HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE-GOSSIF. 



"Phryganea"? — On the loth of September I 

 found some masses of transparent jelly-like sub- 

 stance, containing numbers of eggs, arranged, in 

 regular rows. These were deposited on the leaves 

 of a willow bush and other water-loving plants 

 overhanging a pond. I took some of them home, 

 and after keeping them for about ten days, I put 

 them, leaves and all, in a gallipot half-full of water. 

 About the end of the month I found that some 

 larvae had come out. These I examined with a lens, 

 and they appeared active little creatures, superfi- 

 cially resembling the larvae of Dytiscus marginalia. 

 On the 3rd of October I again examined them, and 

 found that the greater part had formed cases for 

 themselves of fragments of the decayed leaves. 

 They now looked exactly like miniature caddis- 

 worms. Owing to leaving home, my observations 

 ended a day or two after this. Can any of the cor- 

 respondents of Science-Gossip supply the rest of 

 the history, and tell me whether I am right in sup- 

 posing that these observations apply to the earlier 

 stages of the genus Phryganea (Stephens) ? — Harry 

 Leslie, 6, Moira Place, Southampton. 



Corethba plumicornis (Phantom Larva). — I 

 have kept one of the larvae of this insect for the 

 last six weeks in a tightly-corked bottle, holding a 

 drachm and a half of water. It has for its com- 

 panions several green hydras {Hydra viridis). The 

 larva does not seem inclined to make a meal of 

 them, or in any way to annoy them. It has grown 

 considerably since I captured it. Can any of your 

 numerous readers tell me what the perfect Corethra 

 is like ?— C. K. B., L.R.C.P. Loud. 



Pox-jioth Larvae. — In reply to R. Garfit, though 

 my own attempts to keep the larvae of the fox-moth 

 have been unsuccessful, I heard of a plan (that has 

 been successfully tried) the day before Science- 

 Gossip came to hand. It is simply to put the larvae 

 in a box with sand, bits of turf, and moss. The 

 box should have holes bored in the bottom, and a 

 perforated zinc top, and should be kept out of doors 

 exposed to the weather ; and any green stuff that 

 can be got may be put in, for my informant said 

 there were several things they would nibble in 

 winter. I should, of course, get food as nearly like 

 their usual diet as I could. In my own experiment 

 I kept the box in a cool cellar ; and though the 

 larvae lived until I could get food, they had gra- 

 dually dried up until they were like little dried 

 sticks with a morsel of life iu them. They could 

 move a little towards the food, but were too far 

 gone to eat. — C. L. Y. 



Canine Predilection for Fruit (p. 2G3). — I 

 have a retriever which resembles " W. M. A. \\ .V 

 terrier in her fondness for fruit. In the summer 

 she used to help herself to strawberries and goose- 

 berries, but will eat almost any fruit that is given 

 to her, and has a decided liking for an uncooked 

 ponune de terre.— G. H. H. 



Remedy Wanted. — Can any of the readers of 

 Science-Gossip help one in the following difficulty ? 

 My house is built of brick, covered with Roman 

 cement. Last summer I had it re-painted; and, 

 unfortunately, as is always the case, it looked very 

 well for about, a fortnight, and then dark patches, 

 usually at first of a light purple colour, afterwards 

 turning much deeper, made their appearance. This, 

 on examination, proved to be a fungus of that class 

 which is composed of a multitude of single spores. 

 It seems in time to eat away both the paint and the 



surface of the cement ; and grows, not only neai 

 the ground, but also higher up, but generally not 

 above five to seven feet from the surface. It cannot 

 be the damp, as the side where it chiefly commits 

 its ravages faces the south, and receives the full 

 force of the sun. The builder says it is by no 

 means uncommon, but that it lias never yet been 

 accounted for; some supposing it to be caused by 

 using unwashed sea sand in the mortar or cement. 

 I therefore appeal to the readers of Science- 

 Gossip to inform me, if they can, of any means to 

 kill a fungus under these circumstances. For the 

 encouragement of those who try to oblige me, I 

 will add that the builder assures me that he who 

 discovers a remedy will speedily make his fortune. 

 On this point, however, I think there may be some 

 doubt— A. E. M. 



_ A Pomeranian Dog in the possession of a rela- 

 tion of mine is somewhat akin to the little terrier 

 mentioned by your correspondent " W. M. A. W." 

 She will eat raw eggs with much relish, making a 

 hole in the shell, and wasting but little. She will 

 eat nuts, cracking them herself; also sweetmeats 

 greedily. This Pomeranian has a very good temper, 

 allowing children to do just as they please with her, 

 tumbling and rolling her about seemingly much to 

 her delight.— Charles J. W. Eudd. 



White Shrew.— At the end of October a shrew 

 of a pure white colour was sent me, but it was 

 quite unfit for preservation, as, on attempting to 

 skin it, all the fur from its under parts came off. I 

 preserved its head and a portion of the skiu as a 

 novelty. Is such a variety of rare occurrence, or 

 must we place it on the same list as the white 

 stoat?. I have several times seen the latter, but 

 cannot recollect ever seeing a white shrew before. 

 Why is it that the Mole, Shrew, &c., so soon de- 

 compose after death ? All who are interested in the 

 preservation of their own zoological specimens 

 must have observed that decomposition takes place 

 much sooner iu the above species than in many 

 others. — G.B.C., Ringwood. 



Manuscript Magazine ox Natural History. 

 — Having space for a few new members, I shall be 

 happy to hear from any lady or gentleman who 

 would like to join us. — 67. B. Corbin, Ringwood, 

 Hants. 



Stag Beetle. — I should like to inform Mr. 

 Warner that the "terrible jaws" of the StagBeetlu 

 are useful in a sense which those who have expe- 

 rienced it would, I am sure, not think passive. If 

 he had ever been so unfortunate as to get a pinch, 

 I do not think he would have said that they only 

 served to menace and terrify, but that they both 

 looked and were formidable instruments of self- 

 defence. — ./. E. 



LOCAL FIELD CLUES. 



Vale of York Field Naturalists' Clue. — 

 Honorary Secretary, John T. Carrington, Esq., 12, 

 Micklegate, York. 



The Glasgoav Society of Field Naturalists. 

 —Rooms, 187, George Street, Glasgow ; James 

 Allan, Vice-President, 57, West Nile Street. 



Stalybridge Naturalists' Club.— David Jol- 

 lifi'e, Secretary, Working Men's Institute, Ridge 

 Hill Lane, St aly bridge. 



