‘‘The standard of highest Purity. is — The Lancet, Cappy Ye nner esTABLISHED 1865 7s Das } Us PO Ry oe : Vol. ViII., No. 87. AUGUST 1901. Vv; Mx bas wr See ay i) ne ae SS iW) AN ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY RECORD OF Si sam Nature, Country Lore & Applied Science. NS le EDITED BY ag N JOHN T. CARRINGTON re ~ BLS ; AND eh F. WINSTONE. 86 SCIENCE-GOSSIP ” nace 110 STRAND, W.C. WHOLESALE AGENTS—HorRACE MARSHALL & SON. BERLIN: R. FriEDLANDER & SOHN, CARLSTRASSE 11. (A Rights Reserved.) PRICE SIXPENCE. SCIENCE- GOSSIP. MASON’ MIGROSCOPICAL SPECIMENS, SERIES OF BOTANICAL SECTIONS. INSECT DISSEC- TIONS or MISCELLANEOUS, is. id. List for Stamp. Many new Preparations in hand for coming Season. Practical Hints on Mounting. (Copyright Pamphlet) 6d. R. G. MASON, 69 Park Rd., GLAPHAM, S.W. LIVING SPECIMENS FOR THE MICROSCOPE. Volvox, Spirogyra, Desmids, Diatoms, Amoeba, Arcella, Actino- sphaerium, Vorticella, Stentor, Hydra, Floscularia, Stephanoceros, Melicerta, and many other Specimens of Pond Life. Price 1s. per Tube. Post Free. Helix pomatia, Astacus, Amphioxus, Rana, Anodon, &c., for Dissection purposes. ; THOMAS BOLTON, 25 BALSALL HEATH ROAD, BIRMINGHAM. MICROSCOPES AND APPARATUS. Outfits for Bacteriology and General Microscopy from £4 106s. upwards. Our Grand Model at £10 10s is the most up-to-date outfit at an extremely moderate price. It comprises large Model Stand, Spiral Rack and Pinion, our ‘‘ Perfection’ fine adjustment Swing Substage with Rack and Pinion Movements, Iris Dia- phragm, Abbé Condenser, No. 4 Eyepiece, Plane and Concave Mirrors, 4rd, 3th, and ~th Oil Immersion, 1-30 n.a., fitted in Mahogany case, £10 10s. Dust-proof Triple Nosepiece, 15/6. New Triple Acbromatic Magnifiers, Jong focus and enormous flat field, in neat Brass or Nickel Cases (powers—1o, 15, 20 or 30), LO/6 each. Special Lenses and Instruments of all kinds made to order. GOWLLAND & CO., OPTICAL WoORES, Selsey, Sussex; and Philadelphia, U.S.A. - BROWNING’S | PLATYSCOPIG LENS. WITH LARGER ANGLES, INCREASED FIELD, AND IMPROVED DEFINITION. ‘ Engraved Real Size. AN ACHROMATIC COMBINATION, CoMBINING THE DEFINITION OF A MICROSCOPE WiTH THE PoRTABILITY OF A PockET LENS. “Tf you carry a small Platyscopic Pocket Lens (which | every observer of Nature ought to do).”—GranT ALLEN, in = Knowledge. 2 & ‘©T have long carried one of these instruments and found (8 invaluable.” — JoHn T. Carrincron, Editor of Sczence- Gosstp. The Platyscopic Lens is invaluable to botanists, mineralogists, or entomologists, as it focuses about three times as far from the object as the Coddington Lens, and has a field unequalled for flatness, allowing opaque objects to be examined easily. It is madein four degrees of power, magnifying respectively 10, 15, 20, and 30diams. ; the lowest power, having the largest field, is the best adapted for general use. Mounted in Tortoiseshell, magnifying 10, 15, 20, s. d. or 30 diameters, either power ae of ag ae) © In Nickelised German Silver, either power co 7/3 Combinations of any two powers, in Tortoise- she es aS 22 aS es a3 Combinations of any two powers, in Nickelised German Silver 5 55 a Ss se Illustrated description sent free. JOHN BROWNING, 63 STRAND, LONDON, W.C. ee ae es WATKINS & DONCASTER, NATURALISTS and MANUFACTURERS OF CABINETS and APPARATUS for ENTOMOLOGY, BIRDS’ EGGS and SKINS, and all branches of Natural History. N.B.—For Excellence and Superiority of Cabinets and Apparatus, references are permitted to distinguished fatrons, Museums, Colleges, &°c. (ay Our New Catalogue (6 pages) Plain Ring Nets, Wire or Cane, including stick, 1s. 3d., 2s., 2s. 6d: Folding Nets, 3s. 6d. and 4s. Umbrella Nets (self-acting), 7s. Z Pocket Boxes, 6d. ; corked both sides, 9d., xs. and 1s. 6d. Zinc Relaxing Boxes, od., 1s., 1s. 6d. and 2s. Nested Chip Boxes, 4 dozen, 7d., 1s. 6d. gross. Entomological Pins, mixed, 1s., 1s. 6d. per oz. Sugaring Lanterns, 2s. 6d. to 8s. Sugaring Tins, with brush, 1s. 6d., 2s. | Sugaring Mixture, ready for use, ts. od. per tin. Mite Destroyer (not dangerous to use), 1s. 6d. per lb. Store Boxes, with Camphor Cells, 2s. 6d., 4s., 5s. and 6s, Ditto, Book Pattern, 8s. 6d., 9s. 6d. and 16s. 6d. Setting Boards, flat or oval, rin., 6d. ; 14in., 8d.; r#in., od.; 2in., tod. ; 2} in., 1S. ; 3 in., 1S. 2d. ; 34 in., xs. 4d.; 4 in., 1s. 6d. ; 44 in., 1s. 8d.; 5 in., 1s. rod. Complete set of 14 boards, ros. 6d. Setting Houses, gs. 6d. and 11s. 6d, ; corked back, 14s. Zinc Larva Boxes, 9d., 1s. Brass Chloroform Bottle, 2s. 6d. Breeding Cages, 2s. 6d., 4s., 5s. and 7s. 6d. may be had post free on application. Taxidermist’s Companion, z.e. a pocket leather case containing most useful instruments for skinning, tos. 6d. Scalpels, 1s. 3d. ; Label Lists of Birds’ Eggs, ed., 3d., 6d. Scissors, per pair, 2s. Setting Needles, 3d. and 6d. per box. Coleopterist’s Collecting Bottle, with tube, 1s. 6d., 1s. 8d. Botanical Cases, japanned double tin, 1s. 6d., 2s. 9d., 3s. 6d., 4s. 6d., Botanical Paper, 1s. 1d., 1s. 4d., 1s. 9d., & 2s. 2d. per quire. [7s. 6d. Insect Cases, imitation mahogany, 2s. 6d. to r1s.. Cement for replacing antenne, 4d. per bottle. Forceps for removing insects, 1s. 6d., 2s., 2s. 6d. per pair. Cabinet Cork, 7 by 34; best quality, rs. 4d. per dozen sheets. Pupa Diggers, in leather sheath, 1s. 9d. Insect Lens, ts. to 8s, Glass Topped and Glass Bottomed Boxes, from 1s, per dozen. Label Lists of British Butterflies, 2d. Ditto Land and Fresh-Water Shells, 2d. Egg Drills, 2d., 3d., 9d. ; Metal Blow Pipe, 4d. and 6d. Our new Label List of British Macro-Lepidoptera, with Latin and ptera, every species numbered, 1s. ; or on one side for Labels, 2s. English Names, 1s. 6d. Our new Catalogue of British Lepido- : All articles enumerated are kept in stock, and can be sent immediately on receipt of order. The “DIXON” LAMP NET (invaluable for taking Moths off Street Lamps without climbing the lamp-posts), recently much improved, 8s. 6d. CABINETS. Special Show Room. The following are the prices of a few of the smaller sizes ; for measurements and larger sizes see catalogue, Minerals and Dried | Minerals and Dried I : ; : 5 Bsect Eggs Plants, Fossils, &c. | Insect. Eggs. plants, Fossils, &c. , 4 Drawers ...... 13s. 6d, 12s. od, tos. 6d. 8 Drawers ........ 335.) pieleaie Spee cts!) dancooce, “2He> 6 Drawers ...... 175. 6d. 16s, 6d, 15s. od. 10 Drawers ........ ABS Bo donot a) PG OStneiataiaiai sts set AS A LARG STOCK OF INSECTS, BIRDS’ EGGS AND SKINS. Birds, Mammals, &c., Preserved and Mounted by First-class Workmen true to Nature. {ae All Books and Publications on Natural History supplied. 36 STRAND, W.C. (Five Doors from Charing Cross). SCIENCE-GOSSIP. AN ECONOMIC YVHERE died at her residence, Torrington House, St. Albans, on July 19th, after much suffering, Eleanor A. Ormerod, so well known as one of the few people in this country who have made a sys- tematic study of economic entomology. We have always looked upon this lady as a unique person- age, and one who, against grave difficulties and none too ample means, showed the successive Governments of her time what they should have ENTOMOLOGIST. with a Government establishment. Yet she worked so conscientiously that it is said her correspon- dents varied in social status from cottage gar- deners to foreign Governments, her name having become world-wide in its celebrity. Miss Ormerod was the third daughter of the late George Ormerod, D.C.L., F.R.S., and was born at Sedbury Park on May 11th, 1828, being therefore over seventy-two years of age. Her father was a From Photo by] [E£lliott & Fry, London. ELEANOR A. ORMEROD. done for our country. Compared with similar work executed during the same period in the United States of America and other countries in combating the ravages of deleterious insect life and encouraging insects beneficial to mankind, Miss Ormerod’s efforts were .at best but those of an amateur, though none the less honourable, con- sidering that it was carried on single-handec ly. Take, for instance, the division for entomology in the United States Department of Agriculture. We find that department has sufficient means to main- tain an entomologist-in-chief, a first assistant, three other chief assistants, two investigators, seven ordinary assistants, and an artist, besides funds for outside help. It therefore could not be supposed that Miss Ormerod, without any finan- cial aid beyond her surplus personal means, could be expected to produce results comparable AUGUST 1901.—No. 87, VoL. VIII. D well-known litterateur in his time, being author of a history of Cheshire. Having always suffered from indifferent health, this lady had from early life cultivated a habit of observation of common things around her. Living most of her life in the country—in Gloucestershire, at Tildesley in Lanca- shire, and latterly in Hertfordshire—she developed a taste for the study of insect life which ultimately brought her to the position of Hon. Consulting Entomologist to the Royal Agricultural Society, additional Examiner in Agricultural Entomology in the University of Edinburgh, and other honorary posts of a like character. Miss Ormerod was also a F. R. Met. Soc. ; F.E.S. London; M.E.S. Washington; M. Assoc. Official Entomologist, Washington ; Honorary Fellow, Eut. Soc. Stock- holm; Hon. Mem. Farmers’ Club; Hon. Mem. R. Agric. and Hort. Soc., 8. Australia ; Hon. Mem. Published July 25th, 1901 66 SCLENCE-GOSSTP. Ent. Soc., Ontario; Mem. Eastern Province Nat. Soc., Cape Colony, etc. The literary remains left by Miss Ormerod are volu- minous. They consist, however, chiefly of reports and small works of advice to agriculturists and horticulturists at home and abroad, the more im- portant being ‘‘A Manual of Injurious Insects,” “A Handbook of Insects Injurious to Orchard and Bush Fruits,” ‘‘ Guide to Methods of Insect Life,” ‘“‘Injurious Insects of South Africa,” and a “ Text- book of Agricultural Entomology.” We under- stand Mr. John Murray will in due course publish her reminiscences in autobiographic form. For some time Miss Ormerod was lecturer on Agricultural Entomology at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, and latterly examiner in the University of Edinburgh on the same subject, while among the last honours bestowed upon her was that of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in that University. The portrait we have pleasure in giving is by Messrs. Elliott & Fry, of Baker Street, FOOD.