W. iH. R.--J. E. W.

LocaL NAMES.—RicnArp Tyrer.—B.

BOOKS RECEIVED.
“Grorocy AS A BrRancn OF GENERAL Epucation.” By
David Page, F.R.S.E., F.G.8S., &c. (London. W. Black-
wood & Sons.)

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.

Hamiet. To what base uses we may return, Horatio!

Why may not imagination trace the noble

dust of Alexander till he find it stopping a bung-hole ?
Horatio. ’Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so.
Hamlet. No, faith, not a jot, but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to

- lead it.
OVERTY makes: man acquainted with strange
bedfellows, and philosophizing, or indulging in
day-dreams, will often lead a man’s thoughts in
a very tortuous direction, and terminate in some
unexpected climax. It appears, for instance, almost
as absurd as to say that ‘‘ black is white,” to affirm
that literally “fall flesh is grass.” Yet, curious
enough, the “éirele of life” passes from the mineral,
through the vegetable, to the animal world, until it
returns to “mother earth” again. The old doctrine
of “transmigration of souls” may find but few
believers in the West, but the transmigration of
bodies is one of the facts of science. We might
trace the hand that holds these pages, and the lips
that smile over them, to the green grass of the
meadows, the waving corn-field, the strawberry-bed,
and through them to the mountain torrent, the
limestone rock, and the dunghill.

If we would have the facts stated in a plain
matter-of-fact way, let Professor Huxley do it for
us. “The plant,” he says, “gathers iorganic
materials together and makes them up into its own
substance. The animal eats the plant and appro-
priates the nutritious portions to its own sustenance,
rejects and gets rid of the useless matters; and,
finally, the animal itself dies, and its whole body
is decomposed and returned into the inorganic
world. There is thus a constant circulation from
one to the other, a continual formation of organic
life from inorganic matters, and as constant a return
cf the matter of living bodies to the inorganic
world; so that the materials of which our bodies
are composed are largely, in all probability, the
substances which constituted the matter of long
extinct creations, but which have in the interval
constituted a part of the organic world.”* Herein
lies, as almost in a nutshell, the philosophy of the
“circle of life.”

Sydney Smith calculated that during sixty years
of lus life he had devoured forty-four one-horse cart-

* Huxley’s ‘‘ Lectures on the Origin of Species,”? London:
Hardwicke.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

loads of meat and drink more than was absolutely
necessary for the support of his body. How many
waggon-loads he really consumed in that period he
does not tell. What an array of lowing bullocks
and bleating sheep must represent, at the end of
half a century’s good living, the animal food a man
consumes. This again represents the nuiritive por-
tion of scores of acres of turnips and pasture, and
we know not how much oil-cake. A cow eats the
grass in the meadow, assimilates all that is nutri-
tious, ejects the rest to aid in producing a crop of
good grass the following year. In the form of milk
and butter, and calves-head, we devour the elabo-
rated grass. The process of assimilation and rejec-
tion is repeated, until at last our bodies, like “the
noble dust of Alexander,” mingle with the soil, are
ultimately turned over with the ploughshare, and
stimulate the growth of fresh grass for cows to eat
centuries hence, and supply milk and butter to
a wiser generation of Hnglishmen, whose remote
ancestors are still in the cradle,

So curious are the speculations in which such a
subject causes us to indulge, that, like Frankenstein,
we would fain flee in terror from the being of our
own creation. We look at our hands and feet, and
inquire whether atom by atom we have not eaten
them; whether we have not been worse than
cannibals, and devoured our own flesh and blood.
Yea it would puzzle the physiologist to tell what
minute portion of our body has not entered by our
mouths. At the same time we day by day add to
the mineral world products analogous to those
which are absorbed by the grass, that feeds the *
cow, that gives us milk, or is eaten herself, to keep
up the unceasing round of the “circle of life.”

Nor is this all. This circle widens as we muse,
and links us with the past as well as the future.
We read of the bony framework of extinct animals,
of monstrous Saurians laid bare by modern excava-
tions, the soil surrounding which is brought to the
surface, and with it the changed and modified flesh
which clad those skeletons in bygone ages, and
now forms an undistinguishable portion of the

ti

146

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Jouny 1, 1865,

soil. This furnishes food and support to vege-
table forms, which in their turn feed the animal
world. Then we, as we draw the knife through the
juicy sirloin, separate atoms, which perhaps once
clad the bones of monsters now reposing on the
shelves of our museums, but which tenanted our

.

island long before it was an island or naked British
savages existed, :
The philosophic Hamlet might thus muse :—
Imperial Czesar, dead, and turn’d to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away ;
O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,
Should patch a wall to expel the wister’s flaw!

But we are prepared to go far beyond him in our
musings; and whereas he only contemplated the
animal returning to the mineral world, we recognize
it rising from the mineral through the vegetable,
culminating in the animal, and sinking into the
earth again, and thus completing one link of a con-
tinuous chain, one round of the “circle of life.”
But, how of the future? If our bodies on their
dissolution are destined to contribute to the suste-
nance of unborn generations, shall we not strive that
our intellectual powers shall have an influence in
that future? Shall we not endeavour to contribute
something to the store of human knowledge, to
devise some diminution of human pain, to contrive
some additional source of human pleasure? Shall
we not, in addition to our legacy of bones and dust,
which a dead horse could bequeath as well, and
which extinct reptiles have bequeathed to us, leave

behind us also some memorials of a higher “circle
of life’?

WoELAD SEALY Y= DD.”
(Platyphyllum concavum.)

r¥XO the wanderer in the wild solitudes of a pri-

meval forest, the voice of each animal, the
note of every bird, the chirp and buzz of
insects, the whispering wind, or the rolling flood,
has some decp mysterious meaning. The sounds
produced, whether denoting love, anger, or fear,
generally bear a fancied resemblance to names that
are familiar to him. Thus one of the goatsuckers
(Cauprimulgus vociferus) has been named the “ Whip
poor-Will;”’ another (Cap. carolinensis), ‘ Chuck-
Wills-widow ;” a third, “ Whip-Tom-Kelly.” The
Carolina quail, “ Bob-white;” the rice-bunting,

“ Bobby-link ;” an Australian kingfisher, “ the
Laughing Jackass; ” a marmot, “ the Rock

Whistler ;” and so on ad infinitum. In this way
one of the most conspicuous grasshoppers (Platy-
phylum concavum) found in North-west America
has obtained the name of “ Katy-did.”

In the quiet evening, as the sun steals off behind
the hills, and the busy hum of the insect world

gradually dies away, and birds, one by one, warble |

their vesper hymns and settle down to sleep; then it
is the plaintive ceaseless song of the Katy-did rings
out from every tree and flower. Its persistent com-
plaint, that “Katy did it—she did, she did,” often
recalls pleasant recollections, giving rise to many
curious conjectures as to the origin and meaning of
its singular ery.

Every act of animated nature, to the thoughtful
mind, points out some unseen path, from the crea-
ture up to the hand that made it. Who can watch the
toiling ant, the busy bes, or the little squirrel piling
in its winter hoard, without growing wiser, learning
contentment, and that golden lesson one should
treasure through life’s pilerimage—that sure success
generally follows untiring industry. Again, the
metamorphosis of the crawling caterpillar into the
bright and gaily-tinted butterfly, has in all ages been
asouree of hope and comfort, typifying a higher,
a purer life. Hach animated atom of creation bears
the stamp of some great moral or intellectual signi-
ficance, appealing alike to the poet’s enthusiasm,
the naturalist’s all-absorbing love of nature, the
philosopher’s insatiable desire to penetrate hidden
mysteries, and to man’s universal conviction, “that
naught was made in vain.”

Now, what Katy-did has again and again roused
up such thoughts as these. A poet, I believe an
American, supposes himself to have asked this little
tell-tale the cause of its continual assertion Katy-
did, and in answer obtained some hints as to clan-
destine mectings between a Miss Katy, more fair
than prudent, and her lover. He says:

But never fear me, gentle one, nor waste a thought or tear,
Lest I should whisper what I heard in any mortal ear;

I only sport among the boughs, and, like a spirit hid,

I think on all I saw and heard, and laugh out— Katy-did.

I’m seen among the leaves here, when evening zephyrs sigh,
And those that listen to my voice I love to mystify ;

T never tell them what I know, although I’m often bid,

But laugh at curiosity, and chirruap—Katy-did.

This beautiful little insect belongs to the order
Orthoptera, in English straight-winged ; about an
inch and a half in length; its wings, when fully ex-
tended, about three inches from tip to tip, of a pale
ereen colour, and in texture like beautiful gauze.
The wing-coverts are of a darker green than the
wings, and so curiously veined as to exactly re-
semble a leaf. It is next to impossible, when the
insect is at rest, to make them out to be anything
but leaves. In the males, at the base of the wing-
cover, is a hard glassy membrane tightly stretched,
and in shape somewhat like a doll’s eye. ‘There are
two of these plates, which, rubbed together by the
movement of the wing-converts, produce the sound
peculiar to these insects.

So chirps the grasshopper one good-night carol more ;
He is an evening revellev, who makes
His life an infancy, and sings his fill.

Tt is only the males that possess these curious

Joxy 1, 1865.)

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 147

sound-producing appendages, and they only can tell
what Katy-did, poor Katy herself being obliged to
remain silent and listen to the music of her lord.
The female can be readily distinguished from the
male,—having a long sword-like ovipositor at
the extremity of the abdomen. This she uses for
boring holes in the ground, in which to deposit
her eggs; which are laid about September, and
hatched in the ensuing spring. I have often
watched their proceedings; and most interesting and
amusing it is, and easily managed, by putting a pair
of these little leaf-like gems, male and female, into
a glass globe with a layer of turf at the bottom,
which must be kept damp, and a piece of net, tied
over the top to prevent escape.

About twilight, the female begins to lay her eggs,
first boring a hole in the ground with her long ovi-
positor, then using it asa tube for dropping the eggs
through into the hole. The male during the whole
time carols away, and keeps asserting, “ Katy-did it
—she did, she did.’ By keeping this earth through
the winter, in the following spring you will obtain
the insect larva quite perfect in everything, but
that of being destitute of wings.

The favourite home of the Katy-did is amongst
the leaves of the ‘‘ Tacha-mahaca”’ (Populus balsami-
jfera). But the “Grasshopper-bird” being a full-
blooded American, true to its proclivities, is given
to spread, and, like a true squatter, everywhere
claims its right of pre-emption. The word Zach
means grasshopper amongst the Indians of the West
and South-west, and a favourite food of the savages
is the mahaca cake, made from the bodies of these
insects, stripped of their wings, sun-dried, or baked
on heated stones, and then ground into flour. Hence
the tree on which the Katy-did is found to be most
abundant has been named by the Indians Zucha-
mahaca.

There are numerous species of the genus; as the
narrow-leaved Katy-did (Phaneroptera angustifolia),
the oblong leaf-winged Katy-did (Phylloptera oblon-
gifolia), the sword-bearer (Cenocephalus ensiger).
The tropics also supply innumerable instances, where
the resemblance to leaves and twigs is so truthful
that one ceases to feel surprised at the fabulous ac-
counts that have been published of leaves metamor-
phosed into insects, and insects into leaves and
sticks. In an American work of comparatively
modern date we read, “On this continent an ani-
mated insect often changes itself into a lifeless plant
by putting its feet into the ground and allowing them
to take root, when they steadily become the stems
of a foliated plant.”

The “Vegetable insect,” from Australia, headed
several articles in our own papers some few years
ago, which turned out to be only a parasitic plant,
growing from the body of a caterpillar of a hawk-
moth, In the silkworm a minute fungus (Botrytis

bassiana) completely fills the interior of the worm,
then bursting through the skin, covers the entire
body with a white efflorescence. As a proof how
simple matters of science may become magnified into
marvellous stories by the uneducated, I will briefly
relate a fact that came under my immediate notice.

About three years ago, when residing at Esqui-
malt, Vancouver’s Island (then naturalist to the
British North American Boundary Commission), a
message reached me that a merchant at Victoria had
just received a most wonderful monster, brought to
him by an Indian fisherman. The messenger informed
me that he had seen the beast; that it was “half
bird, half sheli-fish ;” possessed a perfectly-formed
beak, head, and neck, but enclosed in shell as hard
as limestone, and “breathed just for all the world
likea Christian.” Off I started post-haste. Dreams
of immortalizing myself by a grand and wonderful
discovery—perhaps doing “ Barnum,” or giving to
the world anew and unknown link in the chain of
species. Imagine my disgust at being shown only a
huge rock-barnacle, vigorously opening and shutting
its valvular mouth, impatiently awaiting the an-
xiously-expected tide.

The owner, a “keen down-easter,” literally
laughed at my explanation, deeming it aruse to
obtain the wonderful bird-fish at my own price. Of
course it died, and I then had it for nothing, and
its shell now figures in the British Museum as a
monster Ballanus. The old story of the Barnacle
geese over again.

Read what quaint old Du Bartas says :—

So slow Bootes underneath him sees,

In th’ icy islands, goslings hatch’d of trees,
Whose fruitful leaves, falling into the water,

Are turn’d, ’tis known, to living fuwls soon after,
So rotten planks of broken ships do change

To Barnacles. Oh, tranformation strange!

*Twas first a green tree; then a broken hull;
Lately a mushroom; now a flying gull.

In the vegetable world, like strange transforma-
tions, believed by the woodsman to be the work of
enchantment, constantly take place. To cite one
instance, where a mahogany-tree changes into a
gamboge-tree, a process the mahogany-chopper be-
lieves to be due to an evil spirit haunting the woods.

The pods of the Clusia alba et rosea (one of the
trees producing the yellow pigment known as gam-
boge), when fully matured, burst, and the seeds,
enveloped in a thick adhesive material, descend to
the ground like so many spiders or caterpillars, sus-
pended by a fine thread-like filament. As the seeds
swing, blown about by the wind, it often happens
that some of them are driven against, and stick fast
to a mahogany-tree, take root in the bark, and in
the course of a few years change its entire character.
The trunk of the mahogany-tree dies, its branches
drop off, and in its place stands its usurper, the
gamboge-tree. J. K. Lorn, F.Z.8.

L2

148

DIATOMS FROM GUANO.

ese excellent article on “ Cleaning Diatomaces”’

in the number of Scrence Gossip for
March leaves but little to be desired on that point.
Yet, notwithstanding all the care that may be taken,
many operators, especially those on guano, will feel
dissatisfied with the results they obtain, on account
of the mass of foreign matters which, with all their
care, will still cling to their deposits, and mar the
beauty of their slides. ‘Ilo those who may be
desirous to obtain fair preparations without this
defect, I would recommend a modification of a plan
hinted at by Carpenter, and which I have practised
with some success.

I take a slide, well cleaned, and with a dipping-
tube put a narrow line of the deposit along its
margin: the line should not be more than one inch
long, and a quarter of an inch broad. I then place
the slide under a simple microscope of moderate
power, and I can easily distinguish the different
diatoms, even those that are small. I select a large
one at first, and with a stout needle I push it out of
the water, a thin stream following towards the
centre of the slide. When near the centre, [ raise up
gently the remote edge of the slide, and then push
the diatom out a little, when it becomes “high and
dry” on the centre of the slide. In a similar
manner, one after another, I put out as many as I
please to select, the process becoming easier as I
proceed, as the water returns more readily with the
needle, and leaves the diatom dry in its proper place.
Having exhausted the store of select diatoms in the
line, I wipe it off carefully without touching the dry
diatoms, and then I put down with the dipping-tube
another similar narrow line, and proceed as before.
I have, in this way, on one slide, taken the choice
diatoms out of twenty such narrow lines. No doubt
it required time and skilful manipulation, but it
became very pleasant and interesting, every fresh
portion of deposit laid down affording fresh objects
for search, and sometimes new prizes for preserva-
tion. The number of diatoms which I place on one
slide varies according to the circumstances. On
one occasion the first search gave me a specimen of
Auliscus formosus: this I put out and mounted
alone, a perfect disc, and a beautiful object, which
of itself repays me for the time occupied. At ano-
ther time, after putting out a number, I obtained a
valve with eight highly inflated marginal processes,
an example of which I have not yet seen figured. I
was then satisfied, and mounted the slide; but in
general I proceed until I have nearly two hundred
perfect and clean discs nicely placed in the centre of
aslide; and in no case have I occupied more than
one long evening of a summer day in the prepara-
tion and mounting of one of my slides.

When a sufficient number of diatoms have been ob-

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

.guano by the method I have given.

iJuLy J, 1865.

tained, they appear to the naked eye as a small cir-
cular white spot on the slide. I then heat the slide
ona brass table, and take some balsam ona stout
wire, and place a thin circle of the balsam round the
diatoms, taking care to place just so much as may be
required. I then drop acircular cover on the
balsam, which speedily runs in and fills the space
under the cover without disturbing the diatoms. I
then place the slide in a drawer, lying flat for a week
or two, until the balsam becomes tolerably hard.

The advantages of the above method will be, in
part, apparent from what I have said; I may,
therefore, only mention, that by it the student
would become quite familiar with the appearances of
diatoms in water, dry, and in balsam; and it is
needless to say that these-appearances vary, and are
instructive. Further, slides can thus be obtained,
each containing only one sort of diatom, and this will
be often desirable for scientific purposes.

Before closing this paper, I wish to mention a few
of the results of my observation in working Peruvian
Auliscus
Peruvianus, which has been figured in the Micio-
scopical Journal, is a diatom rather small; in water
it appears of an even tawny or yellow colour, deli-
cate, and not very attractive In appearance. When
dry it becomes quite opaque, and the two processes
of a single valve shine brightly in the gloom of the
general appearance.

In balsam it becomes very transparent, and re-
quires a tolerably good glass and proper illumination
to display the faint markings of the now interesting
valve. Another diatom of the class duliscus appears
in water reddish and delicate—dry it seems dark and
lurid—and in balsam grey, with sometimes a reddish
centre when seen under a low power. Nothing
could be more different than the appearances of
these diatoms in the three different mediums.

Again, a small diatom of the class Asfero-
lampra, When put out of water with a needle, drics
quickly, becomes quite dark in colour, and then
jumps like a flea, an inch or two to one side, or it
may be off the slide altogether. Should it be on the
slide, it can easily be pushed back dry to the others ;
but if the needle be so damp as to wet the diatom,
it quickly dries, and then jumps again. Diatoms
of this class are, for the most part, most distinctly
marked when dry.

Many other things worth note might be added,
but enough has been said forthe present. In giving
the above, I do not mean to advocate the ex-
clusive adoption of my plan. It is well that
various methods should be in use, as each may lead
to the discovery of facts contributing to the mass of
general knowledge. Besides, many may be deficient
in patience and manipulative skill for success in its
adoption; but I feel persuaded that many more
who fail in cleaning their gatherings and mounting

-

JuLy 1, 1865.]

to their satisfaction, would by this way, with the
ordinary patience and practice which are necessary
for success in any pursuit, succeed in preparing good
and clean slides, and acquire the means of opening
up for themselves a fund of pleasurable and profit-
able microscopic entertainment, in working with
guano and other fossil deposits, even in the dark
and dreary days of winter, when nature affords but a
limited supply of other objects for microscopic study
and investigation.

Armagh. Lewis G. Mitts, LL.B.

LONDON ROCKET.
(Sisymbrium Lio.)
T is a curious circumstance respecting this plant,
that after the great fire in London, in 1666, a
most abundant crop of it sprung up over many acres
of the ruins. Dr. Morrison, Professor of Botany at
Oxford, one of our earliest writers on Systematic
Botany, and who lived at that time, has a long
dialogue on the subject, a translation of which (it is
written in Latin) may perhaps amuse some of your
readers. The parties are a Botanist anda Fellow of
some society.

Bot. On the 2nd day of September, in the year
1666, began that lamentable fire which lasted three
or four days, and which could not be extinguished
by any human means. Indeed, it was brought about
by Divine Providence ; for “ shall there be evil in a
city and the Lord hath not done it?” The east
wind, having opened (if I may so express it) the
prison of the winds, raged all that time. About
eleht months afterwards, I was taking a walk among
the ruins, which covered nearly two hundred acres,
and coming near to the old Exchange, formerly
called Gresham College, I observed among the fallen
buildings a very large quantity of a species of wild
mustard, which Columna calls the smooth rocket-
leaved Irio. Returning to the same place in about
two months’ time, the plants had grown to sucha
size that they might have been reaped like a crop of
wheat.

Soc. Well, whence do you suppose arose such
an abundance of the plant—from sowing the seed ?

Bot. What can induce you to put such a question,
since all the buildings about St. Paul’s and in the
centre of the famous city of London have been
built and stood a thousand, or at least, many hundred
years ?

Soc. Then I suppose that the seed, having been
concealed in cellars or cavities of the earth, sprang
up when exposed to the sun and rain.

Bot. Let me say, Iam not a Pliny to impose upon
the world the stories of other men; nor am l a
Matthiolus, to invent what never existed ; but if
you wish, I will tell you my mind in plain unvar-
nished words,

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

149

Soc. Say on.

Bot. The seed of no plant, how carefully so ever
kept, will grow after ten years, very rarely after
five, much less after some hundreds or a thousand
years.

Soc. Then some one sowed these seeds among the
ruins ?

Bot. I do not believe, nay I am sure, so much
seed could not have been found in all Britain, nor in
France, nor in Germany or Italy, in one part of
which, Naples, it grew plentifully in the time of
Columna: so that even had there been persons
willing to sow it, so great an abundance of seed
could not haye been supplied from all these
kingdorns.

Soe. I do not doubt it. Whence, then, do you con-
clude the great abundance cf the rocket came from?
Did it arise spontaneously? At that time you
will have observed that many other pappus-bearing
plants and grasses, and other species sprung up.

Bot. Yes I did.

Soc. Whence came these ?

Bot. A pappus-bearing or downy seed may be e¢ar-
ried many miles by the wind, and wherever it falls
will sprout and grow up.

Soc. 1 do not doubt it: and grasses will spring up
abundantly in any neglected soil: might not, then,
this rocket spring up spontaneously among the
ruins of London ?

Bot. There is a difference between this rocket and
the grasses. Grasses are the most abundant of all
plants, and their seeds are scattered everywhere, and
thus are easily propagated.

Soc. You have already told us that a perfect plant
is propagated only by seed.

Bot, I have always believed, and do still believe
this. I would only ask, do you suppose that this
rocket was sown by some gardener, or other inhabit-
ant of the city among the ruins ?

Soe. Tam sure no one would take the pains, nor
could he obtain sufficient seed for the purpose.
Therefore, as it came neither from sowing nor from
seed by accident, from what source do you suppose
it arose ?

Bot. T certainly shall not endeavour to prove that.
it arose from some volatile or fixed salt—from salt-
petre, sulphur-trampled earth and water, however
mixed—in fact, I know not what to believe. Per-
haps it arose spontaneously. But this opens a
door to certain Rationalistic Philosophers, who hold
that plants of any kind, even trees or shrubs, may
arise from the earth spontaneously, without any
seed. But such an opinion, as it seems to me
is contrary both to sacred Scripture and to reason.
However, I think I have said enough at present.
What remains I leave to be discussed by your
learned Fellows, whether of London or Paris. F’are-
well, Ts

150

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Jury 1,1865.

THE PETHERWIN BEDS.

ibeeio Launceston by the western road, and

taking our way over Windmill Hill, a pleasant
walk of about a mile and a half brings us to a little
valley, through which a stream ‘pleasantly ripples
along; green fields descend to the water’s edge on the
one side and the wooded slopes of Landrake rise on
the other. Crossing the water by a rustic bridge,
and mounting a rather hilly bit of road, by the side
of the wood, we turn in through a gate on the right,
and find ourselves in an old quarry, known as the
Upper, Eastern, or Landrake Quarry, and one of three
on the same range, which lays bare to us those pe-
culiarly constituted rocks known as the Petherwin
beds, rendered familiar to us by the labours of some
of our most eminent geologists.

This quarry is a favourite retreat of ours; many
happy hours have we spent in the old place, making
the rocks ring to the sound of our hammer—to the
amazement, and no doubt the amusement, of the
cottagers below and occasional passers-by, who
whisper “TI wonder what he’s about,” and no doubt
put us down as an eccentric individual, who has
taken to stonecracking to ease his troubled mind.

On hammering away at the shales on either side
of the valley, we are not long in discovering a marked
distinction between the two; those on the Landrake
side being fossiliferous, while those on the Launceston
side are not so.

Associated also with the fossiliferous shales are
irregular bands and nodules of limestone. For-
merly much limestone was raised and burnt there,
but now the kiln is inruins, and the place quite
deserted : the geologist therefore who in these latter
days happens to visit Landrake Quarry will find no
quarryman to apply to for fossils, but must depend
entirely on his own perseverance and skilful use of
his hammer. The place is, however, well worth a
visit; for a suite of very interesting fossils are to
be obtained there. Let us endeavour to give you
some idea of the more characteristic forms drawn
from our own collection.

Among Polyzoa may be found a pretty species of
Lenestella ; but, as is the case with all the fossils
found in the shale, it is but an impression ; notwith-
standing, it is beautiful, its slender radiating ribs,
connected with transverse bars, giving it the appear-
ance of open network.

Among Actinozoa, a beautiful coral from the
limestone, approaching in character to the genus
Cyathophyllum, being marked with deep longitudinal

strie.

Among Lrachiopoda, two species of Orthis, one
Leptana, and several Spirifere. A pretty little shale
Spirifera (S. unguicula) is very plentiful in some
portions of the limestone, while S. disjuncta is found
chiefly in the shale,

The specimens from the shale are all more or less
distorted, but those from the limestone are not thus
affected.

Among Conchifera, one species each of Pullastra,
Cyprecardia, and Pecten.

Among Gasteropoda, Eremphalus is a very charac-
teristic form; but the fossils are generally very im-
perfect.

Among Cephalopoda, Orthoceras is rather plentiful ;
several species from the limestone, also two very
imperfect specimens of (we believe) Clymenia.

Among Crustacea, one trilobite, which Mr. W. Salter
(to whom, through the kindness of Mr. Vicary, the
fossil was sent) pronounces to be avariety of Phacops
latifrons. The specimen in our possession is very
perfect ; and as trilobites are not caught every day
in the Petherwin beds, we will tell you how we got
hold of it. Weremember we had sauntered out tothe
quarry one autumn evening, and had worked away
for an hour or more, with but little success, having
bagged but a few Spirifers, when just at the bottom
of the great rubbish-heap we came upon afew likely-
looking stones, and as we carefully examined them,
expecting, as Mr. Macawber did, in spite of former
reverses, that something would eventually turn up.
Toour great joy, weespied, what weatonce knewmust
be a part of a trilobite. True, there was but a little
bit of his back visible, and that was slightly weather-
worn; many perhaps would have passed it by; but
we had been hunting for this fellow a long, long
time, and at last our labour was rewarded—at last
we could cry “Hureka!’’ The question now was how
to make the most of him—how to get him out of
his hiding-place—would the crab be crabbed, or
would he yield to our gentle persuasions, and come
out of his hole?

Tap, tap, very carefully with our hammer; the
stone gives way, and his tail is set free again ; so—
well done, there is one side of his head with one eye
quite perfect, every lens beautifully preserved. And
now shall we let well alone, or risk one more blow?
Hurrah, fortune favours the brave, see a perfect
specimen of one of the last of the Trilobites.

The most abundant fossils, especially in the middle
quarry, are the Syirifere. It is worth while clam-
bering over a few hedges and jumping a few ditches
to look at this portion of the beds. For several feet
thick the rock is full of them; there they le im-
pressing one another, and you cannot split a fragment
of stone without getting some trace of Spirifera.

Another curious feature connected with the Peth-
erwin fossils is the flattened and contorted appear-
ance they generally present, showing us that at
some period of their history they must have been
subjected to enormous pressure.

So far we have ‘visited two of the quarries; the
third it will be sufficient to mention, as very little is
to be got there, and it is by no means at present a

Juxy 1, 1865. ]

pleasant spot to work in; for it is full of water, and
there is a ghostly reminiscence of a man having
drowned himself there.

As to the age of the Petherwin beds, whether
they are Upper Devonian or Lower Carboniferous,
we leave wiser heads than ours to determine. Our
aim in this little sketch has merely been to while
away half an hour by showing them to you.

Exeter. Frank P, PERKINS,

GOSSAMER SPIDERS.

Nae a week ago I happened to be wandering

round the garden situated at the back of the
house in which I reside. The sun was shining
brightly, and in every direction threads of gossamer
floated through the air, whilst other threads
were stretched like fairy clothes-lines from the plants
to the palings, and from thence to the bean-sticks in
the adjoining garden. Observing that the threads
were in much greater numbers at the lower end of the
garden, induced me to commence a hunt in order
to discover the spinners. A brief search soon dis-
closed their retreat. Clustered together like a swarm
of bees were at least 300 of the tiniest spiders I
ever saw. A general panic was the immediate re-
sult of my touching them. “One and all,” they
scampered off over the large web on which they had
assembled. Some wisely endeavoured to hide under
~ the leaves, others either fell or threw themselves
from the web, and hung suspended by a delicate
thread.

I captured a few of the flying host; then holding
them on my hand, observed a filament of web rapidly
jerked out until sufficiently long to sustain the
little fellow ; when away he went, ascending rapidly,
until quite lost to vision.

Procuring a wine-glass and placing in it some
strong spirit, for the purpose of killing a few of the
spiders, to more carefully examine them with a lens,
Iwas not a little astonished, on taking some of them
out from the spirit after an immersion of several
minutes, to find, as they lay on my hand, the rays of
the sun shining on them through the pocket lens,
that the little victims still had life. First a feeble
kick with one leg, then another performed with two
a trifle stronger ; a third and fourth; and so on, until
they marched away not even tipsy, as free from
harm as if they had lived in spirit for a lifetime.

The spiders were the young of the garden spider

(Zpeira diadema). I relate the fact, as I was not
aware the young of the Zpeira ever floated about
on their webs, a habit I imagined peculiar to a
particular species; neither did I know a young
spider could bear soaking in strong spirit for several
minutes without causing its death. Perhaps, sir,
some reader can tell us more about gossamer spiders,
J. K, Lorn.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 15]

SIX-SPOT BURNET.
K. speaks of this moth as being “very numerous
® on achalky spot above the undercliff,” m the
Isle of Wight. By the way, it zs the true Six-spot
Burnet, known to science as Anthrocera filipendule,
and F, M. is right in so naming it.

This pretty little moth was very abundant last
summer, not only in situations as observed by A. K.,
but in the fields, by the wayside, on the hedges and
on and around every flowering plant that bordered
the paths along the cliffs from Ventnor to Niton,
and thence along the road to Blackgang. Nor
were they less numerous on the heights above the
undercliff; for in addition to the multitudes that
fluttered across our path, every blossom was crowned
with one or more of these brilliant insects.

Many specimens of these lovely moths did I take
off the flowers with my fingers, so tame were they,
andin every instance they proved to be the Six-spot
Burnet, so that I am unable to say if the other
burnet moths inhabit the localities I visited.

The Marbled White butterfly, Arge Galathea, was
scarcely less numerous, especially along the meadows
between Ventnor and Steephill Castle. Tarely
have we witnessed a more enchanting spectacle than
the expanded flowers of the thistle, or the purple
blooms of the teasel, upon which were seated a
Marbled White butterfly or two, and one or more
crimson-spotted moths, with occasionally a gorgeous
Peacock (Vanessa Io) crowning all with his lustrous
wings; while around the whole fluttered many others,
eager for their share of the coveted nectar. Itis a
beautiful sight to see the Marbled White on the
wing, and I know of no other locality where
this species may be seen in such profusion and
perfection as in the waste spaces along the cliffs
between Ventnor and Niton. Some of the Blues
are met with now and then, but I do not think
they are very abundant, while the Heaths and Mea-
dow-browns are as plentiful everywhere as flies
in a kitchen; the same may be said of several species
of grasshopper, the noise of their stridulation being
at times almost deafening. The large green grass-
hopper (Gryllus viridissimus) is also met with in
some parts of the island. One day I came suddenly
and very unexpectedly upon a fine specimen of this
insect; the creature was resting quietly upon the
doorstep of a jeweller’s shop, in the main street of
Ventnor, and to my surprise he permitted me to
take him up by his long legs. After’ a brief examina-
tion of his handsome person, I gave him his liberty,
although, from his sluggish flight into a garden hard
by, he scarcely seemed to appreciate it. There are
multitudes of moths in the Isle of Wight, and
among them many of the rare crepuscular species;
but as far as my own experience goes, I believe the
six-spot Burnet to be more numerous than all the
others put together. W, H. GRATTANN,

152

DABCHICKS.

ROPERLY, I ought not to call them dabchicks
—not at least in capitals, and at the head of
my paper—for the true distinctive English name of
the bird is “The Little Grebe.” But “dabchick”
is so happily expressive of the habits and appearance
of the animal, that it recalls in a moment its
nervous jerky motion on the water, and its sudden
disappearance with a “ flip,” as if, instead of diving,
it had unexpectedly jumped down its own throat.

Wrigeling about everywhere, all over the pond,
ina state of chronic fuss, as if they had only five
minutes left to get through the work of a day, now
popping up @ propos to nothing at all, and then
turning head over heels, as if to catch their tails
between their legs, these birds fidgeted through
life in a ceaseless bustle. Was it sheer idleness
which made me love to watch them by the hour
together, lying in my punt, while the rushes grated
pleasantly against its sides as I moved? There is a
reception of nature’s truth in these seasons of
seeming laziness, which, though one is not conscious
of the strain of observation, stores the mind with
healthy useful memories.

The family of grebes, to which the dabchick
belongs, represent the freshwater divers. They
remain during nearly the whole of the year in the
same mere, spending a large proportion of their
time under water, whence they drag the material
which their nests are composed of. The grebe
seldom takes to the wing, and makes a very bad
hand of walking, its legs being placed so far astern
as to render it difficult for the body to be supported
when on dry land. It has not the sense to hold its
chin wp and jump along like a kangaroo.

The dabchick swims at a great pace under water,
and when disturbed will remain for some time with
its head alone above the surface—sometimes stick-
ing up only bill enough to breathe with. The bird,
which is reddish black, with ash-colour below the
water-line, weighs about six ounces, z.e., to provide
a more intelligible idea, say about as much as a
rook. The young ones dive from the cradle; indeed,
unlike the mother of many little folks, its anxious
parent takes care to keep its feet wet during the
whole course of its youth. Master Dabchick is
never obliged to put on dry stockings when he
comes home, for the nest is always dripping wet
through. The eggs, about five in number, are laid
in a squashy heap of weeds; the mother, defying the
danger of a damp bed, incubates in a puddle, and
when she leaves the eggs even for a short time,
drags a few soaking weeds over them, so that they
are not dried even by the mid-day sun. The effect
of this upon the eggs is remarkable; when laid
they are quite white, but before they are hatched
become of a dull blotchy reddish brown—exactly as

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jury 1, 1865.

if they had been smeared all over by bloody fingers
and then put back. ‘This is caused by the juices of
the decaying materials of the nest. The eggs of
coots and waterhens, on the contrary, are hatched
dry, never change their colour, and are always left
exposed when the parent quits its nest. But the
dabchick’s egg might set would-be zoologists to-
gether by the ears, as much as the chameleon did
the opinionated travellers. ’Tis white! ’tis mottled!
no, tis red. The dabchick flies but seldom, but
when he does, he pegs away at it furiously, working
his stumpy stiff-looking wings with all his might.
The rapidity with which he dives enabled him to
duck at the flash of the old flint guns; before the
priming had fired the charge, he was off, and the
sportsman saw a bubble instead of a bird on the
water. It is wanton work, however, to kill these
cheerful little creatures. No skill can be developed
in the practice, z.e., when the percussion gun is
used; and when obtained they are worthless, the
flavour of the dabchick being, I should think, easily
realized by putting some rank fishy weeds into
a wholesome dish of some other small fowl. No,
leave the merry fellows alone; but if you care to
watch the capricious frolics of a waterbird, you
cannot choose a better than the common, but most
interesting dabchick.

I cannot help making an apology to the great
crested grebe for thus dwelling on the manners and
customs of his small relation, the dabchick.

The great crested grebe, or loon, is a giant com-
pared to our little friend the dabehick, and altogether
makes a more respectable appearance, both in pic-
ture and pond. The habits and figure of the two
birds, though, are much the same.

‘There are numbers of loons in the “broads” of
Norfolk. Indeed, it is in Hast Anglia that I have
most especially watched the dabchick. ‘These loons,
like the lesser grebes, incubate and leave their eegs
in the wet, and meet with the same ridiculous failure
when they attempt to walk. Like them, they are
capital divers, and begm from the egg. A most
accurate and patient observer and friend of birds,
beasts, and little boys (the Rev. J. C. Atkinson),
with whom I have had many a day’s nesting and
rabbiting, states that “the first lessons of the young
loon in diving are taken beneath the literal shelter
of their mother’s wing.” In this case, supposing
the instinctive expectancy of the newly hatched led
them to wait for the signal from the parent hatcher,
and defer their infant plunge till the old bird dived
with them, these young loons would prove an exact-
ing family to a domestic hen. Possibly she might
fancy them less disappointing than ducks; while in
truth, like many an anxious and gratified mother,
she would be attributing their abstinence to nature
rather than to artificial deference, or absence of
contagious example. Harry Jones, M.A.

JELY 1, 1865.]

A GRADUATING DIAPHRAGM.

HOSE of our readers who are familiar with
microscopic operations are aware how much
depends, in the observation of structure, upon the
method of illumination. In the investigation of the
delicate markings of diatomaces, and the stris of
enamel and muscular tissue, an immense deal of the
worker’s success is dependent upon the volume of
light which is thrown upon the object. If the flood
ofrays be very intense, the markings cannot be per-

ceived, while if, on the contrary, the illumination be !

faint, other points of structure are lost sight of.
There is, therefore, a necessity for the regulation
of the quantity of light reflected to the object. In
the instrument at present in use, this end is at-

tained by the employment of a piece of apparatus |

termed “a wheel of diaphragms.” ‘This consists
simply of a revolving black disk, placed hori-
zontally between the stage and the mirror, and
pierced by a number of holes (generally 6 or 7)
of different sizes. The microscopist, when he
desires to alter the illumination, turns the disk
round till he finds a perforation which suits his pur-
pose best.
two very serious objections attending the use of the
* wheel.”

that which results from the utilization of all the
light reflected from the mirror, its number of aper-
tures is limited, and hence also its application and
utility. It not unfrequently occurs that between
the two smallest apertures there are several yos-
sible ones which would render observation more
satisfactory. Secondly—and this is a circumstance
of some import,—in changing the aperture, the ob-
server loses sight of the object, and has to trust to
memory in estimating the advantage he has secured
by the alteration.

These two obstacles have been overcome by Mr.
Collins, of Great Titchfield-street, who has devised
the diaphragm represented beneath. The instrument
consists of a plate of about the size of the stage,
and placed below it: this presents an aperture of
the same diameter as that of the stage, so that in the
illumination of objects under low powers, all the
light may be employed. Beneath the first plate are
two smaller ones, which move horizontally to the
right and left of the stage, and have their proximal
borders incised in a wedge-shaped manner. These
can be either separated or approximated by means
of a lever, which is connected with a screw and
milled head, which is situate within easy reach of
the observer’s finger. When widely separated, these
two plates leave a large lozenge-shaped aperture ;
but by the application of the screw this may be
diminished in the most gradual manner till an aper-
ture of scarcely a pin’s head’s diameter is produced.

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

All however will agree that there are |

Tn the first instance, though it may help |
to produce a more suitable form of illumination than |

155

In testing the new diaphragm, a full flood of light
should first be thrown upon the object (some of the
diatomaceze say), and then by the rotation of the

screw the aperture should be slowly diminished till
the fine markings come into view. Whether the
shape of the aperture may disadvantageously affect
the pencils of light as they travel to an object under
examination with high powers, is a question which
remains to be determined; but with such objectives
as the 21-inch, and those below it, the illumination-
effects of Collins’s instrument are beautiful.
Henry Lawson, M.D.

Proposrep Assocation oF AmMatTEUR Mrcro-
scopists.—At a meeting held at 192, Piccadilly,
June 14th, a provisional committee was appointed
to draw up a scheme of organization, &c., to be
submitted to a general meeting. We are autho-
rized to announce that the meeting will take
place at St. Martin’s National Schools, Adelaide-
place, Charing Cross, on Friday evening, July 7th,
at eight o’clock precisely, to which all persons
interested in the establishment of such a society are
invited. Tickets may be obtained (free) at 192,
Piccadilly ; of Mr. Highley, Green-street, Leicester
square; Mr. Gibson, 9, Lupus-street, Pimlico; or
Mr. Bywater, 5, Hanover-square.

154

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

[Jory 1, 1865.

. AQUARIAN DIFFICULTIES.

M*® RAMSAY’S “ Hints for Marine Aquaria”

(pp. 129, 180) are plain and sensible
enough, but they will do little or nothing towards
reviving a taste for private aquaria.

It is quite true that aquarium-keeping is not
easy: it is much worse than that, for in nie cases
out of ten it is a wearisome and profitless battling
with difficulties, ending with failure and disgust.
“ Overstocking is a serious fault,” says Mr. Ramsay,
truly ; but by far the greater number of the general
mass of amateurs have no previous acquaintance
whatever with natural history or physics, and have
not the mildest notion of what “overstocking” an
aquarium means; nor is it otherwise than very difii-
cult to teach them what it is in so many words, be-
cause an aquarium which may be “ overstocked ”
under some conditions may not be so under others.
So also, the same quantity of water may vary in its
capacity of sustaining animal life, not according to
its bulk, but according to its distridution, and the
amount of variation is continually fluctuating. Then,
if anything like a good variety of creatures are kept,
they must be maintained in several separate vessels,
and this demands more space and trouble than can
be usually afforded by persons having other demands
on their premises and time.
many animals which cannot be kept at all in any
ordinary captivity, and these creatvres are those
which are oftenest obtained with facility. Others
are too large for certain vessels. It is this absence
of the possibility of giving definite and arbitrary
rules for the guidance of beginners which causes the
ereat difficulty.

Mr. Ramsay properly recommends “especial at-
tention to temperature” as regulated by “‘opening or
shutting doors or windows, burning gas, partially
covering the tanks with damp cloths, and adopt-
ing other means;” duté most people will not do
these things, whether they understand or not why
they are recommended to do them ; they would much
rather give up their aquaria than be put to any
such trouble, and they have given them up, while the
very few exceptional persons, such as Mr. Ramsay
and his lady friend—personally known to me—and
who are painstaking and persevering, are those only
who succeed with anything like decency. They
slowly and patiently work out their success by the
only method in which it can be attained—actual ex-
perience and the intelligent application of broad
principles. They are contented to do a little, but
they do it well, while others wishing to do much
with insufficient means, in the end do nothing.

If anything could be found to re-create a taste for
the domestication of marine animals, it would be
the discovery of some convenient and cheap mode of
producing @ stream and motion in sea-water aquaria,

Furthermore, there are |

continuously, as the present methods of doing so
are much too cumbersome and expensive for most
pockets. Mr. Edwards, of Menai, has announced
that he makes a machife to answer this purpose in
the required manner; but nothing has come of it.
The value of a current of water in a tank is very
ereat, inasmuch that it is to an aquarium that
which a fly-wheel is to a steam-engine (and even
more), carrying the machine over its “‘ dead-points ;”
storing up power in reserve ; and smoothing down
the sharp angles of alli difficulties. For example, it
requires extreme care in feeding the animals in a
motionless marine tank, in such manner that the

_food or its after-consequences shall not interfere

with the transparency of the water. The water is
also apt to become otherwise than clear from the
accidental non-removal of a dead animal, or from
excess of light, and from many other causes; but
wherever a stream exists, the fluid seldom becomes
turbid from any reason, or if it does lose its clear-
ness, the opening of a stopcock will allow it to run
off through a filter into a reservoir below the tank,
from whence the same water, bright, cool, and well
oxygenated, may be again forced up into the tank.
There is indeed no comparison to be made between
the condition of animals kept in aquaria with
and without a stream, and yet I know of only
ten stream and tide aquaria to be found in
England and on the Continent; and of these, five
belong to public institutions and five to private
persons. I thmkTI may write on this subject with
something like authority, for I have pursued it as an
exclusive occupation, zealously and unremittingly,
for the last dozen years, and during that period I
have collected the names and addresses of not fewer
than eight thousand persons interested in aquarian
matters, and for these persons I have set up, under
all possible circumstances, many hundreds of Aquaria
(the exact number is 8,548), and out of these not more
than about the odd forty-eight are now in successful
operation. All the others belonged to individuals
who merely took up the thing as a transient fashion,
or who, knowing and caring a little about it at first,
soon abandoned it from discovering that so long as
aquaria are made for houses, instead of houses for
aquaria, no satisfactory result could be obtained.
There seems to be no inclination on the part of
wealthy persons to incur the necessary expense of
erecting and managing great aquaria properly, and
therefore the subject is left to a few persevering
naturalists, who attain a certain good result by con-
fining themselves in a small way to certain possi-
bilities ; and to two or three public bodies who find
that it is a remunerative commercial speculation
when it is well and largely carried out by the intro-
duction of machinery and of all requisite appli-

BneCs. W. Atrorp Luoyp,

Zoological Gardens, Hamburg.

Juny 1, 1865.]

SEA ANEMONES.
By Tal Moor; MAS

The living flowers, rooted to the rock.—Southey.

HE fortunate reader who is taking his annual
“constitutional”? at the seaside desires that
some interesting occupation shall be afforded him,
and some source of amusement and instruction sug-
gested. Is marine zoology to his taste, and does he
love to sally forth with collecting-can, net, hammer,
and chisel, and spend a few hours of the calm sum-
mer’s day among those brilliant natural aquaria left
for his inspection by the receding tide? To such
an one I now address myself, and, as he will have
ensconced himself in comfortable quarters near the
scene of his researches, a no small desideratuni to
the shore collector, I shall at once take my place at

his side, to share his accommodation and act as his |

adviser and guide.

Lovely as it is to gaze into the rockpool and watch
its numerous inmates, the jealous “‘tide, that waits for
no man,” does not always allow the naturalist time
for observation, sufficient for the identification of
species. For this purpose an artificial aquarium,
besides being a constant source of amuscment, is
indispensable ; and as spare basins, pudding-dishes,
&¢e., which after all make but sorry aquaria, are not
always in abundance at seaside lodgings or hotels,
the collector will do well to carry with him a port-
able apparatus which he may construct casily and
cheaply as follows :—

Let him purchase at any of the glass warehouses
some circular cap glasses (fig. 1) of different sizes,

Fig. 3.

say three in number, and 8, 7, and 6 inches in diame-
ter respectively. These will fit one inside the other,
and whenpacked in a small hamper areeasily and safely
carried. Blocks of wood are necessary, on which to
set up the glasses (figs. 2and 3). These may be about
six inches square, by three inches deep, the upper sur-

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

155

face hollowed out in the form of the cap-glass, with
a hole to admit the knob (fig. 3). A siphon will be
found a useful adjunct, for drawing off the water when
requiring to be changed. I may here observe that if
it be required to carry anemones from one place to
another, they must be packed in a box, in wet sea-
weed ; the common wrack, Fucus serratus, being the
best.

Thus equipped, and with Mr. Gosse’s book on
Sea Anemones for reference, if he desires to know
more than we are about to tell him, let him and us
to our work,

First there is the Plumose Anemone (Actinoloba
dianthus, of a cylindrical form, ending in a simple
thickened parapet, separated by a fosse from the

outer tentacles. The colour is variable. I have
usually found them at Spanish Point, county of
Clare, my favourite hunting-ground, of an orange
fawn-colour. The plaited outline of the mass of
tentacles, the parapet of the column, and the single
gonidial groove of the mouth, are unmistakable
characters of this species (fig. 4), and it is generally
distributed along the coast. In collecting this, and,
indeed, most other species, care must be taken in
removing them from the rock, as an injury to the
base may cause death. The safest way is to remove,
if possible, with hammer and chisel, the piece of rock

156

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jury 1, 1865.

supporting the animal. Sometimes, however, the
base appears to be injured when in reality it is not,
the wounded appearance being caused by the copious
extrusion of the acontia or stinging-threads. This
species does very well in captivity, where it breeds
freely. Specimens may frequently be observed
when dragging the base along the glass to leave a
small fragment behind: in a few days this will take
the form of a perfect little Dianthus, Imay mention
that I had in one of my tanks one of this species of
a brownish salmon-colour, with two mouths on the
one disc, the lobes of the mouths being bright

orange,

Tur Datsy AneMoNE (Sagartia bellis) belongs
toa genus of Sea Anemones which was named Sa
gartia by Mr. Gosse, in allusion to their peculiar
mode of disabling their prey, by means of missile
cords. Herodotus, the Greek historian, informs us
that in the army of Xerxes there was a certain race
called Sagartians. The mode of fighting practised
by these men was this:—When they engaged an
enemy, they threw out arope with a noose at the
end. Whatever any one caught, whether horse or
man, he dragged towards himself; and those that
were entangled in the coils were speedily put to
death. ‘The Sagartian of whose history Iam bear-
ing record is abundant in the localities in which it
occurs. The rocky shores of Devon and Cornwall
are its true metropolis; ‘ and here the tide-pools, fis-
sures, and honeycomb-like burrows are densely
crowded with the pretty Daisy.” To the list of
localities furnished by Mr. Gosse I may add Spanish
Point and the north side of Liscannon Bay. In
the former place it occurs rather sparingly at low
water, in a spot where the rock is covered by a
coating of sandy mud, full of corallines and small
sea-weeds. ‘The dise and tentacles appear on a level
with the surface of this sandy covering; but to re-
move the “ Daisy” is no casy matter, for its base
will be found to occupy a cavity in the rock below

the sand, into which it retracts the whole body
when touched. The removal, however, can generally
be effected by a dexterous application of hammer
and chisel, and in some cases specimens can be taken
off by the thumb nail. They thrive well in a tank,
and form a pleasing contrast with other species. A
curious habit is possessed by this species, in common
with some of its congeners, of elongating one of its
tentacles to a great length while the others remain
of the ordinary dimensions.

Tur Rosy ANEMONE (Sagartia rosea) is a lovely
little species, says Mr. Gosse; “when left by the
receding tide, it protrudes from its tiny cavity in
the overhanging rock, and droops a pear-shaped
button of orange-brown, with a cluster of brilliant
purple tentacles just showing their tips from the
half-opened centre, and a drop of water sparkling
like a dewdrop hanging from them. Then it is
beautiful.’ And I am disposed to endorse his
opinion, having met with it occasionally in the small
shady pools about Spanish Point, near the limit of
low water ; but it is by no means of common occur-
rence. The individuals I observed were of a dull
orange-colour, with bright rose-coloured tentacles,
They frequented holes in the rock, so as to render
their capture rather difficult.

Te ORANGE-DISKED ANEMONE (Sagartia ve-
wustd) is found at various places on the south and
west coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, and is
remarkable for its bright orange disc and snow-
white tentacles. It occurs in large colonies at the
very edge of low-water mark at Spanish Point, and
at Gall and Green Islands. In collecting them, the
hammer and chisel must be brought into use, as

they are also frequenters of holes. In attempting
once to detach, or rather scoop out a venusta with
my thumb nail, I tore the base in two, and on ex-
amining it with my pocket lens, remarked numerous
young ones amongst the acontia. I brought home
the damaged parent with her untimely offspring,
and placed them in the tank, where they soon made
themselves quite at home, the adult taking pos-
session of a hollow ina stone and the young ones
appearing as little dull orange dots on the side of
the glass.

THe Cave ANEMONE (Sagartia troglodytes) is one

Juxy 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

157

of the most variable of all our British Anemones
(fig. 6), and one of the most abundant and widely dis-
tributed, in which it differs vastly from the last two,
comparatively rare, species. Notwithstanding its
great variability, there is very little difficulty in dis-
tinguishing and determining it. There is a charac-

teristic mark often present on the tentacles very
much like a letter B, as will be seen by the wood-
cut (fig. 7). These are very numerous, often
reaching two hundred; and, moreover, its “ troglo-
dyte ” or cave-dwelling habit, and sulky propensity
of retiring within its den at the slightest provocation,
are excellent features to assist in naming it. When
placed in a tank, however, and allowed to see that
there are other creatures in the world as well as
themselves, they soon relinquish their morose habits,
and adhering to a flat stone, or the glass itself, be-
have as well-conducted and domestic anemones
ought to do,

Fig. 8.

Tar Parasitic ANEMONE (Sagartia parasitica)
is very abundant about Ballyvaughan, on the Clare
shore, as well as some parts of the British coast.
It is often found on dead shells, especially those in-
habited by the Hermit Crab, but in the former
locality I have found it usually parasitic upon the
shell of the living cockle (Cardium edule). Almost
every “cockle” gathered by the children on the

strand has one or two of the parasitic anemones |

adhering to it, striped alternately dull-white and
purplish brown (fig. 8). They are in the button state,
not unlike that sweetmeat which is such a delicacy to
the schoolboy, and known to himas the “ bull’s-cye.”
It was till lately supposed that this species never
adhered to living shells. It thrives very well in an
aquarium; the cockle soon dies, and the valves of
its shell open, and then the parasite leaves it and
betakes itself to the glass. A good distinguishing
mark of this species, besides its parasitic habit and
striped body, is the dark line down each side of the
tentacle.

Tue OPELET (Anthea cereus) is one of the com-
monest of our native species (fig. 9), on the south and
west coasts of a on ae of the Scotch

: SC (>
/ eo ayy

coast, and possibly all round Ireland. The variety
with the gracefully waving purplish-green tentacles
is the predominant one at Spanish Point. I have
observed specimens collected here that have the
power of retracting their tentacles to a very con-
siderable degree, the little purple tips being alone
visible.

Tne Brapiet (Aetinia mesembryanthemum) is a
well-known and abundant species (fig. 10), not only on
the shores of Britain, but also of Ireland. At Spanish

ae “0.
Point myriads of individuals are left high and dry by
the tide, decking the rocks with every shade of red,

purple, and green. One of the most beautiful
varieties is, I think, that having a light blue tinge,
with azure-blue base and tentacles.

At Lehinch, at the head of Tiscannon Bay, the
variety called the “Strawberry” is very abundant.
Tt occurs nearer to low-water mark than the normal

SOCAN
Fig, 11.

form, and attains to a greater size, often being as
large as average-sized individuals of the Dahlia
Wartlet (Zealia crassicornis); besides which it is
much more easily detached from the rock, and is
softer to the touch, so much so, indeed, that I could
at once recognize it by the mere feeling, when the
animal was concealed from view bencath some over-
hanging ledge, or by the dusk of evening.

The “Strawberry ” is the most casily kept of all

158

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP?.

[Juty 1, 1865.

auemones, and is a great ornament in an aquarium,
creeping about the side of the tank, and expanding
its base into an irregularly elliptical form (fig. 11). I
have seen one with its base expanded to a length
of five inches and a breadth of two anda half. In
this specimen the marginal spherules were pinkish
white.

Toe Dannia Wartinr (Zealia erassicornis) is
abundant all round the coast, at or near the verge of

low water, and is often left dry, when numbers may
be seen huddled together, with their stomachs ex-
truded, forming unsightly jelly-like masses. But they
are as often to be seen in the pools with their ten-
tacles fully expanded (fig.12), or with those organs re-
tracted, and the body covered with fragments of shells
and sand. I have never seen this species appear to
such advantage and in such plenty as in the large
pool near the “Boiling Caldron” at Spanish Point.

It is literally paved with individuals of all sizes and
colours; some are fully six inches in diameter, if
not more, and there are many with large tapering
snow-white tentacles, which contrast pleasantly with
the ordinary red or grey forms. The great size of
this species prevents its being a desirable inmate of
a small aquarium, and aslight injury to the base
in detaching it is extremely likely to cause death.

I have exhausted all the space permitted to me on
this subject, but I cannot conclude this brief sketch
of some of the more common of these “ flowers of the

ocean,” which are so truly animal-flowers as to have
deceived insects themselves, without quoting an
anecdote illustrative of this fact, as narrated by
Mr. Jonathan Crouch. “On one occasion, while
watching a specimen that was covered merely by a
rim of water, a bee, wandering near, darted through
the water to the mouth of the animal, evidently
mistaking the creature for a flower; and though it
struggled a great deal to get free, was retained till
it was drowned, and was then swallowed.” j

SIMPLE OBJECTS.—IV.
Tue FourR-HORNED Crcuops (Cyclops quadricornis).

ae IDE-MOUTHED bottle, a walking-stick,
and an india-rubber band to fasten it to one

end of the stick, are the only tools needed by the

nicroscopist to enable him to secure an abundance
of aquatic animals for his investigation.

The first dip into a neighbouring pond or road-
side ditch, at this season of the year, will not fail to
furnish him with Daphuie, Cyperides, and Cyclops
in abundance, sufficient, in fact, to occupy his atten-
tion for weeks tocome. Such a gathering we made
the other day, which, on examination, proved to be
rich in that little and best-known Entomostracon,
the Cyclops quadricornis.

Let not the reader start in alarm; the creature
in question is not in the most remote way connected,
except by name, with those one-eyed monsters of
heathen mythology whom Vulcan employed to forge
thunderboits for Jove; but is a small one-eyed
crustacean, of elegant form and jerking movements,
and withal clad in a transparent horny armour, com-
posed of many pieces dovetailed and jointed together
with a skill and nicety sufficient to have excited
envy in the breast of an ancient armourer. The
armour in which the Cyclops is thus encased answers
a double purpose. It protects the soft and gela-
tinous body from injury, and it serves as an external
skeleton for the attachment of its various muscles
aud articulations. In the species before us this
covering consists of ten plates or segments. Four of
these encase the head and thorax 1m such a manner
that no division, as in the Lzsecta, is perceptible
between these two parts of the body. The remain-
ing six segments are devoted to the protection of
the abdomen, &c. It is in the first and largest
segment, which is somewhat buckler-shaped, that we
find centred the solitary eye from which the animal
derives its fanciful name of Cyclops. On each side
of this organ are situated the double antenne,
which gives to the little crustacean its specific
name of Quadricornis.

In the female Cyclops (fig. 3) the superior or
largest pair of antenne are light and flexible organs,
being long and tapering, with a graceful curve or
sweep. The articulations, which are numerous,

Juny 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

159

give off a series of delicate branching filaments
termed sefe. These are as transparent as spun
glass, and add greatly to the beauty of the antenne.
The inferior or smaller pair, which have their origin
behind the first, are considerably shorter, have fewer
divisions, and are much less elegant. In the males
the form of the antenne is somewhat different, and
serves to distinguish the one sex from the other.
They are less elegant in their outline, are also
shorter and thicker, and swell somewhat towards
the tips, which end in a hinge-joint peculiar to the
male (fig. 1). The mandibles, foot-jaws (the latter
being so named from partaking of the character of
both feet and jaws), the mouth, and first pair of feet
are allincluded within the protecting compass of the
first shield-shaped segment. The remaining divisions
include the swimming-feet, viscera, and reproductive
rgans.

Fig. 2.

ig sate Hoots

The general form of the Cyclops quadricorais is
ovoid or club-shaped, being broad and rounded at the
head, with a gradual tapering off towards the tail,
which ends in two long lobes, embellished with
delicate transparent sete of unequal length; thus
forming an elegant plumose termination to this end
of the body.

In its progress through the water the Cyclops
moves with a rapid jerking motion, which may be
very well observed by placing the animal between
the eye and the light. It will then be seen that its
principal propelling organs are its ‘oar-like feet, of
which it has five pairs. Each foot, which may be
said to be double, consists of a common stem, from
whence arise two jointed branches, which are
liberally supplied with sete, or bristle-like appen-
dages. The fifth pair are, however, rudimentary,
and in the two sexes differ in form.

From the abundance of this little animal in every
stagnant pool and ditch, we may naturally infer that
its mode of increase must be exceedingly rapid. The
pond from whence we obtained our supply seemed
to be literally alive with Cyclops and Water-fleas.
In the former the females greatly preponderated,
and could he easily distinguished from che males by
their external ovaries, which hung suspended on
each side of their bodies like miniature clusters of

grapes. The number of eggs contained in each
ovary varies from thirty to forty. Jurine, who made
a careful calculation to show the wonderful fecun-
dity of this species, reckons that one female in the
course of twelve months would become the pro-
genitor of 4,442,189,120 young. As it does not
appear that the eggs increase in size while in the
external ovaries, although they undergo a change of
colour, and as experiments have shown that they
retain their vitality even when the parent has becn
killed, most naturalists are disposed to consider this
crustacean as oviparous. Nothing can be more un-
like its parent than the young Cyclops when it first
escapes from the ovary (fig.2). Indeed, so greatis the
dissimilarity, that the older naturalists were deceived,
and formed these imperfect individuals into a dis-
tinct genus, although Leeuwenhoek had previcusly
pointed out their true relationship. In the early

| Gays of our microscopic inquiry—why should we be

ashamed to confess it—we fell into a similar error;
and no one, we believe, unless he had carefully
watched the Cyclops from its birth to maturity,
would ever have suspected tlie parentage. From
the observations of Baird and others, it appears that
a period of seventeen to twenty days is required to
perfect the form of the young Cyclops. During this
period it moults three times; at every moult it
assumes a form more approximate to its parent. In
getting rid of its cast-off clothes, it sometimes falls
a victim to the process. These exuvie, however,
are most beautiful objects when seen by the micro-
scope, presenting, as they do, a perfect cast of the
creature’s form, with all its articulations and deli-
cate plumose sete entire. itis always desirable to
mount these casts permanently, as they form in-
structive objects, showing the gradual approach of
the Cyclops towards its perfect state or form. TPer-
haps the best method of permanently preserving
such objects is to soak the object itself for a few
days in glycerine; then place it with some of the
fluid in a cell formed of Brunswick-black, and her-
metically seal a thin glass cover over it with gold
size. Ii the angles between the cover and the cell
are gradually filled up with the Brunswick-black,
the preparation will keep for years. The Cyclops,
though exceedingly rapid in its imerease, is
thoroughly kept in check by the numerous enemies
which surround it on all sides. Millions fall vic-
tims to trout and other kinds of fish; and the deli-
cious, delicate flavour of the former is said to be in
a great measure owing to a plentiful supply of this
living food. The Hydre, and the larve of aquatic
and land insects, all play their part in the work of
destruction, and thus lend a helping hand in keeping
down that teeming abundance of life which would
otherwise choke up our ponds, ditches, and streams,
with animal life, until existence under such circum-
stances would become an impossibility.—T. K.

160

SCLIENCEH-GOSSIP.

(Juty 1, 1865.

ZOOLOGY.

Frartess Tits.—The following I cut from a
Sussex paper about two or three weeks ago, and
thought it might be interesting to someof your distant
readers. “There is now to be seen between the
wall and the door-post of the Swan Inn, Chailey,
the nest of a pair of tomtits containing several
eggs, The door-post is considerably decayed, and
is constantly moving to and fro. Last year a nest
was made (it is supposed by these birds) in the
same place, when, notwithstanding that on one
occasion the door was shut violently, shaking some
of the eggs from the nest, the fearless birds returned
to their homes and successfully reared their little
one.” I think this is a proof that the tit is one of
our most fearless birds.—Z. 8.

Virrrs SWALLOWING THEIR Youne.—This ap-
pears a vexed question. Whether vipers are in the
constant habit of swallowing their young I cannot
say; but that they can do so I am quite sure. Some
years since I was shooting in a wood, and came
suddenly on a viper lying on a sunny bank. As
soon as the viper caught sight of me, it began to hiss,
and I distinctly saw several young ones, about three
or four inches long, ran up to the parent, and vanish
down its throat; and from the way in which the
parent kept its mouth open, and the young ones
glided into it, I should say they were accustomed
to that sort of thine.—/7. C0. S.

SNAKE AND VirpER.—On July 18th last, I was at
Sherborne, Dorsetshire. In a wood not far from
thence, | was looking for ferns, with a basket and fork
to dig them up. As I was going on looking further,
I saw in the grass a viper, which suddenly, on see-
ing me approach, disappeared. I followed it to the
place where it had disappeared, which turned out
to be a large hole in the ground, not deep, but wide;
and on inserting the handle of the fork into this,
the creature came out. I immediately seized it
behind the neck, and foolishly placed it in the
basket, and took it to our house, which was close
by. I then put the basket into a box, and after
dinner took out the basket and opened it. The
viper was very sluggish; but on touching it,
and endeavouring to take it by the neck, as I had
done before, it struck at me, and bit my left fore-
finger. I immediately threw it down and stamped
upon it, and sucked the place, cutting it with a
knife, and putting ammonia to it. Meanwhile, my
brother went for the doctor, and before he eame I
began to feel very faint, and inclined to vomit.
When he came, he cut two incisions in the finger,
and tied it up at the root, putting it into as hot
water as I could bear. He also made me drink a
quantity of ammonia and water, and then go to bed.
‘The finger was very painful, and bled for a long

time, and I was very feverish. The next day I got
up, but was very weak, and there was a green mark
all up from my finger, which was very large, to my
left side, and all up my arm. ‘The mark as far as
the side was in a narrow line, but at the side it was
in alarge blotch. My finger was poulticed, and I had
a cushion, dipped in water in which broken poppy-
heads had been boiled, placed between my arm and
side. The arm was much swelled, and i soon went
to bed again. The next day I got up again, and
from thence began rapidly to get well, andin a week
had my arm out of a sling and my finger almost well.
I was perfectly well by the day fortnight on which
the bite occurred. These facts are, I need hardly
say, perfectly true, and the more remarkable because
olive oil was not used at all.

Now for the snake. About the 20th of April, T
was taking a walk some way from Sherborne, ac-
companied by my brother, and was looking for
divers water insects with a water-net. We came to a
large pond, in which there were several newts; and
my brother, looking into it, exclaimed, “Oh, E 3
there is a snake in the pond!” I looked, and there
saw it moving at the bottom. I tried to capture 1b
in the net, but could not; and my brother shortly
afterwards said, ‘‘ Here, it is coming out.” I went
softly to the spot to which he pointed, and there,
sure enough, was a snake coming up the steep tank
with something in its mouth. I crouched down on
my stomach, and when the snake’s head came to the
top of the bank, I caught hold of the neck, and, in
spite of its struggles, succeeded in capturing it. I
then saw that what it had in its mouth was a large
black newt. I put them both into a tin box which
we had with us, and on coming home, opened the
box and found that the newt had disappeared—no
doubt having been eaten by the snake. I have the
snake alive in my possession at this very moment.—
Edwin Arthur Rade.

Doe v. Fox.—A few weeks ago a fox was ob-
served by aman standing on Bulkley Hill, in the
neighbourhood of Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire,
in pursuit of a dog, who was making the best of his
way home over the low ground at the foot of the hil.
A short time previously the same dog had been sent
into a hole to draw a fox, but did not succeed, the
dog getting somewhat roughly used, and it is sur-
mised the fox may have been the same with which
the dog had the encounter.—S. C. Sagar.

SmaLtt Brrpos anp Insect Pests.—It appears
from the public journals that in France cockchafers
and caterpillars are making sad havoc. They have
stripped trees of their leaves in the Bois de Bou-
logne and St. Maur, and the hills from Champigny to
Suey, which supply the Parisians annually with
so many thousands of pounds’ worth of excellent
apples, pears, cherries, and plums, will, it is said,

JuLy 1, 1865. ]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

161

produce but little this year, thanks to the cater-
pillars. This is attributed to the fact that the
peasants suffer their children to destroy the nests of
the small birds, which are the only instruments that
can effectually protect trees from caterpillars. Itis
calculated that there were formerly 10,000 birds’
nests in every square league of cultivated land in
France. Tach nest is supposed to contain on an
average four young ones, which the old birds fed
with 60 caterpillars a day. The old birds were sup-
posed to eat 60; making 120 caterpillars a day alto-
gether. This multiplied by 10,000 nests will give
1,200,000 caterpillars destroyed every day in a
square league of a well-planted country. The
peasants one would suppose would have sufficient
common sense to protect the birds which render
them such valuable service, but they appear utterly
ignorant on the subject. The only bird respected by
the peasants, and especially the Norman peasant, is
the wren, and that from a superstitious motive.—
Gardener’s Chronicle.

ENTOMOLOGY.

Puenacity or Larva.—lt is a fact not altoge-
ther unworthy of notice that several species of
larvee are possessed (apparently) of a very spiteful
and aggressive nature, while others, as far as one
may judge from appearance, are equally good-tem-
pered and amiable in disposition. The larve of
several of the Sphingide are very remarkable in this
respect. If kept together, they soon lose the horns,
which become disabled in a very short space of time.
Then the larva of the puss-moth is also distinguished
for its cannibal propensities, and its fondness for
using the horns, supposed to be a whip to drive
away ichneumons. I have had larve of a xoctua
that have devoured each other, and I was a long
time much puzzled by their disappearance, which
thus lessened numbers amazingly. Whether this
propensity is induced by confinement, which necessi-
tates their close proximity to each other, is not
certain ; but I am inclined to think so, as it does not
seem to be the case when at liberty on their native
trees: — ZC,

Live Hawxk-moru.—Having a brood of Lime |

Hawk-moths (Smerinthus Tiliz) in the larva stage of
existence, which emerged from the eggs on the 22nd
and 23rd of May last, I have noticed them pretty
closely. They cast their skins for the first time on the
28th and 29th of the same month, and they have just
(June 3rd) completed that operation for the second
time; but I observed that as they each got clear of
their old garment they turned round and ate it up.
Thinking this might be one of the “things not

generally known,’ I communicate with you.— |
| The Gardener's Chronicle.

AaBel,

Insects 1x Armour.—lIt is well known that in
some of the Swedish lakes particles of pure iron are
found. Dr. Sjogreen explains this remarkable phe-
nomenon to be due to the larve of certain insects,
which, like the caddis-worm, cover themselves with a
protective coating. The coating is in this case oxide
of iron, from which the imsects absorb oxygen, and
their bodies thus become invested with a complete
suit of iron armour.—Day of Rest.

Earty Wasp.—I take it for granted that your
correspondent R. K. (page 137) is describing a
queen wasp. Its appearance on March 17th is not
very surprising. Leonard Jenyns, in his “ Calendar
of Periodic Phenomena,” whilst giving April 19th
as the average date of its appearance, records one
being seen as early as March 3rd. In 1858 I myseif
saw one on March 23rd, and in 1859 on March 27th,
in North Lincolnshire.—J. B. Humber.

Wasps.— Vespecide” writes that he has de-
stroyed 72 wasps, which he presumes were males as
well asfemales. Now under the impression that all
wasps which appear during the months of April
and early part of May were queens, on the 22nd of
April I offered a premium of 1d. to the garden
labourers for every wasp they might bring me up to
May Ist, and the result was the destruction of 1,020
wasps, for which I paid £4 5s. Iwill feel rather
vexed to be informed that probably one half were
males. Can you, therefore, kindly satisfy me on
that point? I may add that I never saw so many
large wasps as now exist, even though we destroyed
about 200 nests last autumn.—J. M., Addington.
[You may make your mind easy respecting the
wasps, as males (or kings, as “ Vespecide” miscalls
them) are only produced in the autumy, and all die
before winter setsin. The past and present have
been remarkable seasons with reference to the eco-
nomy of the vespiary. The hot dry summer of 1864
allowed vast numbers of wasps’ nests to be formed,

| and in August the workers swarmed everywhere to

an extraordinary extent; but an insidious disease,
very similar to that known in the apiary under the
name of foul brood, set in at the beginning of the

/ autumn and entirely destroyed the brood of many

nests, so that in September we were nearly freed
from the winged insects. Many females must,
however, have been produced since, as, soon as the
warm weather set in in April last, great numbers
were seen; but May on the whole was cool, and they
then appeared in fewer numbers. A considerable
number of the small egg-shaped paper-like nests
have, however, already been brought to me ; so that if
wedo not have heavyrains to swamp the underground
nests, we shall most probably be as much infested in
July and August as we were last year. |—/. 0. V.—

M

BOTANY.

Examinane Prants.—Never guess at a point in
“question ; but if the flower you are dissecting will
not enable you clearly to determine the character,
examine a second or third, until you are satisfied on
the point under examination. If the points are so
minute as to be difficult of discrimination by the un-
assisted eye, a pocket magnifying-glass will be neces-
sary, and should always be at hand. A sharp pen-
knife and a needle will be all the dissecting instru-
ments necessary. Special care should be taken to
gather good specimens with several flowers, and, if
possible, a specimen which has gone to seed as well.
If the stamens need to be counted, always examine
two or three flowers to see if there is any variation.
Tn a few plants the true number is only found in the
terminal flower. Remember also the possibility in
a flower which has been opened some little while
that the anthers of some stamens may have fallen
off and left only the filament. Freshly-opened
flowers are, therefore, always best. Let no one
attempt to ““commit to memory” the meaning of
terms; but for every term which is not thoroughly
understood turn to the glossary. Though this will
at first be troublesome, and perhaps be voted “slow,”
it will soon become less and less needful; for the
meaning of most of the. terms will become per-
fectly familiar after a little practice, and the Aadit
of careful and accurate exemination, formed from the
first, will be found of inestimable value. Slovenly
and careless habits of study will hinder progress
exceedingly ; and those who in the beginning skip
difficulties, or are satisfied with guesses, will always
be plagued and impeded by doubts.—Wotcutt’s
Handbook of British Plants.

Potsonous Properties oF Yew LeEaves.—The
circumstances mentioned at p. 112, of deer having
died from the effects of yew juice is contrary to
the notions entertained by most persons as to the
poisonous qualities of the leaves in question, when
eaten by either deer, sheep, or goats. That yew
leaves prove fatal to horses is a well-known fact;
and it would be well to ascertain the truth of the para-
graph (p. 112); for the yew is so frequently found in
deer parks, that it would behighly desirable allowners
of such should order the branches to be properly cut.
I think, if I remember rightly, the yew branches in
Richmond park were a few years ago quite within
reach of the deer; but I never heard of any accident
there. It is a singular thing that the withered
branches of this tree are quite as pernicious to
horses as the fresh leaves. Many tales, ancient and
modern, relative to the properties of the yew tree
have been recorded. Its juice was at one time
considered a sure antidote to the bite of a viper,
and in Germany it is even now a popular remedy for
hydrophobia.—Helen Watney.

SCLIUNCE-GOSSIP.

[JULY 1, LSGo.

Oncuip Rust (Uredo Orchidis, Mart.).—This rust
is of a bright golden-yellow, and occurs in large
spots on the under surface of the leaves of some or-
chids. Mr. R. M‘Leod has lately sent it to us on
the leaves of the Tway-blade (Listera ovata), and on
Orchis latifolia, collected by him at Crosby Sandhills,
near Liverpool. We are not aware that it has been
before recorded in Great Britan.—l/. C. C.

VARIETIES OF Common Prants.—I take the
liberty of sending you the following brief notes of a
few varieties of some of our wayside flowers that
have come under my observation. I shall refer to
them in the order of time when found.

1. A pure white-flowered variety of Geranium Ro-
bertianum, found between Enfield and Edmontsn,
Middlesex, three or four years ago—have not
examined the spot since.

2. A pure white-flowered variety of Lamium pur-
pureum, found in Fulham Nursery, two years since,
crowing alongside the purple variety; only two
plants found—seen two years in succession—not
looked for since.

3. A white variety of Geranium molle, found this
spring, at Needham Market, Suffolk—abundant on a
bank mingled with a typical rosy-purple variety.

4. A pure white variety of Spergularia marina (or
Arenavia rubra marina, Linn.), found this season
on the banks of the Orwell, near Ipswich, with the
typical form. In addition to the pure white flowers
the whole plant differed from the type by being of a
pale green colour, and having perfectly glabrous
(not rough) peduncles and calyx.

5. One striking form of the occasional hybrid
said to be produced between the Primula vulgaris
and Primula veris. It seemed exactly intermediate
between the two species, having the inflorescence
of both in the same plant, the long single-flowered
radical peduncles of P. va/garis (5 or 6), from the
centre of which there arose the true umbellate
scape of P. veris. The corolla, too, was in size and
colour precisely intermediate between the species
named, plants of (both) which were growing around
it. LIregret that an accident subsequently befel the
plant before a more careful examination could be
made. Found in Wherstead Park, Ipswich.

6. A form of Achillea millefolium, presenting
marked (and I should think) permanent differences
from the common form. The whole plant is of a
lighter green, the leaves more compound, especially
at the base; the flowers much smaller, and pure
white ; the stems too were much less angled, and
less woody. Although my description fails to indi-
cate very marked differences, the two forms were
very distinct seen growing side by side.

I shall feel happy to furnish you, or any of my
fellow correspondents or readers, with any of the
foregoing that I can procure.—W. H. Ade, Ipswich.

Jury 1, 1865.]

SCLENCE-GOSSTP.

163

MICROSCOPY.

Larva oF A Gyat.—In the “ Microscopic illus-
trations” by A. Pritchard is a description of a beau-
tiful transparent larva of a kind of gnat, which is to
be found in clear ponds at this time of year, and in
some places is very abundant. The drawings by
Mr. Pritchard are very nicely drawn, and give a
good idea of its appearance. But in addition to his
description I find it has two jaws, and feeds on
other animals—the blood-worm for one, as I found
the head and part of the body of one in its stomach.
Speaking of the stomach, there is a curious circum-
stance I have often noticed. On squeezing the larva
from its tail upwards, the stomach is forced, inverted,
out of its mouth, and then will be seen to ke
covered with rows of spines, I suppose to retain its
food. The use of the shell-like bodies I cannot make
out; but they are pretty objects, and beautifully
spotted, hollow, and of a fibrous structure. The
larva casts its skin like others, but it requires close
looking to find it.—Z. 7. Scott.

MovEMENTS OF ENDOCHROME IN DIaToMAcER.—
During an excursion with the members of the Tyne-
side Naturalists’ Field Club, on Friday, May 26,
I made a collection of Diatomaces from the bed of
the river Blyth, a small river which empties itself
into the sea near a town bearing the same name.
The stones on the bottom of the river were covered
with Fragilaria for an extent of some miles, and
intermixed with the Fragilaria there were many
beautiful varieties of Cymbella, Cocconema, Pleuro-
sigma, Nitzschia, Gomphonema, Surirella, &c. The
Cymbella lanceolatum or Cocconema gastroides, I an
not quite certain which, they are exactly alike, and
the only mode of deciding the species is by seeing
the Cocconema on its stipes, Cymbella being a free
form. I could not in the gathering made observe
the least indication of stipes, and I therefore infer
that they are Cymbella lanceolatum. In this I saw
what I had never before seen,—a free motion of the
endochrome: it was as free as the motions of the
granules in the desired Closterium, but not quite so
regular. J examined the gathering three hours after
making the collection, and saw the motion of the
endochrome ;—sixtecn hours after, and saw it yet
move freely, but only in one frustule ;—forty hours
after, and saw it very slightly in one frustule;
ninety-eight hours after, but could not observe the
slightest motion in any frustules, although I exa-
mined many of them very carefully. Tinfer that the
best time for seeing the motions of endochrome
is when the diatoms are newly gathered.—Z. P. B.

How are Larcse Insects Mountep Wuo.n?
—Though the text-books explain how to mount the
legs, antenne, or other separate parts of an insect,
they do not give the information necessary to enable
an amateur to mount an insect whole without air-

bubbles. The great object to be achieved is to dis-
cover a chemical agent which will unite with the
balsam without injuring its clearness, and by which
to prepare the insect before placing it on the slide.
In the common process of mounting, the slide is
prepared, and the insect placed in the balsam, the
slide being then warmed, the clean thin glass is
allowed to drop gently on the specimen. But here
the great difficulty arises, for if the insect be a large
one, the body is too thick to allow the glass to lie
anything like flat, and eventhen the limbs generally
break off, to the utter destruction of the work. Mr.
Jahez Hogs’s work on the microscope states that a
clergyman at Acton Abbotts has discovered a
medium which will attain the required object. The
slides sold at the opticians’, and mounted on three-
inch circles (intended for the magic-lantern, though
equally adapted under the large objectives for the
microscope) are beautifully clear and perfect. How
is the process performed in these cases? What is
the medium used? Perhaps some of your corre-
spondents may be able to solve this difficulty. Again:
How are young crabs and moderate-sized prawns
mounted zhole,—shell and all? I have seen some so
prepared at Newton’s, Temple Bar, and as an
amateur I should, in common, no doubt, with many
others of your numerous correspondents, be glad to
attempt the use of the process.—J. H. WV.

