HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



215 



Transmission of Natural History Speci- 

 mens by Post (p. 191). — The introduction of the 

 new rates has been deferred, but will take place, 

 the Postmaster-General says, " early in September." 

 — G. H. H. 



Sirex juvencus (p. 166). — In Newman's Ento- 

 mologist for May, in answer to a correspondent 

 concerning this insect, he says, amongst other 

 things, "there appear to be three species inhabiting 

 this country, and each confines itself to a single 

 species of fir;" then follows the specific distinctions 

 of each, with a conjecture of the probable intro- 

 duction of two of them into Britain, "seeing that 

 the trees on which they feed are not considered to be 

 native." Prom the partiality of Sirex juvencus and 

 its allies to the fir tribe, we may conclude that it is 

 somewhat local in this country. The larger and 

 fine-looking species Sirex gigas is, I believe, the 

 commonest of the genus. — G. B. E. 



Pood oe Spiders in Dare. Cellars, &c— Has 

 not Dr. White furnished an answer to the query of 

 Mr. Clifford, p. 152, by the observation of the pre- 

 sence of Poduridce. with the spiders in the coal-pit ? 

 I often find both together ; and when I want small 

 moths, or Podura, I search a dark unused cellar, and 

 generally find both, and spiders too, which I sup- 

 pose will make "food" of them, and probably 

 " spin webs," as in other places, to entertain their 

 customers.—/. H. 



Rhagitjm. — Can any of your correspondents give 

 me some particulars of the Ehagium bifaseiatum, as 

 1 have taken several lately, but cannot fiud a de- 

 scription of them ?—J. L. C. 



Sfarrows in America. — The sparrows {Passer 

 domesticus) imported some two years ago from 

 England have now become quite naturalized. Their 

 favourite place of abode at present seems to be the 

 public squares— portions of ground in the heart of 

 the city, some eight or ten acres in extent, thickly 

 planted with trees, to the trunks and branches of 

 which are attached small wooden boxes in the shape 

 of a modern house : in these they build and rear 

 their young. At first they were objects of great 

 curiosity, many "Old Country" people coming 

 miles to look once again upon the bird so familiar 

 in years gone by. They are carefully guarded, and 

 well fed in winter; a heavy penalty is inflicted on 

 those who injure them. The consequence is, they 

 increase rapidly, and are spreading over the city — 

 a very paradise for sparrows. They have nearly 

 eradicated the loathsome Measuring-worm. A 

 locust alighted on a catalpa-tree a day or so ago, 

 when it was fiercely attacked by one of these in- 

 trepid little strangers, and notwithstanding its 

 great strength and size and its struggles to escape, 

 was finally vanquished and carried off by the victor. 

 One day last week an enemy appeared in the shape 

 of a large eagle, who, utterly regardless of conse- 

 quences, killed four of our little favourites ere his 

 career was stopped short by a ball from the rifle of 

 a police officer. — 67. W. } Philadelphia, U.S. 



The Gipsy Moth {Liparis dispar). — Many en- 

 tomologists have bred this species in confinement, 

 though the " domestic variety," if it may so be 

 called, is less in size and lighter in colour than the 

 original type. It has been supposed, for many years 

 past, that it has entirely died out in these islands, 

 common as it is abroad in some districts. Two 



captures have been recently recorded, which are of 

 interest, as proving that the gipsy moth, though as 

 scarce or scarcer than genuine biped gipsies, has 

 not disappeared altogether. In a wood, called 

 Butter Wood, about two miles from Odiham, a fine 

 moth was captured in July, 1870 ; and a Scottish 

 collector reports, that in the same year, while pass- 

 ing by coach near Loch Mare, a caterpiller Of the 

 species fell upon him from a tree near the road. 

 The precise date of this is not stated, but both ac- 

 counts are apparently given bond fide. — /. R. S. G. 



" Bats flying in Sunshine." — I have a bat set 

 up among a box of stuffed birds, which I shot about 

 noon one bright sunshiny day near midsummer. It 

 was not hawking flies, as described by " H. L.," 

 page 161, but seemingly fluttering in perplexity, 

 and it certainly perplexed me ; for supposing it to 

 be some kind of bird, its form and flight puzzled me 

 not a little, and having secured it, I was astonished 

 to find it a short-eared bat.—/. H. 



The Bee Orchid. — Whilst staying at Ventnor, 

 I.W., during the eai'ly part of June last, I observed 

 the Bee Orchid growing very freely in a field along 

 the cliffs, about half a mile from the town, and 

 opposite to Steephill Castle. I was somewhat 

 astonished, knowing it to be a rare plant, and con- 

 tented myself with taking only two or three speci- 

 mens, though, indeed, they might almost have been 

 gathered in dozens, as they grew only a few feet 

 apart from each other, in the chalky soil along the 

 bank. Subsequently I discovered a few on St. 

 Catherine's Down, but not nearly so many as in the 

 first-mentioned locality. I was told by some work- 

 men that what they termed the Spider Orchid, and 

 which has, 1 believe, the petals white instead of 

 purple, might occasionally be met with ; I, however, 

 searched for it in vain. I fear it is somewhat late 

 in the day to send this communication now, but as 

 it may prove a slight guide to some who may wish 

 to obtain the plant next year, and who may chance 

 to be in the neighbourhood, I do so, thinking on 

 that account you may deem it worthy of insertion. 

 — =/. S. William Durham. 



Griffithsia corallina. — There is at present 

 (August 14th) a great quantity of this beautiful 

 species on the beach at Bournemouth. Those of 

 your readers who only know this plant from dried 

 specimens, can have no idea of its beauty. When 

 held up before a candle, or between the eye and the 

 sun, it sparkles in a most peculiar and beautiful 

 manner ; and even when held in the hand, and the 

 sun allowed to shine on it, it seems almost like a 

 diamond, the peculiar jointed appearance of the 

 frond producing a fine effect. When dried it loses 

 much of its beauty, and, like its congener Griffithsia 

 setacea, stains the paper of a pinkish hue. — f. W* 



Ragwort. — Walking out with some friends in 

 the neighbourhood of Douglas, Isle of Man, we 

 met an old Manx woman, who was carrying in her 

 hand a large piece of ragwort {Tussilago Farfara). 

 We asked what she used it for, and she replied that 

 it was to prevent her from catching infectious 

 diseases; that when she visited any one who was 

 ill, she always smelted at a piece of ragwort before 

 entering the room, which preserved her from taking 

 the complaint. She told us she had used ragwort 

 for this purpose ever since she was a girl. — G. H. H. 



[Ragwort is Senecio, why call Tussilago " Rag- 

 wort"?— Ed. S.-G.] 