-OF THE RING London, showing her capped and gowned in that degree. This, we understand, was the first case in which the University had admitted a woman to that honour. In addition to her entomological studies, Miss Ormerod devoted much attention to horticulture, and was never more happy than when in her garden. Meteorology also commanded her observa- tion, and we recollect her pride when telling us she had been elected a Fellow of the Royal Meteoro- logical Society. Much as is the perseverance of this lady to be admired, and useful as were her efforts to better instruct her fellow-creatures with regard to the causes of losses in agriculture and horticulture, often little less than national, it has been hitherto quite sad to find how little has been really done in that direction by the Government of this country. Something better is required, and a department of trained economic entomologists should be founded by the Department of Agriculture.—J/. T. C. SNAKE. :By GERALD LEIGHTON, M.D. NG a good deal of correspondence lately has taken place in different papers with refer- ence to the diet of our harmless snake, Tropi- donotus natrix, and also with regard to the adder, it may be well to note a few points in this con- nection so that field naturalists may look into the matter for themselves during this snake season. In the first place, the habits of the ring snake must be noted. As is well known, this snake is mainly an inhabitant of well-watered districts. With the exception of an area in Central Dorset I have not found 7. natriz numerous in dry localities. Secondly, it is an expert climber, being frequently found amongst the foliage of bushes and even in trees. Compare these two characteristics with the habit of the adder, and a striking difference is to be observed. Although addeérs will climb into bushes and trees it is, to say the least of it, doubt- ful whether they will enter water as a voluntary act. I have captured a very large number of them, and I have never yet seen one in any situation which would lead me to suppose the animal would take to that element. In this connection the Continental species 7. viperinus is often mistaken for Pelias berus. The only evidence I have been able to obtain against this is the statement of some of my Scottish correspondents, who say that adders may be seen at times swimming from islet to islet in some of the lakes. As a general rule, however, it is correct to say that the adder is a dry-land serpent, while the ring snake is equally at home in water and on land. This being so, what is the deduction to be drawn as regards the food of the two reptiles? Naturally one would expect the ground. adder to feed mainly on small mammals, and the ring snake to take the creatures found in ponds and streams. As a matter of fact, the main food of adders is undoubtedly mice. The ring snake prefers young frogs to anything else. The debatable point is in reference to the other articles in the reptilian dietary. Both species, as I have said, will climb trees, and the adder undoubtedly eats young birds from nests in trees, as well as those found on the Whether the ring snake also takes birds is not quite so certain. It is hard to believe that this species would be such an expert climber if it did not use the power to obtain food, and personally I am inclined to believe that the harmless snake feeds on birds as well as does the adder. Some very high authorities deny this, and assert that nothing higher in the vertebrate scale than amphibians is devoured by Z. natriz.” I commend the point to the investigation of field naturalists, and would be glad to hear of definite evidence on the matter. There is no occasion to kill the ring snake to determine the point, as it will disgorge any recent meal when captured. Many readers of SCIENCE- Gossip doubtless keep snakes in vivaria, and it would be of interest to hear the results of their observation on the food chiefly taken by the snakes in captivity, as well as in the case of those captured wild. There are many such questions in the life-history of British serpents which field naturalists might well investigate, and contribute the results of their work to the respective societies to which they belong, and to the pages of this magazine. Grosmont, near Hereford. SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 67 A DOMESTICATED FROG. By EvANn B, JEUNE. ON of the most interesting inmates of a well- ordered Queensland home is what is known as the ‘Green Frog,” probably so called because he is not a frog at all, but a toad, and as he is green or not, at discretion. As a rule, he assumes the colour of whatever he is sitting upon. On weather-boards he makes himself a dull grey; on a passion-vine he takes the shade of green in fashion Photo by) [Z. B. Jeune. AUSTRALIAN “ TREE-FROG.” at the moment; and to show what he really can do, he occasionally puts on a jacket with light blue spots, as did the subject of the accompanying portrait when he gave me a sitting. The usual verandah passion-vine attracts the green frogs, they attract the snakes, and when opportunity occurs man is attracted to slay the snakes and save the lives of the frogs; so the circle of fitness is complete. When there has been a drought which has lasted for two years, and the whole country smells of death and decay, when the sky is as of hot brass, and the earth dust, then the poor squatter, sitting with head bowed down by despair, hears the joyous warning of the coming rain. It comes first from his friend the green frog, hidden away in the shingles, or underneath the tank-stand. It ishe who gives one sudden long “ cru-u-u-ck,” and in three days it rains. How he knows no one can tell, but he knows of the coming storm. Froggy can take the conceit out of the musician in the midst of a ballad or “piece” better than any critic. He has during the overture been creep- ing quietly up the back of the piano, and then, like a flash, springs with cold stomach and sticky toes on to the fair arm of the performer. It is heartrending to hear the scream he utters when the lithy carpet-snake has secured him for dinner, or when with bare foot one steps on him on getting out of bed in the dark. One generally makes a fairly loud scream oneself when this happens. Frogey shares the “ homing” instinct with the carrier-pigeon, and when he takes up his abode in the cool china vase which your wife particularly wants for that spray of bougainvillea, you throw him out in the garden, upon which he makes scathing remarks about your hospitality. But next morning you see again his old nose over the edge of his jar. You can repeat the performance as often as you like, but he will return. To see what really could be done, I once took the original of the accompanying photographs and tied a little bit of wool to his leg. I then put him into a Photo by] [Z. B. Jeune. AUSTRALIAN “ TREE-FROG.” paper bag, which was twisted round and round whilst I carried him four hundred yards away, finally depositing him in the middle of some sugar- canes. This was about.three o’clock in the after- noon. At seven o’clock the next morning I entered the room where was the jar, and found him at home again, tired, thin, and carrying a mass of cobbler’s-peg seeds on his woollen garter. I then made out the title-deeds of the flower-vase in his favour. He enjoyed his freehold until I left the place a year afterwards. Lynmouth, North Devon. [The so-called ‘‘ tree-frogs” are really arboreal toads. They are generally of the family Hylidae, the South European ‘“tree-frog” being Ayla 1D) BY 68 SCIENCE-GOSSIP. arborea. There are nearly 200 recognised species throughout the world, their headquarters being in the tropical forests of South and Central America. They extend, however, throughout the temperate and tropical regions of both North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the whole of Aus- tralia, but have not occurred in Africa, except in that portion adjacent to Europe. Some of these pretty little amphibia have the power of changing colour, apparently for protective purposes. Bieder- mann has found that under a low power of a microscope and direct light is seen ‘a mosaic of green polygonal areas, separated by dark lines and interrupted by openings of the — skin-glands.” These cells have a basal half which is granular and colourless, whilst the upper half is of a different character, containing colour according to species. By contraction or expansion of these cells the effects of colour-change are attained. Low temperature causes expansion, and high temperature contraction. There appears, however, to be some sense governing the changes of colour in tree-frogs, as they will turn from a dull brown to bright green if confined with leaves in a dark vessel where the colour of the leaves is not. visible. The sense of touch with the leaves appears to react upon the colour cells. Probably not voluntary, but reflex action is the cause of colour-change. Still, we cannot imagine that the whole effect is produced without some intention on the part of the tree-toad. The homing instinct, or habit, of most reptiles is well developed, but in none more than in “tree-frogs,” as exemplified by Mr. Jeune in the instance above quoted.— ED. S.-G. ] BRITISH FRESHWATER MITES. By CHARLES D. Soar, F.R.M.S. WITH THREE NEW SPECIES. (Continued from Vol. VIL, p. 204.) GENUS #YZAIS (continued). N last December’s number of SCIENCE-GossIP I recorded two species of the genus Hylais— E. discreta Koenike, and £. soari Piersig. I also mentioned that I had others, but had not been able to identify them. I wrote to Dr. Piersig about these, and he advised me to name those I could not identify, or fit in with his key, and I have now done so. I have the pleasure to place before your readers six more species, three being ' new and three already described by other writers. This brings the number of English species in the genus up to eight. I have before mentioned that the great point of identification in Hylais is the eye-plates. The whole of Piersig’s key for twenty- three species is founded on this character ex- cepting two, which show a great difference in the palpi. 3. Hylais dividwus nov. sp. Bopy.