Microscoric Powrrs.—The quarter-inch object-
glass of my microscope with the low eye-piece hasa
field of view not larger than the aperture made by
an ordinary-sized sewing-needle, No. 5; yet, in that
field I have seen eleven circular diatoms from guano,
and these in no way crowded, but with spaces
between them. Lach of these tiny circles possesses
markings, apertures, or elevations, of the most
minute yet regular character, hexagonal or circular.
Ihave endeavoured to count the number of aper-
tures in the radius of one of the smallest and coars-
est of these circles on my slide (Hudicta), and I made
up the number to be twenty-five. From this I
conclude that, at a rough calculation, there cannot
be less than three hundred apertures in the diameter
of one of the larger circles (Coscinodiscus), eleven of
which, as I have said, scarcely fill a space equal to
the aperture of a sewing-needle. This, which any
amateur microscopist may verify for himself, with
perhaps more wonderful results, affords a practical
and ready method of explaining to many the reality
of the wonderful fact, that marvellous skill in design
and beauty in execution has been displayed on very
tiny atoms. And it shows the extraordinary per-
fection and power, even of a moderate-priced
modern achromatic microscope. No wonder that
the instrument has become popular, and that science
is the innocent and profitable subject of “ Gossip”
indulged in by the ‘‘ Lovers of Nature.”—Zewis @.
Mills, LL.B., Armagh,

M 2

164

GEOLOGY.

Forx-Lore or Gronocy.—Geologists are well
acquainted with the new red sandstone of Cheshire
and the counties adjoming, and Ansted (Hlementary
Geology, 2nd edit., p. 363) remarks of it, that “the
beds are nearly horizontal, the dips rarely exceeding
ten or twelve degrees, and being constantly towards
the east, or a few degrees north or south of that
point.” This statement is strikingly corroborated
by the practical observations of the welt-sinkers in the
county, who, on being questioned as to the dip of
the strata, invariably state that it is always “ to-
wards the rising sun.’—7. NV. B., Chester.

Tue Resutts or Two [Exrrtorations of the
caverns of “Trou des Nutons,” &c., near Furfooz,
by MM. Van Beneden and Dupont, were laid before
the Académie Royale de Belgique on the 3rd De-
cember, 1864. In the “Trou des Noutons” were
found worked flints, bone implements, fragments of
charcoal and wood, pieces of pottery, human bones,
jaws of beaver and glutton, pell-mell with remains
of bear, reindeer, goat, ox, wild boar, shrews, voles,
numbers of birds, four species of land-shells (felix
pomatia, H. arbustorum, H. lapicida, and H. cellaria)
and Unio batavus, which is still iving m the river
Meuse. The human bones consist of,—the “os
frontale”’ of a child, very remarkable for the cleva-
tion of the forehead and the extraordinary thinness
of the sides ; animpericct “os frontale ” of an adult ;
humerus, femur, tibia, ilium, scapula, and clavicle,
the bones of the members alike indicating two in-
dividuals of different ages. The beaver is repre-
sented by a complete, and the glutton by the middle
portion of a lower jaw. The remains of bear com-
prise a nearly complete vertebral column, embracing
the vertebre from the 2nd cervical to the 8rd
caudal; the sacrum, and most of the ribs, with a
portion of the sternum. It differs from the cave bear
by its much smaller size. The goat, of whieh an
entire skull has been obtained, is of the domestic
species. Remains of an ox of unknown species
complete the category. The authors hope to give
at an early period a detailed description of the
several objects thus discovered.—Zvranslation, by
Lialph Tate.

Tur Eozoon Canaprense.—The following letter:

recently appeared in 7he Reader, emanating from
Queen’s College, Galway :—

“ For several weeks past we have been engaged in
investigating the microscopic structure of the Ser-
pentine of Connemara in comparison with that of a
similar rock oceurring in Canada, which has attracted
so much attention of late. For a considerable portion
of the time we entertained the opinion, in common

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jury J, 1865.

with Sir William Logan, Drs. Dawson, Sterry Hunt,
Carpenter, and Professor Rupert Jones, that the
Canadian Serpentine is of organic origin, the result
of the growth of an extinct foraminifer called
Kozoon Canadense ; it was also our belief for awhile
that the Connemara rock had originated from a
similar organism. Gradually, of late, however, we
have been reluctantly compelled to change our
opinions.

“Tt is now our conviction that all the parts in
Serpentine, which have been taken for the skeleton
structures of a foraminifer are nothing more than the
effect of crystallization and segregation.

“Tt would have given us unalloyed pleasure, had
we been able to state that our investigations have
confirmed those of the eminent authorities to whom
reference has been made, as it was purely in this
spirit that we commenced our Jabours; and also, we
may observe, with the desire to ascertain if the Ser-
pentine of Connemara and the other rocks with
which it is interstratified, belonged to the Lauren-
tian period,

“We purpose at an early opportunity to lay
before the public all the evidences and considera-
tions which bear us out in our present opinion.—
Weare, Sir, yours very truly, &.,

“Witriam Kine, Professor of Mineralogy
and Geology.

“‘Tnomas Rowney, P/.D., Professor of
Chemistry.”

In the succeeding number of the same journal a
communication was published from Dr. Carpenter,
in which the claims of Zozoon to be considered
organic were strongly asserted, and some little per-
sonality introduced. To this communication Pro-
fessor King has briefly reptied that the results of
his investigations will soon be published, and until
then he recommends a suspension of judgment.

ANoTHER Pxiestosaurus.—We have to record
the discovery, in the neighbourhood of Charmouth,
Dorset, of another Plesiosaurus. This fossil, though
not so perfect as the magnificent one acquired by the
British Museum last year, is yet a remarkably fine
specimen, and being in stone is in good preservation.
Portions of the skeleton have been submitted to
Professor Owen, who has pronounced them to
belong to an undescribed and unnamed species.
Thus this makes the second new species of this most
remarkable family which I. C. H. Day, Esq., F.G.8.,
of Charmouth, has been the medium of bringing
under the notice of the scientific world. It is to be
hoped that this wonderful relic of a bygone age of
life will be secured for the national collection ; but
at present, as we are informed, circumstances seem
likely to prevent its acquisition,— Zhe Reader,

Jury 1, 1865.]

FISH TATTLE.

Fox-starx.—A specimen of the Thresher or Fox-
shark is now being shown here at the moderate
charge of two-pence each, having, unfortunately for
itself, got entangled in a mackerel-rope, twisting the
rope round its tail, or the net never could have held
it. It was towed in about nine miles from the place
of capture, and still shows slight signs of life. It
is this species which is reported to assist the sword-
fish in attacks on the whale, the latter stabbing
while the thresher administers violent blows. The
tail is more than half the length of the fish, the fin
running beneath it being just 7 feet long, while the
total length from snout to tip is 13 feet 4 inches;
the pectoral fins are 2 feet long, and the dorsal 1
foot 2 inches; two rows of rather small teeth in the
lower jaw; those in the upper appear sunk in a
groove. The skin is, of course, roughish when
stroked “the wrong way” on the body and pectoral
fins, but on the other fins it fecls smooth in any
direction. The individual in question is a male,
and is, I believe, the first example of the species
that has been taken on this part of the coast.—
G. Guyon, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

GREAT SLAUGHTER OF FIsH IN THE RopEN.—
At an early hour on the morning of Sunday, the
Ist May, a large quantity of fish were found lying
dead on the bottom of the river Roden, near the
town of Wem, Shropshire. On inquiries being
made, it was found that the careless authorities of
the Wem gas company had drained an old gas tank
into the street sewer which empties itself into the
river. On going down the river, the fish were found
dead for miles, the bottom of the river being
‘literally strewed with dead fish. Some very fine
trout, weighing from two to five pounds, and pike
from two to seven pounds each, were picked from
the sides of the stream. Not a single fish was seen
alive. Fears are entertained of the poisonous water
reaching the Severn, where, if it should not have
lost its hurtful properties, great damage will doubt-
less be cone. No better trout streams than: the
Roden existed in Shropshire, and the greater part
of it being preserved by Sir V. R. Corbett, Lord
Hill, and others, there was always abundance of
sport. Actions have been commenced by some of
the river proprietors against the gas company for
polluting the stream. When will the legislature
be alive to the necessity of preventing the recur-
rence of wholegale fish murders like this? Until
our streams and rivers are freed from sewage there
will be but small chance of pastime to the angler,
and much less of obtaining that which, in these
days of dear beef and mutton, would be most
acceptable—a supply of fish as food for the people.
—R. A.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

165

REPRODUCTION oF THE Ern.—I think that W.
Houghton, in your last number, does not satis-
factorily account for “nothing like a roe having
ever been found in the eel,” as stated by “E. B.” at
p. 118, and I cannot consider the fringes mentioned
by W. Houghton as any proof that the eel is
oviparous. Surely if the eel was oviparous as
other fish are, a regular roe would long ere this
have been met with. I have in my time caught
some thousands of eels, but never met with one
having a roe, and, in fact, have not heard of such
athing. I have been informed by a party who has
long been accustomed to fishing for eels, and on
whose statement I can place implicit reliance, that
on more occasions than one, on his return from
fishing at night, he has placed eels in a tub of water,
and in the morning has found lots of young eels
about the length of his thumb-nail swimming about
in the water, and that he has occasionally found
young ones of about the same size in the bag in
which he brought his eels home. The same party
also informs me, that not lone since, on his eutting
an eel asunder, he found several young ones in its
stomach. As I am perfectly convinced of the truth
of the above statements, I must, of course, range
myself on the side of those who consider the eel as
viviparous; and I am satisfied I could, on inquiry,
procure plenty of credible evidence to establisu the
fact to the satisfaction of any jury.—H. C. 8.

EXTRAORDINARY VORACITY oF A Trovut.— As
Mr. R. Jackson, jun., of Langdale, was on his way
to the Windermere railway station, and when near
to Dove’s Nest, on the shore of Windermere Lake,
he observed something floating on the water, which
he at first supposed to be a pike; but on approachi-
ing the beach, he soon satisfied himself that it was a
trout of no mean size, with not suflicient strength
left to battle against the waves. With the aid of a
stick which was procured near to, and by wading a
short distance into, the water, Mr. Jackson succeeded
in landing the now exhausted fish, which proved to
be a fine great trout weighing one pound and a half,
whilst tightly wedged in its throat was a perch
measuring six inches in length, which the trout had
been unable to gorge, and had by its voracious ap-
petite brought itself to grief. It is a common prac-
tice to capture pike in Windermere Lake by means
of a bait nearly half the size of themselves; but we
think the oldest and most experienced fisherman will
be unable to bring to record an incident like the
preceding one, where a trout had been known to
take for bait a perch weighing over three ounces.—
Kendal Herald.

_Tutnes which are beautiful in themselves, inde-
pendently of all association, will necessarily at al

| times be beautiful.

166

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Scares oN Wuite CaBpacre BurtEerFiy {page
140).—i presume your correspondent, Mr. W.
Reynolds, alludes to the singular-formed and beau-
tiful scales of the White Cabbage Butterfly, with a
tuft or sort of root at the narrow end, as in the slide
enclosed ; if so, he will readily find them among the
other scales, on upper side of wing: there is only a
small proportion—perhaps about 1 in 20—of tie
tufted scales.—H. Greenhough.

The tufted scales of the White Cabbage Butterfly
(Pieris Brassice), as well as those of the Meadow-
brown (Hipparchia Janira), ave to be found upon
the male insect only. I suspect that your correspon-
dent, W. H. Reynolds, has got hold of none but
females for his experiments, or he could not have
failed to have found what he was looking for. This
is the more likely, as the female insect is generally
more abundant than the male. The dotted or
“battledore” scales of the blue butterflies (Poly-
ommatus Argiolus, Alexis, &c.) are also, I believe,
never found except upon the male insect; at least,
that has been the result of my own experience. J
may here also say that the slides sold at many of the
shops as “ battledore scales from Pier’s Brassice,”
are not from Pieris Brassice at all, but from the
small white cabbage butterfly, Pieris Rape —Henry
i. Hailes.

The tufted scales of this insect are only found on
the male butterfly: it may at once be distinguished
from the female by the absence of two black spots,
which the female has on the upper surface of the
anterior pair of wings.—&. C. Douglas.

Bers’ Remains (page 143).—The interior of the
bodies of the five humble bees had doubtless been
eaten by some honey-loving insect, probably other

ees. When hive-bees are compelled, by scarcity
of food, to cast out their own larvae, they always
suck out of their bodies the honey they contain.—
UO AST:

Tue Werrver Fisu.—One evening, during the
hauling in of the mackerel-nets to the beach, a
fisherman was thrown upon the struggling fish,
which, by the bye, have passed here in large and
visible shoals during the past week, when he uttered
acry of pain, and on my asking him the cause, he

4
ie

said he was stuzg by a weever (fish), which 1 found !

to be a fish prettily striped, and about nine inches
long. Butto return to the man; his hand (it was the
thick part of the thumb) bled very freely, and in the
course of a quarter of an hour began to swell. Lam
told by fishermen that many instances are known of
persons losing the use of a hand by this sting. My
own opinion, from a slight examination of a living
fish, the handling of which by myself caused no
litte astonishment, leads me to believe that it is
only a stab from a spinous elongation of the dorsal
and pectoral fins; but whether the fish has the
power of emitting at the same time a poisonous
liquid [ cannot say. For your better guidance I cut
cif a dorsal fin, with spines, which 1 now enclose,
having dipped them in brandy. Can any of your
correspondents give me further. information ?—
A, Horace Lloyd, Brighton.

[This is not a myth. See papers in Aun. and Mag.
of Nat. Hist., vol. vi. p. 161, Nov. 1840; Proceed-
ings of Liverpool Lit. and Phil. Soc., vol. i. p. 156,
May, 1849; Intellectual Observer, No. 28, May,
1864, The “ Weever”? (Zrachinus vipera) is also
called the “Sting Fish.’—Ep. 8. G.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Jory 1, 1865,

Wuat vo. Crickets Har?—“‘ Our cherished
little minstrel enshrined im poetic fancies” is not
only a savage and a Dahomey, but is also a cannibal
anda Han. A year or two back, being desirous of
getting two or three crickets for anatomical pur-
poses best known to microscopists, and not having
any in my own house, I asked my next door neigh-
bour, who was rather superabundantly supplied
with them, to capture two or three for me, ‘dead
or alive.’ A day or two after he handed me over
the garden wall three, two of which were dead, the
other, a fine large fellow, alive and vigorous. I
placed them under a tumbler in a place to which no
one had access but myself, and left them until the
following day. When I went to take them out for
execution, to my great surprise I found the living
one as vigorous as ever—perhaps a trifle-more so;
but of the dead, nothing remained but a few smail
fragments sufficient to show what had become of
the rest.—Heury Ff. Hailes.

Fox with Youne Scentizess.—Allow me to
corroborate the interesting fact (noticed, with doubt,
at page 142, by your correspondent W. F.8.), of
the female fox having no scent. I have little doubt
that this merciful provision is well known to many
huntsmen; but on the authority of a gentleman, a
member of the Fife Hunt, I have much pleasure in
testifying to its truth. Observing, one day, a fox
close in front of the hounds, he was surprised that
they neither gave tongue nor chase. He imme-
diately drew the attention of the huntsman to it,
who at once said, “The fox is with young, it has no
scent, and the hounds will not follow.” The result
justified his statement ; for though the fox ran slowly
ee, the hounds never disturbed or noticed it.—

Iycupatine Rozpin. “W. 1. 8.7? Answer.—lt
would be next to impossible to prove that sitting-birds
have no scent; but a case which tends to support that
assertion is now under my own immediate observa-
tion. A pair of hedge-sparrows have built in a bay-
bush within two yards of my window; the stem of
the shrub stands m an adjoining garden, separated
from mine only by an open iron palisade, through
which cats are passing constantly, close to the nest.
The cwner of the garden also possesses three or four
cats, which are m the habit of climbing into the
various shrubs; but the nest as yet remains undis-
covered by them. In this instance, however, the
perfume of the bay-leaves may be sutficient to over-
power that of the birds. On the other hand, it
would be somewhat anomalous that “nature ” should
be more careful of the welfare of the embryo than of
the living young. As to the female fox being scent-
less when “with young” (a doubtful expression,
but I suppose meaning in a pregnant state), I know
nothing ; but every reader of the Sporting Magazine
must well know the interesting account of the chase
of a bitch fox, which ran an immense distance, car-
rying avery young cub in her mouth. This hap-
pened, I suppose, some forty years since, and was
a favourite subject in the print-shops, and on snuif-
boxes, long after.—&. K.

Sparrows aNnp Crocus.—Early in the year
(March) the Sparrows cause much annoyance in
gardens, by pulling up the Crocus flowers. Can any
of your correspondents say, from certain practical
knowledge, what is their object ? Are they in search
of insects, or is there a peculiar juice or moisture
sa a a their attention specially to the Crocus ?

Juty I, 1865. ]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

167

A curtous Bricut.—On Sunday last I noticed
many little floating particles of wool or cotton, as it
seemed, in the garden, in a bright-sunshine. On
looking closer, I discovered that they were insects.
I captured several and put them into separate pill-
boxes. On looking at them some hours after, I
found that there were also in each box some ten to
fifteen other fawn-coloured insects, much more
minute and wineless. I at first thought they might
be parasites, hidden before in the cotton covering ;
but to-day, having again seen some specimens, |
examined one under a microscope, and found that
they were young, extruded from the parent ; at first
motionless, with antenne and legs placed chrysalis-
wise, but ina few minutes becoming active. I have
never noticed this insect before; and only now on
these two days. I can discover none on any plants
in the garden, though they approach in character to
what is commonly termed “ blight.” I enclose two
specimens, with some of the young, which I bope
will not get quite dried up. If you can tell -me what
they are, I should feel much obliged: they may be
common, but I never before observed them.—Z. WV.
Livett, M.D.

[The species sent is one of the Aphid, nearly
allied to the woolly American blight (Aphis lanigera).
It belongs to the genus Pemphigus, having four
simple oblique veins to the fore wings, none of them
being furcate.—J. O. W.|

Bers’ Remains. “A. O.” Answer.—I can easily
explain the cause of the death of the humble-bees,
having as a boy often found, more especially the
large red-tailed humble-bee, crawling on the ground,
disabled. On examination, I have invariably found
them infested, and completely eaten into by a dark-
coloured louse, which always chose the back of the
bee for its point of attack. I have found living
bees with holes large enough to admit a pea, and
containing three or four of these parasites. Our
belief was that the bee was eaten in this unvarying
manner for the sake of its “honey-bag,” the hole
peng always made in its immediate proximity.—

AQUARIUM QUERY ANSWERED. —In reply to
“G. R.B.” (page 148), the best remedy, and also pre-
ventive, against growth of the plant he describes, is
three or four snails, either Trumpet (Planorbis
corneus) or Pond Winkles (Paludina vivipara) ; they
are both capital cleansers. ‘Tadpoles are also of
benefit ; but not to the same extent. Iam enabled
to speak from experience, having been very success-
ful with my aquariums for the past two years,
although previously I think I had as many accidents
and misfortunes as any one.—Zhomas Armstrong.

[The same advice is given by G. M. Ruck. ]

Exotic anp British Dratoms.—Mr. Kitton
(page 140) seems to be under a mistake in supposing
the Coscinodiscus radiatus to be exclusively an exotic
diatom, as I have found it plentifully in a cave
attainable only at lowest water, in the face of the
rocks about ten miles south of Aberdeen; more
sparingly along the coast in the neighbourhood.
Enclosed is a slide (I am sorry it is not a very clean
one) showing the proceeds of one dip in a washing
therefrom.—H. Ambrose Smith, Aberdeen.

Brrcu-tTrREEs.—Why is it that these trees injure
all others encroaching upon them, but are seldom, if
ever, injured in return, and will allow nothing to
thrive under them ?—d. H,

Tue GoLpEN Buoomerta.—A friend of mine,
who has lately returned from California, allows me
to take an occasional peep at his note-book. I
there I alighted on a short account of what I should
imagine to be a very lovely bulbous plant, called the
Golden Bloomeria, and I should much like to know
if it has been introduced into this country by any
botanist. The specimen of the blossom I saw was
dried, andit had consequently lost the bright golden
hue which marks its beauty when growing. (Apropos
of dried flowers, I saw a remarkable group, mounted
with their natural colours, exquisitely preserved, at
the grand féte, on Saturday the 10th, at the Horti-
cultural Gardens) ; its bloom is wonderfully lasting,
Tam told, continuing in flower for a month or five
weeks ere it begins to fade; but I believe it is scent-
less. The bulb was first found in New Idria, and
has been classed by a Californian florist with liia-
ceous plants.—Helen Watney.

Wuite Sparrows in Smoxe.—I am informed,
by an eye-witness, that some time back a white
sparrow was seen to fly backwards and forwards
through the smoke of a factory chimney; and this
it continued for several days, and then disappeared
as suddenly as it came. J also am well acquainted
with a glass-manufacturer, who informs me that for
several weeks he observed a white sparrow flitting
about the works undeterred by the constant noise
and smoke. Can any correspondent favour me with
information as to whether the white sparrow has a
predilection for smoke, and prefers to live in smoky
districts; also, if cases similar to the above have
been noticed P—Z. 4. A.

Sea Anemones Divipine.—I had a very fine
Anthea 1 a small sea-water aquarium for some
months. One night f left it on a piece of rock, and
to my surprise, the next morning, I found fwo in the
place of one, on the same stone, with about the space
of half an inch between them. They were both fully
expanded, and lived for some months after; indeed,
till left home. Are Axtheas in the habit of divid-
ing themselves in half? and what can have been its
motive? I should mention that the two Antheas
were about equal in size.—JZ. S.

Buack Breties.—Can any one tell me an effee-
tual method of getting rid of black beetles in a
house which has been swarming with them for many
years, in spite of several common remedies,—poisons,
&e., of which they seem to grow shy after a time?
—A. Hi.

Waitt Corn Popry.—lI recently found a splen-
did pure white variety of Papaver Rheas in a field
between Stoke Newington and Hornsey; the petals
were pure paper-white, with a purple-black blot at
the base of each petal, in all other respects exactly
the same as the ordinary red form.—//’. G. Smith.

Stream BuBBLE-SHELL (Piysa fontinalis).—
Many of your readers are doubtless aware of the
power possessed by this mollusc of letting itself ,
down from the surface of the water by means of a ©
thread which it forms for the purpose. As perhaps
only a few may have had the opportunity of wit-
nessing the phenomenon, I will attempt to describe
it. Happening to look along the surface of the
water in a small aquarium, | noticed a small circular
spot about half a line in diameter. The centre was
depressed and funnel-shaped, while to the under side
was attached a thread, at the lower end of which
was the physa. I touched the floating speck witha
stick, to which it adhered, and I lifted the molluse
out of the water by the thread.--C. 4.

168 SCIENCE-GOSSiP.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

AtL communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of each
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations. All notes, queries, or articles for insertion, must
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
may be withheld from publication if so desired.

Queries.—Having been inundated with questions, we are
compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer
those of which the querist might satisfy himself by an appeal
to any elementary book on the subject. Weare always pre-
pared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish
the replies, provided some of our readers, beside the querist,
are likely to take aninterest in them.

We cannot undertake to return “rejected addresses.”

W. W. K.— Your plant, which is odorous when dried, is the
*6 Sweet Woodruff,’ or Asperula odorata.

A ConsTANT READER will find some information on the
American Water-weed at page 141.

£. M.—The galls are not uncommon around London on the
Ground Ivy.

H. T. K.—If you will send us one of the beetles in question,
we will endeavour to answer your query.

£. CAPRON.—We think the AZcidium on Galium aparine is
he same as that on Galium Mollugo, but not the same as that
on G. verum; as you observe, the colour of the spores differs.

W.S. K.—Your little reptile is the common Smooth Newt
(Lophinus punctatus).

E. T. S.—-Our correspondent must exercise a little forbear-
ance with those who may not haveacquired so much scientific
knowledge. We strive to offer something for all. There are
other journals devoting themselves to ‘‘dry science;’’ we
only profess to ‘‘ Gossip.’’

S.M.T.— Withering’s Botany is quite out of date.
We cannot give better advice, we think, than that given to
“PP. C.”’ (page 144). Perhaps Notcutt’s ‘‘ Handbook of British
Plants ’’ would suffice for your purpose (see below).

J. R. E.—The small beetle is Phyllobius wniformis.
tolerably common on low-growing plants.— R. G. K.

C. K.—The caterpillars which are making such havoc of
the hawthorn hedges, and stripping them of every green leaf,
are those of a little moth known as Hyponomeuta padellus.—
F. M.

R. W.—The caterpillars referred to as completely stripping
the foliage of oaks, ash, and hazel, according to your speci-
men, are those of Hydernia defoliaria, a moth which appears
in October and November, the larvee are not particular what
tuey eat.—H. T. S. Those on the Bird-cherry most probably
Hyponomeuta Padi.

T. H. H.—A well-known habit with the Grasshopper
Warbler, in common with several other birds.

It is

A. S.—Is there not some confusion in your names ?

R. A.—You will observe that we have ceased to insert
Reports of Societies, they being of little interest, except to the
members.

G. D.—A “‘ Fellow ”’ of a society properly means a member
of a chartered society who has fulfilled the requirements of
the charter in that case provided. An ‘‘ Associate”’ is also a
member of such a society, fulfilling other requirements, pro-
bably less rigid and carrying fewer privileges. ‘he title of
Fellow is often assumed by members of societies not consti-
tuted by Royal Charter.

MicroscoricAL AMATEUR SocireTy.—All letters on this
subject were forwarded to ‘* W. G.”

Nova Scoria Insects.—All letters were forwarded to the
correspondent ‘J. B. F.,’? upon their arrival at our office.

C. A. J.—You would find your two first queries illustrated
in any good work on Vegetable Physiology. The third is not
within our province. Correspondents would oblige by
adhering to the gocd old rule of ‘‘ one question at a time.”’

_ L.S. informs us that she has exterminated the Herbarium
insect (see page 111) from dried plants by keeping camphor
with the specimens,

[Jury 1, 1865.

W.S.K.—The little black insects beiong to the Phryganide,
and are known as Mystacides nigra. It is a very common
species.—R. McL.

E. W. wishes to know where vipers abound near enough to
town to be accessible to a cockney..—Writeto Mr. W. R. Tate,
4, Grove Place, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, and he will inform
you of several localities.

W. W. K.—An error, by some means, insinuated itself into
the reply at page 144. It should have been thus stated :—
Margarodes velongs to the Coccide, a family of insects placed
by Latreille at the end of Homoptera.

E. A. H.—British Orchid-tubers are too succulent to be
treated in the manner you suggest. Many foreign species
with pseudo-bulbs will sacceed: we have seen them grow
after having been kept dry in a drawer for twelve months.

P. P.—You really must forgive us, but we cannot make out
the names you inquire about. A good eyesight is one of the
blessings we enjoy, but to decipher such mystic hieroglyphics
presupposes a knowledge of Sanscrit or Coptic. If some of
our correspondents would oblige by writing names more
distinctly, and confine themselves to one side of the paper,
and one query at a time, what a Paradise they would create
for us.

Britiso Heeaticm NumMBER.—The special number, con-
taining descriptions of all the species of British Liverworts,
&c., with 200 figures, for four-pence, will be ready in a few
days. As only a limited number will be printed, our sub-
scribers are advised to order it without delay.

J. W. will appreciate our disinclination to mention any
names of tradesmen. It gives an undue advantage to the
parties named tothe injury of others. This we desire toavoid.

R. Bl.—We do not observe any deviation in your Lathrea
from the normal condition.

ParRIs QUADRIFOLIA. — Correspondents appear to have
fallen into error with respect to the query (page 143). We
have received specimens with 3, 5, 6, and 7 leaves. This is
nothing uncommon. The query referred to a corresponding
variation in other of the fioral organs. Has any variation
been observed in the number of stamens or carpels ?

A. E. L.—Ferns are much given to variation. Such sport-
ing as you speak of has induced some botanists to regard
Asplenium trichomanes end A. viride as the same species.

A. M. B.—Your primrose, the lower part of the floral axis
being confluent half-way up, and two flowers appearing to
surmount a forked peduncle, is scarcely deserving a special
illustration. It is curious, but not unique.

A. L.—The caterpillars of two species of moths are very

destructive to apple-trees. The one you refer to is probably
that of Clissiocampa neustria.—F. M.

A Hint For Contrisurors.—lIf our contributors will oblige
us by always using the common names of plants, animals,
insects, &c., wherever there is a common name in use, to
be followed by the scientific name in brackets, this will save
us a large amount of trouble in sending their manuscript
to press. As we do not pretend to address scientific readers
alone, vernacular names are indispensable.

CoMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.—T. P. B.—W.S. K.—W. J.B.
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J.H.W.—L. 8.—J. R. E.—B. T.—R. B.—W. (Ross).—J. B.
Humper.—E, G. W.—A. B. F.—R. K.—A. G. R.—Y. Y.—
G: M. R.—H. C. S.— E. P.—J. K.— E. A. E.—C. 8S. B.—E. C.
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J. E. M.—A. P. F.—S. M. T.—H. W.—E. T. S.— A. S.—R. T.
—R. C. D.—L. G. M.—A. S. B.—C. A.—W. L. N.—J. W.—
H. W. L.—J. JE. C. N.—G. H. P.—P. S. B.—C. K.—E. S.
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a) PS Wh. BW
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BOOKS RECEIVED.

«A List of Certain Plants to be met with in the Neighbour-
hoods of Barmouth, Dolgelly, and Harlech, &c.’’? By the Rey.
T. Salwey, B.D. (Barmouth: D. Jones.)

** Handbook of British Water-weeds, or Algz.’’ By Dr. J. E.
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(London: Hardwicke.)

“Handbook of British Plants.”’
12mo. cloth. 213 pp. (London

By W. Lowndes Notcutt.
: Longmans.)

TEHE. DEEP,

DEEP SEA”

Ah! what pleasant visions haunt me, as I gaze upon the sea!

All the old romantic legends, all my dreams come back to me.

Till my soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea,

And the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.

“Fp ROADLY awake but deliciously dreaming,”
we cast ourselves upon the dazzling sandy

beach, and gaze upon “the deep, deep sea.” The
sky above, so beautifully blue, is unsullied by a
single cloud; “a holy calm pervades us, all is peace
within.” Above, below—without, within—exists a
harmony of repose, and as we adjust the welcome
expanse of our broad-brimmed “felt” to shield our
eyes and shelter our complexion, we sink into a
reverie,—

With half-shut eyes ever to seem

Falling asleep in a half-dream.

There always seems to be a mysterious influence
in the sea,— itself a mystery, covering three-fourths
of the surface of the globe, and hiding the earth
and its inhabitants from the gaze of the “lords of
creation.” How little do we know, compared with
the unknown, of three-fourths of the world that is
buried in the sea. “ We tried,’ says Sir James
Ross, “but did not obtain soundings with 4,600
athoms of line, or 27,000 feet,” upwards of five
miles. And this in “the deep, deep sea.”

From the bottom of this vast expanse the
plummet brings to the surface evidence of the past
existence of myriads of minute organisms. ‘The
ocean,” writes Lieutenant Maury, “especially within
and near the tropics, swarms with life. The remains
of its myriads of moving things are conveyed by
currents, and scattered and lodged in the course of
time all over its bottom. This process, continued
for ages, has covered the depths of the ocean as
with a mantle, consisting of organisms as delicate
as the macled frost, and as light as the undrifted
snowflake on the mountain.” And that these fragile
and delicate objects repose at peace in their ocean
bel is now past a doubt. ‘‘ My investigations,”
writes Professor Bailey, “show that the bottom is
so free from currents and abrading agents that a
rope of sand, if once laid there, would be stout
enough to withstand the pulling of all the forces
that are at play upon the bottom of the sea.”

Not only the remains of past life, but also the
living present, exist in countless numbers in the
ocean. “In examining animalcule in sea-water,”

Longfellow.

says Capt. Foster, “I have heretofore used surface
water. This afternoon, after pumping for some
time from the stem pump seven feet below the sur-
face, I examined the water, and was surprised to
find that the fluid was literally alive with animated
matter.” And what shall we say of—

The stupendous mounds of catacombs
Fill’d with dry mummies of the builder worms ?

of the coral reefs reared by the combined efforts of
myriads of diminutive artisans, and which Captain
Tlinders encountered for five hundred, and Captain
King for seven hundred miles ?

Some of the wonders of this vast storehouse of
marvels have been transferred to the marine aquaria,
public and private, which fashion called into exist-
ence in haste, and nearly abandoned at leisure. Sea-
anemones, so like the flowers of earth as to deceive
the insects of earth; jelly-fish, unlike anything in
creation but themselves; and even the poor hermit
crab doomed to forego his retirement and be gazed
upon by every little “charity boy” that chooses to
spend his holiday sixpence at the Zoological
Gardeus.

Leaving sea-serpents to assert their own identity,
and prove their own existence in some remote future,
by one of their family swallowing a cargo of hard-
ware, and being stranded in a fit of indigestion, we
should like to know, since the fauna of the land is
continually being augmented by the knowledge of
new genera and species, what can be predicated of
our knowledge of the fauna of “the deep, deep sea.”
Surely half its wonders are yet entirely unknown.

Osea! old sea! who yet knows half
Of thy wonders or thy pride!

Still we repose upon the beach and dieam, as old
Neptune chides our idleness by casting at our fect
seaweeds, corallines, zoophytes, shells, starfish, and
many such trinkets of his, each of which would
employ us many an hour fully to comprehend.

Break, break, break,
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!

But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.

170

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

(Ava. 1, 1865.

THE HOUSE ANT.

ET me be cool, let me bear it all in meek and

- seemly resignation, above all let not my trials
tempt me to launch forth a torrent of invectives
against my dumb tormentors. What! though Job
the patient, the much-enduring, may never have
suffered at the hands, or rather jaws, of so many re-
lentless persecutors as has done—and does do—your
particularly humble servant at your service. What!
though But why, harrowing with a tale of
woe, should I aggravate, by suspense, the lacerated
feelings of my already sympathizing reader. Enough :
—let me briefly to the point; my complaint is—
why should I disguise it—ants! execrable, unmiti-
gated ants !

Know, then, all men, that I, the martyr par
excellence, have ever been the butt of insects: while
yet the tenant of a cradle never, more than I, was
hapless babe a victim to the midnight prowling
Cimex, which in later years has lain in wait for me at
sea-side villages: know that at the tender age of six
a contest with a humble bee respecting the proprie-
torship of some toothsome morsel resulted in my
being ignominiously be-humbled. Furthermore, be
it known, that after an unwarrantable, though purely
accidental, intrusion upon the inmates of a wasps’
nest, into which I had most literally put my foot, a
score of stings of these aculeate individuals were,
once upon a time, extracted from my suffermg body
by aid of the inevitable key j and that, at a more ad-
vanced period of my existence, my first attempt at
beetle-hunting ended in an inglorious and precipitate
retreat homewards with many hundred fleas anent
my person, collected promiscuously during a hasty
investigation of an untenanted henhouse, which,
unfortunately for me, had looked likely.

Gaunt gnats, gadflies, and a host of other double-
barrelled excruciators show an invariable and un-
desirable preference for my surfaces, sucking my
blood-——freely, for I am juicy. Bluebottles, in
evident anticipation of my speedy demise, assail me
with ferocity, and not unfrequently get off unscathed;
while with ticks, bobs, harvestmen, and the rest of
these human tormentors, excepting, perhaps, the
insinuating scabies, and one or two others I could
mention, my experience has been both practical
and painful. Indeed, it would seem that most of
the objectionable members of our “ invertebrate zoolo-
gical fauna” have selected me to perform their,
maybe interesting, but, to me, excessively unpleasant,
operations on, But, there——what are these com-
pared with ants, which, now as I advance in years,
are my unbidden cuests.

Lam not speaking of the bodily pain inflicted by
the pismire, although with ¢hat I am perfectly
familiar, but of the mental havoc played by certain
little emmets in their destructive raids upon one’s
peace of mind and property simultaneously.

The subject of my paper rejoices in the appellation
of Diplorhoptrum molesta ; its description is——but
no matter-——if anyone should desire to be personally
acquainted with it, I can supply him with living
types beyond his expectations; suffice it, the crea-
ture is small and brown, and of a highly predaceous
nature, attacking not merely stately man himself,
but devouring with an avidity perfectly preposterous
when the diminutive bulk of the consumer is con-
sidered, articles of consumption in daily domestic use;
and, what now more nearly concerns the narrator, ju-
bilating in the annihilation of the moth tribe, be the
living or dead, in all their stages (eggs included).
And here I may as well confess that my juvenile, as
well as more adult, proclivities, have undoubtedly led
me to work the Lepidoptera of my country, which re-
minds me that the infliction under which I groan may
possibly be but a just retribution for having, in my
time, stifled, impaled, and converted into specimens
so many moths and butterflies ; be that as it may, 16
is not to the point, and therefore the less said about
it the better.

But to proceed. ‘This little pest inhabits houscs
in various parts of London; some localities pro-
ducing it in such prodigious quantities as actually to
impart considerable seasoning to the viands wit)
which it is unavoidably served up ;—indeed, I have
been credibly informed by one of the first entomolo-
gists of the day that, on changing his abode after a
protracted residence among the house ants, he had
greatly missed the flavour of them. The neighbour-
hood of Russell Square, a site in appalling proximity
to our National Collection, appears to abound in this
living commodity, and Brighton, as I see by a paper
in the Zntomologists’ Monthly, also harbours it.

As to the habits of this industrious little creature,
how shal! I describe them? ‘Let us imagine that,
after a hard and successful day’s collecting, the
insect-hunter has stretched and, heedless of Diplo-
rhoptrum, stowed away his treasures; we will suppose
that he (said insect-hunter) has gone to roost radiant
with the captures of the day, and that his slumbers are
dotted o’er with phantoms of impossible new species
—I say we will swppose so. ‘The morrow dawns,
and “O! wondrous changes of a fatal scene still
varying to the last,” the features of our hero now
present just a trifle less of that soft expression of
ineffable satisfaction which erewhile they wore, as
he gazes on the wreck of what was yester-e’en a
galaxy of beauty——Yes! there they are, plying
their jaws, in groups around each specimen, hard at
work—nibbling antenne—trampling with a thou-
sand tiny tarsi the “fluff” from off the wings—
playing at hide and seek in the capacious sinuses
already formed within the bodies of their disem-
bowelled victims—or baiting to the death some
living prisoned moth.—Poor, innocent, industrious,
unsuspecting little brutes, it is your last meal. I
draw a veil. But what availeth benzine, is not

Ave. 1, 1863.)

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

171

their name “Legion,” and when one batch is no

more, do no more come on?

And pray (asks somebody) what does our “ Ento.”
under these, it must be admitted, somewhat ruffling
circumstances P—Do rash thoughts of trymg “a
dance upon nothing at all,” after the approved
fashion of the late Mr. Miiller, but unassisted by
the professional talent employed in his case, occur
to him ?—Does he seck oblivion in the bow], com-
forting himself at the bar of the “ Wooden Nutmeg”
with slings, smiles, cock-tails, and tangle-legs?—
Does he exhaust himself in forcible, though unavail-
ing language P—Has his landlord instant notice to
quit?—Is entomology henceforth to be renounced P—
To file an injunction? It would hardly do. But hah!
How about writing to the Times? Or do ideas of
trotting down to Ratcliff Highway, to see if Mr.
Jamrach has a Myrmecophaga jubata wpon hand, ever
enter his head P—— My dear sir, nothing of the sort ;
he has become inured to such oceurrences, and merely
smiles (faintly, perhaps) as he mutters “tck, tck,
tek, well this 7s a go, but there—it can’t be helped,”
for he’s a philosopher is your flycatcher.

For some time afterwards, however, he wears a
taciturn expression, if I may use the phrase, his
lips being more or less compressed, and his eye
evidently in search of “something”—the hawk-
like precision, too, with which he spies and pounces
on any object bearing the remotest resemblance to
Diplorhoptrum is truly marvellous. He hums tunes,
and retains much of his cheerful placidness of
countenance, but he occupies himself more than is
his wont in pouring benzine into all sorts of sus-
picious-looking holes and cracks, very much to the
discomfiture of his aged housekeeper (that is if he

happen to have one), who can’t a-bear the smell of |

it; and what with turpentine, creosote, and various
essential oils, he certainly succeeds, upon the whole,
in making the ants and everybody else exceedingly
uncomfortable ; he even, peradventure, brings a
light to see how matters progress, to the infinite
risk of being arraigned on a charge of arson, and
then, perhaps, alarmed at the unexpected inflam-
matory effects of his too readily combustible agents,
confines himself for the future to the free use of
boiling water, tries the virtues of some lauded
vermin powder or other, or contents himself by
dabbing bits of liver in various parts of the pre-

ises i “atificati 1 ati aoe ;
mises to the intense gratification and delectation of | quite white and milky.

kottle-flies, but to the infinite disgust of any individual
on the feed, and, after all, finds most relief in the
conversion of his tables and cabinets into islands by
means of rotting the legs thereof in gallipots of water.

You see it comes to this: what’s the good of my
waging a war of extirpation against antdom when
my neighbours don’t do likewise, and while a stray
female or two are amply capable of populating
(excuse the word) a mansion with their abundant

| ing season.”

| offspring? Indeed, there does not appear much

chance of immunity from their attacks until London
shall have been laid under water (boiling water best
for the purpose) for a few weeks at their most
ticklish time of life, which is, of course, the “ swarm-
And so—having arrived at this con-
viction—small wonder that I take things as they
come, and that it is my fixed intention soto do until
some benefitter of his species shall hit upon an
antidote for my disorder, and to console myself with
the fact that, though my troubles are undeniably
ereat, | have, at any rate, learned the truth, the
wisdom, and the force of the old adage, ‘“* What
cawt be cured must be endured.” i GK.

WOODEN COWS.

ERSONS who reside in our large towns,
especially the largest, are very apt to slander
the milkman, and ascribe the semi-lactescent ap-
_pearance of his commodity to a free use of “the
cow with an iron tail.” It is not our intention to
join in any such seandal, for the milk of our history
is genuine and unadulterated, although not derived
from a quadrupedal cow, goat, or any animal what-
ever. Some, perhaps most, of our readers will have
heard something of the existence of vegetable cows,
or plants yielding milk; it is of these “wooden
cows” we purpose to refresh their memories.

The caoutchouc, or india-rubber of commerce, as
it exudes from the tree, very much resembles milk
in colour and density. Many other plants yield a
similar fluid, and in some instances this is so sweet
and palatable as to be employed by the natives for
almost all the purposes of animal milk.

The “ Cow-tree of Demerara” was first observed
by a traveller of the ubiquitous family of Smith in
an excursion up that river. It is described as a
tree from thirty to forty feet in height, with a
diameter at the base of nearly eighteen imches.
This tree is known to botanists by the name of
Tabernemontana utilis, and to the natives as the
Hya-hya. It belongs to the same natural order as
the Penang India-rubber tree, and the Poison-tree
of Madagascar (Apocynacee). It occurs plentifully
in the forests of British Guiana, and its bark and
pith are so rich in milk, that a moderately-sized
stem, which was felled on the bank of a forest
stream, in the course of an hour coloured the water

The milk is said to be
thicker and richer than cow’s milk, mixes freely
with water, and is perfectly innocuous, and of a
pleasant flavour; the natives employing it as a re-
freshing drink, and in all respects as animal milk.
The Cynghalese have also a tree which they call
“ Kiriaghuma,” but which belongs to a different
order of plants (Asclepiadacee). It is the Gymnema
lactiferum, and yields a very pleasant milk, which is

employed for domestic purposes in Ceylon.

172

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Auce. 1, 1865.

There appears to be also a milk-tree common in
the forests of Para which the natives call “ Masse-
nodendron,” but of which we have no definite
knowledge, except that it was for a considerable
time used on board H.M.S. Chanticleer as a sub-
stitute for cow’s milk. It was said to suffer no
chemical change by keeping, neither did it show any
tendency to become sour.

The most celebrated of all the cow-trees was that
discovered and made known by Humboldt as the
‘‘Palo de Vaca,” or “cow-tree.” Singularly enough
it belongs to a different natural order from those
already mentioned (Artocarpacee), and to one
which includes also the poisonous Upas-tree of
Java. The botanical name of this cow-tree is
Galactodendron utile, the “ useful milk-tree,” or, as
more recently called, Brosimum utile. Its discoverer
states that while staying at the farm of Barbula in
the valleys of Aragua, “we were assured that the
negroes of the farm, who drink plentifully of this
vegetable milk, consider it a wholesome aliment,
and we found by experience during our stay that the
virtues of this tree had not been exaggerated.
When incisions are made in the trunk, it yields
abundance of a glutinous milk, tolcrably thick,
devoid of all acridity, and of an agreeable and
balmy smell. It was offered to us in the shell of a
calabash. We drank considerable quantities of it
in the evening before we went to bed, and very early
in the morning, without feeling the least injurious
effect. The viscosity cf this milk alone renders it a
little disagreeable. The negroes and the free people
who work in the plantations drink it, dipping into
it their bread of maize or cassava. The overseer of
the farm told us that the negroes grow sensibly

fatter during the season when the Palo de Vaca |

furnishes them with most milk. ‘This juice, ex-
posed to the air, presents on its surface membranes
of a
stringy, and resembling cheese. The people call it
cheese. This coagulum becomes sour in the space
of four or five days.

“The extracrdinary tree of which we have been

speaking appears to be peculiar to the Cordillera of |

the coast, particularly from Barbula to the Lake of
Maracaybo. At Caucagua the natives call the tree
that furnishes this nourishing juice the “ milk-tree”
(arbol del leche). They profess to recognize, from
the thickness and colour of the foliage, the trunks
that yield the most juice; as the herdsman dis-
tinguishes, from the external signs, a good milch-
cow. Amidst the great number of curious phenomena
which I have observed in the course of my travels,
I confess there are few that have made so powerful
an impression on me as the aspect of the cow-tree.
A few drops of vegetable juice recall to our minds
all the powerfulness and the fecundity of nature.
On the barren flank of a rock grows a tree with

strongly animalized substance, yellowish, |

coriaceous and dry leaves. Its large woody roots
can scarcely penetrate into the stone. For several
months in the year not a single shower moistens its
foliage. Its branches appear dead and dried; but
when the trunk is pierced there flows from it a
sweet and nourishing milk. It is at the rising of
the sun that this vegetable fountain is most abun-
dant. The negroes and natives are then seen
hastening from all quarters, furnished with large
bowls to receive the milk, which grows yellow and
thickens at its surface. Some empty their bowls
under the tree itself, others carry the juice home to
their children,”

Mr. D. Lochart also visited the cow-trees in the
Caraccas, and drank of the milk from a tree which
had a’ trunk seven feet in diameter, and measured

| one hundred feet from the root to the first branch.

Sir R. K. Porter also paid them a visit, and his
observations confirm those already recited. ‘The
colour and consistency,” he says, “were precisely
those of animal milk, with a taste not less sweet
and palatable; yet it left on the tongue a slight
bitterness, and on the lips a considerable clamminess ;
an aromatic smell was most strongly perceptible
when tasting it.” -

Other trees are known which possess similar pro-
perties to a greater or less extent. One of these is
the “Tabayba dolce” of the Canaries (Zuphorbia
balsamifera). Here again we have a plant belong-
ing to a different natural order from any of the
others, namely, the Luphorbiacee, and one containing
a large number of plants with acrid and purgative
juices. Leopold von Buch states that the juice of.
this plant is similar to sweet milk, and, thickened
into a jelly, is eaten as a delicacy.

“A species of Cactus (C. mamillaris) also yields a
milky juice equally sweet and wholesome. It now
constitutes the type of a genus called Mamillaria.
The milk is affirmed to be much inferior in its
quality to the majority of the above.

It would scarcely be advisable for us to enter here
upon the subject of the chemical composition of any
of these vegetable juices, or to show their connec-
tion with those lactescent fluids which harden upon
exposure, and then are known as india-rubber or
caoutchouc, Although none of the cow-trees enume-
rated yield a true india-rubber, that substance, or
one greatly resembling it, is afforded by some of
theirallies. It is curious to observe how, when
failing to serve mankind in one direction, these
trees become important servants in another. How
forcibly this reminds us of the quaint lines of
George Herbert—

More servants wait on Man,
Than he’ll take notice of ; in every path
He treads down that which doth befriend him,
When sickness makes him pale and wan.

Oh, mighty love! Man is one world, and hath
Another to attend him.

Avg. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

173

GATHERING SEAWEEDS.

Pleasant it is
On summer days to wander by the sea,
And view the lovely ocean plants that wave
In each translucent rock-pool.—Anon.

T this season of the year, when all those who
delight in a stroll on the sea-shore hasten to
some favourite watering-place, there will probably
be among this happy number some of the readers
of the Sctrncr Gossip, and possibly some few who
do not hold seaweeds in such utter contempt as to
consider the occupation of collecting and drying
them unworthy of their attention.

T have not unfrequently met with people who,
although expressing the greatest admiration for
these exquisite productions, rarely take the trouble
to collect them; because, as they say, “seaweeds
are so difficult to obtain in good condition, and very
troublesome to preserve;” also, “that to dry them
so as to retain their proper colour and appearance
when found in their native element, requires so
much time and such a variety of apparatus.” All
this is very true; but can any branch of science be
practised, even as anamusement, without engrossing
time, and requiring the employment of tools or
apparatus of some kind? However, for the benefit
of those who may be disposed to dabble a little in
the collecting and preserving of British Marine Alege
this season, I purpose herewith to give them a few
plain directions as to the most effective method of
cleaning and preserving the plants which are most
likely to be found by those who collect during the
ebb and flow of the tide, or who confine their search
to the shores, or rock-pools, or among the mass of
weeds which are cast up during rough weather.

Most of the green and olive seaweeds are readily
found, either in a growing state, or cast ashore,
from high-water mark to extreme low-water mark,
but nearly every species of red weed grows sub-
merged, anda vast number of them in deep water
only; so that, unless they are obtained by the
troublesome process of dredging, it is seldom in-
deed that the unskilled collector meets with good
specimens of red plants, unless he have the good
fortune to find them soon after they are cast ashore ;
their beauty being quickly impaired by contact with
decaying matter, and their colours destroyed by ex-
posure to the sunlight.

Seaweed gathering, like everything else, requires
practice and experience, and beginners must not be
disappointed because they do not find rarities or
fine specimens whenever and wherever they may
seek for them. Asa general rule, without reference
tothe season of the year, the best time for col-
lecting is at the spring tides, or during the change
of the moon; in other words, to commence a day
or two before the full of the moon, and continue
until two or three days after the new moon, because

at this period the tide recedes much further, so that
a considerable space is laid bare; on rocky shores
many rare plants are, at these times, frequently met
with. For instance, I may mention the Castle
Rocks at Hastings, which are unapproachable ex-
cept in a boat at ordinary low-water mark, and then
few but the commonest red weeds are found growing
upon them; and yet at the lowest spring tides I
have waded out to these rocks, and on the owfer side
of several of them I have found the rare Rhody-
menia Palmetta, and other choice red plants in
tolerable abundance.

As to what species of plants are to be found in
particular localities, I may observe, that with the
xception of some few, which are pretty nearly
certain to make their appearance regularly, I have
never found all the same species of plants in the
same localities for two consecutive seasons. Arthro-
cladia, for instance, an early summer olive plant,
was very abundant one season at Hastings, and yet
for three years afterwards I did not find a single
specimen; hence, I may say, I go out collecting
without having the slightest idea what class or
character of plants I may mect with, but because of
this uncertainty I aways make preparations for a
plentiful harvest, so that upon my return home L
may lose no unnecessary time in cleaning and dis-
playing my “treasures of the deep.” Several of
our popular watering-places, such as Brighton,
Margate, and Hastings, have been spoken of as not
very likely localities for the production of fine sea-
weeds, still I have rarely searched the shores at these
places without finding some interesting specimens.
But of all the shores I have ever visited, none can
bear a comparison, either for beauty or variety of
species, with the south coast of Devon; especially
that rocky part which commences near the Break-
water at Plymouth, and so on for a few miles down
the shore as far as the famed Mewstone Rock, the
nooks and little bays of which abound with many
rare species of seaweed. Again, the shores around
Mount Edgcumbe and Cawsand Bay are rich in
particular species; and then, if the collector hires
a boat at Plymouth, and sails over to Cawsand, a
delightful walk of half an hour or so, through the
picturesque lanes and over the hill, will bring bim
to Whitsand Bay, one of the most magnificent
scenes on the British shores, and one of the most
productive localities with which I am acquainted.
It was here that 1 met with the rare Desmarestia
ligulata (usually a deep-water species) growing on
rocks at extreme low-water mark, and indeed many
other rarities too numerous to mention.

A few words must suffice to inform the collecicr
that in some of the shallow rock-pools on the Hastings
shore, between the White Rock and the Archway,
he will frequently find that pretty little green plant
Bryopsis plumosa in tolerable abundance. Care

174

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Aue. 1, 1865.

should be taken, in gathering this species, to remove
it from the rocks by the roots, otherwise, if its
tubular branches be torn or broken, much of the
fine green colour will be lost, and the beauty of the
specimen considerably impaired. Pretty specimens
of a finely-forked olive plant, called Dictyota dicho-
toma, grow in the rock-pools near St. Leonards;
and outside the Castle Rocks, off Hastings, several
red species grow in profusion, At Brighton the
collector should commence his search at the east end
of the Esplanade, and so on towards Rottingdean.
The beautiful plant known as the Peacock, or
Turkey-feather laver (Padina pavonia), is rarely
met with but in shallow rock-pools at half-tide level,
where it can enjoy the full light and heat of the
sun. This justly-admired species is found at Wey-
mouth, Exmouth, and Margate; also at Shanklin,
in the Isle of Wight, where it fringes the rock-
pools in the greatest abundance. At Ventnor, in
the early summer months, many of the finer red
weeds are cast ashore, especially that grandly named
plant Spherococcus coronopifolius. Ufracombe and
Lynmouth are excellent localities for the handsome
red leafy plants, so also are Whitby and Filey.
Peterhead is famous for Odonthalia, or toothed sea-
wort, as well as that lovely olive species known as
Ectocarpus Mertensii, On the west coast of Scot-
land, the shores of the Cumbrae Islands, and
Whiting Bay in the Isle of Arran, will amply repay
the collector for a visit. On the shores of the last-
mentioned place, among other treasures, are found
in profusion Odonthalia and Ptilota plumosa, and
occasionally the very rare Callithamnion arbuscula,
The above charming localities have been mentioned
as affording good hunting-grounds for amateur col-
lectors, and because, for the most part, they present
no very serious difficulties to ordinary pedestrians
in obtaining a considerable number of interesting
specimens.

Patience, diligence, and the capability of bearing
a fair amount of fatigue, are necessary qualifications
for all who undertake the search after seaweeds,
because, as many of the finer kinds grow under the
shade of rocks or in deep pools, some occasional
rough climbing, and now and then a slip or two into
cool water, must be expected as “all in the day’s
work.”

Almost all collectors commence by mounting
plants which a little experience proves to be worth-

eye soon learns to detect the difference between

plants in and out of condition, and practice in |

mounting is equally valuable whether the specimens
be good or bad.

When I think of the difficulties I experienced
when I commenced the study of marine botany,
especially in the collecting and drying of seaweeds,
I feel strongly inclined to urge all beginners to

obtain some information concerning Marine Alge
before they go to the sea-shore to collect for them-
selves. A very few hours of study with an ex-
perienced Algologist, or even a perusal of certain
standard illustrated works on British Alge, will save
much trouble and materially assist the unpractised
eye in selecting specimens for the herbarium. But
if the student would prefer a few visits to the
library of the British Museum, he will find in
Harvey’s ‘ Phycologia Britannica” figures, with
magnified portions, of every species of plant which
he is likely to meet with on the shores of the British
islands.

Tf the collector wishes to learn, not merely the
names of plants, but to distinguish species, he will
do well to provide himself with a copy of Harvey’s
little volume, “The Synopsis of British Seaweeds,”
and a Stanhope or a Coddington lens, by means of
which he can examine portions of delicate plants as
he finds them, and compare them with the descrip-
tions given in the Synopsis; in this way, if he have
any success during his excursions, he will quickly
become familiar with most of the plants which are
cast ashore or grow within tide-marks.

As regards collecting boxes or bags, ladies and
gentlemen may suit their own convenience. For
short journeys an ordinary india-rubber sponge-bag
isas good as anything; but in very warm weather,
a tin can with loop-handle and cover is better,
because it keeps the plants cool; and the water
should be changed frequently ; otherwise, if a large
number of weeds be kept together, decomposition
among the finer species is apt to take place; and
here I may observe that there is one genus of
beautiful olive plants, the Sporochnacee, which must
on uo account be mixed with any of the delicate
red plants, for they not only very rapidly decompose,
but injure almost all others with which they are
placed in contact; hence they should always be put
in a bag or tin case by themselves. ‘The species are
not very numerous, and they may be easily recog-
nized, after having been previously studied, from the
coloured figures either in Harvey’s “ Phycologia,”
or in Bradbury and Evans’s “ Nature-printed Sea-
weeds.”

Gloves are rather a nuisance than otherwise, but
I would advise ladies to wear a strong leather glove

_ on the /ef¢ hand when rocks have to be scaled,

f ; a OEON | because they are frequently coated with Balani or
less; this, however, is of very little importance; the |

sea-acorns, the shells of which are sharp and apt to
Jacerate the hands in the event of slips now and
then; but I strongly recommend keeping the right
hand always bare; for there is nothing like the un-
impeded touch in separating delicate branching
plants from the rocks, from the coarser weeds, or
from the masses of rejectamenta in which they are
sometimes found. Every plant should be swilled in
the nearest rock-pool, and washed as clean as pos-

Ave. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

175

sible before it is put into the vasculum ; it occupies
very little time, and saves unnecessary trouble at
home.

As regards costume for /adies, in these days of
crinoline and long trains, I find it difficult to dictate ;
but I strongly advise those who do not mind being
thought ‘‘ guys” to doff silks, muslins, and the like,
and to don linseys or woollens, or such materials as
will not be the worse for salt water. Thick worsted
stockings, and shoes fitting tight round the ankles,

will be found best for those who do not object to |

dabble in the water. Otherwise, india-rubber boots
reaching nearly to the knees will satisfy all ordinary
requirements.

Collectors should be cautioned against the very
natural error of bringing home too many plants at
once; for if they wish to avoid making a real toil
of a pleasure, they must be moderate in their
gatherings, or be content to risk the loss of some
choice specimens which will decompose unless
they are attended to before night. The first thing
to be done upon arriving at home, is to empty the
vasculum into a large white basin of sea-water, and
to select the best and cleanest plants as soon as
possible, giving each a good swill before placing it
in another vessel of sea-water, and getting rid of
rejected specimens at once, so that the basin first

used will be available for rewashing the weeds |

before they are placed in the mounting-dish.

When a day is fixed upon for seaweeding, the
collector should order a large bucket of clean
sea-water, which, after being left to settle, should
be strained through a towel, so as to be as free as
possible from sand, dirt, and small marine animals.
Three or four large pie-dishes will be necessary,
varying from eight to twelve inches in length, the
deeper the better, and white, if such can be obtained.
Place these on a separate table with towels under
them, and reserve a table especially for the mount-
ing-dish and the parcels of papers, calicoes, and
blottmg-papers. The large white bath used in
Photography is very well adapted for mounting sea-
weeds; the lip at one corner is convenient for pour-
ing off soiled water, and its form, that of an oblong
about two inches deep, is best adapted for receiving
the papers upon which the plants are to be mounted.
Beside this vessel should be placed the following
implements :—a poreupine’s quill, two camel’s hair
pencils, one small, the other large and flat, a pair of
strong brass forceps, a pair of sharp-pointed scissors,
a penknife, and a small sponge, an ivory paperknife,
and two thin plates of perforated zinc, somewhat
less than the inner space of the bath or mounting-
dish.

Almost any kind of drawing-paper is suitable for
mounting, but I generally employ stout unglazed
paper for the large robust plants, and fine well-
pressed paper for the more delicate species. The

collector should be provided with three different
sizes of paper, varying from six to eight or ten
inches square, and these should have each a piece of
calico and four pieces of blotting-paper to corre-
spond. Some people make use of fine muslin, but
for all purposes I prefer very fine calico, and that
which has been frequently washed is the best. Care
should be taken that the water be drained off the
paper as completely as possible before the calico is
laid over the plant, and this is accomplished by
raising the paper on which the plant is displayed
out of the bath by means of the piece of perforated
zinc; then transfer it to a thin board placed in an
inclined position against one of the basins, and with
the large camel’s hair pencil paizt off the water, so
to say, and absorb the rest around the plant with
the sponge. Specimens may be left thus to drain,
while the operator is arranging others. The calico
should be placed upon the plant and the blotting-
paper laid over it; a piece of blotting-paper should
also be placed under the paper containing the plant.
Almost all the branching seaweeds will require more
or less pruning, or they will be troublesome to
mount, and unsightly when pressed; therefore I
advise their previous immersion in a deep dish of
water, and their appearance when thus floating
should be imitated as closely as possible when they
are arranged in a flat position on paper.

With the exception of some of the Fuci, or coarse
rockweeds, I never place seaweeds in fresh water;
but with the former a few hours’ immersion in fresh
water is an advantage, as it soaks some of the salt out
of them, and renders them more pliable, As nearly
every species of Fucus turns black in drying, and
few of them adhere well to paper, I arrange my
specimens in single layers between the folds of a
clean dry towel, and keep them under moderate
pressure for a few days; when they are dry, they
may be put away loosely, or gummed upon sheets of
paper.

Care should be observed in subjecting plants to
pressure, which, in the first instance, should be
sufficient only to help the absorption of water; the
first set of blotting-papers should be changed in
half an hour after the whole batch of specimens has
been placed in the press; these should be thoroughly
dried before they are used again. After the second
or third change, the plants should remain under
strong pressure for-two ce three days; but the pieces
of calico must not be removed until the plants are
taken out of the press.

The ordinary employment of a few boards with a
heap of stones, or a set of iron weights, for pressure,
is a very cumbrous and unsatisfactory method of
pressing seaweeds. Of course, where a towel-press
can be obtained, the purchase of six or eight boards,
about fourteen inches square and one inch thick,
will be sufficient: but by far the best plan is that of

cs

176

SCIENCE-GOSSIP,

[Ave. 1, 1865.

a proper seaweed-press, containing about a dozen
smoothly-planed boards; it takes up very little space,
and in travelling, the papers, calicoes, and blotters
may be placed between the boards. The figure below
represents the press which I have employed for years ;
and on it lies the iron clamp by means of which any
requisite amount of pressure may be obtained by
tightening the screws, which cap the iron rods con-

necting the cross-beams of wocd enclosing the

pressure-boards. Residents in and around London
may examine this press on application at the office
of this journal.

Space will not admit of any further description of
the process of seaweed-mounting; but I hope that
the few directions I have given will help beginners
to dry any pretty plants they may meet with.

W. H. Grarrann.

Exoven ror atu!—A thousand million of men
at least now live upon the earth, each one different
from his fellows ; for every man how many thousand
animals, again most different ; for every animal how
many plants,—still no two quite alike. And yet for
all this countless host, for every individual man and
animal and plant, there is ample provision-in the
treasures of the earth and sea and sky; there is
abundant flood of sunshine to illumine, warm, and
energize the whole; a provision as varied as the

wants of those supplied, adjusted carefully to each |

several need; a flood of sunshine everywhere alike,

yet bearing in itself such diverse powers, such —

adaptive suppleness as perfectly to harmonize with
all; sunshine which is gone almost as soon as come,

which is scattered far and wide, to all appearance |

lost, yet in its momentary stay conferring what |
stupendous blessings!—Wurington’s Phenomena of
Radiation,

SIMPLE OBJECTS.—V.
Tut BRaMBLe-LeAF Brann (Aregma bulbosum, Fr.).

URING summer the under surface of the
leaves of the Common Bramble will commonly

be found spotted with a yellow rust. As autumn
approaches, darker bodies will be found mixed with
this yellow powder, until at last the yellow spores will
scarcely be found, but large blackish spots will occupy
their place, and reddish spots on the upper surface
of the leaf will indicate the presence of the parasite
beneath. These dark spots are clusters of spores
of the Bramble brand, as figured above. The head
consists of an elongated, brown, sausage-shaped

fruit, apparently divided by three partitions into

four equal-sized cells. (The number is not entirely
constant.) These fruits are borne on long colourless
stalks or peduncles, which are thickened and almost
bulbous at the base.

If some of these spores are removed on the point
of a sharp penknife and placed ona slide in a drop
of alcohol, and before the spirit is quite evaporated,
two or three drops of strong nitric acid are added, and
the whole covered with thin glass ; ifthe slide is then
warmed over a spirit-lamp to zearly boiling-poimt,
the fruit will be found to consist of an outer mem-
brane, studded with tubercles, enclosing three or
four cells. When the membrane is dissolved or
ruptured, these cells escape. The apparent divisions
of the fruit will be found to be due to the compres-
sion of the cells within the membrane. (See
“Microscopic Fungi,” p. 70.)

The spores may be mounted in glycerine or bal-
sam, and form very interesting objects.*

M.C.C.

* A stamped envelope sent to the Editor, during the
current month, will insure a specimen for examination.

<

Ave. 1,1865.] *

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

177

PLANT-ANIMALS, OR ZOOPHYTES.
By W. WALLACE FYFE.

Insect inillions peopling every wave,
And nameless tribes, half-plant, half-animal,
Rooted and slumbering through a dream of life.
The Pelican Island.
Eee along the sea-shore, mingled with
sea-weed, parasitic on shells, fragments of
rock, or marine plants, the visitor will certainly
observe a variety of curious, unobtrusive objects,
which, at first sight, will seem to have but little to
recommend them to his notice. It was to these that
the poet Crabbe alluded when he wrote—
Involved in sea-wrack, here you find a race
Which science, doubting, knows not where to place ;
On shell or stone is dropped the embryo seed,
And quickiy vegetates a vital breed.
But science, no longer doubting, regards them as
animals, having the appearance of plants, and calls
them zoophytes, placing them low in the scale of
animal existence. The majority of these consist of
a horny sheath, exceedingly variable in size and
form, which is termed the polypidom, or home of
the polypes, because it encloses within it the hydra-
like animal or polypus, These polypidoms are
usually, when dried, of a horny texture, and of a
dirty yellowish-white colour. Each frond-like poly-
pidom contains numerous cavities in which the
animals are fixed, so that one frond is a perfect
colony. Of the animals themselves some idea may
be formed by those who have seen the common fresh-
water hydra, only that these marine hydre have a
larger number of arms or tentacles ; often twenty
or more.

There is, for instance, the Tudbularia indivisa, or
**Oaten Pipe Coralline” of the Frith of Forth, an
animal product resembling a flourishing vegetable,
dwelling at the depth of thirty or forty feet under
the surface of the sea, with a living head resembling
a fine scarlet blossom, and often drooping in a
pendent cluster, like grapes; having, in fact, the
ornamental aspect of a bouquet of vivid flowers, fresh
from the hand of nature (fig. 1). These creatures,
by the way, are generally found on shells, entire or
decayed—empty or tenanted. A brilliant group
was On one occasion seen on a shell carried along by
the crawling inhabitant. The reproductive powers
of these zoophytes are deeply interesting to the
naturalist, who can now so readily domesticate them
for observation in the aquarium. But long before
this popular drawing-room illustration of living
nature was known or thought of, I knew an enthu-
siast, the late Sir John Graham Dalyell, Bart., who,
by means of glass vessels filled with sea-water, from
the size of a watch- glass upwards, carried on for
years the most curious practical observations of the
mysteries enveloping this kind of animal life. Sir
John retained artists to figure and delicately colour

the appearances of his zoophytes; the results were
given in two elaborate, profusely-illustrated quarto
volumes, privately printed, however, and not likely
ta be in the hands of many; and the fastidious

Fig.1. Oaten Pipe Corailine.

anxiety evinced for scientific accuracy renders these
artistic representations almost as acceptable as the
living specimens. The Branched Pipe Coralline
(Tubularia vamea) especially excited his admiration.
This he pronounced “a splendid animal production
—one of the most singular, interesting, and beautiful
amongst the boundless works of nature.” Some:

Fig. 2, Branched Pipe Coralline, magnified.

times, he adds, it resembles a splendid tree, blighted

amidst the war of elements, or withered by the deep

corrosions of time; sometimes it resembles a vigor-
N

178

ay

SCIENCH-GOSSIP. = Ave. 1, 1865.

ous flowering shrub in miniature, rising with a dark
brown stem and diverging into numerous boughs,
branches, and twigs, terminating in so many /ydre,
wherein red and yellow intermixed afford a fine
contrast to the whole (fig. 2). The glowing colours
of the one, and the venerable aspect of the other,
their intricate parts—often laden with prolific fruit,
and their numberless tenants—all highly picturesque,
are equally calculated to attract our admiration to
the creative power displayed throughout the uni-
verse, and to sanction the character of this product
as one of uncommon interest and beauty. A very
fine specimen was recovered from rocks in a cavity
in the bottom of the Frith of Forth, at about 150
feet from the surface. It was not, however, a tree,
or shrub, or anything else, save in miniature, being,
though recovered entire, only 74 inches in height.

Fig. 3. Sickle Ccralline.

Most interesting of all are the Protean changes of
the Sertularia. A luxuriant specimen will at one
moment resemble the richest of our floral produc-
tions in the flush of summer, and anon appear shorn
of its flowers and foliage as in the winter season.
The whole seems now still and lifeless, hastening to
decay ; but, left alone, it may in a few moments be
found covered with innumerable animated blossoms
issuing forth from their concealment to the light,
which, after seeking their enjoyment in the fulness
of display, again vanish in an instant into their re-
treats. The truth is, that a multitude of cells,
some little more than a simple orifice, some shaped
like a tooth, a cup, a flask, or a bell, with smooth or
serrated lip, as the case may be, are placed on the
stems, boughs, and branches of these Sertularie to
afford retreats for its hydre; and the specimen
possessed of a hundred or a thousand different
hydr@ is also possessed of a hundred or a thousand
different receptacles to shelter them.

Tre Sickie Corattine (Plumularia falcata) is
avery common but elegant species, six inches or
more in length, with slender branches, and twisting

about itself in a spiral manner: along the branches
are cells which contain the polypes (figs. 3, 4).
This elegant feathered coralline adheres to rocks
and shells by little wrinkled tubes, and rises from

Fig. 4. Sickle Coralline, magnified.

them into erect stems, which are surrounded from
bottom to top with pinnated branches; the smaller
divisions of these have rows of little denticles or
tecth, or cells, cu the side, and bend inwards, as they
become dry, in the form of a sickle.

THe Sea Frr (Sertularia abietina) occurs on old
empty shells. I see specimens of them at this
moment flourishing on oyster-shells from Dorchester
market-place. The sea fir is named adzetina from its
fancied resemblance to some species of fir (figs.
5, 6). It rises from nine to ten inches high, by a
slightly waving stem, with branches on each side, so

Fig. 5. The Sea Fir.

that the extreme expanse is about three inches, the
branches gradually shortened towards the apex.
The sides of the whole stem and branches are
clothed with cells, which swell in the middle, each
enclosing its hydra. These animals are grey or
white, protruding a long cylindrical neck and head,
with about twenty-four tentacles.

Tue Lrry Coranrine (Sertularia rosacea) is a
parasite on other zoophytes. A pure white, or faint-

a

Ave. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

179

grey creature of the element, it spreads rapid de-
struction around the place of its vegetation. It is
only from one to two inches in height, and is exceed-
ingly slender and delicate (figs. 7, 8). The vesicles

SY
W

a
ee

Fig. 8. Lily Coralline,
magnified.

Fig. 6. Sea Fir, magnified.

have been compared to a lily or pomegranate flower
just opened; but they seem to vary with age. It
sometimes grows on sea-weed and old shells, but
is far less graceful than when growing on kindred
zoophytes,

Fig. 7. Lily Coralline.

Tre SRA-oAK CoraLiine (Sertularia pumila) is
of a greenish colour, and occurs in considerable
abundance as a parasite on some kinds of sea-wrack
(figs. 9, 10), the common Fucus serratus being
invested by such quantities of it as almost to weigh
down the fronds near ebb tide. The shoots are
seldom more than half an inch in height, thread-like,
and sparingly branched. The animals have fourteen
or sixteen tentacles, and when these are displayed,
the hydra usually extrudes its body far beyond the
rim of the cell.

There is also the Snail Trefoil Coralline (Ser-
tularia rugosa), which is found as a parasite on the
fronds of the “sea-mat,” as well as sea-weeds.
Also the Sea-hair Coralline (Sertularia operculata),

which is common on all parts of the coast, growing
attached to sea-weeds (figs. 11,12). It reaches
from three to six inches in height, and, after a storm,
lumps as large as a child’s fist are washed ashore.

Fig. 9, Sea-oak Coralline. Fig. 10. Sea-oak, magnified.

The slender branches grow in tufts, ike bunches of
hair.

“It was from the great resemblance,” says Dr.
Johnston, “ of the vesicles to the capsules of mosses
that the early botanists drew an additional argument
in behalf of the vegetability of the corallines them-
selves.” And a Darwinian might be, perhaps, for-
given, were he even now to feign how the Nereids

Fig. 11. Sea-hair Coralline. Fig. 12. Sea-hair, magnified.

stole them from the mossy habitats of Flora’s winter
and vernal shows, to deck and gem the arbuscular
garnitures of their coral caves.

Nymphs! you adorn, in glossy volutes rolled,

The gaudy couch with azure, green, and gold.
You chase the warrior shark and cumbrous whale,
And guard the mermaid in her briny vale ;

Feed the live petals of her insect-flowers,

Her shell-wrack gardens, and her sea-fan bowers ;
With ores and gems adorn her coral cell,

And drop a pearl in every gaping shell.

Tu Spa-mat (Flustra foliacea) is by the Scottish

fishermen in their meagre vocabulary denominated
nN 2

180

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Ave. 1, 1865.

* sea-caff,’—probably implying “ chaff,’ something
waste and worthless (figs. 13, 14); but they have
in general no better designations for the numerous
tribe of zoophytes than “ sea-weeds,” “flowers,” or
simply “growth.” It is in the Flustra hispida, though
amongst the most common and apparently worthless
objects on the rocks, that the eye of the naturalist
has detected beauties and marvels. Nay, on the
common Fucus serratus, or “ sea-ware,”’ dark brown,
consistent-like, gelatinous patches are frequently
found on one or both sides of the leaf, occasionally
also encircling the stem. Sometimes these occur in
such profusion that the leaf is weighed down by
them, or if reft from its site, feels heavy in the

Fig. 13. Sea-mat.

Pig. 14. Portion of Ses-mat,
magnified.
hand. What, then, are these excrescences? The
numerous inequalities of the surface, both to the
naked eye and viewed by a magnifier, offer some
resemblance to artificial manufacture, and in some
measure justify the name of “rough sea-mat,”
Another zoophyte of the Mediterranean Sea passes
by the same name, but does not correspond in form.
But to recur to the wonders of the Flustra hispida.
Plunged amidst recent sea-water during genial
temperature, a pale thin cloud will speedily be
interposed betwixt its dark irregular surface and
the spectator’s eye ; but on the vessel receiving it
sustaining a shock, this cloud is instantaneously
dispelled, whilst the brownish fleshy substance of
the Flustra remains “prominent as before. This
illusion may be frequently repeated, for the cloudy
semblance is produced by Aydrw, drawn from the
cells into which they had retreated, to revel in the

freshness of the renovated element—and the misty
shade is caused by the motion of their pale tentacles
over the dark ground of the Flustra. So timid and
endowed with caution are these minute and active
beings, that they sink into concealment on the
apprehension of danger, and show by their re-
appearance their relief from alarm.

But I must proceed no further with this very
incomplete notice of a large and interesting group
of the wonders of “the deep, deep sea.” As cast
upon the shore the polypidoms are usually only the
uninhabited houses, the inmates dead, and their
remains dispersed; but even the untenanted habita-
tions are well worthy a little minute examination,
and the living zoophytes will afford a world of
delight to the microscopist, and while away many a
weary hour of a lounge at the sea-shore.

THE DIET OF WORMS.

yest persons are not aware of the fact, that

the earthworm really does live upon earth.
It is sometimes stated in popular works on zoology
that the worm picks out portions of leaves, grass,
&ec., and devours them; but this is quite a mistake
—the earthworm lives upon earth. It must not be
supposed that it assimilates the mineral constituents
of the soil; its gastric and biliary secretions dis-
solve the decomposing animal and vegetable matters
which are invariably contained in rich soil, and it is
these which are assimilated. The earthworm could
not live upon earth that had been burnt and de-
prived of its organic constituents. In a similar
way the arenicola, or lug-worm, which lives in the
sands exposed by the action of the tide, gorges
itself with that substance, and extracts the matters
which it contains fit for nutriment. More fre-
quently, however, the “lug” lives in the rich clays
of creeks and saltings which abound in animal and
vegetable matters. It is worthy of observation
that a very large quantity of earth or sand, as the
case may be, has to be gorged before any appreci-
able amount of nutriment is extracted; at the same
time the swallowing of earth is an assistance to the
worm as it burrows in the ground, inasmuch as
large quantities of material are thereby removed
from its path and ejected behind. ‘The appearance
of those curious little masses of digested earth on
the surface is thus caused, by means of which the
earthworm effects such wonderful changes on the
surface of the ground, turning up the earth, bury-
ing the stones, and producing a fresh and fertile soil
where formerly was a barren waste. The mode in
which the earthworm swallows the carth is some-
what curious: its pharynx is extremely muscular,
and provided with an internal muscular tunic, which
acts within like the piston of an air-pump ; anything
to which the mouth is applied is thus sucked in
and passed on by the action of the muscular walls of

Ave. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

181

the pharynx and cesophagus. There is no doubt
that worms do an immense deal of good by their
feeding on the earth; and as to their biting the roots
of plants and shrubs, as is sometimes said of them—
why, it is all nonsense. They could not do it, if they
wished, as they have no teeth; they are quite satis-
fied with the earth, and if it is freshly manured,
they like it all the better. It is this last fact which
brings them round the roots of trees, and has made
some people suppose that they come to bite them ;
whereas they really come after the accompanying
manure. E. Ray LAnkKEsTER.

ANECDOTES OF BIRDS.

A CORRESPONDENT from Coniston gives a

curious account of the effects produced on
the birds by the very severe cold, and long continu-
ance of snow on the hard frozen surface of the
ground in January and February, 1865. Four species
of Titmouse (Parus) were familiar visitors, and
greedy after any sort of kitchen refuse. That well-
known and now deeply regretted benevolent ob-
server and naturalist, Sir John Richardson, erected,
at Lancrigg, a strong pole with a crossbar, to one
end of which he tied a basket filled with crumbs of
bread and such like dainties, for the refection of
hungry Linnets, Robins, Chaffinches, and a miscel-
laneous company of visitors to the welcome feast ;
at the other end of the crossbar was a net-bag, con-
taining lumps of fat, which proved particularly
attractive to the Titmouse family (Parus). The
beautiful blue Tit, whose lively manners have been
so well described by White, and which, whatever
may be said of him, is really a great friend to gar-
deners, by destroying quantities of insects, is rather
numerous in Westmoreland, and must be dear to all
lovers of roses for its active assistance in waging
war against the Bracken Clocks, a sort of minute
beetle (Chrysomela) with shining metallic wing-cases,
which seem to descend in clouds from the neigh-
bouring heath-and-fern-covered mountains as soon
as the roses begin to open; and bright and beautiful
to the eye as is this glittering shower of sparks of
emeralds, rubies, and diamonds that “ dazzle as they
pass” through the sunshine, we soon lose all admi-
ration for the false and fair visitants, who ruthlessly
bury themselves among the petals of the roses, and
mutilate and devour the choicest blooms in the most
ageravating way. So, if the Tomtits help us a little
to keep down these pests in the summer, they well
deserve their regale of fat to help them through the
season when no insect larva can be found.

But during that very severe weather, not only
tribes of small birds, but even the very Rooks came
to be fed, and enjoyed picking bones, especially a
bone from a sirloin of beef (which had been pre-
viously boiled for soup for the poor)—the smaller

bones the Rooks flew away with to enjoy in their |

own selfish corners, like “little Jack Horner,’ with-
out allowing a taste to a hungry brother—peevish,
quarrelsome among themselves, yet how is it that
such regular discipline can be maintained as to keep
a sentinel ever strictly on the watch to give signals
of any approaching danger? Is the sentinel some
grave old patriarch of the flock, who shows his
chieftainship by watching over the safety of his
tribe ; or is he some unlucky junior, who dares but
obey his elders, and remain patiently at his post of
observation, even if it excludes him from his share
in the feast ?

Another strange pensioner was a Water-hen
(Gallinula), starved out from her accustomed reedy
haunts on the edges of Coniston Lake; she came in
haste to partake of any fragments of food within
reach, and then as hastily departed to her hiding-
place. Being heavy on the wing, but a swift runner-
away, she scudded over the snow, with her large
yellow feet acting like the Laplander’s snowshoes.

