40 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Feb. 1, 1SGG. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Cement for Aquaria.— H. J. B. inquires for a 

 good cement for aquaria. If lie wants cement for 

 joining rockwork, the best is Portland ; if, however, 

 he requires a cement for rendering the joints of the 

 tank water tight, let him try the following :— White 

 sand, one part ; litharge, one part ; rosin, one-third 

 part ; mixed into a paste with boiled linseed-oil. — 

 T. Clift. 



In answer to II. J. B., I would recommend, as 

 a good cement for aquaria, ordinary white-lead, 

 stiffened to the consistency of common glazier's 

 putty by the addition of dry red lead and litharge, 

 in equal proportions. I have used this cement in 

 the construction of aquaria, some of which have 

 been in use about five years without the slightest 

 trace of leakage yet. — T. M. 



A Winter Martin.— During the afternoon of 

 Monday (the 15th of January) two of my little 

 boys and one of my female servants saw either 

 a swallow or a martin (most probably a martin, but 

 I cannot determine which from their description) 

 flying about in the court-yard of my house. — W. N.. 

 Uckfiekl. 



Grub of Cockchafer.— In this part of the world 

 (Sussex) the fleshy grub of the cockchafer (Melo- 

 lontha vulgaris) is called by the lower class of people 

 a " Job-hassett." What is the derivation of this 

 extraordinary name ? — W. N. 



Growing Eerns from Spores. — I have just 

 had several specimens of the " Bustyback " (Cete- 

 rach officinarum) given to me by a friend, and, as it 

 is unknown here, wish to raise more from seed. As 

 their roots were carelessly dug out from the wall, 

 most of the radicles were severed, and the plants 

 in consequence are dying. Will the spores germi- 

 nate, if collected by putting these plants between 

 paper (that is to say, will they be ripe and mature) ? 

 I should feel much obliged by your answer, as I 

 cannot find it stated in any book, and know no fem- 

 grower. Owing to the very mild weather we have 

 had, the white butterbur CPetasites alba) has been 

 in ilower since the middle of December, here.— 

 Dagdon Jackson, Hastings. 



Snipe-Ground.— I have frequently observed in 

 boggy snipe-ground a sort of blue glaze, or scum, 

 upon the water, and it has always appeared to me 

 that in such spots the birds were more numerous 

 than elsewhere. What is the cause of such scum ? 

 Does the experience of any of your correspondents 

 point to the same conclusions relative to the num- 

 ber of birds in such places ?—H. 67., Bangalore 



The Avar-bird— In a little work, published a 

 good many years ago, and entitled "Backwoods of 

 Canada," there is the following passage : — " . 

 American war-bird ; a very beautiful creature", some- 

 thing like our British bullfinch, only far more lively 

 in plumage; the breast and under-feathers of the 

 wings being a tint of the most brilliant carmine 

 shaded black and white. This bird has been called 

 the 'war-bird' from its having first made its 

 appearance in this province during the late Ameri- 

 can war ; a fact that I believe is well authenticated, 

 or at any rate has obtained general credence." Can 

 you say what bird is meant in the above extract ? A 

 friend of mine— an eminent naturalist— thinks the 

 pme-bullfinch {Loxia envcleator) must be referred to, 

 though it will be seen that its description does not 

 quite accord with that of the "war-bird," so called. 

 Some person who has resided in Canada mav 

 possibly be able to settle the question. I myself 



have had the summer red-bird (Pgranga astiva) 

 pointed out to me as the "war-bird."— ZZ". O., 

 Bangalore. 



Fleas.— On referring to my rough sketch of the 

 larva of the cat-flea, at page 278, vol. i., I find I 

 have been led into a ridiculous blunder, which I 

 hope you will give me the opportunity of correcting. 

 The body of the larva has only thirteen segments, 

 while in one of my figures I have drawn fourteen. 

 I mounted several in glycerine and Deane's gelatine 

 medium, and I really cannot say which mode of 

 preservation is the worst, sorry representations are 

 theyof their former interesting appearance. The 

 specimens mounted in the latter material exhibit 

 the gizzard, and many other points of internal struc- 

 ture, when oblique light is thrown on them by the 

 mirror. I have by me a preserved female mouse- 

 flea, which contains seven eggs similar to those 

 described by E. T. Scott, at page 16, vol. ii., of 

 Science Gossip.— & J. M'Intire. 



Removing Cuticles from Leaves. — In reply to 

 W. W. R., the fresh leaves of the Dentzia scabra 

 must be soaked for a long time in dilute nitric acid 

 (equal parts acid and water), then washed gently, 

 floated on a slip of glass, and mounted, after 

 drying in balsam. There is a straw -yellow colour 

 left by the acid, which is not noticeable in the 

 finished sljde under polarized light, but may be got 

 rid off entirely, if objected to, by boiling the 

 selected specimen in stronger acid for a few seconds 

 before finally washing it. I never tried to separate 

 the upper and under cuticles from each other : this 

 operation seemed to me to be so delicate as to 

 promise small chance of success. The stellate hairs 

 are apt to refuse to be saturated with balsam, but 

 prolonged boiling ;in that medium, or in turpentine, 

 is _ the remedy. In this state they look well, illu- 

 minated obliquely by the mirror. The Dutch rush 

 and grasses may be treated in the same way. Car- 

 penter gives full directions, and the " Micrographic 

 Dictionary " treats of the subject at some length, 

 saying respecting grasses, &c. : — " Preparations of 

 this structure are obtained by treating little pieces 

 of the wall of the fistular stem with strong nitric 

 acid, to remove alkalies, and then burning them 

 until quite white on a slip of platinum or thin glass. 

 These should be mounted in Canada balsam." 

 Many cuticles are only to be obtained by peeling 

 them off, but not in a " slovenly " manner ; so far 

 from this, the greatest care and patience, aided by a 

 sharp knife, are absolutely necessary. The petal of 

 the geranium yields a splendid epidermis for opaque 

 examination. The under side of the thick part of 

 the petal should be raised with a sharp knife, and 

 then seized with the forceps, to facilitate the sepa- 

 ration of the upper and under surfaces. After this 

 process the upper cuticle will remain in the left 

 hand, and may be attached to a glass-slip by simple 

 contact. On drying, it will be found to be a splendid 

 object, needing no further preparation, if intended 

 to be viewed opaque. It may be mounted in bal- 

 sam, however, and then is well suited for viewing 

 by transmitted light under medium power, say 

 1 inch to T \ inch. Many other flowers, doubtless, 

 would yield equally beautiful cuticles, if the thin- 

 ness of the leaves did not present great difficulties 

 to this treatment. — S. J. M'Intire. 



The method which I practise with success is: — 

 Put pieces of the leaf into a test-tube with dilute 

 nitric acid, and heat the whole. This soon loosens 

 the intermediate tissues, and the cuticles, either 

 upper or under, can be easily removed and washed. 

 It may then be mounted in fluid (glycerine, I 