—About 3:4 mm. in length, and of the Fic. 1. £yla’s dividuus. Eye-plate. usual form. Dark-red in colour. Its general description is about the same as for other members of this genus, its great difference from those pre- viously mentioned being in the eye-plates. The nearest species I have been able to find to this one is Hylais emarginator Piersig, both being about the same size. In Piersig’s #. emarginator the hinder bow line is bisected by a small projecting point, which extends over the line. The disc, which is in the centre of the eye-bridge, is heart-shaped, and it is the lower point which projects over the Hine. There is also a small spot on each side of the disc. In #. dividuus the central disc is quite elliptical, without spots on either side, and it is divided down the centre to nearly close to the bow line. The extreme width across the eye-plates is about. 0-4 mm. Locanity.—East London Waterworks, October 6th, 1900. Only two specimens taken. 4, Hylais georget nov. sp. Length about 2°40 mm. This mite is quite different in the eye-plates to. any description I have yet seen. The nearest is EH. megalostoma Koenike, 1897, but it differs very much from that species. In #. megalostoma there are two discs projecting forward beyond the eye- plates at each end of the bridge, and two others in a similar position on the hinder curve. In #. georgei there are two discs, only well in the band which forms the bridge (see figs. 2, 3, 4). Width across the eyes about 045 mm. I have drawn three figures to this species to show how individual specimens vary; although all are of the same size, not any are alike. eS | SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 69 LOCALITIES.—Rather common in Britain, Scot- land, and different parts of England. I name this mite after Dr. George, of Kirton Fies. 2, 3, 4. “ylais georgei. Eye-plates of three specimens selected from many. Lindsey, Lincolnshire, who has done so much for the Hydrachnids found in Lincolnshire. 5. Hylais projectus nov. sp. A large mite about 3:50 mm. in length. The anterior portion of the bridge is projected forward a little beyond the sides. ‘The nearest species that I have found described to this is E. infundibulifera Koenike ; but in the Augenbrille figured by him the hump on the anterior curve is more projected, the discs are much smaller, and Fig. 5. Lylais projectus. there is no third disc on the median line as in LH. projectus. Karl Thon, 1899, also describes one very similar; but the projection in his mite #. meri- dionalis is nearly pointed, and the hinder curve runs to a very acute angle. Neither does he figure a central disc. LocaLity.—Norfolk Broads. 6. Hylais mullert Koenike. Length, about 3:0 mm. The eye-plates are about 0:38 mm. in extreme width. There is a slight variation between this mite and the figure given by Koenike in the hinder bow. In Koenike’s drawing the centre of the bow drops back a little, similar to the centre of the curve in fig. 1, whereas in my specimens the curve Fic. 6. Lylais mulleri. Eye-plates. is continued without a break all round. This is the only difference I have discovered. I do not think it is of any consequence, because I have found so many variations in the contour of these eye-plates in other species. LocALity.—Barmouth, North Wales. 7. Hylais neglecta Sig Thor, 1899. Length, about 3 mm. General form the same as all the species of this genus. The eye-plates are very much like those of #. soari, except that the anterior curve is without the two humps we find Fie. 7. Hylais neglecta. Eye-plates. in that species. My specimen is the same measure- ment as that of Sig Thor, and the eye-plates are the same in outline. Answers exactly to Thor’s mite of this name. LocALity.—-Oban, N.B. 8. Hylais rimosa Piersig. Fic. 8. Z£ylais rimosa. Eye-plate. Length, about 3 mm. Here again we have an eye-plate very much like those of #. soari, but the 79 SCIENCE-GOSSIP. dise on the margin of the hinder curve is not circular but nearly square. The front edge of this disc slightly overlaps the anterior curve (see fig. 8), LocALity..—Near Lowestoft, 1896. aT Dryburgh Road, Putney, May 16th, 1901. NOTES ON SPINNING By H. WALLIS KEw. ANIMALS. (Continued from Vol. VII., page 265.) IX.—LARVAE OF WEEVILS. PINNING of a remarkable kind is practised by the larvae of weevils of the genus Hypera. They make small, elegant, silk-like cocoons, spun with more or less wide meshes, through which the larva and afterwards the pupa can often be seen. The cocoons are attached, generally, to the leaves and stalks of plants; for these larvae, though leg- less, are not buried in vegetable tissues, as are so many of their kind, but live like caterpillars on the external surfaces of plants. They travel by means of ventral fleshy prominences, and are apparently helped to retain their position by the viscous matter with which their bodies are varnished. This is excreted by a small more or less protrusile nipple, found in the anal region on the upper surface of the last segment of the body, near the union of that segment with the preceding one. The genus is extensive; but, except to entomologists, its members are not wellknown. Hypera punctata, however, having proved injurious in clover fields in North America, has obtained a certain notoriety. The creatures are of but moderate size; the larva of H. viciae, for instance, measuring 10 mm.; and that of A. punctata 14 mm. De Geer 3 (1775), who givesa history of the dock- weevil (Hypera rumicis), states that the very pretty cocoons are spun on the stalks of the dock, or between the flowers or seeds at the top of the stalk. They are nearly spherical, about the size of a pea, and are made of yellow or white silk, spun in large meshes in a single layer. The insect remains visible through the walls, the tissue of which is compared by the author to coarse gauze. The component threads are rather coarse, but so elastic that the cocoon, pressed with the finger, regains its original form when released. In spinning, the larva keeps its body curved in a semicircle, and De Geer thinks that the cocoon owes its round- ness to this circumstance, the body serving as amould. Since the time of De Geer many authors have, no doubt, observed these curious cocoons. Among others, Kirby and Spence refer to the beauti- ful fine gauze-like cocoon of Hypera arator found on stalks of spurrey (Spergula arvensis), (1) De Geer, “ Mémoires pour servir 4 l’Histoire des Insectes,”” v. (1775), pp, 231-34. ’ work appearance. The pupa was visible through the cocoon, and, on touching the plant, Kirby observed that the pupa whirled round within the cocoon several times with astonishing rapidity (*). Perris (°) has. written at length on the cocoons of A. rumicis and H. viciae, the latter being found upon Apiwm nodiflorum. He describes them as elegant spherical structures, made of a network of irregular meshes and of a tissue resembling tulle. They are yellowish-white at first, becoming afterwards. yellow, then golden in A. rumicis and tawny in H. viciae. The cocoons of the latter are usually solitary; but A. rwmicis sometimes groups its cocoons at the extremities of dock-stems, from five to eight having been found together. A. rumicis has been further observed by Osborne (*), in Treland, the cocoon being described by him as a globuiar reddish network, appearing darker at the circumference, where the meshes are massed together, and permitting the animal to be seen through its walls. He found the cocoons upon both sides of dock-leaves, where they had a striking resemblance to the circular rust-stains common on those leaves. He notes that the enclosed pupa is active, becoming excited when brought near the light, and making three or four revolutions on its long axis in alternate directions. Lastly, we have notes by Riley @) on Aypera cocoons observed in the United States. In infested clover fields the cocoons of H. punctata are found on or in the ground. In captivity, however, they were usually spun between leaves or stalks. They were oval, pale yellow, of coarse tough threads in irregular network. Riley had previously reared HI. compta from Polygonum nodosum, to which plant were attached the cocoons, of the usual net- H. eximia, says Popenoe, trans- formed in similar cocoons on Rumewx britannica. With regard. to the manner in which these cocoons are formed, De Geer believed the threads to come, like those of lepidopterous caterpillars, from a spinneret which he supposed he had seen on the lower lip. Goureau (°), who saw the crea- tures spin, also believed the spinneret to be oral > and Riley states of Hypera punctata that the spin- ning is done with the mouth, the silk issuing “ from the spinneret in a very perceptibly liquid condition.” He further notes that the creature touches the leaf with its mouth, applying at the same time a drop of the liquid, which is stretched out into a thread until the mouth is touched upon another point. The larva, he says, continues to work in this way (2) Kirby and Spence, “Introduction to Entomology,” 1i. (1817), p. 298; iii. (1826), pp. 215, 224. (3) E. Perris, “ Mémoires de Académie Nationale de Lyon,” Sciences (n.s.), i. (1851), pp. 93-106. (4) J. A. Osborne, “ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine,” xvi. (1879), pp. 16-18. (5) C. V. Riley, “American Naturalist,’ xv. (1881), pp, 912-14 ; “Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture,” 1881 and 1882, pp. 171-79. (6) Goureau, quoted by Perris, /.c. SCIENCE-GOSS/P. ar for some time. It fills up the meshes more and more, and afterwards follows the threads with its mouth to strengthen them with additianal applica- tions; so that the cocoon in this species becomes compact, with only small rounded meshes. The whole work occupies about a day. Osborne states, however, of HZ. rwmicis that the spinneret is anal, the silk issuing from it in a very thick transparent thread. This conflict of observation is somewhat puzzling, but the matter has been cleared up, fortu- nately, by Perris, whose admirable observations relate chiefly to H. viciae. This naturalist failed to perceive a spinneret on the lower lip, and he states definitely that no such organ exists there. Yet it cannot be denied that the larva spins. It spins, says Perris, in the true sense of the word, and this is how it proceeds. When the time to form the cocoon arrives it retires to a convenient position and applies the mouth to the dorsal base of the last segment, where the above-mentioned organ which secretes viscous matter is situated. From