I once had the opportunity of watching a pair of
these birds in the fenny districts of Buckinghamshire,
inan oldorchard filled with grotesque old trees, thickly
coated with grey lichens, and yet very productive of
eood apples and enormously large stewing pears ;
there was in one corner a dark pond, the remains of
part of an ancient moat, frmged and almost hidden
by sedges and brambles. By the edge of this, and
fastened to an overhanging branch, the Gallinules
built their cradle-nest of sticks. The female sat
very closely under cover of the shrubs, but by
stealing gently round behind the bushes, I every day
threw near her the crumbs and scraps from the
children’s dinner, which were always eaten, and by-
and-by I had the pleasure of seeing a flock of six
or eight such beautiful silky little black balls darting
and squirting about in the most lively and restless
manner, caring little for the shelter of the mother’s
wing. But ina day or two the whole family had
disappeared. The Ouse was out, a very common
occurrence with that sluggish, lazy river, and pro-
bably the pretty Gallinules had adjourned to the
wide swampy fishing-grounds to seek their living in
company with the lordly crested grey Heron, who
would stand there for hours, with meekly bowed head
on his breast, one foot tucked under his feathers—one
might imagine to warm it, if he only changed his
fect now and then—but no, on one long bare leg he
stood, and it seemed to be always on the same leg,
in the shallow water, balancing himself in perfect
stillness till he pounced on his prey and secured his
fish, with that same sharp hard bill wherewith his
ancestors have stilettoed so many a noble Falcon, in
the olden days of that sport. P..5: BD:

Tur flea, grasshopper, and locust jump 200 times
their own length, equal to a quarter of a mile for a
man,

182

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Ave. 1, 1865.

PIXY PURSES.

febeost the commonest objects of the sea-
shore, all around our coast, are the curious
inflated “Pixy purses,” or “Fairy purses,” or
“ Mermaid’s purses,” which often draw from young
folks the inquiry, “ What is it?” To save the
trouble of a long explanation from such as may not
feel disposed to enter upon the subject with their
young friends, we have given figures of the two
common forms.

The figure with the long twisted tendrils at- each
commer represents a pale horn-coloured bag or

“purse,” generally found empty and inflated, or
partly filled with sand. It is almost transparent,
rigid, and shining when dry, and often with the
tendrils entwined around pieces of sea-weed. This
is the egg-case of the spotted dog-fish, or nurse-
hound (Squalus canicula), one of the Shark family
common on the coast. It is a very voracious fish,
and preys upon almost any kind of animal substance,
In length it is between three and four feet, and com-
paratively thin. The fishermen are not at all par-
tial to it, for besides devouring a large quantity of
small fish, it is very apt to tear large holes in their
nets.

The other figure represents a still commoner
object, in which the tendrils are absent, but each
corner is prolonged into a kind of spur; these are
broader than the other kind of purses, and of a

darker colour. ‘They are most common during
winter and spring, but one may often be turned up
with the sand at other periods of the year. They
are also the egg-cases of a fish, but of a very different
kind to the other, and belong to one of che Ray
family, which are as broad in proportion to their
length as the dog-fish are narrow. The species in
this instance is the common skate (Batis vulgaris),
which has a lozenge-shaped body ending in a slender
tail. It is one of the commonest fishes of the coast,
and, under the name of “maids,” small specimens may
often be seen in our fish-markets, but it is not much
valued as food. It is recorded that a single fish of
this species, weighing two hundred pounds, was
ouce dressed by the cook of St. John’s College, Cam-
bridge, and satisfied the appetites of one hundred
and twenty learned gentlemen. Fishermen usually
eut them up as bait for crabs and lobsters.

PROLIFEROUS DAISY.

ae “Tfen and Chickens” Daisy of our gardens
is very well known, but the proliferous form
of the common daisy is rare. A correspondent
(J. 8.) has sent us a specimen collected by him by

the roadside at Bute, in which ten miniature
daisies, borne on short peduncles, sprang from the
involucre, and surrounded the parent daisy. The
stalk was fully six inches in length, whilst two
other flowers of the normal form, and with stalks
scarcely half the length, proceeded from the same

root.

Beauty 1x Naturr.—The greater part of beau-
tiful forms in nature are to be found in the vegetable
kingdom, in the forms of flowers, of foliage, of
shrubs, and in those assumed by the young shoots
of trees,—Alison on Taste,

Ave. 1, 1865.]

SCLENCH-GOSSIP.

183

Z00LOGY.

Is tur Great Brack WooprreckEeR BRITISH ?
—In reference to the supposed occurrence of this
species in Britain, Mr. Stevenson (Zoologist, 9249)
has shown that the two birds killed at Scole were
undoubtedly the large spotted woodpecker. In
Latham’s “General History of Birds,” amongst
other works, it is stated, ‘one was killed in Lanca-
shire by Lord Stanley ;” but Mr. Newman (Zoolo-
gist, 9627) says, “In the edition of Latham anno-
tated by the late Earl of Derby, and now in the
possession of the present earl, this passage is
erased, and in the margin is written, in his lordship’s
own hand, ‘@ mistaken idea”” Several other occur-
rences have been recorded, and it would be well
that all these should, if possible, be investigated.

Wuitr Sparrows In Smoxe.—I recollect last
summer seeing two white sparrows flying through
the smoke from the tall chimney of a cloth-mill at
Road—a short distance from the scene of the
noted Road murder.—IV. #. Williams, Jun., M.D,

WHISKERED Tern.—Mr. Gatcombe has recorded
the occurrence of this rare bird near Plymouth
a short time since. It was picked up alive on the
water by some fishermen and brought ashore, but
soon died. It is now in the collection of Mr. F. C.
Hingston, of Plymouth.

Myriap Zoopuytes.—In one species found on
the Jrish coast, and with cells upon one side only,
Dr. Grant calculates there are more than eighteen
eclls in a square line, or 1,800 in a square inch of
surface, and the branches of an ordinary specimen
present about ten square inches of surface; so that
a common specimen of fustra carbasea presents
more than 18,000 polypi, 396,000 tentacula, and
39,600,000 cilia.

Novet Nest-Buitpine.—At Shilford, a farm on
the banks of the river Tyne, near the Stocksfield
station on the Neweastle and Carlisle Railway, a
pair of bluecaps built their nest in a somewhat
curious place. A farm labourer who is accustomed
to wash sheep in the Tyne, owns a pair of old boots,
which he uses for the purpose of protecting his feet
during the process of sheep-washing. These boots
are each year tied together and suspended on the
lower branches of an ash which grows near the edge
of the river. This season, on taking down his boots,
he was surprised to find several eggs roll out, and
that a pair of bluecaps had built their nest in one of
his boots. He restored the eggs to their nest, hung
up the boots without using them, and in the course
of a few days a colony of young bluecaps issued
from the pedal envelopes which had been this season
at least put to a novel purpose.—Z. P. Barkas,

Tue Notes of tHE Cuckoo.—In White’s “ Sel-
borne” the following memorandum from the 7th
vol. of the “ Transactions of the Linnean Society ”
is quoted :—“ The cuckoo begins early in the season
with the interval of a minor third; the bird then
proceeds to a major third; next to a fourth, then
a fifth ; after which his voice breaks without attain-
ing a minor sixth.” It is added, that the circum-
stance had been observed long before, certainly as
far back as the publication of Heywood’s Epigrams,
1587. But surely this is unsatisfactory. No men-
tion is made of the interval of a tone, which one has
heard times out of number; three times certainly I
heard it to-day, June 15th. Besides which, at least
in this neighbourhood (i.e. near Farnborough ‘sta-
tion), minor thirds, major thirds, and fourths, have
been all of them heard plentifully during the whole
time that cuckoos have been singing. A fifth I
have never been fortunate enough to hear. Strangely
enough, the idea occurred to me some years ago,
that possibly the interval might widen with the
advance of the season ; and for some ten days or so
(I did not observe with any accuracy, not having
any real expectation of finding it thus) I did hear
minor thirds, then major thirds, then fourths, suce-
cessively. But as I began to suspect there might
be something in the idea, a whole sermon of tone-
intervals, minor thirds, major thirds, and fourths,
was all at once preached at me upon the text
of “hasty induction.” I was therefore greatly
surprised afterwards in reading the quotation from
the ‘‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society.” As
we are said to have one species only of the cuckoo,
is it possible that each bird follows the order
referred to? If so, some begin late, or are very long
over their first lessons.—S. C.

Toe Arctic Crio.—This little mollusk (Clio
borealis) is about an inch in length, and so abundant
in the Arctic seas, as at times to colour the surface
for leagues, and to form an important supply of
food to the great whale. The head is furnished
with six retractile appendages, which are of a
reddish tint, from the number of distinct red spots
distributed over their surface, and amounting on
each to about 3,000. When examined under a
high magnifying power, each of these specks is
found to consist of about twenty suckers, each
mounted on a footstalk, so as to be projected
beyond the edge of their sheath, and applied to
their prey. Thus there will be 360,000 of these
microscopic suckers upon the head of one Clio; an
apparatus for prghension perhaps unparalleled in
the creation.— Paterson.

Tur Rotter.—A beautiful male, in perfect plu-
mage, was taken alive on board a vessel off Yarmouth
about the 25th May, as recorded by Mr. Stevenson
in the Zoologist (p. 9664).

184

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ave. 1, 1865.

Foop or tHe Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus).—I
am afraid that we cannot entirely acquit this bird
of occasionally destroying the fry of fish; but I
know of no reliable evidence to prove that it takes
the ova. In three specimens, the gizzards of all
contained Eatomostraca, and one of them a Gordian
(Gordius aquaticus). In others that I have dis-
sected, I have discovered chiefly Entomostraca and
the larvee of Phryganea; indeed I have found that
its food is very similar to that of the young salmon.
—H. Crisp, MD.

Miscutevous Rats.—The other day the verger
of my church, going in to prepare for service, was
met by a great smell of gas. It spread all over the
building. Following an experienced nose, cunning
to detect shades of stench, he was led into an inner
vestry-room, and brought to a stand at a skirting-
board under a table. He got a carpenter, and
pulling this down, found a long hole in a gaspipe,
made as if with a rough blacksmith’s rasp. The
marks of the tool were quite fresh in the metal; but
how came the hole to be made? ‘The pipe was pro-
tected by wood, which was undisturbed. There
was no friction against any iron-work to account for
the leak. On closer examination, it was proved that
the pipe had been gnawed by rats, the scorings of
whose teeth showed like the cuts of arasp. The
curious thing was, that the rats must have gone on
enawing for some time after the gas had begun to
escape under their noses and into their mouths.
The rush of gas from the hole was considerable; but
the rats had long gaped over it, and must have
swallowed a large quantity, before they gave up
their mischievous freak. That is some satisfaction,
truly; but such nasty persistence as theirs may go
far to show the cause of many apparently unaccount-
able fires. Had the verger not detected the smell,
or had he gone into the inner vestry-room with
a lighted candle, it is probable that the public would
have heard of the result as a “ terrific explosion” in
the neighbourhood or the papers, and not through
a simple little note in a corner of your SCIENCE
Gossie.—Harry Jones,

Common CRANE IN Suetianp.— During the
latter part of the month of June three individuals of
the Common Crane (Grus cinerea) had been ob-
served in the island of Unst, Shetland; one of these
was shot at Haroldswick on the 24th of June.
now in the possession of Thomas Hdmonston, Esq.,
of Buness, who is about to present it to the public
museum at Lerwick. The height of the bird was
4{t.7 in. ; the spread of wings, 7 ft. ; the length from
the point of the tail to the bill was 8 ft. 10 in.
There are records of the appearances of this bird in
the Shetland Isles in the years 1807, 183], and
1882; but it has not been seen so far north as in
the present case. —Ralph Tate, F'.GS., Sc.

Itis .

Tur Great Burcner-prrp.—l remember find-
ing, when at school in North Yorkshire, three nests,
one of what we called the little, and two of the
big butcher-bird. As the country around affords
unusual facilities for bird-nesting, and the boys, I
am sorry to say, were not slow to take advantage of
them, it may be presumed that when captures were
pronounced rare, as mine were, the verdict was a
sound one. Indeed, to judge by the rush there was
to see my eggs, I might have achieved something
very wonderful. I was therefore a little startled to
find “H. 8. 8.” (p. 64) seriously doubting whether
the great shrike has ever been known to breed in
England. Bewick describes the eggs, but makes no
mention of the place of breeding. The Rev. J. G.
Wood, in “My Feathered Friends,” says, “The
great grey shrike is said not to breed in this country,
but I have certainly seen eggs which their owner
told me were taken from nests found in England.”
TL have in my collection an egg which I believe is
one of those I found when at school; and a young
friend there now says that nests have been found
since he went, though not the last half-year,—
Ldwin Green.

Tue Rotter anp Hooror.—On the 14th of
June a beautiful roller was shot by a gamekeeper at
Little Chesterford Park, near 8. Walden. The
bird was carried to Walden to be stuffed by Mr.
Joseph Travis. A pair of hoopoes were also sent to
him which had been shot a week or two previous;
the male was shot at Mildenhall, Suffolk, and the
female at Peverell’s Wood, Saffron Walden. The
bill and feathers on the neck of the hoopoe were all
eummy with the yolk of eggs it had just eaten.—
W. R.

RapBits AND THEIR Frienps.—Mr. C. Gould,
in a communication, published in the “ Proceedings
of the Zoological Society,” writes :—“ In the course
of my walk yesterday, I came close to a sand-pit
rather suddenly ; a number of rabbits were playing
about, who scampered off as soon as they became
aware of the dread proximity of man, leaving behind
them six or seven nondescript companions about
their own size, sedately playful, awkward, and
erotesque. At the distance at which I first saw them
I was quite at a loss to imagine what they were.
Finding they were curious rather than shy, I
approached nearer, and found them to be young fox-
cubs; they allowed me to venture within about
fifteen yards of them, and then retired, without any
indecorous haste, one by one into their holes.”

Great-Auk Kaes.—The four egg-shells of this
extinct bird, recently sold by public auction, realized
£122. 10s. in separate lots; viz., £33, £31. 10s.,
and two at £29 each.

Aue. 1, 1865.]

ENTOMOLOGY.

Surrocation or Brrs.—The following case of an
entire swarm being destroyed by suffocation hap-
pened a few wecks since in the aviary of a clerical
friend. Having a Nutt’s hive, the centre box of
which was tenanted by a weak stock of bees, he
was desirous of adding to its population, and ac-
cordingly very injudiciously hived a swarm in one of
the side boxes, with the intention at some future
time of effecting a junction between the two families.
He saw the bees apparently quietly settled in, and
left them, as he thought, all right. He had occasion
to go away until the evening, and on his return, to
his great grief and mortification, he discovered that
the whole of the bees were lying at the bottom of
the hive in a state of suffocation. Every means
likely to restore them to animation were resorted to,
but in vain: they were all dead or dying. Being
certain in his own mind that he had given them
means of egress and ingress, for a long time he
could not account for their dying of suffocation. On
examining the hive, he found that the entire aperture
of the entrance was effectually filled up by Mason
Bees, so that all exit was effectually prevented, and
no admission of air could take place. The con-
sequence was the loss of a valuable swarm of bees ;
but my friend was far more affected by the seem-
ingly cruel manner by which they met their death.—
Apiator, in Gardener's Chronicle,

Karwies.—The present hot dry spring has produced
earwigs inimmense profusion, or, to speak more pro-
perly, has offered no check to the hatching of the
eges and growth of the young. At the present time
(June 21) all the specimens visible (and they swarm
even in the museum here) are in the pupa state,
with rudiments of wing-covers. Small bits of elder-
twigs, with the pith scooped out, laid about the
flower-beds, or hung against the walls, are excellent
traps. The females deposit a comparatively small
number of eggs, in holes in the earth, and brood
over their young when hatched like a hen over her
chickens.—J, O. W., Oxford,

New Gaui Insect.—Mr. W. Couper has re-
cently described a parasite on the common creeping
rye-grass. It belongs to the Hymenoptera or Bee
order of insects. As soon as the larva issues from
the egg, it places its head downwards in the gall, re-
maining in that position till it eats its way through.
About the end of September it ceases to feed, and
prepares to meet a Canadian winter. By this time
the gall is hardened, and the larve remain in a
torpid state, becoming active again in the spring,
and changing to perfect insects in time to attack the
young grass of the season. Baron Sacken regards
it as belonging to the genus Lurytoma,

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

185

Derormep Swatrow-tarn.—A few days ago a
“swallow-tail” (Papilio Machaon) in my possession
emerged from its pupa-case, and I was annoyed to
see it defective, as I have been waiting for its deve-
lopment some little time. It had only two wings,
and these were both on one side, and were perfect.
A piece of shrivelled membrane, on which but few
scales were visible, replaced those on the opposite
side. But making the best of a bad bargain, I cut it
up for the microscope instead of preserving it. I
also mounted the spiracles on either side of the
pupa-case, and on their examination I saw what I
believe to be the cause of the disaster. The spira-
cles on one side were perfect, but those on the other
were malformed and undeveloped. Instead of being
oval, they were roundish, and no perforation was
visible ; moreover they were placed at nearly a right
angle to the-others. Of course neither air nor
moisture could be absorbed; and hence I suppose the
absence of wings on that side. Wood, in his “Com-
mon Objects of the Country,’? mentions a similar
case, but gives as a probable cause “ insufficient
moisture” (wide page 115). I may mention that in
the box where I kept the chrysalis I had a watch-
glass containing water to supply the requisite mois-
ture.—John Davis.

American Brient.—This common insect (Aphis
lanigera), which infests apple-trees, produces in the
course of a season eleven broods of young. The first
ten brocds are viviparous, or are brought forth alive,
and consist entirely of females. These never attain
their full development as perfect insects ; but, being
only in the larva state, bring forth young, and the
virgin aphides thus produced are endowed with
similar fecundity. But at the tenth brood this
power ceases. The eleventh does not consist of
active female larvee alone, but of males and females.
These acquire wings, rise into the air, sometimes
migrate in countless myriads, and produce eggs,
which, glued to twigs and leaf-stalks, retain their
vitality through the winter. When the advance of
spring again clothes the plants with verdure, the
eggs are hatched, and the larva, without having to
wait for the acquisition of its mature and winged
form, as in other insects, forthwith begins to produce
a brood as hungry and insatiable, and as fertile as
itself, Supposing that one aphis produced 100 at
each brood, she would at the tenth brood be the
progenitor of one quintillion of descendants
(1,000,000,000,000,000,000).—Paterson,

THe Ants oF Great Britain.—The Entomolo-
gist?’s Monthly Magazine for July contains a paper by
Mr. F. Smith on the British Formicide, in which all
the British species of ants (thirty-two) are enune-
rated, with the situation of their nests, period of
swarming, and localities where found.

186

BOTAWY.

PosstntE IncrEAsE oF AN Orncuip.—An acre of
Jand would hold 174,240 plants of the spotted orchis
(Orchis maculata), each having a space of six inches
square, which is rather closer than they could
flourish together; so that, allowing twelve thousand
bad seeds, an acre would be thickly clothed dy the
progeny of a single plant. At the same rate of
increase, the grandchildren would cover a space
slightly exceeding the island of Anglesea; and the
great-grandchildren of a single plant would nearly
clothe with one uniform green carpet the entire
surface of the land throughout the globe.—Darwin’s
“ Fertilization of Orchids,”

Awnctent Trers.—The celebrated chestnut (Cas-
tanea vesca) on Adtna must be a thousand years old
at least. The Baobab trees (Adansonia digitata) of

the Green Cape demand of us, according to their
thickness and the number of zones in some of their
branches, an age of 4,000 years or thereabouts.
The gigantic cypress (Cupressus disticha) at Santa
Maria del Tule, six miles east of Oaxaca, in Mexico,
has a cicumference of 124 Spanish feet, about 40’ in
diameter.. Now, suppose that every annual zone
measured 1”, the tree must be nearly 3,000 years old.
It is historically certain that it is older than the con-
quest of Mexico by the Spaniards. The age of the
great dragon-tree (Dracwna draco) at Orotava, in
Teneriffe, is supposed to be 5,000 years. These
examples are quite sufficient to prove the possibility
of a compound plant living on without end.—
‘ Schleidew’s “ Principles of Scientific Botany,?

Pwintina Prants.—A greater number of twiners
revolve in a course opposed to that of the sun, or to
the hands of a watch, than in the reverse course,
and, consequently, the majority, as is well known,
ascend their supports from left to right. Occasion-
ally, though rarely, plants of the same order twine
in opposite directions, of which Mohl gives a case
in the Leguminose, and we have seen another in
Acanthacese. At present no instance is known of
two species of the same genus twining in
opposite directions; and this is a singular fact, be-
eanse different individuals of the Bitter-sweet
(Solanwie weovwemara) revolve and twine in both
directions: this plant, however, is a most feeble
twiner.—Darwin on Climbing Plants.

British Licnens.—The Rev. W. A. Leighton
has commenced a series of papers, to appear from
time to time in the Axzals of Natural History, con-
taining notes and illustrations of new or recently
discovered British lichens, or such as have not been
figured and described in Sowerby’s “ English
Botany.” The first paper was published in No. 91,
for July, 1865,

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Ave. 1, 1865,

Brittte Inpra-Rupper.—Mr. Spiller has re-
cently shown (Chemical Society, February 16, 1865),
in a paper on the oxidation of India-rubber, that
this substance, when exposed to the air ina fine
state of division, gradually becomes converted into
brittle resinous matter, very similar to shell-lac.

To Dry FLOWERS WITH THEIR NaturAL CoLours
—‘ A vessel with a moveable cover is provided, and
having removed the cover from it, a piece of metallic
gauze of moderate fineness is fixed over it, and the
cover replaced. A quantity of sand is then taken
sufficient to fill the vessel, and passed through a
sieve into an iron pot, where it is heated, with the
addition of a small quantity of stearine, carefully
stirred, so as to thoroughly mix the ingredients,
The quantity of stearine to be added is at the rate
of half a pound to one hundred pounds of sand.
Care must be taken not to add too much, as it
would sink to the bottom and injure the flowers.
The vessel with its cover on, and the gauze beneath
it, is then turned upside down, and the bottom -
being removed, the flowers to be operated upon are
carefully placed on the ganze, and the sand gently
poured in, so as to cover the flowers entirely, the
leaves being thus prevented from touching each
other. The vessel is then put in a hot place, such,
for instance, as the top of a baker’s oven, where it
is left for forty-eight hours. The flowers thus become
dried, and they retain their natural colours. The
vessel still remaining bottom upwards, the lid is
taken off, and the sand runs away through the
gauze, leaving the flowers uninjured.”—Journal of
Society of Arts.

Toe PERIWINKLE.—But for all wonder-working
herbs commend us to that seeming simple inhabitant
of our gardens, the periwinkle. ‘The list of virtues
belonging to this wort are completely overwhelm-
ing; and if one’s whole lifetime were devoted to the
plucking and distributing of this herb amongst one’s
fellow-creatures, it would scarcely be wasted—only
supposing the Saxon herald of the magicianperiwinkle
to have spoken sooth. “This wort, which is named
priapiscus, and by another name vinca pervinca, is of
good advantage for many purposes; that is to say,
first, against devil-sickness, and against snakes, and
against wild beasts, and for various wishes, and for
envy, and for terror, and that thou may have grace:
and if thou hast this wort with thee, thou shalt be
prosperous, and ever acceptable.” —Ouxce a Week.

Potten oF Crowroot.—Mr. G. Gulliver has
called attention to the difference in the pollen
erains of all the British species of yellow-flowered
Ranuneulee with divided leaves. The variations in
size lie between gésth and ;3;th of an inch in
diameter in the six species examined. Those of the
Corn Crowfoot are rough, whilst those of the others
are smooth,

Ave. 1, 1865.]

GEOLOGY.

In HOW LITTLE Liss THE Past.—History tells
us of populous nations, now extinct, that flourished
for ages: do we not find their remains crowded
into a few streets of sepulchres? *Tis but a thin
layer of soil that covers the ancient plain of Mara-
thon. Ihave stood on Bannockburn, and seen no
trace of the battle. In what lower-stratum shall
we set ourselves to discover the skeletons of the
wolves and bears that once infested our forests ?
Where shall we find accumulations of the remains
of the wild bisons and gigantic elks, their contem-
poraries? They must have existed for but com-
paratively a short period, or they would surely have
left more marked traces behind them.—JMiller’s
* Old Red Sandstone.”

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PRESENT AND Past.
—In the collection brought to Europe from the
caves of Brazil by MM. Lund and Clausen there
are extinct species of all the thirty-two genera,
excepting four, of the terrestrial quadrupeds now
inhabiting the provinces in which the caves occur;
and the extinct species are much more numerous
than those now living. There are fossil ant-eaters,
armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, guanacoes, opossums,
and numerous South American gnawers and mon-
keys, and other animals. This wonderful relation-
ship in the same continent between the dead and
the living will, I do not doubt, hereafter throw
more light on the appearance of organic beings
on our earth, and their disappearance from it, than
any other class of facts.—Darwin’s “ Journal of
Researches,”

Sponees AND Corats.—While the green sand,
the upper chalk, and the Kentish rag were forming,
corals and sponges grew in every sea. One beau-
tiful variety, shaped like a toadstool, is found in the
upper chalk of Sussex. The Kentish rag is so full
of them that the hands of the quarrymen are often
fretted with their fossil flint splinters. At War-
minster, cup-shaped sponges swarmed in rayriads,
and a peculiarly fine pear-shaped sponge is found in
the green sand of Blackdown. ‘The Brighton
pebbles and the Wiltshire flints are principally
petrified sponges. At the first glance it seems as
though it must have required ages on ages for the
climate to have so changed from the times when the
sponges of tropic seas grew in our blue lagoons,
fringed with coral reefs; yet so brief is the space in
the history of the crust of our earth, that in the
fields about Steeple Ashton every stone turned up
by the plough is a coral, and the structure of coral

banks may be studied in the lofty cliffs of Cheddar |

as well as in the upheaved islands of southern seas.
—Milton’s “ Stream of Life.”

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

187

FoRAMINIFERA.—Plancus collected 6,000 shells of
Foraminifera from an ounte of sand from the shore
of the Adriatic. Soldani collected from less than an
ounce and a half of rock from the hills of Casciana,
in Tuscany, 10,454 fossil shells. Several of these
were so minute that 500 weighed only a grain, And
D’Orbigny found 8,840,000 specimens in an ounce of
sand from the shores of the Antilles.

ABNORMAL Fosstu Frrns.—I have a partiality
for “bad specimens,” just as I have for abnormal
plants, and I believe they are much more likely than
eood ones to reveal something not previously noticed
—to bring to light some little peculiarity which in
better specimens might not be observed. It would
bring to light another link between the past and
the present, if we could prove that the ferns of the
carboniferous period shared this propensity to
become crested with the plants which still exist. I
confidently believe, that with care in searching for
examples this will be found to be the case.—Muachie’s
Geological Repertory.”

Mountain Limestone oF SHROPSHIRE.—At the
May meeting of the Severn Valley Field Club, a
paper was read by G. Maw, F.R.S., on “the relation
of the mountain limestone of Shropshire to its deve-
lopment in other parts of the kingdom.” The points
noticed were, 1, the total absence of the limestone
from large areas in the Midland counties; 2, its ex-
ceptional thinness in the Wrekin district and South
Shropshire as compared with other districts ; 3, the
prevalence of mountain limestone fossils in the lower
coal-measures of Shropshire, and the synchronism of
these deposits with the mountain limestone of other
districts; and 4, whether the carboniferous rocks
rest directly on the north-west line of basalt, or whe-
ther they are separated by beds of the Devonian
age, After reviewing the existing evidence on these
points, Mr, Maw said they must be still considered
as questions in suspense, lithological character being
not always reliable as indicative of age, and only of
importance when existing in connection with the
surer testimony of organic remains.

Rutnoceros at Itrorp.—A. very fine skull of
the Rhinoceros leptorhinus, Cuv., has recently been
found in the Uphall brickfield, Ilford, and in close
proximity to the spot where the skull and tusks of
the. Mammoth were discovered,

THE memories of some men are like the buckets
of the daughters of Danae, and retain nothing}
others have recollections like the bolters of a mill,
retaining the chafl, and letting the flour escape.

Many: minds keep tavern; they entertain every
thought that chances to come along; like the pro-

| mise of the old road-side signs, they make welcome

man and beast,

188

WINDOW GARDENS AND AQUARIA.

Fresh - water Aquarta. —I shall feel much
obliged if you or any of your readers can give me a
few hints about fresh-water aquaria. My first diffi-
culty is with minnows, which are always stirring up
the gravel in search of food, and the water is filled
with a cloud of white particles, which, under the
microscope, appear like masses of fibre swarming
with Infusoria. I washed the gravel and weeds
most carefully before putting them in, and have
tried changing the water without success. The
white cloud completely spoils the aquarium, and I
fear may injure the fishes, though at present they
seem in perfect health. J feed them on vermicelli,
which they eat greedily. I should be glad to know
if animal food is essential, and what kind to use, for
I cannot procure the small red worms recommended
in books, and the supply of young snails, &., from
my glass jars is barely sufficient for the stickle-
backs, which will not eat anythiug else. I have
Leen advised to leave them without food; but I can-
uot think the Infusoria in the water would be suffi-
cient for them, and am afraid to introduce snails,
beetles, &c., lest they should die, and lie hidden
among the gravel to do mischief. The stickle-backs
do not stir up the gravel, and the water in their
vase is quite clear; but they do not live more than
a few weeks, even when alone, and so unable to
fight. My caddis-worms also die after a short time,
and I do not know how to feed them. I should be
elad to know whether a piece of charcoal kept in
the aquarium is of any use in purifying the water.—
F.C.

Insect Vivarium.—Knowing the horror withwhich
some people regard killing insects, and yet likesceing
them more closely than on the wing, I should suggest
a vivarium, one of which I have kept for more than
three months, It is made thus: the bottom of slate,
like that of an aquarium, only pierced with holes for
drainage. The height is 24 feet, and the breadth
13 foot ; halfway up a division is made in the glass,
the upper piece of both front and back lifting up
like a window ; ¢he sides are composed of perforated
zine, painted a pretty light green. Put any pretty
fancy top you like, only it must be made of zinc like
the sides, for the sake of the air. Plant it with any
flowers you like; ferns mixed in look very pretty,
and three bird’s nests suspended from the top
greatly add to the effect; they do best filled with
flowers which do not require much water. About
every other day take out one window and put a
piece of net over instead to air it. I have had
several Burnet moths, and now have a Tiger moth,
and a Humming-bird moth, and Bees do very well
in it,—LZ’, HZ.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Avc. 1, 1865.

CInDERS IN CuLtivatine Ferns.—Having been
asked why, in the fifth number of Scrence Gossip,
I expressed a preference for cinders in the propaga-
tion of ferns from seed, I would remark that sand-
stone almost invariably contains the germs of fungi
which hinder and very frequently prevent the de-
velopment of the fern-spores, and peat, unless pre-
pared by dipping in boiling water, and thus destroy-
ing all vegetable life therein, is open to the same
objection. Now, if cinders (which, if fresh, con-
tain no fungi) are used mixed with a suitable quan-
tity of peat subjected as above, the ferns will have a
fair chance of proper development; for it is highly
improbable fungi will obstruct their growth. I have
found that peat, if used alone, becomes soddened ;
and as ferns, like all other plants cultivated in pots,
require good drainage, that essential is obtained by
the use of cinders mixed therewith.—Helen Watney.

New Britisa Sra-AneMonE.—Mr. P. H. Gosse
has described and figured a species of anemone
which he considers entirely new (Aux. Nat. Hist.,
No. 91), and which he has named Ayeon Alfordi.
“Vfere is an anemone with high standing column
hike an dtptasia, but with the surface warted, and
with tentacles like the richest green velvet, throw-
ing into the shade the brightest of dztheas. More-
over the tentacles are of the same colour to their
very tips, without the least tint of pink or purple.”
To which is also added, “Several circumstances
indicate that this charming species is very eligible
for the aquarium,”

Aquarium Dirricutties. — It certainly is no
easy matter to keep an aquarium in good order. I
had one for a considerable time, in which plants,
animals, and fish did very well. I used to keep a
condensing syringe with a small tube to reach the
bottom of the tank, and every now and then in the
day, if I went near, sent a stream of air through the
water, which not only agitated the water, but stirred
up any injurious matters, which I removed with a
small fine muslin net. The fish seemed quite indif-
ferent.—Z. 7. Scott.

SrreaMs In Aquarra.— Mr. KE. Edwards, of
Menai Bridge, has written us taking exception to the
remarks of Mr. Alford Lloyd at page 118, in which
it is stated that “ Mr. Edwards has announced that
he makes a machine to answer this purpose, but
nothing has come of it.’ Mr. Edwards requests
the data for this assertion, and adds—“ my apparatus
is all that is required for the purpose intended. I
do not claim any new invention in its construction,
but such a combination of old principles so arranged
as to cause it to do its work in an efficient manner.”
We insert this in justice to Mr. Edwards, without
any desire to open a controversy on the subject.

Ave. 1, 1865.]

MICROSCOPY.

DiaruraGMm For Microscorr.—l find the dia-
phragm of which I have sent a model of the working
part, a very good one, as it is very easily and cheaply
made, and the aperture can be increased or decreased
to any degree, still keeping the same shape ; and by
moving one slide lower than the other, the light can
be directed to either side of the field of view, which
is sometimes useful; though I don’t think a much
better one can be used than the common kind, only
made to slide up and down,

Bigs2,

Fig. 1.

Tig. 1 represents the diaphragm with the notched
plates working freely one over the other.

Fig. 2, the two plates @ and 4 removed. In pro-
portion as the inner angles of these plates approxi-
mate or recede from each other, the orifice is
diminished or increased, having the quadrilateral
form indicated in fig. 1.—Z. 7. Scott.

Fish Movunps.—At the Dublin Microscopical
Club, Mr. Archer recently showed specimens of
Aphanomyces stellatus, one of the curious moulds
allied to that described and figured at page 134,
and at the same time pronounced his own opinion in
favour of regarding them as I'ungi, and wot Alger, as
some have supposed.

Facets In tHe Hyzt.—Hooke counted 7,000 in
the eye of the house-fly; Leeuwenhoek more than
12,000 in that of a dragon-fly; and Geoffry cites a
calculation, according to which there are 34,650 of
such facets in the eye of a butterfly.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP..

189

Improvep Crip.—In the Microscopical Journal,
Dr. Maddox describes and figures a new spring clip
for holding the thin glass cover in place during
the drying of the cement, &c. (fig. a). It appears

to me to have one drawback, viz., it cannot be
moved longitudinally along the slide; so that if
your object is not exactly in the centre of the length
of the slide, the pressure cannot be properly applied.
To overcome this difficulty I would suggest a slight
modification in the shape of the lower portion, which
forms the spring (fig. 6). This trifling alteration in
the form will give the clip above a quarter of an
inch of longitudinal motion.—C. 4.

Tue QueKett Microscorican Crius.— At a
General meeting called for the organization of this
Club, held at St. Martin’s Schools, Charing Cross,
on the 7th of July, the following resolutions were
adopted :—

That this association be called “The Quekett
Microscopical Club.’*

That its ordinary meetings be held on the first
Friday in each month, at eight o’clock in the
evening.

That the terms of subscription be ten shillings
per annum, payable in advance, on the Ist of July
in each year.

That the business of the Club be conducted by
the following officers, to be elected from the
members :—A President, two Vice-Presidents, a
Committee of twelve (four of whom shall form a
quorum), a Treasurer, and a Secretary.

That the Provisional Committee continue to
conduct the business of the Club until the above
officers are elected.

That the next meeting be held on the first Friday
in August, at the same place and hour, for the
election of members, officers, and other business.

Several gentlemen joined the Club, and others
willing to do so previous to the next meeting may
pay their subscription to Mr, Hardwicke (Treasurer
pro tem.), 192, Piccadilly.

190

NOTES AND QUERIES.

SEA-ANEMONES Divipinc.—I think “L. 8.”
must have had another anemone in his aquarium
without knowing it, as I have kept them for a length
of time, and have often watched the young expelled
from the mother’s mouth (which is a curious sight)
in quite a stream, but never saw any appearance of
division take place.—#. 7’. Scott.

Tae Swirr (Cypselus apus).—This curious and
interesting summer visitor is much less frequent
in the part of North Lincolnshire where I reside
than it used to be. Twenty or thirty years ago they
used to build in many of the village churches, where
none are to be seen now. They appear to be for-
saking the country for the towns, as many of their
unfeathered biped brethren are doing. Does the
experience of your readers tally with mine, and have
they any explanation of the fact to suggest? My
own idea is, that the better care bestowed upon our
village churches is the cause of the change; but I
should like to know what others have to say.—J. B.
Humber.

Buieurep Brrcu-LEaves.—The leaves of a beech-
tree have been sent us from Saxmundham, which are
blackened and shrivelled, containing minute yellow
grubs in the folds. The leaves affected are those
terminating all the branches, and consequently are
the young leaves. They look at first sight as if
frost-bitten. The grubs and leaves have been sub-
mitted to a competent authority with the following
result :— The small yellow grubs are the larve of
‘some species of gall-midge (Cecidomyia).’—J. O. I.

STALKED Haas.—I enclose a vine-leaf, with a
number of minute insect-eggs attached thereto by
means of fine stalks or tubes. Can you inform me
what they are ?—2. R.

‘The eggs sent are those of some species of Lace-
wing fly (Chrysopa) ; but in the absence of the insect
that deposited them I cannot state precisely which
species, there being about twelve in this country.
The larvee are very serviceable to the horticulturist,
as they feed entirely upon aphides, of which they
devour great quantities.—R. McL.

SEexES OF Luprpoprmra.—‘A Beginner” desires
to know by what means to distinguish sex, apart
from size and colouring; also the title of a ‘ Man-
ual” of Lepidoptera. He must obtain “ Stainton’s
Manual of Moths and Butterflies” (Van Voorst),
and seek the distinguishing features of sex in the
tarsi of diurnal and the antenne of nocturnal Lepi-
doptera—F. WM.

Tussen. Sirk or Inpra.—“R. 8.” inquires,
what is the species of insect which yields the wild
siik known in India by the name of Tusseh ?

_ The Tusseh silk-moth is 4ztherea Paphia, L., and
‘Ss very common in Bengal, Assam, &c. It is figured
in the “Technologist,” vol. i, and an account will
be found at p. 353.

Bricut or Larncu.—f. G. sends us specimens of
a white cottony substance, which he found covering
fir-trees so as to have the appearance of a sheht
snowstorm, and concerning which he seeks infor-
ination, ‘The aphis on larch-trees, forming small
patches of white downy matter, enclosing the females
and eggs, is the Chermes Laricis,—J. O. W.

SCLENCH-GOSSIP.

[Aue. J, 1865.

Pueasants’ Eecs In A Partrince’s Nest.—
T have seen this season two eges of a pheasant in a
partridge’s nest containing six eggs. After this
number had been laid, the nest, for some cause or
other, was forsaken. I have read of similar in-
stances; for example, Morris, in his “British Birds,”
gives such. I should like to ask your readers
whether such occurrences are frequent. — J. B.
Humber.

ALEXANDER’s Rust.—A mycologist would be
glad if any botanical friend, who meets with “ Alex-
anders” (Simyrnium olusatrum) this summer and
autumn, would search the lower leaves, and if he
finds any of them infested with a kind of rust, which
appears in little brown spots, would collect and for-
ward them to the Editor.

Votvox Gropator.—Can any “ Gossiper” in-
form me what is considered to be the cause of the
constant motion and rotation of the Volvox ? —
T. Armstrong.

Tne Stinknorn.—As I was perambulating my
garden, my nose was assailed by a most disgusting
odour, resembling that of a “drain”? in a bad state
of repair. At length I discovered the cause under a
bush, which at first looked like a bleached bone;
bat which proved to be a fungus. The stem was
creamy-white, hollow, and cellular, the upper and
lower portions appeared to be membranous expan-
sions containing a viscid fluid, which oozed out when
the membrane was ruptured. A more loathsome
visitor, to a garden one could not wish for. Will
you favour me with its name ?—/J. G. Braden.

Your fungus is assuredly a common one, but pos-
sesses neither beauty of form nor pleasurable odour
to recommend it. The vernacular name is “the
Common Stinkhorn,” and the scientific Phallus
impudicus.—M. C. C.

Maring PHOSPHORESCENCE.—At a recent meet-
ing of the French Academy of Sciences, M. Coren-
winder, in a paper on the gulf-weed (Sargassum
bacciferum), sought indirectly to prove the existence
of phosphorus im the ocean by am analysis of sea-
weeds gathered far from the shore. His results
showed that this sea-weed contains 1°026 per cent.
of phosphoric acid, which, it was argued, could only
have been derived from the sea.

Preservine Hyactnta Burps.—As soon as the
flowers wither, take the bulb out of the earth or
water in which it has bloomed, wash it gnd the roots
clean, and lay it on the lid of a hamper, or on clean
straw, In an airy, shaded, but dry place. Turn the
bulb frequently, and when the roots and leaves, &c.,
have dried up, trim them off, remove loose scales
and ripe offsets, and, when the bulb is perfectly dry,
lay it by in a drawer, closet, or basket, until the fol-
lowing autumn. By this method the exhaustion of
the bulb after flowering is saved. Bulbs planted in
September yield better flowers, and bloom, if any-
thing, later in the spring.—Rev. Gerard Smith.

Harr’s-troneun Frrn.—I lately asked a man in
the parish of Hatchford, near Cobham, Surrey,
whether the Hart’s-tongue Fern grew anywhere in
the neighbourhood. He did not know it by that
name; but, on my describing it, said, ‘Oh, you
mean the Seaweed-Jern.” I think that a very appro-
priate name for it.— WV. &. Fate,

Ave. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

atcnE

Mountine Insects Wuore.—In reply to J... W.
(p. 163), respecting the method of mounting large
insects whole for the microscope, though I am not
aware what process is practised in mounting for the
trade, I may describe the mode of proceeding which
has been in my own hands very fairly successful.
The great object, as many of the insects are of con-
siderable thickness, is to prepare them to endure the
requisite flattening without injury. For this pur-

ose I soak them for a longer or shorter time in
iquor potasse, and it isin this part of the process
that the chief danger lies. If the insect has not
been immersed for a suflicient time, and is ‘of
hard texture, it is probable that the more convex
portions, as the head and thorax, will split when
pressed down by the thin glass cover. On the other
hand, should the soaking period be extended too
long, the object will be rendered so tender, that
some of the limbs will very likely tear away during
the necessary manipulation. As the time of immer-
sion differs according to the firmness of the insect’s
covering, no precise time can be given. A hard
beetle will require as many weeks’ soaking as a soft
spider would need days. Another evil attending too
long a period in the solution of potass, is that the
colour of the insect will be entirely discharged, and
if mounted successfully, the result will be only a
filmy effigy of the creature. I have an earwig so
treated, which looks just like the ghost of an earwig
according to the popular notion of ghosts’ appear-
ance (how difficult it is, by the way, to imagine the
ghost of afat punchy man). If the right period is
hit, the insect will be sufficiently softened to stand
flattening (with care), without bemg rendered un-
pleasantly colourless. It should be pressed gradually
between two glass slides in water, till the contents
of the body are washed away and it is flat enough
for mounting. It should then be arranged in proper
position on one of the slides, and suffered to dry for
three or four days; of course protected from dust.
When quite dry, it may be immersed in turpentine,
or floated over with the same under a glass cover,
being careful that no water remains lodged in any of
the limbs, &c. It should be kept covered with
turpentine till all air-bubbles have disappeared, which
will usually take place in three or four days, when
the object may be mounted in Canada balsam in the
usual manner. Bubbles will often disappear some
time after the insect has been mounted, if the
balsam isnot too hard, and the object is kept in a
warm place; and I believe many a slide has been
hastily discarded from the presence of bubbles,
when time and warmth would have made all right.
A good-sized spider which I had mounted was so
disfigured with air-bubbles that it was very near
being thrown away; it was put on a warm mantel-
shelf, and as it was observed after a few days that
some of the bubbles had disappeared, it was sufiered
to remain there till every bubble was gone, which
was not until nearly a month had elapsed. I fancy
that the oscillating temperature of night and day,
where a fire is regularly lighted each morning, is
favourable to the removal of air-bubbles by alter-
nately expanding and contracting them. I may
. perhaps add that I described this method of mount-
ing insects whole in the third volume of “ Recreative
Science.”—George Guyon, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

INSECTS FEEDING ON WueEat.—I have seen it
stated that there have been collected in Europe no
less than 27,000 species of insects preying upon
wheat. Is there good reason for supposing that
yar an assertion is approximately correct ? —

Sex or A Viper.—The gamekeeper on Wisley
Heath, who is constantly seeing vipers, tells me that
those with a light ground-colour are males, and

those with a dark one females.—/V. R. Tate.

THe Hermit Craz.—The Hermit Crab does not
always choose the empty shell of a univalve mollusk
for its house, for on one occasion I saw a small
hermit (Pagurus Bernhardus) which had fitted its
hinder part, into the empty hand belonging to the
first right lee of another and larger hermit, the
latter having previously exuviated. Soon after-
wards I saw another and still smaller hermit, which
had converted a fragment of the tube of Serpula
contortuplicata into a home. In both instances there
were no empty univalve shells present, and therefore
necessity became the mother of invention. These
things took place in the Hamburg aquarium.—//.
Alfred Lloyd.

GossaMER Sprpers.—Although it is not very
probable that many readers of ScrENCE Gossip can
tell Dr. Lord a very great deal about Gossamer
Spiders he does not already know, he may perhaps
kindly reply to a few questions, and thus enlighten
other folks. What are the tiny creatures doing in
the air? Are they, like swallows, floating about in
search of insects? I have seen the little voyagers in
the spring, as well as in the autumn, darting out
their gossamer filaments, and sailing up aloft like so
many fairies. Since we are upon the subject of
spiders, there is another question I want to ask Dr.
Lord. Is it true that spiders (house spiders) are
musical? Did the author of Verses to a Spider,
which are to be found in the Axthologia Borealis et
Australis, write from fact when he said the insect
came down from the ceiling every day to hear him
play, I wonder? I wish some young lady, who is
not afraid of a spider (if there be so courageous a
feminine), would try the experiment of playing her
sweetest melody to one of Arachne’s descendants,
and give us the result. J am no musician, or 1
would solve the point myself.—Z. IV.

Lient or THE Lantern Fry (fulgora lanter-
naria).—At a recent meeting of the Entomological
Society, Mr. Evans read a letter from Belize on the
subject of the luminosity of this insect, to the
following effect :—“I have succeeded in my ento-
mological researches about the lantern-fly. I had
one given me, caught here, alive, and I saw it
myself giving light. I kept it in a tumbler for
about a day, and it sometimes did not give it, but at
others it did.’”—Atheneum.

Fire-Frty Lient.—In reference to the discussion
whether the fire-flies flash out their ight simulta-
neously, Mr. Clark read the following extract from
a letter at the last meeting of the Entomological
Society :—‘“‘I can confirm your observation that the
fire-flies, of the genus Aspisoma, flit at night in great
numbers over low-lying, damp fields, chiefly near
water, emitting light by short flashes, at intervals of
three or four seconds, the majority keeping time
with each other, as if in obedience to the ddfon of
a leader. I think it is only the fire-flies of that
genus who practise it. The numerous fire-flies
common in Mexico and North America belong
chiefly to the genera Mlichnia and Photuris, whose
habits are different, so far as I have had opportunity
to observe their congeners in Brazil.”

192 SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Aue. 1, 1865,

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

At communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of each
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations. All notes, queries, or articles for insertion, must
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
may be withheld from publication if so desired.

Queries.—Having been inundated with questions, we are
compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer
{hose of which the querist might satisfy himself by an appeal
to any elementary book on thesubject. Weare always pre-
pared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish
the replies, provided some of our readers, beside the querist,
are likely to take an interest in them.

We cannot undertake to return ‘rejected addresses.”’

Bertisn Hepaticm.—The “ Guide,” uniform in size and
price with this journal, may be had of the Publisher, 192,
Piccadilly. Every subscriber to Sciencr Gossip should pro-
cure a copy to bind with his volume. It contains descriptions
of one hundred and thirty-six species of Hepaticee, illustrated
by two hundred woodcuts.

A. M.—You cannot havea more useful little book on the
Mounting of Microscopic Objects than that by T. Davies,
published by R. Hardwicke, at half-a-crown.

Booxs on Sea-weEeps.—“‘R. §.’’ is informed that many
books at many prices, and of varied merits, have been pub-
lished on this subject. Such as, ‘‘ Nature-printed Sea-weeds,’’
4 vols. 8vo. (Bradbury & Evans); WHarvey’s ‘‘ Phycologia
Britannica,’’ 4 vols. royal 8vo. (Reeve); Harvey’s ‘‘ Atlas of
British Sea-weeds,’’ 4to. (Reeve); Harvyey’s ‘‘Synopsis of
British Sea-weeds,’’ 12mo, (Reeve) ; Landsborough’s * British
Sea-weeds’? (Routledge); Gifford’s ‘‘Marine Botanist;”’
Gray’s ‘*Handbook of British Water-weeds” (Hardwicke),
&e. &c.

S. A. $.—The London Catalogue of British Plants may be
had of Dulau, Soho Square. We think that the list of British
Mosses referred to is ‘‘ out of print.’’

REPAIRING InsEcts.—‘‘ W. H.”’ will find shell-lac dissolved
in spirits of wine a very useful cement for this purpose.

R. S.—You will find it preferable not to fix your eggs for
your cabinet in any way, either on wood or cardboard, but
place them on cotton woo! in little boxes or compartments.

L. L.—It is a plant cf the Pine-apple family called ‘“‘ New
Orleans Moss”? (Tillandsia usneoides), and is used for stuffing,
as a kind of substitute for horse-ha'r.

J. W.—Your observations are only confirmatory, in fact, of
what has been before recorded. Your deductions are scarcely
so correct.

A. G. has fallen into error in thinking us interested in
ordnance. Our science is essentially that of peace, and not
of war.

F. L. S.—We suppose that your insect was the Gold-tail
Moth (Porthesia auriflua), a very common species.

J. P.—What bird do you call the Red Sparrow-hawk? Is
it the Kestrel ?

_ A. F. C.—Only the image of the object is enlarged by draw-
ing out the tube; there is no true increase of power.

E. G.—Many of our birds rear two broods in a year.

S. D.—1. The siliceous cuticle of grasses may be obtained
by maceration in nitric acid, and afterwards caretuwlly burning
toa white heat. 2. Probably the sudoriparous glands; but it
is mere speculation to answer without seeing the object.

T. P.—-We regret that we have no space for your communi-
cation. It will be better published when the experiment is

complete. An agricultural journal would then be a more
suitable medium.

AQuAntA.— Our notes on aquarian topics are so many and
so long this month, that some wilt have to stand over.
Correspondents will please to note this, and excuse the delay.

FirEFLy will please to take notice, and all other like
offenders, that for no purpose whatever can we recognize a
nom-de-plume. Already the same announcement has been
made twice or thrice, and our good friends will oblige by not
repeating the dose. We believe that we have good reasons for
persisting in this regulation.

E. M. W.—'The publisher of *‘ Janson’s Beetles ” is Bell, of
Fleet Street, London.

P. 5S. (Harrow).—We admit no nom-de-plume. The science
you name does not come within our interpretation of natural
history.

W. W. K.—You will find the name in the article, of which
your extract is a portion, in All the Year Round.

F. A. B.—A paragraph appears in the present number which
will probably assist you. Some flowers are very difficult to
manage in drying.

ZOOPHYTES.—The best work on this subject is Dr. John-
ston’s ‘‘ British Zoophytes,’’ published by Van Voorst, in two
vols. 8vo. There is a smaller work by Dr. Landsborough,
which is published by Routledge. Sir John Dalyeil’s ‘‘ Remark-
able Animals of Scotland,’’ two vols. 4to. (Van Voorst), also
contains Zoophytes.

W. P.—As we answered our correspondent, the subject is
closed. Why not insert an advertisement ?

F, A.—Write to Mr. W. R. Tate, 4, Grove Place, Denmark
Hill, Camberwell, and he will furnish you with all the infor-
mation you desire.

Limrrt Toncues.—J. B. R. has a number of dissected
limpet tongues unmounted, and will be happy to exchange
them for other interesting microscopic objects.—115, Newgate
Street, London, E,C.

W. E. WILLIAMs, Jun., offers silkworm eggs and seeds of
the Catalpa tree as microscopic objects.—Corsham, Wilts.

PETHERWIN Beps.— Please correct p. 150, Ist col., 4th line
from bottom, for ‘‘ shale ”’ read “shell Spirifera unguicula ;”?
2nd col., 6th line, for ‘* Eremphalus”’ read ‘* Euomphalus.”’

F, P. P.—*‘ What’s the use of It’’ is declined with thanks.

Y. Y. had better forward us a specimen of the moth in
question.

CABINET LABELS.—We have seen a sheet of labels for
small Cabinets of Microscopic Objects, designed by Mr. John
Bockett, 10, Willingham Terrace, Kentish Town, which is
likely to be very useful.

A Hint For Contrisutors.—lIf our contributors will oblige
-us by always using the common names of plants, animals,
insects, &c., wherever there is a common name in use, to
be followed by the scientific name in brackets, this will save
us alarge amount of trouble in sending their manuscript
to press. As we do not pretend to address scientific readers
alone, vernacular names are indispensable.
CoMMUNICATIONS REc&IVED.—S. E. B.—F. J. F.—E. R. L.

—W. H. G.—T. P. B.—E. Y. S.-E. G.—M. A.—P. S.—

J. H. W.—J. S.-H. G. K.—F. A. B.—T. A.—W. W. K.—

M. H. L.—G. R. J.—G. D.—E. T. S.—P. F.— W.. R. T.—J. B.

Humber.—B. H.—F. C.—J. D.—A. G.—J. P.—H. W.—

E.S.S. G.—R. G. K.—J. B. R.—E. M. E.—F. R. P.—A-. G.—

C. A.—J. S.—E. S.—E. H.—R. B. S.—J. A.—R. K.—W. N.—

E. G.—E. H. (Richmond).—A. F, C.—B.—E. E.—G. G.— J. P.

—F. L. §.—S. D.—T. P.—A. R.—F. W.—R. T.—J. B.—

T, W. W.—Dr. L.—W. T. H.—C. A.—F. A.

Too Larz.—Correspondents are reminded that the majority
of the above communications arrived too late for notice in
the present issue.

PoruLarR NAMES.—R. E. D.—C., A,

BOOKS RECEIVED.

“The Phenoinena of Radiation as Exemplifying the Wisdom
and Beneficence of God.’’ By George Warington, F.C.S.
12mo. cloth, 186 pp. (London: W. Skeffington.)

Tne Popular Science Review for July, 1865.
Hardwicke.)

(London: R.

at

FOS PET Fe

THE

BALANCE OF

POWER.

Naturalists observe, a flea

Hath smaller fleas that on him prey,
And these have smaller still to bite ’em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.—Swift,

T requires some faith in the operations of Nature
to arrive at the conclusion that “all will come
right in the end,” if she is permitted to pursue her
own course without hindrance, or by a little assist-
ance in the direction she indicates. The most con-
clusive facts will scarcely convince many an agricul-
turist that his view of the ‘small bird question” is
a false one, when it takes the direction of extirpa-
tion. Neither will some believe in insects of any
kind being less than unmitigated pests, sent
expressly to worry the gardener, or drive the farmer
out of his wits. It is of no use talking to them of
the balance of power, when they are thinking of
the balance at their banker’s. That is, provided
they are blessed with the luxury of a banker’s
account. Weconfess it is aggravating enough to
see acres of green turnips cleaned off by myriads of
“black jacks;” but, instead of grumbling, would it
not be better to study the “black jacks” a little
closer, and wring from them the secret of their pre-
ponderance over their own enemies, the devourers
of little caterpillars ; or perhaps some foe, in another
stage of their existence, the encouragement of
which might restore the balance of power ?

If we confine our observations to the insect world
we shall meet with plentiful illustrations of the
fact, in the faith of which we are strong, that there
is no such a thing as chance in the operations of
Nature, but that, in the greatest apparent disorder,
there is harmony at the foundation. Why stand
amazed at some sudden and unexpected effect, and
heed not or seek not the cause ?

We have every respect for the men who grow our
“bread stuffs” for us, and would by no means say
anything “to hurt their feelings or wound their
susceptibilities ;” but whilst they sneer at the fly-
catching Cockneys, who now and then traverse their
broad acres with bag-nets dangling at the end of
walking-sticks, it may be true that these same
despised fly-catchers may know a thing or two about
the habits of insects which it would not be beneath
the dignity of a country farmer to learn. Small
truths sometimes produce great revolutions, and a
little knowledge may become a large power. A

homely illustration of this we remember to have
heard in the person of a Scot who, on one occasion,
mingled with a crowd that had collected around
“twa dogs” fighting in the street. Whilst by
thumping and tugging some were fruitlessly endea-
vouring to separate the combatants, our Scot stood
by and calmly sniffed his pinch of snuff. This
operation completed to his satisfaction, he dis-
charged the contents of his box about the noses of
the belligerents. The desired effect was at once
produced, both dogs beat a hasty retreat, and the
Scot, as he moved majestically on his way, reminded
the bystanders that “ knowledge is power.”

We have already indicated (p. 185) the extra-
ordinary fecundity of those mischievous little insects
the dAphides, or plant-lice. “Supposing a single
Aphis to produce only fifty young ones—which is
certainly below the average—it follows that one of
these insects beginning to breed in spring would
give rise in the course of a summer to no less
than 4,000,000,000,000,000 of larve, which would
cover a space of at least forty-eight thousand square
yards, or ten acres. ‘The entire surface of the glohe
would be covered with Aphides, were it not for the
number and voracity of the animals which prey
upon them.”*- On the other hand, we have Lady-
birds in great numbers, and these romantic little
associates of our childhood and nursery rhymes,
both in the larva and perfect state, feed with avidity
upon the plant-lice, appearing to increase in equal
proportion. Then there are the Lace-wing flies,
which in their larva state feed entirely upon dAphides,
destroying them in immense quantities. When
noticing the unusual blight of insects which infested
lettuces in 1844, the Rev. L. Jenyns adds, “amongst
the larvee at the root of one lettuce, I observed a
single specimen of the larva of some other totally
different insect which appeared to be feeding upon
them.” The larvee of the little Syrpiz, bluish-black
flies, allied to the common fly, feed also upon
Aphides, trvansfixing them with a sort of trident
springing from the lower part of the mouth, and

* Quatrefages’ “ Metamorphoses.””
oO

194

then raising them into the air and devouring them.
Many other insects also aid in the work of destruc-
tion, and assist in checking the undue preponder-
ance of Aphides by maintaining the balance of power.

Tt is the same with other insects. Smaller species
of Anthomyia are also very destructive to vegetation ;
but dung flies, in their perfect state, devour them
with greediness, seizing them with their fore-feet,
piercing their heads and sucking the juices. Who
shall determine the check which injurious insects
receive from Ichneumons and Zuchine, and such
parasites ?

In a paper published in the Proceedings of the
Entomological Society of Philadelphia, Mr. Walsh
directs attention to the number of species of insects
which haunt one kind of willow-gall (Salicis brassi-
coides). In this, besides the Cecidomyia, which is
the maker of the gall, he enumerates four other
insects of the same genus, one saw-fly, five species
of minute Lepidoptera, two or three beetles, a
Psocus, a heteropterous insect, an Aphis, the larvee
of a Chrysopa, and a Syrphide, besides four or five
species of Chalcidide, one Ichneumon, and one of
Tachinide. Altogether about two dozen species,
distributed through eight orders, and all dependent
one upon another, and upon the fostering gall.

We have said enough to indicate the truth of
Mr. Dallas’s observation that “ Nothing is more
remarkable, or more conducive to show us the
intricacy of the mechanism by which the balance of
power is maintained in the economy of nature, than
the circumstance that many of the species of these
parasitic insects, whose duty is evidently that of
keeping down the excessive increase of their vege-
table-feeding brethren, are themselves kept in check
by other species, which, by some infallible test,
discover the concealed abode of their larvee, and
thus avenge the hapless victim upon whose substance
they are remorselessly preying.”

Kiepromanta.—I had a good reason for disliking
cats. When I was a boy they used to steal my
young rabbits. We hada hole likea saw-pit, boarded
and covered over with wooden bars, in which we
kept, or rather tried to keep, our rabbits. One day,
however, the gardener caught two cats working to-
gether at the theft, the thinnest getting down, and
handing up the young rabbits to the accomplice.
This was his account of the matter, and I can well
believe it; for Argus—a red-eyed, evil-favoured
Newfoundland we had—was once detected lamb-
killing, then washing himself in a pond, and finally
getting back to his kennel, and putting his head in
the collar before he thought any of the household
were up. There he was before our breakfast, with
no evidence of guilt about him beyond the pleasant
secret sense of early digestion begun in his own in-
side.—Jones’ Holiday Papers.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Supt. 1, 1865.

THE “BREEZE-FLY.”

HERE lives no greater pest to the wanderer
and his horses and mules, than the Breeze-fly ;

by Breeze-fly | mean flies belonging to the genus
Tabanus (order, Diptera, or two-winged), not those
of the genus Wstrus, with which it is frequently
confounded. ‘The latter—commonly called Bot-fly,
which is also a terrible pest, alike avoided by both
horse and ruminant—deposits its eggs sometimes on
the hair, and sometimes underneath the skin; hence
animals, guided by a natural instinct, or having been
the victims of a past and painful experience, all, at
the sound of his dreaded trumpet, make the best cf
their way to the nearest water, into which they plunge,

Fig. 2.

Fig. 1.

On the contrary, in the Breeze-fly we have to do
with a veritable dlood-sucker, more ravenous than
would be any winged leech. There are three species,
all three by far too plentiful for the comfort of
either man or beast, and widely distributed in
North-west America. These insects have an apparent
ubiquity, and are literally everywhere. Ascend to
the regions of eternal snow, there are hungry
Breeze-flies awaiting one’s arrival; by the rushing
torrent, on the shores of the placid lake, under the
deep, damp shadows of the pine-trees, or on the
open flower-decked prairie, there are sure to be
Breeze-flies. One barely hears the sound of its
“clarion shrill” and hum of the rapidly-vibrating
wings, ere one feels a sharp prick, as though a red-
hot needle had been thrust into the flesh; stab
follows stab in quick succession, and unless active
measures of defence be resorted to, the skin
speedily assumes the form of wire-gauze.

Your horses and mules, if you have any, give
immediate notice of the enemy, by viciously throw-
ing up their heads and heels, snorting, and, very
possibly, indeed I may say generally, summarily
discharging their loads, be they human or baggage,
over their heads. Whether success attends this
disagreeable habit or not, in any ease a hasty retreat
is made for the nearest water, where both man and
beast well know the Breeze-fly seldom or never fol-
lows. I have frequently had a train of pack-mules
completely scattered by these formidable pests.

The largest and fiercest is the Black Breeze-fly
(Tubanus atvatus). Tis body is like glossy black
velvet, frosted over with a delicate white bloom,
like a freshly-gathered Orleans plum; it is about an

Serr. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

195

inch in length; the wings, like pale blue gauze,
when at rest are always kept in a_ horizontal posi-
tion; the alulets are large and strong. The eyes
are exquisitely beautiful, in colour dark-blue, but
glittering with the lustre of highly-polished gems,
and nearly covering the entire head.

The next in size is the Belted Breeze-fly (Zabanus
_ clactus), about one-third smaller than his sable
brother. He is clad in bright orange livery, banded
with stripes almost black; and has a most showy
appearance, being decidedly the best dressed fly of *
the family. The eyes are emerald green, and, when
viewed in the bright sunlight, have the appearance
of being c=t into numerous facets.

The third or smallest is the Lined Breeze-fly
(Tabanus lineatus); of a bluish colour, and only
conspicuous from having a white line along the top
of the head. In this fly the eyes are of bluish-green,
and quite as beautiful as in the two preceding.

The lady Breeze-fly, I am grieved to say, is far
more to be dreaded than her lord. These insects
can never, one would suppose, enjoy the luxury
and delight, or whatever may be the proper term
applicable to such a universal habit as kissing.
How could a winged lady, I should like to
know, be kissed by a winged wooer when her
lips are a bundle of lancets, six in number, and
as sharp as a surgeon’s? ‘True the male has four
blade-like instruments arming the mouth, but it is
questionable whether he uses them for other pur-
poses than that of sucking nectar from flowers. The
apparatus of the female is beautifully adapted for
puncturing the skin and then pumping up the fluid
through the sheath of the lancets, that acts as a
tube or canula. It would be of trifling interest to
advert more in detail to the minute anatomy of these
insects; that can be better learned from works on
structural entomology; the habits of the insect in
far-away lands, sketched from personal gleanings,
being more strictly “Science Gossip.” The rambler
alone has an opportunity to investigate the haunts
and watch the habits of strange beasts, birds, and
insects; to the anatomist at home, in cosy closet,
belongs the task of developing, with scalpel and
microscope, the complicated machinery by which
life’s varied duties are carried on.

The larva lives in the earth, a grub easily dug up
in the moist prairie lands; of an elongated sub-
cylindrical form, tapering off towards each ex-
tremity ; its colour a dingy yellow; destitute of
feet; having a body divided into twelve segments,
each segment being banded with a row of minute
horny hooks—an admirable contrivance, enabling it
to drag itself along through the earth. The head is
horny, and brownish-yellow in colour, also armed
with hooks to aid in progression. The pupa I have
never seen, but De Geer tells us the pupa of
Tabanus bovinus is “naked, incomplete, elongated,
sub-cylindrical, with six spines at the end of the

body, the margins of the abdominal segments
ciliated, and the forehead bi-tubercled.’

Where or when the eggs of the Zubanus are
deposited is not generally known, but it is more
than probable on the stems of plants, to which they
are fastened by a glutinous secretion; the grub
when hatched, falling on the ground, at once buries
itself. Neither is it known how long a time the larva
remains in the earth ere it changes to the pupa form.

I remember once being busily occupied all day
collecting beetles anu other insects, in the dense,
shady pine-forests, close to a small stream called the
Mooyee, that flows down the western slope of the
Rocky Mountains: boxes, bottles, bags, even my
hat, indeed every available locality about my person
was appropriated to the stowage and transport of
the proceeds of my hunt. My horse, rather a wild
Mustang, had been tethered close to the water, and
thus kept clear of the Breeze-flies during my
absence; soon, however, after mounting him to
return, emerging from the forest, I came on a small
patch of open prairie land, but no sooner was I clear
of the timber than the pests were at us. My beast
commenced practising every species of jump and
leap that it was possible for a horse to execute, and
several of them of a nature so extraordinary that
one would have thought no animal that ever went
on four legs could accomplish; he pranced, shied,
kicked, leaped forward, backward, sideways—in a
word, performed such demoniacal pranks, that,
although a practised horseman, | found it a most
difficult matter to keep my seat. As a finale, off he
went like a mad creature, caring nothing for all my
efforts to stop him; then, as if from sheer madness
caased by the punctures of the flies, that followed
like a swarm of enraged bees, he stopped suddenly
short, viciously threw his head between his forelegs,
and at the same time elevated his hind ones into the
air; the whole being performed with such sudden
and savage violence that I was pitched clean out of
the saddle: boxes, bottles, bags, together with all
my insect treasures, lay scattered over the prairie
and ere I could regain my feet I had the satisfaction
of seeing him put his legs into the bridle-reins, drag
it clean off his head, and, with a snort that sounded
mightily like a derisive horse laugh, he galloped off
leaving me to my own devices. I mention this little
adventure to show how terribly these pests can
madden an animal.

From an intimacy by no means sought, or on my
part cultivated, with the Zubanide, or Breeze-flies,
I am disposed to think the fly called Zmb, and
described by Bruce, belonged to this family, and was
not an @strus, as many have supposed. Speaking
of the Zimé, in reference to the camel and elephant :
* When the first of these animals are attacked, its
body, head, and legs break out into large bosses,
which swell, burst, and putrify, to its certain
destruction.” Just such effects have I again and

0 2

196

again seen amongst horses and mules. One mule
we had to abandon on the prairie (a disabled foot
preventing its travelling any further) was, when we
returned for it, so stung by the Breeze-flies as to be
one mass of small ichorous ulcers from head to
hoofs; so pitiable was the poor beast’s plight, its
injured limb having precluded all chance of escape
from the flies, that, as a mere matter of humanity,
it was at once shot. I have also frequently seen
tethered horses so injured by the punctures of the
Breeze-fly as to be rendered useless for many
months. ‘Their favourite places for puncturing are
on the front of the chest—where the saddle goes,—
and inside the thighs. If a man were tied, or

otherwise disabled, so that all chance of beating off —
' or the same crab) usually loosen its hold from the

or escaping from the Breeze-fly was out of his
power, I have no hesitation in asserting my firm
conviction that they would rapidly kill him.

The illustration (fig. 1) will give a good idea of
the Belted Breeze-fly—a lady charmingly dressed in
orange flounced with black, very attractive when
you see her sunning herself amid the petals of some
prairie flower, but a closer acquaintance destroys
the charm, as she soon lets you feel her power of
wounding.

Hig. 2 exhibits the proboscis and its armature of
six lancets terminated by two large fleshy lip-like
lobes, further protected at the sides by the maxillary
palpi.

Travelling in Oregon one constantly finds himself
on the banks of a wide glassy lake; gazing over i2
unrippled surface, the eye suddenly rests on what,

to the inexperienced in hunter’s craft, appears to be |

small clumps of twisted branches, dead and leafless
tree-tops, the trunks of which are hidden in the
water; but the Indian or “trapper” discerns in a
second that the apparent branches are the antlers of
a herd of Wappiti that have been driven into the
water by Breeze-flies. Wild cattle seek a like
means of protecting themselves against such terrible
foes: a perfect forest of horns may frequently be
witnessed in a pool, but not a vestige of the
bullocks, save their noses, kept above water for the
purpose of breathing. Virgil clearly alluded to the
Breeze-flies, and not to the @stride, when writing
about the Asilzs :—

Through waving groves, where Selos’ torrent flows,
And where, Alberno, thy green Ilex grows,

Myriads of insects flutter in the gloom

(Estrus in Greece, Asilus in Rome),

Fierce and of cruelhum. By the dire sound
Driven from the woods and shady glens around

The universal herd in terror fly,

The same thing goes on now as of old: Breeze-
flies puncture the toughest hides for blood, and as
in the days of Greece and Rome, and, it may be,
ages and gous before that, the “universal herd in
terror flew” on hearing the shrill blast of the

Breeze-fly’s trumpet. J. K. Lorn, F.Z:8.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Sepr. 1, 1865.

SEA ANEMONES.
(Sagartia parasitica and Adamsia palliata.)

AM not aware whether any one has published an
account of the mode by which so slow an animal

as the Parasitic Anemone contrives to mount on the
shell, which forms the house of so active a creature
as the Hermit Crab, but I have seen repeatedly how
it is done, in the Hamburg Aquarium. So long as

-the Anemone is associated with the Crab, and is

carried about by it, and gets its share of food, it is
happy; but when the Hermit changes its shell, and
leaves the Anemone behind on the old shell, the
Anemone will (unless it is again taken up by another

shell, and lie down on its side on the floor of the
tank. Then when a crab—particularly if it be a
Hermit Crab—passes within reach of the Anemone’s
tentacles (which are unusually quick and strong in
their action), they grasp any part of the shell, and
then the base of the Anemone is quickly turned
round and securely fixed, the body being strongly
curved so that the hold of the tentacles is not re-
laxed before the base, or a part of it, is secure. In
this way I have seen as many as three Parasitic
Anemones attaching themselves in the course of an
hour, to the shell of one unsually large and very
active Hermit ; and I have noticed not less than five
fasten themselves by the same manceuvre to the
carapace and legs of a Spider Crab—a large Hyasar-
anea,—and he carried them about for many weeks,
and when at last he changed his shell, and left the
Anemones behind, sticking to the old left-off and
motionless shell, the Anemones, after atime, found
him out again and re-attached themselves as before.

If there had been any Hermit Crabs in the same
tank, they would, doubtless, have fastened to them,
in preference to the Spider Crab. To be carried
about by some other animal seems to be an enjoyment
to them, and yet I have known them to remain
attached to motionless objects tranquilly for five or
six months at a stretch, in a tank where Hermit
Crabs and Spider Crabs were also contained. A
capability of detaching and attaching themselves
quickly by the base, seems to be one of the special
peculiarities of both the Parasitic Anemone and of
the Cloak Anemone (dAdamsia palliata), and I once
saw the latter become free from the shell inhabited
by another Hermit Crab (Pagurus Prideauszii), and
then become quite and securely fixed to another shell,
not less than twelve times in two consecutive hours, as
the crab was fidgetty, and changed his shell that
number of times, and each time he took his com-
panion Anemone with him, giving it material assist-
ance at every transfer. ‘This has also been observed
by Mr. Gosse and by Mr. Holdsworth. In this case
(of Adamsia and Prideauaii) the Crab and the
Anemone certainly seem to recognize each other ; but

Seer. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

197

in the other instance (of Sugartia and Bernhardus), |

the Anemone seems only to recognize the Crab, and
not the Crab to be conscious of the Anemone; for
even when Berzhardus has been burdened with three

S. parasitica on its shell at one time, I have never |

seen it seem more anxious to change its shell than
when it has only a shell alone to carry. In further
proof of this recognition being natural in the one
case, and one-sided in the other, I have to state that
though I have had brought me many thousands of the
common Hermit Crab (P. Bernhardus) without any
Anemone (8S. parasitica), 1 have never got a single
specimen of the less common Hermit (P. Prideauzit)
without its special Anemone (Adamsia palliata). I
also have to observe that the manner in which P.
Prideauxii assists the transfer of Adamsia from one
shell to another, reminds one exactly of the manner
in which a person would remove and then re-fix a
sticking-plaister to his or her chest, first loosening
and picking it away at the edges, and then gradually
peeling it off entirely, and afterwards broadly apply-
ing a new plaister with both hands, smoothing and
working it down in places, and taking particular
care in making it adhere firmly all round the margins.
The action is all the more suggestive because the
relative positions of a man’s hands, arms, and chest
correspond with much precision to the relative posi-
tions of the two first (right and left) legs of the
crab, and to the part of his shell to which he desires
to affix the Anemone.

Has any one ever seen a very small specimen of
Sagartia parasitica, ov of Tealia crassicornis ;—as
small, I mean, as the young ones of any other common
Sea-Anemone? Inever have; and the least of those
two species which I recollect to have observed, was
as large when close, as a small cherry.

W. Atrorp Luioyp,
Zoological Gardens, Hamburg.

MORE NOTES ON THE HAIRWORM.

EARY and dusty, after several hours’ work
among the flint and chalk on the new line
of railway between Walden and Wenden, I began
my way home. ‘To escape censure for looking like
a bricklayer’s labourer, and not wishing to offend
the public taste, I threw my bag of fossils on the
bank of the classic Cam, which, at midsummer, is
here a mere stream, and sought by water to cleanse
me from offence. Amid my cooling ablutions, two
hairworms attracted my attention, which I imme-
diately captured, placed in a piece of paper, and
carried home in my waistcoat pocket, to examine at
my leisure.

This worm was the subject of a brief but inter-
esting paper at page 107. It belongs to the Nematoid
order of Entozoa, and bears the name of Gordius
aquaticus, Would not the kingly spirit who once

ruled in the flesh over the Phrygians feel himself
humbled that his name should be mortalized in such
aworm? ‘That is, if spirits wander and wonder at
all. This worm, no doubt, got its name from the
extraordinary manner in which it knots itself, and
is thus supposed to resemble the leather harness of
Gordius, which was so intricate that there was no
finding out where it began or ended.

One of my humble acquaintances measured no
less than 834, inches in length. It has no jointed
skeleton internally, but a jointed covering, as in
insects. It is said that these creatures live a
parasitic life in the body of some unfortunate insect,
of an astonishing small size when compared with
the great leneth of the worm. When mature they
quit the body of the insect at whose expense they
have lived, for some moist place or watery spot, to
deposit their ova, which is accomplished in long
chains. It has been stated of this species, that, on
quitting its parasitical home for a terrestrial habita-
tion, should it find dry weather—a state of things
by no means congenial to its nature—it will shrink
up into a perfectly hard and dry substance, and wait
for a more favourable season. These worms draw
their nourishment for the support of their bodies
through the skin by absorption. I removed one of
my specimens from its aquarium, which I had
extemporized in a tumbler, and subjected it to a
scorching mid-day sun. It soon adapted itself to
altered circumstances, and what was a few minutes
before a round-bodied, graceful worm, grew flat,
rough, and contracted; slowly knotting itself till at
last it became small and motionless, and blown
about by the faintest breath of air. Satisfied that
it had undergone sufficient scorching, if possible to
deprive it of life, and of ever again sporting its
hair-like body in my glass, I returned it thither
again after about three hours’ exposure to the sun’s
rays. You will not wonder that I watched it with
an earnestness that would have done honour to a
more weighty matter, as it absorbed moisture and
cave off little air-bubbles from almost every joint.
It gradually assumed its former shape, gave signs of
life, and, to my no small joy, soon sported its long
body with becoming jollity at being restored—if
not to life, at least to the element most compatible
with its notion of comfort. The figures represent
the head (a) and tail (2) of female magnified.

Some weeks after the above event I revisited the
spot, and found the little water that remained appa-
rently alive with these small creatures, The water-

198

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Szpr. 1, 1865.

plants were really matted together by countless
numbers, and I could have secured hundreds.
Another species of this genus, Gordius mediensis,
common in warm countries, often measuring as
many feet as our little friend does inches, has a
nasty habit of entering the flesh of human beings,
and if not carefully extracted, and every portion
of its body removed, is productive of the most
fatal consequences, producing ulcers, gangrene, and
death. We are therefore thankful that our British
species are harmless. J. JAMES.

I noticeD with unusual interest Mr. Baily’s
remarks on the Hairworm (p. 107).

This recalls a circumstance which had long ago
passed from my mind, but which, being recalled, is
as vivid in my recollection as if it had but just
occurred; that one day, observing one of those long
dark-coloured “clocks,” or beetles, making its way
from the garden to the house, I, with childish aver-
sion, resolved upon its being drowned, and it was
shuffled into a basin of pure water for the purpose.

Relentingly watching the creature sink, as it did
immediately, to my infinite consternation, there
began to protrude from the posterior end of the
body a dark hair-like object, which lengthened and
lengthened, till it finally emerged a living worm,
now apparently in its natural element.

I well remember the almost breathless awe in
which I ran to communicate the wonderful thing to
my family.

The Hairworm—for such it was, but slenderer
than Mr. Baily’s figure—was taken to a gentleman
who had the credit of being an authority in natural
history—a kind of factotum, indeed,—and he, not
having that faith which my father had in the veracity
of his child, quietly smiled it down as a thing
impossible—wholly unworthy of credit! and it was
dismissed accordingly. I am naturally pleased,
therefore, to see, after the lapse of many years, this
long-forgotten first wonder of my youth corro-
borated ; and naturally also regret that they should
have tor ever passed away to whom it might have
afforded equal pleasure. Ki. Hopeson.

NOTES ON THE HAWTHORN.

Ngee berries of the hawthorn (Crataegus oxycan-
tha) are in Cheshire not called “haws” but
“hegs,” pronounced “hagues”’? ‘This is the old
Saxon name of the plant. The same word is in
use in Lancashire, as Mr. Grindon tells me that a
Lancashire writer, Brierley, speaking of the flowers
of the hawthorn, calls them “ hague-blossoms,”
and that the word is also to be found in Shakespere
and in Bacon. The modern German name for haw-
thorn is “hagedorn,” Our word “haw” is of

course derived from “hg,” but our Cheshire and
Lancashire men retain the original Saxon word.
They are also probably more correct in pronouncing
it Aaythorn; than educated people in calling it
hawthorn ; for haythorn is merely an easy way of
pronouncing heg-thorn.

There are fields in Cheshire called “ Hag-hay.”
Many fields are named after particular plants that
are found in them; as Gorsey-patch, Crabtree-
lands, and Blue-buttons (the last from the prevalence
of Devil’s-bit Scabious, Scabiosa succisa, called “blue-
buttons”); and-“ hag-hay” may originally have
been “ heeg-haga,” the field where hawthorn grew;
for “hay” or “hey,” a very common name for a
field, is derived from the Saxon “haga,’’ and means
an enclosed field. Hag-hay might, however, with
equal propriety mean “ Goblin-field.”

It, however, seems most likely that all fields now
called “hays” or “heys,” as cow-hey, horse-hey,
hag-hay, and such places as Green-heys, in Man-
chesier, were enclosed fields so long ago as the time
of the Saxons; and such fields were very possibly
called “haga” because the hedges were planted
with hegs: indeed, the word “hedge” itself, Saxon
“hegge,” German “hecke,” seems to me to be pro-
bably derived from “ heg,?’ because it was made of
that plant. If this be correct, a hedge means, par
excellence, a hawthorn hedge; and the hawthorn
derives additional interest from the fact of its
having been used in England for the same purposes
as at present for perhaps a thousand years; indeed,
it is not impossible, taking into consideration the very
slow growth of the plant, that many of the gnarled
and twisted hawthorn stumps, cut down and sprouted
out again and again, which we see in old-fashioned,
erooked, and untidy hedges, especially if the field
be called “hay,” may be the identical “ hag dorns ”
planted by our Saxon ancestors.

Haigh and Hague are two not uncommon sur-
names in Lancashire, and are doubtless derived in
some way from the Saxon name of the hawthorn tree.