this organ (the ejaculatory nipple) escapes a small drop of matter, and the larva, having seized this drop with its mandibles, forthwith places its head to the right or to the left on various points around. The matter, adhering to these points, is drawn out into threads, more or less slender, which are fastened and crossed in all directions. The mandibles and palpi are the organs which serve to draw out and fashion the threads. These dry, harden, and lose their viscosity almost imme- diately. After about two hours the framework of the cocoon is well formed; but the meshes are very wide, and the larva still labours to make them narrower, which it does by the addition of fresh filaments. The whole work occupies about twenty hours. Each time the little provision of viscous matter is exhausted the animal has recourse to the nipple, and this occurs often enough to make the process easily observable. A number of the larvae were induced to spin under watch-glasses. Here, lens in hand, Perris had them under observation for hours together; and there is not the slightest doubt as to the accuracy of his conclusions. The creatures, though destitute of an oral spinneret, certainly produce threads by means of the mouth, so that it is not surprising that De Geer, Goureau, and Riley were misled; but the material is ob- tained, as we have seen, from the anal organ, which at ordinary times serves to excrete the mucus which clothes the animal; and Perris has thus established in these creatures a form of spin- ning certainly unlooked for and almost unique. (To be concluded.) CLASSIFICATION OF BRITISH TICKS. By EDWARD G. WHELER. (Concluded from page 41.) Txodes putus Cambridge. Synonyms: Hyalomma puta Cambridge, 1879; Taodes borealis Kramer and Neuman, 1883. Mae. Unknown. FEMALE. Length up to 10 mm. Body oval, much rounded at the two ends, whether or not dis- tended. Yellowish-brown, reddish, or blackish. Teeument much striated, with short, white, regu- larly scattered hairs both aboveand below. Shield yellowish-brown, often darker at the sides; sub- triangular, and twice as wide in front as behind; rounded behind, hardly hollowed out in front. Cervical grooves converging in front, then diverging and a little concave within, enclosing a raised por- tion. No lateral grooves; punctuations fine and numerous, with sometimes very short hairs. Sexual orifice opposite the second pair of legs. Sexual grooves widely separated behind. Anal grooves ob- scure, reunited in front of anus. Peritremes round. Legs very variable in size. False articulation near the middle of the tarsi of the three hinder pairs. NyMpPH. (Hig. 174, from specimen taken from guillemot, Torbay.) Length, 1°59 mm. to 3°50 mm. when fully distended. Colour (in spirits), brownish- yellow. Body nearly round. ‘Two long dorsal grooves, and one short central one behind. stome with two rows of teeth on each side. Palpi furnished with long hairs. Haunches of legs triangular, the third larger, and the fourth thicker Hypo- Fic. 174A. Erodes putus. Nymph. than the first and second. Anus almost in line with the peritremes. When fully distended nearly black, and legs dark testaceous. I have very lately received three specimens of nymphs from Mr. 8. F. Harmer, F.R.S., University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. The species has not hitherto been reported in England. Neumann says it has been found as far apart as Alaska and Cape Hom, showing that it lives on migratory birds. 72 SCIENCE-GOSSIF. (a?) HAEMALASTOR C. L. Koch, 1844. Synonyms: Zschatocephalus Frauenfeld, 1853; Sarconyssus Kolenati, 1857. Rostrum long; palpi claviform (fig. 10) in the male, flat and caniculated in the female. Ad-anal groove contouring anus in front and open behind. Peritremes circular. Irregular chitinous thicken- ings both above and below in the male. Very fine striae or parallel grooves on the female. Legs generally very long. Seven species of this genus are described. They are mostly parasitical on bats, and inhabit holes and caverns. It is very possible that one of the species, H. vespertilionis, widely distributed on the Continent, may be found in this country. (6) Anal groove encircling anus behind. (>) APONOMMA Neumann, 1899. No eyes. Base of rostrum generally pentagonal ; palpi long. Body of male either wider or nearly as wide as long ; beneath naked. Dorsal shield cover- ing the whole body, and generally with green metal- lic marks. The shield of the female shorter and scarcely any longer than wide, ordinarily marked with three green metallic spots in a triangle. This genus is exotic, and it is almost exclusively parasitical on snakes and saurians. Twelve species are described; not any are British. (b*) AMBLYOMMA Koch, 1844. Synonym: Jxodes Latreille, 1795. Eyes usually flat and but little apparent; some- times brilliant; placed on the outer edge of the shield. Rostrum long. Anal groove open in front, joining the sexual grooves. Dorsal shield often marked with coloured designs. No ad-anal shields onthe male. Peritremes generally triangular, with rounded angles. Eleven marginal posterior indenta- tions nearly always present, especially in the male. Professor Neumann describes no less than 86 species of Amblyomma, mainly from tropical and sub-tropical climates. One species, A. hebracum, known at the Cape as the “bont” or variegated tick, is the carrier of “ heartwater” in sheep, which Mr. Lounsbury says ‘“‘is gradually rendering the splendid veldt of the infected districts useless for sheep farming.” Not any British species. (8) HYALOMMA Koch, 1844. Eyes generally round and brilliant (fig. 5), some- times flat and little noticeable. Rostrum long. Anal groove open in front, joining the sexual groove, with another extending from the anus to the posterior margin (fig. 7). Body elongated oval. Colour brown, more or less dark. The male has two pairs of ventral shields, two of which are ad-anal and large, with two others outside, added to which are often two accessory ones, or lamellae, behind the ad-anal shields (fig. 7). Only three species are described by Professor Neumann, one of which—Z. aegyptium Linn.—is known at the Cape as the “bont-legged tick,” where it attacks small stock and ostriches, as well as cattle and horses, and is considered second only to the “ bont tick” as a pest to farmers. It is known probably all over Africa and the greater part of Asia. No less than thirty synonyms are given for this species, showing the great confusion there has been in the nomenclature of ticks. No British indigenous species is known, but one, H, syriacum, has been taken on imported tortoises. Mr. Pocock mentions it as having been found at Feltham in Surrey, and another was sent me last year by Mr. F. Noad Clarke, a distended female, which he had exhibited at the South London Ento- mological Society in June 1899. Hyalomma syriacum Koch. Synonym: Hyalomma affine Neumann, 1899. FEMALE, fasting. Length, 6mm. when distended up to 13 mm.; shield oval, and but little longer than wide, each anterior angle prolonged to nearly half way up the palpi;.punctuated sparsely but deeply; eyes small; body reddish-brown. Two very minute dorsal spiracles behind the shield. Coxae of front legs divided with two blunt spines or tubercles; the other haunches with two small tubercles at the outer edge of each. ‘Tarsi short: and thick, and suddenly attenuated at the end, which in the three posterior pairs is furnished with a small hook. Jale. Length, 6 mm.; shield, reddish-brown, bare, anterior angles projecting little; grooves at the neck short and deep, none at the sides; punctuations sparse, equal, and large; underside reddish-brown, sometimes yellow ; anus ‘a little behind the orifice of the stigmata; anal shields wide and short; peritremes short and comma-shaped (fig. 7). RHIPICEPHALAE, Synonym: Conipalpi Canestrini. The Rhipicephalae are characterised by their palpi, which are short and more or less conical or subtriangular—not, or but slightly, longer than broad (fig. 18). The upper face of the base of the Fie. 18. Rhipicephalus annulatus. rostrum is triangular and elongated transversely in Haemaphysalis and Dermacentor, whereas in Rhipicephalus it is hexagonal, and in consequence is provided with salient lateral angles. The under- Se.) SC! SUC oe ee er SCIENCE-GOSSTIP. ili SEASCAPE PHOTOCRAPHS. (PERMANENT CARBON.) The Art Journal: Extract from the Paper on ‘“‘ Picture Photography.”’—‘‘ It would be difficult to praise too highly the success with which the effect of moving, heaving water has been rendered in the superb composition ‘ Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll!’ ... Mr. WorsLey-BeNISON’s sea composi- tions are triumphs of artistic arrangement.” The Royal Societies’ Ladies’ Conversazione: From The Times Report. —‘‘ Mr. WorsLey-BEntson’s series of seascape photographs . . . were magnificent examples of photographic art.” Extract from Mr. Gleeson White’s Paper, ‘‘ The Sea, as Mr. Worsley-Benison Photographs it,” in The Photogram, January, 1898.—‘‘ One doubts if any pictures of English scenery would re- awaken the peculiar memories of fields and dales so vividly as these photograms awaken memories of the sea. Indeed, it is very hard to remember that it is Mr. WorsLEy-BEnison’s skilful records which should be the text of this discourse ; you forget his share as you study them, and think not of a pictured ocean, but of the real entity itself. For, oddly enough, it is always ¢ie sea one finds, never asea. . . . To confess that one is entirely captivated by the literal truth of Mr. WorsLEy-BENison’s really beautiful work is perhaps in a way the finest compliment you could pay him. To own how admirably he has chosen the spot to pitch his camera, and the moment to expose his plate: to discuss the admirable development of his pictures, those harmonious skies and accessories, their artistic ‘ placing’ within a given space, seems almost imper- tinent after owning he has made criticism appear secondary by the sheer beauty of truth.” Knowledge.— Extract from the Paper on ‘‘ The Artistic Study of Waves,” by Mr. Vaughan Cornish, M.Sc.—‘‘ Mr. WorsLey- 3ENISON’S ‘ Westby’ series of Photographs are the finest studies with which I am acquainted. There is no sea-painter, however skilful, who would not find much to repay him in the careful study of such photographs. Above all, the foam is rendered as no painter ever rendered it ; not merely the thin film of foam of which I have already spoken, but the thick white froth of the breaker line, which looks by daylight like whipped cream, but by moonlight is changed to molten silver.” The Series sent for inspection. ARPIN] BY SEDER ONE: MOWBRIGK, CHEPSTOW, ENGLAND. NATURE NOTES: Edited by G. S. Boutcer, F.L.S., F.G.S., Professor of Botany and Geology, City of London College. The Selborne Society’s Magazine. NATURE NOTHSS is intended to be a record of progress —progress in the love of Nature, in the knowledge of natural objects, and in the war to be waged in defence of the beauties of Nature against their more or less avowed exterminators. The object of the Selborne Society is to unite lovers of Nature for common study, and the defence of Natural Objects (Birds, Plants, beautiful Landscapes, &c.) against the destruction by which they are so constantly menaced. The sintyeume Annual Subscription (which entitles subscribers toa Monthly copy of the Society’s Magazine) is 5s. All particulars as to Membership may be obtained from the SECRETARY OF THE SELBORNE SOCIETY, 20 Hanover Square, W. JOHN BALE, SONS, & DANIELSSON, Ltd., 83-89 Great Titchfield Street, London, W. The Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation. An Illustrated Monthly Magazine of General Entomology. EDITED BY J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. Assisted by H. St. J. K. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S. (Coleoptera),and MALCOLM BURR, F.Z.S., F.E.S. (Orthoptera). Published on the 15th of each month. Recently enlarged to 28 pages. Double numbers post free to Subscribers. Subscription price, 7s. per volume (including Special Index, with every reference to aberrations, varieties, species, genera, &c.). The articles are written by the first entomologists of the day. Each month are numerous short notes under following heads :— ““Coleoptera,” “‘ Orthoptera,” ‘‘ Scientific Notes and Observations,” “ Life-histories, Larvae, &c.,” “‘ Variation,” ‘‘ Notes on Collecting,” “Practical Hints—Field Work for the Month,” ‘‘ Current Notes,” “* Notices of Books,” &c. To LIBRARIANS AND OTHERS.—-A FEW complete sets of the back Volumes are on sale at 7s. 6d. per Volume. Sfeczal /ndexes at 1s. each (those for Vols. I. and II. are out of print)—Subscriptions to H. E. Pace, F.E.S., ‘‘ Bertrose,” Gellatly Road, St. Catherine’s Park, London, S.E. The study of these simple plants enforces the lesson that tidiness, cleanliness, and purity lead up to the health and welfare of individuals and communities, as also to the prosperity of industries ; that moisture and decaying organic matter favour the multiplica- tion of bacteria, while the dispersal of this matter as dust favours their distribution ; that strong light, pure air, hot water, steam or dry heat are deadly to all the disease-producing forms; and that an intelligent cultivation of our bacterial floras would be a benefit to all. A FULL GUIDE to the knowledge of this subject is now appearing in THE SCIENTIFIC ROLL. It will comprise about 36 numbers at 1s. or 1s. 6d. each; or 3 volumes at ros, each to subscribers. Send for a 19-page List of Contents. i= NO. 2 NOW READY, PRICE 1s. Rr. LL. SHARLAND, 38 Churchfield Road, ACTON, LONDON, W. THE BEST EDITION OF GILBERT WHITE. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. By GiLvpert White. Edited by L. C. Miatt, F.R.S., assisted by W. WarpdE Fow Ler, M.A. Crown 8vo. 6s. (Methuen’s Standard Library.) Messrs. Methuen have just published the above important edition, edited by two of the most distinguished and competent authorities in England. No previous edition approaches this in its combination of scientific accuracy and compactness of form and lowness of price. METHUEN & CO., Essex Street, W.C. JOHN WHELDON & COS CATALOGUE OF WORKS ON GARDENING AND HORTICULTURE. Sent Post Free on application. 38 GREAT QUEEN STREBT, LONDON, W.C. THE NATURALIST: (Originally founded 1833.) A Monthly Journal of Natural History for the Northern Counties of England, viz. :—Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Lincoln- shire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, West- moreland, Cumberland, and the Isle of Man. Conducted by—W. Denison Roebuck, F.L.S., with the assistance of J. Gilbert Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S.; W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S., M.B.O.U. ; Alfred Harker, M.A., F.G.S. ; Charles P. Hobkirk, F.L.S.; George T. Porritt, F.L.S., F.E.S.; and W. Barwell Turner, F.R.M.S. Monthly, Sixpence ; by post, Sevenpence. Annual Subscription, Six Shillings and Sixpence, post free. All Communications to be addressed—The Editors of ‘‘ The Naturalist,” 259 Hyde Park Road, Leeds The Irish Naturalist. A Monthly Journal of General Irish Natural History. BOTANY. ZOOLOGY. GEOLOGY. Edited by Gro. H. CarrenTer, B.Sc., and R. Ltovp PRAEGER, B.A. This Magazine should be in the hands of all Naturalists interested in the distribution of animals and plants over the British Islands. Dusiin: EASON & SON, 40, Lower Sackville Street, to which address subscriptions should be sent. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. BINDING CASES For VOL. VII. of SCIENGE-GOSSIP With Title die sunk in gilt on binding, are now ready, PRICE ONE SHILLING. By post, ls. 2d. iV SCIENCE-GOSSTP. ALFRED H. BASTIN, ENTOMOLOGIST, Ivy House, 28 New Road, Reading. All kinds of apparatus for the use of Entomologists kept in stock. A large stock of Exotic Insects of all kinds. A special 40-page Descriptive List may be had free on application by intend- ing purchasers. Special cases illustrating ‘* Warning Colours,” ** Mimicry,” ‘‘ Protective Resemblance,” &e. , can be supplied at very low rates. Correspondence invited. Second-hand cabinets bought and sold. BIRDS’ EGGS, SKINS, SHELLS, INSECTS, APPARATUS, and Requisites of all Kinds, sold, bought, and exchanged. Fifty-page Price List on receipt of stamp. Established 20 years. CHARUES JEFFERYS, Naturalist, THTBURY, Gloucestershire. BRITISH SPIDERS. I shall be pleased to help anyone working up local lists of British Spiders by naming specimens FREE. Postage for return of collections should be enclosed. FRANK. P. SMITH, 15 Cloudesley Place, Islington, London, N. SELBORNE. FURNISHED APARTMENTS. Drawing-room, dining-room, one to four bedrooms, bath-room, garden, good cooking and attendance. Mrs. ANDREWS, SONG elrorne, Alton, PES MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF | THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE LABORATORY, PLYMOUTH. The following Animals can always be supplied either living or preserved by the best methods :— Sycon; Clava, Obelia, Sertularia ; Actinia, Tealia, Caryophyllia, Alcyonium ; Hormiphoria (preserved) ; Leptoplana ; Amphiporus; Nereis Aphrodite, Arenicola, Lanice, Terebella ; Lepas, Balanus, Gammarus, Ligia, Mysis, Nebalia, Carcinus : Patella, Buccinum, Eledone, Pecten ; Bugula, Crisia, Perdicellina ; Holothuria, Asterias, Echinus ; Ascidia, Salpa (preserved), Scyllium; Raia, etc., etc. For Prices and more detailed Lists apply to The Director, Biological Laboratory, Plymouth. THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S CARDENS, REGENT’S PARE, Are OPEN DAILY (except Sundays) from’ 9 A.M. till Sunset. § Admission 1s. ; on Mondays, 6d. ; Children, 6d. ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S GARDENS, REGENT’S PARK. GARDENS OPEN DAILY from 9g a.m. to Sunset. from 2 P.M. to Sunset. Society only. ENTOMOLOGICAL DEALERS, A few purely Entomological Advertise- in Volume I. ‘Butterflies of the to be published shortly. Rates for space may be had on application to the MANAGER of ‘‘S$cience-Gossip.” ments will be inserted of Dr. Lang’s Palaearctic Region,” | To Science and Art Department, Lineus, | BUTTERFLIES. MOTHS. Best value given for Collections from all parts of the world. Travellers’ own Collections named, ar- ranged, and mounted. Many fine species for sale. PERCY Il. LATHY, Sydney Road, Enfield, England. HEYNE BROS. crf teipsic), Naturalists & Entomological Dealers & Booksellers, Have just established themselves at 110 STRAND, LONDON, W.C. Fine Stock of European and Foreign Butterflies, Moths, Beetles, and all other Families of Inseets. ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINETS, BOOKS, APPARATUS, PINS, &c. Price Lists on application. SPECIMENS SENT FOR INSPECTION AND SELECTION. Foreign and other Insects purchased or exchanged. PHYSIOGRAPHY and GEOLOGY. Collections and Microscopic Slides to illustrate above, as advised by Science and Art Directory, arranged by JAMES RR. GREGORY & CO., Mineralogists, &c., British, Museums, &c. Indian, and Colonial | Mineral Specimens for Museums and Collectors, and all pur- | Doses. Rock Specimens and Microscopic Sections of Rocks and Minerals. Collections for Prospectors, &c. STORES AND OFFICES :—'t KELSO PLACE, KENSINGTON, W. New Catalogues and Lists Free. COLLECTIONS OF Bares SHELLS, FOSSILS, &. For SALE. Also DUPLICATES cheap. ‘pplyto FE. WMI. HELE, Warwick Lodge, KNOWLE, near BRISTOL. | POPULAR ASTRONOMICAL LECTURES (WITH LANTERN ILLUSTRATIONS.) Mr. FRANK C. DENNETT (Departmental Editor } for Astronomy of “ScrENcE-Gosstp”) is booking dates for the Terms, &c., on application. 