Mobberley, Knutsford. Ropert HOLLanp.

Prants ConsuMERS OF OxyYGEN.—From a paper
recently read in Paris it would appear that the green
leaves of plants absorb carbonic acid and give out
oxygen, and the flowers do the reverse. ‘The action
of flowers on the atmosphere appears to be very
much the same as that of the lungs of animals, and
is the more or less intense according to the greater
or less vitality of the flowers. Buds give out more
carbonic acid for their size than fully developed
flowers, and require more oxygen. “Scentless”
flowers are less “active” than those with a strong
perfume. The stamens and pistils, the most vital
parts of the flower, consume most oxygen, aud
produce most carbonic acid—The Reader.

Srp. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

199

THE BLUE WREN.
(Malurus cyaneus.)

ApH changes of plumage which occur in some
of the birds of our own country will be fami-
liar to most of our readers. In nearly all birds a
manifest increase both in the colour and brilliancy
of their plumage takes place at the commencement
of the breeding season, and afterwards is lost,
gradually in some species, more suddenly in others.
The golden-coloured specks on the feathers of the
common starling are thus lost after the breeding
season, by the extreme tip of each feather breaking
off. In some of our native birds the assumption of
additional colours in the spring is made with great
rapidity, as in the black-headed bunting and the
black-headed gull, especially in the latter.

None of our British birds can, however, vie for a
moment with the Blue Wren of Australia, either in
the extraordinary changes of colour, or in the
rapidity with which they are assumed, and I have
often witnessed the transformation with wonder and
admiration.

In his ordinary dress (for it is only in the male
that the change takes place), our friend is a very
unostentatious little fellow, dressed ina suit of plain
russet from head to foot. His disposition is in har-
mony with his dress, he makes no attempt to attract
attention, but quite content to pursue the “even tenor
of his way,” he sings his hurried strain, caring little
whether it is applauded or not.

This we may call his normal state, but no sooner
does his little breast feel the first glow of love than
all is changed—plumage, disposition, and manners.
Like human lovers, he is desirous of piacing himself
to the best advantage in the eyes of the fair one he
has chosen; and, in addition to other attractions,
personal appearance must have due attention. And
now comes the marvellous transformation : his russet
suit is exchanged for a sky-blue satin vest, which
glows with a metallic lustre, and a black velvet coat
(of course of the richest Genoa), while his head is
adorned with a graceful covering of the same re-
splendent blue.

But love’s transforming power extends to his
disposition as well as his dress; his whole nature
seems to have received a new impulse,, and his un-
obtrusive bashfulness is replaced by a confident
boldness, as if aware that he had become the “ cy-
nosure of neighbouring eyes.” Now sprightly and
vivacicus he pours forth his song unceasingly, bound-
ing along with rapid, elastic hops, as if he knew not
how to contain his joy.

This remarkable change continues until the lady
he has chosen has concluded her maternal duties,
but no longer. He doubtless feels that velvets and
satins are too fine for workday duties, and, like a
prudent paterfamilias, his holiday apparel is put

away till another season, and the homely russet once
more resumed.

My readers must understand that if my language
has been somewhat figurative, I have been simply

‘describing facts.

The ordinary plumage of the Blue Wren is plain
brown, the tail feathers being of a darker hue.

During the winter season they assemble in small
flocks, but as the spring approaches they separate
into pairs, and the male bird then undergoes the
extraordinary transformation I have described.

In precise language, his nuptial dress is as follows:

Crown of the head, ear-coverts, and a lunar-
shaped mark on the upper part of the back, like a
tippet, bright sky-blue, with a metallic bue and
texture ; lores, line over the eye, occiput, scapularies,
back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, rich velvety
black ; throat and chest, bluish black; tail, blackish
blue, tipped with white; wings, brown; under
surface, buffy white, tinged bluish on the flanks.

The rapidity with which this brilliant additional
plumage is put on is surprising; about a week or
ten days sufficing for ifs production, and after a few
mouths wear, it is thrown off with equal or greater
rapidity.

It is a pretty sight to watch these little fellows in
their gay attire, and often as I have seenit, it has
always been with fresh pleasure. It is fond of wild,
scrubby districts, where brushwood alternates with
open spaces. Itis plentiful in the extensive botani-
cal gardens on the bank of the Yarra, at Melbourne,
and may be seen there to great advantage, for it is
secure from murderous guns, and seems to under-
stand and appreciate its security.

There are six species, inhabiting various parts of
the Australian continent, and all are remarkable for
the same changes of plumage. One or two species
found in the northern parts have the colours more
richly diversified, a rich cinnamon brown being

added to the black and blue.
W. J. STERLAND.

THE SPIRACLES OF THE ELY.

O* a fine summer evening, a few years ago, with

a careless stroke, which’ happened with rather
true aim, I brought down a noisy blow-fly that was
buzzing about me. Seeing it not likely to recover
the effects of the blow, I thought it better to put
it out of pain, and kill it outright. To do so, I
took up a penknife and cut off its head, supposing
that to be avery short way to effect this object.
The fly thus decapitated gave several energetic
whirls on its back, and then became quite still and
motionless. A few hours after I touched the head-
less trunk, when, to my astonishment, it whirled
round again as briskly as ever; and for many a day
I wondered how it could be that any insect could

200

live for hours without its head. No doubt many a
young reader, and perhaps some old ones too, will
wonder at this fact, and look for an explanation.

The fact becomes interpreted when it is known
that flies, in common with other insects, do not
breathe through their mouths and heads, but have
a special and peculiar organization for carrying on
this important and natural operation of life.

The head of the fly contains the compound eyes
with which it sees; the mouth and tongue, with
which it feeds, but cannot make sounds; and the
antenne, which are variously set down as organs of
hearing, smelling, and feeling; whilst some say that
they may be organs of a sense of which we may
have no idea.

The body it is which contains the breathing
apertures ; these form a series of pores along each
margin of the under surface, and are called spiracles,
or stigmata.

The spiracles of insects form beautiful micro-
scopic objects, and the amateur frequently makes
the attainment of a number of them from different
insects, one of his first designs in his earliest efforts
at the preparation and mounting of objects. This,
no doubt, arises from the great beauty of the pre-
parations, and the ease with which subjects are
obtained for dissection.

One of the best microscopic handbooks says that
the “spiracles are generally visible on the exterior
of the body of the insect, especially on the ab-
dominal segments,” and that ‘they are easily dis-
sected by means of a knife or a pair of scissors.”

This statement, generally correct, and sufficient
in the case of the Water-beetle (Dytiscus), the Cock-
chafer, and other insects, fails in the case of the
Blow-fly ; and the amateur will have much trouble
and frequent disappointments in his endeavours,
under this guidance, to discover the spiracle of the
fly, so beautifully figured in the same handbook.

f make these observations, not to find fault with
my handbook, which I value as one of my best
books, but to show the necessity and utility of such
practical hints as can be best given through the
medium of such a publication as Screncs Gossip.

The spiracles usually mounted are situated in the
thorax, near to the head.

There are four spiracles in the thorax, two near
the head, and two near the wings; they are not
easily seen, and may be mistaken and not found.

To obtain them, first steep the fly in liquor potassee
for a week, then remove the head and abdomen, and
divide the thorax into two parts, cutting it down
along the centre of the back. The muscles, &.,
can now be easily removed, leaving the two portions
of skin tolerably clean; these must be well washed
in water, on a glass slide, with a camel-hair pencil,
until every remaining portion of muscle and trachea
he completely removed. he spiracles will now

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Sepr. J, 1865,

eye, if they be held up against the light, as small
oval openings in the skin.

The cleaned skin should now be placed on a glass
slide and covered with a piece of strong glass, and
subjected to gentle and constant pressure until it
becomes nearly quite dry. It should then be steeped
in clean turpentine for a few days (prolonged steep-
ing bleaches too much), when it may be taken out,
trimmed round the edges, and mounted in balsam.

\ WWE
\ i
q Y tii

TS Ras nS

4. &
SSsssss Zs @
: Vdc

Fig. 1. Spiracle near the head.

MSS

The spiracle near the wing I have never seen
figured in the handbooks, or mounted by the pro-
fessional artist, yet it is interesting from its pecu-
liarity. In it the branching proceeds from one side
only; and its position in the body of the insect is
not symmetrical, being placed perpendicular rather
than parallel to the direction of the spiracle near
the head. There are spiracles in the abdomen also,
but they are very small, and not worth mounting.

Fig. 2.

Spiracle near the wing.

I would fain give some directions to the inexpe-_
rienced amateur in microscopy as to the spiracle of
the larva of the fly, but I find [have done enough

appear under the microscope, or even to the naked | for one occasion, The subject, though humble, will

Sept. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

201

not be despised by the readers of SctpncE Gosstv,
however learned; and if it may chance to meet the
eye of one immersed in the speculations of gain, or
given up to studies he may fancy more noble and
exalted, and who may be disposed to treat with
indifference subjects seeming so lowly and common,
let his rising contempt be checked by the reflection,
that the humblest thing in nature becomes an
exalted subject of human study, when considered
as an object for which Infinite Wisdom has exercised
design, and upon which the finger of Omnipotence
has put forth its power.

Armagh. Lewis G. Mitts, LL.B.

A NEW BINOCULAR DISSECTING
MICROSCOPE.

ie making dissections of the lower animals, I
have frequently found that much more satis-
factory results are attained by the employment of
low magnifying powers of considerable penetration,
than by the use of the inch and half-inch lenses of
such instruments as the Quekett microscope. The
advantages of low powers are:—lst. That an
abundance of room is left between the lens and the
object, so as to admit of freedom of action of the
operator’s hands; 2nd. That the object may be
easily and well illuminated by means of the “ con-
denser ;” and 8rd. That several structures situate
at different levels are brought simultaneously into
view. From a knowledge of the qualities I have

alluded to, I was led to think that an arrangement
of simple lenses for the production of binocular
vision would be of infinite service to the anatomist.
I therefore caused sucha combination to be effected,
and, having added to it a few contrivances calculated
to facilitate dissection, I now submit the result to
working microscopists.

The microscope when closed and packed, with its
various apparatus, forms an oblong mahogany box
about six inches long and three and a half inches
deep, provided with a lock and key. When unlocked,

the cover and one side, which are connected by
hinges, unfold so as to lie out in front of the
operator, displaying, at the same time, the lenses,
mirror, and dissecting instruments. The stage con-
sists of a gutta percha trough, having a small circle
of glass cemented into its centre, and placed (when
in use) upon ledges attached to the two ends of the
case. The objects of this species of stage are :—
(a) to enable mollusks and similar creatures to be
dissected under water; (4) to allow the object to be
fixed by means of pins which may be driven into
the gutta percha; and (ce) to permit light, when
required, to travel through a tissue, by being reflected
from the mirror to the glass circle. Outside the
real ends of the case, which sustain the trough,
there are two false ones, slightly bevelled above and
connected below with horizontal pieces, which slide
easily and uniformly into the bottom of the case.
These are intended as supports for the wrists of the
anatomist, and can be drawn out for a distance of
six inches or less on either side. The lenses, which
are two in number, are fixed in movable eye-pieces,
and these are sunk in an oblique arm, which has the
power of vertical rotation on the perpendicular bar
employed in producing the proper focus. ‘This
vertical bar slides freely and steadily in a brass
fitting which perforates the back of the case. By
means of the rotating power to which I have
referred, the arm bearing the lenses is, when not
intended for use, depressed so as to fit into the
centre of the case. The trough also slides beneath
the mirror. When the object examined is opaque,
a “bright spot” of light is thrown upon it by the
condenser which springs from the front angle of the
case. The dissecting instruments are placed in
depressions in those portions of the case which
unfold upon the table; they consist of two pair of
scissors (“curved” and “straight”’), two curved
and two straight needles, and a pair of scalpels of
forms adapted to the requirements of the dissector.

The magnifying power, with the binocular arrange-
ment, does not exceed six diameters, but the field of
view is so large, and the “relief” of the object
under examination so well and clearly marked, that
it is not without some degree of confidence that I
ask the readers of Sctrncre Gossip to pronounce
their opinion upon the qualities of the new

’| binocular.

Henry Lawson, M.D.

SIMPLE OBJECTS.—VI.
(Cosmarium botrytis.)
fie pretty zreen frustules of Cosmarium botrytis
may be found in almost every pond, and form
very interesting objects for the microscope. Hach
frustule is a perfect plant; and consists of a single
cell, having a deep constriction across the middle,
and regularly covered with minute tubercles, The

mace

202

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Sept. 1, 1865.

ad ee
ercen contents are arranged round double nuclei, on
each side of the constriction; and at times (probably
before the increase by cell-division takes place) dark-
coloured particles, having a peculiar “swarming”
motion, may be seen between each pair of nuclei.
Perhaps in no plant can the processes of cell-division
and conjugation be more readily traced.

Figs. 1 to 4: show the mode in which cell-division
takes place. The constriction across the frustule

qecomes wider, and a small protuberance appears
between the two half cells, across which a wall
of separation seems already to have been formed.
The parts of this protuberance gradually enlarge, at
first containing only the “ swarming ”’ particles ; then
assuming the form and colour of the corresponding
half cells; and at length, when the growth is com-
plete, separating into two perfect frustules. In these
the process of cell-division is again repeated, so that
the multiplication of these simple plants under
favourable circumstances must be exceedingly rapid ;
though there is, doubtless, a limit beyond which the
multiplication does not extend.

In conjugation two cells, which are near to one
another, each divide at the constriction, and pour

out their contents into one common mass (fig. 6)
which is held together by a gelatinous envelope.
This mass, which at first is of irregular shape (figs.
6, 7), and contains small transparent, colourless
globules (possibly of oil), gradually obtains a more
regular form (fig. 8), and at length becomes a spheri-
cal sporange, convered with forked protuberances
(fig. 10*).

The contents of the sporange at first seem to con-
sist of irregular, rounded green masses. Afterwards
these become either uniformly blended, or else in-
crease so as to fill up the sporange, which then pre-
sents a dark green aspect. Subsequently the con-
tents appear as a central, green mass, surrounded
with purplish matter; and, being to some extent,
less in bulk, make the surrounding cell-wall very
apparent.

That the sporanges, after a time, break up and pro-
duce new plants is very evident; though it is diffi-
cult to detect when or how this takes place. A mass
of cells (fig. 12) may, perhaps, be an early stage in
their development; for such masses occur abund-
antly in the water in which the Cosmarzum is kept,
and bear a considerable likeness to the perfect
frustules. J..5. TUTE,

THE COMMON DORMOUSE
(Myoxus avellanarius.)

THINK I am right when I say that very few
persons know the great interest this little ani-
mal is capable of affording, except, of course, those
who have cultivated its acquaintance by keeping it
as a pet,—interest not only as regards its habits and
mode of life during both summer and winter, but
also as to the variety of food it requires, and the
enormous quantity of that food which, for so small
a creature, it will consume; together with the amuse-
ment produced by watching its innocent gambols
during its hours of feeding.

The Dormouse is indeed, as described by Milne-
Edwards, in his work on Natural History, a pretty
little animal, with soft hair, velvety tail, ever tufted,
with a lively look, having a strong analogy to the
rat; it belongs to a genus of the Linnean order
Glires, and it inhabits temperate and warm countries,
subsisting entirely on vegetable food. In Varro, De
Re Rustica, we find that the art of rearing and fat-
tening great numbers of this genus was practised in
Roman villas, as a profitable article of rural economy ;
and again in Brotier, the last edition of Pliny, we
read that the excessive demand of them for luxurious
tables was increased by the foolish prohibitions of
the censors ; and it is reported that they are still
esteemed in modern Rome, being frequently sent as

* Fig. 10—a is the earlier, ) the more perfect form of these
protuberances,

Sept. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

203

presents by the Colonna princes. They generally
bring forth three or four at atime, and the little ones
are, of course, uncovered by fur, being usually quite
blind, and remaining so for a few days after birth.
Tt frequents woods and thick hedges, building an
almost round nest, lining it with moss and dead
leaves, and placing it in the hollow of a tree, or at
the root of some thick shrub ; it will sometimes take
possession of a deserted hedge-sparrow’s nest, and
this it will make its home, and will form a maga-
zine of nuts, acorns, beans, &c., on which to subsist
during the inclement season of winter. When this
period of the year comes round, it retires to its pre-
pared abode, and, having provided itself with a good
store of food, will roll itself up into a ball, similar to
the marmots, and fall into a torpid or lethargic
state till winter is over, and when the more genial
sunshine of spring causes the buds and flowers to
burst forth in all their beauty, the little Dormouse
may be sometimes seen sporting about on the boughs
of the willow or the hazel, eating the catkins which
are then in their prime, rejoicing with all nature at
the return of warm weather. Itwas formerly believed
that this state of hybernation was a continual pro-
found sleep, extending from the period of retirement
in the fall of one year to the commencement of

spring in the next; but this absurd notion was very |

properly exposed by Buffon, and the error may be
observed by any one who will keep and watch a
dormouse through the long winter months, from the
fact that it will occasionally wake up, and having
satiated itself from the food that, if in captivity,
must always be kept in readiness in its cage, but
which, if in the wild state, it will have stored up,—it
will speedily fall asleep again as fast as ever.

As regards its instinct, this little animal seems to
be warned by nature not to venture out during the
day, in search of food, since, by so doing, it would
run the risk of falling a prey to hawks, owls, stoats,
and such-like creatures, which, as the ancient Romans
were, are very fond of them; and I think from the
fact of their large, black, prominent eyes, which are
rarely or never seen to blink, being so sensitive to
strong lights, together with their wonderfully acute
sense of smell, we can rightly conclude that they
were originally intended by the Divine Creator to
be nocturnal feeders. I do not mean to convey that
they never do come out and feed by day, because I
know instances where they have been seen (my
father himself caught one regaling itself on the
catkins of the hazel on a fine day in early spring) ;
but that as a general rule you will find that they
remain concealed during the day, and at night emerge
from their hiding-places to take their food.

When I first imprisoned a Dormouse, some years
ago, I knew little or nothing about it. I fed it with
food which I now perceive to have been wholly un-
fitted for it, and I am convinced that the chief reason
of the sickly appearance and subsequent death of

my little captive, was the style of food, and the
limited supply I gave it, for I had then no idea of
its enormous digestive powers, or of the variety and
quantity it requires. At the present time, however,
I have three, lodged in a tolerably spacious cage,
fitted with sticks placed in various positions, on
which they sport and gambol very prettily indeed.
They rarely or never come out during the day, al-
though they have no enemy to fear; but as soon as it
grows dark, one by one they creep out of their nest
and search for the food they most enjoy. I give
them a variety every night, of such things as wheat,
hawthorn-berries, familiarly known as “ haws,”? with
nuts or almonds. Of the nuts they eat as many as
elght or ten during the night, gnawing with their
teeth a singularly round hole in them, and entirely
cleaning out the contents. I have noticed, too, that
if they do not make a symmetrical hole, there is
generally something the matter with them. I can-
not help thinking this is rather curious. Of the
almonds they always eat ten, and sometimes as many
as twelve. Besides the above dry food I give them
each night a dandelion or a sow-thistle, the milky
juice of which they like very much; you may, in
fact, vary their supply greatly ; any vegetable they
are fond of, peas and beans especially ; and I am cer-
tain, from the experience I have now had, that the
more you do vary the supply the happier and the
more contented will your mice be in their captivity.
IT sometimes take mine out of their cage, feed them
from my hand, and put in their way butter and milk;
and the avidity with which they seize on these articles
is very amusing. During the last winter session, I
had a pair with me in town, and after I had finished
tea one evening, I let one out: it discovered a box of
sardines, or rather where sardines had been, for
luckily I had finished them, as my mouse was into
the oil before I could look round, and it lapped up a
good deal before I took itout. It made itself, as
you may suppose, in a very deplorable state, and not
till some time after, from its own exertions coupled
with mine, did it become quite clean. I used to put
it in my hand and gently rub its fur with a piece of
flannel, and after I stopped, it would immediately
begin working away with its tongue and feet, and at
last it seemed to become so aliveto my rubbing, as if it
could understand why I was doing it—that it would
continue its mode of procedure whilst I was using
mine. I would not, however, advise the administra-
tion of this oil, as being beneficial to it,-since I had
to watch and feed my mouse very carefully for some
days after the occurrence just stated, and at last I
was rewarded by finding that it was getting over the
bad effects produced by the oil; it recovered, and now,
together with two others, which my brother brought
from school last Christmas, it exists in the cage I
mentioned above, the finest and fattest of the three.

AG Ee

204:

SEA-WRACK.

Ever drifting, drifting, drifting,
On the shifting
Currents of the restless main ;
Till in sheltered coves, and reaches
Of sandy beaches,
All have found repose again.
Longfellow’s * Sea-weed.”’

O* all the objects which the ocean casts upon its
shores for the amusement of visitors from
town, none are better known than the heaps of
coarse black sea-weed which some call “ wrack,”
and some call “tang,” and some know not what to
call. Sea-weeds are classed in three groups—the
red, the green, and the olive. The species under
notice belongs to the last of these. When found
lying upon the beach it certainly looks as much like
black as a lump of charcoal, but when growing in
the sea is as decidedly olive. But we are spcak-
ing of it as though there were but one species,
whereas two, three, or four, are often mingled in
the same heap, and our object is to point out the
differences, and furnish names whereby they may be
distinguished.

First, there is the Black Tang, or Bladder-wrack
(Fucus vesiculosus), with long fronds sometimes two

Fig. 1.

Black Tang, or Bladder-wrack
(Fucus vesiculosus).

or three feet in length, forking again and again into
what we may call branches, with a stout midrib
running down the centre, and covered with warty
tubercles, or bladders, arranged in pairs (fig. 1).
These are hollow, and filled with air, so as to render
the “wrack” buoyant in the water. The tips of

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Sepr. 1, 1865.

the fronds will sometimes be noticed swollen, and
covered with little tubercles, scarcely raised above
the surface. ‘These contain the fructification. Let
us pause a moment to examine them more minutely.
Weshall observe that each of these little frustules has
a minute opening through which their contents es-
cape. Cut one of these tips across, and each frustule
will be seen to represent a cell or internal cavity
(fig. 2, z), enclosing, in one plant, what are called the
antheridia, and in another the spores. The former
of these we may regard as the male, and the latter
as the female organs. Both are always produced on
separate plants. The autheridia are little bags or
vesicles, containing small bodies called zoospores (4),
which no sooner escape than they move about in the
water as if endowed with life, and conduct them-
selves like little animals. The spores are little
grains, of an oblong shape, which ultimately
separate into a definite number of parts (c); these
perform the functions of seeds, which are fertilized
by the zoospores, as the ovules are fertilized by the
pollen of flowering plants. We cannot, within our
present limits, enter upon the mysteries of increase
and multiplication in sea-weeds, but must content
ourselves with indicating what any good book on
the subject will more fully explain.

| The Serrated Wrack (Fucus serratus) resembles

Fig. 2. Serrated Wrack (Fucus serratus).

the last in form, but there are no air-bladders, and
the edges of the fronds are jagged or serrated, like
the teeth of a saw (fig. 2). In like mamner the fruit

Sept. 1, 1865. |

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

205

is borne at the tips of the fronds; and this species
is recommended as the best for microscopical
examination. Professor Harvey advises that fresh
specimens should be collected in winter or early
spring, and, being removed from the water, should
be left till partially dry. As the surface dries there
will exude from the pores of the receptacle drops of
a thick orange-coloured fluid, which, on being placed
under a microscope and moistened with salt water,
will be found to be composed of innumerable
cellules, from which will issue troops of these atoms,
that are no sooner liberated than they commence
those singular motions which the naturalist finds it
so difficult to reconcile with vegetable life.

But the species best known and most highly
appreciated by juveniles, though not the most

Fig. 3. Knotted Wrack (Fucus nodosus).

common, is the Knotted Wrack, or “Crackers”
(Lucus nodosus). The air-vessels are very large, and
on being thrown into the fire burst with a loud
report; herein lies the cause of the popularity
alluded to. No distinct midrib runs up the fronds,
which are narrow and thickened. The receptacles
which bear the fructification are not terminal, as in
the former species, but borne on stalks or pedicels
issuing from either side of the fronds. In the
present species the spores separate into fowr, and
in the Serrated Wrack into eight parts or sporules.
A parasitic sea-weed often grows upon and nearly
covers the Knotted Wrack.

There is also a much smaller kind of wrack (Zucus

cunaliculatus), the fronds of which are only a few

inches in length. The fructification is borne at the
tips of the fronds, and the spores separate into dio
sporules. ‘Two other species belonging to the

Fig. 4. Small Wrack (Fucus canaliculatus), @

same genus are found on our shores, but are less
common.

Apropos of the name of “ wrack”—which is com-
monly given to these plants of the sea,—in the
Channel Islands it is vraic, and this is derived from
the French varec, signifying sea-weed. So that in
using the word “ wrack’” we are employing a cor-
ruption of the French word for “sea-weed.”

If this brief notice of some of the common objects
of the shore should lead any to examine for them-
selves what they have never observed with any
interest heretofore, and to gather instruction from
what they have almost despised, our design will be
consummated. ‘There is nothing in nature so
common, but we may always learn something from
it, if we will but take the trouble to learn.”

CuLtivation oF Burrerworts. — Pinguicula
vulgaris, and, indeed, any of the other species, may
be easily treated in a state of cultivation, by atten-
tion to the following method, successfully adopted in
our North Wales Botanic Garden. Collect the plants
while in a state of hybernation, any time between
November and March; at that period of the year
they resemble bulbs, and can be picked off the surface
of the bogs and moors in abundance. Fill a saucer
with finely broken pieces of peat, and as much water
as can be absorbed by the peat, and then place the
bulbs simply upon its surface, without burying them
in, or beneath it; just steady them and keep them
supplied with moisture, and they will soon strike
their fibres downwards and spread their leaves upon
the surface, and make a beautiful appearance during
the season.—W, P, ix Botanists’ Chronicle.

206

ZOOLOGY.

Kestre (Falco tinnunculus)—I1 witnessed some
time since, what struck me as a curious incident with
regard to this hawk. While staying in the north of
Devon, ata farm-house, I went out one evening
shooting, and walked in the direction of a solitary
old barn: while passing it, a hawk flew from a hole
in the mud wall, about seven feet from the ground ;
I fired, but as its flight was so swift, I missed. Re-
turning in about an hour, I saw one of the birds
coming out of the hole in a very “ hobbling” manner,
holding something in its claws; if commenced its
flight, but this time I was too quick for it; it fell,
and I saw an egg distinctly drop from it, which I
found broken by the fall —/. P.

SqurrreL Monkey (Callithrix sciureus, L.).—A
pair of these very interesting little monkeys from
Brazil, have recently been presented by the Prince de
Joinville to the Zoological Society, and may be seen
in one of the side cages in the new Monkey-house,
at the Society’s Gardens, in Regent’s Park.

Curious Cras-cLtaw.—lI enclose a rough sketch
of a deformed claw of the Edible Crab, C. Hdulis
(or Platycarcinus of Milne-Edwards). The crab was

EXPLANATION OF FIGURE,

A. Moveable or upper mandible,

B. Fixed or Jower mandible.

C. An extra or false pincer mandibles, which are both
fixed, but work together with A at D joint.

caught here on the 23rd June, and its claw is in my
possession. Believing it to be of rare occurrence, I

thought it might be of interest to some of your
readers.—H. H. K,

Comparative Increase tw Size.—At the age
of twenty, man is rarely four times as long as the
new-born infant; and his average weight is hardly
thirty times greater. The Teredo larva, which is
about to undergo a change of form, is four thousand
times larger than when it sprang from the ege, and
is still many million times smaller than its mother.
—Quatrefages’ Metamorphoses.

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

(Serr. 1, 1865.

PIGEONS ROUTED BY Swatitows.—A pair of
pigeons have for the last two years made their nest
in a box attached to the wall of an outbuilding, the
door of which is regularly closed at night. Two
swallows attached their nest to a beam of this build-
ing, and so persecuted the unfortunate pigeons that
they were suddenly compelled to retreat and esta-
blish a home elsewhere. The circumstance did not
come under my notice until the swallows had
hatched their eggs, when the swallows’ nest was
removed and placed outside the building, under a
spouting which protected it from the wet, and the
pigeons reinstated. The old ones continued to feed
the young, and the swallows soon were on the wing.
The pigeons, however, did not long enjoy their quiet,
for, having laid more eggs, they were again attacked
by the swallows, who made great efforts to build a
second time on the beam, but were prevented by my
servant. It was very curious to witness the attacks
made on these unwieldy pigeons. The persecutions
were not confined to the building, but wherever
these unfortunates were met, down the swallows
were upon them, skimming the air, and with the
rapidity of lightning, pouncing upon them, and
removing a lot of feathers with their beaks. Whilst
the larger birds were turning round to make their
attacks, the smaller ones were far out of reach.—
Charles Wotton, M.D.

Tue Natrersack at Coompe.—l lately caught
a few Natterjacks on Coombe Warren, on the hill
by the back road between Wimbledon Common and
Kingston. A shepherd boy in the neighbourhood
had some time before told me there were “spotted
toads that run very fast” sometimes to be seen
about. Mr. Bell in his work says they are found
at Selborne, and I have heard of their being about
Shalford, west of Guildford, so that they have
several habitats along the Portsmouth road, but are
nowhere so abundant as on Wisley Heath. They
are noted in the “ Penny Cyclopedia” as occurring
at Hillingdon, Middlesex, but I lately showed a pair
to two or three villagers there, and they did not
know them. They are found about Berkhampstead,
Herts.—W. R. Tate, Camberwell.

FLowrr-Lovine SprrpErs.—A white species is
very common on the flowers of the “ ox-eye,” and
sometimes frequents the wild roses; another I saw
on an orchis, but it hid between the blossoms. They
often had hold of a large fly, or even of a bee, which
they had surprised at the flower; and one day
noticing on a flower of one of the yellow vetches an
example of Vanessa urtice with its wings spread
out, which did not seem to move on my approach,
I looked more closely, and found that it was held by
the head by a large bright yellow spider, of almost
exactly the colour of the flower.—C. G. Barrett, in
Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine.

Sept. 1, 1865.]

Ingenuity oF THE THrusH.—On the Ist instant
was pointed out to me a thrush’s nest built in the
fork of a mountain ash, so near to a bed-room
window as to be under the close inspection cf an
invalid lady, who, with her husband and her nurse,
were much interested in watching the daily progress
of the family. The young birds were hatched on
the 20th of June. For several weeks no rain had
fallen till the 29th, when a heavy downpour set in,
which lasted, with very slight intermission, through-
out that and the following day. The parent birds
were much distressed to give shelter to their young,
and despite all their care they failed in their efforts,
until, struck with a happy thought, they succeeded
in placing a stick across the nest, then availing
themselves of this extemporized perch, and simul-
taneously spreading out their wings, they formed a
complete and effectual canopy. On the following
day the perch had disappeared; with the return of
sunshine both parents, relieved from all anxiety on
account of the weather, were busily plying their
brood with grubs and caterpillars, so that I had no
opportunity for seeing the happy contrivance ; but
the three more fortunate observers bore testimony,
in terms of high admiration, to the skill and patience
exhibited by the thrushes, who never deserted the
perch so long as the rain continued, although their
own feathers were dripping with water. Through-
out the second day of trial the cock bird brought
food to his mate, who distributed it amongst her
nurselings, taking, of course, her own well-earned
- share. I asked my friends how the birds contrived
to carry up the perch more than fifteen feet from
the ground, but neither had been so fortunate as to
witness what must have been a clever piece of
engineering.—#, VY. 8.

Snakes At Dinner.—During the present summer
I have kept two snakes (Watriz torquata) in a glass
case for the purpose of observing their habits ; one
of the most interesting is the method by which they
take their food. Bell, in his “History of British
Reptiles” (and after him most writers), states that
it seizes frogs generally by one of the hind legs, or
should the frog be taken by the middle of the body,
it invariably turns it until the head is directed
towards the throat, when it is swallowed head fore-
most. Wishing to test the validity of this state-
ment, I supplied my snakes with a number of small
fregs, and to my surprise I found that they were
generally swallowed as taken—. e., if seized by the
hind legs they went down backwards; if by the
head, head foremost; and if taken sideways (as
several were), they were swallowed in that position.
Bell, in the work before cited, states that when a
frog is seized all its struggles generally cease at
once; this I cannot credit, for I have repeatedly
noticed them struggle violently, and only cease to
do by being swallowed. I have frequently noticed

SCLIENCE-GOSSIP.

207

my snakes mistake small stones for frogs, actually
biting at them, while the frog they were in chase of
was scarcely an inch off, and which by lying quiet
generally escaped, but the instant it moved the
snake was after it again. From this I am forced to
believe the sight of my reptiles cannot be good: is
it so in their natural state >—F. P. D., Birmingham.

Brrps ann an Ecripse—In Mr. Bennett’s
“Wanderings in China”? (1833), we find an elabo-
rate description of an aviary, and the following
paragraph appears curious. Other persons may have
made more ample examination of the same pbeno-
menon. “It once happened during a total eclipse
of the sun, that as that luminary became over-
shadowed, the feathered colony, if not in conster-
nation at the event, was exceedingly perplexed at
the rapid and untimely termination of the day, and
all retired supperless to bed; they received, however,
a second surprise at the briefness of the night; for
before they could be well asleep, the cocks crowed
at the reappearance of the sun, and all again
resumed their daily amusements and occupations.”
—P. B. St. J.

Wuitt Hrenernoc.—On the 15th of last month
(July), when walking to London, seeing a number
of working men examining some curious-looking
animal which one of them had in his hand, I asked
to be allowed to see it also, and to my surprise found
it to be a white hedgehog, with red eyes, the same
as a white rabbit or white mouse; it was geutle,
and apparently very tame, and full grown, and in
good health. One of the workmen observed to
the others, that though im his life he had seen scores
of hedgehogs, yet he had never met with a white
one before; an observation that I could fully
endorse; but whether it is so unusual a fact as L
think, | am by no means sure. The colour was one
uniform pale nankeen colour, both hair and spires.—
Aug. Gaviller, Stamford Hill.

FISH TATTLE.

HAMMER-HEADED SHARK (Zygena malieus)—
About 1 p.m. July 31st, a large object was observed
floundering’among the rocks near the ladies’ bathing
cove by the boatmen on the quay-head. With great
difficulty and some risk it was secured by ropes, and
triumphantly towed into Ilfracombe harbour; it was
then placed on a cart and drawn through the streets.
For a small amount I obtained the carcass, and had
it placed in the small garden behind our house. On
measurement it was found to be 13ft. 7in. in length,
7{t. 2in, in girth behind the pectoral fins, 3ft. 3m.
between the orbits of the eyes, which were nearly
covered by crustacean parasites. On opening the
animal the remains of two thornbacks and a bass
were found, together with a number of intestinal
worms of enormous size. There is only one recorded
appearance of this remarkable fish on the British

208

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Srpr. 1, 1865.

coast, at Caistor, near Yarmouth, in the year 1825.
It is figured in Yarrell’s British Fishes, p. 228,
Part 49.—G. P. O. Richardson, Ilfracombe.

[N.B.—One was taken at Newlyn, in Cornwall, in
1834, and one at Tenby, in Wales, so that the pre-
sent is the fourth recorded capture of this fish in the
British Seas.—Ep. Sc. G.]

GuENGARIFF FoR IcutHyoLocy.—The Rev. J.
Kingston thus commends this spot to our readers :—
“Numerous as are the charms that Glengariff
possesses for all, it offers special attractions to the ich-
thyologist. Hs days can be spent most delightfully.
He has only to get on board one of the trawling boats
that abound on this coast. After a day’s sailing
about a harbour that will furnish the lover of grand
scenery with intense and pure delight, he will,
when the trawling net is drawn up, Indeed find that
it has been worth his while to journey hither. Fish
of every kind (mixed up with splendid specimens of
Alege) of which he has read, but which, perhaps, he
has never seen, are spread on the deck for his in-
spection. Sure I am that every one who visits this
highly-favoured spot willreturn to his home with
renewed vigour of mind and body, and an increased
love for the pleasant study of ichthyology.”

Tur Bassr.—The basse, called also the “sea
perch,” “‘sea-dace,”’ “ dace,” and “ salmon-dace,” is
a large salt-water fish, of very curious habits, and
having externally many of the peculiarities and at-
tributes of the salmon, perhaps more closely resem-
bles the river-barbel in its ways than it does any
other fish. Like the barbel it is fond of running
outlets, and as the barbel delights in old wooden
piles, or mill-boards (or anywhere, in fact, where
there is wood-work), so does the basse frequent sea-
piers and jetties, constructed rather of wood than
of stone or granite. In such places, when the water
is clear and the bottom rough and shingly, large
basse may be seen poking their noses in the ground
precisely after the fashion of the barbel; indeed a
pig itself could not well be a more consistent groper
than is the basse.—Once a Week.

ENTOMOLOGY.

Humine-Birp = Hawk-mMotu.—This insect is
everywhere common this season, even venturing
into the heart of London, and sporting in Temple
Gardens and the courtyard of the British Museum.

INCREASE OF BULK IN Larva.—According to
Rédi, the larva of a meat-fly (usca carnaria) be-
comes, in the short space of twenty-four hours, from a
hundred and forty to two hundred times heavier than
it was before. LLyonnet has shown, by direct obser-
vation, and by calculation, that the caterpillar of the
goat moth (Cossus ligniperda) is seventy-two thousand
times heavier in the chrysalis condition than when it
emerged from the egg.— Quatrefages’ Metamorphoses,

Larva anp Imaco.—lIf you open a caterpillar’s
skin two or three days before it is converted into a
chrysalis, you will perceive the wings, antennee, and
proboscis of the butterfly ; and if you cut off one
of this caterpillar’s scaly feet, the butterfly .will be
lame.—Swammerdam.

Deatn’s-HEAD Morn (Acherontia atropos).—
From numerous communications on the subject, we
infer that this insect is more than usually common
this year.

Deatnu’s-HEAD Motu (Acherontia atropos).—
Last week, in a garden in this neighbourhood, several
specimens of the larvee of the Death’s-head Moth,
altogether nine in number, were found feeding on
the leaves of some potatoes. Amongst these was
one individual of the rare and extraordinary variety
mentioned by Stainton in his Manual, the ground
colour of which, instead of being lemon-yellow,
with the anterior segments green, and the lateral
stripes violet, is of a brownish-olive, the fore
part whitish, and the lateral stripes darker, with
a peculiar form of the anal horn. This seems to
prove that such varieties are produced from the
same moth, and at the same time, as the common
forms; and are therefore merely acccidental or
depending on causes which the naturalist has yet to
seek. The present unusully warm summer seems to
have been productive in some localities of various
insects not formerly thereobserved. I have noticed
several specimens of the Painted Lady (Cynthia
cardui), a butterfly I have never before seen here ;
and some Foresters (Procris statices) have also been
noticed. As to the common whites, they are swarm-
ing. A friend who has paid a visit to the Isle of
Man compares them, in some of the fields there, to
a snow shower. The cultivation of any of the cab-
bage tribe for winter use, it scems, will be a vain
attempt.—W. Robert, Wigton.

Wasp (Vespa sylvestris) —This wasp has made its
appearance in unusually large numbers, in the
neighbourhood during the present season. I lately
found two extremely beautiful specimens of their
nest, in a small plantation of spruce fir. In both
cases they were suspended from the lower portion of
a spruce bough, not far from the extremity, and at
the height of about four feet fromthe ground. One
of these nests was as large as a man’s head, the
other twice the size of a cricket-ball. Thetwigs of
the branches from which these nests were suspended
had been curiously built in and interwoven with the
substance of the nest, the dense close boughs of the
young spruce completely shielding the fabric from
wind and rain. The entrance was on the south side,
and nearly underneath. /. sylvestris is not a com-
mon species in the neighbourhood, and it is very
seldom that I have had an opportunity of inspecting
their nest.—d. C., Great Colne, Ulcely, Lincolnshire.

Sept. 1, 1865. ]

BOTANY.

THE Sun-pDEW (Drosera rotundifolia) —Of course
the peculiar leaves of this plant are familiar to most
of the readers of Scrence Gossrp. Professor
Babington says in his handbook, “leaves covered,
as in all other species, with hairs, terminating in
large glands, secreting a viscid fluid, which retains
insects that settle upon them.’ In Bentham’s
“Flora,” the leaves are said to be “ covered on their

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

209

A Tripte Mussroom.—A physician of my
acquaintance has a mushroom-bed in his cellar. A
few weeks ago he cut one which was about five
inches in breadth, leaving the lower portion of the
stem projecting from the bed. This afternoon he
was surprised to find a peculiar double mushroom

upper surface with long red, viscid hairs, each bear- (gga

ing a small gland at the top.”
good in the greater number of species, which have
the hairs tapering, red, and with a gland. Ina
tolerably common varicty, however, the hairs are
scarcely tapering, much longer, colourless always,
frequently without the terminal gland, and in such
forms the plant is always much smaller. Moreover
the leaves are always uniform on the same plant,
and the absence of colour is not due to etiolation,
since the plants all grow together equally exposed
to the light. The plant (both forms) may be found
plentifully on Hampstead Heath. In some plants
(AZyosotis, for instance) the hairs are recognized as
of specific value, and if so in Myosotis, why not in
Drosera ?—A. P. Hi.

Ervucastrum Poruicuit.—This plant appears
again this season abundantly; it likewise has made
its appearance among a large crop of common Char-
lock in part of an old pasture broken up this spring,
which has certainly been undisturbed for fifty years,
and probably for a much longer period.—Joshua
Clarke in Journal of Botany.

More Uszs ror Netties.— When aswarm of bees
has been shaken into a hive, a number of them often
cluster again round the branch on which they were
knit, and it is sometimes not very easy to dislodge
them. It is a common practice in Cheshire to hang
over them a bunch of nettles dipped in liquid
manure, which either does or is supposed to drive
them away. In all probability it is the foul smell
that the bees dislike, but as nettles are always the
plants used, not only in Cheshire but elsewhere, as
appears from the letters of “ The Zimes’ Bee-master,”

-it would seem as though there were an idea that
bees had a natural antipathy to nettles, perhaps
from the fact of the plants being, like themselves,
furnished with stings. Nettles are also used with
a decoction of oak-bark as a cure for diarrhea in
calves. The oak-bark is the important ingredient,
but the nettles are also beneficial, being slightly
stimulant. It is a good and effectual remedy, but
superseded, like most native remedies, by more
powerful foreign drugs, in this case by catechu and
other ingredients, of which a much smaller dose is
required, a great advantage in physicking refractory
animals.—LRobert Holland,

These remarks hold |

on the spot. It is formed of two mushrooms
attached by their upper surfaces; the smaller one
being placed in the inverted position on the upper
one, and the cuticle of the two being continuous.
The stem of the upper one was continuous with
that of the large one which was cut off. The
annexed sketch will give some idea of the nature of
this curious monstrosity. The part above the dotted
line represents the one cut off a few weeks ago;
the part below is the double mushroom at present
in my possession.—C. 4,

Bog Aspnoprr.—Dr. Buchenau, of Bremen, has
called attention to the poisonous properties of
Narthecium ossifragum, Cows which have eaten of
this plant have died after a severe attack of dysen-
tery, their milk turning as bitter as gall; and cats
known to have partaken of this milk have died also.
—Journal of Botany.

Intsn Ivy.—There is in gardens a very fast-
growing large-leaved plant, commonly called “ Irish
or Scotch Ivy.” This plant, as I understand the
species, is one of the many varieties of Hedera Helix.
There is, besides, a plant which gardeners call
*Sharp-leaved Irish Ivy,” and this I hold to be one
of the varieties of Hedera Canariensis. It occurs
wild in Ireland, and is evidently the plant alluded to
by Mackay in his “ Flora Hibernica.”—Dr. Berthold
Seemann.

New British Funer.—Dr. Capron has found
the Balsam brand (Puceinia nolitangeris) plentifully
on Impatiens fulva at Albury. Also a brand, not
hitherto recorded in Britain (Puccinia virgaurea)
on Golden rod (Solidago virgaurea), and a white
mildew on the spindle-tree, allied to that found on
the Berberry, and named Microspheria comata, Lev,
also new to the British list. All these are interesting

microscopic objects,
Ee

210

GEOLOGY.

ForRMATION OF THE ALPs.—The opinion scems
to be gaining ground that this mass of moun-
{ains is the result of a number of independent
upheavals of strata at isolated points; that there is
no such thing as the Alpine “ chain,’ but that the
Alps consist of several mountains, or “central
masses,” as they are termed, grouped together more
or less irregularly. These “central masses” are
formed of hard crystalline rocks, such as gneiss,
mica-schist, horneblende-schist, &c.; and the inter-
mediate valleys consist of newer and softer material,
chiefly clay-slate of different ages. This theory
assumes, of course, that the Alpine valleys are
essentially valleys of elevation, and not of denuda-
tion. But for further details we must refer our
readers to Professor Theobald’s work on the
“ Geology of the Grisons,” and to M. Desov’s “ Die
Gebirgsbau der Alpen.” —Geological Magazine.

Lianpeito Fosstts From Carapoc Srrata.—
At the July meeting of the Severn Valley Fish
Club, held at Ludlow, Mr. Randall, F.G.S., exhibited
a number of Llandeilo fossils from strata near Cound
Brook (a tributary of the Severn), hitherto consi-
dered as of Caradoc formation. Mr. Randall reada
paper, descriptive of the strata and fossils, and
stated, in conclusion, that the fossils, particularly the
Agnostus and Trinucleus Lloydii, must either be
regarded as having been found for the first time in
Caradoc beds or, as heretofore, of true Llandeilo
type, and indicative of the Llandeilo character of
the Cound shales.

Fosstu Puants or Coat Srams.—Mr. FE. W.
Binney has recently communicated a paper to the
Royal Society, in which he has endeavoured to show
that the Sigillaria vascularis with rhomboidal scars
gradually passes as it grows older into a ribbed and
furrowed Sigillaria ; and that this singular plant not
only possesses two woody cylinders, arranged in
radiating series, an internal and an external one,
divided by a zone of cellular tissue, both increasing
on their outsides at the same time, but likewise has
a central axis, composed of hexagonal vessels,
arranged without order, having all their sides marked
with transverse strie. Evidence is also adduced to
show that Stgillaria dichotomizes in its branches
something like Lepidodendron, and that, like the
latter plant, it has a Lepidostrobus for its fructifica-
tion. The outer cylinder in large Sigillarie is com-
posed of thick walled quadrangular tubes or utricles
arranged in radiating series, and exhibiting every
appearance of the tree having been as hard-wooded
as the Pinites ; but as yet no disks or strie have been
observed on the walls of the tubes.

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Srpr. 1, 1865.

Our Srockx or Coat.—The extraction of sale-
able coal from British mines approaches a hundred
million of tons per annum, and the waste of coal
involved in getting this quantity is probably more
than one-fourth part more. Coal weighs rather less
than a ton to the cubic yard, and we are therefore
removing and using, or destroying, from the portion
of our own small island to which coals are limited,
125,000,000 of cubic yards every year of one of the
most valuable substances in existence. Assuming a
coal-seam to have an average thickness of two yards,
it would take twenty square miles of such a seam
to supply one year’s consumption. It behoves us,
then, to look around, and consider the resources we
possess, whether we can afford to expend this
portion of the capital stock of our national wealth,
and what chance there may be of this stock be-
coming exhausted.— Asted’s Practical Geology.

Bituminous Orn.—The oil-bearing shales have
recently been discovered in Australia, and promise
to open up another important source of wealth.
Extensive seams of this mineral have been found
at Hartley and Wallongong, both in New South
Wales. The seam at Hartley was accidentally dis-
covered in consequence of a piece outcropping
through the alluvial soil. The mineral is similar to
the Boghead coal, -but is superior from yielding a
larger quantity of oil, and being free from sulphur.
From the experiments which have been made, it is
estimated that a ton would yield 140 gallons of
erude oil. In colour it is a dark brown, breaks with
a conchoidal fracture, and is so tough that when
struck by ahammer the tool rebounds. Preparations
are being made for working it.—/V. J. Sterland.

_ Fossin Oax.—Oak occurs in the peat over the
boulder-clay at Hoxne, in Suffolk, and in the peat-
bed at the mouth of the river Cauche, which falls
into the sea near the embouchure of the Somme,
associated with the yew and fir, with the addition at
the last-named place of the hazel. It is also found
in considerable quantities in the peat-bed which ex-
tends over a considerable area in the county of
Gloucester, to which the writer has had the satisfac-
tion of first calling public attention —J. Jones, in
Geological Repertory.

Tue study of natural history is within the reac
of every one; and he who is engaged in it, is pre
sented at every step in his progress with something
capable of awakening pleasing emotions.

Every pound of cochineal contains 70,000 insects
boiled to death, and from 600,000 to 700,000 Ibs. are
annually imported to Murope for scarlet and crimson
dyes.

Tue female cod-fish is supposed to carry in her
ovary more than 500,000,000 of eggs.

Sept. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

211

WINDOW GARDENS AND AQUARIA.

BarnacLes AND Coraus.—Mr. P. H. Gosse, at
page 282 of his new book, ‘‘ A Year at the Shore,”
says that about one specimen in every six of the
Cup-coral (Caryophyllua Quicthii) carries a Coral-
barnacle (Pyrgoma Anglicum) affixed to it as a
parasite. J, however, have not met with it so numer-
ously, and, indeed, not one of the Caryophyllee (35
in number) living in the Hambure aquarium, has
Pyrgoma. I have often looked for them but in vain;
and yet the corals came from Torquay and from
Ilfracombe. The tank, holding 30 gallons of sea-
water, which contains these 85 corals, also contains
about an equal number, or say 40, of the other com-
monly met with coral—the Royal Star-coral (I do
not like these English names, and I much prefer the
Latin Balanophyllea regia), and the whole of them
are cemented firmly by their stony bases to the
rockwork, of dark colour, with which the tank is
lined. Some are fixed to perpendicular or to over-
hanging surfaces, as found in nature, and others are
fastened as they are zo¢ found in nature, with their
faces looking upwards horizontally or obliquely, but,
in every instance, the aspect of this coral tank, as
seen through its glass front, is very charming; and
towards evening, when the animals become much
expanded, they form a brilliantly-coloured crowd of
animals, so thickly studded as to touch each other,
(like an assemblage of flowers in a garden,) where
they are thickest together. They reach their greatest
degree of expansion and beauty late at night, when
I sometimes illuminate °the tank by means of a
powerful gas Argand burner and conical shade, placed
over the water. They are regularly fed with oyster
and mussel, given to each separately in little morsels,
and on this diet they thrive wonderfully, A stream
of sea water runs through the tank day and night,
and the condition of the whole is so excellent, that
numerous other animals are constantly making their
spontaneous appearance in the same case,—such for
example, as Serpule, Sabella, Ascidians, both simple
and compound ; sponges, and various other interesting
things.—VW.. Alford Lloyd, Hamburg.

Errects of LIGHTNING ON Fis IN AN AQUARIUM.
—On Friday, July 7th, 1865, at 3 p.m., a flash of
lightning did much damage to a house in Marien-
strasse, St. Pauli, m the suburbs of Hamburg.
About 200 feet away from the house in question, a
friend of mine, Mr. C. C. H. Muller, had in his
garden, in a shady spot, and in the open air, a large
fresh-water Aquarium, containing forty-three fish
consisting of trench, carp, dace, roach, gold-fish, eels,
loach of two species, and others, and at the moment
of the flash of lightning, every one of these fish
became suspended perpendicularly downwards in the
water, with their tails at the surface, feebly and

vainly trying to swim towards the bottom of the

| tank, with all their fins strangely attenuated and as

transparent as fine tissue-paper, and densely covered
on both sides with myriads of fine air-bubbles. ‘Their
heads and bodies were not so covered. In less than
half an hour forty-one were dead, strongly curved,
almost in the form of semi-circles, and already fast
decomposing, but two gradually recovered by being
placed in running water. It is well known that
when fish become sick and die under ordinary cir-
cumstances, they turn belly upwards horizontally,
instead of hanging nose downwards, as in this case.
The manner in which the eels were almost jerked out
of their hiding-places in the sand at the bottom of
the tank, was very remarkable. None of the animals
in the aquarium in the Zoological Gardens, about a
mile off, were affected in any way.—V. Alford Lloyd,
Hamburg.

PResH-waTER Aguarta.—Having had some little
experience in the management of fresh-water aqua-
ria, | would advise “F. C.” to cover the bottom of
his aquaria with well-washed small stones, which
may be picked up on any gravel walk. For a long
time I had nothing at the bottom of mine, but
simply built up my rock-work of stones cemented
together, and clinker. A layer of small stones, how-
ever, about an inch deep, greatly improves the ap-
pearance; but I never used gravel or sand of any
kind. The weeds If used to plant in small chemical
crucibles, which are easily concealed in the cavities
of the rock-work. I found the same difliculty as
your correspondent in procuring the smallred worms,
so I used now and then to put in a little finely-
shredded lean raw beef; but I firmly believe that it
it is better zo¢ to feed the fish at all when once you
have got the proper balance between the animal and
vegetable inmates. In my aquarium, 1 kept most
successfully for nearly three years, a gold-fish, roach,
a tench, minnows, young dace, and newts. I ought
to mention that I used to have some sprigs of Cana-
dian water-weed floating on the top, both to keep
the water cool and shady and to afford a resting-
place for the newts. Never having used the pow-
dered charcoal, I cannot form an opinion of its
merits.—d. J. NV. WM.

Auration or AQuariaA.—lI have seen several con-
tributions lately, mentioning the difficulties which
attend the production of a movement in the water
in aquaria, and am surprised that no one advocates
a small fountain. I have used one in my aquarium,
for the past three years, with perfect success, and
have never had to change the water, except when I
clean it out each spring; but I do not think even
that is absolutely necessary. The water always
keeps clear and sparkling, and the fountain has a
very pretty appearance. My jet usually passes about
half a gallon to one gallon per hour, and the waste

water is used again if clear.—W. #. S. Willes.
P2

212 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Sepr. 1, 1865,

FREsSH-wATER AQuARIA.—In reply to F. C. the
bottom of the aquarium should have first from twenty
to fifty small pieces of charcoal strewed over it;
upon that about an inch in depth of well-washed
sand, in which the plants should be planted,—over
the sand near an inch of the smallest stones or
pebbles; minnows and sticklebacks are the best
fish to stock with, being the hardiest, living the
longest in confinement, and they agree well together.
I have minnows now that I have had at least two
years. They should be fed with animal food; any
kind of cooked meat not fat; two or three pieces to
each fish (about double the size of a pin’s head)
each time of feeding. J feed mine about every five
or six days. Some minnows I have are so tame
they will take food from the fingers. I have kept
stickle-backs more than twelve months; the very
small ones do better and live longer than the large
ones; some I have caught about half an inch long,
have lived until quite an inch and a half. A few
snails should be kept in the aquarium with the fish ;
they assist to keep the water clear and eat the de-
cayed plants. They breed, and the young ones, and
also their spawn, or eggs, find food for the fish.
When they die they are eat by the fish ; there is
no fear of their contaminating the water. No doubt
fish will live a long time without any food but what
they find in the water, but they thrive much better
with occasional feeding. In my aquarium the
water has not been changed since May, 1863; every
month or two I put in about a pint to replenish what
it has lost from evaporation ; and it is now beauti-
fully clear—Zhomas Armstrong, Manchester.

MICROSCOPY.

BuLw’s-EYE ConpENSER.—Will you allow me to
suggest a cheap and very effective condenser for the
microscope for viewing opaque objecis. I have tried,
I think, every kind made, and find this better than
most, and I think as good as some very expensive
ones. I use a glass globe about three and a half or
four inches in diameter, filled with clear spring
water, inverted upon an ordinary wine-glass. With
a series of them filled with various coloured waters,
IT have had some very beautiful effects. Mine cost
me ls.—Thomas Armstrong, Manchester.

Potten or Eventnc Primrose.—I do not recol-
lect seeing the Evening Primrose named among the
flowers whose pollen grains form beautiful micro-
scopic objects, and would advise those of your
readers who take an interest in these matters, and
have not already a slide of it in their cabinets, to
mount one in balsam, and another as an opaque
object. The flower being so common there is no
difficulty in procuring it in most places. —/. G.,
Matlock,

On Stace Forcrrs.—Having been much incon-
venienced by the unsteadiness of the stage forceps of
the usual construction, I set my wits to work to
make a better; and after some trials hit upon the
following, which appears to me so simple that any
one may make it for himself. The annexed diagram
scarcely needs explanation: A represents a piece of
wood; B, a hole for the reception of C, the forceps-
holder, fastened by its screw; D, the forceps, pass-
ing through a hole in the piece of wood and the
spring tube of the holder; thus the forceps have a
smooth rotatory motion on their own axis, by which

any small object held therein can be viewed on
almost, all sides. To fasten the forceps to the stage
T make a slit, E, near the bottom of the wood, which
slips over the sliding-bar of the stage; by replacing
the wood by a metal plate, the forceps could then
be laid on the stage like a slide and the object
rotated, without going out of sight, as was often
the case with the old-fashioned forceps. I have
found the above to answer admirably. For ex-
amining such things as flies’ legs, heads, and pro-
bosces, with the binocular instrument, as opaque
objects, the effect is very good, and the investigation
can be made with much greater comfort and pre-
cision than with the old stage foreeps.—4. J.
Roberts.

Sept. 1, 1865.]

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

213

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Eet-Lrike ANIMALCULES.—In some animalcule
water which I prepared with hay, by exposing it to
the hot sun, I found a species of Tnfusoria, which I
have never seen noticed in any book. Most likely
it is common enough to many, but it is quite new to
me, who am only a novice. With -nch object-
glass they are just discernible, and have the appear-
ance of live hair, about half an inch in length. They
wriggle themselves slowly along, moving like an eel,
from right to left, and never seem to turn round, but
go gently across the field of the microscope, and
then return with either head or tail first. Could
any of your readers inform me what they are, and
what is their name, &c.2 From what I noticed in
the movements, I imagine that they feed pretty
freely on the Polygastrica.—J. S.

Doubtless they are /tbriones.—T. K,

GossAMER Sprpers.—In reply to H. W.’s ques-
tion relative to Gossamer spiders feeding in the air,
and House spiders having a taste for and love of
music. In the first case 1 do not think there is any
evidence to show that the spider can by any possi-
bility catch its prey, save by pouncing on it, as in
the Hunting spiders, or trapping it, as do all web-
spinners, mason-spiders, and others of like mecha-
nical craft. The web thrown out is solely for the
purposes of transport, a simple yet beautiful con-
trivance to enable the tiny creatures to disperse, and
thus obtain a better chance of thriving, in the great
struggle for existence. I very much question the
House spider’s having the “least taste in life” for
music. In the first place, it is doubtful whether the
spider can hear at all; and granting it did, the
auditory organs would hardly attain a degree of
organization (where we have only the heterogan-
gliate nervous system) compatible with power to
detect and appreciate modulations of sound. We
must seek the solution of the mystery—that is, in
the first place, if it can be proven that House spiders
ever do exhibit any fondness for music (I do not
believe they do)—in the vibration caused by the
instrument inducing the spider to come and see
what great insect 1s creating such a disturbance.
Hammer on a wall or shake a piece of furniture
near a spider’s trap, and nine times out of ten, he
will come to see what it means; but he simply feels
the vibration. Such a solitary savage never could
have music in his soul, and admirably verifies the
truth of the couplet :—

Ts fit for treason,
Stratagem and spoil.

In a future number of Science Gossip I purpose
adding my mite about North American spiders.—
J. K. Lord.

Aquarian Drrricutties.—H. T. 8. refers to
aquarian difficulties. The one great cause of non-
success in the management of aquaria is the over-
exposure of them to strong light. The second is
the non-removal of dead matter; and the third, the
too miscellaneous nature of the plants and animals
introduced. I do not find any difficulty with either
fresh-water or marie aquarla.—Z’, P. Barkas.

Guano.—Can any of your correspondents tell me
where I can obtain sufficient guano (say a quarter of
2 pound at least) to experiment upon for Diatomacea,
as it generally contains more fossils than the earths
or bergh-mehl?—/. HZ. W.

Sea-AneMONES Drvipine.—Instances of spon-
taneous division in Sea-Anemones are by no means
rare; indeed, Mr. Gosse seems to think that some
species (amongst others the Plmose Anemone) only
increase in this manner. With the author, I have
myself witnessed the operation. In Mr. Gosse’s
words (Brit. Sea-Anem., p. 169), “‘ The fission begins
at the margin of the fiele and gradually extends
across and downward, until the separation is com-
plete, when each moiety soon closes, and forms a
perfect animal.’ With the Plumose Anemone and
some others, the division is of a different character.
Parts of the disk are torn off and remain adhering
to the original resting place of the creature, whilst
the Anemone itself sails off to some more com-
fortable quarter. The detached fragments then
gradually form intosmall Anemones.—C. A. Goodhart.

Sea-Anemones Diviptne.—Your correspondent
E. T. 8. appears to think that Anemones do not
increase by division. JI have kept Anemones in tle
same tank, without any change of water, for jive
years, and have seen them increase by division, by
generation, and by ejection from the mouth. Ii he
cuts a healthy Mesembryanthemum perpendicularly
into two parts, by means of a sharp knife, he will
find that the two portions will become perfect Anc-
mones ina few days. The act appears cruel, but I
am inclined to think that Anemones do not feel pain,
and that all these motions are automatic.—7’. P.
Barkas.

E.'S. writes us that it is impossible for two Ane-
mones to have been contained in her tank, as sug-
gested by KH. T. Scott.

_W. Rk. Adams confirms the fact, of Sea-Anemones
dividing, from personal observation on several oc-
casions,

Freso-Water Aquaria.—lf F. C. will carefully
read “ Hibberd on Fresh-water Aquaria,’ and at-
tend to his instructions, all his dittauleies will vanish.
I have kept fresh-water aquaria for years, water
unchanged, without either trouble or difficulty.
There are not any aquaria without Infusoria, but if
the tank be not subjected to too much heat and light,
Infusoria will not appear in excess. Dried beef,
cut into very small particles, is the best and most
convenient food for fishes, and they ought to be
under-fed rather than over-fed. Charcoal is not
necessary to keep the water clear, and caddis worms
are best left in their native ponds. The best plants
are Vallisneria spiralis, Anachares alsinastrum and
Chara vulgaris.—T. P. Barkas.

Votvox GLopator.—Your correspondent T. A.
will find that the cause of the motions of Volvox
Globator is said to be the action of cilia. Ihave
gathered myriads, and examined thousands, but never
succeeded in observing cilia on any of them. That
may have been my fault in manipulation, but as the
ciliary theory has been rejected in the case of
Diatomaceea, may it not ultimately be ascertained
that the motions of Volvoe Globator are produced
otherwise than by cilia ?—Z'. P. Barkas.

Wuitt Earwie.—tThe other day, I found among
some gooseberries, a perfectly white earwig, the eyes
being black. Ihave preserved it in spirits; thinking
it veryrare. I thought I should like to know whether
it is so or not, and whether any of the readers of
Gossrp have met with anything of the kind.—2. /’. AY,

[They are occasionally met with.—Ep. Sc. G.]

214

SCIEZNCEH-GOSSIP.

[Szpr. 1, 1865.

ANOPLOTHERIUM.—Has Axoplotherium commune
(Eocene) a short and thick, or a long and thin tail,
as Beeton’s Dictionary and Hugh Miller also appear
to differ on tlis point.—James Arrow, Jun.

The Anoplotherium commune was eight feet long
long, including the tail, which was three fect
and ahalf. ‘The long and powerful tail must have
formed the chief peculiarity in the living animal’s
outward form, and been of the same service to if in
swimming as the tail of the Otter.”—Ovwen: Brit.
Foss. Mammals, p.438. Cuvier gives 22 as the num-
ber of caudal vertebree.— 2. 7’.

EXvupDATION or Cepar-woop.—About seven years
ago, | had a cabinet made of walnut-wood, to con-
tain my collection of birds’ ezgs. The inside of the
drawers was made of the cedar-wood such as is used.
for pencils. The drawers were divided into parti-
tions, and the eggs laid on cotton wool. In the
course of a month or two I found several of the
eggs sticking together, and covered with some kind
of exudation, as if they had just been varnished. I
could not wash it off with water, and I did not try
spirit for fear of taking some of the colouring off
the eggs. The Kestrel’s, Peregrine’s, Coot’s, and
Lapwing’s were first infected, some were less so, and
the greater number not at all. They have remained
the same ever since. Can youcr any of your readers
tell me the reason of this, and remedy (if Ny for
it? A lady told me that she had a work-box lined
with the cedar-wood, and the cotton reels, &e., got
stuck together in just the same way.—C. V7. WV.

{By painful experience we have learnt that the
wood of West Indian Cedar (as it is called) exudes
a semi-fluid resin in large quantities. It can be
removed from objects by the free use of turpentine.
This wood is zo¢ the pencil cedar.—Ep. Sc. G.]

Tur Barrie or tur Bezs.—A friend of mine
hasa hive of bees. They arein a wooden hive with
two compartments and glass windows to each, so
that one can observe their movements. One com-
partment is pretty well filled with honey, the other
empty. In this empty one they have been fighting
from morning till night for the last ¢vo months. The
floor of this compartment (the field of battle) a
drawer about eight inches square, and one inch deep,
has been twice filled with dead bees. We first
thought that the drones only were being killed, but
we find that there are as many workers dead as
drones. It is not a natural death they die, or from
any disease, as far as we can see, but they chase one
another around the hive, and one or more lay hold
of their victim, and sting him to death —C. W. W.

Tue Pinevicuna.—Will you allow me to ask
your correspondent who writes on “ The Pineuicula,”
whether he is quite sure that the species found by him
m Wales was P. grandiflora ? My reason for asking
this is, that that species has not been previously re-
corded as a native of Great Britain, and its discovery
as such would be of great importance. The com-
moner species, P. vulgaris, which somewhat re-
sembles P. graadiflora, is not mentioned by your
correspondent; and this also leads me to think it
ynst possible that some confusion of names may
nave occurred. P. vulgaris is recorded from England,
Scotland, and Ireland, and, though by no means a
common plant, appears from the Cybele Britannica
to be found in all of the eighteen provinces into
which Great Britain is divided, and in seventy
counties; while P. grandiflora is stated to be con-
fined to Ireland.—B.

Hart’s-ToncuE Frryx.—lI cannot agree with W.
R. Tate in considering “ Seaweed fern”? an appro-
priate name for Scolopendrium vulgare, commonly
known as “ Hart’s-tongue fern.” In the first place,
I naturally inquire, “ What species of seaweed ?”
for out of the three hundred and eighty or more
species of British seaweeds, there is only oxe to
which if can properly be compared, and this is
essentally anorthern species, consequently not likely
to be seen by the Surrey folk. The seaweed I refer
to is Alaria esculenta, one of the Laminarie, and the
only species of that genus having, like the fern in
question, a distinct midrib; and certainly—before
the ale, or leaflets which spring from the base of the
stem, are produced—its resemblance to the Hart’s-
tongue fern is very striking; hence, indeed, the
common name, in some localities, of this seaweed,
that of Hart’s-tongue Laminaria. In its mature
state it is called by the Scotch, ‘ Badderlocks,” in
allusion-to the basal leaflets in which the spores of
the plant are produced. I suppose it is too much to
expect people to say “ Laminaria fern,” but it cer-
tainly appears to me that “ Seaweed fern” is not
sufficiently definite. Only yesterday I found a
frond of Alaria, in a rock pool near Tynemouth, and
its resemblance to the Hart’s-tongue fern was very
striking indeed.—/V. H. Grattann.

Worms’ Dizt.—Soon after a heavy shower of
rain, | have often seen a number of withered leaves
half buried in the soil, generally the stalks pro-
truded, but sometimes the point of the leaf. By
carefully digging around these, IE came to what I
concluded to be the cause of their being thus buried,
viz., large earth-worms either enveloped in the leaves,
or very near them. I have since watched them at
work, dragging down into their holes—by the help
of the stif prickles and slime with which their
bodies are covered—not only withered leaves, but
also small twigs, grass, &c. I supposed it was
for food, but it is stated by Mr. Lankester, in the
last number of Sctznce Gosstp, that they live entirely
upon earth; what thenis done with the leaves, &c. ?
Do they form dwelling-places of them; or is it in-
stinet that teaches the worms to draw under the
leaves, so that by their decomposition the soil may be
enriched, aud thus tadipectg furnish them with
food ? —W. Bowen Davies.

Names oF SEA Brrps.—Can you tell me the
scientific designation of the following sea-birds,
which are, I believe, principally inhabitants of the
Southern ocean. I do not remember having seen
them elsewhere :—Parson-birds, stinkpots, whale-
birds, ice-birds. J cannot give correct descriptions,
as J have never seen these birds sufficiently close for
anything of the kind. The above are the names by
which sailors distinguish them. The “stinkpot”’
resembles very much in appearance the “ Cape-hen”
Procellaria equinoctialis. The “ ice-birds” are
beautiful little creatures, about the size of the storm-
petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica, with a silvery-grey
plumage. The “whale-birds” are rather larger, with
white bodies, and, apparently, black wings.—W. G.,
Bangalore, India,

Eprsir Funer.—Dr. Blount, of Bagshot, informs
us that having founda specimen of /stulina hepatica
near Ascott, which weighed two pounds, it was
cooked and partaken of by every member of the
family. He considers the descriptions given by both
Dr. Badham and M. C. Cooke scarcely equal, both
in vividness of its outward appearance and the
tender delicacy of its flesh, to fhe subject of this
experiment.

Sept. 1, 1865. |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

215

ANATOMATIZING Lraves.—Is chloride of lime the
best thing for bleaching leaves; and what is the best
way of doing seed-vessels of plants, such as colum-
bine, larkspur, &c., or fronds of ferns, which I hear
will not anatomize, but look pretty bleached? Should
the leaves be left all the time in the same water,
and when some of the green still aélheres to the

fibres, can anything else be done to remove it ?—
HE GSS:

Cat-BriAR.—Can you or any of your readers give
me the scientific name of the “* Cat-briar,”’ of North’
America? I cannot describe the plant, as it is so
long since I have seen it, but it grows (I believe)
principally in swampy soil. Lhave found it plentiful
m the dense brakes and copses inhabited by the
American woodcock. This query is remarkably
vague, I admit, but the plant is well known in many
parts of the United States, by the appellation I have
quoted.—H. G., Bangalore.

Lazurnum.—I shall be much obliged by your
giving me some information as to the followmg par-
ticulars of the Laburxum :—1. Whence did Pliny get
the name? 2. If from a Celtic root, what ? 8. When
was it introduced into England? ‘lo save trouble,
I may mention that I know about the 16th century
is given generally as the date of its introduction ;
and also that it came to us from Hungary, though
an Alpine plant, but I seck more certain, precise, and
detailed particulars.—P. J.

Fossit ErppHant.—I should be glad to know if
Elephas primigenius has 15 or 17 ribs on one side, as

Page and Hugh Miller appear to differ.—J. Arrow,

The mammoth found in Siberia, of this species.
in 1799, has 17 ribs on the right side.—A. 7’.

Dors THE SripeR Hat irs Wes? —Fired with
emulation, I carefully watched a common garden
spider (Apetra diadema), which I found as enter-
taining as wonderful. 1 commenced by destroying
the web of a fine fat spider, and the owner appeared
excessively astonished as her web collapsed around
her. At length she tock refuge in an inverted
flower-pot, where I found her two hours after. I
am inclined to think that during this period she was
preparing materials for a new web. I found in every
case where a web is destroyed, that the spider goes
away to some quict spot, and, drawing his legs close
round him, remains quict for two or three hours.
During this period of repose, the spider is stupid
and dull,—just gives an impatient shuffle when
touched, but does not run off as spiders generally
do when disturbed. I watched again, then left, and
when [ returned in half an hour I found the spider
as active as a spider could be, in building a new web,
the old one, which at my last visit was still hanging,
had now vanished. Had the spider eaten it ? —
“that’s the rub.” By a lucky chance another spider
came along the piece of wood, from the end of which
my spider had fastened one of her foundation lines.
“They met,” and in an instant the claws of each
were shot out with a dexterity that a pugilist might
envy; the blows were given in exactly the same
manner as a cat strikes at her antagonist. The
trespassing spider was soon convinced that it would
be the height of folly to stay where he was, so,
fastening a line from where he stood, he let himself
down on to a convolvulus leaf. My friend rushed to
the spot where spider No. 2 had fastened his line,
and seizing on it, the other end of which, be it re-
membered, was in communication with spider No.
2’s body, began to wind him off; that is tosay’she |

drew the line in towards herself, in the same manner
that a sailor hauls in a rope, but with a rapidity that
was truly wonderful, the front legs were moved so
quickly that my eyes could scarcely follow them.
Spider No. 2 having a decided objection to his
vitals being wound away in this sort of manner,
put an end to my friend’s little pastime, by cutting
the line. Spider No. 1 had now collected web that
amounted to about the size of a large pea; when she
found the supply cut off, she began stowing it away
in her own body, forcing it in with her two front
claws, and in a few moments not a vestige was left.
—HLH, Vokes.

Wasp Fients.—A short time ago, while sketching
some of the splendid inland cliffs of Matheran, one
of the hill stations near Bombay, my attention was
attracted by a rustling in the dead leaves close by,
and, on observing the place, I found a fierce battle
going on between a wasp of the large red and black
kind, and a half-grown grass-hopper, whose wings
were mere rudiments, and whose whole body was soft,
green, pale, and succulent looking. The wasp seemed
repeatedly to sting it, seizing it by the under side
and endeavouring to wound it between the soft
plates about the thorax. This went on for several
minutes, the grass-hopper at times escaping beneath
the leaves, but whenever caught sight of by the
wasp the latter charged furiously again, and both for
a time disappeared together. Seeing at length that
the struggle was about to terminate, by the escape of
the grass-hopper, and not quite liking the proximity
of his enemy, I endeavoured to secure them both, but
they were so much injured in the effort as to be of
little value as specimens. Query: As the grass-
hopper did not seem any the worse, was the wasp
unable to sting it through its armour; and was his
power of penetration, though so large an insect
(over an inch in length), less than that of the little
ticks which infest the large scaly lizard, called by
the natives here Gorepur, and by the sahib log
Iguana ? —A. B. W., Poona,

SAFFRON, AN OnrentaL Conpiment.—There is
in India a very wide-spread error in the use of the
word Saffron, and on referring the other day to a
popular Biblical dictionary, I am afraid the error is
not peculiar to India. Every one ought to know
that Saffron is a collection of the dried stigmas of a
certain kind of crocus, Crocus sativus, cultivated
formerly, if not now, near Saffron Walden. ‘That,
however, which in India has usurped the name of
Saffron, chiefly, 1 suppose, from its dyeing a similar
colour, is Turmeric, a plant of a wholly different
character, belonging to ihe natural order Zngibera-
cee, or the ginger tribe. ‘furmeric is used in almost
every curry ; and gives to that universal Indian dish
its colour and some of its aromatic flavour. I do
not know if your useful little publication may find
its way to India, for the correction of this common
mistake, but at all events I hope future editors of
Biblical dictionaries will cease to say of Saffron
that, ‘ Native dishes in India are oftened coloured
and flavoured with it,” for during a residence in
India of nearly a quarter of a century, I never knew
ae sho be the case, although it is true of Turmeric.

[N.B.—Our correspondent may have resided in
one part of india, and Saffron been employed as a
condiment in another. Weare confidently informed
by medical men of long residence in India, that
“Saffron” 7s employed in culinary operations in
some districts, but not so commonly as Turmeric.
Who shall decide when doctors disagree ? —Ep. ]

216

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Sept. 1,.1865,

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Act communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of each
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations. All notes, queries, or articles for insertion, must
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
may be withheld from publication if so desired.

Qurnrizs.—Having been inundated with questions, we are
compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer
those of which the querist might satisfy himself by an appeal
to any elementary book on thesubject. Weare always pre-
pared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish
the replies, provided some of our readers, beside the querist,
are likely to take an interest in them.

WE cannot undertake to return “rejected addresses.”

Ecninus Srinres.—A correspondent offers these in ex-
change for other objects.—T. H. Martin, 78, Week Street,
Maidstone.

QuEKETT MicroscoricAL CLus.—We are requested to
announce that the ordinary meetings of this club will be held
en the fourth Friday of every month, at No. 32, Sackville
Street, Piccadilly, W. For further particulars apply to the
Secretary.

J. D. M.—The insects on bark of weeping ash are a species
of Coceus (order Homoptera). This genus is complicated and
the nomenclature uncertain, so that aname cannot be assigned
for your insect with certainty. It may be Coccus Fravini, but
we have not been able to compare the specimens with the
description.—F. W.

E. C.—The insects which accompanied your woody gall are
Callimome nobilis (tribe Chalcidites). They are parasites of
Cynips aplera, the fly which forms woody galls on the roots
of oak-trees.—F. TW.

Bunt.—Any one desiring specimens of corn affected with
Bunt (Tilletia caries), should send a stamped envelope to
R. Holland, Mobberley, Knutsford.

F. Winzeinson.—tThere is no such book at a moderate
price. Curtis’s ‘‘Entomology,’’ Stephens’s ‘‘ Entomology,’’
and Westwood’s ‘‘ Butterflies and Moths and their Trans-
formations,’’ are expensive. If you have Woad’s “ Index,’’
add thereto Stainton’s “ Manual.’

A. B. F.—We cannot tell positively from your description.
Try to induce the caterpillar to feed and undergo its trans-
formations, then if you forward the moth we will name it.

Deatu’s-HEAD Morn,—A living specimen of larva or pupa
is solicited, in exchange, address E. G. W., 3, Bertie Terrace,
Leamington.

F. C.—Would he inform E. 8. if his Vermicelli is first boiled
for feeding his fish ?

Woop Rosert.—Your caterpillar from Turnips belongs to
a Noctua probably Agrotis segetum. For further particulars
see Curtis’s *‘ Farm Insects.’? We can recommend no radical
cure.

F. F. inquires for a work on ‘‘ Fossil Botany,’’ with figures,
at a reasonable price. We are sorry that we know of no
such work. Lindley and Tiutton’s is expensive and scarce.
We thank him for the suggestion but doubt whether it is
practicable to give a number, similar to the ‘‘ Hepatice ’”’
number, on this subject, and supply a ‘ Fossil Botany” for
fourpence,

W. Tuorp.—The article originally appeared in the Leiszre
Hour, and then in ‘Holiday Papers,’? whence we reprinted
it, as ai example of what we consider to be good popular
writing,

A. D. D.—The mosses were Torfula muralis and, we believe,
Anucaluptau lanceolata, Vne capsules of the latter were but
few, anu with these we were unfortunate.—J. K. W.

J.B. Huber ridicules the idea of H. G. K. having a score
of wasp-stings extracted from his body (page 170), because
“‘ the stings of wasps are not barbed like those of bees, and
consequently do not remain in the wound.’? We strongly
recommend our correspondent to catch a wasp and look at
its sting again.

" W. C.—Your leaf contains the stalked eggs of the Lace-
wing Fly (Chrysopa).

W. B. D.—The flowers are those of Sclenostemma Argel,
H., almost constantly found among Alexandrian senna.—

H. S.—Your sketch of geological specimen does not exh bit
sufficient details to determine the species, or even genus. The
object is clearly a*coral, and probably of the genus Isustreu.—

T. O. B.—Your leaves, supposed to be injured by insects,
are attacked by a parasitic fungus (Rhytisma accrinum),
always common, but more than usually so this year.

F. W. C.—The insect is the larva of a Coccinella; most
likely C. 7-punctuta. An introduction to the study of British
Beetles is annonnced to be published shortly, uniform with
Lankester’s ‘‘ Ferns,’? by Mr. R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly.
—R. G. K.

E. M.—Continue to use plenty of camphor; or try a little
benzine on a piece of sponge.

G. S.—The grass was in too bada condition to determine
satisfactorily. The other plant is a form of Pimpinella
saxifraga.

H. L.—Yours is a proliferous variety; a form not un-
common.

E. G.—You may purchase British lichens of Mr. W. Mudd,
Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, For exchange of mosses, &c.,
you had better send your list of desiderata to the Society of
Amateur Botanists, 192, Piccadilly, London.

T. B.—The price of “ Half-hours with the Microscope” is
five shillings.

W. S.—We object to recommend any maker of micro-
scopes. All instruments have their own peculiar advantages.
Those you name have a good reputation at the price.

A Hint For Contrisutors.—lIf our contributors will oblige
us by always using the common names of plants, animals,
insects, &c., wherever there is a common name in use, to
be followed by the scientific name in brackets, this will save
us alarge amount of trouble in sending their manuscript
to press. As we do not pretend to address scientific readers
alone, vernacular names are indispensable,

CoMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.—W. S.—J. E. W.—F. F.—
H. H. K.—A. P. H.—3B.F. M.— J. 8. T.—W. A. L.—C. W.—
R. G.—L. B.—H. S.—P. J.—T. P. B.—W. T.—A. J. R.—
J.D. M.—W. Roserr.—J. W. W.—J. B. Humeer.—J. C.—
Cc. A.—L. S.— F. P. P.—J. K.—E. C.—J. P.—J. F.--C. A. G.—
H. L.—W. J. S.—D. R. R.—R. K.—W. 8.—G. R. J.—W. R.A.
—J. UW. B—A. J. Nori.—H. G. §8.—T. A.—H. (cannot be
printed until name and address are sent).—W. E. W.—T. P. B.
—H.G. E.—W. H. G.—H. M.—T. H. M.—A, G.—A. H.—
H. G.—J. H.-F. T.—G. S.—E, G.—L. G. M.—A. G.—
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—W.B.D.—F. M.—W. B. D.—A. B. F.—- A. B. W. (Poona).—
F, W.—R. A.—G. C. D.—J. Q.—E. H.—E. G. (Matlock).—
H. P. A.—A. C.—W. E. S. W.—E. W.—ELLEN DouGLas.—
E. M.—H.—C. J. F.—T. O. B.—A. H.-W. P.—T. H.—T. B.—
W.A. L.—W.S.—J. G.—E. W.

BraMBLE-BRAND forwarded to:—F. W. C.—J. H. W.—
G. G.—C. A.—W. J. B.—T. B.—E. W.—D. M.—W. R. M.—
E. R.—J. M. P. M.—F. W. C.—H. J. W.—H. W.—R. H. M.—
T. A.—J. H.—J. J.S.—E. G. W.—T. H. M.—H. R.—H. P. A.
—W. H. G.—C. R.—H. N.—W. A. S.—J. R.—R. A. S.—
W.W.N.—V. A. P.—R. C.—C. W. W.—J. J.— M. A. N.—
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—W.O.B.

BOOKS RECEIVED.
*¢ Notice sur les Collections Scientifiques et sur le Mu°ée

Commercial-Industriel; Maison de Meile, Lez-Gand, Belgique.
(Gand: C. A. Braeckman.)

** Catalogue of the Indian Department, Dublin International
Exhibition.’’ By J. Forbes Watson, A.M., M.D, (Deblin:
J. Falconer.)

“COMMON

Nap
Wises im Sa

I BS

THINGS”

Even without going from our own neighbourhood, or withdrawing from spots
with which we have been long intimate, how much may be learnt in addition to what

we yet know.

It is not always the animals that we are most familiar with by name

and frequency of occurrence whose history we understand the best.

¢

OME years since, when “national education”

was in danger of running mad, Lord Ashburton
made an effort to bring the system back to the
bounds of reason and common sense by offering
prizes for the successful teaching of “common
things.” It has been said that the effort was a
failure, as compared with what was hoped of it;
but it is not always easy to set down in figures, and
draw up a correct balance-sheet, of such ventures
until the disturbance caused by a sudden check sub-
sides again into a calm. There is no doubt that the
“skid” on the wheel did cause a check, did raise a
dust, and did prevent the “old stage” dashing
recklessly downhill to a final “smash.” It is only
in contemplating what the direction and aim of the
dominant system is, and forecasting its horoscope,
or determining in our own minds what that system
might, in its working, be carried to, that we can
imagine the benefits of a seasonable check. We
can forgive the error of rushing to the opposite
extreme, because we have faith that in the future it
will be the medi that prevails.

This is applicable, in its spirit, if not in letter, to
other than national education, and bears its moral,
which he who runs may read.

There is cause for regret that in the study of the
natural history sciences, the true aim is so often and
studiously chseured by pedantry and ostentation,
induced, perhaps, by a false notion of the end which
is sought to be attained. The pursuit of science
should cause the abnegation of self; instead of
which, it is, alas! too often immolated at the shrine
of selfishness.

These remarks do not apply to the true lovers of
science. Let those who deserve the questionable
honour appropriate it to themselves.

To collect any number of wild flowers, weeds,
grasses, or twigs of trees, dry them between sheets
of blotting-paper, then get a friend to aid in attach-
ing to each a label with a Latin name and a date, is
no better than “haymaking.”

To catch any number of butterflies and moths,
pin them out at certain angles on pieces of cork,
and when dry to transfer them to glazed boxes

Rey. L. JENYNS.

with a little ticket, on which some imposing word
stands, in all the glory of small capitals, and which,
perhaps, some obliging expert has helped in placing,
only deserves the name of “ flycatching.”

Haymaking and flycatching may be very healthy
occupations for the body, but they do not therefore
rise to the dignity of science, or merit regard as
intellectual pursuits.

We by no means deprecate the practice of form-
ing a herbarium or a collection of insects, but we
have a word or two to say about this same hay-
making and flycatching, believing it to be a
“delusion anda snare.” Initself, collecting is not
science, but an aid to its prosecution. A cabinet
and a herbarium are only tools wherewith work of a
certain kind may be done, and a man is no more a
botanist or entomologist on account of their posses-
sion than another may be a skilled carpenter because
he has a good chest of chisels and planes. Hach
may be the means whereby a certain end is to be
attained; the mistake consists in regarding the
means as the end. It is too much the habit with
amateurs to flatter themselves into the belief,
because they have made good collections (by some
means named correctly), that therefore they are
scientific men. What a shock it would be to their
feelings to tell them the sober truth, that they
are only haymakers or flycatchers. How have the
individual specimens been named, in the majority of
cases, in the collections of such mere collectors?
If they can lay their hands upon their hearts and
affirm that they have named them all themselves,
how has it been done? Surely it is no difficult task
in these modern days to obtain access to accurate
herbaria and cabinets, and by comparison, or rather,
by matching form against form; or by the aid of
figures in the numerous illustrated works, it may be
quite possible that an entire collection has been
named, without reference to a generic or specilic
description, or a just appreciation of any but the
most prominent and characteristic differences dis-
cernible at a superficial glance, and without the least
attempt at analytical examination. How much
botany, for instance, is there in determining that

218

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865.

such and such a plant must be a Water Crowfoot
because it was found growing im water, and parvi-
florum because the flowers were small? Yet many
a plant has been added to a neat little private
herbarium, and many an insect transferred to a place
in the drawer, upon evidence as circumstantial; the
owner meanwhile flattering himself that he was
really getting “a nice collection,” and debating
whether he cught not to be more widely acknow-
ledged as a man of science. One collects plants,
another butterflies, ancther postage-stamps, or
another autographs, or old china, and we once knew
an eccentric old bachelor who had a “fancy” for
collecting old pipes. If making the collection is ad/
the aim, then each of these worthies is as worthy as
the other, and all are no better for their “ hobby,”
except that the mind and body have been kept in
exercise, and more objectionable employment of
spare hours prevented.

The fancy for collecting rare plants, or rare
insects, is with some enthusiasts such an infatuation
that they will undergo in its behalf all kinds of
privation and toil, now rushing in one direction, and
now ia another, as if they thought that their credit
here, and their salvation hereafter, depended upon
the number of rare plants or animals they had
aided in exterminating. It is not the rare but the
common species which give character to a flora or
fauna, and the time spent in hunting after, or
travelling for miles in pursuit of some rarity,
would be better employed in cultivating a closer
acquaintance with such “common things” as
“hbuttercups and daisies,” or ladybirds and “ cab-
bage-whites.”

How often have we plucked a daisy and placed it
in the hands of such an one, asking if they could
find a rarer gem, and seen it cast to the ground in
disgust, as a thing too common to be worthy of a
thought. May we not believe that because it is so
common they know less about it? Everybody
knows a daisy, and yet how few have ever compared
a daisy with its description, examined or dissected
it, or spent an hour in reading the lessons it has to
impart. Will no one offer in the schools of science
prizes for the study of “common things”? And
yet there is such a prize, in the esteem and respect
which all true naturalists entertain for him who toils
day after day and year after year to present at last

‘the life-history of a honey-bee, an earthworm, or
such another “common thing.”

Finally, young friend, and despiser of “ common
things,” beware lest thy naughty heart should
beguile thee to think that because ~thou canst
vocalize glibly such compounds as Glyphipteryx
Scheenicolella by the hour, that thou art the equal of
the patient worker, who, concentrating his powers,
has exhausted (if possible) a house-fly or a prim-
rose, and can find in these no more that is left for
him to learn,

HUMMING-BIRDS.

UMMING-BIRDS and the wild-tangled loveli-

ness of tropical vegetation, appear to-be so

closely linked together, that we are apt to think the
one essential to the existence of the other.

We naturally (at least I always did in my earlier
days) associate these tiniest gems of the feathered
creation, with glowing sunshine, gorgeous flowers,
grotesque orchids, palms, plantains, bananas, and
blacks. This is all true enough, and if we take
that large slice of the American continent betwixt
the Amazon, the Rio Grande, and the Gila (em-
bracing Guiana, New Granada, Central America,
Mexico, and the West-India islands), as the home
of humming-birds, we shall pretty truthfully define,
what is usually assumed to be, the geographical
range of this group—a group. entirely confined to
America. ;

Within the above limits, the greater variety of
species, the most singular in form and brilliant in
plumage, are met with.

Gazing on these gems of the air, one would sup-
pose that Nature had exhausted all her skill, in
lavishly distributing the richest profusion of colours,
and in exquisitely mingling every imaginable tint
and shade, to adorn these diminutive creatures, in a
livery more lustrously brilliant, than was ever fabri-
cated by the loom, or metal-worker’s handicraft.

But away from the tropics and its feathered
wonders, to the wild solitudes of the Rocky
Mountains,—it is there J want you (in imagination)
to wander with me, and to picture to yourseli—you
can easily do it, if you possess a naturalist’s love of
discovery—the delight I experienced when, for the
first time, I saw humming-birds up in the very
regions of the “ice-king.””’ A brief narrative will
best convey the information—the “ Science Gossip”
—I am desirous to impart. ~

Early in the month of May, when the sun melts
down the doors of snow and ice, and sets free im-
prisoned nature, I was sent ahead of the astrono-
mical party, employed in marking the boundary-line
dividing the British possessions from those of the
United States, to cut out a trail, and bridge any
streams too deep to ford. The first impediment
met with was at the Little Spokan river,—little only
as compared with the Great Spokan, into which it
flows. The larger stream leads from the western
slope of the Rocky Mountains, and flows on to join
the Columbia.

It was far too deep to be crossed by any expedient
short of bridging; soa bridge had to be built, an
operation involving quite a week’s delay. The
place chosen, and the men set to work, my leisure
time was devoted to collecting.

The snow still lingered in large patches about
the hollows and sheltered spots. Save a modest violet

Oct. 1, 1865.]

SCTENCE-GOSSIP.

219

or humble rock-blossom, no flower had ventured to
open its petals, except the brilliant pink Ribes, or
flowering currant, common in every English cottage
garden.

Approaching a large cluster of these gay-looking
bushes, my ears were greeted with the sharp ¢hram
—a sound I knew well—from the wings of a hum-
ming-bird, as it darted past me. The zame by which
these birds are commonly known has arisen from
the noise produced by the wings (much like to the
sound of a driving-belt used in machinery, although
of course not nearly so loud)—whilst the little
creature, poised over a flower, darts its slender beak
deep amidst the corolla, not to sip nectar, in my
hunble opinion, but to capture drowsy zzsect revel-
lers, that assemble in these attractive drinking-shops,
and grow tipsy on the sweets gratuitously provided
for them. Soon a second whizzed by me, and others
followed in rapid succession, and, when near enough
to see distinctly, the bushes seemed literally to
gleam with the flashing colours of szarms (I know
no better word) of humming-birds surrounding the
entire clump of des,

From fiower to flower, wheve wild bees flew and sung,
As countless, small, and musical as they,

Showers cf bright humming-birds came down, and plied
The same ambrosial task with slender bill,

Extracting honey hidden in those bells,

Whose richest blossoms grew pale beneath their blaze,
Cf twinkling winglets hov’ring o’er their petals,
Brilliant as rain-drops when the western sun

Sees his own miniature beams in each.

Seating myself on a log, I watched this busy
assemblage for some time. They were all male
birds, and two species were plainly discernible.
Chasing each other in sheer sport, with a rapidity
of flight and intricacy of evolution impossible for
the eye to follow, through the bushes, over the
water, everywhere, they darted about like meteors;
often meeting in mid-air, a furious battle would
ensue, their tiny crests and throat-plumes erect and
blazing, they were altogether pictures of the most
‘violent passions. Then one would perch himself
on a dead spray, and leisurely smooth his ruffled
feathers, to be suddenly rushed at and assaulted by
some quarrelsome comrade. Feeding, fighting, and
frolicking seemed to occupy their entire time.

I dare say hard epithets will be heaped upon me,—
cruel man, hard-hearted savage, miserable destroyer,
and such like,—when I confess to sitting and shoot-
ing numbers of these burnished beauties. Some of
them are at this moment before me as I write ; but
what miserable things are these stuffed remains, as
compared to the living bird! The brilliant crests
are rigid and immovable, the throat feathers, that
open and shut with a flash like coloured light,
lose in the stillness of death all those charms so
beautiful in life: the tail clumsily spread, or bent
similar to the abdomen of a wasp about to sting,

no more resembles the same organ in the live bird
than a fan of peacock’s feathers is like to the ex-
panded tail of that bird when strutting proudly in
the sun.

Tt is useless pleading excuses; two long days
were occupied in shooting and skinning. The two
species obtained on this occasion were the Red-
backed Humming-bird (Selasphorus rufus), often
described as the Nootka Humming-bird, because it
was first discovered in Nootka Sound, on the west
side of Vancouver Island. The other, one of the
smallest known species, called Calliope. This ex-
quisite little bird is mainly conspicuous for its frill
of minute pinnated feathers encircling the throat,
of most delicate magenta tint, which can be raised
or depressed at will. Prior to my finding it in this
remote region, it was described as being confined
entirely to Mexico. About a week had passed away ;
the bridge was completed, during which time the
female birds had arrived; and save a.stray one now
and then, not a single individual of that numerous
host that gathered round the Ribes was to be
seen. They cared nothing for the gun, and would
even dash at a dead companion as it lay on the
erass; so I did not drive them away; they scattered
of their own free will.

My next camping-place was on the west slope of
the; Rocky Mountains, near a lake, round which
erew some cotton-wood trees (Salix scouleriana),
together with alder (Alzus oregona), and the sweet
or black birch (Betula lenta). My attention was
called to the latter tree by observing numbers of
wasps, bees, and hornets swarming round its trunk.
The secret was soon disclosed; a sweet. gummy sap
was exuding plentifully from splits in the bark, on
which hosts of insects, large and small, were re-
galing themselves. As the sap ran down over the
bark, it became very sticky, and numbers of small
winged insects pitching on it, were trapped In a
natural “catch-em-alive-o.” Busily occupied in
picking off these captives were several very sombre-
looking humming-birds. They poised themselves
just as the others did over the flowers, and defily
nipped, as with delicate forceps, the helpless insects.
I soon bagged one, and found I had a third
species, the Black-throated Humming-bird (Z7vochilus
Alexandri). Were any proof needed to establish
the fact of humming-birds being insect-feeders, this
should be sufficient. I saw the bird, not only on
this occasion but dozens of times afterwards, pick
the insects from off the tree, often killed it in the
act, and found the stomach, on being opened,
filled with various species of winged insects.

The habits of these three species differ widely.
The Red-backed Humming-bird loves to flit over the
open prairies, stopping at every tempting flower, to
catch some idler lurking in its nectar-cells ; building
its nest generally in alow shrub, close to the rippling
stream, finds pleasant music in its ceaseless splash.

220

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865.

Minute Calliope, on the other hand, prefers rocky
hill-sides at great altitudes, where only the Pizus
contorta, rock plants, and an alpine flora, “struggle
for existence.” I have frequently killed this bird
above the line of perpetual snow. Its favourite
resting-place is on the extreme point of a dead pine-
tree, where, if undisturbed, it will sit for hours.
The site chosen for the nest is usually the branch
of a young pine; artfully concealed amidst the
fronds at the very end, it is rocked like a cradle by
every passing breeze.

The Black-throated Humming-bird lingers around
Jakes, pools, and swamps, where its favourite trap-
ping tree grows. I have occasionally, though very
rarely, seen it hovering over flowers; this, I appre-
hend, is only when the storehouse is empty, and
the sap too dry to capture the insects. They
eenerally build in the Birch or Alder, selecting the
fork of a branch high up.

All humming-birds, as far as I know, lay only
two eggs; the young are so tightly packed into
the nest, and fit it so exactly, that if once taken
out it is quite impossible to replace them. Several
springs succeeding my first discovery that these hum-
ming-birds were regular migrants to boreal regions,
I watched their arrival. We were quartered for the
winter close to the western slopes of the Rocky
Mountains, and the winters here vary in length, as
well as depth of snow and intensity of cold; 33°
below zero being no infrequent register ; but it did
not matter whether we had a late or an early spring,
the humming-birds never came until the Ribes
opened, and in no single instance did two whole
days elapse after the blossoms expanded but
Selasphorus and Calliope arrived to bid them welcome.
The males usually preceded the females by four or
five days.

The Black-throated Humming-bird arrives about
a week or ten days after the other two. Marvellous
is the instinct that guides, and the power that
sustains these birds (not larger than a good-sized
humble-bee) over such an immense tract of country ;
and even more wonderful still is their arrival, timed
go accurately, that the only flower adapted to its
wants thus early in the year, opens its hoards
ready to supply the wanderers’ necessities after so
tedious a migration. It seems to me vastly like de-
sign, and foreseeing wisdom, that a shrub, indigenous
and widely distributed, should be so fashioned as to
produce its blossoms long before its leaves; and
that this very plant alone blooms ere the snow has
melted off the land, and that too at the exact period
when humming-birds arrive. It cannot be chance,
but the work of the Almighty architect, who shaped
them both, whose handiwork we discover at every
step, and of whose sublime conceptions we every-
where observe the manifestations in the admirably-
balanced system of creation.

The specific characters of these three species,

whose northern range I believe was first defined
by myself, are briefly :—

SELASPHORUS RUFUS (the Nootka or Red-backed
Humming-bird).—Sp. ch.: dZale,—tail strong and
wedge-shaped ; upper parts, lower tail-coverts, and
back, cinnamon ; throat coppery red, with a well-

‘developed ruff of the same, bordered with a white

collar; tail-feathers cinnamon, striped with pur-
plish-brown. Hemale,—plain; cimmamon on the back,
replaced with green ; traces only of metallic feathers
on the throat. Length of male, 3°50; wing, 1°56;
tail, 1:31. Hab.—West coast of North America to
lat. 538° N., extending its range southward over
the Gulf of California, to the Rio Grande.

TrRocuILUS CALLIOPE.—Sp.ch. : Male,—back bright
green; wings brownish; neck witha ruff of pinnated
magenta-coloured feathers, the lower ones much
elongated; abdomen whitish; length about 2°75.
Female,—much plainer than the male, with only.a
trace of the magenta-coloured ruff.

Trocnitus ALExanpRI (Black-throated Hum-
ming bird).—Male,—tail slightly forked; the chin
and upper part of the throat velvety black, without
metallic reflexions, which are confined to the
posterior border of the black, and are violet, changing
to steel-blue. Length 3°30. Female,—without the
metallic markings; tail-feathers tipped with white.
Both have the same northern and southern range

as Sel, rufus.
J. kK. Lorn, F.Z.8.

Brive Freapange in Cumprertanp.—lI believe
I have made a little discovery; and take the
liberty of sending an account of it, requesting
the favour of insertion. The discovery I allude to
is a habitat for Lrigeron acre as a Cumberland plant.
I am aware that it has been described before as
belonging to thiscounty. Wilson, of Kendal (1744),
mentions it in his “Synopsis.” Jenkinson (1775)
also mentions it in his “ Description of British
Plants ;” but neither of these gives any locality.
Tn the ‘‘ Cybele ” it is said to grow in the “ Lake
district ;” but as this includes Cumberland, West-
moreland, and part of Lancashire, it leaves the
locality still indefinite. It is not mentioned by
Withering, nor in Miss Martineau’s useful little
“Guide to the Lakes.” I have consulted some of
our most observant botanists, and they do not know
it as a Cumberland plant. Ithink, therefore, I may
fairly claim it as a discovery. I found it growing
in considerable quantity on a gravelly bank of the
river Coldew, a few miles from Carlisle. It would
not be prudent to indicate the exact spot, as the
rapacity of collectors, I fear, would soon eradicate
my little protégé. Our rare plants are becoming
still more rare. J wish every botanist would
inscribe on his vasculum, ‘ Woodman, spare that
tree.’—Wood Robert,

Oct. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

221

CORAL REEFS.

Deep in the wave is a coral grove,

Where the purple mullet and gold-fish rove;
Where the sea-flower spreads its leaves of blue,
That never are wet with the falling dew,

But in bright and changefnl beauty shine,

Far down in the green and glassy brine.

FEE formation of Coral Reefs is partly a vital

and partly a chemical process. No more
wonderful instance of animal agency is to be found
than that which is exhibited in the work of the coral
zoophyte. In the warmer latitudes of every sea,
where the water is sufficiently clear and tranquil,
we find the homes of the polype, which, endowed
with the power of secreting lime from the waters
of the sea, rears with it its polypidom, and forms
those mountains commonly known as coral reefs and
islands. According to Cuvier’s arrangement of
animals, the builders of these reefs belong to the
fourth, or lowest division of animal life, which
consists of zoophytes, or radiated animals. These
zoophytes are subdivided into five classes, the fourth
of which contains the polypes, of which there are
three orders ; viz., fleshy polypes, gelatinous polypes,
and polypifera polypes, the last of which are the
coral-builders. These tiny architects of mighty
works begin life in the shape of a gemmule, which,
dropping from a pile of coral mto the sea, swims
about for some hours or sometimes days, until it
finally settles on another portion of old coral, or
other hard substance which is to be found at the
bottom of the sea. It then gradually lifts itself
into the shape of a tube, round the edge of which
there soon appears a delicate, thick-looking rim, the
beginning of the house in which it is to live. This
chalk, deposited by the live jelly out of its own sub-
stance, looks at first ike a milky fluid, but it soon
becomes hard, and then the sides begin to rise up,
something like a fine pencil-case. Next comes the
erowth of the mouth and the tentacule of the
polype, which enable it to catch the food upon
which it is to live, and with which it carries on its
work of buildmg, After the appearance of the
tentacula, the remaining jelly takes the form of a
tube polype, and for the rest of its life goes on ever
eatching food and building therewith new stories to
its house. As the outside case grows higher and
higher, the polype follows up after the rising walls
of its house, always keeping its mouth just below
the top of the wall, but high enough to enable it to
thrust out its tentacula. ‘The coralline polype does
not approve of solitude. Vast numbers, past
man’s power to count, build their cells side by side.
Nor are their chalk pipes dead walls, but rather, so
long as the polype lives in them, living bones; for
out of the body of the animal run little vessels into
the outer case, making their body and their wall one
living whole.

Further, all the polypes in one pile are joined
together by their vessels into one great living crea-
ture; so that what one polype eats passes on to assist
in nourishing the rest.

Very numerous are the family and genera of
these wonder-working zoophytes; the more abun-
dant, according to Darwin, being the A/adrepores,
Astreas, Porites, Meandrine, and Mallipores, at
moderate depths. Millepores, Seriatopores, and
other delicate forms, are found at depths varying
from 15 to 20 fathoms. Although we are used to
speak of coral reefs as rising from “unfathomable
depths,” in ordinary cases reef-building polypifers
do not flourish at greater depths than 20 or 30
fathoms; a certain amount of light and warmth
being necessary to their existence. It is true,
however, that detached coral and coral drift have
been found at the depth of 270 fathoms; but this
was not the work of the true reef-building zoophyte.
As has been said, not only animal but also chemical
agency is at work in the building of coral reefs,
which, though chiefly effected by the lime-secreting
zoophytes, are in some measure owing to the pro-
miscuous aggregation of marine dédris.

Coral, as produced by the polypes, is almost pure
carbonate of lime, which, although soft and porous
at first, becomes in time so hard and compact as to
be used by the South Sea Islanders for architectural
purposes. However, in the formation process the
pure secretion of the animals envelopes sponges,
sea-weeds, star-fishes, sea-urchins, drift-wood, drift-
coral, shells, and such-like; the whole mass being
consolidated into a compact rocky mass by the
growth of the new coral and through chemical
action—that action consisting in the transfusion and
percolation of carbonated water among the particles
of lime of which the pure coral is mainly composed.

All this agency combined with that produced by
the infiltration of carbonate of lime from decom-
posed coral, gives to the rock a brecciated appear-
ance, and renders it extremely analogous to some
older limestones of the secondary formations.

On the other hand, coral recfs are sometimes
found closely resembling in formation some of the
earthy varieties of chalk; these arise from the con-
solidation, in lagoons and sheltered water-channels,
of particles of decomposed coral and other matter.
A third species of coral-stone has a sparry erystal-
line aspect; but this is only found when the reefs
have been upheaved by subterranean agency ; as for
instance, on the hills of Tahiti, where a stratum of
fossil coral exists.

Thus, in the work of the polype we may find
almost every gradation of limestone; varying from
the soft chalky mass formed by animals even now
alive, to the hard, compact texture of saccharoid
marble, which has stood against wind and wave for
thousands and thousands of years.

The rapidity of the growth of these rocks is a

222

much-disputed point. By some, especially by the
earlier authorities, it was thought to be a very slow
process, and it was supposed that, on the average,
little more than a foot could be added to a reef
during a whole century. But this cannot always be
the case, for Darwin speaks of a ship-bottom which
was covered to the thickness of two feet in twenty
mouths. Loose masses also have been known to
become firmly cemented in six months by the growth
of new coral. A further instance of the rapidity of
growth was found in the Keeling Reef, a channel in
which became entirely stopped up, through which a
schooner had floated only ten years before.

From this fact Darwin draws the following con-
clusion :—“ First, that considerable thickness of
rock has certainly been formed within the present
geological era by the growth of coral, and by the
accumulation of its detritus; and, secondly, that
the increase of individual corals and reefs, both out-
wards or horizontally, and upwards or vertically,
under peculiar conditions favourable to such in-
crease, is not slow when referred either to the
standard of the average oscillations of level in the
earth’s crust, or to the more precise but less im-
portant one of a cycle of years.”

Coral reefs, partaking as they do of the depression
or elevation of the sea-bottom, and also being sub-
ject to the waves and breakers, form a barrier of
limestone more or less compact ; and as the polype
ceases on reaching the surface of the water, the top
of the reef frequently becomes weathered and con-
verted into soil capable of sustaining vegetation.
When the sea-bottom to which the zoophytes are
attached partakes of a gradual elevation, they build
outwards and seawards, and should it be undergoing
depression, they strike upwards.

‘These sea mountains abound in the Pacific, Indian,
and Southern Oceans. Masses of them abound in
the Pacific, on both sides of the equator, but not
beyond the 30th degree of latitude. They are also
very numerous in the southern part of the Indian
Ocean. For hundreds of miles, we find them
trending along the north-east coast of Australia, and
they occur more or less in the Persian, Arabian,
Red, and Mediterranean Seas.

Owing to the great amount of volcanic agency
which is constantly at work, upheaving and sub-
merging in the Pacific, there are found there many
peculiar phases of the coral reef; such, for instance,
as the atolls or lagoon islands, fringing or shore
reefs, coral ledges, and encircling reefs.

Atolls consist of coral reefs forming low circular
slands, enclosing lagoons. Shore reefs are those
which surround islands of igneous and other origin.
Coral ledges are masses of coral thrown up by
volcanic agency on to the top of other reefs already
upheaved. ‘The encircling reef is that which
stretches along shore in surf-beaten ridges, often
extending for many leagues, and varying in thick-

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865.

ness from 20 to 200 feet. The great reef which
lics off the coast of New Holland is described by
Captain Flinders as being more than 1,000 miles
long, and varying in thickness from 20 to 100 feet.

In this same reef there is one continuous portion
of more than 350 miles, without a single break or
passage through it.

So much for coral reefs and islands, commonly
so called. But modern discoveries go to show that
the work of the polype is not confined to those
mountains which are still covered by the sea. On
the contrary, it is, I believe, the general belicf
among the great geologists of our day, that the
Dolomite mountains, hitherto the cause of so much
doubtful controversy, were the work of the coral
zoophyte.

These unstratified rocks, deeply divided by ver-
tical fissures, and scattered about over porphyritic
platforms, with so little connection with the neigh-
bouring rocks, that they: look like “ icebergs
stranded,” have been shown by Dr. Richthofen,
My. Churchill, &c., to bear a most remarkable re-
semblance to coral reefs.

And here I cannot do better than quote some
passages from a review on Gilbert and Churchill’s
book on “The Dolomite Mountains :”—

“Mr. Churchill suggests that the formation of
Dolomite may be going on in coral reefs at the present
day ; for the specimens of coral rock brought home
by Dana from the raised island of Mantea, or
Aurora, were found to contain in one case 5 per
cent. and in another as much as 38 per cent. of
carbonate of magnesia. And if we suppose the
Dolomite mountains of Carinthia to have been
formed on a gradually subsiding basis, they may
have grown up like the. low islands of the Pacific,
till the sea attained the depth of a thousand fathoms,
preserving their original contour from first to last,
the group of corals, like a forest of tree trunks
without tops, rising upwards together, and becoming
partially solid by lateral growth, or by fillmg up
with sediment.

“We have no fossil coral in England wherewith
to compare the Dolomite mountains. Our magne-
sian limestone affords only bryozoa, for it has not
been suspected that the remarkably concentric and
radiated concretions are metamorphosed corals. In
one Silurian coral reef of the Wenlock Edge and
Dudley there may be masses of branching coral a
yard across, and convex Stromatopore (which are
not corals) of nearly equal size. But the coral beds
are separated by clay partings, and never attain a
great thickness. The Devonshire marbles have
much the appearance of coral reefs, so far as respeets
the scattering of small masses over a region of
argillaceous schists. In the carboniferous limestone
layer above layer of branching corals may be secn
in the lofty cliffs of Cheddar and the weather-beaten
shores of Lough Erne, There the corals are slightly

Oct. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 223

silicified, and stand out in relief, while the mass of
the rock is composed of sediment with foramini-
feral and encrinital débris. The coral-rag forms a
reef in some parts of Wiltshire, but it is rarely
seen in section; the corals are obtained as stones
from the ploughed fields.

“The conversion of a limestone coral reef into
Dolomite becomes comparatively easy of belief, since
Mr. Sarby has shown that coral (like nacre) has the
constitution of aragonite, a much less stable com-
pound than calcareous spar. Pearly shells are never
preserved in calcareous rock, unless in a metamorphic
condition ; and the corals of the oolite formation are
usually silicified, like those of Tisbury, in Wiltshire,
and Mattheim, in Germany, or replaced by struc-
tureless calcite, full of sparry cavities. It is now
also well known that the masses of accumulated
chalcedony, called Beckite, found in the neighbour-
hood of Torquay, are Devonian corals, more or less
completely replaced by silica; for they are some-
times hollow, and in other instances contain a
nucleus of fossil coral,” ASG,

OI D TREES.

ILL you allow me to add to the list of aged
“Monarchs of the Forest ” which appeared
in Science Gossrv for August? The Dragon tree
of Teneriffe is said by some writers to be the most
ancient of all known. trees. Humboldt, when he
saw it, computed its age at one thousand years, but
T have read that the cypress of Soma, in Lombardy,
is the oldest tree of which we possess any record ;
that there is a chronicle extant at Milan which
mentions its being, in the time of that unbeliever in
omens who fell on the ides of March (Julius Cesar),
a full-grown tree—forty-two years before our Saviour
came upon this earth.

There is in Japan a camphor tree which the su-
perstitious in Sorrogi declare to have grown up
from the staff of Kobodarsi (a rather famed philoso-
pher, who lived im the eighth century), capable
of containing fifteen persons in its hollow. But
what is this to the coniferous Wellingtonia gigantea
of the slopes of Sierra Nevada? ‘The bark of this
tree, put in the form of a room, will hold forty
persons—not closely packed together, but seated,
with a piano for the benefit of the musical as well.
This room made of bark was exhibited in London
some years ago, when 150 little children were ad-
mitted, andthe tree from which it was taken is said
to have been three thousand years old. Some
ninety trees of this kind are found, all within the
circuit of a mile, on the slopes of Sierra Nevada,
5,000 feet above the level of the sea, varying in
height from 250 to 300 feet, and in thickness, or
diameter, from 10 to 20 feet, the bark being from
12 to 15 inches in thickness,

A writer in the Gardeners’ Chronicle says (or
rather said afew years ago) that this tree only grows
ten inches in diameter in a period of twenty years.

Then we have old trees in our own land—the oak
the chestnut, and others. Dryden assigns nine
centuries to the oak.

The monarch oak, the patriarch of the trees,
Shoots rising up, and spreads by slow degrees ;

Three centuries he grows, and three he stays
Supreme in state, and in three more decays.

Both the Bull oak of Wedgenorth Park and the
Courthorpe oak of Colburn are said to be as ancient
as the Norman Conquest. We have likewise Gospel
oaks—the “ Four Evangelists and the Twelve Apos-
tles,” so called because portions of the Gospel were
formerly read under them on Holy Thursday. ~

The Bentley oak and the Winfarthing are
believed to have been 700 years old when William
came over to conquer us; therefore Dryden’s allotted
period of nine hundred years has been considerably
exceeded by them,

There is a famous chestnut tree in Gloucester-
shire, at Tortworth, which has been standing since
the reign of Stephen (1150), and others at Dorking,
in Surrey, planted in 1377.

Our yew trees, likewise, are venerable. The
Ankerwyke yew, on the banks of the Thames, op-
posite Runnymead, in Surrey, was an old tree when
Magna Charta was signed in 1251; it yet, I belicve,
flourishes; at any rate it was living and in ercen
leaf a few years ago. There is also at Cliefden
Woods a very ancient shell, I may call it, of a yew
tree, measuring nearly twenty-seven fect in diameter.

Olive trees are deemed old by modern writers; I
ought, probably, to say long-lived, for in the environs
of Nice there is one considerably over 900 years
old; and some authors assert that a few of the trees
on Mount Olivet are 2,000 years in age; nay, more,
they say that many of them stood there eleven
centuries before the Christian era. ‘There is no
doubt that olive trees still thrive on the rocky
mountains of Palestine, on the very spot called by
Hebrew writers “the Mount of Olives,’ yet I do
doubt their being the self-same trees that grew there
in our Lord’s time.

A gentleman assured me yesterday that a tree in
Tasmania, of the gum tree kind, is both the largest
and the oldest in the world. Perhaps some of your
readers will tell us something of its history.

Heten Watney.

Inrusorta.—The polishing slate of Bilin, in
Prussia, forms a series of strata fourteen feet thick,
and is entirely composed of the siliceous shields
of “Infusoria, of such extreme minuteness, that a
cubic inch of the stone contains forty-one thousand
millions of distinct organisms.—J/antell’s Thoughts
on Animalcules.

224.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865.

POLARIZED LIGHT.

Te application of polarized light to the micro-
scope is of great value to the student, inasmuch
as by its aid the structure of many objects in the
animal and vegetable kingdoms, such as scales of
fish, hair, muscular structures, starch, granules,
sections of wood, &c., are more plainly made out,
and better seen; while in the mineral kmgdom many
crystals may be distinguished from each other, though
having the same external form, by their action on
polarized light.

To go deeply into all the beautiful theories respect-
ing the nature and properties of light, would form
an elaborate treatise, too voluminous for the pages
of Science Gosstp ; but for our present purpose it
will suffice to state that light is now generally con-
sidered to consist of a series of undulations or
waves, taking place at right angles to each other
with inconceivable rapidity, in a fluid of extreme
tenuity which pervades all space, and has been de-
signated “‘ether;” so that a beam of light may in
section be represented by a circle, with a right-
angled cross in it, thus @.

To make what is meant by undulations more
ntelligible, let the reader imagine a field of corn agi-
tated by the wind—a succession of waves traverses it,
each individual ear of corn oscillates on its stalk like
the end of an inverted pendulum moving backwards
and forwards a short distance, so that it is the
motion which travels, and not the ears of corn
through which it is conveyed; so that as regards the
ultimate particles of the ethereal medium through
which the light is conveyed, we have motion without
progression of those particles.

Certain bodies, known as double refractors, possess
the property of separating these undulations, and
Iceland spar (crystallized carbonate of lime) is the
one usually chosen for microscopic purposcs, on
account of its freedom from colour. It is well known
{hat if an ordinary rhomb of Iceland spar be placed
over a black mark or spot ona piece of white paper,
two spots ay apparently visible. This phenomenon
is called double refraction ; but here the undulations
are not separated far enough for our purpose.
If we divide the rhomb into two equal portions in
a certain direction, then, having polished the cut
surfaces, and cemented them together with Canada
balsam, we shall find that, on looking through it at
the spot, only one image is visible, and we have
produced that very useful piece of apparatus called
the “Nicol prism.” A pair of these adapted to the
microscope, one fitted beneath the stage, and called
the polarizer, and the other either above the eye-
piece or between that and the object-elass, and
called the analyser, for a reason which will soon be
apparent, and so adjusted that one or both prisms
may revyolye on their respective axes, and we shall

have, with the addition of a plate of selenite mounted
as aslide, a most useful appendage to the microscope.

Selenite is crystallized sulphate of lime, and has
been called by the miners, quarry glass.

Now let us adapt our polarizing apparatus to the
microscope, and examine some of the properties of
the polarized light. First of all we observe that in
a particular direction of the axes of the prisms to
each other, 7. e., when they are parallel, light is freely
transmitted ; but if one of them is revolved so that
the axes of the two prisms are at right angles to
each other, the field will be dark. In passing through
the lower prism, the light has been altered in cha-
racter, and it is only in a certain position that it will
pass through the second; one of its undulations has
been, so to speak, bent aside out of its course, and
the other allowed to proceed straight on, until it
reaches the second prism, or analyser, which name
is now obvious; for it analyses or tests the light,
showing by its passage or non-passage, im every
position of the axis of the prism, whether the light
is polarized or not.

If we now interpose a plate of selenite between
the two prisms, we shall find the light is transmitted
through the whole combination in every position of
the axes, but is coloured according to the thickness
of the selenite, and the angle of the axes of the
prisms with regard to that of the selenite.

A. J. RoBerts.

NUTHATCHES AT THE Winpow.—l was staying
in Leicestershire in March, 1865, during the exces-
sively cold weather and deep snow. I fed a great
many birds at the windows, and was anxious that
some nuthatches should come, as I have never
seen these birds in Westmoreland. I therefore
followed a plan I had read of, and tied some walnuts
to a string fastened to the window. I cracked the
walnuts so as to let the kernels be seen. Ina short
time a pair of nuthatches came to the window, and,
having once discovered the good things there, their
visits were incessant; and they were not at all shy
of being watched. It was very amusing to see them
tugging away at the walnuts, and to watch their
evident impatience when they could not detach them
from the string ; knocking them fiercely against the
window-sill, twisting them backwards and forwards,
and hammering away at them with their strong
beaks, till they succeeded in carrying them off.
They seemed almost to prefer broken biscuit, I
suppose as being easier to get at. And they had
quite an unfair advantage over the other little birds,
for they held several bits at once in their long beaks,
packing them in one after another, and flew off with
them to the neighbouring deciduous cypress or
mulberry trees, to eat them at leisure. —L’, Arnold.

"ot

[Ocr, 1. 1865.

SCIENCH-GOSSILP. 225

TOADSTCOLS.

ERE, there, and everywhere are springing the
ubiquitous “Toadstools.” Even the columns

of the Zimes have honoured the “Stinkhorn” by
permitting its appearance (in the gardens of asto-
nished suburbans) to be recorded side by side with
events in which kings and emperors were the heroes.
Starting with this rather absurd name, in so far as
its meaning is generally understood, it behoveth us
to suggest a better derivation and signification.
This we think it possible to do by transferring its
origin to the German; how this may be affected by
Saxon, or Anglo-Saxon, we are not learned enough
in linguistic lore to determine. If instead of “Toad-
stool” we read “ Todstuhl,” and transfer from the
poor inoffensive reptile the odium, or honour, to the
great leveller of all, “Tod,” or “ Death,” we have
in the “stool of death” a much more appropriate
idea than the popular one delineated in our wood-
cut. Here we encounter another vulgar error—for
vulgar errors and prejudices are always numerous
enough with regard to things that are but little
understood,—and this regards all fungi as poisonous
or unfit for food, except a very favoured few (some-
what less than half a dozen), whilst in reality we
have fifty or sixty kinds found in Great Britain, such
as would bring tears of delight into the eyes of the
genuine epicure, if they were dressed and placed
before him. How often have we smiled at the
incredulous stare which greeted our announcement
that we intended to sup or breakfast on a gigantic
puff-ball; and many a time have we been consoled
by an Irish friend that we might find ourselves dead
in bed some fine morning if we persisted in making
what would emphatically be our “last meal,” on
such abominations as “ Fairy-ring Champignons ” or
*Chantarelles.”” Yet, after all, we are by no means
hazardous, not like a friend who would eat almost
any kind, till he narrowly escaped being poisoned.
Our “toadstool”-eating propensities are always
restricted to species which have been well tested,

and are eaten by some people in some country or
other, and even many of such we have left untasted.
There is, however, one little infatuation to which we
must confess,—it is in favour of the great puff-ball.
In Norfolk they are called “ Bulfers,’ and are
common there in harvest-time, as large as one’s
head, and would afford a hearty meal for a dozen
people. These we always condemn to the frying-
pan whenever fortunate enough to secure them, and
such friends as have partaken this relish with us—a
number by no means small—have unanimously
resolved in the future to follow so excellent an
example.

This season of the year is eminently prolific in all
the larger kinds of fungi; microscopic species can
be met with at any time, but “toadstools” are the
privilege of autumn. Now and then we hear of
their upheaving pavements and hearthstones, but
such freaks are not common. In every wood,
meadow, or pasture; along any green lane, about
rotten stumps, wherever there is suflicient moisture
and decaying vegetable substances, they are sure to
be met with. Sometimes of a brilliant red, or a
golden yellow, a lurid green, a dusky grey, or of an
ivory whiteness. Occasionally changing, when
broken, from a whitish flesh to blue, or brown, or
yellow, or with a faint tinge of red. Some leathery,
tough, and dry; and others, whenever bruised,
exuding a milky fluid, not only white like milk, but
yellow, and in one instance changing to green.
H the colouring is varied, so also is the form.
Even restricting our observation to those which
have a stem surmounted by a cap, as in the common
mushroom, we shall notice some in which the stem
is delicate and fragile, scarcely seeming to possess
sufficient strength to support its head, whilst others
are so obese in their bodies that the cap seems too
smali to cover them. Then the cap itself, now
conical, now flat, now spherical, and now funnel-
shaped, is as prolific in variety. If such a cap is
unceremoniously kicked off, another feature, hitherto
unseen, will greet the eye of the observer. Beneath
the “parasol” or pilews, as the more scientific
would term it, in many instances parallel plates or
gills will diverge fron the stem ; but these plates are
sometimes replaced by tubes glued together, so as
to resemble pores, and, in less common instances,
instead of tubes or pores, teeth or spines will clad
the whole under-surface. To the “toadstool ”’—we
suppose they are all “toadstools,” for we hear no
other name—these are very important processes, for
they bear the seed of future generations. Whether
gills, or pores, or teeth, upon or about them are
clustered minute bodies, called the spores, which,
when ripened, fall upon the soil beneath, or are
scattered, and, in future days, originate another
batch of toadstools. If we will take the trouble to
eather one or two of these caps when fully expanded,

and place them with the under-surface downwards,
Q

226

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865. -

on a sheet of tinted paper at night, in the morning
we shall find the spores deposited on the paper,
perhaps forming a white, a brownish, or a blackish
stain. Who shall count the myriads of germinating
bodies thus originating from a single parent? Here,
too, is work for the microscopist ; for if he will take
a fragment of one of the gills, or pores, or teeth, and
submit it to observation under his instrument, he
will see a new phase in the mysteries of vegetation,
for the spores will appear, supported naked on short
stems in groups or clusters of four; and if this is
the first time that he has made such a use of his
microscope, it will certainly not be the last.

We might refer also to the great variety of form
exhibited by fungi, other than those having a stem
andcap. ‘To the cup-like but elegant bright orange
Peziza, to the Cornucopia, to the waxy Clavarias,
the lobed Tremellas, the shell-like Polypori, the
eccentric Starry puff-balls, and the subterranean
Truffles. As a contrast to the disagreeable odour of
the “stinkhorn ” already alluded to, we might
enumerate those possessing a powerful but grateful
fragrance; but enough has been said to indicate
that there is something worthy of regard in the
much-despised but little-known orders to which the
*toadstools”’ belong. Ase Coors:

HERMIT ROOKS.

HAY any of your readers, in their wanderings

over some lonely hill-side, ever noticed a soli-
tary rook haunting the spot like an evil genius, and
flitting from mound to hillock a few hundred feet in
advance of the traveller? I am something of an
anchorite myself, at least I love a silent walk when
wearied sometimes with the din of the great city in
which my lot is cast, and I cannot help feeling some
sympathy. for these odd birds, which nature has
made gregarious, and which fate or misfortune has
driven into solitude.

I have not made the common mistake, as may be
suspected, of takmg a crow for a rook, an error
which nine-tenths of all townspeople are sure to
fall into. I know the distinction well enough, and
the difference in their habits, and am seldom sufii-
ciently deceived, even for a moment, by the wild
and vigilant “corone,” to mistake his vigorous mo-
tions for the languid action of this melancholy
“frugilegus.” I use the epithet melancholy not
only because he has that aspect, but to introduce
one out of three hypotheses to account for a way of
life so opposed to the usual gregarious habits of his
race. It is at least possible that irrational creatures
may be bred occasionally with that peculiar compo-
sition of the humours which constitutes a hypo-
chondriacal temperament. I remember an old horse
of my father’s that used at times to heave the
deepest sighs—a fact well known to the stableman,

and he had, besides, the ill-conditioned look and
occasional indisposition for work combined with
wonderful spurts of energy at odd times, which
certainly mark the rider—and if the rider why not the
horse P—afflicted with this disorder ; unless, indeed,
it may be thought that old Herbert’s proverb estab-
lishes a constant diversity of nature, “the horse
thinks one thing and he that saddles him another.”
But, reasoning from analogy, may we not assign as
one possible cause for the dozely habits of a sociable
bird the possession of a melancholic system? He
cannot hold up his head among the sprightly ones
of his race—their senseless cawing grates on his
nerves, and liable as he is, when in company, to
aggravation from passing visits of cackling jack-
daws and starlings, he retires into the wilderness to
indulge in silence and constitutional spleen. Virgil
indeed seems to think that impending changes in
the weather may thus affect rooks in general—

Tum cornix plena pluviam vocat improba voce,
Et sola in sicca secum spatiatur arena.

But whatever truth there may be in this, it hardly
applies to my supposed hypochondriac, for he, ac-
cording to my observation, is not given to much
speaking—he moves off mute and sad as you
approach him, and giving himself an oblique twirl
upwards to break his fall, settles down for, perhaps,
the twentieth time with the least possible concus-
sion to his bones.

A different, and, as some may think, a more pro-
bable conjecture is, that these hermits are mutilated
or disabled birds, incapable of the sustained flight
and active habits of their congeners. It is certain
that the breeding season makes no difference in their
mode of life, and unless we suppose them to be
hermaphrodite, or in some way unequal to the cares
of a family, we cannot account for their exemption
from the passionate instinct that wild creatures
have for increasing their kind. Many years ago,
when I was living in the valley of Homesdale, I
noticed one of these unfortunates haunting the
fields at the back of my father’s house. Spiritless
as he seemed, he kept a sharp look-out, and gave
me some trouble before I could satisfy my curiosity
by along shot. He was lying on his back when I
came up, and a moment’s glance at his black legs,
upreared in the air, revealed the cause of his soli-
tary habits. One of the metatarsal joints was quite
stiff, and enlarged to the size of a blackbird’s egg.
The three front claws were bent in a general direc-
tion backward along with the back claw, and on the
stump end or knob the bird hopped and strode
about. Doubtless a shot-corn had shattered the
joint many weeks before, and the poor creature had
borne up through the irritation of such a wound,
and had found shelter and forage for himself till
nature had wrought a mournful sort of cure. But
he was a hermit for life.

Ocr. 1, 1865.]

SCLENCH-GOSSIP.

227

The injury he had received possibly befell him in
another way, of which I met an example some years
later. One fine June day I was crossing, with a
young friend, over the chalk downs east of Box
Hill, in Surrey, and in the middle of a small patch
of enclosed land we noticed what appeared at a
distance as a piece of black cloth waving in the
wind. On coming closer, it turned out to be a rook
pinned to the ground by one leg, which was caught
and horribly mangled in a steel trap. A very pitiful
sight it was. A handsome young male, in the finest,
condition, his plumage still retaining a little of the
superficial down of his nursing days, his wings weil
developed, and his lustrous black eye looking up
with something of the touching expression attributed
to that of the dying gazelle. It was to little purpose
that we forced his shattered limb from the bitter
gripe of the iron. In a few minutes he would,
indeed, have regained the company of his kind,
whose cawing was audible far down the valley, but
only to be driven from their society to die a linger-
ing death, or, after weeks of suffering, to pine in
solitude for the rest of his days.

There occurs to me only one other way to account
for the strange life of these hermits, viz., that old
age has crippled their energies, and, exposing them
to the ill usage of their fellows—who with all their
sociability are far from tender-hearted—has forced
them to a lonely life. It is true that the perils to
which a rook is exposed, in this thickly-inhabited
country, are manifold, and there are many chances
to one against his reaching old age; but the case is
a possible one, and all the more so because there is
a very old standing impression that the tribe to
which he belongs is endowed with longevity. The
ancients had a notion that the natural term of his
life is nine hundred years, and in the Greek antho-
logy occurs an appellation (kopwvecan) applied to a
very aged person, which is curiously compounded of
the Greek noun for “crow” and the proper name
Hecuba, who, being the mother of a very numerous
offspring, must needs have been a tolerably old
woman. Hence the meaning is, “as old as a crow
and Heeuba.” I commend the subject to any of
your readers who, being more happily circumstanced
than Iam, have the liberty of ranging with a gun
over lonely moors. I doubt not they will soon meet
with one of these anchorites, and determine a
question which f can only guess at. Jake

FLY PARASITES.

fe common house-fly carries about with it two
insects of a parasitic nature (figs. 1 &2 enlarged).
No. 2 is the smallest and the most common; some-
times three of them and more will be found on one
fly; but I have not found more than two of the
largest (No. 1); indeed it was only this summer
that I knew that they were the prey of the latter,

and had seen the smallest some years ago; neither
have I found both kinds on the same fly. Some of
your readers may have seen them, and will perhaps
favour us with further information concerning them.

No. Lis extremely like Tenebrio molitor, the beetle
of the mealworm ; both are of a red-brown colour.
The question suggests itself, whether flies do not
carry about and deposit larvee und small beetles of

Wy

various kinds, an office for which they are admirably
adapted from their erratic character. Nobody can
tell what sort of places and company they do not
visit in their wanderings, and I cannot help thinking
various small insects attach themselves to them
and are quickly conveyed to places more congenial
to certain periods of their being. And this idea is
favoured when the object of the pincer-like appen-
dages of No.1 is sought. What can they be for, but
to furnish a means of attaching itself to some larger
insect with more extensive powers of locomotion,
and thus being transported to the next stage of its
life? Queer-looking insects are always turning up
in unexpected places, and I have no doubt many of
them are dropped by the flies! It is probuble that
by this means many of these “odds and ends” find
their way into the human stomach, and produce
various disorders in the skin.—G@. a
Q

228

ON THE COMPOUND EYES OF INSECTS.

N Mr. Lewis G. Mills’s very interesting paper
on the spiracles of the fly, in Scrence GossiP

for September, he remarks—‘ The head of the fly
contains the compound eyes with which it sees.”
This sentence revived a thought that J have often had
before, and for which I am indebted to Mr. Walker for

bringing into existence; namely—Is this wonderful |

compound structure an organ of sight? I presume
that all readers of SctencEe Gossre are familiar with

the polygonal facets, and the fine hairs springing —

from between, which form the so-called compound
eyes of insects; and I think all who have given the
subject any attention will allow that these organs
seem singularly unadapted for vision. An excellent
idea of the incompatibility of an organ so con-
structed for the purpose of sight may be obtained
by looking in a subdivided convex mirror, in which
it will be seen that objects reflected are broken into
confused distorted masses. Cuvier, speaking on
this subject, says that the structure is so very dif-
ferent from that of other animals, that it would be
difficult to believe it an organ of sight, had not
experiments demonstrated its use. The experi-

ments referred to were covering the compound eyes |

of a dragon-fly, which was then found to dash against
objects in its flight, with every appearance of blind-
ness. A wasp was treated in the same manner, and

it ascended perpendicularly in the air, until it com- |
pletely disappeared. Upon the simple eyes being |

covered also, it did not attempt to fly, but remained
immovable. “How futile these arguments are,”
says Walker, in his admirable work upon the
nervous system, “need scarcely be pointed out.
The same results would occur if these were organs
of touch, equally essential to the guidance of in-
sects.” Another fact pointed out by Walker tends
to overthrow the theory of these compound struc-
tures being organs of vision, which is, that the
black coat (pigmentum nigrum) is external to what
may be termed the retina. The Gossiper in science
will the better understand this by the following
simple experiment :—Let him open the window of
his room and hold the crown of his hat (Gf a black

one) parallel to the glass on the outside; he will |

then find that, looking at the crown of his hat
through the pane, his face will be reflected. This
isa simple illustration of the action of the human
eye. The hat represents the dark pigment, the
glass the retina, and the man the object looked at.
Now, in the so-called compound eyes of insects, the
dark pigment is before, instead of behind the retina,
and hence, as Walker observes, “ comparative ana-
tomists complain lamentably of the difficulty of
understanding how, under

vision can take place.” From these and other cir-

such circumstances, -

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865.

that the so-called compound eyes of insects are
_ organs of touch. He says—“ Is not, then, the white

matter, well supplied with nerves, in these eyes,
analogous to a portion of the true skin of the higher
animals; the black matter, to the mucous net-work,
which is dark in the negro, whose sensibility is
greatest; and the exterior substance to the cuticle,
in itself insensible even in man, and horny in insects,
because their general surface is more or less so,
but furnished with fine hairs, which in them are
separated and supported by the hexagonal facets,
and descend through the black substance to the
true skin and its nervous fibrils.’ The hairs arising
from between the facets may be compared to the
whiskers of the cat, the extreme sensibility of which
is well known. A very simple experiment, that I
have often tried, tends, I think, to prove that the
so-called compound eyes are organs of touch. Let
the reader stand by his window until a fly settles on
the outside of the glass, and then let him move his
hand about over the inside, being careful not to

| cause any vibration, and it will be found that the

fly will. not be disturbed. The reason of this is
obvious, if we allow the compound eyes to be organs
of touch, the simple eyes being placed on the top of
the head (as in the bee),—the interior of the room
is hidden from the creature’s sight, and the inter-
vening glass destroys the exquisite sense of touch,

_ that would otherwise give it warning of the approach

of our hand.

If this should be the means of causing those
better adapted than myself to give their attention
to this interesting question, my end will be attained.

H. Vokes.

VARIATIONS IN BRITISH PLANTS.

i an early number of Scirnce Gossip I made a

few remarks upon the varieties of British plants
which had come under my notice. As the present
year has enabled me to make several additions to
my list, I may perhaps be allowed a short space in
which to record my observations, premising that
they have all been made in the neighbourhood of
High Wycombe, Bucks.

The Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) varies
greatly in the number of its sepals; 1 have found
specimens with five, six, seven, and eight respec-
tively. Perhaps the most curious malformation
which I have noticed is one in the Corn Poppy
(Papaver Rheas), which occurred in a corn-field
near West Wycombe. ‘The specimen alluded to
had a persistent calyx, formed of four sepals, two
of which were opposite at the base of the petals,
and the other two at short distances down the
stalk; all were much larger than is usually the
case, and the upper two seemed part sepal and part

cumstances, Walker hardly admits of a doubt but | petal, as they were streaked with red, and in some

Ocr. 1, 1865.]

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

229

parts of a fine petal-like texture. The true petals
were perfectly formed, but were much smaller than
usual. I have found P. Rheas with white blossoms.
Five-petalled blossoms of the Great Celandine
(Chelidonium majus) have been of frequent occurrence
’ this year: and in one such blossom the two upper
petals were much larger than the three lower ; thus
giving it the appearance of a Violet. I gathered
several specimens of Mousetail (AZyosurus minimus)
near Little Marlow, having the receptacle forked at
the top.

A very pretty “sport” of the sweet violet (Viola |

odorata) was gathered in the spring near Little
Marlow; this had white blossoms, beautifully striped
with purple. The Wood Violet (/. sylvatica) occa-
sionally produces petal-less blossoms late in the
year; im one specimen found, these blossoms grew
in the axils of the leaves, and extended some way
down the stem. The Bladder Campion (S%/ene
inflata) occasionally has its calyces so much en.
larged as almost to conceal the blossoms; and the
White Campion (Zychuis vespertina) has been ob-
served in two or three places this year having bright
pink blossoms. The Dove’s-foot Cranesbill (Gera-
nium molle), with white flowers, is of frequent occur-
rence with us; and I have two or three times
noticed a form of the common St. John’s wort (Hy-
pericum perforatum) in which the calyces were
somewhat larger than usual, and of a brownish-red
colour.
Clover (Trifolium pratense) has been very common
hereabouts this year, appearing in almost every
clover-field. Helianthemum vulgare, with white
blossoms, occurs on Bledlow Ridge.

In Wycombe Park there is a Hawthorn (Crategus |
oxyacantha) which presents some of the peculiarities |

of the far-famed Glastonbury thorn. On the 9th
of January it exhibited several fully-developed
leaves, and many bunches of buds, in an apparently
healthy condition; but the subsequent frosts pre-
vented them from blossoming. A bush of pink-
flowered May occurs at Hazelmoor, in a hedge of
the common white-flowered form. I have found the
Agrinony (Agrimonia Eupatoria) with the spike
forked at the top; and I also saw the Hoeweed
(Heracleum sphondylium) with the umbel foliaceous ;
that is to say, composed partly of blossoms and
partly of leaflets.

I have this year noticed several of the Composite
varying with white blossoms, and among them
Cuicus lanceolatus (Spear Thistle), C. palustris
(Marsh Thistle), and the rayed variety of the com-
mon Knapweed (Centaurea nigra, B radiata). Cnicus
palustris with white flowers appears to be about as
generally common as the purple-flowered form.
The Stemless Thistle (C. acaulis) occurs at Whitting-
ton Park with a stem nearly a foot high. A curious
form of the Autumn Gentian (Gextiana Amarella) is
not unfrequent, having the central flower-head com-

The white-flowered variety of the Purple |

|

posed of numerous abortive buds; a double-flowered
variety, having the stamens, &c., transformed into

| petals, grows on Keep Hill. Yellow Wort (Chlora

perfoliata) and Yellow Pimpernel ( Lysimachia
nemorum) occasionally occur with six divisions to
the corolla instead of five.

The Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamedrys)
T have found with leaf-stalks nearly as long as those
of VY. montana, Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), with
white flowers, is not unfrequent; and near Downley
I found a patch in which the blossoms weve almost,
and in some places quite, concealed by the enlarged
calyces. The Hemp Nettles (Galeopsis Ladanum and
G. Tetrahit) occasionally vary with white flowers.

The Green-winged Orchis (Orchis Morio), which
grows in the meadows near Whittington Park,
occurs there with blossoms of widely-differing hues ;
the prettiest variety being that with pale pink
blossoms, upon which the green veins were beauti-
fully distinet. O. maculata frequently has the stem
spotted as well as the leaves; and of the Military
Orchis (O. militaris) I found a very pretty variety

, in Dane Gardenwood, the flowers of which were

without stripes or blotches, the lip and helmet
being tipped with reddish-purple. In meadows at
Dinton, where the Fritillary (Lritillaria meleagris)
grows in profusion, I gathered two or three speci-
mens with pink, and one with white flowers. Herb
Paris (Paris quadrifolia), with three, four, five, and
six leaves, is abundant in a wood near West
Wycombe. I observe that the young plants, which
do not blossom, usually have but three. On the
edge of a pond on Naphill Common I observed a
dwarf form of the Water Star-fruit (Actinocarpus
Damasonium) not exceeding an inch in height, and
having but one flower; its neighbours, growing in
the water, were of the usual size. Be

Cretaceous Fosstts.—During the course of a
visit to the Pavilion at Brighton, wherein is a
museum of geological specimens, I observed some
fossils of the cretaceous system, and amongst them
examples of Pertea and Plagiostoma, which are well
delineated in Page’s “Elementary Text-book of
Geology.’ There is also a good collection of shells,
by which comparison of the connective links between
ancient and modern species, should such exist, may
be made. The variation found in the genus Zurbi-
fella is very instructive and self-evident. I would
wish, however, to ask Mr. Page, or some of your
readers more conversant with geological facts than
I am, how it is that the chalk or cretaceous system
is said, in para. 40, group IIL, “to consist of remains
of plants and animals, chiefly marine, and belong-
ing to species now extinct,’ when both Pertee
and Plagiostome now exist, which are exacily
similar to those in a fossil state in the chalk ?—

| AG, By

230

SIMPLE OBJECTS—VII.
Dermesfes and Pencil-tail.

1, Pencil-tail (Polyrenus lagurus).
2. Dermestes.
Both magnified; figures below represent the natural size.
»URING the last few days of February and
’ first fortnight in March may be obtained,
under the bark of aged elm trees, two objects which
deserve a place in a microscopic cabinet, though, so
far as I have ascertained from dealers, they are not
commonly mounted.

The first is the larva of a beetle—some sort of
Dermestes. It is of a light brown colour, and
covered with fine hairs, similar to those firured in
the ‘ Micrographic Dictionary” as from Dermestes
Lardarius, but differmg from the pictures of that
object in Carpenter’s “ Microscope and its Revela-
tions,’ and Hoge’s work on the same subject. I
imagine this is because the specimens figured there
have been damaged in the preparation, perhaps in-
tentionally, with a view to show the structure.

Being certain that many possessors of microscopes
have never seen the creature in its living state, I
venture to recommend such persons as take a plea-
sure in preparing objects for themselves to make a
search for it.

A low power, say ten diameters, is needed, and
cpaque illumination. The Dermestes then looks
most formidable. It is covered with hairs of several
sorts, those of the halbut shape being the most
numerous, arranged close to the body, and pointing
from the sides to the centre of the back in the
anterior segments of the body, but grouped in small
bundles, each containing an infinite number of hairs
withJonger shafts than the others, and looking like
tmy sheaves of corn in the hinder segments. These
latter can be erected and spread out like fans, giving
the creature somewhat of the porcupine appearance.

There is also a bunch of long delicate hairs occu-

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865.

pying the place of a tail, and the little fellow pro-
tests against interference by switching this article
sideways in a ludicrous manner, if touched.

A preserved specimen can never give the full -
beauty of the living animal; but partial success
may be gained by the following plan of mounting :—

T procured a wooden slide, 3in. by lin., and 4;in.

| thick, having a hole cut in the centre about 2 in. in

diameter. Having fastened to this a piece of clean

' thin glass, I placed the insect in the cell thus

formed, and covered it up with another piece of thin

| glass. By this means I can view both sides of the
ereature without trouble, and also by illuminating
from above and below the stage simultaneously,
obtain certain advantages.

The other creature which is worthy of a search is
obtained in similar situations. I have generally
round it, however, in rotten bark that is covered
with lichens and moss, while the Dermestes prefers
amore sheltered situation in the crevices between
the dead bark and the living wood.*

Its popular name is “ Pencil-tail” (Polyrenus
lagurust), so called from two silvery tufts of delicate
hairs which spring out of the hindmost segment.
These myriapods are often very numerous, and a
piece of the bark, having a colony of them upon it,
isa wonderfully beautiful sight under the microscope.

They ave grey, and their backs are covered by
transverse bands of curiously-shaped objects inter-

a.b. Hairs of Dermestes.
e. d. Hairs of Pencil-tail.
All x 250.

mediate between scales and hairs, of a leaden hue,
The sides and head are ornamented with bunches of
a similar character.

To see these animals endeavouring to escape into
the dark crevices of the bark when the light is con-
densed upon them by means of the large bull’s-eye,
cannot fail to excite surprise.

* Sometimes I have found them in company with each
other, + Wood’s “ Natural History.”

Ocr. 1, 1865.)

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

231

They may be mounted dry in cells, and are very
pretty, though a mounted slide cannot compare with
the sight I have described.

The binocular microscope will show both these
objects to peculiar advantage.

The greatest care is needed to prevent damage to
the specimens when collecting. A clean pill-box,
with plenty of the native bark, is the best means to
arrive at this end. The bark will keep them alive
for some time, and the smallest specimens will not

be so likely to escape by the interstices of the box |

as they would if the box were empty.

GREEN DRAKTE-FLY.

Ces you inform me where to find a full and

accurate account of the metamorphoses of the
Ephemera vulgata, or common Green Drake-fly, so
well known to anglers? I have consulted several
works, and not yet met with a satisfactory descrip-
tion of it. In one by Mrs. E. Cox, entitled “Our
Common Insects,” it is stated that the life of
the Common May-fly (Ephemera vulgata) does not
extend in its perfect state beyond five or six hours,
being generally hatched about six o’clock in the
evening, and dying before twelve at night. Now
this is certainly not true with respect to the Green
Drake-fly of the Irish lakes. I have seen it emerg-
ing from the water at all times of the day, and
it lives for several days. The Green Drake-fly
changes its skin, wings, legs, tails, and all, certainly
once, and I believe two or three times during its
short life, becoming at each change of a darker hue
than before. As it comes to the surface of the
water, it is of a beautiful yellow-green colour, and
its wings in this state are not in the least injured
by the water, as I have frequently seen it totally
overwhelmed by the waves on a lake, and appear
again sailing along as merrily as before. After
changing its skin, however, the texture of the wing
is much more gauzy, and cannot resist the water.
On reaching the shore of the lake where it was
born, it hides among the stones or bushes on the
shore, and not until it has changed its coat does it
become the active inhabitant of the air, whose grace-
ful evolutions are so beautiful. Accompanied by
swarms of its fellows, it then certainly enjoys life,
now soaring aloft, anon dropping suddenly down,
while often two or three together will come tumbling
to the ground entangled by the long hairs of the
tail. Presently some bird will make a dash through
the crowd, and carry off a miserable captive, while
the rest, heedless of danger, carry on their sport as
before —H. G. £.

Picket’s work on the Ephemeride gives the
most complete account of the metamorphoses
of #. vulgata, together with figures of larva,
&c. See also Westwood’s “Introduction to the
Modern Classification of Insects.”

The story of the | pea.

single-day existence of insects of the family, as
applied to the bulk of this species, is a pretty little
romance, but by no means true, as some of them
will live for at least a week. Nevertheless, in one
or two instances their existence in the perfect
state is certainly limited to a few hours. You
are in error in supposing that #. vulgata, or any
species of the family, changes its skin two or three
times after they assume the winged form. When
they first emerge, the whole creature is covered with
a membrane, and, in this state, is termed a pseud-
imago. It then throws off this membrane, and is
in every respect perfect, not moulting a second
time. Some individuals (generally females) never
even perform this operation at all—R. MeL.

COLOUR OF BIRDS’ EGGS.

qt is my opinion that the eggs of birds are uot
necessarily lighter from being laid later. Tremem-
ber myself and two school-fellows wished to see how
many eggs a bird would lay. The example we took

--was the Robin Redbreast (Sylvia rubecula, Lath.).

We found the nest with two eggs, in a wall in the
muster-yard, Peterborough. We abstracted one,
and for fourteen days successively did we take one
egg out of the nest. The bird altogether laid six-
teen eggs, all of which we preserved, and I remem-
ber we remarked that the last were equally as fully
coloured as the first. The Robin’s egg is often found
quite white. W.D.S8S. does not mention whether
the last egg in his nest was white, and I gather
from his communication that it was only found
lighter than the earliest laid ones. But what I want
to show is that sometimes those earliest laid are
the lightest. On referring to my egg-collecting
book, I find that on May 2nd, 1864, I found a nest
built in a large box hedge, in Little Gidding church-
yard, Hunts, containing one pure white egg. I did
not know what bird it was; but on May 9th I took
the nest, containing five eggs. Three were white,
and the other two were smaller, and of a faint blue,
spotted like a linnet’s. A sight of the bird showed
me they were the eggs of the Mealy Redpole.
Here, then, is a case of the lightest egg being laid
first. I do not know for certain whether the other
two white ones were laid next in order; they were
slightly larger than the two ordinary coloured ones.
Of these five, one of the albino specimens fell
to the share of my _ bird’s-nesting companion,
while of the other two, one is in my own col-
lection, and the other is in the collection of
Mr. 8S. L.‘Mozley. Another instance of a white
egg being laid first, came under my notice at Peter-
borough, when a school-fellow found a solitary white
egg in a nest, and gave it to me, saying it was a
linnet’s. I remember the circumstance well, as that
same day I received a linnet’s egg no bigger than a
R. B. SHARPE.

232 SCIENCE-GOSSIP. [Ocr. 1, 1865.

Me F. e beAUN. TA TN,

(Muse paradisiaca.)

fl) : UY

QF all plants which are the
- produce of the “glowing
Orient,’? none are superior in in-
terest to the Plantain and Banana,
two nearly allied species of Afusa,
the illustration of one of which
(Musa paradisiaca) stands at the
head of this paper. Whether the
generic name was derived from
Musa, the physician of Augustus,
or from the Arabic muza, which
signifies “taste,” is scarcely of
sufficient importance to occupy us
in its discussion.

Of the several species of Plan-
tain, or Musa, the present has
received the name of paradisiaca
under the supposition that it was
the “tree of life,” or the “ tree of

the knowledge of good and evil.”
observes that the violet cone at the end of a branch
of plantains, with the stigmas peering through like

iN =
HWW Whi

\

" Ms
\\\ i \\ ic

Ws

eleaming eyes, might well have suggested to the
guilty imagination of Hive, the semblance of a
serpent, tempting her to pluck the forbidden fruit
it bore, as an erect and golden crest.

Though some of the species reach between
twenty and thirty feet in height, they are only
herbaceous plants, growing up, flowering, fruit-
ing, and then dying away to give place to other
shoots proceeding from the parent root. Of
true stem there is none; what appears to be
a stem is only formed by the overlapping and
embracing sheaths of the leafstalks, up the centre
of which each new leaf proceeds directly from
the root-stock. There is hardly a cottage in India
that has not its grove of plantains; the natives
almost live upon them, and they are regarded
as emblems of plenty and fertility. Dried plan-
tains (that is to say the fruit) form an article of
internal commerce, and, in a few instances, have

been exported. In our opinion, they are prefer-
able to figs as a dried dessert fruit, but hitherto
are searecly known in England. When deprived of

Oct. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 233

the skin and dried in the sun, they are reduced to
a meal, in great request in the West Indies for
children and invalids. Professor Johnston states
that this fruit approaches most nearly in composition
and nutritive value to the potato, and plantain meal
to that of rice. The fruit ripens in succession
from the base to the apex of the flowering stem, so
that, on the same plant, flowers and ripe fruit will be
found together. Each fruit is nearly six inches in
length, slightly curved, and about an inch in
diameter; when ripe it consists of a rich mellow
pulp, resembling a fine pear. One stalk of fruit
will attain three feet, and bear from 120 to 150, or
even 180 plantains, the entire weight of which would
be from 50 to 70 pounds.

All the species of plantain containa large number
of spiral vesscis in their structure, and afford strong
and valuable fibre, from which cloth and cordage are
manufactured. The substance called Manilla hemp,
of which Blondin’s Crystal Palace rope was twisted,
and which is much employed for cordage both in
this country and America, is obtained from a species
of plantain (Musa ftextilis). The fibres derived
from the common plantain, as well as those from
other species, are also used in India, both for
cordage and paper, and promise in the future to
become important articles of commerce.

Scarcely any portion of this useful plant is devoid
of its use to man. A limpid fluid issues from
wounds in the body of the plant, which is employed
in medicine, as also is the root. The natives cut
the leafstalks into their curries, and in its entirety
it may be regarded as one of the best of blessings
which a beneficent Providence has bestowed upon
the inhabitants of tropical countries.

ZOOLOGY.

Curtous Pracres For Brros’ Nests.—A corre-
spondent to a Newcastle journal gives the following
particulars of two sparrows’ nests :—“ One nest is
under the tramway at the pit mouth of Garforth
Colliery, under a two-inch plank, where from 300 to
400 corves of coal pass directly over the nest daily.

The other nest is in a hole in the large beam be- |

longing to the engine used for the purpose of lifting
the water from the works in the pit, which beam
works night and day.”

How tHe WHITE Ow. TAKEs ITs Prey.—All
who have been accustomed to observe the habits of
owls and of some species of hawks must have re-
marked that, when seizing their food, they almost
invariably bring their wings forward and spread
their tails, so as completely to conceal it, and then
proceed to finish their meal in private. ‘The reason
of this is said to be because they do not like to be
watched while feeding ; but the real cause, I believe,
proceeds from a far different origin, When a hawk

strikes its quarry in the air, it does so in full flight,
giving a blow with the hind-talon; but were it to
act in a similar manner when the object of pursuit
was on the ground, it would disable, or even per-
haps kill itself by the shock with which it would
strike anything resting upon a hard surface. This
remark is still more applicable to the white owl,
which, living almost entirely upon mice, takes its
prey chiefly on the ground. A patient observer,
taking his stand in a locality frequented by this
bird, might easily witness the mode of its procedure,
which is very curious; the owl either having but
little dread of man, or else, from some peculiarity
of its vision, not readily seeing him (as they will
often fly against people, even when walking about).
Upon sighting a mouse, the owl follows it a short
distance with a hovering, undulating flight, more
resembling that of a butterfly than a bird, and then,
with a sudden pounce, swoops down upon its prey,
bringing downwards and forwards its wings and

tail with a sharp stroke, so as not only to alight

upon the ends of its strong but elastic quills,
thereby deadening any shock to its own body, but
at the same time enclosing a space of some four or
five feet in circumference, and forming a complete
cage for the unfortunate mouse, as no opening what-
ever is left between the spread-out tail and wings
for him to escape. The roots of the quills being
plentifully suppled with nerves, the owl feels at
once if his prisoner should endeavour to get through,
and in an instant grasps him with his ready claws.
It is the remains of this natural instinct, I believe,
which causes these birds when in captivity to “ hide
their meat,” and not from any dislike at being seen
to feed, as the habit remains long after the bird
becomes tame.—R. KX.

Frog fcatine its Orp Sxrv.—I lately caught
one of my frogs in the above act, which I had sup-
posed peculiar to the toads—//. R. Tate, Grove
Place, Denmark Hill.

Crestep NEWT EATEN BY A ToAp.—l have a
fine specimen of the Jersey Toad (B. vulgaris, var.),
which was very kindly sent me last June by Mrs.
E. Smith, of Bristol. This toad, on Friday, Sept.
8th, actually swallowed a female Zritox cristatus
five inches and a half in length; and a quarter of
an hour after threw her up again, alive and quite
uninjured by her short sojourn in the toad’s stomach.
I have named the newt “ Jonah,” in memory of the
ocecurrence.— VL. Tate, Grove Place, Denmark Hill.

SrncuLaR Occurrence.—A few days since, Mr.
George Sloper caught an eel, which, before it could
be got ashore, was seized by a pike. The eel in its
struggles forced its tail through the gills of the pike,
and twisted itself so firmly round the head of its
assailant that both were landed together. The pike
weighed 74 lb,— Wiltshire Independent.

O24,

Qo SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Oct. 1, 1865.

ENTOMOLOGY.

Wat HAS BECOME OF THE Wasps ?—In this
central part of Warwickshire we cannot make out
what has become of the wasps. J have been in the
habit of killing from fifteen to twenty daily on my
windows during the summer time for years past,
but this summer I have not had the chance, for I
have not even seen a wasp since the month of May.
‘The other day a bee-master in our parish, who keeps
generally from twelve to fifteen hives, and who is
thoroughly conversant with the habits of bees and
their enemies, asked me if I could account for the
disappearance of the wasps, because this year his
hives have been entirely free from those pests, and
he has never even seen one since the end of May.
Early in the spring he saw several, and they all
seemed to vanish suddenly; and he tells me he has
not been able to find a nest anywhere about this
part, though he has searched for one. Our village
boys, who are generally foremost in taking nests,
have had no sport in that line this year.—C. J. F.

DEatH’s-HEAD Hawk-Mortn (Acherontia atropos).
—In July last, four caterpillars of this moth were
brought tome. I filled a large flower-pot (12 inches
deep and 14 inches diameter at top) with garden
mould, transplanted into it a smail growing potato,
put my caterpillars thereon, and covered them with
an old hand-glass, some of the squares of which
were broken out, and their places supplied with
perforated brown paper. The caterpillars buried
themselves as follows :—One on the 12th July; one
on the 13th; one on the 15th; and one on the 19th
of the same month. The flower-pot was kept above
the surface of the ground in the open air, sheltered
from the mid-day sun and from heavy rain, but at
other times exposed, and whenever the surface of
the mould became dry, I watered it slightly. On
the 10th September I had the satisfaction of finding
two perfect moths beneath the glass, and another
on the 12th, and I shall look for the fourth about
the 17th. After being set out, my largest specimen
measured exactly five inches from tip to tip of the
expanded wings. While watching the two moths
beneath the glass before administering chloroform, I
noticed that one of them, in shifting its position,
trenched upon the holding-on place occupied by the
other. Thereupon a“ scuffle’ ensued for possession
of the spot, and with expanded wings, and uttering
their peculiar cry, the moths fought for several
seconds, exactly as one sees two sparrows fight.
The weaker of the two soon retired to another spot,
and neither appeared injured by the fray.— Sibert
Saunders, Whitstable.

Ants AND Cocci.—Not long ago, whilst in an
orchid-house, I noticed a great quantity of ants
running here and there upon the leaves of Calanthe
vestita and Limatodes rosea. My curiosity made me

examine their movements, when, to my surprise, [
saw them milking, as it were, a species of coccus
which infested the leaves of the plants. Now, I
had heard of this before, but, like many more per-
sons, thought it was but a tale; but now I had
found out the whole method, and here it was in
full operation before my eyes. The ant gently
stroked the coccus with the two antenne, and
sometimes with the legs; after this, the coccus ex-
cluded a small round white substance, which the
ant ate, and then commenced upon another coccus.
Perhaps some persons may doubt, but to all those I
say get a plant infested with coccus, place a colony
of ants upon it, and surround the whole with water,
so as to prevent escape, and then they will be con-
vinced. A few weeks after this incident, my atten-
tion was drawn to a still stranger sight; viz., In a
hot-house I had cleaned several small plants of
Passiflora princeps, and placed them upon a shelf.
One day, while watering these plants, I noticed
three large domes of earth surrounding the stems of
three P. princeps I had cleaned. At the time |
thought it was perhaps the work of worms, so 1
turned the plant out of the pot, and found to my
astonishment, not worms, but a colony of ants,
snugly enjoying their new home; and when I looked
at the stem of the plant, I found a quantity of cocci
attached, the earth forming quite a chamber for
them; so I came to the conclusion that the ants
had formed this chamber, and brought the coccus
into astate of slavery, so as to serve for food when
wanted.—/J. I., Clapton.

Watts Harwies.— Having very lately found
an earwig casting its skin, and emerging from its
old case guite white, I would suggest to R. F. M.
that the one mentioned by him in your last number
had just undergone that process ; and that,.after due
exposure to the air, the white would have gradually
become the colour we usually see. I put my speci-
men into liquor potasse, intending to mount it
whole, but the tissues were so very soft that, although
immersed for one day only, the potash effectually
destroyed it. I may also mention 1 have often
found colonies of minute young earwigs under
garden saucers, and they have generally been quite
white-—William W. H.

Communications have been received on the same
subject from VW. B. I, H. W., and LH. Mence.—¥Ep.

QurEN oF Sparn.—It may be interesting to some
of the collectors of butterflies who read SciENCE
Gossip, to know that a specimen of that rare butter-
fly, the Queen of Spain Fritillary (Argynnis Lathonia),
was captured by a young gentleman in this parish
some time last month. Ihave taken the specimen
and compared it with one in the collection at the
Norwich Museum, so that there can be no mistake
about it.—Hampden G. Glasspoole, Ormesby St.
Michael,

Ocr. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCEH-GOSSTP.

235

ee

BOTANY.