60 Lenthall Road, Dalston, London, N.E. KODAK SPOOLS DEVELOPED, <::cn2yc Negatives promptly returned post free. KoDAKS AND ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC REQUISITES. coming season, Brownies, 9d. Pocket K., 1/6 No. 1 F.PLK.,; 2/- A. HOWARD (:c83%x), Chemist, GY, YARMOUTH. ’ fr SUNDAYS ] Admission by Orders from Fellows of the | THAMES STEANBGATS. LONDON TO GRAVESEND (Terrace Pier) and HERNE BAY, 7° MILES BY WATER. Fares to Herne Bay from London, Greenwich and Woolwich— Each Way. l= Bach Way. To Gravesend (Terrace Pier), 1s. single, and 1s. 6d. return. By the Favourite Saloon Steamer THE MERMAID. Every day, except Fridays— Charing Cross, 9.0 a.m. ; London Bridge (Old Swan), 9.30 a.m. ; Greenwich, 10.0 a.m. 3 Woolwich, 10.15 a.m. ; Gravesend (Terrace Pier), 11.45 a.m. Returning from Herne Bay at 3 45 p.m.; and from Gravesend (Terrace Pier), 6.45 p. in. ICAI PAO unr @Onwasear) Return. L/S Return. By the CARDINAL WOLSEY daily from Old Swan Pier, London Bridge, at 9.45 a.m., calling at all Piers up. Excellent Refreshments, eeeticene and Teas on board. No Intoxicants Sold. The Thames Steamboat Co. (1897), Ltd., 17 Philpot Lane, E.C. SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 73 side of the male is unprovided with shields in Haemaphysalis and Dermacentor, whereas Rhipi- cephalus has two to four symmetrically disposed at the sides of the anus (fig. 19). Theabsence of ventral Rhipicephalus annulatus. shields is almost always compensated for in Der- macentor by the great development of the haunches of the fourth pair of legs (fig. 20). Haemaphysalis is distinguished, independently of the absence of Dermacentor reticulatus. Male. ventral shields in the male, by the absence of eyes, and by the form of the second joint of the palpi, which in both sexes makes a lateral projection more or less marked (fig. 21). (c) HAHMAPHYSALIS Koch, 1844. Synonyms: Rhipistoma Koch, 1844; Gonixodes Dages, 1888 ; Opistodon Canestrini, 1897. No eyes ; base of rostrum in a rectangle, twice as wide as long. Palpi conical, second joint having Me. 21. Haemaphysalis. a strong conical lateral projection (fig. 21). Peri- treme round, or shaped like an abbreviated comma. No shields on ventral face of male. Coxae of first pair of legs not bifid, those of the fcurth pair of normal size in the male. brownish. Of this genus twenty-two species are described from Asia, Africa, Europe, and America, one of which, 1. punctata, is British. Colour uniform Haecmaphysalis punctata Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877-8. Synonyms: Haemaphysalis sulcata Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877-8; Rhipicephalus expositicius Koch, 1877; Haemaphysalis peregrinus Cambridge, 1889; Herpetobia sulcata Canestrini, 1890. Male. Fie. 22. Femle. Haemaphysalis punctata, FEMALE (figs. 22, 23), fasting, 3:44 in length to 12 mm. when replete. Dorsal shield deeply in- dented in front to encompass the base of the rostrum. Colour reddish-brown, when replete of a leaden grey, which turns to a deep red-brown in alcohol. Rostrum, shield, and legs always brownish. The body above and below punctuated finely and regularly all over. Sexual orifice opposite the A Fic. 23. Haemaphysalis punctata. Female, underside. coxae of the second pair of legs in both sexes. Shield coarsely and regularly punctate. Peri- tremes whitish and nearly round. lLabium fur- nished with numerous very small teeth, arranged in five rows on each side. Palpi a little longer than the labium, the first joint short and narrow, the second and third much widened on the dorsal face. Legs comparatively short, coxae with a wide short blunt spine ; tarsi short and terminated with a spur, which is small on the first pair. MALE (fig. 22). Length, 3:10 mm. Body rather . narrow, reddish-brown or yellowish. Dorsal shield D3 74 SCIENCE- GOSSIP. covering nearly the whole body ; cervical grooves deep, short and wide in front ; numerous punctua- tions over its whole surface. Eleven indentations on posterior margin of body; peritremes lighter in colour, large, and somewhat comma-shaped. The three anterior pairs of legs with a short spine on the haunches; the fourth with a very long one directed backwards, and being at least as long as the haunch. Nympu. Length, 2°50 mm. to 3°00 mm. Body oval, varying from light yellow to dark red-brown. Dorsal shield rounded, with a few punctuations, otherwise like that of the female. Ventral face like the female, but the sexual orifice nearly obso- lete. No spur on the tarsi. LARVA. Body short, oval. Length, 1-20 mm. This species is somewhat widely distributed, but is not common anywhere. The specimens taken are never very numerous. It is found on sheep, especially behind the ears; on goats, cattle, horses, etc. British specimens were recently sent to me by Mr. Pocock, taken from a hedgehog at Dun- geness, consisting of a male and distended female. (To be concluded.) ERESH PLANT NAMES: By JoHN H. BARBOUR, M.B. (Concluded from page 42.) ALISMACEAE. Cor copoG. copog, “any large leaf like dock”; cor, “ weir,” * weir dock.” Alisma plantago-aqua- tica. water plantain. GRAMINEAE. ’ “marshy place”; CRUIS BIORRAC LACAN. _ biorrac, laca, “duck.” ‘marsh duck’s plant.” GIORNAC. Phragmites communis. reed. DURFER FAIRGE. dur, “hard”; fairge, “sea.” Festuca rotthoellioides. sea hard grass. BRUIMSEAN, FIOTRAN BRUIMSEAN. ) Perseids i Fy SOM Od uN. >» otol16 « Oygnids =n Pl 8:28 an EOSIN. >» 21 to 25 o Draconids a BN nSt 245 a0 es GOLING s 21 to Sep. 21 e Perseids a oy CU as exA IS ZO » 22 y Pegasids 5 pee O20 geese al OMN| (2) This shower lasts nearly a month, but the radiant moves for some distance amongst the stars; on July 25th it is situated R.A. lh. 44m., Dec. 53° N, whilst on “August 18th it has reached R.A. 3h, 40m., Dec. 59° N. CONJUNCTIONS OF PLANETS WITH THE Moon. Ones, INE BS = 55 .. Mercury*.. 7am. .. Planet 5.48 N. rm UB! Go -. Venusf 5 dbl» 56 OS EN' ay A 6a oo METAR 00° Uedb Bs yo eb Oe (5) YD 60 Jupiter*f .. 5am. .. » 934558, 2B 40 -. Saturn* 6 p.m. 3) 6B 42)8. * Daylight. + Below English horizon. OCCULTATIONS AND NEAR APPROACH, Angle - Angle Magni- Dis- trom Re- Srom Aug. Star. tude. appears. Vertex. appears. Vertex. him. o hm. © 3... A Piscium 47 .. 8.42pm... 18 .. near approach. 8 65 8 oF COSY na OSDE Gh 55 PEE) G5 es Yle ay og Phi 29 .. c'Capricorni 52 .. 0.54a.m... 68 .. 1.59a.m. .. 199 30 .. « Aquarii 5°56 .. 0.29 am... 23 .. Kl9am. .. 262 THE Sun.—That which remains of the group mentioned last month again crossed the disc be- tween June 14th and 27th. The outbreak of a spot eroup far from the equator in the southern spot zone on June 22nd or 23rd may indicate the end of the sun-spot minimum. MERCURY is a morning star rising in the N.E. an hour anda half before the Sun at the begin- ning of August, the interval decreasing to 1 hour in the middle of the month. It is at greatest western elongation 19° 23’ at 2 p.m. on 2nd, and at 9 p.m. on 27th is again in superior conjunction with the Sun. VENUs is an evening star in Leo at the begin- ning of the month, entering Virgo in the middle. It sets in the west about an hour after the Sun. MARS is an evening star in Virgo just north of Spica on the 18th, but too small for useful study, setting less than three hours after the Sun. JUPITER is still a fine object, setting about 1.40 a.m. at the beginning of the month and at. 11.30 p.m. at the end. A very interesting object. until 10 p.m. on August 8th, I. and its shadow and also the shadow of III. being in transit. On 15th I. enters on the disc at 9.31 p.m., IIL. passes off at 10.26, and the shadow of I. enters on at: 10.30. On 17th IV. passes off at 8.32, and on 31st the shadow of I. comes on the disc at 8.50, and at 9.56 I. passes off. SATURN is still a beautiful object just east of Jupiter. URANUS is too low down for observation, pre- ceding the brighter planets by about two hours. NEPTUNE rises about 1.28 at the beginning of the month and some two hours earlier at the end,. in the north-eastern sky near by 7 Geminorum. SoLAR BEAM.—On June 26th, from the neigh- bourhood of the Elephant and Castle, Walworth, a fine beam of a rosy tint was observed about 8.40 for several minutes. The vertical column rose above the Sun’s place to an altitude of about 35°, and had a width of about 2°. There was a little cirrus cloud about of the same reddish colour.— Hac; D: [An anonymous observer at West Hampstead observed the beam from 7.55 p.m. until 9.46 p.m... but nine minutes later found it to have disap- ‘ peared. | StR CUTHBERT EDGAR PEEK, BART., of Rousdon, Devonshire, died on July 6th, at the early age of forty-six. His health had been bad for some tire, finally culminating in congestion of the brain. He succeeded his father, the first baronet, in 1898. The Rousdon Observatory has long been known for its splendid work with variable stars, the able assistant being Mr. Charles Grover. The observa- tory was founded in 1884, and is well furnished, the principal instrument being a Merz achromatic telescope, 64 inch aperture, equatorially mounted. THE NEW STAR IN PERSEUS during its period of variation proved to be a most interesting object.. When at its maximum the continuous spectrum was brighter, but when at its minimum the con- tinuous spectrum paled, the bright-line spectrum,,. however, was intensified and contained one or two- lines not noticed at the time of maximum. Such are the important observations made at Stonyhurst College. It may be interesting to mention that the beautiful photograph reproduced on p. 323, Vol. VII., 8.-G., was obtained with a 4-inch Cooke finder attached to the 15-inch equatorial telescope. The object-glass was covered by a 4-inch objective prism supplied by Mr. ‘Tl. Thorp, and the spectral line allowed to fall directly upon the photographic plate, a series of the lines side by side being ob— tained to give suflticient width to the spectrum. SCIENCE-GOSST/P. 87 DISTORTION OR THE SUN’S Disc.—While ex- amining the sun, shortly before setting, through my friend Mr. C. A. Briggs’ telescope, from the garden at Rock House, Lynmouth, North Devon, one evening in the middle of July, the disc had the appearance on the upper left limb of having several large protuberances at the edge. This was doubtless the result of atmospheric interference, though the distortions remained in place until the sun had set below the sea.