On THE RE-FINDING OF EPIPACTIS RUBRA 1N
GLOUCESTERSHIRE.—I am glad to find that my old
county has again produced some specimens of this
interesting orchis, and long to know more of its
locality and the circumstances connected with its
growth, &c., and more especially as I have so often
hunted for this plant in vain, and that, too, with B.
L. Baker, Hsq., late president of the Cotteswold
Club, whose grandfather was the original discoverer
of the species in the county. This discovery reminds
me to notice that some years since I recorded the
finding of Epipactis ensyolia in Gloucestershire. It
occurred in a beech plantation in Oakly Park, Ciren-
cester, and myself and Mr. Robert Holland, then
one of my pupils, each secured a single specimen,
which would appear to have been the whole of this
species there grown, as most patient search for
hours, both then and year by year afterwards, has
failed in affording another example from this habitat.
The Epipactis grandiflora is still in Oakly Park, in
the greatest abundance. Can it be possible that
Li. ensifolia is but a variety of #. grandiflora, or that
ff. rubra isin any way indebted to hybridization of
Li. latifolia and FE. graudijiora, both of which are
abundant at Mr. Baker’s station for #. rubra ?—
Professor Buckman,

Paris QuaprRirottaA—The abundance of Paris
quadrifolia in a damp wood in my neighbourhood
has given me many opportunities of searching
for a specimen in the state mentioned by A.
Grugeon (page 143), and I have examined a great
number of specimens with that view, but hitherto
without success. Meeting with large quantities of
the plant, not only in the normal form but also with
three: and five leaves, 1 divided the specimens ex-
amined into three groups. In the first group, with
four-leaved perianths, the number of stamens was
8 (one specimen with 9); in the second group, with
three-leaved perianths, the number of stamens was
from 6 to 9 (two specimens with 8 sepals); in the
third group, with five-leaved perianths, the number
of stamens was from 7 to 11 (one specimen with 5
petals) ; with these exceptions all other parts of the
flowers were normal. The late Professor Henslow
has recorded the result of a similar examination in
Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. v. p. 429, showing
that in 1,500 specimens the number of parts de-
veloped in the whorls of leaves, sepals, petals, and
stigmas ranged nearly between 38 and 6, and in the
whorl of stamens between 6 and 12. In no case did
I discover an agreement in the aggregate similar
to that mentioned by A. Grugeon. Would he kindly
state if he has met with more than one specimen
in that state >—R. A,

‘is a subject of every-day observation.

AssociaTION oF Piants anp Antats.—Many
instances are not wanting of the intimate relation
subsisting between the lives of plants and animals.
The association, and apparently necessary condition
of life, of fungi to certain species of animals and to
the refuse of others is well known; also the at-
tachment of a large number of plants, constituting
a group of what may be called domesticated
species, as the nettle, &c., to the haunts of man,
and following in his footsteps throughout the world,
The case
that I here refer to is one of novelty, pointing to the
appearance and disappearance of two agral plants
with the introduction and removal of cattle. On
the Holm of Gloup, North Yell, Shetland, the daisy
and white clover appeared in the year 1852, afier
cattle had been pastured on it; the plants began to
disappear at the end of two years, and, on the
entire removal of the kine, disappeared iz fofo, and
have not reappeared. No cattle have been pasturcd
on the island since 1853-4. The two plants wer
confined to a limited area, supposed to be where the
cattle laired.— Ralph Tate, F.G.S., &e.

Mimutus Lutevus.—A large quantity of this
beautiful plant appeared in the bed of the river
Dodder, at Templeogue, co. Dublin, in July, 1863,
where Isaw it infull bloom. It had not, I believe,
been observed there before. The seeds had pro-
bably been carried down from some garden by the
river when flushed by heavy rains, at which times
it rises considerably. Bentham (“Handbook of
British Flora”) says that the plant is indigenous in
“north-western America and Chili; long cultivated
in our flower-gardens ; and now naturalized in boggy
places in many parts of Britain? Mimulus luteus
is not mentioned in Smith’s “English Flora,”
Hooker’s “Flora,” nor Mackay’s “Flora Hibernica.”
—Vincent A. Smith.

APETALOUS StitcHwort.—As you take notice in
your little publication of abnormal states of plants
(although I cannot consider that mere white varieties
of plants are worth insertion), I send you a speci-
men of an abnormal state of the Stellaria Holostea,
sent to me by Mr. Pughe, of Aberdovey, and which
is one of the most remarkable I have met with. It
is, as you will see, an apetalous variety of that plant ;
and the singularity of itis, that it has for many
years covered several yards of a hedge in the neigh-
bourhood of his house, and always presents the same
appearance every year.—Z’, Salwey. [We have de-
posited this specimen in the botanical department
of the British Museum, where it may be examined. |
—Ep.

TINcTORIAL Brpstraw.—The roots of Galium
tataricum and G. physocarpum dye red, like madder,
but the colorific power of the former is only 2, and
of the latter 7 that of madder.—Bwll. Soc. Imp.,
Moscow,

236

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865,

FISH TATTLE.

Tur Sapprinine GurnarD (Zrigla hirundo).—
A specimen of this fish, about ten inches long,
lived in the Hamburg aquarium all last summer
(1864), in a sca-water tank containing over a
thousand gallons. It was a fine and attractive
fish for exhibition, on account of its unusual form,
bright colours, enormous pectoral fins, and its open
daylight character, not hiding itself in a hole and
only making its appearance at night after visitors
have left, after the fashion of many animals in
zoological gardens, but boldly swimming about with
a gentle sailing motion like that of a swallow, as it
curves through the air with outspread wings. In-
deed, the pectorals of the fish were very similar to
the wings of the bird, though at other times their
fine blue colour, edged with brilliant yellowish-white,
and their broad “hovering” character, reminded
one of the wings of a great butterfly. The general
colour of the body of the fish was a rather cloudy
or dusky brick-dust red, very different to the red of
a gold-fish. It had very large and intelligent-looking
eyes; and that they were far-seeing eyesdl am con-
vinced of, as it used to perceive its food dropping
through the water at a remote corner of the tank,
ten or twelve feet away. This food was exclusively
living shrimps, and it would eat nothing else what-
ever, not even living prawns. As the double hand-
ful of shrimps went tumbling down towards the
bottom of the tank, the Gurnard would dash into
the midst of them, and would snap them up right
and left with much quickness, so long as they were
free above the sand with which the base of the tank
is covered to the depth of two or three inches. But
if the shrimps got into the sand, then the fish began
to use its curious “ fin-rays,” of which it possessed
six, three at the base of each pectoral fin. These
fin-rays were, in fact, fingers ; only, as they were not
intended to grasp, but only to feel and to touch, they
were not articulated into joints, like the fingers of a
man or a monkey, but were composed of a series of
winute pieces of bone united by cartilage, forming
a stiff wire-like structure, having an abrupt curve
downwards. ach fin-ray was made up of two of
these wires (so to speak) enclosed in a sheath con-
sisting of a continuation of the skin of the fish, and
the two wires were connected at their tips within
the sheath. The other ends of the two wires were
each attached to a separate muscle, and as the pair
of wires were free from each other except at their
tips, and slid freely over each other in the sheath, it
followed that a very accurate fingering motion
(something like that of a pianoforte player’s) could
be given by the alternate pullings of the muscles,
above or below. ‘The extremities of the finger-rays
were smoothly rounded and very slightly knobbed ;

therefore, whenever a shrimp was buried out of |

sight in the sand, the Gurnard would disturb it by
feeling, poking, and prodding above it; on which the
shrimp would fly out of the sand (as shrimps will
do when alarmed), and would be caught and swal-
lowed instantly. In this manner the fish would con-
sume from twenty to thirty shrimps twice or three
times a week, and between the feeding days it would
employ itself in searching for stray shrimps all over
the bottom of the tank, until not one was left. At
length, in late autumn, the supply of shrimps from
Cuxhaven failed, and I could get none alive from
England or elsewhere, nor could i induce the Gur-
nard to eat anything else. I am sorry now that I
did not return it to the sea; for its hunger became
distressing to behold. Its head looked unnaturally
big in contrast with its attenuated body; its eyes
were sunk into deep pits, and its once magnificent
pectoral fins became split up into shabby rags, and
so, when on one Saturday afternoon in October it
turned over dead, | was not sorry to see it out of
its misery, and I then dissected it. I think this
was (he first specimen ever kept in an aquarium.—
W. Alford Lloyd, Zoological Gardens, Hamburg.

Hers anp Drw-worms.—I was removing some
eels from an eel-trap, where they had been caught
the night before. One of them had a substance,
the size of a goose egg, about four inches down it,
which I concluded was a disease. On opening it, I
found it caused by a great number of dew-worms,
which it must have taken very shortly before enter-
ing the trap; and to get them it must have been
out in the meadows during the night. It was very
showery weather at the time, and the river swollen,
but not over the banks. Dew-worms are generally
found in grass fields early in the mornings in wet
weather.—P. P.

Tue Torprpo.—On the 20th July, I saw one of
these fish at Budleigh Salterton, on the south coast
of Devon, which had been caught in a Brixham
trawl. The lads who showed it called it an
“electrified ray;’ and said the fisherman who
caught it, though he only touched it with one finger,
received a severe shock, “his arm was left quivering
for ten minutes.” When I saw it, it had been
exenterated, aud weighed about 25 lb. Its colour
was black and shining above (skin like shagreen)
and white below; tail large and flapping; spinal
column heavy, seemingly with a great plexus of
nerves attached to it; fins chiefly on the margin of
its cylindrical outline. Having no book of reference
with me, I could not at the time determine its
species ; from its colour, however, I take it to be the
Torpedo nobiliana, of Yarrell, rather than the other
which is given as a British species, the Zorpedo
marmorata, or “old British Torpedo.”—Rev. WZ, G.
Watkins, Barnoldby-le-Beck, Grimsby.

Oct. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

237

MICROSCOPY.

PHOTO-MICROGRAPHS.—in a recent number of the
British Journal of Photography, Mr. John Bockett
has recently detailed his method for the production
of Photo-micrographs by means of an ordinary land-
scape lens and camera. With regard to the expo-
sure requisite, he says:—“The exuvia of spider,
skin of caterpillar, leg of beetle, and the star-fish,
were all done in open daylight, through an eighth of
an inch stop, in one minute and a quarter.”

Microscoric Lamp.—A good microscopic lamp
is stated by Dr. Beale to still be a desideratum, and
as with high powers, and also binocular microscopes,
the importance of having a superabundance of light

description of a lamp which I have had made (and
which will be exhibited at the North-Eastern Exhibi-
tion at the Agricultural Hall, Islington), answering
every purpose. It has been in use quite three years.
Its construction is as follows:—A brass circular
foot is countersunk into a broad base of mahogany
(thereby obtaining stability without adding much to
its weight), carrying a main stem.
another tube (to the bottom of which is fitted a
clamping screw), as also a spring holder to carry a
Belmontine lamp. Sliding upon this tube are two
pieces of apparatus, one a reflector and the other a
condenser ; the latter about 2 inches in diameter,
the former from 384 to 4 inches, and of the same or
little longer focus than the distance which inter-
venes between it and the convex side of the plano-
convex lens of the condenser. A shade covers the
reflecting and refracting apparatus. With regard
to its arrangement when in use, it is only necessary
after the lamp is lit to move the reflector by slipping
it up and down on the auxiliary tube, until the
bull’s-eye condenser is equably illuminated, which
can easily be seen by placing a small disc of white
card upon the plane surface of the condenser. If
the whole has been arranged for transparent objects

as above, and it is required to be used to show |

opaque objects, the auxiliary tube has only to be
raised, and the arrangement previously alluded to
still remains intact, the said alteration not being at-
tended with the least trouble. It burns Belmontine,

which I find far preferable to parafine, being with- |

out any smell, and, as I think, with all due deference
to Mr. Hall’s late deductions, equal to it in light.
By its aid I can in my binocular use a 4-inch bull’s-
eye piece most advantageously. The light with the
lower powers is so intense that a ground or neutral
tint glass slide must be used.—Johiz Bockett.

CIRCULATING CaBINET OF OBsEcts.—About six
months ago some microscopists in Oldham and its
neighbourhood formed a circulating cabinet of
objects. Not knowing that there is anything of the
sort in othe. towns, I will endeavour to describe it.

Upon this glides |

In the first place we have as many trays as there
are members, upon which each member puts six
objects, in a horizontal position, held down by
an elastic band. To prevent one tray from touching
the objects on another, a bead runs all round each,
about a quarter of an inch deep: the whole are en-
closed ina box made for the purpose. Each member
changes the objects on his own tray every time the
cabinet comes round to him, and he retains it one
week to examine the objects on the other trays. A
small memorandum-book, in which are written a few
short rules, the remaining space being left for re-
marks and suggestions, together with a stamp-case,
to receive the contributions of the members, which
goes along with the cabinct. The expenses of

| carriage, &c., are taken out of this stamp-case. We

aie : 2 ; ; ste |
is imperative, I beg to submit to your readers a | find this arrangement to work very well, and have

not had an object broken yet.—John Butterworth.

Potten.—Your correspondent “ E.G. M.” directs
the attention of your readers to the pollen of the
@nothera, or Evening Primrose. I have seen the
pollen of @nothera offered for sale by dealers in
microscopic objects, and have mounted several slides
of it for my own use and for exchange with friends.
I think the most beautiful pollen-grains are those
of the common Marsh Mallow, or of the Garden
Mallow, either of which may be had in great abund-
ance. They are superior to the Passion-flower,
Hollyhock, Dahlia, or Evening Primrose. Indeed,
I know of no pollen worthy of comparison with
them.—Z. P. Burkas.

Crr1a on Dratomacem®.—A few days ago, while
examining a recent gathering of fresh-water Diatoma-
cee, | had my attention arrested by peculiar motions
near a frustule of Nitzschia sigmotdea. The frustule
itself was perfectly stationary, but it was surrounded
by a considerable quantity of gritty matter, which
was in motion. I observed closely, to see if any
animaleules or small diatoms were present, and
could not recognize any within the field of the micro-
scope. The matter surrounding the Nitzschia was
broken up into small patches and fragments, and
the phenomenon that presented itself was the rapid
motion of single and accumulated particles of foreign
matter down the sides of the Nitzschia, which was
lying perpendicularly to the line of vision. The
motions were along the sides of the diatom, and all
downwards. That direction of motion could not be
caused by mere gravitation of the particles, because,
as an erector was not used, the apparently downward
motion would be in reality upward, and upward
motion, under the circumstances, and to such an
extent, could only, as it appears to me, be accom-
plished by the action of cilia flashing in one direc-
tion. Endosmose and Exosmose, or any other pro-
posed theory to account for the movements of
Diatomacee, will not explain the motions of the
ree particles as above described—Z’. P. Burkas.

238

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Ocr. 1, 1865.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

IcunruMons aND Vanessa.—In your January
number, p. 15, “The Entomologist’ says that the
“small Tortoiseshell Butterfly” is free from ich-
neumons. I send youa paper, the inside of which is
completely eaten out by them, also one of the flies
which crawled out of it, and some empty ichneumon-
cases which I found close by. This is the second I
have found in the same place.—#. IV.

Wasrs.—In Greece, a large wasp, marked on th
abdomen with alternate rings of black ana yeilow,
is very fond of grapes, and therefore a foe to the
gardener, who gives them no quarter. It sucks the
juices from the grape as soon as it is ripe, leaving
nothing but the seed and shrivelled skin. This wasp
also destroys numbers of spiders, which it treats
like the grapes, rejecting the epidermis. Many
severe and protracted combats ofttimes take place
before the spider yields to its more powerful anta-
gonist. Ihave observed that in pursuing spiders,
the wasp rarely flies, but almost invariably runs after
its prey. It attacks spiders without reference to
size, and kills them by stinging. Does this happen
in England?—J. B. Hay, Athens.

Birps’ Eces.—Some time since, while searching
for birds’ eggs, T found a Catbird’s (Zurdus avidus)
nest, containing two full-sized eggs, and a third,
similar to the others in colour, only of the size of a
pea. How to account for this I know not. But it
is well known that hens often lay eggs much smaller
than the average size, sometimes not larger than a
robin’s; may not birds do the same? ‘This is the
only case which has occurred to my knowledge.
Have any such instances occurred in England ?—
J.B. Hay, Athens.

Brack Berrtes.—For the information of “A. H.,”
I send you the following method of destroying
them, which I have found more effectual than any
of the advertised remedies:—Take one or more
shallow glazed dishes (say three or four inches deep),
and about half fill them with common beer, or warm
water with a little ginger or nutmeg grated in to
make it smell; a little treacle also is a good thing.
Place the dishes in their haunts, and put some bits
of wood or something against the sides of the dishes
for them to creep up (paper will not answer, as the
noise of running up it appears to alarm them). The
beetles and crickets bemg very thirsty creatures,
and always ready for their “drops,” get into the
liquor and cannot get out again —J. Goodyear.

GuipE To THE Conservatory.—A. H. wishes
to know a book for the care of a “conservatory,”
containing what flowers are the best to plant in pots
and vases, so as to keep up a succession of flowers
all through the year. How hot should a conserva-
tory be kept during autumn and winter? Please
state the price of book.

_ Brack Ants.—Under July 24th, I have a note
in my pocket-book to the effect that I noticed on
that day a number of large black ants crawling
about the streets of Camberwell and Kennington.
{ should like to know whether any one noticed the
same In any other part of London, and what was the
cause of iW, &. Tate, 4, Grove Place, Denmark

poy
Lilli,

Popur& PuospHorescent.—Is it known that
any species of the genus Podura (Linn.), order
Thysanaura (insecta), is capable of emitting a phos-
phorescent light? I have good reasons for believing
that one which I have met with zs so capable. The
head has a vertical movement, the centre of motion;
tail about two-thirds length of body; compact,
silvery-white skin; slight annular markings on back.
If worth while, I can supply live specimens and
further particulars —H. MM.

PoLiEN or VatERtAN.—Have any of your readers
observed how beautiful the pollen of Valerian is? if
not, I advise them to do so, It requires rather a
high power.—/.. Gibson. :

Diameter or Lenses.—Can any of your readers
oblige me with the diameter of the compound lenses
used in making +-inch object-glass, and the focus of
each compound lens in it, and the diameter of the
aperture ?—Z. 7.8.

Parasites OF Parsnip.—The leaves of the wild
parsnip are very much mildewed; but, besides the
usual round conceptacles, there are some others,
consisting of an immense number of transparent
bodies in shape very much resembling the blade
of a reaping-hook. What is their name and
purpose, as [ don’t see them mentioned by M.
C. Cooke in the papers on fungi in Popular Science
Review.—E. T. 8S.

[Specimens should have been sent.—Ep. |

A New Srrtenz.—I extract the following from
the Guardian of August 28rd :— A specimen of a
new plant, the Silene dichotoma, has been found
near Painswick, Gloucestershire. It is a native of
south-eastern Europe, and must have been intro-
duced accidentally.” Can any of your readers give
me any additional information regarding the appear-
ance of this “ distinguished foreigner” in this
country P—B,

APPENDAGES TO Water Bertres.—I have fre-
quently observed on male specimens of Dytiscus
marginalis (both alive and dead) a quantity of pear-
shaped excrescences firmly'attached by*the small end
to the underpart of the head of the insect. These
excrescences are of a blood-red colour, and when
squeezed, a red liquid exudes. Can you, or any of
your correspondents, tell me what they are ?—
LH, Ragonot.

VoLvox Giopator.—Will you kindly allow me
to say, in answer to T. P. Barkas’s reply to my
query, Lam quite aware that it is generally stated
the motions of the Volvox Globator are caused by
the action of cilia; but I have examined some thou-
sands in every stage, and have been uuable really
to observe cilia; and many of my microscopic friends
have also studied it, and none of them have been
more successful than I have. I was in hopes my
query would have drawn a reply from some one who
had also devoted some time in examination of this
very beautiful and interesting microscopic object,
and who could, from observations, give anew theory
respecting the cause of its revolutions. :
Barkas’s remarks are really not a reply to my ques-
tion. A great many of your readers are, I know,
equally interested as myself in this, and quite as dis-
appointed that my query has not drawn forth a better
reply to it.— Thomas Armstrong.

Ocr. 1, 1865. |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

‘
*

239

Cat-BriaR, in reply to H. G., Bangalore, is
Smilax rotundifolia, L., nat. ord. Smilacee.
description of the plant may be found in Gray’s
“ Botany of the North United States.’—/. H. L.

Guano.—J. H. W. desires to know where guano
may be obtained. There are guano depéts in nearly
all the large towns in the kingdom, and any agent
for the sale of guano will give or sell a microscopist
a pound or two at any time. If the guano be pure,
it will contain Heliopelta and Arachnoidiscus in
abundance.—Z. P. Barkas.

SPIDER AND Wasp.—I saw to-day a wasp
struggling with a small spider on the ground; they
were spinning round and round, each striving for
the mastery, but the long legs of the spider being
wrapped over the wasp, prevented the latter from
using its wings. At last, however, the wasp
succeeded in cutting off two or three legs, and then
it flew off with the body—Henry Uliyett, High
Wycombe.

Growrmne Frerns.—When ferns are grown in
pots, do earth-worms do gocd or harm? If harm,
can they be got rid of without disturbing the plants,
and how ?—J. B. L.

Names OF Sea-BIRDS.—In answer to H. G.,
Bangalore, India, page 214, the Stink-pot of sailors
is the Black Petrel (Procellaria equinoctialis, L.) ;
the Cape Hen is the Sooty Albatross (Diomedea
fuliginosa) ; and the Whale-bird is the Broad-billed
Prion (Prioz vittatus). The Parson-bird and the
Ice-bird I do not know. I may, perhaps, be allowed
to add, that H. G. will find further information
about these birds in the number of the Jézs for
last July —F. W. Hutton.

An Aquarium Dirricutty.—In my fresh-water
aquarium several small worms wave about just above
the pebbles, and cast up the sand from below,
thereby thickening the water. ‘No doubt I could
get rid of them by putting a fish in the aquarium ;
but this would eat other small insects which I do
not wish eradicated. Perhaps some of your readers
can help me ?—C. 4

Exupation oF Cepar-woop.—lf C. W. W. will
wash the eggs with soda and hot water, [ think he
will find it will cleanse them of the exudation of
cedar-wood.—H. B. Preston.

Waropian Caszs.—Do fern-cases require air, and
what is the best soil for ferns in cases ?—Georye
Norris.

Inrusoniat Earty.—I think that infusorial
earths are not to be purchased; at all events I have
tried for years to buy some, and failed; but if your
correspondent lives in town, and likes to call on me
with a few slides, I will provide him with what
specimens I have by me. I keep some in a moist
state.—F. White, 1, New Road Hast.

Worms.—lI think Mr. W. Bowen Davis is right
in his idea. The earth-worm eats on the surface of
the ground some of the softer parts of decaying
vegetable matter, and then drags the woody fibres,
such as the stalks of leaves, &c. &c., under ground
to fertilize the soil—H. Watney.

Maprerores.—Is there any work published on
“ Madrepores,” whereby some knowledge of them
could be obtained P—JB. 7’. 8.

Hovusz Ants.—Can any of your readers inform
me how I can get rid of ants (a very small light-
brown kind, not the garden species) which are
infesting my house in the plaster of the walls?
They come out of every tiny crack, and crawl in
numbers over the kitchen ceiling and walls. We
have tried, but in vain, to rid ourselves of this
nuisance, and I should feel greatly indebted to any
one who can suggest a remedy.—. 8.

Sra-AnemMonus.—My friend Mr. W. A. Lloyd
asks in his interesting article on Sea-Anemones,
“Has any one ever seen a very small specimen of
Sagartia parasitica or of Tealia crassicornis ??
have obtamed many parasitica from the fishing-lines
at Cullercoats, near the mouth of the Tyne, but
never saw one that was not at least one and a half
inch in height when fully expanded. JZ. erassi-
cormis are very abundant on the Northumberland
and Durham coasts; and from Sunderland to
Alnmouth there are tens of thousands of them. I
have never seen young “crass” produced, as is so
frequently the case with the Mesembryanthemum,
and the smallest specimens of crassicornis I ever
saw had bases about the size of a threepenny piece.
Are they produced by ejection or by fission? On
the Northumberland coast we have in the littoral
zone, the following anemones :—Crassicornis, Mesem-
bryanthemum, Troglodytes, and butf, grey, and white
Dianthus. Off the coast, at a depth of from forty
to sixty fathoms, we have Cvrassicornis various,
Dianthus various, Parasitica, Stomphia, Churchie,
and Bolocera Tuedie. Bellis, rosea, gemmucea,
venusta, nivea, and other well-known south-country
species, are not to be found in these northern regions.
—T. P. Barkas.

Book Wantrep on ConsreRvatoriEs.—d. HZ.
would be glad to know of a book which will give
instructions for keeping a conservatory in the house
filled with flowers in bloom all the year. She has
the “Greenhouse Manual for the Many;” but that
names such a few flowers.

Britist Woops.—Can any reader, inform me
where I can obtain a complete list of British woods?
—B.T.S.

[In Jury Reports of the Exhibition of 1851, page
104, is avery good catalogue.— Eb. |

Has H. Papilionaria been generally abundant this
year? I have taken thirteen, for the most part
beautiful specimens. A friend also took several ;
nearly all were seated on the grass, under birch
trees, having just emerged from the pupa. I have
a few duplicates, and shall be happy to receive offers
of exchange.— fev. G. Norris, Wood Dailing,
Reepham.

Mosquitors in Enetanp.—I notice the following
in to-day’s Shipping Gazette :—“ A correspondent of
a Portsmouth paper states that mosquitoes, of a
true West Indian type, have made their appearance
at Woolstone, in Hants. A young lady there has
been stung by them in the arms, which swelled up
to an immense size in consequence.” —Query—from
the great heat, or what ?—James Charles Arrow.

AnatomatiziIné Leaves.—I_ think hydrochloric
acid is preferable to chloride of lime.—//. Gibson.

A Fine Trovur.—sSome years ago a relation of
mine caught a trout weighing 214 1b. at Christ-
church, Hants.—Z. 7.

240

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Oct. 1, 1865.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ALL communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of each
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations. All notes, queries, or articles for insertion, musé
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
may be withheld from publication if so desired.

Queries.—Having been inundated with questions, we are
compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer
those of which the querist might satisfy himself by an appeal
to any elementary book on thesubject. Weare always pre-
pared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish
the replies, provided some of oui readers, beside the querist,
are likely to take an interest in them.

We cannot undertake to return ‘‘ rejected addresses.”’

DEPARTURE OF Swirrs.—J. M. G. observed one as late as
the 30th of August. Gi:bert White gives the 21st as the date
of departure; the Rey. L. Jenyns, the 23rd. Therefore there
is no doubt that their departure is later than usual this year.

AquaArtaA.—Mr. Hardwicke promises a Handbook to the
Aquarium, to be published shortly.

T. J. B.—Your suggestion is a good one, and shall be borne
inmind. Although we dare not make rash promises, we hope
ere the year closes to see it carried out.

Errata.—See page 197, col. 1, line 8, for “natural”? vead
“mutual.” Page 211, col.'1, line 5, for Caryophyllua Quicthii
read Curyophyliia Smithii.

J. H. A.—The following are some of the works which have
been published on the microscope :—

‘*The Microscope.’? By Professor Quekett.

Published by
Bailliére.

*Text-book of the Microscope.’”? By Dr. Griffith. Van
Voorst.

‘*The Microscope and its Revelations.’? By Dr. Carpenter.
Churchill.

“How to Work with the Microscope.’? By Dr. Beale.
Harrison.

“©The Microscope.’”? By Jabez Hogg.
** Half-hours with the Microscope.’
Hardwicke.

All possess their peculiar style of treatment of the subject;
therefore, not knowing J. H. A.’s special desideratum, we
could not recommend any one. We have already stated our
reasons for declining to give preference to any maker of
microscopes.

By Dr. Lankester.

J. E. T.—We have also met with the white variety of Cen-
taureu nigra, and do not think it very rare.

G. N.—Address your query to the British Journal of
Photography.

Boons on Funei.— Mrs. Hussey’s
Mycology,” in two vols., 4to.
lines of British Fungology.’? Mrs. Price’s ‘Illustrations of
Fungi,’’ two series, 4to. These works were all published by
Lovell Reeve, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.

“Microscopic Fengi’’? and “ British Fungi.” By M.C.
Cooke. Both published by Mr. R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly.
= somervys “English Fungi’? is now a rare and expensive

ook.
- Greville’s ‘Scottish Cryptogamic Flora’’ contains many
ungi.

Bolton’s “‘ Funguses ’’ has nearly two hundred good figures,
and may sometimes be met with.

“Tliustrations of
Rev. M. J. Berkeley’s ‘‘ Out-

Mycorninus and Mepicus should read our oft-repeated
caution about assumed names.

1. Voxes.—The bract and fruit of the Lime-tree.

E. H. R.—Forbes’s “ British Star-fishes,’? published by Van
Voorst.

K, G,. V. is thanked for his specimen of Lynghya.
J.C.S. confirms that the viper swallows its young. We

have already given several instances, and could scarcely afford
Space for more.

J.J. R.—(1.) Oak spangles—a kind of gall produced on
oak-leaves by a species of Cynips. (2.) Button galls; also
produced by a species of Cynips, called by the French natu-
ralists Diplolepis lenticuluris. For further information see
Gardener’s Chronicle for 1843, p. 52.

VALLISNERIA.— E, G., Post-office, Roundhay, near Leeds,
has plants for disposal.

H. W.—Feed your snake with young frogs (alive, of course).
It will hyternate during the winter.

F. W.—Your insects must be damp. You must place the
drawers before the fire occasionally. Mould will appear with
the least dampness.

H. B.—(1.) Catching insects.

(2.) It was probably injured
in capture.

It is not always easy to account for such things.

E. B.—See article on Death-watch, in Sci=nc= Gossip,
No. 3, p. 60.

G. N.—See remarks on Flowering of Artichoke in SciENcE
Gossip, No. 6, p. 142.

E. B.—We know of no one so capable of naming your
foreiga mosses as Mr. W. Mitten, of Hurstpierpoint, but
whether he will undertake it we cannot affirm.

E. T.—Your insects appear to be the larvee of a fresh-water
beetle. There is no work specially devoted to fresh-water
insects, but an Introduction to the Study of British Beetles
is announced by Mr. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, at a very
reasonable price.

E. W.—For accounts of bats flying during the day, see
Zoologist, pp. 6 and.35, and Jenyns’s “‘ Observations in Natural
History,’’ p. 60. This correspondent observed a bat catching
flies in the middle of the day, under a hot sun.

W.S.—Bring them home in sea-water or spirit.

E. RAGONOL.—Groser’s ‘ British Beetles’ is announced to
be ready shortly. |

fsquARIUuM.—Mrs, D. may obtain such an aquarium of
Mr. Lloyd’s successor, Mr. King, Portland Road, London.

A. S.—Your monstrosity of rose is not uncommon,

E. §.—Our correspondent F. C. did not boil his vermicelli
for feeding fish, only breaking it into small pieces. He isnow
using beef, and does not recommend vermicelli, but considers
meat preferable.

ScaLES OF FRESH-WATER Figu.—A correspondent offers
these in exchange for other objects. Address—E. Marks,
5, Millman Street, Bedford Row, W.C.

. Erratum.—In T. P. B.’s answer to E. T. S., last month,
the word “ generation’? was printed by error, instead of
“‘eemmation.”’

A HinT For ContrispuTors.—If our contributors will oblige
us by always using the common names of plants, animals,
insects, &c., wherever there isa common name in use, to
be followed by the scientific name in brackets, this will save
us alarge amount of trouble in sending their manuscript
to press. As we do not pretend to address scientific readers
alone, vernacular names are indispensable,

CoMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.—G. B.—J. B. Hay.—T. S.—
W. A. L.—E. C.—A. G. R.—H. W.—W. B. M.—W. H. B.—
T. D. R.—J.S.—G. N.—J. B.—F. C.—Woop Rosert.—B.—
E. M.—E. Y. S.—B. T. 8.—W. R. T.—M. D.—M. H. L.—F. B.
—T. P. B.—P. P.—G. N.—H. B.—H. W.—E. H. R.—E. R.—
M.G. W.—W. W. H.—W. E. S. W.—Mycornytos (no name
and address).—F. W.—S. S.—W. G.—J. C. M.-H. G. G.—
V.A.S.—W. H. P.—E. T. 8S.—J. J. R.—L. C. B.—J. M. G.—
T. AH. V.—R. H.—E. M.—S. J. McI.—W. G.—J. H. A.—
F. W. H.—W. W. S.—H. B. P.—C. A. J.—T. J. B.—R. B. N.
—J. B. L.—H. U.—E. G.—G. N.—A. H.—E. B.

CoRRESPONDENTS Will please to append their own names, or
initials, to their communications, which may be withheld
from publication if desired; but no notice whatever can be
taken of anonymous contributions.

INDEPENDENCE.

The private poor man hath cities, skips, canals, bridges, built for him.

He goes

to the post-office, and the human race run on his errands; to the book-shop, and the
human race read and write of all that happens for him; to the court-house, and

nations repair his wrongs.

He sets his house upon the road, and the human race go

forth every morning, and shovel out the snow, and cut a path for him.

Sone men delight to vaunt of their independence,

and some women, too, are not one whit behind
the other sex in their assertion of personal inde-
pendency. How often do we make use of words
and phrases in ordinary conversation which reflec-
tion would cause us either to repudiate or condemn.
* Independence” is one of these, for in reality there
is no such a thing as absolute independence in
creation. Itis true that one man may flourish in
circumstances and conditions in which he is less
dependent upon the will and caprice of others; but,
after all, his independence is only relative. There
is a very comfortable association of this word in the
announcement that such an one is “possessed of
independent means.” Never having realized such
a consummation in our own proper persons, we
shall not call its realitics in question, nor deem such
independence a myth; relative though it may be,
its relations are good. It is easy enough in the
common affairs of life to observe how a man is
dependent upon the vicissitudes of trade, and the
deeds of other men; how his own equanimity
depends upon the digestion of his dinner; how
much the quality of his beef has depended upon his
butcher; how his butcher has depended upon the
markets; how the markets have depended upon a
hundred other circumstances linked together in a
chain; and how this chain is woven into such a net-
work of dependence that small and remote events
exert their influences in all directions. The first
dead cow of the Rinderpest is now denouncing
independence with golden arguments drawn from
the pockets of thousands of beef-eaters.

In the lower walks of life, amongst the humblest
of creatures, there are unceasing examples of
dependence. Early in the spring unusually large
numbers of queen wasps prognosticated a prolific
year, and yet the numbers have been so few that it
is likely to become an event worthy of remembrance.
Had the queens been independent, as queens are
supposed to be, we should have swarmed with wasps.
And the multiplicity of flies, again, with which we
have been favoured, is, in part at least, the conse-
quence of a minority of wasps.

R. W. EMERSON.

Cabbages and brocoli are vegetables which have
many foes. Some bipeds delight to devour them at
dinner, but a host of caterpillars struggle for their
share. If the stock of caterpillars should prepon-
derate, then the dinner-table must be left bare.
But the caterpillars are not independent. An army
of winged enemies puncture their bodies, which
become the ultimate home of a brood of Ichneu-
mons, destined to puncture and keep in check a
future race of caterpillars and protect the vegetables
for the table of man. In this instance the proud
and independent burgomaster owes his boiled
cabbage to the assiduity of a little fly. Réaumur
found that of thirty caterpillars of the Cabbage
Butterfly, twenty-five were destroyed by a species
of Microgaster. Very recently the Archbishop of
Bordeaux has alluded publicly to the great dearth
of cabbages in that district, causing the vegetable
to disappear even from the tables of the rich, the
ultimate occasion of which he attributes to the
wholesale destruction of small birds.

In articles of clothing, as well as food, until we
return to the pristine simplicity of our first pro-
genitors, we must rest content to be dependent in
almost every direction. As it is, our hatter will
inform us that one insect furnishes the external
material, and another the scarcely less important
dressing for the body; and that for a hat we are
dependent not only upon the larve of the silk moth,
and the proper development of mulberry leaves,
but also upon the minute lac-insect which punctures
the branches of the fig and the jujube in the forests
of India.

Shall we vaunt of independence when a prepon-
derance of hop mildew may rob us of our “ bitter
beer; when a prolific mould may spoil all our
potatoes; when murrain or deficient root crops may
make beef scarce; or an American quarrel double
the price of cotton.

Neither can the fair sex give a much more
favourable account of their independence when the
chosts of all the birds from whom they have plucked
feathers to adorn themselves arise to condemn them.
The little quadrupeds of the weasel tribe that have

R

249

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Nov. 1, 1865.

lent their robes to keep them warm. The oysters
that have gasped and yielded shells to make them
buttons. The skins taken from the backs of kids,
lambs, and other subservient animals, to furnish
gloves and boots; and the silken thread spun from
the entrails of a little grub, dyed with the product
of gas tar, or the galls produced by a minute
‘Cynips.

Rather let us say that we are dependent upon the
whole of creation, and that much depends upon us;
that there is a mutual dependence one upon the
other, and all have their duties to perform “in that
station of life unto which it has pleased God to call
them.” To talk of independence, in this sense, is
but to lay bare our ignorance, and to deny the great
fact upon which all the operations of nature are
based, of mutual dependence for the good of all.
“ All the parts incessantly work into each other’s
hands for the profit of man. The wind sows the
seed; the sun evaporates the sea; the wind blows
the vapour to the field; the ice on the other side of
the planet, condenses rain on this; the rain feeds
the plant; the plant feeds the animal; and thus
the endless circulations of the Divine charity nourish
man.”

THE ROCK WHISTLER.

aes Hoary Marmot (Arctomysokanaganus), or,
as styled by the trappers and fur-traders,
the “ Rock Whistler,” lives on the very summit of
the Rocky Mountains.

If there is a spot, on the face of the globe, more
dismal, solitary, inhospitable, and uninviting than
another, that spot is where this most accomplished
siffleur resides ; and it is not by any means a matter
to be wondered at, that so very little is to be found,
in works on natural history, relating to this little
anchorite’s habits.

Years have rolled by since I first heard, and
then saw, the Rock Whistler af home, but the scene,
in its every detail, is still vividly impressed on my
memory; and the story may be worth relating.

Our camp—the camp of the Boundary Commis-
sion—was placed in a snug gap, a little distance
from the Kootanir Pass, on the west side of the
Rocky Mountains; altitude, 8,000 feet above the
sea-level. About a mile from the camp was the
terminal point of the Boundary line (as far as our
Commission were concerned), the Lake of the
Woods being its real termination—a line not yet

“marked and defined.

it was near midsummer, yet the mornings were
cold and chilly, though the midday was scorching
hot. I started soon after sunrise, to have the
benefit of the cool, fresh morning air, my purpose
being to climb the craggy ascent that led up to the
actual summit, or watershed.

It was not by any means a dangerous thing to do,

—“clinging to beetling cliffs, overhanging giddy
heights, a single false step, and the daring
adventurer plunges into unfathomable space,”—
nothing half so sensational or romantic in my case.
It was simply leg-aching, tiresome, scrambling work.
The grass, being dry, it polished the soles of my
mocassins, until they became like burnished metal,
so that progression, up the long green slopes, was
much the same as it would be, up an ice slant, at an
angle of 45° with skates on. I got up at last, and,
feeling somewhat fagged, seated myself on a flat
rock, unslung my rifle, lighted my pipe, and had a
good look at everything round about me.

The sun had crept steadily up into the clear
sky, unflecked by a single cloud; the mists that
in early morning hung about the ravines, and
partially veiled the peaks and angles of the vast
piles of rocks, had vanished, revealing them in all
their naked immensity. Below me was a lake,
smooth as a mirror, but the dark, green, cold look
of the water hinted at unfathomable depth. To my
left, and almost hanging over me, was an immense
glacier, and as the glowing sun-rays slanted down
on its crystal surface, each ray seemed at once
reduced to its prismatic colours, giving the entire
mass the appearance of being a heap of broken
rainbows. Tiny rivulets, fed by its drip, wound their
way, like threads of silver, between the rocks and
through the grass, to reach the lake; the outflow of
which eventually found its way into the Atlantic
Ocean. Behind me rose a sharp ridge of rocks,
clothed in snow, which, as it thawed, grew into
mountain streams; these into rivers, that, mingling
eventually into one great whole, become the
mighty Columbia, that finds its home in the blue
Pacific.
~ Twas not so much impressed with the beauty of
the landscape, as awed by its solemn, substantial,
massive magnificence. It seemed to absorb me;
I felt as a minute marine zoophyte might be
supposed to feel if engulphed in the capacious
mouth of a Greenland whale. Few living things
were to be seen, save a group of Ptarmigan, sun-
ning themselves on a ledge of rock; a couple of
Mountain Goats (Antilocapra Americana), browsing
by the lake; anda few Grey-crowned Linnets,—birds
seldom seen but at great altitudes. There were also
the recent traces of a Grizzly or Black Bear, that
had been munching down the wild Angelica. A
solemn stillness, that appeared almost tangible,
intensified the slightest sound to a supernatural
loudness: even a loosened stone rattling down the
hill-side made me start; there was no buzz and hum
of busy insects, or chirp of birds, or splash of torrents
to break the silence; the very wind seemed afraid
to moan: it was death-like silence to the very
letter.

As I puffed away, silent as all about me, suddenly
a sharp, ringing, clear, piercing whistle that awoke

Nov. 1, 1865.1

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

245

the echoes far and near, thoroughly roused me, and
sent all other thoughts to the rout. As I could see
nothing, I deemed it expedient to remain quiet;
cocking my rifle, I lay on the grass, and waited
patiently for a repetition of the performance. I had
not long to tax my patience: again came the same
sound, more shrill than was ever the whistle of a
locomotive; then another, and another, joined in
the refrain, until the place, instead of being steeped
in silence, resembled the gallery of a theatre on
Boxing-night. I very soon spied one of the per-
formers seated on the top of a large rock; the
position, that of a begging dog; with his fore-feet
he was busy cleaning his whiskers, smoothing his
fur, and clearly going in for a somewhat elaborate
“toilet; perhaps he was going a-wooing, or to a
morning concert, or for a constitutional, or a lounge
on the “marmots’ mile;” but whatever his inten-
tions, I regret to say, they were frustrated. Solely
in the cause of science I had to stop him; resting
my rifle on a flat rock, as I lay on the ground, I
drew a steady bead on the hapless musician; and
the sharp crack, as it rang amid the rocks, was his
death-knell. Rapidly reloading, I scampered off to
secure my prize. I am afraid there was not much
pity felt; delight, at getting anew animal, was
uppermost. Smoothing his fur, I plugged the shot-
holes, examined him closely, measured him, admired
his handsome shape, bright grey coat, and brushy
tail; investigated his teeth and claws; walked back
and had a look at him from a distance; then set to
work and skinned him. You can see him also,
if you like to visit the British Museum, where this
very victim is “set up” and placed amidst the
marmots; his name, together with that of his
destroyer, black-lettered, on the board to which he is
affixed. At the sound of the rifle, every single one
of his companions took sensation headers into their
holes; and came not out again during my stay on
this occasion,

The length from the nose to the root of the tail
was a trifle over 2] inches. The tail, 6 inches. Head,
oval and very flat. Nose, short and broad, thickly
covered with fine hairs. The cutting (incisor) teeth,
large, strong, and of a yellow colour. Whiskers,
black and long. Ears, nearly hid by the fur on the
neck and vertex. Claws, strong and curved; are
admirable digging implements. The general tint is
that of rusty grey, with a blackish conspicuous
band extending from the back of the head down the
shoulders. Space forbids a more minute detail of
specific characters.

In habits, they are essentially social animals,
inasmuch as they live in little colonies; but unlike
some of the prairie marmots, these Rock Whistlers,
when married, have a house to themselves, and if
blessed with a family—a blessing seldom denied
them,—they kick out the youthful pledges of affec-
tion, as soon as they can nibble up a living for them-

selves. The burrow, which is quite two feet in
diameter, is dug invariably in a slanting direction,
generally at the base of a rock, standing up like a
pedestal, on which they love to sit, and whistle.
Wide trails, beaten like roads, lead in all directions
from their holes, to the feeding and drinking places ;
their hours of repast, sensibly chosen, are early
in the morning, when the grass and herbage is wet
withwdew, and late in the evening; and as the sun
sinks behind the snowy hills, tinting with rosy light
each crag and rugged outline, the vesper hymn of
the Rock Whistlers sounds from every grassy
plateau—the sole good-bye to departing day, heard
amid the weird, untrodden wilds of the Rocky
Mountains.

For only a few months, during summer, is this
quaint little miner permitted to revel in the luxury
of light. Seven dreary months out of the twelve sleep
overpowers him, and keeps watch and ward over his
drowsy existence. What a wise and wonderful pro-
vision to secure from utter extinction animals com-
pelled to live in hyperboreal regions, is hybernation!
Growing wondrously fat during the “ golden summer
days,” they retire, when the nipping cold and
deep snow comes, into burrows, lined with soft,
warm bedding, become semi-torpid, and literally a
living stove, for the fuel, stored as fat, is slowly
burned up in the lungs, giving out heat, just as coal
would in a fire-grate. Thus the Rock Whistler
heeds not the icy blasts, that, sweeping ruthlessly
through gorge and glen, are powerless to even
breathe on him, as he sleeps on and on, safe from
every harm, until Sol comes to set him once more
free.

The Red-skin is the Whistler’s most implacable
enemy ; he never tires of hunting and trapping the
little animal, delighting to use his jacket in the
fabrication of rugs. ‘The hair being thick, the
marmot-robe keeps out both cold and wet, and
stands an immense amount of wear and rough usage.
Much as the savage likes the coat of his captive, he
likes his carcase even better. When skinned, a long
peeled stick is thrust through the body, from tail to
head; then placed slantwise, one end being fast in
the ground, the treasured morsel is slowly roasted
over a gentle fire.

I can bear testimony to the delicacy of roasted
marmot, it beats an Ostend rabbit hollow—all
honour to the Red-skin’s taste! With a hunter’s
proverbial hunger, and with good “ digestion
waiting on appetite,’ and health on both, a
dinner off a roasted Rock Whistler, washed down
with a pull at the crystal stream, is a repast many
a gourmand, who by constant gorging has worn out
health, appetite, and digestion, would give gladly
half his life to relish, as I have relished it, by
the lodge fire of the savage of the far North-

west.
J. K. Lorp, F.Z8.

R 2

244,

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Nov. 1, 1865.

A CHAPTER FROM THE LIFE OF
A VOLVOX,

DROP of water is a world to the minute

beings that inhabit it. We place it under
the microscope, and are astonished to find that it is
a world teeming with life, and that the forms of
life are not less beautiful and scarcely less varied
than those of the higher beings that dwell in the
great world around us, and therein exercise their
wonderful instincts.

There are various instincts at work amongst the
tiny inhabitants of that little world, though, on
account of the apparent simplicity of their structure,
we are often inclined to think their actions more the
result of mechanical than of instinctive power,
perhaps only because our microscopes are not even
yet perfect enough to reveal all the complexity which
really exists.

I once had the good fortune to observe an
incident, which I do not think has ever been

recorded before, in which two of the inhabitants |

of a drop of water—the Rotifer and the Volvox—
played avery curious part. Whether what I saw
was the result of instinct, as I would fain believe,
or whether it was mere caprice or a chance action,
I must leave my readers to judge for themselves.

All who read ScrencE Gosstp do not profess to
be learned naturalists, and they will perhaps like to
know what sort of creatures these Rotifers and
Volvoces are. The first is undoubtedly an animal,
and one of the most active that you wiil find ina
drop of water; darting about here and there, poking
his nose into every corner, rolling about like a
porpoise, and, Proteus-like, assuming various forms.
He is put by naturalists into the lowest division of
the animal kingdom,—the division Radiata ; and, by
some, into the lowest class of that division,—the
class Infusoria,* which consists entirely of minute
animalcules, some of which are so low in the scale
of creation as to have only one organ, and that a
stomach; the whole animal, in fact, being a stomach,
with an opening at one end for a mouth, and some-
times not even that,

The Infusoria, however, are not all of them of
quite so simple a structure as this; and amongst
them ave a number of species of our friends the
Rotifers, so called because around their mouth they
have two or more sets of cilia or hairs placed in
circles, and which, being in constant motion, have
the appearance of revolving wheels. They have the
power of stretching themselves out and retracting
like worms; and their tail acts as a claw, by which
they can anchor themselves to a leaf or anything
in the water; and they can likewise draw in their

* Others place the Rotifers in the class Annelide; others
again in the class Crustacea.

green spots where the lines cross,

wheels at pleasure. Under the microscope there is
seen, within their transparent bodies, a complicated
arrangement of digestive organs. Here is a drawing
of one of the Rotifers,

Fig.1. Rotifer vulgaris.

The Volvox is a very different object. It is just
large enough to be seen with the naked eye, when
the water containing it is held up to the light, and

| appears like a green speck floating in the water ;
| Indeed, after some practice in looking for minute

objects, it is possible to fish a single one out of a
wine-glassful of water with a teaspoon. <A low

| power of the microscope is sufficient to reveal one

of the most beautiful objects that it is possible
to conceive,—a globe of the most delicate green-
colour, formed of a transparent membrane, which is
marked with a network of fine lines, with darker
Within are seen
smaller Volvoces precisely similar to the parent, and
sometimes within these, smaller ones still. The

Fig. 2. Volvow globator.

Volvox, by means of a constant rolling motion,
moves slowly through the water from place to place.
When viewed with a higher power, the green spots
are found to be bunches of delicate hairs, and pro
bably the constant motion of these propels the
Volvox through the water,

Noy. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

245

If the Volvox be broken up by pressing it tightly
between glasses, its outer membrane is resolved into
a number of small cells, each crowned with a bunch
of hairs, and each capable of spontaneous motion
in the water. Naturalists are not yet agreed whether
this beautiful creature is an animal ora plant ; most,
I think, are inclined to place it in the animal king-
dom, though its powers of motion do not neces-
sarily exclude it from the vegetable kingdom, as it

plants are capable of moving spontaneously.

The strange circumstance that I witnessed, and |

am about to describe, is not, perhaps, the way, but
one of the ways, in which the Volvox gives birth to
its young, if it be an animal, or is propagated, if it
be a plant.

Thad under the microscope a drop of pond-water
containing a Volyox, apparently so ripe, that eight
smaller Volvoces within seemed to fill it almost to
bursting. Whilst I was looking at it, two Rotifers,
one larger than the other, came across the field of
view, swimming so closely together, that they looked
just as if they were arm in arm. Presently the
Volvox attracted their attention; so they came
close up, and began swimming round and round it,

always keeping their heads towards it, touching it |

every now and then, and then rebounding from it.
After a short time the smaller Rotifer went away,
and then the other, after hovering about for a little
while, attacked the Volvox in good earnest. He
fixed on one side, and continued pecking at it, as it
were, with great rapidity and perseverance, till in
about ten minutes he had succeeded in making a
small lacerated opening in the external membrane.
I, of course, thought the Rotifer was making a meal
of the Volvox, as perhaps, in the first instance, he
was; but, to my great astonishment, he now sud-
denly changed the nature of his labours, and began
swimming round and round the object of his atten-
tion, constantly butting against it, and rebounding
from it, till, in about the space of ten minutes more,
he had, by means of the butting process, so com-
pressed the side opposife to where he had made the
opening, that one of the internal balls was forced
out into the water.

Still the Rotifer continued his labours, and in a
little while a second ball was excluded. Aftera
time another escaped, and then a fourth; the
Rotifer, all the while working in precisely the same
manner. These last took a longer time in being
expelled than the first, for the Volvox being
partially emptied, greater external pressure was
required.

Having thus helped four young Volvoces into the |

world, the Rotifer seemed to think he could be of
no further use, and went away. And now the
remaining four balls, having plenty of room, rolled
about inside the parent, and when they chanced to
come close to the opening, rolled out into the open

| place, then the
_ creatures as low in the scale of creation as these
is well known that certain parts of many undoubted |

water. Thus three more escaped; but the last I
never saw expelled, though I watched for several
hours.

T have never been able to make further observa-
tions on what I have thought a very curious subject.
If the facts that I have described were not the
result of a chance action, but are such as often take
amount of instinct displayed in

animalcules, is truly wonderful, and quite on a par
with many facts that we observe to take place in
the habits of animals that we think to be far above

| them in intelligence.

But what about them is not wonderful? Their
forms—their minuteness—their life; and the same
Hand that bestowed these attributes upon the
smallest of His creatures, could certainly as readily
give them instincts to perform the duties of life that
He has destined them to fulfil.

Ropert Hontanp.

PHOSPHORESCENCE OF THE SEA,

N Sunday evening last (October 8th) I had an

opportunity of witnessing this singular and
beautiful phenomenon on a very extensive scale at
Hastings. Sitting at the window, I saw the whole
surface of the water near the shore covered with large
patches of brilliant light. At first I thought it was
the refiection of the moon, but I found that the
moon had not risen, moreover, the whole of the sky

| within view was covered with dark and threatening

rain-clouds. Flashes of lightning, at first at rare
intervals, afterwards nearly continuously, seemed not
to alter the position of the patches of light, but to
tun them from the liquid fire (which they looked
like in the twilight) to dead silver. I then came to
the conclusion that it must be phosphorescence, and
sallied out to learn what I could from some of the
boatmen or coastguardsmen. JI found, however,
that they were far from lucid, or agreed on the
point. One had seen it “once before this year;”
another “did not recollect seeing it before at
Hastings;” another had seen it “very often.”
They all agreed, however, in the expression, “ The
water burns.” Failing in getting any satisfactory
information out of my nautical friends, I took to
speculation, and attributed the appearance to the
decomposing animal and vegetable refuse which is
thrown on the shore. I had, however, to give up
this hypothesis, for the tide was coming in very
strongly, and, to my surprise, I found that the
luminous appearance, instead of coming nearer, as
it would have done had it originated as I supposed,
went farther out to sea, and, on looking through a
glass, I found the whole surface, as far as the eye
could range, covered more cr less with large spots
of light. I then gave up guessing, and determined

| as soon as I arrived in London to consult the

246

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Nov. 1, 1865.

Popular Science Review, where I knew there was an
article by the celebrated naturalist, De Quatrefages,
on this very subject. The article is far too long for
reproduction in ScIENCE Gossip; but some of the
readers may perhaps feel interested in knowing that
M. De Quatrefage’s experiments tend to show that
the luminous appearance is owing to the presence of
living creatures, called Noctiluce. Many theories
seem to have obtained credence from time to time.
The article in question says, “ Ancient navigators
appear to have attributed the light which is developed
on the surface of the water to what may be termed
‘ordinary eauses,’ and they believed it to be due to
various atmospheric phenomena. ‘To them phos-
phorescence was the meteor of the sea. Abbé Nollet
sees in it nothing more than a modification of elec-
trical phenomena. Bujon refers it to a disengage-
ment of electricity. Tingry compares it to the
fluorescence of the diamond, and thinks that the sea
absorbs solar light during the day, which is liberated
at night. It has also been attributed to ‘ phosphoric
fires,’ and to the ignition of bubbles of hydrogen
bursting at the surface of the water, &c., &c. As
far back, however, as 1705, Professor Viviani, of
Genoa, discovered fourteen species of luminous
animalcule. ‘To their presence he attributed the
phosphorescence of the seas of his country. In our
day everything tends to prove that the sea possesses
its phosphorescent fauna, as does the land.”
Some of M. De Quaterfages’ experiments were
very striking. He says, “I took some water from a
very brilliant wave, and with it filled a tube one
decimetre (about four inches) in height. After it
had been permitted to stand a few minutes, the
layer formed by the aggregation of Noctiluce was

one and a half centimetres in thickness; conse-
quently, the animalcule constituted a seventh of the
whole mass of fluid.’ He also says, “I have
subjected luminous water to filtration (a rather fine
handkerchief suffices for the experiment). The
Noctiluee remained in the linen, to which they
imparted a brilliant light, whilst, on the other hand,
the filtered liquid presented no signs of phos-
phorescence, notwithstanding every means employed

to promote it.” Some of our readers may, perhaps,
be interested in his description of the animal. He
says, “The Woctiluce are microscopical animalcule,
bearing a pretty general resemblance to little melons
deeply indented at one end. Near this depression
is fixed an appendage, which the animalcule moves
slowly to and fro, swaying from right to left. The
body is so completely transparent as to admit of its
structure being studied in its minutest details. Near
the appendage these membranes present a minute
orifice, which serves as the outlet for a little mass of
pellucid, homogeneous, and finely granulated sub-
stance, which is prolonged into the internal part of
the body. From the mass which forms, as it were,
a centre, there radiate in every direction a number
of extensions, which become more and more ramified
as they proceed, and of which the ultimate in-
definitely multiplied ramifications spread themselves
over the whole inner surface of the animal.” M. De
Quatrefages then describes the animal very minutely,
and adds, “Examined by a power of twenty or
thirty diameters, the illuminated portion of the body
of the Noetiluce presents a uniformly bright aspect.
With sixty diameters, a number of small but
brilliant scintillations become visible, detaching
themselves, as it were, from parts of what appears
to be a pale luminous background, and these scin-
tillations come and go with the rapidity of lightning.
An enlargement of one hundred and fifty diameters,
however, reveals the true character of the phe-
nomenon. It then becomes obvious that the light
emitted from the whole body, or any of its parts,
is composed of a vast number of instantaneous
scintillations, closely approximating to one another

at the centre of the “phosphorescent” portions

but disseminated and clearly distinguishable at the
edges. Occasionally there may be seen isolated
sparks at the extreme limit of the luminous part, or
even beyond it. Those of our readers who care to
go further into this subject will do well to consult
M. Quatrefages’ article.

BROMLEY: AND WHAT I FOUND
THERE.

ai Gere and many a visit has the writer paid to
this pretty neighbourhood, and very many
have been the microscopical treasures there found.

One day last summer, being unable to get a com-
panion, he set out alone, resolved to make the best
of circumstances, such as they were. No sooner
had the train started than it began to rain, and it
continued raining, sometimes heavily, during the
rest of the day; being provided, however, with a
waterproof cape, the inconvenience was not great.

Diptera, &c., being scarce in such weather, there
was no alternative but to search the horseponds and
ditches in the vicinity of the path, in the hope of
obtaining aquatic larvee.

Nov. 1, 1865.

Collectors thus employed, are generally objects of
ereat interest on the part of bakers’ and butchers’
-boys running their masters’ errands, and of the
public at large, if the weather permits them so to
be. In the present instance, as I stood over a pond,
occasionally making a dive with the water-net at
something which rose for an instant to the surface,
these parties stopped. One was heard to say in an
undertone to another who had been looking on for
some time, “ What is that cove catching?” The
reply was, “Don’t know,—think it’s tiddlers. O!
there! he’s got something; come and see.” Then
they came closer, looked into the bottles, and made
sundry comments to one another on what they saw.
Occasionally their comments were diverting, but
more frequently otherwise.

Perplexed whether to box ears all round, or to
wait till the rain should tire out their inquisitiveness,
it was a relief to notice that two individuals equipped
with rods and lines, evidently thinking this a good
place for their sport, stopped short in their walk,
and got out their tackle and commenced operations.

Now, it was more than probable that the only
representatives of the finny race in that piece of water
—seeing that it was only a horsepond—were stickle-
backs, or, as the boys said, “ tiddlers :” consequently,
the prospect of “good sport” was not great. Never-
theless, the anglers perseveringly plied their vocation
for a good hour, not even getting one of the above-
named fishes during the time. Perhaps I should not
tell this much of their exploits, because I felt under
obligation to them, since their arrival had diverted
attention away from my proceedings.

To be pestered by small boys, inquisitive old
ladies, or practical jokers, is the inevitable fate of
the collector. His bottles and apparatus invest his
proceedings with mystery, or furnish materials for
ridicule. It is not very gratifying, for instance, when
you are busy in some field by a roadside, getting
specimens out of a pond, to hear the alarm given,
“Stop him; he’s going to drown himself,” and find
that you are the individual referred to. “Vow
populi, vox diaboli,’ you mentally ejaculate; but
you settle down, and, like John Bunyan, grin and
bear it.

Plenty of whirligig beetles (Gyrinus natator) were
obtained from the surface of the river Ravensbourne,
which runs through a field close by the Shortlands
Station. Aslide containing a good specimen of each
of the three pairs of legs of this water beetle, com-
mon almost everywhere, is well worth the trouble of
preparation. They must be mounted in balsam, and
form a beautiful object for either transmitted or
polarised light.

In a horsepond just out of the town of Bromley,
on the left-hand side of the road going towards
Kes¢on, were caught nine Dyfiscus larvee—three full-
crown, and six small. Experience having shown

that these larve are anything but friendly-disposed |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

247

towards each other, they were severally wrapped in
grass, and taken home in this condition.

The ferocity of these tyrants of fish-ponds is quite
equal to their powers. Once I kept one in a basin
of water for a fortnight, during which time he ate
seven or eight tadpoles, besides sundry earthworms,
and grew so large that he cast his skin twice. If a
small stick were presented to him, he would grasp
the end boldly; that mode of testing his bravery
being deemed more prudent than offering him a
finger, which, judging by his manner of despatching
tadpoles, might have heen painfully made acquainted
with the sharp pomts of his mandibles. One gripe
was sufficient to settle any tadpole, and was always
taken through the sides, apparently quite transfixing
the poor little wretch, which quivered while life
lasted, its enemy meanwhile keeping tight hold and
sucking its juices, till nothing but the blanched skin
was left to tell the tale.

Earthworms were more trouble to him, since,
owing to their violent struggles, he was obliged to
divide the larger ones and eat them piecemeal.

Perhaps the most interesting part in the structure
of the larva of Dytiscus is the trachee. Tracheal
tubes of insects at all times are beautiful mi-
croscopic preparations, and those to be obtained
from this ferocious creature are among the finest.
A careful incision with the fine scissors down the
centre of the back, and repeated washing, after a
prolonged soaking in acetic acid, enables one to
remove them from the skin of the insect almost
entire, provided the hand be light and a sufficient
amount of patience be used.

Fig. 1. Larva of Hphemeré.
6, Natural size.
Fig. 2. Larva of Dytiscus.

The only implements employed by the writer are,
the scissors to cut the skin open, the forceps to
detach the trachese which lie along each side, and a
camel’s-hair brush for washing and occasionally
assisting the forceps. Of course, the insect must be

248

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Nov. 1, 1865.

pinned down to a loaded cork, under water all the
time.

When obtained, the tubes may be mounted dry,
in fluid or in balsam. The latter plan is the best,
none of the others offering so much security from
ultimate deterioration or damage.

From the same pond were obtained plenty of

Lphemere larve, enabling me to add to the cabinet a |

slide of ene showing tolerably well the tracheal
system. A perfect specimen of this object is ex-
tremely difficult to obtain, owing to the fragility of
the leaflets; but even a mediocre one is worth while.
No caustic potash is necessary. The insect, after
being killed in hot water, must be simply arranged,
dried, aud mounted in balsam. ‘The chance of
success will be the greater if it is spread out on the
thin glass cover in preference to the glass slide, as

is usual, and then, after drying, inverted into adrop |

of balsam.

When mounted, the parabolic condenser, or other
dark ground illumination, will be the most effective
mode of viewing, especially under the binocular
microscope.

Great advantage to the mounter will be obtained
if he will first look at the living larva in an
animaleule cage. This is a sight easily seen, and
one of the most beautiful that the microscope can
afford.

The remainder of the day was occupied in a walk
to the bog at Keston, known to most microscopical
observers, from the abundance of Desmidiace to be
found there, and several hours in the evening were
spent in turning over the contents of the bottles
filled from the little pools of water in the cattle
tracks. Wonderful indeed they were !

8S. J. McIntire.

JHLLY-FISHES,

BOUT a fortnight ago, while the weather was
“yet fine and the treacherous sea smooth, and
the breeze so gentle as scarcely to produce a ripple
on the surface of the water, | rowed from the haven

Vere
at Tynemouth, to visit some wonderful caves which
have been hollowed out of the limestone rocks by
the action of the waves, about three miles down the
coast south of the Tyne. As I rowed along, I
several times encountered magnificent specimens of

| of Cyanea chrysuora.

the large jelly-fish, known to science by the name of
Cyanea chrysuora. Few marine animals with which
I am conversant are more singular and beautiful
than this extraordinary creature. The umbrella-like
disk, by the alternate expansions and contractions
of which the animal glides along, is, in this species,
marked with fine brown lines, which radiate from
the centre, and the numerous tentacles and waving
appendages which are suspended from the under-
side of the disk, float gracefully hither and thither,
and but for their motion in the water would, from
their delicacy and transparency, be scarcely percepti-
bleto the sight. The colour of these highly-attenuated
organs, as well as that of the other portions of the
creature, being a pellucid cream, or sometimes a
faint brown or fawn. Who would imagine, while
gazing at these transparent, evanescent creatures,
that they possess the power to inflict pam? Yet
such is really the fact ; hence another common name
of these jelly-fishes, that of ‘“sea-nettles.’” The
stinging, or at least irritating, properties, reside in
the tentacular appendages, and a curious instance of
the smarting pain occasioned by contact with them
occurred here lately. It was related to me by the
boatman, who, upon observing the interest with
which I examined one of the specimens, said,“ Them’s
jelly-fishes, sir, and some of ’em stingsawful.” He
then went on to say, that a few days ago he took a
gentleman out in his boat to have a bathe in deep
water, who, being a good swimmer, took a first-rate
“header,” and in doing so plunged directly upon the
disk of a large specimen of Cyanea chrysuora, a
species to which, par excellence, the term “stinger”
may be applied. The poor jelly-fish, although
smashed to pieces, amply revenged its death, for as
his unintentional destroyer was drying himself after
his bathe, he said to the boatman, “ I am afraid the
water has not agreed with me this morning, for my
back itches terribiy ;” and the pain increased so
violently that, upon his return home, the victim to
jelly-fish acquaintanceship found it necessary to take
to his bed. The boatman, expecting what would
happen, called in the course of the day to inquire
after the gentleman, and, upon learning his condition,
requested to be admitted, when he at once explained
the cause of his suffering; upon which, as the boat-
man said to me, “the gen’!’man ’ops out 0” bed, and
says he, ‘ why didn’t you tell me that afore?’ and
down he sits, and writes out a ’scripshun, which I
takes to the chemist, and gets a hointment to rub his
back wi’; law, sir, the jelly-fish had stung his back
as red as scarlet. Hows’ever the stuff as I rubbed
him wi’ cured him; and by night he was all right
ag’in.” Ihave often heard people doubt the sting-
ing properties of the Meduse or jelly-fishes, but from
my owz experience of the fact, I would strongly
advise bathers, who may be sceptical on this head,
not to trust their limbs in contact with the tentacles
W. H. Grattany.

Nov. 1, 1865.]

COMPOUND EYES.

I THINK if your correspondent, H. Vokes, comes
to study the eyes of insects a little further, he will
see that they are something far different from organs
of touch, which, of all the strange ideas of the
present day, scems to me to be passing strange.
Paley teaches us that a piece of mechanism adapted
to a certain purpose will show that its maker
intended it to serve that purpose, and not an alto-
gether different one. Nov, let us trace the eyes of
animals from one to another. Spiders, moncculi,
crustacea, and insects. We shall find a likeness,
though a difference. We shall find their organisation
such as is adapted to visual organs; that amongst
other things they are capable of refraction, like
lenses, able in a beautiful manner to transmit light,
and form correct images of objects—some moveable,
some immoveable. Those that are moveable consist
mostly of one or few lenses; the immoveable ones
of many, and these not ona level surface, but on a
curve, or less spherical one. Now, let us look at
the eye of a dragon-fly. It first consists of a cornea
composed of some thousands of lenses, for their
action shows them to be truly such. Put a piece of
one under the microscope, and direct it to the
windows, trees, or human beings, some little dis-
tance off, and you will see all as through a miniature
telescope; or put a piece over some scales of butter-

flies, and you may make it act as a power of the

instrument, that is, it will show the objects magnified.
Now, from each of these lenses proceeds a tube
lined with a dark pigment. They are of a conical

shape, as they must be, to converge regularly towards
one point—the retina, or nervous centre. To go
further into the mechanism of them would take up
too much time and room; but in a rough way a

section of a fly’s eye will somewhat resemble the |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

249

| proceeding from it; and c, the retina. Now, we

know how a single eye acts, and how it can be
directed from one object to another; but in the eye
of a fly, which is immovable, this cannot be done,
and were there no means of preventing it, truly a
fly would have nothing but a confused vision—a
multitude of images of the same object; but from
the drawing we see how beautifully this is prevented,
yet with a considerable extent of vision. Let 2, y, 0, p
represent four objects opposite the four lenses of
the cornea (a), draw a straight line of light from
each object. That from 2 passes down the whole
length of tube 1, but the light falls on the dark
pigment in No. 2, &c., and is absorbed, and so in the
other focals. The light from z, in like manner passes
without interruption to the retina in 2, but is ab-
sorbed in the others before it reaches it: and so on
with o and ». In m the light goes a little farther down
the tube but still is absorbed ere it reaches the retina.
So that, notwithstanding the multitude of lenses, we
see that no object is visible to the insect except that,
the light from which can proceed without stoppage
down the whole length of the tube. I should
suppose the hairs on a fly’s eye are something like
our eyelashes, and not so many thousands of organs
of touch. Try and catch a fly, watch it, and then
see if it don’t show most acute vision. Consider
how little the mechanism of a fly’s eye is fitted for
touch, how well its lenses act, and we can hardly
doubt but that light and not touch is intended by its
Maker to act upon it; although we may not, with
our present knowledge, just perceive the why and
the wherefore it is formed as itis. Surely it is no
wonder the poor dragon flies were troubled and per-
plexed to know what to do or where to go to with
their eyes blinded. Cover any one’s eyes, and put
him into an open field, and see how utterly unable
he is to guide himself straight, how confused he
instantly becomes. - BLT. Score,

Mountains or THE Moon.—It curiously enough
happens that we were acquainted with the height of
the lunar mountains before those on our own earth,
or before the barometer was invented wherewith io
measure them. Galileo estimated the height of some
of the mountains to be nearly 29,000 feet high, and
in recent times it has been found from aciual
measurement that one named Doerfe/, at the southern

part of the moon, is nearly 25,000 feet high. Up-
wards of twenty are higher than Mont Blane. The

highest peak on the earth is 28,180 feet ; but if we
compare the size of the earth and moon, we shall
find that the proportion of the diameter of the latter
to the height of its most elevated mountain is as | to
454, whilst the same ratio on the earth is as 1 to
1,481. Some of the highest of the mountains on
the moon, as those of Newtor and Zycho, are of the

figure, in which a represents the cornea; 2, the tube | circular type.—Popular Science Review,

250

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Nov. 1, 1865.

Lg aS SN gt ONT ou

NEW ARCADIAN FIR.

{* the late Sir T. Wyse’s “Excursion in the
Peloponnesus,” just published by Day and
Son, an account is given of an interesting coni-
ferous tree, which is named Queen Amalia’s Fir
(Abies Regine Amalie). It was first described by
Dr. Heldreich, in 1860, and has only been found on
the mountains of Central Arcadia, where it forms
forests of considerable extent, at from 2,700 to 5,000
feet above the level of the sea. It is especially
remarkable for its peculiarity of pushing forth new
shoots and branches where the trunk has been cut.

“The Greek foresters, Messrs. Origoni and Bal-
samaki, first saw this singular tree when passing, on
a tour of inspection, near the village of Khrysovitza,
about nine miles from Tripolitza. They came to a
pine forest extending for eighteen miles in a north-
westerly direction across Mount Rhoudia (1,400 feet
high), and through the adjacent valleys as far as

Alouistena and Magouliana. Their surprise became
great at observing the countless branches that had
been lopped off at every variety of size and height
(doubtless by the neighbouring villagers for theirown

use), and which had again thrown forth new crests
around the broken parts. In some instances three
and four new shoots sprung up, the stems having the
thickness of a tree ; but, generally speaking, when
the central branch had been cut away, not only a new
top-shoot had grown, but two or three upright
branches rose anew, giving a chandelier-form to the
tree, often of very symmetrical proportions. . . .
“These firs, in favourable localities, attain the
height of fifty-five feet, the trunk having a diameter
of two or three feet. In those trees which have been
deprived of their original top-shoots, the new crests
and upright shoots often grow to eighteen or twenty
feet, whilst their lower part is one foot and a
quarter thick. These new shoots, however, are
of very unequal growth, and one of the number
usually develops itself to the prejudice of the
others. . . H. M. Queen Amalia sent one of her
gardeners, M. Bayer, to Arcadiato examine this fir,
aud he fully confirmed the report of the foresters,
bringing back with him to Athens ripe seeds and
several small trees showing this peculiarity. . .
he illustration, placed at our disposal by the
publishers, is from the work already named.

SEA-SIDE DIATOMACEA.

INCE Dr. Donkin in the Quarterly Journal of
Microscopical Science, vols. 5 and 6, recorded
lis discovery of several new and beautiful forms
of marine diatomaces, gathered from the open
Northumberland sea-beach, I have not seen any
published accounts of the best mode of gathering
free forms of marine diatomacee.
It may not, therefore, be uninteresting to the
readers of ScreNcE Gossip to be informed how
to recognise diatoms when they make their
appearance on the open sea-beach, how to gather
them free from admixture of dirt, and what the
principal forms are that may be gathered on
those parts of the beach which mark the high,
middle, and low tides. My experience in
gathering marine diatoms is confined to the
Northumberland coast, and to that, therefore,
the observations I am about to make particu-
larly apply, although there can be little doubt
that were the coasts on other parts of the United
Kingdom properly searched, similar and perhaps
more extensive varieties might be found on many of
them. Marine diatomacee may be obtained during
all periods of the year, but the months most favour-
able for obtaining them in great abundance are
April, May, August, and September; the days most
favourable are those that are clear and bright, with
considerable warmth in the sunshine; and the period
of the day, the afternoon or early evening, when the
sun has had an opportunity of exerting his full
influence on the exposed sea-beach.

Diatoms are found in greatest abundance on the

Nov. 1, 1865,]

edges of the sand-ripples on the sea-beach, where
the furrows left by the retired tide stand filled with
water. The edges of those furrows often present
a more or less dark ocherous brown appearance, and
that peculiar colour is caused by myriads of diatoms,
which, under ordinary circumstances, lie buried in
the sand, having risen to the surface attracted by
the sun’s light and heat. To prevent disappoint-
ment, it may be said that in searching for diatoms
on the beach, it is possible that for several days, or
it may be weeks, few or no indications of their
presence may appear; but if the search be continued
with perseverance, success will certainly reward the
investigation. It is difficult to account for the
changes which take place in the times and circum-
stances in which diatoms appear on the sea-coast.
Ihave seen them in great abundance in July and
August of one year, and in the next year, although
the weather was bright and appeared favourable,
they have not made their appearance in large
numbers until September or October, and then the
beach was covered with matter of a deep coffee-brown
colour, which, on being gathered and examined, was
found to consist entirely of diatomaceous frustules.
The apparatus requisite for hunting diatoms on
the sea-coast are, half-a-dozen two oz. bottles, one
four oz. bottle, with wide mouth, and an ordinary
dessert spoon. The best method of gathering is to
take the spoon, and with it shave off the ocherous
brown matter that lies on the surface and colours
the sand, put it, with the sand and water that are
taken up at the same time, into the wide-mouth
bottle. When the bottle has been half filled with
colouring matter, sand, &c., let it be well shaken;
the sand immediately subsides, and the water is left
tinged with a more or less deep cloudy-like brown,
all of which colouring matter consists of diatomacese.
When the bottle has been shaken, and the sand
allowed to subside, which it does almost instantly,
then the supernatant fluid should be poured into a
clean bottle, the contents of which would then con-
stitute the gathering; the sand may be thrown away,
and the large bottle cleaned in readiness for another
collection. The following new forms, together with
about one hundred others, registered in “ Smith’s
Synopsis,” and “ Pritchard’s Diatomacex,” are to
be had in large numbers near the high, middle, and
low tide marks. Near high tide mark Attheya
decora, Cocconeis excentrica, Navicula clepsydra, N.
trevelyana, Donkinia cuarinatum, &e.; and at the
middle and low tide zones, the following forms
abound :—Pleurosigma lanceolatum, P. arcuatum,
Donkinia rectum, D. carinatum, D. minutum, Drurid-
gia geminata, Toxonidea Gregoriana, T. insignis,
Lacillaria cursoria, &e., nearly all of which are very
beautiful, and the majority of them so delicately
marked as to afford the best possible means of
testing the excellence of first-class objectives.
Newcustle-on-Tyne. Tr. P. BARKAS,

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

251

“HOMES WITHOUT HANDS.”
Nee the recent and very

interesting volume on this subject, it is not

yet exhausted, Fresh facts may be gathered about
what has already been done, and result in the con-
templation of animal life in the highest phases of
its intellectual or instinctive development. The
infinite variety of means by which one end is to be
attained is marvellous. To multiply its kind, and
provide a home and shelter for its future offspring.
is the great idea which pervades all forms of life,
This is more or less elaborated in different indi-
viduals, but in all the same object is paramount.
Two or three instances may be given here, which
possess in themselves another interest, of an
economic character. |
TreaaLa.—A singular substance has long been
known in the East under the name of 7vehala or
Tricula. It consists of oval cases from half to
three-quarters of an inch in length, found attached
by one side to twigs of a species of Syrian Eehinons.
The external surface is rough and irregular, nearly
of the colour of Sicilian manna, hard, brittle, and
with a sweetish taste. ‘These cases are constructed

Fig. 1. Trehala.

by a little beetle (ZLarizus subrugosus, Chevr.), of
which a figure is given (fig.1). “It appears that
the larva of the Zarinus collects a considerable
quantity of saccharine and amylaceous matter,
which it procures from the He/ixops, and that it
constructs its dwelling by disgorging this matter
and moulding it with its rostrum.” Hach case
contains only one individual, and when this has
assumed its perfect form it emerges from the orifice
at the upper end. There is much in the history and
economy of this little insect which is still a mystery
to us, but enough is known to make us wish for
more. Analysis of these curious nests has shown
that they contain gum, starch, and sugar in their
composition, and when thrown into water, at the
ordinary temperature, . they swell, partly dissolve
and become converted into a pasty mass. In Turkey
and Syria they are collected and employed as food,
many being sent to Constantinople and other
Turkish cities, where they are regularly offered for
sale. Some of this substance was exhibited in the
Turkish department of the Great Exhibition of
1851. The insect itself is of an oblong form and
black, about three-fifths of an inch in length. Its
snout is projecting, with the antenne attachea on

252

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Nov. 1, 1865.

either side about half-way down. The elytra or
wing-cases are marked on the surface by ten punc-
tated lines, which commence at the upper edge and
unite before reaching the opposite extremity.
SHUKHUR-OOL-ASHUR, or Shukhur teeghal, is a
very similar substance, and consists of the nests of
just such another little beetle. In this instance the
country of production is India, where the cases are
known by the Arabic names already given; they are
far from common, but are collected by the natives
and employed as a kind of manna. The plant on
which they are found is the Mudar or Ashur
(Calotropis gigantea, and probably allied species),
whence the name “ Sugar of the Ashur” is derived.

Fig. 2. Shukhur-ool-ashus,

Dr. Royle, in his “ Himalayan Botany,” says of it:

“This is a sweetish exudation formed on the plant, |
in consequence of the puncture of an insect called |

Gultigal.”
graph has been repeated by subsequent authors, and
is almost the whole knowledge we have possessed
of this substance or its fabricator. Having obtained

specimens of the Shuthur from India, I succeeded |

in discovering one cf the beetles still enclosed in
its case, all the other cases being empty. This
insect, with its nidus, I submitted to Mr. Smith, of
the British Museum, for identification, and he has
declared it to be the species known as Larinus ursus
of Fabricius. It may now, therefore, be affirmed
with confidence that the sweetish cases, or “ sugar,”
of the Calotropis is the nidus of a small beetle
known in Arabic as Gultigal (which, being inter-
preted, appears to mean “flower-nest”’), and to
entomologists as Larinus ursus. It is very much
like the insect which produces the Zrefala, as also
is its nidus (see fig. 2); although I am not prepared
to affirm that both are in reality the same species,
under different names, but should rather be disposed
to regard them as distinct.

Poonyrt.—Whilst upon this subject. of “ Insect-

homes,” I cannot resist adverting to another singular |

With but little modification this para- |

substance, which is found in Burmah, and called
Pwai-ngyet or Poonyet. It is a blackish resin,
channelled with little chambers or cells, by some
species of Dammar-bee, and is found in holes in the
ground, and in hollow trees. This resin, or wax, is
employed by the Burmese for caulking boats, and
is constantly on sale in the bazaars. The resin
which I have seen under this name is slightly fra-
grant, and apparently identical with that of Caxarium
strictum, the honey-combed structure alone ex-
cepted. The latter resin is common in Travancore,
in Southern India, and Mr. J. Brown, of Trevan-
drum, says that it exudes from cuts in the trunk of

Fig. 3. Dammar-bee (upper figure magnified).

the tree, and seems to be a great favorite of several
species of insect, especially of one resembling a bee,
called by the Hillmen Awlliada, which live in pairs
in holes in the ground. It is singular that the same
tree is common in Malacca, where it yields a black
resin, and there also is found a honey-combed resin,
which the natives call ‘‘ Dammar Klotee,”’ and which
is said to resemble the Pwai-ngyet, although the cells
are larger, and the resin blacker and harder. This
substance I do not remember to have seen. Dr.
Mason, of Rangoon, states that he forwarded some
specimens of the insect which produces the Burmese
Pwai-ngyet to Mr. F. Smith, and that he identified
them with Zrigona leviceps, which had been first
received from Singapore. The conclusion, therefore,
at which I have arrived, is to the effect that the
“ honey-combed resin” of Pegu and Burmah is the
natural resin which exudes from the bark of the
Black Dammar tree (Canarium strictum), channelled
and perforated by the insect known in Southern
India as Awdliada, and which is also found at Singa-
pore, as well as in Pegu and Burmah, and recognized
by entomologists as Zrigona leviceps, but whether
the resin is perforated in its soft state, soon after it
issues from the tree, or, if after it becomes hard,
how the feat is accomplished, is more than I am at
present able to affirm. Perhaps some correspondent
who resides near one of the localities indicated will
institute enquiries, and render our information more
complete respecting the economy of the Dammar
Bee. M. C. Cooxe.