—John T. Carrington. M. C. M. GAUDIBERT, the great French seleno- graphical observer, who was born March 4, 1823, died on June 9 at Vaison, Vaucluse. His telescope was an 8} in. silver on glass reflector, 53 ft. focus, made by himself. This he kept indoors, but took it out to a fixed stand in the garden for use. THE GREAT CoMET, which proved so disappoint- ing to us, was really a splendid and wonderful object as seen from the southern hemisphere. A soldier in South Africa described it as being “like a veldt fire with a rocket on top ”—a very expres- sive, if not scientific, de- scription of the visitor, as will be seen by the somewhat rough sketch taken in South Africa, and sent by Rev. C. L. Tweedale to the ‘‘ English Mechanic,” and here re- produced by the kind per- mission of the publishers. The drawing tallies very closely with the various descriptions and sketches which have reached this country from other places. Perhaps the most detailed descriptions are from the pen of Major L. A. Eddie, F.R.A.S., sent from Naauwpoort, Cape Colony. The head was elliptical in shape, its longitudinal diameter on May 2nd, when it rivalled Sirius in splendour, be- ing about 23 times its transverse. On May 6th there was no moon, and the Major writes: ‘* Nu- cleus diminishing, but somewhat more elongated. Three small stars in form of triangle at apex of bright portion of straight tail (these stars were yw”, v, and 51 Eridani), and head nearly in a line, but a little south of 44 Eridani. As darkness advanced, and this marvellous comet was for the first time seen pro- jected on a dark background, it, indeed, presented a grand and glorious appearance never to be for- gotten. The bright straight tail, with its faint extension, was about 16° in length, reaching nearly to Rigel, and faded out about 4° south of this bright star; while the enormous lateral emission of shimmering light, as it were, flooded the south- western regions of the celestial canopy with a ghostly gleam, covering 40° of the sky in its length and varying in breadth from 6° to 10°; while the whole space between this mighty extension and the more brilliant cometic appendage was filled with a gauze-like sheen.” His complete diary of ‘The Great Comet of the 20th Century ” will be found in No. 8, vol. xi., of the “ Journal of the B.A.A.” A letter from Mr. R. T. A. Innes, of the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, de- scribes the nucleus of the comet as. being only about 10th magnitude. ‘‘The coma is about 1’ in diameter, and I did not notice any tail ’—this for June 2nd. When the Nova Persei was at its best the condition of the film of the 30-in. reflector at Greenwich prevented spectroscopic photography being brought to bear, and when the Great Comet came the great spectroscope of the Cape Observa- tory had been sent to England for alteration. THE SOLAR ECLIPSE appears to have been very fairly observed; the corona reminded one of its appearance in May 1900. The sky, notwithstand- ing the considerable length of totality, was bright, brighter than at full moon. One large curved prominence, ‘like the blunt curved horn of a bull,” as Mrs. Maunder describes it, made a striking object. After the busy work of observing the eclipse was over, we regret to learn that Mr. E. Maunder was struck down by malaria. Walter Comet a 1901 He was working at the observatory at Pample- mousse, Mauritius, noted for its seemingly clear skies, but troubled by being in the midst of a very fever swamp. Dr. LEWIs SwiFt, of Mount Echo, California, has, owing to failing sight, been obliged, at the age of eighty-one, to dispose of his observatory, with its 16-inch Alvan Clark achromatic, presented to him by the citizens of Rochester, U.S.A., in 1882, at a cost of over £2,700. Professor E. A. Larkin is to have the direction of Mount Echo Observatory, Dr. Swift retiring to Marathon, New York County. NEW OR ‘TEMPORARY STARS.—A pamphlet bearing this title, by Mr. J. H. Brown, B.R.A.S., of Brighton, has been forwarded to us. It is by no means a description or history of the Novae, but a suggestion as to how the outbursts may be caused. ERRATUM.—From p. 60 of SCIENCE-GossIP for July, line 9, delete the word * hollow.” 88 SCIENCE-GOSSIP. IMICROSCOP Yjt Moga SUD SAAD re: TAGS ers SOOO Sue AVAES CONDUCTED BY F. SHILLINGTON SCALES, F.R.M.S5. Royal MicroscopicaAL Soctery.—June 19th, William Carruthers, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the chair. At the special general meeting several alterations in the by-laws were put and agreed to unanimously. At the ordinary meeting Mr. T. H. Powell exhibited Coscinodiseus asteromphalus under a new j5th-inch apochromatic oil-immersion ob- jective; Mr. J. W. Gordon read a paper entitled “An Examination of the Abbé Diffraction Theory of the Microscope,” in which he stated that the above long-accepted explanation of the phenomenaof high- power microscopic observation had been adopted on insufficient proof, and would not bear the test of critical examination. The Abbé theory claimed that pictures formed by the microscope of very minute objects were due to diffraction images originated by the object, and that when the oblique rays of light by which these diffraction images existed were excluded no image of the object was possible. This theory had been experimentally illustrated by Professor Abbé by means of a grating on the stage of the microscope and a series of diaphragms behind the microscope object- glass with slits to partially exclude oblique rays: Mr. Gordon showed that, although under such favourable circumstances diffraction effects were produced by fine objects on the stage of the microscope, these effects did not appreciably in- fluence the form of the image. He also showed that the experimental results produced by the above-mentioned diaphragms, which were adduced to prove the theory, were due to a diffraction effect | produced by the diaphragms themselves, and not by the grating on the stage of the microscope, the same results being obtained with an aérial image of a grating projected upon the stage by a lens in place of the actual grating. He maintained that in the microscope, as in the telescope, it was necessary to eliminate diffraction effects as far as possible by making lenses of larger aperture, and not, as in Abbé’s theory, to include as many diffrac- tion phenomena as possible. Diagrams in illus- tration of the paper were thrown upon the screen, and the various experiments referred to were exhibited under a number of microscopes. Pro- fessor $. Thompson regretted that he had not heard the first part of the paper, and had not had time to read the advance copy of the paper which had been sent to him. He entirely agreed with Mr. Gordon in rejecting the explanation of the Abbé theory given by Nigeli and Schwendener, but found himself at variance with Mr. Gordon on almost every other point, and proceeded to discuss several conclusions arrived at in the paper. Mr. Julius Rheinberg having criticised the paper ad- versely at considerable length, Mr. Conrad Beck said he did not think it possible for anyone who had followed the experiments described by the author to dispute his contention that the effects observed were produced by the diaphragm behind the ob- jective. The proof that the effects described were entirely due to this was shown by the fact that if any of the conditions were altered the experiments did not succeed, and there was no reason why they should not succeed if the Abbé theory were cor- rect. Mr. Gordon contended that he was entitled to the support of Professor Thompson, notwith- standing the impression his speech had probably left on the minds of those present. Professor Thompson agreed with him in throwing over Nigeli and Schwendener’s explanations, but con- sidered it wrong to throw over the Abbé theory ; whereas the quotation at the beginning of the paper made it clear that Professor Abbé had himself thown it over. In doing so, however, he had promised to elaborate it further. As he had not yet done this, one was obliged to pick it up where it might be possible to find it, and so he was obliged to go to Nageli and Schwendener’s book. In reply to Mr. Rheinberg, Mr. Gordon said it would take too much time to follow him through the many matters dealt with, and confined himself to showing that Mr. Rheinberg was in error on a point fundamental to his remarks. CLEANING DESMIDS.—Dr. G. H. Bryan contri- butes to the ‘Journal of Applied Microscopy” a method of cleaning desmids from the dirt and flocculent matter with which they are commonly mixed. The requisite apparatus consists of one or two shallow porcelain saucers or photographic dishes, an old pomatum-pot, and a stylographic or fountain pen-filler, together with the gauze strainer of a coftee-pot with which to strain out large pieces of dirt. The material is strained into one of the porcelain or other dishes, and after an interval of not more than half a minute the dish is inclined to one side, a gentle rocking motion being given at the same time. Any desmids will collect in a bright green line or patch at the edge of the re- ceding water, from which they are picked up by means of the pen-filler. By working the water round the edge of the dish the desmids may be drawn into green patches in almost any desired part of the vessel, and one lot after another picked up until there are none worth troubling about. As the desmids are removed they are transferred to the pomatum-pot, where a drop of Zenker’s fixative suffices to fix them. Zenker’s fixative is made up of 5 per cent. of sublimate and 5 per cent. of elacial acetic acid dissolved in Miiller’s solution, which is itself composed-of two to two and a half parts of potassium bichromate, one part of sodium sulphate, and a hundred parts of water. A repe- tition of the rocking process enables the desmids to be again collected, taken up with the filler, and transferred to a dish of clean water, being de- posited in a patch near the edge of the dish. ‘This latter is again rocked to wash away the fixative, together with any foreign matter that has survived the previous process. The desmids should be again transferred to clean water to ensure the removal of any trace of fixative, and if they are to be stained the stain can be washed away in the same manner. This method of washing involves less loss of speci- mens than the ordinary decantation method, pro- viding that care be taken to deposit the desmids as close together as possible after each transference ; whilst the process does not take more than from half an hour to an hour, so that the fixative has not time to injure the colour of the specimens. If much foreign matter—c.g. peat—is mixed with the . original gatherings, the whole may be left in a wide- mcutbed bottle in the light for a day or two, when Revolutionising Photography. CADETT SPECTRUM PLATES ices LIGHT FILTERS. Write for Booklet ‘*Orthochromatic Photography” (simplified), by JAMES CADETT. Gratis. Post Free. | CADETT & NEALL, Ltd. | ASHTEAD, SURREY. Photographic Dry Plate and Paper Manufacturers. SCIENCE-GOSSI/P. Vil AND GINEMATOGRAPKHS. THORNTON. ICKARD CAMERAS AND SHUTTERS Make Photography a Pleasure. ** AMBER’ and ‘‘RUBY ” Cameras for Hand or Stand. Price from 42 3s. Gd. Time and Instantaneous Shutter, from 12s. 6d. = Standard Pattern, from 18s. 6d. Illustrated Catalogue. Prospectus and i Entry Form for ali New £105 Prize 2 Competition post free. The THORNTON-PICKARD Mauufacturing Co., Ltd., ALTRIN CHA M. over £600; also a fine 4-inch Jatest, by Cooke. An 8-inch Hughes’ Marvellous PAMPHENGOS Gives brilliant 12-ft. pictures like Limelight. The £4 4s. reduced to £3 10s. THE SCIENCE LANTERN An Innovation. Perfect. ij OXY-HYDROCEN MICROSCOPES ) THE UNIVERSAL 4-wick Lantern pine, proce e With 4-inch Condensers, 18s. 6d. Grandly Illustrated Catalogue, 180 choice Engravings, 10d.; Smaller ditto, 5a. All Post F; HUGHES’ PHOTO-ROTOSCOPE CINEMATOGRAPH, £7 7s. (S" FOR SALE, BARGAINS.