A stneLE female house-fly produces 20,080,320
eggs In one season.

Nov. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

253

THE FOOT OF A FLY.

ECENTLY an article appeared in these pages
ou the Breeze-fly (page 194) in which some
interesting particulars were detailed of the species
of Breeze-fly, with which the writer had been
brought into unpleasant contact. On the present
occasion we have selected a portion from our com-
mon species (Zabanus bovinus) to illustrate a few
observations on the feet of flies in general. How
cana fly walk upon the ceiling? is a question which
has often been asked, and a great many successive
efforts have been made to answer it. The most
recent researches in this direction are those of Mr.
Tulfen West, which were published in the “ Tran-
sactions of the Linnean Society, for 1861,” profusely
and beautifully illustrated, and we shall freely avail
ourselves of the results of those researches.

The foot of the fly differs a little in minor parti-
culars in the house-fly, the blow-fly, and the drone-
fly, but there isa still greater divergence from this
type in the foot of the breeze-fly. In the former
instances the fifth tarsal joint is terminated by a
double pad, but inthe present the padis treble. On
the upper surface at the base of these pads is a pair
of strong claws. Somehow or other the fiy manages
to walk, head downwards by the aid of these pads
or these claws, or both; but how this is accomplished
we can scarcely understand without a more minute
examination of the parts already named. It must
be premised that in our illustration the upper surface
of the foot is shown.

The pad, cushion, or pulvillus is deeply cleft into
what seems to be three pads, but which is in reality
a Single pad with three lobes. The under surface is
clothed with minute hairs, which are somewhat
trumpet-shaped, expanding at the outer extremity
into a membranous elastic disk. It has been sup-
posed that each of these hairs is hollow, and when
the fly moves over a highly-polished surface a minute
drop of fluid passes down it, to assist in adhesion,
by the more effectually excluding the air. There
was at one time a notion extant that the whole sur-
face of the pad was a kind of “sucker,” and that
by means thereof the fly sustained itself, as a school-
boy lifts a stone by means of a moistened disk of
leather at the end of a string.

The pair of claws, shown in the figure, are move-
able, and both to them and the pad, flexor and ex-
tensor muscles are attached.

The mode in which these parts are employed, is
thus graphically described by Mr. West :—“ When
a fly is not making use of its pads (pulvillt), as on a
surface sufficiently rough to afford it foothold with
its claws alone, these only are made use of. On a
smooth surface, perpendicular or horizontal, the
pulvilli are brought down, and the tenent (holding)
hairs applied to such surface ; a slight push forwards

of these, succeeded by a gentle draw backwards, at
each application, removes the air between their soft
elastic expansions and their plane of motion, and
thus a firm holdis gained. Access of air is prevented
by the minute quantity of moisture which exudes
from the expanded tips of the tenent appendages;
and thus a vacuum is formed. When the fly wishes
to move a leg from its place of attachment, the
claws are brought down and pressed against the
surface; from their position they raise the hinder
part of the pulvillus, where the tenent hairs* are
least developed, first, and so on forwards. I think
a fly when once stuck fast, if it had no claws might
remain so,”
“That the pressure of the atmosphere is the main
~ agent by which a fly is enabled to adhere to perfectly

ee =

Foot of the Breeze-fiy.

smooth surfaces, cannot, I conceive, be doubtea.
Careful experiments on the weights of numerous

* The term “tenent hairs’? is applied to the trumpet-
shaped hairs which cover the lower surface of the pads of
pulvilli.

&*

254

flies, compared with the area of their pulvilli, both
of the membranous portions and of the surface

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Nov. 1, 1865.

pleasure and admiration which generally attend the
lover of Nature in his investigations. One day I

covered by the organs of holding, show the following | placed a dead mouse on a shelf, with the intention

curious facts. That atmospheric pressure, if the area
of the flaps be alone considered, is equal to just one-
half the weight of a fly. If the area covered by the
tenent hairs be added, an increase of pressure is

gained, equal to about one-fourth the weight of a fly. |

This still leaves one-fourth to be accounted for, by
slight viscidity of the fluid, by the action, which
may be called ‘grasping,’ by molecular attraction,
and doubtless, by other agents still more subtle, with
which we have at present scarcely any acquaintance.”

We give also a figure of a group of “ tenent

hairs,” from a species of Beetle (Pterostichus niger) |

in which these appendages are unusually large;
from which we may predicate of the character of the
minute hairs on the pad of the fly, to which these
are doubtless analogous.

SPIRACLES OF INSECTS.

N addition to what I have communicated on a

former occasion, I desire to make a few further

observations on Spiracles, which, I trust, may not
be without interest to some.

The possession of a mounted spiracle of the larva
of the fly is desirable to the microscopist who takes
an interest in insect structure, and the questions
naturally arise, how is the larva to be obtained? and
where are its spiracles situated ?

Kirby and Spence say, “The larva of the fly is a
disgusting grub, without wings, without legs, with-
out eyes, wallowing well pleased in the midst of a
mass of excrement.” This statement would seem
rather to repel than invite the attention, and few
indeed would feel inclined to disturb the larva’s en-
joyment of its peculiar haunts, yet it may be readily
obtained by the most sensitive, and interest may be
excited, and instruction may be obtained by its dis-
section, and that quite free from any feeling but the

of mounting some of its hair, and while I was
making the necessary preparations, a blow-fly
lighted upon it, and deposited a few eggs on its
mouth. When I had taken the hair I required, I
covered the mouse with a glass shade, with the inten-
tion of watching the progress of the eggs, and not to
say anything about this, suffice it to state that after
a few days, I had many specimens of veritable, full
crown larvee. I searched for the spiracles in one of
these, expecting to find them along the sides, where.
they are usually found in the larve of moths, but I
soon saw they were not there, but that they appeared
as two brownish specks in one end (fig. 1), from

Fig. 1. Spiracles of Larva of Fly.

which two traches stretched through the body from
end to end.
They were easily mounted, as they required but

| little cleaning, and little steeping in turpentine, the

chie thing to be attended to, being the prevention

Fig. 2. Terminal Spiracle of Dytiscus.

of particles of dirt from entering the spiracles, as
it would be difficult to get rid of these by the most
careful washing.

In bees, wasps, &c., the spiracles of the abdomen

Nov. 1,-1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSTP.

200

generally become smaller as they approach the ex-
tremity of the body, the last spiracle being almost
a mere point, and without any complexity of struc-
ture. This order is reversed in the large water-
beetle (Dytiscus), for in this case, the spiracles
become larger as the segments of the abdomen
become smaller, and the last segment contains the
two largest spiracles.

The large terminal spiracle (fig.2) of the Dytiseus is
accurately figured in the “ Micrographic Dictionary,”
but on too small a scale to show the beauty of
the object. Another figure has been given in a
publication which obtained a wide circulation, but
in that figure I failed to recognise the spiracle I had
so frequently mounted.

The upper and under plates of the abdomen are
connected by a membrane and in this are the

Fig. 3. Parasite of Dytiscus.

spiracles; here, also, may the parasite (fig. 3),
which is of a red colour, be frequently found,
and sometimes so deeply imbedded in the skin,
and surrounded with a brown incrustation, that it
is very difficult to take one out without tearing it
to pieces.

Any one who has stood beside a pond, and observed
the Dytiscus on the surface of the water, cannot fail
to have remarked, that while the heavy portion of
the body is immersed with the head inclined down-
wards, the two lighter and terminal segments are
above the surface. In this natural and easy position,
four of the largest spiracles are exposed for the re-
ception of the supply of air, for which, no doubt,
the insect rose to the surface.

Nov, if the large spiracles were in the upper seg-
ments it would be necessary for the insect to expose
its whole abdomen to the air, and this would require
such a continual effort as would be inconsistent with
the insect’s ease.

In the case of the larva of the fly, when the head
is buried in the tissue it is eagerly devouring, and
the sides are bathed in {he juices by which they are
surrounded, the extremity containing the spiracles
freely exposed to the air.

The above afford instances of the general con-
formity to system so prevalent in Nature, with those
deviations in minor detail which, so far from being
discrepancies, are among the harmonies of Creation.

Armagh, Lewis G, Mitus, LL.B.

|

SIMPLE OBJECTS—VIII.

Meapow-sweer Branp* (Zriphragmium ulmaria).

N a former number we gave a figure and descrip-
tion of a species of parasitic fungus commonly.
found in the auiumn on the leaves of the Bramble.
We now direct attention to a species of Brand, which
is parasitic on the leaves of the Meadow-sweet
(Spirea ulmaria). This is not probably so common
as the bramble brand, but can generally be found in
wet situations. The appearance which it presents
is that of a number of small black spots or tufts
on the under surface of the leaves, not larger
than the head of a pm. These tufts are often
scattered at some distance apart from each other,
but are occasionally closely peppered over the whole
under surface. When examined by a quarter of an
inch objective, these pustules will be found to cou-
sist of an aggregation of three-celled spores, which
are formed by one transverse and one longitudinal
partition, The outer surface, or epispore, is studded
with warts or protuberances. Each spore is fur-
nished with a slender stipe or peduncle. It will be
observed that this species differs considerably in
microscopical characters from the bramble brand,
hence botanists regard it as belonging to a different
genus, and one which has only this single representa-
tive in Britain. To examine the present object it is
only necessary to remove one of the pustules on the
point of a sharp penknife, and transfer it to a glass
slide, with a drop of water or spirit, and having
covered it with thin glass, to submit it to a quarter
of an inch power. A slight pressure and sidelong
motion of the cover when laid on will serve to
separate the spores from each other. Specimens
may be mounted for the cabinet with balsam and
chloroform. M. C. C.

* Microscopists desiring specimens of this brand may
forward stamped envelopes to W. M. B., at the office of this
Journal.

296

Z00LOGY.

THE Biack-HEADED GuLi.—During the latter
part of May and ihe first week in June last, I had
an opportunity of seeing the Black-headed Gull
feeding after the manner of aswallow. Every fine
evening it was a common sight to see a number of
these gulls flying over the hay-meadows at a little
distance above the grass. After watching them for
some time through a glass, I saw that they were
catching the Ghost Moth, which was very abundant
there.—R. Blight.

Tue Srorrep Fry-catcnerR.—On August 24th
last, I saw what was to me a new sight. A Fly-
catcher pursued a large White Cabbage Butterfly,
and after a few attempts succeeded in capturing it.
Its plan appeared to be to disable the insect first,
and then to seize it. The bird made several darts,
snapping each time at the butterfly until it was at
last quite helpless, and fluttered on the ground.
The Fly-catcher then seizing it, flew -off to a tree
and made a meal of it.—R. Blight.

Smatt Mo.uuuscs.—I have heen a good deal
interested lately watching the action of the cilia of
some of the small Molluscs on seaweed. There is
no trouble about seeing them, if the animal is taken
out of the shell and crushed between two glasses
with a little water. They taper in form, and their
curious action may perhaps amuse some of your
readers. Supposing one’s fingers are the cilia, their
movements are something like closing fingers
1, 3, 5, 7, &c., opening with a jerk 2, 4, 6, already
closed; but not in any regular order. The time
they retain their motion after the animal is dead, is
remarkable. I watched them for thirty-six hours,
when the movements of some were still visible. At
the end of forty-eight hours the substance of the
animal seemed to decompose, or to separate into
minute pieces, and all form disappeared.—/. 7.
Scott,

Toaps #EEDING.—There is a remarkable circum-
stance with regard to the Toads, which I have not
seen recorded. I have several Toads and Natterjacks
in a fern-case, and if I put an insect on the soil and
two of them perceive it, the one who is successful
in getting it receives a smartish smack on the side of

the head from the tongue of the other, the noise |

produced being distinctly audible.—C. 4.

Tue SPIDER AND ITs WeB.—] begin to think that
the question, “Does the Spider ever eat its own
web?” might rather be put, “ Does not the Spider
always eat its web when making a fresh one?”
What I saw this evening seemed so thoroughly
natural that I am almost convinced in my own mind
that the answer must be aflirmative. There was a
large web—only one amoug a host—in an angle

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

| left, in the latter part of the month.

[Nov. 1, 1865.

between two walls, which had got so thoroughly
incrusted with dust that it failed to supply the
owner with food ; so the process of renewal was set
about, which I was fortunate enough to witness.
Starting from the centre, the spider ran along the old
threads, devouring them as she went, and at the
same time spinning a new one after her to supply
the place of each. I distinctly saw them drawn
into the mouth, not rolled up first, but eaten as she
went, and now and then tucked in with the fect;
as she ran with her back downwards it was easy
to observe this. After the new radiating threads
were finished, she commenced at the centre to form
the connecting ones; she worked in a spiral direc-
tion, making them at very small intervals until she
got some distance from the centre, when she judged
it expedient to form strengthening threads, first at the
distance of an inch or so. Of course, as she got
nearer the ends the radii diverged so much that she
could not reach from one to the other, but she got
over this difficulty by ascending to the nearest con-
necting thread, crossing by it, descending the next
radius, and fastening the next thread. When these
strengtheners were finished, she commenced to fill
in at smaller distances, but working now from the
outside spirally towards the centre. The two hind
legs were occupied exclusively in drawing the threads
from the body and guiding them, but they were
attached solely by the end of the abdomen. When
the whole was finished, there remained something at
the centre—a piece of cotton wool, or else some of
the old web, I could not distinguish which; this she
went up to and devoured. The time occupied in
eating the old web and replacing it with a new one
was about fifteen minutes—Henry Ullyett, High
Wycombe.

Man in THE Past,—If man constitutes a separate
family of mammalia, as he does in the opinion of the
highest authorities, then, according to all paleonto-
lozical analogies, he must have had representatives
in miocene times. We need not, however, expect to
find the proofs in Europe. Our nearest relatives in
the animal kingdom are confined to hot—almost to
tropical climates; and it is in such countries that
we must look for the earliest traces of the human
race.—Sir Johnz Lubbock’s “ Prehistoric Times.”

Tn Hooror.—A fine specimen of the Hoopoe
made its appearance in the beginning ef September
last at Caldy Island, where it still remained when I
It sometimes
consorted with a covey of partridges, but was more
frequently alone. I have seen it pursue” by crows,
which it avoided by flying to cover. It ‘vas very
tame, and we had frequent opportunities of seeing it
erect its beautiful crest. Its flight was peculiar,
and somewhat resembled that of a large butterfly. —

EE. UG ‘Bi

Nov. 1, 1865.]

ENTOMOLOGY.

Rake Insects.—I have pleasure in reporting the
eapture of Cherocampa Celerio, fresh and in beautiful
condition, on the 29th of last month, about twenty
minutes past six o’clock, or just dusk. I took it in
the net whilst hovering over the flowers of a bed of
geranium christine. This is the second specimen I
have taken in the garden at Brantingham, ten miles
from Hull. I took one in 1846, fast by the proboscis
in a flower of. Physianthus albicens, the flower of
which is an excellent insect capturer; the flowers
are very sweet and attractive to insects; the stamens
are so placed that the slightest touch by the proboscis
of an insect entering the nectar, the stamens and
anthers close firmly round it. I have seen this plant
with dozens of dead insects upon it, Pluisa gamma,
in abundance. Mucroglossa steliatarum has been
abundant, hovering over the flowers throughout the
day. The larva of Acherontia Atropos never known
so abundant in this part.—J. H. C. Kingston,
Brantingham, Yorks.

Wasps tn Prenty.—A correspondent, writing from
near Guildford, says, that “contrary to the expe-
rience of many observers in other parts, we have
been annoyed with most unusual numbers of wasps,
no room in the house being free from dozens of
them.”

Hive Bers Removep.—I have been taking up
four stocks of Bees in the common straw hives this
season, and instead of killing the Bees I have
removed them into four other stocks, where they
are now doing well. The smoke from a piece of
puff-ball forced into the hive renders the Bees
insensible. I have a small fumigator, or circular
bellows, used for fumigating plants when infected
with insects. I putasmall piece of the puff-ball,
well dried, with a live coal on it, into the box of the
fumigator, and introduce the pipe into the entrance
of the hive, stopping up any space there may be
left, and by turning the handle the smoke is forced
into the hive; a great buzzing is soon set up within
the hive, but in a few minutes all is quiet again.
The hive may now be lifted from the board it stands
on, and the Bees shaken out upon a newspaper, and
search made for the queen, which should be removed.
I then take the bottom part of an old hive, or a
hitch made purposely, and place it on the board the
hive stood on. I put all the Bees into it and place
it on the stand where the old stock stood. I then
take the stock the bees are to be joined to, and place
it over the hitch. The Bees, as they revive, will
ascend and mingle with the others, and no opposition
will be made to it. Some time the next day the
hitch may be removed, and the stock set on its own
board again, and all will go on well.—P. P.

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

257

Wuy Wasps HAVE BEEN Scarcr.—At a recent
meeting of the Entomological Society, Mr. Stone,
who is specially interested in the natural history of
wasps and their allies, confirmed the fact that these
insects have been unusually scarce in England this
autumn, and stated that the larvee had been attacked
by a disease which had destroyed them in large
numbers.

Rose Saw-riy.—An interesting life-history of this
insect is translated from the Dutch and published
in the Zoologist for October.

Tue Fry Nuisancr.—You are not perhaps accus-
tomed to regard Wasps and Hornets as of any use
to us; but they certainly destroy an infinite number
of flies and other annoying insects. The year 181] was
remarkable for the small number of wasps, though
many females appeared in the spring, scarcely any
neuters being to be seen in the autumn; and pro-
bably in consequence of this circumstance, flies in
many places were so extremely numerous as to be
quite a nuisance.—Kirby and Spence’s Introduction,
Pelors

Monry-wort Aputs.—In his ‘ Observations on
Natural History,” the Rev. L. Jenyns records (p.
285) the occurrence of a species of Aphis “at the
roots of Lysimachia nummularia, when growing in a
pot in my garden, and rendered unhealthy by being
kept too dry. They kept more on the surface of the
ground, at the bottom of the leaves and stems, than
under the ground, though many might be noticed at
the roots themselves.” Under precisely similar
conditions | have now the same insects flourishing
on the same species of plant, which latter is com-
monly cultivated in towns, aml submit them for
identification. A. F.

It is probably Aphis Dianthi. See Ann. and Mag.
of Nat. Hist., ser. ii. v. 391.; Zoologist, vi. 2218,
9246; vii. App. xlvi., li., lv., lvii.; viii. App. ciil., civ.
—F.W.

Aputs Porutt.—From the 15th to the 24th
October, 1858, I observed here (Melle, near Ghent,
Belgium) an immense quantity of Aphis popult,
coming from the West; the same were seen at
Ostend the 12th and 13th. Should not these insects
have been observed somewhere in England? I have
just read in several papers that immense swarms of
little flies had been seen at Leeds about the 12th of
this month. Were they not dphides? I saw from
the 9th the Aphis populi in Belgium.—Bernardin.

AppENDAGES TO WaTER-BEETLES.—I have read
somewhere that the eggs of water-mites are parasitic
attachments on Dytiscus and other aquatic insects.
See Lane Clarke’s book on the Microscope, page

148.—S. J. M. :

BOTANY.

wonder of Vostitza is the celebrated plane-tree,
with the fountain close by. We reached it by a
good and clean paved road, creditable to the police
of Vostitza. The plane-tree, which is now in almost
decrepit old age, has suffered greatly since the re-
volution. At what period it became hollow, no one
knows: but its branches are broken in many places,
and the foliage is a scant remnant of its old flourish-
ing wardrobe. I well remember it in its better days,
with its white, fresh-looking mosque near, its well-
arranged encircling seats, its Turkish-built fountain,
and all the usual encouragement and provision for
true Oriental kief. The plane-tree suffered, about
acentury ago, from lightning and a fierce whirl-
wind ; but the injury was apparently confined to its
branches, which still, however, have a circumference
of sixty feet: that of the trunk measures thirty
feet. A guard keeps watch in the bowels of the
tree. It answers capitally as a substitute for a
gigantic sentry-box. Not satisfied with this, the
Greeks have imposed upon it a sort of café. We
saw chairs and tables placed inside in the usual
confusion. The scooped-out centre is capacious
enough for all. These hollow plane-trees are to be
found in many parts of Greece. At Cheledonia,
near Kephissia, is one, in the interior of which you
can dine.—Wyse’s Hucursion in the Peloponnesus.

Tue Duckwerps.—I have found all the four
sorts of duckweed (Lemna) so clearly described in
the interesting article in your January number, in
the Nene, near Northampton. Of the four perhaps
Lemna gibba seems most uncommon, the others
being abundant. Can you or any of your correspon-
dents tell me what is their usual time of flowering,
as I should like to look out for what seems to be an
unusual oceurrence.— ZR. 4.

Pear TrrE In Biossom.—There is at the present
date, 10th October, 1865, in a garden by the side of
Sandford Lane, Stoke Newington, at the back of the
post-office, a pear tree in full bloom, on which I
counted full eighty bunches of bloom. It can be
seen by any one passing down the lane, and has been,
of course, the talk of scores in the neighbourhood.
—Augustine Gaviller.

[This is not a solitary instance. ]

A New Srtenz.—Silene dichotoma, Ehrh., is
merely an introduced plant, and not new to this
country. In 1853, I discovered it by the Trent side
at Norton, near Gainsburg, where it had probably
been introduced with linseed. The specimen was
exhibited at a meeting of the Edinburgh Botanical
Society. S. dichotoma would be a welcome addition
to our flora, as it is very fragrant and an elegant
flower.—John Lowe.

SCIHNCE-GOSSIP.

[Nov. J, 1865.

ToapstToois.—More than forty years ago, a great
deal of fun was made in the British Critic, upon the

. » | names given in Gray’s Natural Arrangement of British
Tue Prane-tree or VosrirzA—The chief |

Plants, to mushrooms and their more immediate
allies, the point of the joke residing in the real mean-
ing of the second member of the word “ toadstool.” It
is always desirable that there should be correct in-
formation about the most trivial things, and though
the subject is rather unsavory, it may be as well to
point out that the word toadstool does not indicate
a seat fora toad. The ancient herbalists conceived
that these plants were the excrements of animals,
and hence such names as Lycoperdon, Crepitus Lupi,
and Yoadstool. In Dorsetshire poisonous fungi are
often called “ Frogstools.”"—M. J. &.

Lares Musnroom.—At the recent meeting of
the Tetbury Hortieultural Society, Mr. Reynolds,
gardener to the Harl of Suffolk, exhibited a very
fine mushroom, measuring twelve inches across,
which was grown in Charlton Park.—Wiltshire
Independent.

Bive FLEABANE IN CuMBERLAND.—The occur-
rence of this plant, Hrigeron acre, is nonew discovery
in Cumberland, for it was sent to me in August,
1850, from the neighbourhood of Carlisle by Mr.
William Salkeld, and I think was most probably
obtained from the same locality as indicated by
* Wood Robert.”"—I. Gifford, Minehead, Somerset.

Navpin on Hysrivism.—I regard, in accordance
with most botanists, all those slight species classed
under the names of races and varieties as forms
derived from a primitive specific type, and having in
consequence a common origin. I go further; the
best characterized species themselves are, in my
opinion, so many secondary forms relatively to some
more ancient type which actually comprised them
all, as they themselves comprise all the varieties to
which they give birth under our eyes, when we
submit them to cultivation—Naudin in Natural
History Review,

New Britis Moss.—At Southport, in November
last, I observed a new species of Brachythecium,
intermediate between campestre and ratabulum,
differing from the former in its less plicate leaves,
and very rough sete, and from the latter in its
slightly plicate leaves lanceolate, gradually tapering
from a wide base to a very acute point, not at all
acuminate, shining ; inflorescence, as in these species,
monoicous. Ifa variety, it must be united with
Brachythecium campestre, which has not yet been
certainly identified in Britain —G. #. Hunt, at
Manchester Literary and Philological Society.

Tus DucKwEEDs are called in this neighbourhood
“Duckmeat” or “Jenny Green Teeth.” —C. 4.,
Birmingham.

Nov. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

259

GEOLOGY.

Forrst of Cromer pertop.—I am not aware
that there are any stratified deposits in the West of
. England which represent that preglacial period
known to geologists as the Forest of Cromer period,
—a period which preceded the great general sub-
mergence of a large portion of Europe, including a
principal part of the British Isles, below the waters
of the glacial seas,—that preglacial period when
England was a portion of the continent ef Europe,
and when, though the species ef shells living in the
seas were the same as those now existing, and the
vegetation was European, three extinct species of
elephant, the Rhinoceros etruscus, the Hippopotamus
major, the extinct Irish elk, and the gigantic beaver
(Trogontherium) lived in the British forests and
haunted British rivers. .It is on the Norfolk coast
that the geologist finds evidence of the preglacial
deposition of these strata which contain the relics
of so many extinct mammalia, by the superposition
of thick masses of boulder clay full of its ice-
witnesses, the scratched, grooved, and polished
erratic blocks. In the West of England such evidence
is wanting.—Rev. VW. S. Symonds.

Fosstz Conr.—Mr. W. Carruthers, of the British
Museum, has recently described (Geological Maga-
zine, vol. ii. No. 10) a cone from the carboniferous
beds of Airdrie, Lanarkshire, which he proposes to
eall Flemingites gracilis, placing it in a new genus
which differs from ZLepidostrodus in each scale of the
cone, supporting a double series of roundish sporan-
gia, whilst in the latter genus each scale supports a
single oblong sporangium.

AspHaLtE is the technical name for the bitumen
commonly employed for pavements. It is found, in
France, at Seyssel, in the department of L’Ain, at

augeac, in the department of Les Landes, at vari-
ous places (Lobrann and Bekelbronn) in the depart-
ment of the Bas-Rhin, and also in the Puy-de-Ddome
department. Abundant supplies are found in
Albania, Wallachia, on the shores of the Dead Sea,
and in Trinidad; and no doubt many other places
would yield this material, especially in the Northern
States of America and in Canada. Mineral pitch is
found in the island of Zante.—<Austed’s Practical
Geology.

Fossii, Sprper in Coat Mreasures.—Professor
Romer has announced the discovery of a fossil
spider, which resembles the recent genus Lycosa, in
the coal measures of Upper Silesia. The interest of
this discovery lies in the fact that hitherto spiders
have not been known from any rocks older than the

Jurassic, aud that now the existence of them in the |
| being in a shallow tank measuring live feet long, two

Paleozvic period is proved.— Geological Magazine.

MICROSCOPY.

CIRcULATION IN A Fry.—I was wishful to examine
a Blue-bottle Fly some time ago, and caught, and, as
I supposed, killed one for that purpose. I carefully
with my dissecting scissors opened it and removed
its intestines, and then examined its inside under a
l-nch ebjective. You may judge of my surprise
when I discovered that the blood was still circulating,
and that ina most beautiful manner. I had long
wished for a sight of the circulation ef the blood of
the fly, and I here had my curiosity satisfied most
unexpectedly.—Zhomas R. Jones.

Aw Insect Larva.—Mr. Ray Lankester has pub-
lished an interesting paper in the last part of the
Popular Science Review “On the Microscopic
Anatomy of an Insect Larva—Corethra plumicornis.”

Wire Crip.—it is but justice to state, since
contimual reference is being made to Dr. Maddox’s
Wire Clip as a new invention, that we some time
since received a similar clip from Mr. Adcock, the
principle of construction in which was precisely the
same, and which the latter gentleman had been inthe
habit of using for two or three years prior to the
publication of the description of the former.

Mattwoop’s Fryper.—Some makers are adding
to the stage of their microscopes a scale graduated
in conformity with Maltwood’s Finder, whereby the
use of a separate “finder” is dispensed with.

SprcuLes oF Sponce.—These are often glass-like
in appearance and of various shapes; many are
found resembling needles (whence their name) ; some
from the synapta are anchor-like, whilst others are
star-like, and of complex and almost indescribable
combinations. As some of these are composed of
silex and are consequently not injured by the use of
nitric acid, the animal substance may be got rid of
by boiling them in it. Those, however, which are
calcareous must be treated with a strong solution of
potash instead; but whichever way is used, of
course they must afterwards be freed from every
trace of residue by careful washing. These spicules
may be often found amongst the sand which generally
accumulates at the bottom of the jars in which
ponges are kept by those who deal in them, and
must be picked out with a camel-hair pencil. The

| specimes obtained by this means will seldom if ever

require any cleaning process, as they are quite free
from animal matter, &e.—Davies on Mounting.

WINDOW GARDENS AND AQUARIA.

Tue Nerrep Doc-wHe1tk (Nassa reticulata).—

| This little marine molluse is a very interesting

aquarium animal. I have several colonies of them, one

>)

260

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Nov. 1, 1865.

feet broad, and six inches deep, and having a further
depth of six inches of fine sand, in which these
animals ‘ordinarily burrow quite out of sight. But
if I draw over the surface of the sand a piece of
oyster, mussel, or meat, or even if I touch it ever
so lightly with the feeding forceps, the points of
which smell of food, then in a few moments may be
perceived the tips of the long proboscis of the
molluscs projecting here and there above the sand,
and gradually working through it higher and higher,
till presently the shells themselves emerge (each one
bearing on its upper surface a little load of sand,
which presently drops off), and travelling to and fro
with much earnestness of purpose till the food is
discovered, or till the whole surface of the sand is
diligently searched for it. They look exactly lke
little elephants moving about with their trunks aloft,
and when they are half in and half out of the sand,
with their proboscis above its surface, they remind
me of a picture I have somewhere seen of elephants
crossing a river, the body of the animal being sub-
merged, with only a part of the trunk visible above
the water’s surface. Sometimes I place in the tank
a half-picked mutton or beef bone, and in a few
minutes it becomes completely covered with xzassas,
and in the course of some hours they leave it per-
fectly bare, and then descend into the sand. It is
impossible, in fact, to introduce any animal sub-
stance, living or dead, into the tank, without these
Whelks smelling it, and coming up to see what is to
be got.—WV. Alford Lloyd.

Deap Sea Water.—Some time since, having ob-
tained a quart of water from the Dead Sea, through
the kindness of a friend who had recently come
from the Holy Land, I of course must needs yield to
my aquarium predilections, and arrange it in a glass
jar for the maintenance of plants and animals, and
accordingly I exposed the glass of water, with some
shingle at the bottom, to the influence of light, in
order to get some vegetation to grow, but none ever
came, as it would have done in any ordinary sea-
water in one-fourth of the time. Nor would any
animal live in it. I tried various small hardy crus-
taceous fish, molluscs, sea-anemones, and other
creatures, but all in vain; it was most intractable
stuff, intolerably nauseous to the taste and sticky to
the touch, and of very high specific gravity; so I
soon bottled it up again.— WV. Alford Lloyd, Zoological
Gardens, Hamburg.

Sea Anemonrs.—Mr. Lloyd asks whether any
one has ever seen a small specimen of Sagartia

parasitica or Tealia erassicornis ? J have had little |

Parasitica }orn in my tank, and they have grown
up and flourished. Ihave also had Crassicornis born,
but only from a deep-water species obtained on the
south-coast. The common Thickhorn has never bred
in my aquaria. Adamsia palliata has bred by divi-
sion into two halves, as is the habit in Corynuctis,

&e.
of the Pagurus Prideauxii at the division; he tore
off one of the halves and cast it away, and fed the
other at once. There is an article in the November
number of Aznals of Natural History, for 1863,
giving some insight into the relations subsisting
between these two animals. I have frequently
dredged Parasitica attached to Maia Squinado and
other large crabs, but do not remember ever having
dredged an Adamsia, except on an univalve shell.
Thave, however, a very beautiful specimen attached
to the rockwork in one of my aquaria, its crab having
been killed in a battle. I envy Mr. Lloyd his
opportunities of studying marine natural history, and
wish I could manage to see the Hamburg aquaria.
Even in my comparatively small aquaria the study
is of the deepest interest, and with care I
manage to keep very delicate animals alive. The
fifteen-spined stickleback bred in my tank two
years ago, and the building of their nest was mast
interesting to watch. I have a very fine pair of that
handsome deep-water crab, Gomplex angulata ; they
have built a regular house, pushing small rocks
together and completely clearing out the sand,
carrying it away in armsful toa considerable distance
The Aldheus ruber has the same habit, and has
subterranean ways all round the tank in which he
lives. He is a wonderfully interesting animal, and
I have never heard of his being kept alive before.
He was sent to me from Guernsey, and has been
with me for eighteen months, having just cast his
shell for the fourth time. He is now as big as a
rather large prawn, and of a brilliant pellucid scarlet.
Keepers of aquaria should have the Hadiotis (ormer
or ear shell) if possible, there is no molluse like
them for keeping the vegetation within bounds. I
think few people know how beautiful an object a
vase of sea anemones may be made, with their
brilliant colours and elegant forms. Itook a photo-
graph of one of my aquaria two years ago, solely to
record the graceful form of some of my favourites.
I am very anxious to compare the various ane-
mones of the British coast. Would any of your
readers join with me in this, by sending me, for
examination, specimens from their own part of the
coast ?—S. W., F.Z.8.

INTERMITTENT Fountain.—M. l’Abbé Laborde,
writing to Les Mondes, describes a simple apparatus
for producing an intermittent fountain. It consists
of an inverted flask fitted with a cork, through which
pass two tubes of unequal length. The longer
reaches nearly to the bottom of the flask, and outside
has a length of some twenty inches. The shorter
tube merely pierces the cork, and does not extend
to any length inside, and outside it ends immediately
in a jet, which can be curved-round. The flask is
filled with water, fitted with the two tubes, and then,
with the finger on the shorter tube, is inverted

It was very singular to see the annoyance ~

Nov. 1, 1865.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 261

plunging the end of the longer tube in a vessel of
water. The instrument may now be fixed in this
position, as an intermittent jet of water begins to
flow at once, continuing until the flask is empty.
The column of water in the longer tube will be seen
to be alternately rising and falling, from which
phenomena an explanation has been given of the
cause of the intermittent flow.—Popular Science
Review.

FISH TATTLE.

Tne Dorsk, oR VARIABLE, OR Battic Cop-FisH | :
| captured by a labourer, who, as I am informed, sold

(Morrhua callarias) —This Cod is rare in the British
islands, Yarrell never having seen it, but in the north

of Europe it is abundant, and I get it from the Baltic | = :
eee 7. / and realising £15 by its sale there.

Sea at Kiel, and less abundantly from Heligoland.
Consequently, the Hamburg aquarium always con-
tains living specimens, and it thrives well in captivity,
as indeed most fishes will thrive, if kept in large
tanks furnished with a constantly running stream of
water, and a proper supply of food. The Dorse
under my care consume great quantities of oysters,
mussels, earthworms, dead fresh-water fish, prawns,
shrimps, and indeed all animal matters except sea
anemones, which no fish that I know of will touch,
if ever so hungry. Indeed, these Cods have with
me grown so rapidly as to become a nuisance, from
their habit of devouring all other fish—even their
own species—lesser than themselves, in the same
tank, and I had to return some of them to the sea
aud get smaller ones in their place.
original stock I retained, and it grew from five to
thirteen inches long ina year. It became quite tame
—or rather fearless—and it would at feeding time
regularly lie on the top of one particular flat stone,
and take its oyster or mussel out of my fingers. I
am afraid to add that it would then allow me to
stroke its head, as I may be disbelieved by those
persons who did not see it; but so it certainly was;
I stroked its head with my hand every day, as regu-
larly as I stroke that of my cat. This fish at length
went the way of most pets; it sprang over the side
of its tank one night, and next morning it was found
on the floor, dead and stiff. I sent some to the

Zoological Gardens, Hamburg.

Toe “GeErMon” (Orcynus alalonga).—Dr. Scott
has recorded the occurrence of this rare fish on the
coast of Devonshire. Three specimens had before
this been taken on the English coast, and the fish is
figured in “Couch’s British Fishes ”’ (vol. ii., pl. 84
p. 100). It is the Long-finned Tunny of some
authors, and is abundant on the south coasts of
Europe, where it is the object of extensive fisheries.
The specimen captured was twenty-four inches in
length and weighed twelve pounds. It somewhat
resembles a gigantic mackerel,

But one of the.

| affords a beautiful object for this purpose.

Motier’s Torxknot.—In the second week of
September last, while fishing with a net off Caldy
Island, Pembrokeshire, we caught a specimen of
Muller’s Topknot, about ten inches in length, a fish
very rare in those parts, and unknown to any of the
fishermen.—Z. K. B.

Tue Sturecron.—On Thursday, the 5th inst., a

| fine specimen of that rare fish in English waters, the

Sturgeon, was left stranded by the receding - tide
near Aveton Gifford Bridge, on the Devonshire Avon,
three or four miles from the coast of Bigbury Bay.
The fish was six feet ten inches in length. It was

it to a neighbouring miller for five shillings, the
purchaser forthwith sending it by train to London
It may be
worth remarking that the Sturgeon is one of the

| very few existing species of the Ganoid order, to

which so large a number of our fossil fishes are
referable.—Horace Waddington.

Fish Scates ror THE Microscore.—The eel
The
scales are covered by a thin “shiz,” which may be
slightly raised with a knife and then torn off. The
required portion may then be removed; or if a piece
of skin can be procured as stripped off in cooking,
the scales may be easily taken from the inuer surface.
They must then be washed and thoroughly cleaned.
After drying, soak for a day in turpentine, and mount
in the ordinary manner with balsam. This is a good
polarizing object; but the interest, and I think the
beauty, is increased by procuring a piece of eel’s
skin with the scales zz stfw, washing and drying
under pressure, and mounting in balsam as before.
The arrangement of the scales produces beautiful
“waves” of colour, which are quite soothing to the
eye after examining some of the very gorgeous salts,
&e.— Davies on Mounting.

Lieut In THE Ocran.—I am often reminded of
the small amount of light existing in the sea, by
noticing that when I first receive crabs, lobsters,
and some other similar animals, their shells are

| quite clean, but after I have had them for some

: . 2 _ time in the aquarium under my care here, they
aquarium of the Zoological Society of London, and |

T hear that they soon died.—W. Alford Lloyd, | parasitic plants, the growth of which depends upon

become gradually covered with conferva and other

the amount of light they obtain; and yet the tanks

| are darkened to an extent which does not do more

than permit the animals to be seen. There is never
any glare of light; the front halves of the tops of
the tanks are boarded over, so that the light enters
only by the hinder halves, and even then some blinds
are carefully drawn over them. In addition, these
crustacea are permitted to hide in holes in the rock-
work of the tanks. Itis only when they are taken
out of the tanks and placed in reservoirs completely
darkened, that the parasitic plants die away.—IV.
Adford Lloyd.

262

SCIENCE-GGSSIP.

[Nov. 1, 1868.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Votvox Gropator.—lf Mr. Armstrong and his
fellow-observers would satisfy themselves that cilia
are really present upon the surface of Volvox Glo-
bator, let them try the following method :—Place a
volvox upon a slide, cover it with a piece of thin
glass, and apply a drop of diluted sulphuric acid, and
shortly after a drop of solution of iodine. Then
submit the slide to an object-glass of 34-inch focus,
and, if the light be properly managed by means of
a Webster’s conductor, or otherwise, the cilia may
be seen arising in pairs from the points upon the
organism and passing beyond the surface, as they are
ordinarily represented. It is to be understood that
the observation is a matterof some difficulty and
delicacy.—J. H.

Wantep A Key to the pronunciation and meaning
of such new scientific names as J/icrasterias Maha-
buleeshwarensis.—A. W.

Oxssects IN Tumutt.—Very often small objects,
with holes pierced in them, are found in tumuli, &.,
with bones, flints, &e. Are these objects not beads
of collars or necklaces ? were they not afterwards a
medium of exchange—a primitive money? and is
there not here a new means of observing the relations
of primitive people? The collars of the Egyptians,
Celts, &c., are well known; the North-American
Tndians had Whampums, which were at the same time
a necklace and a money ; the Phcenicians had pierced
eoins; the Chinese have them yet.— Bernardin, Melle,
Belgiuin.

Articioke IN FrLowEr.—Your correspondent
who inquired some months since respecting the
flowering of the Jerusalem Artichoke, might like to
know that it is flowering profusely this year in ¢his
Jocality. Ona plant with astem some twelve feet
lugh, in my own garden, I have just. counted thirty
| and buds.—Heury W. Livett.

lossoms
[Several correspondents send us similar accounts,
and we have also seen it blooming freely.— Eb. ]

Borrerrty Parastres.—Allow me to state in
your pages, in reply to a note by G. W. in your last
number on the small Tortoise-shell Buiterfly, that I
by no means intended to assert that Vanessa Urtice
was exempt from ichneumon enemies, but only that
it was comparatively free. There is little donbt that
every species of Butterfly or Moth has some ichneu-
mon attached to it; though the Butterfly named—
and, I imagine, most others with spiny larve—
suffer less than others. During the past summer
] have myself observed that both VY. Urtice and
V. Alalanta were infested with the larva of a large
Dipteron; only one individual being usually produced
from each butterfly larva—John B.S. Clifford.

Ants.—These insects are very partial to the
Honey Dew, which plaunt-lice collect in the form of
asap from various trees, and afterwards eject ina
state of great purity. Ants will carry off the eggs
of Aphides, and hatch them and keep them, as
“J. BY? would his cows, with the greatest care,
milking them, as he describes in Science Gosstp,
for the sake of the sweet honey dew they afford.—
Helen L. Watney.

How to Grow Ferns.— In reply to the query in
No. 10, I have found the following plan to answer
best for the culture of those beautiful plants. A
case of the octagonal shape is, I think, the best, for
you get so many “views;” but of course they
erow quite as well in the ordinary cases. One of
about two feet long may be purchased for something
under a sovereign. Break up some light coke into
pieces about the size of a walnut, and lay it on the
bottom of your fern case; this greatly assists drain-
age. On this place a mixture of peaty soil and cocoa-
nut fibre; the latter may be purchased of almost any
florist ; the proportion may be two parts of the mould
to one of the fibre. Inthis planta few ferns, not too
thickly; you will soon find they grow fast, and
require thinning out. The choice of specimens I
leave, as almost all our English ferns will grow in a
case of this kind, and many foreign ones. Water
but seldom; the door will neatly always be closed,
and consequently little evaporation will take place.—

W. G.

Wasps and Frres.—Round Melksham, about a
fortnight ago, we were visited by immense swarms
of flies, they being so thick for a day or two, that
whilst I was walking with a friend, we were obliged
to tie our handkerchiefs like veils over our faces, in
order to prevent the flies—for they are very small—
from getting into our eyes, noses, &c., whilst our
coats were literally covered with them. It has, at
the same time, been noticed that there has been a
great paucity of wasps. Is it not, therefore, probable
that as the increased number of flies and the de-
creased number of wasps has been noticed all the
summer, that the one influences the other?—J/.
Augustus Lloyd.

Git Fans or Sapetra.—On the 19th of August,
one of two Sabellas that [ bad had in my aquarium
from the 4th of August dropped its Gill Fans; but
the remainder of the annelid retained the power of
ascending from and descending into its tube. On
the 23rd, the other Sabella also cast its Gill Faus,
but seemed as indifferent to their loss as the other
had been, both annelids appearing above their tubes
from time to time. ‘They seemed to have the power
of obtaining food, for in cleaning the sides of my
aquarium, I tried to disengage the tube containing
the Sabella from some sea-weed in the aquarium,
when I found a piece of weed was firmly held into
the opening of the tube. I could not get it away
without leaving a piece of weed in the mouth of the
tube. A few minutes after, the worm protruded
itself above the tube. I did not see any part of
the Sabella again until the 4th of October, when
one of the Sabellas appeared with a new set of Gill
Fans, smaller than those it had cast, but quite
perfect. L should be glad to know if it is a com-
mon Socurnen for Sabellas to cast their Gill Fans.
—T.L.D.

GutpE To ConsrrvatTory.—With regard to the
query of A. H., as to a book with instructions for
keeping a conservatory in the house filled with
flowers all the year, | beg to recommend the purchase
of Miss Maling’s book on “ Indoor Plants, and how
to grow them for the drawing-room, balcony, and
ereenhouse; containing clear instructions by which
ladies may obtain, at a small expense, a constant
supply of flowers.” It is published by Smith,
Wider, & Co.—J. F. C.

Nov. 1, 1863.]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

263

Wasps anp Bres.—As your serial is devoted to
the discussion of all subjects connected with natural
history, all local notices counected therewith must
interest your readers, and lead to comparisons with
their own areas of observation, and so elucidate the
various workings of Nature, and her many diversified
arcana. Now Lhave been much struck, all the latter
part of the summer especially, with the fact that in
West Sussex we have scarcely any Wasps this year,
despite the abundance of plums and fruit generally,
whilst our wall-fruit in August, and our pears zow,
are infested with myriads of Bees, which make it
dangerous even for children to approach the fallen
fruit, and these Bees, strange to say, never go near
the numerous flowers abounding in our parterres!
I inquired yesterday of the Earl of Egmont’s lodge
keeper, at Cowdray, who keeps many hives always,
why Bees ¢hus deserted the flowers and rich clover
blossoms for fruit this year? Her answer was :—
“The heat of the early summer evaporated the pollen
of the flowers so much that the pollen was im-
poverished, and the Bees were so weakly generally
this summer, that in place of having thirty or forty
pounds of honey in each hive, as customary, I have
not had this year more than twelve pounds at the
utmost in a comb.” She added that the stronger
Bees attacked the weaker ones and_ killed them all,
robbing their aives of all the stored honey, even in
twenty-four hours’ time! Can your Bee-keeping
cones pendants elsewhere certify to the above facts.
—H, EB. 2

Fucusta. AnD Bers. —It is well known that
when the blossom of any plant is too narrow at its
mouth to admit of the entrance of a bee into it, the
bee will with its proboscis perforate the tube from
without, and so suck the sweets from the nectary.
I have, in my garden at Torquay, two large plants
of the Fuchsia elegans, the blossoms of which are
of this narrow construction. The trees are from
five to six feet high, and of proportional circumfer-
ence, and always blossom very abundantly. I care-
fully watched these plants in the sumimer of 1864,
from the middle of July to November, vainly seek-
ing one blossom that was zot thus perforated. I
was ill, and, therefore, not able to observe them be-
fore the afternoon, but during the whole season I
never found one bell on which the little yellow mark
of perforation was wanting. This year I have with
equal care, watched from June to this 13th October
on which i write, and have not been able to find a
single blossom that Aad been perforated. There is
not now, nor has there, so far as | have seen, been
one with the yellow mark. Can any of the corre-
spondents of ScleNcE Gossip explain the cause of
this circumstance ? —W, D. P.

Unicorn Hawx-motu.—Can any of your cor-
respondents inform me if the use or purpose of the
double proboscis in the Unicorn Hawk-moth (Sphing
Convolvuli) is known to naturalists ; and also whether
it is the only moth which possesses this peculiarity ?
A fine specimen of the above (which is rather a rare
insect) has just been captured here (Sidmouth,
South Devon).—#. I.

Sarrron, AN ORIENTAL ConpIMENT.—Dr. Riddell
says that the Persians resident in India universally
employ saffron as a colouring ingredient with their
rice; but that in native cookery where saffron is
nained, turmeric is always intended.

SMALL ToRToIse-SHELL ButteRFLy.—On the 4th
of August last, while in a lodging at Southerndown,
on the Glamorganshire coast, I found no less than

| twenty-two specimens of this butterfly, in a torpid

state, pitched on the ceiling of a narrow up-stairs
passage, in groups.of five or six together. On
Heinemotternts the light, theyrevived in the course
of a few minutes, and, with two or three exceptions,
were able to fly with ease. Can you explain the
presence of such a number of the insects in that
situation ? IT was much surprised at it myself.—
Horace Waddington.

Ciu1a oF Votvox.—In reply to Thomas Arm-
strong, allow me to observe that the question of
Volvox Globator possessing cilia, never to me ap-
peared to offer a AeaEe and I am only surprised that
he should have failed in observing them. Unpre-
tending microscopist as I am [have seen them many
times without anything beyond ordinary manipula-
tion ; I use the parabolic condenser and the one-inch
lens, and a beautiful sight it is to see the plant in a
living state, revolving on its axis, with its edge sur-
rounded by a blueish halo produced by the cilia in
excessively quick action ; to see the cilia individually
a quarter-inch lens must be used, when two will be
seen springing from each green point on the sur-
face of the Volvox, precisely as depicted in the
“Micrographic Dictionary,’ and Dr. Carpenter’s
book. With regard to the cause of the revolution
of the young plant in the interior of the parent
(which 1s frequently to be observed) I am not quite
so clear, yet, still I put it down to the same
prime mover, though I have been unable to detect
cilia in this instance. J may mention that I am not
likely to have been deceived by a faulty instrument,
as the one I have is Ross’s 1 A., with every requisite
for correct observation; and, moreover, I have ex-
amined hundreds of the plants referred to, and in
every instance have seen the appearances described.
—John G. Braden.

IcHNEUMONS AND VanEssa.—lI beg to confirm the
statement of EK. W., in your paper respecting Ich-
neumons and Vanessa, as out of twenty caterpillars
I got off one bunch of nettles this season, eight were
infected and never came to maturity.—J. Aspdin.

Eacs oF TorusH.—In reply to your correspondent
J. B. Hay, Athens, I have found the eggs of the
common thrush as small as those of the chaffinch.
Two seasons ago I found a nest of four eggs; three
were the usual size, but the other was hardly one-
third the size, and the spots on it were considerably
lighter.—/ames Aspdin.

Wincep Ants.—Respecting Mr. Tate’s inquiry,
relative to winged ants. I also noticed numbers in
the neighbourhood of Brixton, Clapham, and Vaux-
hall. Page 308, in the popular edition of Kirby and
Spence, may afford an explanation. What is there
said refers to white ants, but probably the havit
referred to is common to most species of ants: the
males and females having arrived at their imago
state, adorned with two pairs of wings, rise in the
air to seek their fortune, and effect their marriages.
Afterwards the males die, and the females,deliberately
cutting off their wings, turn their attention to the
foundation of new colonies. Very few of them,
however, effect their obje>t, surrounded as they are
by ae enemies, and sul scted to many casualties.
aayAD oie ath be

264

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[ Nov. 1, 1865.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ALrt communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of each
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations. All notes, queries, or articles for insertion, must
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
may be withheld from publication if so desired.

QuerRiES.—Having been inundated with questions, we are
compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer
those of which the querist might satisfy himself by an appeal
to any elementary book on the subject. Weare always pre-
pared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish
the replies, provided some of our readers, beside the querist,
are likely to take an interest in them.

We cannot undertake to return “ rejected addresses.”’

O. W.—The small cocoons from the Cabbage Caterpillar are
those of a parasitic species of Ichneumon.

R. G. M. has two hundred named specimens of British
Mos es, together witha coloured copy of Wilson’s “ Bryologia
Britannica,’? to dispose of. The price is that of the book.
Apply to Editor.

J. F. P.—Your yellow fungus on rose-leaves is called
Lecythea Rose. .

C. A.—Your fungus on decayed wood is Didymium
nigripes.

O. W.—The larve sent us, which caused such havoc
amongst your cherry and pear trees, is that of a saw-fly of
the genus dthalia. You should endeavour to rear the fly and
send us specimens if you wish to know the species.

M. E. B.—We are not numismatists.

T. C. H.—Ring Ousels are not uncommon in some parts of

Great Britain. We have seen them plentifully in North
Wales.

W. P.— We have answered this query in a former number.
The viper, the common snake, and the smooth snake.

PecTEN, not Pertea—see Geological query, p. 229, where
this error occurs.—A. G. R.

C. A.—The species of Lemna alluded to at page 6 as not
having been found in Britain, is Lemna arrhiza, described and
figured in Reichenbach’s Flor. Germ., VII. 14.

M. A. B.— Your shells are of three species, Bulimus
obscurus, Clausilia nigricuns, and Cluusilia bidens.—R. T.

H. A. A.—Mr. Hardwicke announces a Handbook for the
Aquarium, shortly to be published, which will give all the
information you desire.

E. W.—No one wonld venture to name your specimen of
seaweed from description only.

H. L. —The least reflection will enable you to answer such a
question for yourself. Replace the fly by a feather and watch
the result.

W.L. C.—It is not a fungus, but disease. A common case
of ‘‘ shanking.”

W. P —A good and cheap work on British Lepidoptera is
**Stainton’s Manual.”

J. C. M.— Prepare a glass slide witn hydrochloric acid, and
then breathe suflicietly on it that you can condense the

moisture by heat of a lamp, or otherwise, before it has evapo-
rated.—H. L. A.

W. L. S.—You enclosed three fiies to be named, but did not
attach any number or mark, so that were we to give the
names, you could not tell to which individual each name

belonged.
D. G.—It is an Ichneumon, known as Ophion luteus.

Erratum.—At page 237, instead of ‘43-inch dwll’s eye-
piece,” read ‘43-inch and B eye-piece.” ;

F. C. J. S.— Probably a viviparous fly ; see p. 82.

T. H. is thanked for his suggestion, but the illustrations
would cost too much for us to give a figure and description of
ali the British Diatoms for fourpence.

E. M.—(1) We cannot tell. (2) We must not tell.

W.W.S.— Vegetable. Incomplete state of a fungus.

A. J.—We cannot say, without seeing the specimen, what
your larva might be.

T. H. M.—Can be had anywhere.

R. T. C.—The black spots on Sycamore leaves are cau‘ed
by a parasitic fungus which is very common, and calied
Rhytisma acerinum,

T. F. W.—What we require is popular names, with the
localities where they are employed, known by personal expe-
rieuce to the writers, and nut derived from books.

M. M.—The misfortune of which you complain is a common
one, for which we can recommend no radical cure. Keep
your insects dry, let them be quite dry when pinned, and
change your pins when verdegris appears.—F. M.

Poor Turnes.—If any poor creatures ever were persecuted
with pen and ink, then Wasps, Humming-bird Hawk-moths,
and Death’s-head Moths have this year good cau-e to com-
plain. We have a pile of such communications, and must
immolate them to appease the poor insects ; for to insert them
is out of the question.

W. H.—Flowers of the Jerusalem Artichoke were duly
received and forwarded to J. G.

C. K.—It is unusual for Laburnum and Apple trees to bloom
a second time, in the autumn; but ‘‘tlmes are out of joint”
this year, and freaks of nature common.

A. S.—Really not sufficiently uncommon to merit notice.
Cc. A. J.—We should scarce think it would be injurious.

L. D.—(1) The most appreciable sexual differences are the
re'ative sizes, and distinctness of markings. (2) Any vege-
table.

A. J.—One of the Sphingide, probably Acherontia. It is

unsatisfactory to name from description.—F. M.
W. D.—See our remarks on Fish Moulds, pp. 119, 134.

E. D. M. W.—The only work we know is Nichol’s ‘‘ Dic-
tionary of Scientific Terms,’’ Reeve, 12s. 6d.

A. G.—As to the age of the Fossil Human Skeleton in the
British Museum,- consult Mantell’s ‘* Petrifactions,’? pp.
483-5, and Mantell’s ‘*‘ Wonders of Geology,” p. 86.—R. T.

E. C. Y.—Forwarded as requested.

DryiInG STARFISH.—See p. 136.

ComMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.—O. W.—H. L.—S. J. McI.—
G.c. B.—J. H. C. K.—W. G.—J. A.A. S.—J. R. S. C.—

M. J. B.—J. L.—E. W.—H. A. A.—H. W.—R. G. McL.—
W. P.—T. H.—W. L. S.—J. B.—W. L. C.—H A. A.—E.T.S.
—A.G. R.—T. L. D.—H. E. W.—T. R. J.—F. C. J. 5.—
P.S. B.—E. R,—A. G.—T. C. H.—J. A. L.—R. S.—A. G.—
M. E. B.—C. A.—J. H.—W. C. H.—H. W. L.—J. C. B.—T. P.
—E. M.—H. W.—C. R.—J. F. P—M M.—L.G. M.—R. T. C.
—J B.-A. S.—E. G. W.—T. H. M.—W. R. T.—C. A.—
T. F. W.—A. J.—J. F. @.—L. D.—I. G.—R. Bu.—Ss. S.—
M. D. P.—J. A.—S. W.—J. B. H.—H. B.—C. A. J.—W. H.—
F. H. B.—G. W.—T. P. B.—C. K.—B. H.—J. W.—C. W. B.—
G. R. R.—E. B.—F. E. T.—W. D.—E. D. M. W.

CORRESPONDENTS will please to append their own names, or
initials, to their communications, which may be withheld
from publication if desired; but no notice whatever can be
taken of anonymous contributions.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

*°The Optical Defects of the Eye, and their Consequences.’
By John Zachariah Laurence, F.R.C.S.. M.B., &c. 112 pp.
8vo. cloth. (London: Hardwicke.)

“Un Memoria”

Mourn for the mighty dead,
Mourn for the spirit fled,
Mourn for the lofty head
Low in the grave.—Dr. MAcKAy.

U is customary with us at the close of the year

to look around our family circles, and note the
absent faces of old and familiar friends, or “ nearer
still, and dearer ones,” who have passed to their
last home since the previous Christmas gatherings
dispersed. As the present year draws near its close,
it may not be inopportune for us to note the vacant
chairs in the learned societies, whence death has
snatched many a veteran since our first number
appeared. Asa nation we have suffered deeply in

the loss of men whose place it would be difficult to
fill.

their memories, mourning their loss, and profiting
by their labours.

Even while the odours of Christmas still lingered,
while the holly was fresh and green, and before
the sound of festivities ceased, we learnt that
Dr. Batrour Barkre would no more wander on
the banks of the Niger, since, in making prepara-
tions to revisit England, he was preparing for
another land, to which, towards the close of
September he passed, to take his staticn in the
silent halls of death, from whence no visitor
returns.

A still wider-known travelling naturalist, whose
loss other than naturalists deeply deplore, passed
from amongst us with the advent of May flowers.
ApmiraL Firzroy, F.R.S., was just completing
lis sixtieth year. It was nearly thirty-five years
since he returned from the survey of the southern
coasts of South America, after which, with Mr.
Charles Darwin as naturalist, he again visited those
coasts, and performed the voyage of research for
which his name is most honoured by the student of
natural history. The voyage of the Beagle, under
the command of Captain Fitzroy, will long be

remembered as one of the richest in results of |

the many voyages of exploration undertaken by
Englishmen.

The month following left us to mourn the loss of
another explorer, at the advanced age of seventy-
eight years. This was Sir Jonn RicHaRrpson,
C.B., F.R.S., who was three times engaged in an

The majority of these have passed away ina |
ripe old age, leaving to us the duty of cherishing

Arctic expedition; twice under the command o
Sir John Franklin, and once after he had reached
threescore years of age. He first entered the navy
as assistant-surgeon in 1807, and for seven years
was engaged in fighting and buccaneering expedi-
tions. His scientific career commenced with the first
Arctic expedition in which he was engaged, and the
publication of the Appendix to Sir John Franklin’s
Narrative. “His scientific writings fill up some
twenty volumes, treating mainly of the zoology of
mammals, birds, and fishes, and most instructively
of the distribution of species.” His most important
work is the “ Fauna Boreali-Americana,”’ by which
he will hereafter be best known.

In March Sir Ropert H. ScHoMBURGH was
numbered with the dead. From his earliest years
he was devoted to natural history. In 1831 he
surveyed the island of Anegada, in the West Indies.
Tn 1835 he undertook the exploration of Guiana,—
a journey rich in scientific results. During this
expedition he discovered that queen of flowers, the
gigantic Water-lily (Victoria regia). On his return
home, the Royal Geographical Society presented
him with their gold medal; and in 1840 he returned
to British Guiana to make a survey for the British
Government. This work being completed, he
received the honour of knighthood. The concluding
portion of his career was spent as consul, first at
St. Domingo and afterwards in Siam. It is chiefly
as a naturalist that we include him in our brief
memento, in companionship with such kindred
spirits as Dr. Baikie, Admiral Fitzroy, and Sir John
Richardson.

What can we say of CuarLtes Waterton, for,
whether as a naturalist or a gentleman, it may be
long before we look upon his like again? On the
25th of May, at the age of eighty-three years, his
“wanderings” came ¢o a close; and the Squire of
Walton Hall no longer roamed amongst the denizens
of the paradise which he had established for them.
“ Walton Hall,’ says a contemporary, “was famous
throughout the North as a new paradise for animals,
and as showing, practically, what might be the state
of things even now, were man not carnivorous and

T

266

gifted with the irrepressible bump of destructiveness.
Around the lake stretch grounds broken into every
variety of wood, meadow, morass, and rivulet—all
encompassed by a lofty wall, entirely shutting in the
domain. Thus secured from attack, and confiding
in the tried favour of the master of the estate, birds
and beasts of every known British species came to
live with Charles Waterton. For the starlings,
owls, and jackdaws he built lodgings expressly ; the
other fere nature took apartments as it suited
them. You might look from his study window.and
see the ‘natural history’ of the British islands
unrolled, with illustrations by Nature herself.”
Hucn Cumine was perhaps less widely and
popularly known. To conchologists his name is
x household word. In 1826, and when thirty-five

years of age, he gave up his business, built him- |

self a yacht, and started on a_ twelvemonth’s
eruise among the islands of the South Pacific,
in search of objects of natural history. After a
second and longer cruise, he returned with his
stores to his native land. In 1835 he again left
to spend four years in exploring the Philippines,
and returned to England “with the richest booty
that had ever been collected by a single man.” His
dried plants numbered about 130,000 specimens,
and his cabinet of shells was the largest and most
valuable private collection in existence. After an
active life of upwards of threescore years, he quietly
sank to sleep surrounded by the treasures which he
had collected.

The lovers of geology and paleontology lost a
chief in Dr. Huen Fatconer, Vice-President of
the Royal Society, who died on the last day of
January, just on the completion of his fifty-seventh
year. At the age of twenty-one he was an M.D.,
with an appointment as assistant-surgeon in the
Bengal army. In 1832 he was left in charge of the
Botanical Gardens at Saharunpore, whilst Dr. Royle
returned on leave to Europe. During this tem-
porary charge, in concert with Sir Proby Cautley,
the exploration of the Sewalik Hills was undertaken,
with which their names are so intimately associated.
Acting on the advice of Dr. Falconer, in 1834 the
Bengal Government commenced the cultivation of
tea in the Himalayahs, now so successful. He also
afterwards recommended the cultivation of the
Cinchona, which promises to be equally successful.
In 1848, when Dr. Wallich retired from the super-
intendence of the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, Dr.
Falconer was appointed his successor; and in 1852
finally retired from the service. In concluding their
notice of him, the Reader says :—“‘It is obvious
that Falconer did enough in his lifetime to render
his name immortal in science, as one of the greatest
paleontologists who ever lived. But the work
which he published was but a small fraction of that
which he accomplished. The amount of scientific
knowledge which has perished with him is pro-

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

| Duc. 1, 1865.

digious, for he was cautious to a fault; he never
liked to commit himself to an opinion until he was
sure that he was right; and he has died-in the
fulness of his power, before his race was run.”

Dr. SamvuEet P. Woopwarp, born at Norwich in
182}, died at Herne Bay in July last. As well as
geologist and paleontologist, he also was a botanist ;
and in 1845 was appointed Professor of Botany and
Geology to the Royal Agricultural College at Ciren-
cester ; and in 1848 removed to the British Museum.

| His “ Manual of Recent and Fossil Shells” is the

only separate work ‘which he published ; but he con-
tributed many important papers to various scientific
journals. During the last twenty years of his life
he suffered much, which will, in a large measure,
account for the little published work which he has
left behind as a memorial of his name.

In botanical science, the “cold hand” has fallen
upon its chiefs, and a trio, long to be remembered,
have been gathered to their rest. Str JosEPu
Paxton, the representative of horticulture, died
early in June, at the age of sixty-one, at Sydenham,
within sight of the Crystal Palace, the great work
which caused his name to be best known both at
home and abroad. Except his “Botanical Dic-
tionary,” his literary productions are confined to the
Magazine of Botany and the Flower Garden, which
he conducted. As a landscape gardener he stood
deservedly high, and Chatsworth remains as his
testimonial, the Crystal Palace as his monument,

Str Witriram Hooker is no less intimately
associated with Kew Gardens, and here, within
scent of the floral odours which he had collected
from every clime, his liberated spirit passed away,
after having spent fourscore years on earth. Sir
William was born at Norwich in 1785; at first
destined for a commercial life, which was soon
abandoned. At the age of twenty-four he published
his “Tour in Iceland,” in which the flora of that
country received notice; but unfortunately all his
collection was lost, which prevented justice being
done either to himself or his subject. We could
not enumerate the contributions to his favourite
science which Sir William made between that time
and the day of his death. He was for many years
Professor of Botany at Glasgow, whence he removed
to become Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew.
In this latter position, he merits the gratitude of his
country for the development of this truly national
institution. Sixty years ago he discovered a little
moss, which had not before been noticed in this
country. It was Buxbaumia aphylla. From that
period, for more than half a century, he watched
the progress of botany in Britain,—as it was when
the Linnwan Society was established, when Sir
J. i. Smith had scarcely done half his work, and
Sowerby’s “English Botany” had but recently
commenced, till it became what it was when Ae, as
one of its patriarchs, passed away.

Dec. 1, 1865.]

; Last, not least, Dr. Jonn Liypiry, who had |

scarcely left his cradle when Sir William Hooker’s
botanical career commenced, only survived him a
few weeks. He also was born in Norfolk, a county
famous for the production of excellent botanists,
in the year 1799. At the age of twenty he pub-
lished a translation of a French work on fruit, and
the next year appeared his first original production,
a Monograph of Roses. He assisted Loudon with
his “Encyclopedia of Plants;” produced a great
monument for himself in his “ Vegetable Kingdom ;”
was for a quarter of a century Professor of Botany
at University College; wrote the majority of the
botanical articles for the “ Penny Cyclopedia ;” and
was for many years associated with. the Botanical
Register and the Gardener’s Chronicle. Besides this
he was doubtless our best special authority for-
orchidaceous plants.

It is impossible to estimate the influence of these
two men on botanical science in this country during
half a century. If we endeavour to compare what
it was under the old Linnean system, when they
each began the study of plants, with what it is when
both have but just departed, we shall be astonished
at the changes, in which each performed his share
of the work.

Tt will be long ere the eventful year now fast
drawing to a close will be forgotten. This year,
which deprived America of its President and Britain
of its Premier; Russia of its Czarevitch and Rome
of its Anglican Cardinal, will be remembered
through many generations. But to men of science
in England it will be remembered as the year which
robbed them of some of their noblest veterans; to
botanists especially as that in which Hooker and
Lindley died. “‘ Peace to the souls of the heroes
departed.” They have left us for a land where, not
only “the wicked,” but the minor cares and anxieties
of this life—

. » cease from troubling,
And the weary are ag rest.

WHAT TO SEEK AND WHAT TO AVOID
IN THE CHOICE OF A MICROSCOPE.

- these days, when the Microscope is becoming
a valuable auxiliary in the education of the
people, a few brief hints on the selection of an
instrument by whose aid we pry into Nature’s
minutie, may not be considered out of place in the
pages of Science Gossip.

As the stability of a house depends on the solidity
of its foundations, so does that of a microscope
depend on similar qualities—the solidity and
strength of its stand. The tripod, or three-footed
stand, seems of all forms’to be that most generally
adopted by our best makers, and from which we
may fairly conclude that it has recommended itself
to their notice by its firmness and freedom from

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

267

tremor. The feet of a tripod should be both
broad and solid, so as to furnish a firm support
or base to the pillars or cheeks resting thereon,
and between which the whole optical part of the
instrument, with its lenses, stage, substage, and
illuminating apparatus, is suspended. And these
portions of a microscope should be so well balanced,
that the centre of gravity will’ not be materially
disturbed, at whatever angle its optical part may be
inclined. In a badly-constructed microscope there
is often a tendency to tip over in some given direction
whenever the body is inclined from a vertical to a
horizontal position. And it is just as well to test
this tendency before purchasing an instrument.
In microscopes constructed with a single pillar rest-
ing on the centre of a round foot, this tendency is
augmented, and such an instrument should be re-
jected as unstable. In working with the microscope,
it is frequently necessary to incline the body of the
instrument for convenience of observation, To
allow of such a motion, the optical portion must be
attached to its pillars or supports by hinge or
cradle joints, which enable the body to be inclined
ninety degrees from the perpendicular. These
should work with just sufficient stiffness to retain
the body of the microscope at whatever angle it may
be placed. Where, however, the microscope is in
daily use, the wear and tear will tend to loosen the
joints; but the fault may be easily remedied by
simply tightening the screws. In the majority of
instruments the tube or body is firmly screwed into
one end of an arm, while the other end is attached
to a triangular bar, with a rack cut on one of its
edges, in which works a pinion with two large milled
heads. In the more modern instruments, the
triangular is superseded by a square form of bar,
having the rack-work on one of its sides. But I
am not aware whether or not greater steadiness
and smoothness of motion is gained by this mode
of construction. Some makers prefer a stand in
which the body of the microscope is supported
along the greater portion of its length. In sucha
form the rack-work is attached to the body itself, and
has two small flanges that work in grooves, ploughed
out of the limb. By this contrivance the body is
kept in contact with the arm that supports it, and
on which it freely moves. This plan possesses
the merits of simplicity and steadiness, but does
not, as in the former plan, admit of the body being
turned away from the stage, an advantage which is
sometimes of use to the microscopist. Whatever,
however, may be the mode of supporting the body,
the rack and pinion should be accurately cut to fit
each other; unless great nicety is here shown, we
shall fail to obtain that smooth and even motion so
necessary to securing the focus of a sensitive object-
glass. A badly-cut rack may be known by its
jerking uneven motion, which communicates a most
disagreeable vibration to the whole a and
T 4

268

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

[Dzc. 1, 1865.

makes it a very difficult matter to obtain the focus
of a good objective. And it not unfrequently gives
an apparent motion to the object on the stage, which
may be seen gliding backwards and forwards to the
extent of an inch or more over the field. Such a
microscope, however cheap it may be, should be
studiously avoided, as it will inevitably prove a
source of constant irritation to its possessor. In
some of the cheapest instruments, the rack-work and
pinion movement is dispensed with altogether. The
focussing of the lenses is accomplished by sliding the
body up and down an outer tube which embraces
and supports it. A microscope of this character
may be used with low powers, but it can never be
made to work with-the same degree of accuracy as
those which possess the higher mechanical move-
ments. There is one other mode of adjustment
which I think it right to mention here. It is known
as the chain movement. A watch chain is in this
case substituted for the rack-work. The chain is
wound round a small drum, connected with the
usual milled heads. The movement thus obtained
is so beautifully smooth and so little likely to get
uneven by wear, besides obviating the necessity of
a fine adjustment, that I cannot understand why it
is not more universally adopted. The only objection
I have heard urged against it, is that the chain, being
made up of so many small links and rivets, is, like
a fortress, no stronger than its weakest point: it is
hable to snap asunder. The old chain may, however,
be easily replaced by a new one, at the cost of a
few shillmgs. Besides the movements already
alluded to, and known as the coarse adjustment, there
is in all the better class of microscopes a much more
delicate mechanical contrivance termed the fine
adjustment, which, as its name implies, gives greater
facilities for securing to the greatest nicety the focus
of a one-eighth or one-twelfth objective. In the
former arrangement the entire body or tube is moved
up or down by the rack-work ; in the latter, it is the
object-glass alone that is affected. This advantage
is secured by attaching the object-glass to a short
piece of tubing that fits accurately the interior of
the lower part of the body, and at the same time
slides freely in it. The tube is kept down in its
place by a spiral spring, which presses upon it from
behind. Motion is communicated to the tube by-a
graduated milled-headed screw, acting on the end of
alever. The screw itself contains 150 threads to
aninch. One revolution, therefore, of its thread
raises or depresses the tube, carrying the object-
glass the 150th of an inch. The tenth part of a
revolution gives us the 1,500th, while the half of a
division realizes a movement not exceeding the
3,000th of an inch. This extreme nicety of adjust-
ment may, to the beginner, seem unnecessary, but
to the practised operator it is found to be not a bit
too sensitive for his minute investigations, It also
proves a safeguard for the object-glass,when, through

inadvertence, it is brought in contact with the glass
that covers an object. The spring tube yields to the
pressure, carrying with it the objective, which is thus
sometimes saved from destruction. :

We now come to the stage: this, in its simplest
form, consists of a flat brass plate, with a circular
hole in its centre for the transmission of leht
from the mirror beneath it. It should be broad
and roomy, and firmly attached to the bar that
supports it; not too thick or deep for oblique
illumination, nor so thin as to be springy under a
slight pressure of the manipulator’s hand. Such
a stage is furnished with a sliding ledge, against
which objects rest when the instrument is used in
an inclined position; but there is no mechanical
arrangement for giving motion to an object; this
must be effected by the fingers of the observer. It
is not, however, every microscopist who possesses a
touch delicate enough for suchapurpose. Although
stage movements necessarily render a microscope
more expensive, the advantage more than counter-
balances the extra cost. A moveable stage consists
of two or three flat plates, sliding one over the other
in rectangular directions, by means of screw and
rack-work. Such movements should be as perfect
as those required for the body of the instrument.
The value of a stage with such mechanical appliance
is best appreciated when high powers are employed.

By turning the milled heads on either side of the
stage, the stage-plate carrying the object slowly
traverses the field either in the direction of its
length or breadth, and the whole of an object too
large to be seen in the field at one view is thus made
to pass slowly before the eye. If both heads are
turned at the same time, the object then takes a
diagonal direction. In the best microscopes there is
also a circular motion produced by rack and pinion,
which enables the stage-plate to revolve three-fourths
of a circle, or, in come cases, to make a whole reyo-
lution. Such an arrangement is advantageous,
provided it be not obtained by sacrificing other
conveniences of more importance. The ordinary
traversing motion of a stage should not be less than
three-quarters of an inch in each direction; if ex-
tended to an inch, or even more, so much the better
for the operator, who will be saved the trouble of
shifting his specimen. There is yet another con-
trivance, known as White’s Lever Stage, in which
motion is communicated to the stage by a lever. By
applying a slight force to its handle or free end, the
stage-plates glide quickly one upon another, thereby
presenting considerable facilities for following the
rapid evolutions of the numerous agile animals found
in stagnant water. We had almost forgotten another
useful and simple arrangement—the magnetic stage,
which consists of a single plate of brass, having two
narrow tongues projecting slightly above its surface,
and running longitudinally at equal distances on each
side of the circular opening. The tongues being in

Dec. 1, 1865.)

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

269

contact with a horse-shoe magnet attached to the
under-surface of the stage, are rendered magnetic by
it. A soft iron bar resting upon them at right angles,
serves as a ledge for objects to rest against when the
microscope is inclined from the vertical position.
The attraction between the bar and the tongues is
just sufficient to keep the former in its place with
any ordinary object that may be resting against it,
and is not too strong for being easily shifted about.

As the modern microscope possesses many adjuncts
—as condensers, spotted lenses, polarizers, &c., all of
which are used beneath the stage ; and as these need
permanent support and accurate centering, a move-
able sub-stage is constructed, into which they all fit.
A traversing movement is given to the stage itself,
by rack-work and pinion. The microscopist is thus
enabled to shift the position of his various apparatus
to suit his requirements. Between the stage and
sub-stage is a shutter for regulating the amount of
light reflected upward from the mirror; it is termed
the diaphragm, and consists of a thin circular plate
perforated with holes varying in diameter, the largest
being equal to the central aperture of the stage, and
the smallest not much larger than a pin-hole, while
in one position the light is cut off altogether.
The plate revolves on a pivot, so that each aperture
may, in its turn, be brought under the stage. The
diaphragm should never be permanently fixed to the
stage, but should be so attached as to be easily
removed when other modes of illumination ave
desired. An improved form of diaphragm has
lately been constructed, in which the circular
shutter with its various openings has been super-
seded, and in its stead we have but one aperture,
which can be gradually closed by two small plates
that move horizontally to the right and left of the
stage, and have their proximal borders incised in a
wedge-shaped manner. The advantage of this
diaphragm consists in the nicety with which the
orifice can be regulated so as to obtain the most
effective illumination.

Another important part of the microscope is
the mirror, by whose aid we collect and reflect the
light upwards to the object-glass. This should
m all cases be double, having one of its surfaces
flat and the other concave, with a diameter not less
than an inch and a half, or even more. The greater
the extent of the reflecting surface, the larger
will be the amount of light obtained therefrom.
Asso much depends on the proper illumination of
an object, the mirror should be so constructed as to
admit of free and easy motion in all directions. It
should slide freely up and down the stem which
supports it, thereby enabling the microscopist to
regulate the intensity of its light as he increases or
decreases its distance from the stage; and if it be
mounted on a lengthening arm, a further advantage
will be gained by the oblique illumination it pro-
duces.

When high powers are used, a more intense light
than that afforded by the mirror is needed. The
microscopist then has recourse to the various kinds
of condensers in vogue. These are usually achro-
matic combinations of lenses, and, when properly
adjusted, condense on the object in one brilliant spot
all the light reflected from the mirror. Our space,
however, precludes us from entering further into the
subject of illumination.

Having selected a good solid stand, the micro-
scopist should next secure the best lenses that can be
procured from our most skilful opticians. These may
be purchased one at a time, according to the means
and wants of the purchaser. Two of the most useful
powers are the one-inch and one-fourth objective ;
and with these two powers a large amount of useful
work may be done. Good object-glasses may be
known by the clear and distinct images they give of
suitable objects placed in their foci, and a bad ob-
jective may be equally well known by the absence of
these qualities. No amount of careful focussing will
ever enable such a lens to give a clear and well-
defined view of an object submitted to its scrutiny.
The eye of the observer, however keen, sees nothing
distinctly where all is involved in fog.

One very good test of the quality of an object-glass
of moderate power is the way in which it bears the
strain of the higher eye-pieces, even when the draw
tube is pulled out to some extent. If the combina-
tion be properly corrected for light and colour, it
will give a flat field, with clear definition in every
part of it, and will suffer scarcely any deterioration
in its performance. The reverse of this will hold
good with inferior lenses. The question of angular
aperture scarcely comes within the scope of a short
paper ; but those who are interested in this branch of
optics will find it fully discussed in our standard
works on the microscope. The ordinary method of
attaching an object-glass to the body of the micro-
scope is by screwing it into the tube, and as the
threads of the screw are generally very fine, some little
time is consumed in substituting one lens for another;
to obviate this difficulty, and to facilitate a rapid
exchange of objectives, a mechanical contrivance has
been invented, termed a nose-piece, which consists
of two or more rotating arms, each carrying an ob-
jective at its free end. By the rotation of the arms,
each lens, in its turn, is brought into its proper posi-
tion beneath the tube.

The eye-pieces (of which some three or four with
varying magnifying powers are supplied by our best
makers) should be constructed so as to slide gently
into the upper end of the body, a mode of attach-
ment that gives great facility to the microscopist for
changing his eye-pieces.

One of the greatest modern improvements in con-
nection with the compound microscope undoubtedly
is Mr. Wenham’s binocular arrangement. Its sim-
plicity and facility of adaptation to almost every kind

270

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

‘| Dec. 1, 1865.

of microscope, and the successful results it gives, are
reasons why every one who can afford it should add
it to his microscope. Its superiority over the single-
tubed instrument is most strikingly shown when used
in the examination of opaque objects. These stand
out in bold relief, and with a solidity unattainable
by the ordinary microscope. By this invention, the
penetrating power of an object-glass seems to be
greatly increased, and by its aid we dive, as it were,
deeper into those tissues and structures that form
the objects of our investigation ; but; when applied
to the examination of transparent objects, its perform-
ance is not equal to that of the single-tube instrument,
which, to my mind, gives a clearer and sharper image
than the binocular. The latter, however, be it ob-
served, can be readily reduced to the condition of an
ordinary microscope by the withdrawal of its prism.

In conclusion, we may add that whatever may be

the form of stand chosen by the purchaser, it should |

possess the qualities we have described,—a steady
solid base, an equal distribution of the parts which
it supports, and a smooth and even movement
wherever motion is required. DK

A BLACK CRADLE.
; Hare indebted to the Editor for introducing

to notice, in the April number of Scrence
Gossip, Dr. Seemann’s interesting little volume,
and for a charming generalizing sketch of the nature
and uses of Palms, headed by the pretty quotation
from the poet Laureate, “ Under a palm-tree.”
But poor Enoch Arden’s dreams never pictured to
him the extraordinary sort of cradle (or bowl-shaped
socket) in which Mr. Swinburne Ward, H.B.M.’s

Commissoner of the Seychelle Islands, in a letter |

addressed to our so deeply-regretted friend Sir W. |
J. Hooker, describes the Seychelle Islands Palm

(Lodoicea) to be rocked and lulled, and the noble
trunks thus preserved from injury when struggling
against the force of violent gales. Many explana-

tory particulars yet seem wanting to enable us fully |
to understand the nature and uses of this most |

extraordinary appendage, so different from what is
known of any other tree.

There has recently been received, and is now ex-
hibited in the Museum of the Royal Gardens at
Kew, an enormous colander-like object, of a sub-
stance as hard and close-grained as black lava,
pierced with numerous holes, about the size of a
thimble, and each hole communicating with a hollow
tube, which tubes bristle round the outside of the
bowl like roots, and no doubt have been the cases or
conduits of roots, if not the hardened bark of the
roots themselves.

The accompanying figure and measurements were
taken from the specimen at Kew: inside depth of
bowl, 23 inches; inside diameter, 273 inches ; out-
side diameter, to the ends of tubes as now remain-

ing, 393 inches. Through these hollow tubes,
says Mr. Ward, the roots penetrate the ground on
all sides, never, however, becoming attached to the
bowl], their partial elasticity affording an almost im-
perceptible but very necessary play to the parent
stem, when struggling against the force of violent
gales. Mr. Ward says, that, unlike the Cocoa-nut
Palms, which bend to every gentle gale, and are
never quite straight, the Coco-de-mer trees are as
rigidly upright as iron pillars, undisturbed in their
position by the heavy gales and violent storms so
often occurring in tropical regions. Dr. Seemann
(who, however, does not write as an eye-witness), on
the contrary, says, speaking of these same Lodoicea
Palms, the diameter of the trunk varies from 12-
to 15 inches, and the height from 80 to 90 feet,
and the whole stem is so flexible that the tops

NS
WS;
tS

Ss.

of those trees which stand in each other’s vicinity
strike against and chafe each other ina strong breeze,
making an extraordinary noise !

Which of these accounts are we to rely upon as
correct ?

One of the greatest and most ennobling pleasures
attending on all natural history investigations, is
the contemplation of that fitness and perfection of
contrivance, which gives us everywhere the. most
striking examples of adaptation of structure to
requirements. Now, if we admit as certain the
premises that the stiff rigidity and want of supple-

Dec. 1, 1865.1]

SCIENCH-GOSSIP. 271

ness in the stem of the Lodoicea (different from all
other Palms) requires a special arrangement to pre-
vent the shattering of the noble trunks, nothing
could be conceived of more effectually suited to the
purpose than the play and rolling of the stem in this
mechanical ball-and-socket “ universal joint ;” the
roots piercing the socket, however, must possess
greater toughness and flexibility than any gutta-
percha-coated wire cable, to avoid being torn out of
the ground, or frittered to rags, when we consider
the strain put upon them by the amount of leverage
from the great height of the trunks; and there are
other difficulties in understanding the mode of
growth and development. Did the socket nourish,
and protect, and nurse up the stem, or did the stem,
as it grew to maturity, elaborate and deposit the
materials for the socket ? The Coco-de-mer bowlis
of the substance and colour of the shell of the nut ;
but that it can be no swollen enlargement of the
nut, from which the tree has grown, is plain from
the mode of germination, so fully described and
figured by Sir W. J. Hooker, in Nos. 2,734 to 2,738
of the Botanical Magazine, new series. The
germ rises from the sinus of the lobes of the nut,
and extends itself to a considerable distance from
its parent seed before it takes root. The outer ex-
tremity then penetrates into the earth, and from a
cleft in the thickest part near the middle, throws up
the plumule, which gradually and slowly forms leaves,
and grows up into the tree.

So far, then, we see no preparation for the forma-
tion of this bowl underneath, and loose from the
trunk; and it seems easier to trace the mode and
purpose of its growth, if it may be supposed to be
formed as the tree attains age, as a sort of tuberous
excrescence of agglomerated roots, which have
eradually enlarged and hardened and thickened till
it forms a powerful bulbose buttress, to hold firmly
in the earth the towering stem with all the enormous
weight it was destined to support, each drupe or
fruit frequently attaining a length of eighteen
inches, with a circumference of three feet, and
weighing from forty to fifty pounds.

Some similar tendency of growth seems to be
exhibited in another Palm, namely, the conical masses
of what are called “aérial roots” of the Lriartes
ventricosa, of which protuberances very sonorous
musical instruments are made.

There is a beautiful illustration of these sort of
supplemental buttress-roots, which it is im the
power of any one to watch. The Indian Corn (Zea
Mays), in a favourable garden soil and aspect, will,
even in England, shoot up to the height of eleven or
twelve feet, its shining silky tassels of the styles
waving to every breeze; but as these wither
(the pollen of the upright male spikes having
been shed upon them), the fecundated female
spikes begin to swell, and due preparation is made
for the considerable bulk and weight they are to

attain to. Then may be seen little pinkish buds
issuing from the joints of the stem, from an inch to
fifteen inches or more above the surface of the soil ;
these gradually grow and anchor themselves firmly
in the earth, and thus help to steady the stem, and
enable it, with its ever-hardening flinty outer cuticle,
to support the heavy heads of maize as the grains fill
and ripen. Now, the grasses have been counted
as near, though plebeian, relations of the “ princely
Palms;” so perhaps a free pardon may be insured
for thus introducing ‘‘a mere grass” into a chapter
on this king of the “ princely Palms,” if any of my ©
readers will turn to Longfellow’s entrancing allegory
of the first gift of the Maize to the Red Man, in the
“Song of Hiawatha.”

The object of the digression was to call attention
to the nature of these supplemental, and what may
be called buttress-roots, and to ask, caz the curious
colander-like bowl be formed of such, amalgamated,
as it were, into a massive state in the course of
growth? It has been suggested by a very acute
observer, that the specimen at Kew may have been
the base of some very old tree cut down years ago,
and with all the softer internal parts decayed away.

But how, then, account for the smooth, polished
hard surface of the inside of the bowl, which it is
so tempting to adduce as a proof of the effect of
friction from the rolling motion of the stem in its
socket? Ah! there are many more clever polishers
in Nature’s workshops than are dreamed of in our
philosophy; and how do we know what strange
insects, worms, and fungi may have been at work,
clipping and filing and rubbing down, bit by bit
every little fibre or projecting roughness from the
decaying portions of the former trunk. This charm-
ing poetic theory of the Lodoicea being rocked in a
cradle of the earth, is at first sight a most plausible,
ingenious, and interesting interpretation of a natural
phenomenon; therefore it may appear presumptuous
to say that it yet seems to want confirmation by more
and closer observation of the “ving and growing trees.
Tas any one of these ever been actually examined at
its base, and seen to be standing within its bowl, and
yet not attached to its substance, and only fastened
in the ground by the comparatively slender roots
passing through the perforations of the bowl?

Various strange myths have from time to time
been propagated about these wonderful trees, whose
huge fruits were long considered as productions of
thesea! Fit nuts indeed for Leviathan or the great
serpent to crack for their dessert !

Whatever may be the merits of the conjectures
which have here been offered, any visitor to Kew may
admire the realities of all the wondrously elegant
articles, baskets, boxes, hats, flowers, caskets, dishes,
&e. &e., manufactured from the leaves, stalks, and
nuts of the Lodoicea Palm, and then survey the hard
Black Cradle,” and form their own opinions as to
“What Jsaue P: 8: B.

wo
~
w

PIRATICAL GULLS.

URING a few weeks’ ramble through the Shet-
land Islands, I had opportunities of studying
and admiring the sea-birds, a great variety of which
inhabit the rocky shores. They give animation to
the coast scenery, otherwise painfully solemn, from
the majesty of its stupendous cliffs, rising abruptly
from the sea to form a blank wall, three and four
hundred feet in height, and in a few cases towering
to that of six hundred. These cliffs on the western
shores of Ultima Thule are continued out to sea in
a long row of pinnacles and an uninterrupted serics
of arches—
The hoary rocks of giant size,
* x * %
Seen far amidst the scowling storm,
Seen each a tall and phantom form,
As hurrying vapour o’er them flee,
Frowning in grim security ;
While, like a dread voice from the past,
Around them moans the autumnal blast.

These fantastic forms “indicate how the attrition
of the surf has told upon the iron-bound coast,
demonstrating that lines of precipices hard as iron,
and of giddy elevation, are in full retreat before the
dogged perseverance of an assailant that, though
baffled in each single attack, ever returns to the
charge, and gains by an aggregation of infinitesimals
the result of the whole.” * For these rocks are
subject to the continued action of the fierce Atlantic
waves, hollowing cut the more easily degraded parts
of these crystalline rocks, piercing them, and
detaching portions as needles; awaiting the final
change when they shall be ground to sediment, and
so assist in the building up of like structures; and
thus it is we see everywhere around us that this
apparent destruction is the real source of renovation
in nature.

It is among these cliffs and natural caves that
multitudes of sea-birds scream aloft in middle air,
and have their homes; here they resort for the
purpose of breeding, each species associating to-
gether in vast communities, and usually isolated
from others. Here is a cave, the haunt of the
Kittawake ; the top of that little shelving holm is
crowded with the nests of the common Gull; on yon
ledge of rock, scarcely wide enough for the eggs to
rest on, is alongrank of Guillemot’s eggs; around that

peetling cliff the Rock Pigeon is seen whirling in |

vapid flight; here and there on the face of the
same, are the burrows of the Little Puffin. Many
of these species breed together in apparent harmony
and good-will.

But the most secluded of all the sea-birds are the
Skua Gulls, a species of a very interesting nature from
their peculiar habits and form, so ungull-like. They

* Hugh Miller,

by supporting themselves chiefly on the fish which
they compel other gulls to vomit. Of the Skua
Gulls, three species frequent the Shetlands Archipe-
lago,—the Skua Gull, or Bonxie; the Richardson’s
Skua, or Arctic Gull; and the Pomarine Gull: they
belong to the genus Zestvis of naturalists, and though
closely allied to the true Gulls (Larus), yet they
appear to partake both of the nature of the Gull
and Hawk tribes.

The Richardson’s Skua, with the scientific appel-
lation, Lestris Richardsont, is a very elegant bird, of
a blackish colour all over, with the exception of the
belly, which is of a rusty or tarnished hue ; not un-
frequeutly this gives place to a pure white; others
with the breast more or less speckled graduate from
the white to the rusty. The Shetlanders regard the
black and white bird as the male; but the varieties
of colour are without doubt the effect of different
periods of development, as one may sce, where there
are numerous individuals, pairs belonging to the
same nest associated in every possible combination
of colours; for evidently this species breeds before
it attains the plumage of maturity.

The bird is seen to advantage on the wing; its
truncated tail, with the middle feather prolonged
beyond the rest, its long arched wings, and its rapid
flight, suggest to the casual observer the flight of the
Hawk. This impression would increase upon us, if
we should witness its piratical propensities exercised
among the Kittawakes and small gulls. Thus, while
one of the parent birds remains watching over its
progeny, its mate sallies forth to secure wherewith
to appease the hunger of its family. But the
Richardson knows only one law of possession, that
which the strong exercises over the weak: might is
right with him. Poised on wing, or sailing to and
fro over the fishing-grounds of the smaller gulls, he
awaits a capture by one of them, and while the poor
bird speeds on his homeward journey, the Richardson
is after him, and through his superior power of flight
overtakes him, worries the poor gull, and to escape
this persecution the victimized bird disgorges its
fairly-acquired prey ;. as it falls, it is seized by the
tyrant, who hurries home with his ill-gotten gains.
The ery of this gull is shrill and peculiar in tone,
and in the solitude of a summevr’s midnight-twilight
strikes on the ear of a person, a stranger to it, as an
agonized wail of a child.

There are many breeding stations of this bird
throughout the islands, though there are rarely
more than a few pairs congregated in one place, yet
on Comb Hill, in the island of Foula, which these
culls haveappropriated to themselves for the purpose
of nidification, as many as from fifty to one hundred
pairs may be observed.

Unlike the majority of the Gulls, the Richardson’s
Skua sel ts for a brecding-place the heathy and
treeless moors at various altitudes, and distant a

DEG Aig 1865]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

a“

mle or so from hon: sea. The feat is a mere con-
cavity in the ground; the eggs, two in number, are
laid in the month of June. It is during the nesting
season that the bird displays such courage and
tenacity in holding possession of its domain. When
the nest is approached, the bird shows a determina-
tion to defend its own. Any bird, whether raven,
gull, or hawk, that happens to stray into the Skua’s
territory, is at once attacked ; the parent birds dart
down from a considerable height, and dash vehe-
mently, with a noise and speed truly astonishing,
against the intruder, and cease not the attack until
the enemy is well driven away; even when the
intruder is the more powerful Bonxie, do they
continue the charge without intermission. Man
even is not prepared to brave the gull’s fury,
he receiving constant flaps with the wings of the
bird; usually the bird comes sweeping along full at
the person, and when within a foot, rises a little in
its flight, so as just to graze the head. If a stick be
elevated at this juncture, the bird swerving to the
right or left, skilfully avoids the obstacle; but not
unfrequently dashing against it, falls a mangled
corpse at one’s feet, a prey to its own fury, so
ereat is the vehemence of its charge.

The Richardson, like the Partridge and Plover,
employs the same stratagem to decoy enemies from
its nest,—scrambling along on all fours (wings and
legs), assuming an appearance of being disabled
and incapable of flight, tumbling over and over; thus
exciting pursuit, but in a direction away from its
nest ; and on the success of its trick, mounts and
leaves one with the impression that he has been

sold. bp}

The Scories of this species (for so the young of
ail gulls are called) ave the least sombre of the
tribe; the plumage of the young Richardson may be
fairly called handsome; it is of a glossy, darkly
speckled-brown. It is a cunning, nimble little bird,
aud leaves the nest soon after it is hatched. It
secretes itself in holes, behind stones, or lies close
among the vegetation on being approached, and
when captured, its shew of defence is really very
amusing.

The Skua Gull, or Bonxie (Lestris cataractes), is
one of the largest of European gulls, and is only
an occasional visitor to Great Britain, save in the
Shetland Isles, to which it annually resorts for
breeding purposes. It is there, however, confined
to one or two stations. It is said still to breed on
the island of Foula; it formerly bred on Her-
maness, Unst, where, until the death of its protector,
Thos. Edmonston, Esq., the colony numbered about
twenty pairs. Since his decease, which occurred a
few years ago, a war of extermination has too
successfully been carried on against this noble bird.
The nests have been robbed, the old birds have been
shot,—for a price was fixed on their skins and eggs ;
and this wanton destruction has resulted almost in

the econ of this rarity. Though fortunate in
seeing a live Skua, it was under unfavourable cireum-
stances; he was not at home, for though a bird of
great power, he was harassed by the Richardsons,
and exhibited all the appearance of an Ishmael
among his tribe.

To the sportsman, a successful shot at this fine bird
may be a source of gratification; but the wantonness
exhibited by visitors to these islands, the main ob-
ject often being nothing more than to secure the
skins of this sea-fowl], is a theft, and its results are
sad to contemplate. Take me out of the beaten
track of sight-seekers, too often indelibly marked;
I wish for none other museum than the precipices
and moorlands, if the extermination of a species like
this is to be the sacrifice.

The habits of the Bonxie are the same as those of
the Richardson. This bird is no less tenacious of
its domain, and is as fearless in defence of its nest
as its congener. When the Bonxie is attacked by
the Richardson, for it is the old story, ‘every cock
can crow on his own dunghill,” he has one resource
left, that of alighting ; for the tactic of his aggressor
is lost, his long pinions, so advantageous while on the
wing, are quite the reverse on the ground.

The Pomerine Gull (Lestris Pomarinus) is a rare
visitant to the Shetlands. It approaches the Bonxie
in size, and resembles the Richardson in plumage.
Specimens are occasionally shot.

RarpH Tate, £.G.8., &c.

MISTLETOE.

Z\HOSH who live in the orchard districts of
+ Herefordshire can scarcely avoid being struck
with the quantity of mistletoe. Being, as I may say,
brought into contact with it in my daily walks, and
having an interest excited in me by others, I en-
deavoured to collect what information I could con-
cerning its mode of growth. The result of a short
research is here. If you think it worth insertion, if
is at your service, and may perhaps induce others
to examine more fully and carefully this remarkable

A description of the stem, leaves, and flowers wiil
be found in any botanical work, and would therefore
be superfluous.

The seed is heart-shaped and compressed. A ver-
tical section (fig. 2) shows ¢wa club-shaped radicles,
which are superior, 7.¢., directed towards the apex of
the fruit (fig. 1). In the seeds I have examined I
have met with two, showing ove radicle only. Baxter,
in his “ Flowering Plants,” says that some exhibit
three. These radicles bend themselves down or up,
as the case may be, to the surface on which the seed
is sown, and attach themselves to it before the
plumule extends itself (fig. 3).

As far as my observations have gone, I am led to
kelieve that birds are the great means of dissemina-

274

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Dec. 1, 1865.
te

ting the mistletoe; and that by seeds alone does the
plant take entire possession of the tree. During
last winter 1 examined some scores of trees of
different kinds, chiefly apple, poplar, and thorn, and
found seeds deposited on them in large numbers
and large masses by birds. In the notes to an

Vig. 1. Vertical section of the fruit.
», 2. Vertical section of the seed.
», 3. (From Baxter) showing the way in which the
radicles extend themselves.

edition of Evelyn’s Sylva by Dr. A. Hunter, 1776, I
find :—‘‘It is the opinion of some that if is propa-
gated by the Misleto-Thrush, which, feeding upon the
berries, leaves the seeds with its dung upon the
branches of the respective trees where the plant is
commonly found. Others say, that as the berries
are extremely glutinous, the seeds frequently stick
to the beaks of those birds, which being rubbed off
upon the branches of trees, they become inoculated,
as it were, and take root. Inthe same manner the
Misleto may be propagated by art; forif the berries,
when fully ripe, be rubbed off upon the smooth part
of the bark of almost any tree, they will adhere
closely, and produce plants the following winter.”
Adopting the suggesticn expressed by Dr. Hunter,
I see no difficulty in the fact that the plant is found
on the under side of a bough. Or again; we all
know that water running on the surface of a cylin-
drical body does not fall off from the side, but by
attraction follows the surface, unless diverted, to the
middle of the under surface. Might not the rain
thus gradually carry down, or leave in an inter-
mediate position, the seeds deposited by a bird? The
viscid matter enveloping the seed would still be
adhesive enough to keep the seed attached to the
bough. As an instance of this viscidity, on December
23rd last, [ found a mass of seeds deposited by a bird
on apainted gate-post. After all the storms of rain
and snow and the severe frosts which we had during
January and the beginning of February, the mass
was there still, and showed no sign of falling from
the painted surface of the post. The seeds, after
having been deposited, have a great enemy in the
Great Tit, and very probably in other birds too. Ow
one occasion I climbed a tree covered with Mistletoe,
and found numbers of seeds rifled, leaving the mere
integument. Five minutes’ watching showed a
Great Tit at work upon a mass on another tree.

I have not yet found a large per-centage of plants

| widely spread, if birds carry the seeds?”

-on the under side of the branches, but on the con-
trary have found them on the upper side or edge.

No matter in what position the seed is sown,
the same plane of growth continues throughout,

and the plant does not bend upwards, as plants
generally do.

The old moss and lichen-covered trunks of apple-
trees I have, last winter, seen covered with such
clusters of young plants as one would expect to find
from the successful germination of masses of seeds
like those I have noticed deposited on all parts of
trunks.

It may be asked :—“ Why is not the Mistletoe more
This is
easily answered by the facts; first, that the plants
are dicecious, and therefore the chances are numerous
against the seed possessing the principle of life. The

| majority of plants in an orchard of several acres

g. 4. Section across the grain of apple.
», 5. Section across the grain cf ash.
6. Section down the grain of apple.

which I examined were pistiliferous. Out of fifteen
trees which I specially examined, twelve bore only
pistiliferous,two both pistiliferous and staminiferous,
and one staminiferous plants only. Secondly, many
seeds will be annually destroyed by such birds as
the Tits.

The sced being deposited, no matter in what posi-
tion with regard to the bough, the radicles are directed
to the bark, and the root penetrates to the heart of
the wood. I have eut specimens having the plants
crowing in every possible direction, and yet a section
vertical to the plane of growth of the bough on which
it is found, always exhibits the root forcing its way
to the heart of the wood or beyond the heart, at right
angles to a tangent drawn from the point of contact

"Due. 1, 18653

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

275

with the bark. The root appears to force its way,
taking entire possession of the bough by expansion
. behind the growing-point, and gradually forming an
excrescence above the bark somewhat resembling the
crown of a root.

The absorption of the juices by the Mistletoe in
time causes the decay of that part of the branch cut
off from communication with the trunk by it. This
I think will account for large plants of Mistletoe,
found on the branches, being almost invariably at the
eud of the branch.

The expansion is a strange phenomenon. The
accompanying sketches will convey some idea of the
general appearance of different sections. They are
reduced from nature, the shaded part representing
the Mistletoe. (See figs. 4,5,6.) A horizontal section
of the expansion itself shows concentric rings and
medullary rays, but distorted in every possible way,
owing, I suppose, to the pressure of the wood of the
bough.

A theory has, I think, been started that it may be
propagated by fibres running from one plant, and so
take possession of the whole tree. I have tried several
specimens where on the same bough I obtained two
large plants within six inches of each other. But I
have failed, as yet, to detect in sections cut from
between the two plants, any fibrous connection.

The capricious habit of the plant is very remark-
able. In a wide district abounding in White and
Lombard poplars there is scarcely a White poplar
that is not covered with masses of Mistletoe, while
on not a single Lombard can I find evenasprig. On
one Ash, standing in a clump of ash-trees, I found
ten plants; but not one of the surrounding trees bore
asingle plant. The same caprice applies to its growth
on the Lime and White Thorn, as faras [have been
able to ascertain.

The inquiry into the growth of the Mistletoe, a
plant enveloped in so much mystery, mythical and
natural, is fraught with interest ; and I shall be ex-
tremely glad if this letter should prove to be the
means of exciting or assisting the researches of others.

hieeD:

A PLEA FOR. NETTLES,

ie one might be allowed to form an opinion from

the way in which people generally speak of
nettles, the conclusion would be inevitable that they
are not only the most useless weeds in creation, but
the greatest pests wherewith the earth has been
cursed. There are some morose beings in the world
who are for ever looking on the dark side, no matter
what it is that has its evils, to them it is a// evil.
For our own part we don’t believe in such a doctrine.

Our creed is that there is something good in every- |
thing, and we have faith in this creed, even though |

our own knowledge may be too limited to discover
all the good which we believe to exist. Sfinging

nettles are very disagreeable things we confess,
either to handle or sit upon, but that they do not
deserve wholesale condemnation shall be evident
before we have done.

Our indigenous nettles are small and insignificant
beside those of tropical countries. It is true that
they are by no means scarce, and if there is any
luxury in coming into contact with them, it need
not remain long unsatisfied. We possess three,
some say four, species; the Small Nettle (Urtica
urens), and the Great Nettle (Urtica dioica), both
of which bear fruit in spikes, and the Roman Nettle
(Urtica pilulifera), in which the clusters of fruit are
globose. The last is only local, whilst both the
former are common everywhere. It is doubtful
whether we have any other indigenous plants so
often abused, ill-spoken of, or maltreated as nettles.
Scarcely any one, from the infant to the grey-beard,
speaks a word in their praise, and for insect and
fungal parasites they are almost without parallel.
Indeed the wonder seems to be that we have nettles
at all, since so many enemies combine against them.
Yet nettles and parasites increase and multiply and
replenish the earth.

There is a nettle found in the East Indies, known
to botanists as Urtica crenulata, the handling of
which is certainly “no joke,” if the account given
by Leschenault de la Tour is a plain, unvarnished
tale. He says, “One of the leaves slightly touched
the first three fingers of my left hand; at the time
I only perceived a slight pricking, to which I paid
no attention. This was at seven in the morning.
The pain continued to increase; in an hour it had
become intolerable ; it seemed as if some one was
rubbing my fingers with a hot iron. Nevertheless
there was no remarkable appearance: neither swell-
ing, nor pustule, nor inflammation. The pain
rapidly spread along the arm, as far as the armpit.
T was then seized with frequent sneezing, and with
a copious running at the nose, as if I had caught a
violent cold in the head. About noon I experienced
a painful contraction of the back of the jaws, which
made me fear an attack of tetanus. I then went to
bed, hoping that repose would alleviate my suffering ;
but it did not abate ; on the contrary, it continued
nearly the whole of the following night; but I lost
the contraction of the jaws about seven in the
evening. The next morning the pain began to leave
me, and I fell asleep. I continued to suffer for two
days; and the pain returned in full force when I put
my hand into water. I did not finally lose it for
nine days.”’ A similar occurrence took place at the
Calcutta Botanic Gardens, and the man who was
stung described the sensation, when water was
applied to the part, as if boiling oil was being poured
over him. The common nettle of the Neilgherry
Mountains (fig. 1) and some parts of Northern
India (Urtica heterophylla), Roxburgh stated was
the most ferocious plant he had ever seen, and that

276

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

KALE

[Dec. 1, 1865.

es
ESS

oS

Z Lib}; = Las
BN SEK
ohY a

y
Loi}

aa

Fie, 1. Nerrgurerry Navrin (Urtica heterophylla).

a, Male Flower; 0, Female Flower; cand d, Seeds, magnified; e, Seed, natural size.

it fully acted up to its appearance. In Assam and
also in Kumaon are several other shrubby rettles
with woody stems and troublesome stings. The
Java stinging-nettle (UV. stimulans) is also anything
but a pleasant companion. But above all, the great
Devil’s-leaf Nettle of Timor (Urtica urentissima)
has the reputation of being the most virulent, The

effects are said to last for a year, or even to cause
death,

Nearly all the nettles are possessed of a very
strong and silky inner bark. The common nettle
(U. dioica) has been used almost from time imme-
morial as a fibrous plant, and not only do the inhabi-
tants of Siberia make from it the cordage for their

recs

=

Dec. 1, 1865,] SCIENCE-GOSSIP. ; 277

SN

SS

Fig. 2. Cutna-arass Nerrie (Behmeria nie).

a, Female Flower; d, Cluster of ditto; 6, Male Flower; c, Seeds, natural size; e, Seeds, magnified.

nets, but in Piedmont the fibre is converted into a
kind of linen cloth. We possess thread lace of
excellent quality which had no more aristocratic
origin than the common stinging-nettle. The Puya
(Behmeria puya) of Darjeeling, and the China-grass

(Behmeria nivea) of Assam, China, &c., are nettles
(fig. 2) which yield fibres unsurpassed for strength,
are easily bleached, and may be converted into the
finest lien in the same manner as flax. The
Neilgherry Nettle is also useful in a similar manner,

278 SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

(Dec. 1, 1865,

Indeed scarcely a nettle has yet been found growing
to a sufficient size which does not yield an excellent
fibre for spinning or rope-making.

Returning again to our common species, we learn
that the roots have not only been used in domestic
medicine, but that when boiled with alum, a colour-
ing matter is developed, which has been employed
to dye yarn yellow. The young shoots, when boiled,
are by no means to be despised as greens. In Man-
chester, and some other parts of Lancashire and the
North, “nettle beer” is as well known and appre-
elated as “ ginger-pop.”? Fowls are said to be fond
of picking up the seeds and eating them, and if
the whole plant is cut down and given to cows as
food, it is declared to increase the quantity and
improve the quality of their milk; and if strongly
salted, this same much-abused plant may be used as a
substitute for rennet im making cheese. So that
were we to try our best, we could hardly meet with a
more useful plant than the nettle, not a fragment of
which need be wasted, but all may be applied .to
some economic purpose. Not only is this true of
one species, but also of the majority, although they
offer no attractions of sweet odours, bright colours,
or handsome flowers, they are, inspite of their
stings, good servants to man who abuses them.

CAT-FLEAS.

OME months ago, a person brought me a green
baize cushion, with a request to know what
certain objects, scattered in considerable numbers
over it, were. They were white, small, and oval,
and in appearance resembled minute pearls. Upon
telling him that probably the cat had made her bed
on that cushion for some time past, and those objects
were simply the eggs of the cat-flea, he admitted
the accuracy of the first of these guesses, and in
his disgust nearly dropped the cushion.
This circumstance, however, appeared to me to be
likely to afford the means of verifying the interesting

Head of Catefleae

and instructive remarks made by Mr. R. Beck, at
the Microscopical Society, in October, 1864, so I
quickly caught the pad, and transferred the whole
of the eggs to a sheet of paper. Together with the

eggs, which were very numerous, was a quantity of
black powder. This, according to Mr. Beck, is the
excrement of the flea; and I see no reason to doubt
the truth of it. bij

The eggs, in total amounting to I suppose about
a thousand, were variously distributed. The two
friends to whom I gave a considerable quantity each,
were not successful in the experiment. The writer
enclosed some in glass cells at once, and they hatched
in about a week afterwards. A larger number were
put intoa small bottle, and carried in the pocket
for a few hours. This novel sort of incubation was
very successful, At night, about eight hours after

Larvee of Cat-flea.

putting them into the bottle, there was a wriggling
mass of larvee, the greater part of them having
liberated themselves from the egg already. In many
eggs, though, the larve might still be seen, and
careful watching showed that they shifted their
positions inside.

The exit of many individuals from the shell was
also observed. Once out of confinement, their
appetites seemed to come simultaneously with their
liberty, and they fell to on the food I had prepared
for them, the black powder aforesaid, which consists
of blood, only partly digested.

Thinking that as heat had so far hastened the
result, it might judiciously be applied to still
further accelerate the process, means were taken to
warm the cell containing the few specimens which
had been separated from the rest; but, unfortu-

3G
hee?

Dec. 1, 1865.]

nately, the temperature was raised too high, and
all that lot of larvee perished,—in fact, they were
cooked,

Another cell was filled and covered with thin glass.
This was decidedly better, inasmuch as in a week’s
time one flea had so far outgrown his companions
that he spun a cocoon, and entered into a state of
repose preparatory to his final change, and I had
great hopes; but this change never took place, for
one of his juniors, supported by a hungry friend,
got inside the cocoon and gobbled up my poor
protégé. TI had the satisfaction, after an interval of
two days, of seeing the two cannibals wriggling out
of the aperture by which they had effected an
entrance, while nothing remained of the former
occupier, not even the skin.

Warned by this circumstance, precautions were
taken to separate from the rest some half-dozen
larves, which a few days afterwards were desirous
of seeking a place of rest, and had changed con-
siderably in colour through ceasing to eat.

The weather now became colder, and it appeared
to affect the subjects of the experiment to some ex-
tent. Two of them settled down in different parts
of the cell in which I had confined them, and with-
out spinning any cocoon, prepared to undergo their
metamorphosis into the imago state. Twelve days
afterwards, they were noticed to have altered in
appearance to something approaching the shape of
the perfect flea, the resemblance becoming closer each
day afterwards. The legs were formed, but soft
apparently, and much distended by the contained
fluids ; the general colour was white, and the skin
semi-transparent,—very like the colour of shrimps
before boiling.

Alas! my scientific hatching did not end satis-
factorily. My baby fleas proved abortive, and soon
shrivelled up. The cause I have not ascertained
for certain, but think I am not far out in attributing
it to want of moisture, and, perhaps, want of air
and food. I have not had an opportunity of com-
pleting the experiment, but hope to do so ata future
time.

The place in the office where I kept my pets, was
regarded with great suspicion by my companions;
and I was to be held responsible, should fleas become
numerous there at any future time.

This, however, involved a question which has not
yet been decided, namely, whether the cat-flea will
fulfil all the conditions, and rejoice in the comfort,
notwithstanding its dangers, which is the lot of the
bed-flea. My own impression is decidedly in the
affirmative.

The cat-flea is to be distinguished from the human
tormentor, by the array of spinous processes it pos-
sesses at the front of the head and back of the neck,
somewhat like acollar, while the bed-flea is destitute
of them. The squirrel-flea has a similar series of
spines at the back of the neck, but none in the

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

279

front of the head. This kind is also to be found
on rats, the writer having once caught a specimen
on one.

I have never seen the larva of the bed-flea. It is
said to inhabit dusty corners of rooms and carpets ;
very likely the cat-flea larva often does the same,
particularly in houses where puss is allowed to roam
at will.

lL lately found that oftentimes mice are infested
with fleas, and procured some for my cabinet. It
is remarkable in this species, that either there are
no eyes or they are very obscure. I cannot find
them. The figure given of the head of the bat-flea
in the Micrographic Dictionary resembles the head
of the flea in question.

The subject of this paper is well worth experi-
menting upon, and cannot fail to supply interest.
The expression of all the friends who saw in my mi-
croscope the active and, apparently, ferocious worms
now described, was that of surprise and wonder.

8. J. M‘Intins.

THE FLY IN PIKE-FISHING.

AS many of our readers are, at this time of the
year, amusing themselves with Pike-fishing,
and as some of them are obliged to confine their
attention to one stream, it may not be out of
place in the pages of ScreNcE Gossrr to suggest
to them the use of the fly as anew sensation. © All
fishers have remarked that the fish in any stream
soon cease to take a particular kind of artificial bait
if worked too long at once. For this reason a
change is extremely desirable. Mr. Pennell, in his
“Book of the Pike,’’* has figured a fly for Pike-
fishing which might be tried with advantage in some
localities where it is at present unknown. We quote
his own words :—

“The fly, although it has always held a recognised
place amongst pike-baits, is practically very little
either known or used, and the small experience I
have had of it leads me to class it rather as a ‘fancy
bait,’ which may perhaps be occasionally employed
as an agreeable variety, than as a rival to the more
solid and time-honoured modes of trolling. Mr.
Stoddart seems to be much of the same opinion.
The Pike-fly is also used in the Norfolk Broads,
where, according to a recent writer in the /“e/d news-
paper, the experience of trollers is precisely contrary
to that of Mr. Stoddart, as it is found that large-
sized Pike will frequently take it freely, when nothing
over 6 lbs. can be tempted with the natural bait.”

* ©The Book of the Pike: a Practical Treatise on the
Various Methods of Jack-fishing; with an Analysis of the
Tackle employed; the History of the Fish, &c.; also a
Chapter on Spinning for Trout in Lakes and Rivers.’? By
H. Cholmondeley Pennell, author of ‘‘ The Angler Naturalist,”
&c. London: Hardwicke.

a

SCIENCE-GOSSIP. [Dec. 1, 1865.

Fry For

The same writer says that he has not unfrequently
killed Pike with a fly on bright clear days, when
spinning was utterly useless. As a rule, Pike-
flies cannot well be too gaudy, though they may
easily be too big. The bodies should be fat and
rough, made of coloured pigs’ wool, cocks’ hackles,
&e., and plentifully bedizened with beads and tinsels ;
the wings of two peacocks’ moon-feathers (tail-
feathers with eyes in them).

“Tn the western lakes of Ireland, patterns dressed
with sable or other furs and without wings, are more
in favour. Ephemera thinks the Pike-fly is looked
upon by the Pike as a gigantic Dragon-fly ; but that
it is mistaken for a Yellow-hammer, or, perhaps, for
a Swallow, appears to me to be the more probable
hypothesis. Indeed, a Yellow-hammer or other
small bright bird dragged along the surface of the
water, 1s quite as good a bait as the regular Pike-fly,
if not better. According to an excellent trolling
authority, much may be done in Ireland by trailing
the tuft of the end of a calf’s tail well armed with
hooks. The engraving is taken from a very fine
specimen of the Pike-fly, as used in Ireland, and was
presented to me by Mr. Martin Kelly, of Dublin.
Any combination, however, of feathers and tinsel,
which is bright and big, would probably answer the
purpose equally well; indeed, even the size seems
to be doubtful, as I have twice caught Pike with
Chubflies ; and Stoddart says, that in Loch Led-
cowan, Pike are fished for with flies ‘dark in colour,
and resembling those used in many rivers for
summer Grilse,’

Mr. Pennell’s treatise is well worthy of the
attention of Pike-fishers, as it contains, besides a
very large personal experience, the results of the
opinion of all the leading authorities on the subject.

SIMPLE OBJECTS—IX.
PANDORINA MORUM.

HE accompanying figures represent one cf the
Volvyocinee, apparently that form of Pexdorina
morum referred to in the Micrographic Dictionary,*
“with sixteen or thirty-two gonidia closely crowded
together, instead of standing at wide intervals in the
large colourless envelope: it is uncertain whether
this form is multiplied vegetatively; but we have

seen its gonidia all converted into resting spores.”
What I have noticed with respect to this plant
seems to prove that it is “‘ multiplied vegetatively.”
In its usual condition the number of gonidia is
sixteen (figs. 4, 6,9), though there are frequently
only twelve (figs. 1, 2, 3). These are enclosed ina
thick gelatinous envelope, through the walls of which
pass two cilia from each gonidium, by means of which
these plants move rapidly with a rotatory motion.
The gonidia seem to have the power of altering their
shape spontaneously, being sometimes pear-shaped
(fig. 1), at others inversely pear-shaped (fig. 2).
Hach has a vacuole at the end, from which the cilia
spring; and, very frequently, if not always, a red
spot near. Sometimes the envelope has a striated
appearance, (fig. 3), as if the substance had become

* Page 526, second edition,

Dec. 1, 1865.] |

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

28]

hardened and cracked. Fig. 4 represents a motion-
less form, in which‘the cilia are wanting.

In fig. 5 each of the gonidia has become changed
into a cluster of gonidia like the parent plant, each
with its own proper envelope, but all contained in
the original covering.
condition of vegetative growth.

This seems to be clearly a
It is remarkable

that in this, and in a corresponding form (fig. 7) in
which the gonidia are without cilia, there are only
fifteen clusters; not sixteen, as one would naturally
have expected.

In a state of decay, the envelope seems to break
up into indistinct cells (fig. 10), each of which con-
tains a gonidium. This seems to indicate that there
is a proper envelope to each gonidium, as well as
one common to ail. J. 8S. Ture.

ZOOLOGY.

Tue Gray WaGrain.—Some years ago a discussion
took place in the pages of the Zoologist on that curious
habit which the Gray Wagtail (Aotacilla boarula) has
of sometimes fluttering for hours together at some par-
ticular window inadwelling-house. Various reasons
were there assigned for this strange propensity. Mr,
Hi. Doubleday suggested that the bird was seeking
its food; but as no insects could be discovered, and
the bird did not seem to pick up anything, this
explanation was considered untenable. Others
supposed that the bird seeing its own image in tlie
elass, mistook it for its lest mate, which it was
endeavouring to rejoin; but if was shown that, at the

time indicated, the bird could have no mate. A third
solution was that some reflection from the window
had the same effect on the Wagtail as a piece of
looking-glass is known to have on Larks; but this
seemed a mere fancy, as fear is the prevailing
influence in the latter case, but not at all in the
former. An instance of the exhibition of this odd
habit took place a while ago at the house of a neigh-
bour of mine. Day after day the bird kept fluttering
at the window of the common kitchen, and how often
soever driven away, always returned. So unusual a
circumstance began to be talked about, and a report
soon got abroad that the house was haunted, and
there were not wanting those who believed it. One
Sunday afternoon many scores—nay hundreds—of
people from a neighbouring town came to see the
ehost. This was so annoying to the farmer that he
Iet loose a rather formidable-looking bull, the sight
of which soon effected a clearance; and next morn-
ing the poor bird had to bear the penalty of its
notoriety ; it was shot, and that without a silver
sixpence in the charge. But superstition apart, this
habit of the Gray Wagtail, not recorded, I think, of
any other bird, is a very strange one, and one worthy
of investigation. Do any of the readers of ScrENCE
Gossip know whether it has ever been satisfactorily
explained ?—IV, R.

Tom-tits AND CEeLERY-FLY.—A few days before
your republication of the description of the insect
which is the cause of what is commonly called celery
blight, my ubiquitous friends the Tom-tits dis-
covered that the larve were fit for eating; and afew
dozen Tits were actively engaged in flitting up and
down the rows of celery in the kitchen garden here
in search of what must be to them as great a treat
as fried grasshoppers are to a Hottentot. Although
two men were digging on the adjoining plot, the
Tits pertinaciously examined every leaf; and the
result was that the larve were cleared in two days.
Let us, therefore, save our small birds.—J. W. Lau-
rence, in Gardener’s Chronicle.

Squacco Hrroy.—I understand that a specimen
of the beautiful Squacco Heron (4rdea comata) has
been shot this year on the pond at Lord Eldon’s
place, Encombe, in the county of Dorset.—C. IV.
Bingham.

CLOUDED YELLOW Burrerriy.—A great number
of the beautiful butterfly, ‘ Clouded Yellow ”
(Hdusa), have been taken during the past week in
this neighbourhood. Connoisscurs here say they are
evidently fresh from the chrysalis, their wings being
quite soft, and the whole insect in a state of beauti-
ful perfection. One young enthusiast took fifty in
two days (last Friday and Saturday), all unusually
large, and of brilliant colowrs. his is the third
brood this season—one in June, one in August, and
now one in mid-October.— Lrederich Hudscn,
Fentnor, Isle of Wight.

U

282

SCIENCH-GOSSIP.

(Dec. 1, 1865.

SEVERAL specimens of the Clouded Yellow Butter-
fly (Colias Edusa) were seen at Newby, near Annan,
on the 5th October, 1865, when the Dumfries and
Galloway Natural History Society met there. It
has been seen several times in Dumfriesshire before,
at the following places and dates :—Obtained by Dr.
Gibson, on the 17th August, 1857, at Karkmahoe,—
seven were taken, and several more seen near
Glancaple Quay; another taken by Dr. Gibson, in
September, 1858, at Colvend; and those of this
year on the 5th October, at Newby, near Annan.
—C.D. M.S.

Tue Moa or New Zeatanp.—The marvellous
adventures and journeys of Sindbad the Sailor have
at some time or other been familiar to most of us.
Tt would seem that his gigantic bird, the Roe, had,
however, at some remote date a distant relation in
the Moa or Dinornis. From time to time accounts
have reached this country of the native traditions
respecting this gigantic bird, now supposed, and with
eood reason, to be extinct. Bones of it have been
found from time to time, and from them Professor
Owen and other naturalists have drawn on science
and imagination as to its probable size and shape.
We now have a link that is a very important one in
the chain of construction; and that is the arrival of
an egg of this bird from New Zealand. It was dis-
coverd by a man in the employment of Mr. Fyffe, at
Kai Koras. He was digging the foundation of a
house, and on the side of a small mound came upon
the egg in question. It was in the hands of a
skeleton Maori, and with the skeleton there were
numerous tools of sharpened stone, including a spear-
head, axe, &c. In digging out the egg it was slightly
injured, but the pieces were preserved. It measures
ten inches long, seven inches broad, and the shell is
about the thickness of a shilling. It was brought
over in the ship Ravexseraig, and was sold by
auction by Mr. J. C. Stevens, of King Street, Covent
Garden, on the 24th Nov., for £120.—Gardener’s
Chronicle,

A Visitation or Spipprs.—On Sunday after-
noon, October 15th, my attention was directed to a
colony of spiders which were industriously weaving
their tiny webs over the iron railing in front of my
residence. Onexamination I found they were small,
black, glistening, active, and aérial, as they floated
through the air in a peeuliar manner, and with
apparent ease. They were all industriously engaged
on the tops of the railings only, covering them with
aweb of the utmost delicacy. My curiosity was
excited by the fact that not two or three rails only,
but all the rails m front of my residence had their
busy group of arachnidean workers. The number
on each rail varied, some having twenty, others five
spiders upon them; but on an average there were
eight spiders to each rail. I extended my inspection

to the rails of the neighbouring houses, and found
them equally covered with spiders. I examined
several streets, squares, and churches in the neigh-
bourhood, and without exception each rail was the
scene of a busy working colony. I estimated that
in my own locality they covered about three miles
of iron railing. JI subsequently ascertained that
on the same day they were equally numerous about
one mile north of Newcastle, in the centre of the
town, and at the extreme west end, my residence
being in the northern outskirts; so that the spiders
may be fairly represented as covering the entire
town, <A gentleman from Hexham, a town twenty
miles from Neweastle, informed me that they were
abundant there also. If any of your readers south
or north of Newcastle saw and recorded this
phenomenon, it would afford the means of ascertain-
ing the speed at which these spiders travel. I
secured a few of these spiders in a bottle, and have
since mounted them im balsam as microscopical.
objects: four are female and one male, They do
not exceed an ordinary ant in size, and are not unlike
them in general appearance, although they are in
the strictest sense spiders. They have four legs,
with three claws on each, on each side of the
thoracic cavity. They have mandibles of the most
keen, strong, and picreing kind at each side of the
head, and they have palpi fixed at the roots of
the mandibles. Each male palpus has eight joints,
and is terminated by a strong pair of pincers. There
is a remarkable feature connected with the male
palpi—viz., on each palpus there is a beautiful wing
of considerable size ; but whether the wings are in-
tended to aid in aérostation or not I do not know;
they are there, however, and similar appendages do
not appear on any of the spiders which are figured
in Mr. Blackwell’s elaborate two-volume work on
British spiders, published under the auspices of
the Ray Society. The spider to which I now direct
the attention of your readers was unknown in Britain
when Mr Blackwell’s elaborate work was issued,
and they are consequently not figured there. They
have only been recently noticed by Mr. Blackwell,
in the “ Annals of Natural History,” vol. for 1863.
Previous to 1868, they had not been observed in
England, and then only in Denbighshire and
Caernarvonshire. Now they have visited Newcastle
in numbers of which it would be no exaggeration to
say that there were several millions. The most
striking fact, however, has yet to be related: no
entomologist in this neighbourhood ever saw this
species before ; they all made their appearance in one
day, October 15th, and since that time, although
I have looked carefully for them, not a single
spider of the species has ever been seen in the
neighbourhood. Mr. Blackwell says that the spider
is an aéronautic species, and that its name is
Neriéne dentipalpis-—T, P. Barkas, Newcastle-on
Tyne, Nov, 4.

Dec. 1, 1865.|

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

BOTANY.
Curistmas LEaves.

O’er the lover
Pll shake the derried Mistletoe, that he
May long remember Christmas; to the son
Of boasting war I'll give the Holly-leaf
And its red berries ; such he’ll find its meed,
A little show of pomp, and many thorns.
Vll give the poet /vy; for, like it,
Around the ruined pile he ever clings,
Adorns the loneliest spot with fancy’s charms,
And props the tott’ring column in his rhymes.
Vl give the scholar 7%, for he must be
Like it for ever green, erect, and firm,
And with his needles of philosophy,
Contemn the snows of life. Here’s darkling Yew,
The mourner must have that, who seeks the shade,
And hides his melancholy head in caves,
Or by the sandy beach, utt’ring aloud
His dull soliloquies, unseen, unknown.
Christmas—a Masque.

MIsTLETOE oN THE Oax.—At last, on June 7th,
1837, I was fortunate enough to behold a young oak,
about seventy or eighty years old, with four fine
bushes of Mistletoe growing upon it, in Karl Somers’
Park at Eastnor, near Ledbury, on the side of an old
British road, at the western base of the Malvern
Hills, called the ‘‘ Ridgway ;” but on the strictest
inquiry and examination, among natural oak woods
there of more than three hundred acres in extent,
this was the only Oak with Mistletoe upon it, and is
the only one I have ever seen.— Ldwin Lees, Botanical
Looker-out.

MISTLETOE ON THE Oax.—There are now growing
on an Oak-tree by the side of the drive leading to
Eastnor Castle, the seat of Earl Somers, situated
between this town and Ledbury, no fewer than five
large bunches of Mistletoe, apparently in the greatest
luxuriance. I discovered them a few days ago, on
the right-hand side, about a quarter of a mile from
the Deer Park gates, going down from the Malvern
and Ledbury road. If those who may still be
unbelievers in this matter will pay me a visit, I will
direct them to the spot where it is growing.—G.
Butcher, Great Malvern.

MistLeToE oN Movuntatn AsH.—The Mountain
Ash is not mentioned amongst the trees upon which
it springs up spontaneously. But there is a Moun-
tain Ash tree in a garden at Odiham, in Hampshire,
on which it grows with the greatest luxuriance,
without the health of the tree appearing to be im-
paired by it. Having only been acquainted with the
place for afew years, lam unable to say whether
the parasite grew spontaneously in the first instance.
That which, however, appears the most curious

feature of the case is, that the whole of the Mountain
Ash seems to be so impregnated with Mistletoe, that
wherever a bough is cut off, a swelling begins to form,
upon which delicate sprays of Mistletoe immediately
make their appearance.— Once a Weel:.

TREES ON WHICH MISTLETOE GRows.—Dr. Harley
communicated to the Linnean Society, in his paper
on the “ Parasitism of the Mistletoe,” the following
trees upon which it grows spontaneously, or may be
graited: —Maple, Walnut, Plum, False Acacia,
Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel, Hawthorn, Apple
and Crab, Almond, Lime, Olive, Ash, Poplar, Willow,
Pear, Elm, Fir, Larch, Oak, and Beech.

ALPINE PLANTAIN IN SHETLAND.—At the last
meeting of the Society of Amateur Botanists, Mr.
Ralph Tate exhibited Plaxtago alpina, a species now
recorded for the first time as British, discovered by
him during his recent visit to the Shetland Islands.
This alpino-boreal species is allied to P. maritima, and
is a native of the Tyrclese and Savoy Alps; and is
a maritime plant in Iceland and Faroe. Mr. Tate
found it in great abundance on the sea-banks of
Lerwick Harbour. We would direct attention to
Mr. Tate’s paper on the “ Flora Zetlandica,” in the
December number of the Journal of Botuny.

Natura Currosities.—In a garden in Dorset-
shire two or three rows of broad beans, having
borne the usual crop, were about to be destroyed,
when it was discovered that fresh plants were spring-
ing up from the old roots, A row was therefore lefi
to see if they would come to perfection, which they
did, and bore afair crop. Ina garden in Gloucester-
shire, there are four apple-trees which are now
bearing a second crop, the blossoms having formed
in July. The first crop is picked; the second is now
on the trees, the apples not having yet attained
quite their full size, and it remains to be proved if
they will ripen.—Z. J. WV.

INFLUENCE oF Patms.—It must not be imagined
that the spell which Palms exercise upon mankind 18
a matter of recent growth, due to the refinement ol
taste which modern civilization has wrought amongst
us. On the contrary, it began to operate in antiquity.
It is the true origin of that species of tree-worship
which once had such a hold upon all nations of the
Eastern hemisphere, which still exists in full force in
parts of Asia, Africa, and Polynesia, and which sur-
vives even here in the decoration of our houses at
Christmas time with Mistletoe and Holly, or wassail-
ing our Apple-trees on ‘I'welfth-night eve. If tree-
worship had passed away without leaving any other
traces, we should have little reason to be thankful fer
it; but we are indebted to it for two of the most
noble styles of architecture which the human mind
ever conceived—the Grecian and the Gothic.—
Gardenei’s Chronicle.

284

SCIENCEH-GOSSIP.

[Dec. 1, 1865.

FISH TATTLE.

Tue Migration of Ernts.—During a conversa-
tion upon the habits of certain fish, my informant
mentioned that on the ¢op of a cotton mill, owned |
by a friend of his, was a large water-tank, and at the
bottom another. These were always kept filled with
water for the purposes of the factory. The tank at
the top requiring to be cleansed, was emptied, when,
lo, a number of ecls were found in it. How did
they get there? None could tell. In the lower
tank they were always kept, but not in the upper.
However some time afterwards the mystery was
solved. The walls were wet on one side, from a
leakage in the upper tank, and up these moist places
eels were observed wriggling from the bottom
vessel, until they attained the top of the lofty
building, when they precipitated themselves into the
upper tank.— Charles Strange.

THe Sanp-Lavuncr, Tur HERRING, AND THE
SMELT (Ammodytes luncea, Clupea Harengus, and
Osmerus eperlanus).—My,. P. H. Gosse, at page 113
of his recently-published book, “A Year at theShore,”
says that he can vouch for the Sand-Launce “ making
a very attractive tenant of an aquarium, where it will
live a considerable time.’ I am glad to hear this,
because, with the tolerably complete arrangements
of the Hamburg Aquarium, I have been unable to
get it to live for more than a few minutes, or an hour
or $0, or, In one instance, in a perfectly dark and very
shallow stream of water, and running strongly, for a
day anda half. I have tried on several occasions,
the last time being a fortnight ago, when I received
from Heligoland twenty nice specimens, in an cight-
gallon vessel of sea-water. On opening the ean, the
fish were swimming about in perfect health, ap-
parently, and I thought that if so many lived in that
quantity of fluid during a ten-hours’ voyage in warm
weather, I should have a good chance of preserving

them alive when distributed by twos and threes in
tanks in perfect condition, and with streams running,
and containing from twenty-five to one thousand gal-
lons’ capacity each, especially if I took care, as I did,
that the temperature and specific gravity of the water
in which the fish travelled were exactly the same as in
my tanks. But it was all in vain: the creatures took
an impetuous rush and a wriggle through the aqua-
ria, and turned up dead, some almost instantly, and
some a little later, with the exception of the
one I have mentioned, and which lived thirty-six
hours. Can any one, therefore, give me actual dates
of the times in which the Launce has been kept in
the aquaria, together with a statement of all the
circumstances under which the conservation was
managed? Did the Launce eat anything, and if so,
what? Did they, or it, burrow in sand in the
aquarium? Mine did not; they were too frightened

to do anything. So also with Herrings. I have
received them cooped up insmall quantities of water
after they have been a whole day on the journey here,
and yet looking as well as fish possibly could look;
but on being placed in the aquarium, they shot wildly
and aimlessly hither and thither, ploughing the sur-
face of the water into waves with their extreme
speed, and sometimes even jumping clean into the
air, as if in pain, and then bolting into a corner and
dying in a very short time. So also with the Smelt.
They, too, have reached me alive and well, but have
behaved and died under precisely the same circum-
stances as the other two fishes named. It is difficult
to account for these things by refcrence to any
known law; but all of these three fishes have scales
which are removed by a very slight touch, and their
bodies are of a peculiar gleaming silvery-blue colour,
and they have a quivering or trembling motion of the
muscles of their sides, which can be plainly seen
through their delicate thin skins; and I have always
noticed that when these appearances exist in any
fish, it is difficult to be kept in confinement in an
aquarium. J should be glad to know why, on ana-
tomieal grounds. Can any one please tell me ?—W?
Alford Lloyd, Zoo!. Gardens, Hamburg.

WINDOW GARDENS AND AQUARIA.

On tur MANAGEMENT OF TERNS IN CasEs.—
Do fern-cases require air? asks a correspondent in
ScrencE Gossip for October. Having had some
little experience in fern culture, [ reply that in my
opinion ferns will not thrive in a small case without
it. Mr. Ward, I believe, thought that it could be dis-
pensed with in his eases, but I never could get my
ferus to thrive unless there were some means for the
foul air to escape, and fresh air admitted. All plants,
save mosses, require fresh air properly admitted,
and even mosses would be better, according to my
notions, with alittle of it ; but they can be cultivated
in an air-tight case, provided they are well shaded.
Your correspondent Mr. G. Norris also asks respect-
ing the soil proper for fern-cases. What sorts does
he intend to grow ? Different ferns require different
soil. Some thrive in the shade, others on rocks; some
in moist places, others in dry. He must imitate
their natural soil as well as he can; get peat, turfy
loam, and small sandy stones well mixed together,
and fill his case with it. The best stand for a case
of ferns is facing the morning sun, and the bottom
of the case and its glass cover ought to be in two
different parts ; it is so much nicer for planting and
arranging your ferns when this is the case—a door
is not half so convenient. You know the glass soon
gets covered inside with moisture, and this moisture
ought to be evaporated by air; for excess will cause
mouldiness to appear on the ferns.—Helex Watney.

Dec. 1, 1865.]

— aos

SCLENCE-GOSSIP.

285

Sra-AnremMoneEs.—I should like English aquarium-
keepers to know of the enormous dimensions at-
tained by some English sea-anemones in Germany,
that is inthe Hamburgaquarium, Abouta year ago
Treceived from Torquay three specimens of the Opelet
(Anthea cereus), each measuring about two inches in
diameter in their state of greatest expansion; but by
constantly feeding them, increasing the quantity of
food as they grew bigger, they have become ten
inches in diameter when fully out, and they are from
four to five inches in diameter of column. Their
tentacles are very strong, so that their tug will bend
acane four feet long in the act of pulling it away
from them. Every day each of them eats one large
oyster or mussel, or, when I have neither of those
mollusks, I give each a quarter of an ounce of raw
beefsteak, free from fat. Of this food I never see
one particle after the animal has fairly swallowed it.
These Axtheas can sting very severely. I once drew
one of their tentacles across my tongue, and the pain
and the swelling produced were great, lasting several
hours. J donot know whether this species has been
observed of such large dimensions in the sea as I
have named: if not, it would seem that by constant
attention and feeding, some of the lowest animals
(as well as many of the higher creatures) can be
improved ina state of captivity. I may mention that
they are in a tank measuring 72 inches long, 60 inches
broad, and 380 inches high, containing about 300
gallons of sea-water, and that from 300 to 500
gallons—according to weather—run through the
tank day and night, every twenty-four hours. J am
very successful also with the great “ Thick-horned
Sca-anemone” (Zealia crassicornis), and in a tank of
the same size and stream power as that just named,
I have not less than eighty of these Crassicornis,
most of them finely coloured and marked, and many
of them being monsters of six, seven, and eight inches
diameter when quite expanded. Hach of these takes
its mussel or oyster daily, or more rarely its piece
of steak, and as with Axthea, not a morsel is rejected.
The other anemones under my care, consisting of
Bunodes Balti, B. gemmacea, and B. thallia ; and
Sagartia viduata, S'. troglodytes, S'. nivea, S. venusta,
S. bellis, and many others, take food with surprising
readiness and in great quantities, so long as I feed
them regularly, and carefully give each individual its
proper quantity with a pair of wooden forceps. In
this way I pass about three hours every day in
feeding the Anemones and Madrepores only. But if
Tneglect the feeding, the creatures rapidly deteriorate
in size and vigour, and lose their power of taking
food. Of course if the streams of sea-water ever
ceased passing through the tanks, the whole thing
wouldspeedily come to grief, from the water becoming
fouled by the introduction of such a great quantity of
oysters, mussels, and beef every day; but as it is, it
remains perfectly transparent. JI have mentioned
twice that when the food has disappeared in the

anemone’s stomach, I never perceive any of it after-
wards in the form of excrement, but only in the shape
of cast-off epidermal matter, which falls in rings of
dirty-looking mucus around the exterior of the bases
of the anemones, and those which take most food
cast off the largest quantity of skin. Iomitted to
state in its proper place in this little communication,
that if I were to name the dimensions of some of our
Sagartia venusta, Bunodes Ballii, and Corynactis
viridis, which have been purposely fed up to ascertain
how big they will grow, I should be accused of exag-
geration. <Actinoloba dianthus feeds well with me,
and attains a good size; but I have never seen one so
large as a specimen I got from Weymouth in the
summer of 1857; it stood twenty inches high,
measured ten inches across the disk, and the column
varied from five to three inches in diameter.—/.
Alford Lloyd, Zoological Gardens, Hamburg.

GEOLOGY.

Cretaceous Fossinrs. — Your correspondent
A. G. R. (see p. 229) criticises Page, forgetting
that he himself is in the wrong. For though Pecten
and Spordylus, &c., have fossil representatives, yet
no living species of either genus “is exactly similar
to those in a fossil state in the chalk.” A. G. R.
should familiarize himself with the principles of
classification ; the mutual relations of species of a
genus. Distinctive characters can be pointed out
between any chalk-Pecten and any living one.
Pertea should be Pectex ; Playiostema is synonymous
with Lima, but Spoudylus is evidently the genus
meant. Twurbitella is a new name; Turritella and
Terebratula are chalk genera; probably the latter is
intended.—Ralph Tate, F.G.S.

CoraL Rerrs.—In this paper (see p. 221) the
author parallels several coral-bearmg formations
with coral reefs of the present day. None of these
really indicate the physical conditions at present
prevailing in existing tropical seas. The only lime-
stone that at all approaches to the structures at
present in process of formation, is the Coral Lime-
stone in the district of Trichinopoly, East India.
This limestone rests on gneiss, and appears as ridges,
extending from afew hundred yards to three and
four miles in length. Its chemical and physieal
characters correspond to these of recent coral reef
rock. These ancient coral reefs are surrounded by
strata of the Ootatoor and Trichinopoly groups of
the Cretaceous epoch; and evidences are not want-
ing to show that this coral limestone was formed
on a sinking base, around which were deposited
cotemporaneously the Ootatoor and Trichinopoly
beds.—For Mr. Sarby read Mr. Sorby ; for Matthein

read Wattheim.—Ralph Tate, L.GS,

286

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Duc. 1, 1865,

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Brrs.—I beg to say, in reply to “ H. BE. Av’s”
question, that it is by no means an unusual thing for
bees to plunder their neighbours. I have known
several instances where a strong hive of bees have
attacked a weak one, killed all the defenders (for
the poor injured insects generally make a good
resistance, and fight to the death for their kingdom),
and rifled the combs. This marauding system is
most common in unpropitious seasons; and some
of my bee-keeping friends have complained this year
that their hives have suffered in the way described
by H. E. A., from the attacks of robber-bees.—
Helen F.. Watney.

BEES AND THEIR Foop.—An intelligent gardener
stated to me, that about six years ago, when in
the employment of Lady Maitland, at Jindores,
we had a very warm summer in Scotland, and from
the rapid ripening, so to speak, of flowers, the
bees were deprived of their usual food. They, in
consequence, attacked plums and apricots in such
numbers, that it was no uncommon thing to find
eighteen or twenty bees within one plum. They
effected their entrance by a small hole, only large
enough to admit one at atime, and gradually eat
away the pulp till nothing was left but the rind.
So artistically did they carry on their operations,
that, till examined, the plum or apricot with the
bees within, had all the appearance of sound and
juicy fruit. My informant further stated, that, on being
shaken out, the bees were helpless and feeble, and
could not rise from the ground, and most of them,
he thought, died from the effects of their rich and
unaccustomed food.—/. L.

Tue Smatt TortoIse-sHELL Burrerrty.—
Perhaps the following account may afford some ex-
planation of the circumstance referred to by Mr. H.

Vaddington. Some time ago, I kept in a room a
number a caterpillars, of the small Tortoise-shell
Butterfly, which I had taken from a stinging-nettle.
Before long L-observed that they lessened in number,
and, searching for the cause, I found that the absent
ones had crawled on to the walls and ceiling of the
apartment, and had assumed the chrysalis state.
Here they remained till they were fully developed
into butterflies, when my room presented a similar
appearance to that deseribed by your correspondent.

Lede WN

SKELETON Lraves.— The leaves are boiled for
two minutes, then transferred to a strong solution
of permanganate of potash, and gently heated. In
an hour or two the laxer tissues may be easily re-
moved by means of a brush. Sulphurous acid or a
solution of chloride of lime may be used for bleach-
ing them. The stains of permanganate of potash
upon the fingers are easily washed off by dilute
sulphuric acid.” —H. J. Church, in Chemical News.

Cottas in Excranen.—In the early part of this
month, A. B. succeeded in capturing five specimens
of Colias Kdusa. Three of these (apparently all
males) she would be glad to exchange for some
other specimes of value. Apatura Tris, Acherontia
atropos, or Hypercompa hera would he preferred. If
this exchange could be effected through the medium
of Scrence Gosstp, A. B. would be gratified.
Please to address any communications to 4. B., the
Parsonage, Boltonsboro’, Glastonbury.

Sra-AnEMonNeES Drvipinc.—In the month of Sep-
tember last I was onavisit, inthe Isles of Scilly, to
my son-in-law, the Rev. D. P. Alford, M.A., the
chaplain of the isles, and the discoverer of the new
Anemone, “4geon Alfordi, when a curious circum-
stance occurred, that f ought to have communicated
to you before this, as I fear the lapse of time may
have rendered it comparatively uninteresting; but
various professional engagements prevented me.
Being one afternoon among the tide-washed rocks of
the south side of the island cf St. Mary, I saw a
rather fine Althea (cerea, I thmk), and having de-
tached it from the rock, there is zo doubt that it
was a single one. I took it ina large limpet-shell to
the Parsonage, and there placed it in Mr. Alford’s
aquarium. On the following morning éo singular
things occurred, and occurred contemporaneously ;
and it is this circumstance which has induced me to
write to you. I happened to be reading in the
August number of your interesting publication,
ScirncEe Gossip, the first paragraph of page 190,—
“Notes and Queries ’?—headed, “‘Sea-Anemones
dividing,” wherein E.'T. Scott appears incredulous on
the subject, when casting my eye on the aquarium, J.
saw my Althea actually diveded into two Althee, but
connected by a band some one or two inches long,
analogous to the wmbilical cord. You may imagine
that this singular evidence of the truth of L. 8.’s
statement very much engaged my notice. IJ there-
fore very narrowly watched the Althee, until by
continued ¢exsion, I found that the band sxapped,
and there were two distinct and detached A/thee.—
Tam very truly yours, Osborve J. Tancock.

KAKRA-SINGHEE.—Curious horn-shaped galls pro-
duced on a species of Sumach (Rhus integerrima,

Wall.), are employed in India as an astringent in
medicine, and, toa limited extent, in dyeing.

Tur Mrtx-rree or Para.—S. G., in the article
on “ Wooden Cows,” p. 172, speaks of the Milk-
tree called ‘ Massenodendron,” from the forests of
Para. I believe this tree is the same as the Massa-
randuba, of which the Catalogue of the Brazilian
Department at the Exhibition of 1862, says: “330.
Mili of Massaranduba, white colour, extracted from
the colossal tree dchras paraensis ; when liquid very
savorous, and used with tea or coilee. In medicine
it is employed internally as pectoral and analeptic;
and externally in plasters as a solvent. This mili
coagulates after twenty-four or thirty hours, and is
then like gutta-percha, or gettania; a small difference
existing is, that gutta-percha is brownish, and con-
crete massaranduba whitish; both have the same
degree of elasticity —Berrardin.

Ducxwexps.—In reply to the Query at p. 258, I
send two notes from Loudon’s Magazine. Myr. D.
Stock writes under date June 11, 1828 :—“‘ IT never
saw any of the species in flower till the other day,
when J found almost every plant of Lemna minor in.
blossom. Mr. Sowerby (J. D. C. 8.) says, ‘In the
vicinity of London, Lemna minor may alwas be found
in flower in the beginning of June, and Lemna trisulce
rather later.’ Shirley Hibberd gives May as the
month for flowering. —J. 4. A.

ek

Dec. 1, 1865,]

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

"2987

Swarms or ApuipEs.—Inreply to M. Bernardin,
will you allow me to state that during the first and
second weeks in September this locality in Lincoln-
shire was infested with immense swarms of Aphides,
or, as Gilbert White very aptly and appropriately
terms them, “ smother flies.” It was impossible to
go out without being covered with them, and the
eyes, nose, &e., could not escape unprotected. They

settled on the pavement and hedges in myriads, and

the Garden-spider (Apeira diadema) caught any
quantity in his meshes. At the same time the 4p/is
rape or Vastator made tremendous havoe with the
cauliflowers and other grecns in the garden, except
the curled hroccoli—the Aphis rose not being so
numerous as usual. Contemporaneously hundreds
of acres of turnips in this district were either
destroyed or their growth arrested by the ravages of
the Turnip flea (Haltica nemorum); and for some
time after, at sunset, the stench was most horribly
ofiensive—Another correspondent, J. B. L., will, I
think, find it difficalt to remove the worms from his
fern-pot without disturbing the roots ; in one of my
cases, noticing numerous small casts, and finding the
ferns anything but healthy, I discovered several
small worms, but so intertwined amongst the rootlets
that I was obliged to take each plant out. ‘They are
now for the most part putting out afresh.—Heury
VY. J. Ellis, Crowle.

Hasits or Reptrues.—In the last number of
Scrence Gossip, C. A. remarks, that if two toads
perceive an insect at the same time, “the one who
is successful in getting it recelves a smartish smack
on the side of the head from the tongue of the
other.’ This is, undoubtedly, often the case; but
J think C. A. will find, on further observation, that
this summary salute has no reference to the success
of the other reptile, but simply to its movement in
taking, or attempting to take, the insect. I have long
kept reptiles, and have now toads that have been
many months in my possession, as well as several
natterjacks. These animals, like most or all other
reptiles, confine themselves to living prey, and only
take ¢ha¢ when it isin motion; their vision appears to
be so defective that they will strike at almost any
object that attracts their attention by moving, while
suitable food will lie unnoticed close to them, as long
as it remains quiescent. One or two fresh-water
tortoises used to share eaptivity with the toads, and
when one of the former protruded its head within
reach of a toad, the latter would gaze at it with
fixed attention for a moment, and then smack would
go its tongue on the cranium of the tortoise, which
would be hastily drawn back into its shell im alarm
at the unexpected assault. They will constantly
make similar attacks on each other; and nothing is
more common than when a toad or natterjack moves,
to take prey or otherwise, to see a companion strike
at its head or foot, evidently mistaking it for some
creature suitable for food. They are just as ready
to go at an inanimate object, if it is but put in
motion; and I have often amused visitors by moving
about a peucil or other object just outside the glass
when it is almost certain to attract their attention,
and they will strike at it again and again, seeming
quite incapable of learning wisdom by failure. The
other day, a natterjack observed a green lizard
moving at some distance, crawled across to it, and,
after due consideration, administered one of its
tongue-strokes, to the surprise and discomfiture of
the lizard. The green-tree frog, though equally alert
for prey, | have never seeen commit mistakes of this
nature.—G, Guyon, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

Wanropian Casrs.—The arrangement of soil best
suited for a Wardian case of ferns, is as follows:
First put a layer of coarse gravel, or broken pottery,
&¢e.; upon this athin layer of turty loam, filling up the
box witha good depth of well-moistened loamy soil.
‘The case need not te quite air-tight; its only object
is to exclude dust, smoke, &e. If the steamy ap-
pearance of the glass renders the contents of the
case invisible, it is easily dissipated by opening the
door fora tew minutes.—Z. J. H. B,

Can any of your readers or correspondents give
any information respecting the preparation on
mounting of the proboscis of the blow-fly? Ihave
not seen the process described in any book.—Z. 8.

Corats AND Maprepores.—In reply te B. T.S.,
the best illustrations and specific distinctions of
British Corals and Madrepores will be found in
Nos. 4, 6,7, 8, and 9 of the Monographs (to members
and subscribers only) now issuing from the Paleon-
tolozical Society. Information as to access to those
splendid productions might be obtained on a polite
application to the Rev. T. Wiltshire, Bread-street
Hill, E.C.—Admund Wheeler.

Bess Atrackine Frurt.—I ean fully corroborate
Ht. E. A.’s statements. Both in the west of Sussex
and also in Hampshire bees seem to have completely
taken the place which the wasps held last autumn.
The “reason why,” I leave to your more scientific
correspondents to explain. Another curious fact
bearing upon the same point is that moths seem to
have entirely deserted the ivy-blossom (which at all
events has Jooked tempting enough this year),
although the swarms of them on ‘‘sugar” about
June raised the entomologist’s expectations of a
creat “ivy”-season. During the day, however, it
has been very full of all kinds of insects, including
bees, although, perhaps, not so full as in former
years. Could the early summer have “ impoverished
the pollen” of such a late-blossoming thing as ivy ?

fe Ged:

FREsH-waTEeR Sponces.—As I have several times
tried to keep specimens of our fresh-water sponges
alive, without any successful results, 1 cannot do
better than make an appeal to you, or some of your
readers, for a few hints. It may be that the sponges
are particularly susceptible of change of water, but
whether it has been young animals growing on
Anacheris and water-moss, or larger specimens, either
from submerged posts and walls, or on sprigs of trees,
all seem to decompose a few weeks after being
located in their new homes, though I have tried
keeping them in a moderately-sized aquarium, with
a single gold-fish and a natural vegetable growth, as
well as separately in smaller vessels. ‘Three sorts,
judging by the outward form only, seem very com-
mon, and of one of these I have found a colony on
the muddy bed of a somewhat shallow stream. Is
not this very unusual, as they seem generally to prefer
a more substantial basis? The disappearance of
some large specimens of a green-branched species
I attributed to a visit from a brood of swans, but
am uct aware whether they are in the habit of feed-
ing on sponges. Bowerbank’s ‘Monograph of
British Spongiade,”’ published by the Ray Society,
is almost too advanced for a novice; but I would
suggest that a paper from you on some of the com-
moner fresh-water species might not be uninteresting
to many of your readers who have opportunities for
collecting.— /, H, M., Chelmsford.

288

SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

(Dec. 1, 1865.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Aut communications for the Editor should be addressed to
No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, contribu-
tions should be received on or before the 15th of each
month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi.
cations. All notes, queries, cr articles for insertion, mus¢
be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which
my be withheld from publication if so desired.

We cannot urdertake to return “rejected addresses.”’

THe AQUAVIVARIUM, FRESH AND MArRINE.—The new
Edition of the above work has been somewhat delayed by the
desire of the publisher to present it in a more useful shape
than any work hitherto published. It will cousist of different
departments, by various writers, each especially ‘‘ up”? in his
own subject; and in addition to the usual information about
Fresh-water and Marine Aquaria, there willteseparate chapters
devoted to the Cultivation of Minute Plants and Animals for
Microscopic purposes ; and on Ont-door Aquaria, Ponds, and
Ornamental Waters. As the Editor would like the information
to be as complete as possibie, he would be glad to receive any
hiats or suggestions fiom readers of Sc1rNce Gossip who
possess special knowledge on the latter subjects. Address the
Publisher, 192, Piccadilly.

E. M.—The price of “ British Reptiles °? will be six shillings,
coloured plates. :

Port St. Juttian EArtu.—F. W. desires a little of this
diatomaceous earth, in exchange for other objects.—Address,
No. 1, New Road East, London

T. S.—We take no note of queries unless the initials cf the
inquirer are attached. See pp. 48, 144, &c.

W. G.—The Meadow-sweet (Spirea Ulmaria) is a common
wld-fiower. The object on Hazel-leaf is also atungus called
Phyllactinia guttata.
plants of a low organization.

J.1.—Dr. Baird’s Entomestraca, with 86 plates, mostly
coloured, Svo. pp. 364, 21s., is publisned for the Ray Society,
by R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly. It is the best and most
recent book.

Cc. M. D. L —The Caterpiilars which caused such irritation
of the skin belonged to the Bombycide, but from your de-
scription we could not venture tonamethe species. ‘They are
covered with stiff brittle hairs, the sharp points of which
breaking into the skin occasion the annoyance you complain
of. This was increased by the rubbing.—F. WH.

J.S. has unmounted sections of Horn of Rhincceros, Ante-
l pe, Ox, and Whalebone, which he would exchange for
sections of Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria excelsa), or Chili
Pine (Araucaria imbricata), Address, 103, St. John’s Road,
London, E.C.

J. R.—The object on Oak-leaf is a gall.
Oak spangles referred to at p. 240.

A. M. B.—Your shells are Limnea palustris.— R. T.

P. G. (Wigan) says that immense swarms of spiders have
occurred there, so that the ground was quite covered with
them.

H. W. J. E.—We have seen the sunflower attain fully
twelve feet during favourable seasons, on a rich soil.

It is one of the

British LAnD SuHELiLS.—A. M. B. offers to exchange
specimens. For particulars, address, 36, Guildford Street,
Bury St. Edmunds,

A.G.—Your fish are attacked by the fish mould (see p. 134).
We can only recommend their removal to a constant current
of water. If,this fails, we know of no remedy.

A. W.—See several communications on mounting Polyz: a,
pp. 65, 93, 94.

PiLants NAmep (A. M.).— Three specimens received aprear
to be--1. Bupleurum tenuissimum; 2. Juncus acutiflorus ;
and 3. Juncus compressus ; but the specimens were too fiag-
mentary to name with certainty.— IW. W. N.

Errata.—At p. 269, column 1, 15 lines from bottom, for
“ crustaceous fish’’ read ‘‘ crustacea, fish ;’? column 2, line 22,
for ‘‘ Gomplex ”’ read ‘‘ Gonoplax ;’’ line 26, for ‘‘ Aldheus ”?
read ‘* Aithens ;’’ p. 262, column 1, line 10, for ‘* conductor ’’
read ‘‘condenser.’’—W, A. L.

C. A. J.—The book projected will include both marine and
fresh-water equaria. Covers for Science Gosstr will be scld
separately.

The parasitic fungi are phemselvcs’

A. W.—Your sea-side plant is a Salsolu ; butas the character
is gone we cannot state the species.—W. W. N.

J.H.B.—The coccus on Myrtle-leaves is the same as
occurs on Orange-leaves, viz., Lecanium hesperidium.—
SOW, ;

W. D.—See our reply to A. G.,

F. H. B.—The larva sent, and which you saw attacking an
earthworm, was that of one of the Stuphylinide (beeties),
probably a Philonthus.—J. O. W.

A. C. S.—The best book on British Birds is Yarrell’s; but
that is more than double the price you name. We should
think Macgillivray’s would meet your views.

Hatir-worm.—F. H. M. reminds us that the figure of the
Hair-worm at p. 197 should be ‘male,’ and not ‘‘femate,”’
as stated in error. :

C. A. J.—The Brown Rat (MW, decumanis) was not known in
this country prior to 1730.

H. B.—We cannot afferd space.
advertisement.

Microscopist.—Please observe our notice, oft repeated,
about anonymous communications.

You had better insert an

FE, J. B.—* Toynvee’s Hints for the Formation of Museums,
&e.,”? published by R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, at one
shilling. } : z

B. T. offers Diatoms (P. angulutum, Cumpylodiscus costutus,

or Epathemia turgida) in exchange for Voelvox globator.—
Address, 57, Lowther Stréet, Whitehaven. s

J. B. B. affirms that the figs. 3 and 4, on page 83, are repre-
sentations of the larva and egg of the Bibio, probably B. hor-
tulanus ; and that the fly parasite, fig. 1, page 227, is Chilifer
cancroides. Herecommends the examination of the skin of
the latter, as an interesting microscopic object.

E. R.—The plan you propose to follow with your pupee is
the best. Study to:ender the condition as naturalas possible. «
—F. M. :

W. HH. H.—Angitlur apertiw'e has reference to the angle at
which oblique rays are admitted by the object-glass.. To
describe the mode of ascertaining angular aperture would
require too mnch space to be inserted here. See Griffith &
Henfrey’s Micrographical Dictionary.—W. M. B.

W. J. E.—Focal length of an object-glass is the distance
from the cbject under examination to a point within the object-
glass. The actual distance from the bottom of the object-
glass to the object varies according to the angle of aperture.
—W.M. B. :

CrYSTALLIZED CARBON.—J. E. sends us a small crystal,
which he states that he obtained from the fusion of charcoal.
This has been examined and found to be glass. All vegetable
charcecals contain both silica and elkaliin small quantities, and
it is suspected that the charcoal was heated so long that all
the carbon was driven off, and that the ashes then fused and
formed the glass bead received. It certainly is not carbon ;
therefore our correspondent must not flatter himself that he
has discovered the secret of manufacturing diamonds.

CoMMUNICATIONS RECELVED.—R. T.—J. G.—C. A. J.— CLS.
—J. B. AWJ. C. Q.—P. S. B.— J. J.— A. B.— W. B.—E. A.—
R. G.C.—A. G.—G. T. A.--E. J.W.—J.S.T.—B. T.—H.D.G.
—W.K.—C. D. M. S.—T. J. W.— A. W.— R. T.— A. L.—R. B.
—H. E.W.—J. B.—E. C.—T. P. B.— J. G.—S. L.—C. M. D. L.
= O2:3, TA CoS We dB Wi ae Mere
A. W.—J. A. K.—H. J.B. H.—E. W.—A. G.—W. H. H.—P. P.
—A.M. B.—W. A. L.—H. W. J. E.R. H. J.—P. G.—J. S.—
J.R.—J.S.—E. R.—F. G. D. D.—J. S.—C. M. D. L.—G. G.—
Bernarpin.—J. 1.—C,. A. J.—F. H. M.—J. B. B.—W. G.--
T.S5.—F. W.—E. D.

BOOKS RECEIVED.
“‘ Contributions to Blow-pipe Aualysis.’' By E. J. Chapman,
Ph.D. Toronto, Canada West, 1855.

“‘Traité des Champignons, au point de vue Botanique,
Alimentaire, et Toxicologique.”? Par L. F. Morel. (Paris
Germer-Baillicre, 1865.)

“How to use the Barometer ; a Companion to the Weather-

glass.’? By the Rev. R. Tyas, M.A, (London: Bemrose and
Sons, 1855.)

““Les Cryptogames classés d’aprés leurs _ stations
naturelles.”?” Par G. OD. Westendorp. (Gand: Van

Doo:selaere, 1865.)

a = ai