—A fine 77 EQUATORIAL ASTRONOMICAL TELESCOPE, by Cooke, with Battery of Eyepieces, cost i Newtonian Reflector, £17 10s. ; a 5}-inch ditto, £1115s. Several 4-inch Lancaster ; several smaller. Also a fine BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE by Beck, cost £120; a ditto by Negretti & Zambra, HUGHES’ LA PETITE and several others. To be sold bargains. Zist Free. Can be had on the Hire-purchase system. X-RAY INDUCTION COILS, ;.-, 6-, and 8-inch Sparks. HUCHES’ BIJOU ENLARGING LANTERNS artistic Enlargements. Before purchasing, Bargains. Quite new. Also Batteries. Zzst Free. An innovation, sectangular or square condensers ; full marginal a ® definition, perfect illumination ; portable, reliable. rapid, quick, see this high-class technical apparatus, which is scientifically constructed for results. Price List, 2d. 300 Lecture Sets of Science Subjects and Travels, &¢. 60,000 Slides ; List, 8d. Post Free. 50 beautifully coloured = Slides loaned for 3S. By Subscription for the year, 450 10S. 6d. ; 1,000 21s. Hire List, 2d. . ww. Cc. HUGEZES, Specialist in Optical Projection. (Established over 30 years.) Brewster House, 82 Mortimer Road, Kingsland, LONDON, N. SNAP-SHOT CINEMATOGRAPH- Projector, Reverser, price £6 10s., reduced to £5 10s. Grandly Illustrated Cinematograph List, 6d. A little gem. High-class work. Tech- nical Flickering reduced to a minimum. SCIENCE-GOSSTP. = A FILMLESS CINEMATOGRAPH | For taking and projecting life-size animated photographs with greatest perfection to the extent of over 500 pictures. Specially constructed for the Amateur or Professional. | Price £6 10s. Negatives Plates. 2/6 each. SIMPLE and RELIABLE MECHANISM. a 3 ie Subject Plates, 3/-. = me 6d. allowed for each Plate ma a returned unbroken. a ry ca A B So) 5 : za lex yn f& if? 2 a i ————— = GOMPLETE OUTFIT, | 4 including Kammatograph, Lan- | & tern, Jet, Tripod Stand, Print- i] ing Frame, Developing Tray, &c., £411 dis. | With the KAMMATOGRAPH an ordinary dry glass plate is used | instead of cinematograph film. The method of developing KAM- MATOGRAPH plates is exactly the same as with dry plates, thus | bringing cinematography within the reach of all. SPEGIALITIES—San he seen at the Manufacturers. High-class Lantern and Jet, in travelling box .. ae, » «£5 | £6 | Do., do., with patent electric arc lamp .. ae ats Si PATENT RHEOSTAT, which takes from 12 to 50 amperes at 1ro volts without overheating. PRICE ON APPLICATION. Also made for 200 and 250 voltage. Write for Catalogue to the Manufacturers :— L. KAMM & GO., Scientific Engineers, VW orks—27£ POWELL ST., GOSWELL RD., LONDON, E.C. | alances and Weights, Apparatus for the Study of RMiechanics, &c., Gd. post free. 7 io Gatalogue of Electrical Apparatus and Materials, Gd. post free. Gatalogue of T. TAMBLYN-WATTS, | SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS MAKER, GOLDIELANDS, SETTLE, YORKS. BiRK BECK BANK. Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C. TWO-AND-A-HALF per Cent. INTEREST allowed on Deposits repayable on demand. TWO per Cent. on CURRENT AC- | COUNTS on the minimum monthly balances, when not drawn | STOCKS and SHARES purchased and sold. SAVINGS DEPARTMENT. below £100. For the encouragement of Thrift the Bank receives smallsums | on deposit, and allows Interest monthly on each completed £1. BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY. How to PURCHASE A HOUSE for Two Guineas per Month. BIRKBECK FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY. How to PURCHASE A PLOT OF LAND for 5s. per month. The BIRKBECK ALMANACEK, with full particulars, post free. ESTABLISHED 1851. FRANCIS RAVENSCROFT, Manager. and Positive | Public Opinion. “THE BUSY MAN’S PAPER.” Price Twopence. PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING. It COLLECTS the OPINIONS OF THE LEADING PAPERS IN GREAT BRITAIN and EUROPE ON ALL THE CURRENT TOPICS OF THE DAY, AND IS THE MOST INTERESTING WEEKLY TO SEND TO THE COUNTRY AND ABROAD. Subscription in the United Kingdom, 2s. gd.,; to all places abroad, 35. 3a. per quarter. Publishing Office: 5 New Street Square, E.C. ETCHINGS and ENGRAVINGS a ee GEO. REES, SE, 115 STRAND. A large selection of the best and highest-class ; Illustrated Catalogues post free 4 stamps. \2= Highest Award THe AUTOMATIC «& NEO-CYCLOSTYLE spars nea ara UZAY) avis DUPLICATORS Exhibition, 1900. For Reproducing Type SS or Hand e Writing. GESTETNER’S PaTENTS. ANY NUMBER OF COPIES FROM ONE ORICINAL. No Mess. No Trouble. One tura of handle completes the operation. Editor ScrENCE-Gossip says:—‘‘ Wecan well recommend this machine to Secretaries of Scientific Societies and others for pre- paring manifold copies of notices or other documents.” Prices from 265s. ILLusTRATED Lists AND SPECIMENS MAILED FREE BY The CYCLOSTYLE Co., 34 SNOW HILL, LONDON, E.C. SCIENCE-GOSSIP. Scale for Hovertisements. Inch in Column ... . ey0) 7 (6 Eighth of Page ... ee 016 0 Quarter-page, or Half-coltumn i ORO Third of Page... ae 2: 0,40 Half-page, or One Column 2 NoeaO Whole Page sei Be ay) (W) All Advertisements to be sent to ScieNcE-Gossip Office, 110 Strand, London, W.C., on or previous to the 2oth of each month. ME Special guotations for a series of insertions, any size space, matter changeable, on application. SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 89 the desmids will collect on the top of the sediment, where they will increase and multiply. The surface layer containing the desmids may then be drawn off with a syphon and cleaned as before. A some- what similar rocking process is useful for separating foraminifera from sand, but the rocking must be a little more violent, when the sand is left behind, unlike the flocculent matter in the desmid gather- ings, which is swept forward by the water. The foraminifera are not, of course, so easily distin- guished by the eye. In mounting, Dr. Bryan makes a small box of parchment paper, about 134 inch by 1 inch, and places the water containing the desmids in the box, which is then floated on glycerine. In two days the water will have dif- fused into the glycerine, and sufficient glycerine to penetrate the desmids will have passed through the parchment into the box. By this ingenious method the desmids will undergo no contraction. MounTING MARINE ALGAE.—I submit the following few notes on preparing and mounting marine algae, which originally appeared in the “International Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science” in October, 1894, hoping they may induce some to take up the study of these beautiful lowly plants. I will assume that we have collected a number of different species, either from the sea- shore after a breeze or from the rocks at low tide ; as soon as possible on reaching home we proceed to examine our treasures. Have ready a couple of basins, a soup plate, and a couple of saucers; put into the basins and plate some sea water, or salt and water made by well stirring some common salt in a jug of fresh water; let it settle and then pour off. Wash the algae well in No. 1 basin and rinse in No. 2, carefully spread and float out the frond in the plate, and examine with a lens. Any tips or branches of the frond that we see have fruit, and any of the smaller algae we will examine under the microscope by floating them on to a glass slip, 3 in. by 2 in.; the larger mass we will float out on paper as an herbarium specimen. Having detected those pieces bearing reproductive organs, etc., which we desire to mount as microscopic objects, we place them in a saucer with clean fresh water, and after a few minutes float a portion on to an ordinary 3 in. by 1 in. slip, and after removing it from the water we dry it with a linen rag, wiping off the water, and with a piece of blotting-paper soak out all the water we can from the algae. Have ready your clean cover-glasses and medium. Now gently warm the slip with the piece of algae on it, and put a drop of the medium on to it; then, again warming the slip and cover-glass, place the latter carefully on to the object, tilting it on so as to drive out any bubbles. Lay the slide by for a few hours until the medium is set (it may remain several days); then, if satisfactorily done, clean off all the superfluous medium with sponge and warm water, ring it first with gold size and then with white zinc cement, finish with a named label, and we have a slide worthy of a place in any cabinet. I have found Deane’s medium to be the best for preserving the colour and structure of the cells. It is made as follows:—Gelatine, 1 oz.; honey, 5 0z.; water, 50z.; rectified spirit, $ 0z.; creosote, 6 drops. Soak the gelatine in the water until soft, add the honey, then boil the mixture. When it has cooled somewhat, the creosote mixed with the spirit is added. Lastly, filter through fine flannel. The medium is used warm. I have tried glycerine jelly, and discarded it on account of its dissolving all the colour out of the algae. Canada balsam is useless ,as the object must be dried, thus shrinking and distorting the structure of the cells. In Deane’s medium we have the material which, so far as my experience goes, is most suited for these beautiful weeds.— John T. Neeve, 4 Sydenham Road, Deal. MICROGRAPHIC FLY-CAGE.— The “Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society” describes and illus- trates the apparatus exhibited at the meeting of the Society on February 20th (see §.-G., Vol. VIT. p. 342), devised by Mr. G. H. Rogers, and made by Mr. C. Baker of High Holborn, for exhibiting the proboscis of the common house-fly as an opaque object. It is large enough for the blow-fly, but can be made any size. It consists of a brass cone _-Wory Aise. Vor disc, Pathe Fic. 1. MIcROGRAPHIC FLY-CAGE. soldered to a brass plate with a hole in it, just large enough to admit the head of the fly, which is surrounded by a dise of ivory let into the plate. The fly is gently pushed into the cone with a little piece of wool behind it, and is ready for examina- tion.