01 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Apeil 1, 1S6G. 



black japan varnish, which answers two purposes — 

 it renders the bladder impervious to air and water, 

 and greatly improves its appearance. The specimen 

 is now ready for the cabinet or museum. — W.Bowen 

 Davies. 



We used this solution for the purpose named 

 ten years ago. — Ed. 



Tealia Ceassicoenis. — Your correspondent, 

 K. D., appears to have been unsuccessful in his 

 attempts to keep Tealia crassicornis, and asks for 

 instructions. I have at present a magnificent 

 specimen blooming in my aquarium, but as it has 

 only been there two months, it affords but little 

 evidence of the practicability of keeping the species 

 alive for a lengthened period. That evidence, 

 however, is forthcoming in the experience of two 

 friends, one of whom, I know, has kept small speci- 

 mens upwards of twelve months, and the other 

 moderately large specimens for about two years, 

 and they are yet alive and flourishing beautifully. 

 We have an immense, number of "crass" on the 

 Northumberland coast, and the difficulty of getting 

 them without chipping away the hard rock, to 

 which they adhere very tenaciously, is one great 

 reason why they are not more frequently kept in 

 aquaria. In order to succeed in preserving them 

 alive the following conditions are desirable, if not 

 absolutely necessary. Eirst, that the " crass " be 

 obtained without any injury to its base, and that is 

 best accomplished by searching until one is found 

 attached to a small stone, when the anemone, on its 

 natural habitat, may be introduced into the aqua- 

 rium. The next point is to have a good supply of 

 water of proper density and free from animal im- 

 purities ; and the third is that the anemones be fed 

 about once a week on oysters cut into small pieces. 

 If these conditions be observed, K. D. will find that 

 T. crassicornis will live and flourish as well as ordi- 

 narily hardy anemones usually do. — T. P. Barkas, 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



We have also received communications on the 

 same subject from W. H. Congreve, W. B. (Tenby), 

 M. D. P., and W. M., which want of space compels 

 us reluctantly to postpone. — Ed. 



Rose of Jeeicho. — Can you inform me what plant 

 is known by the name of the "Jericho Rose" ? 1 

 was visiting a friend's house, and he showed me 

 two dried flowers ; they possessed the curious pro- 

 perty of unfolding when placed in water, but closed 

 again when dry. — H. 



It is Anastatica hierochuntina, a cruciferous plant. 

 See Gardeners' Chronicle, 1842, p. 363 ; " Lindley's 

 Vegetable Kingdom," p. 354, fig. 245. — Ed. 



Solae Spot. — Did any of your readers notice any 

 unusual appearance in the sun's disk last month ? 

 On the 26th and 27th February, a large black 

 "spot," or patch, on the sun was observed at its 

 rising and setting. Several persons saw it on the 

 two consecutive mornings, and compared the ap- 

 pearance, in size and shape, to a rook. Its large 

 size takes it out of the class of " sun-spots." It 

 was seen by many persons here (Wonston, Hants), 

 and also by the passengers in the early morning 

 train from Southampton to Loudon. I am told that 

 all the windows in the train were let down, and 

 the travellers "with one accord" were gazing at 

 the phenomenon. It has been noticed, I hear, in an 

 Irish paper, but I have not seen it explained any- 

 where— G. E. B. 



Ancient Toads and Eeogs.— Our correspon- 

 dents seem to be labouring under an error as to 

 the requisition of T. P. B. One of them sends 



us an account (W. K.) which he obtained of a 

 friend. Another (J. W.) tells us that he buried a 

 toad in the ground for three months, at the end of 

 which period it was liberated alive and well. This 

 is credible enough, but it does not settle the 

 question. Whilst W. M. sends us a paragraph 

 from a newspaper, and W. J. K. thinks the following 

 incident conclusive : — "I was watching some work- 

 men sinking a draw-well, and at the depth of about 

 10 feet I saw a young-looking and very lively frog 

 turned out of the clay, in which it was embedded, 

 and disport itself in a pool of water near." If the 

 paragraph at page 47 be carefully read again, it will 

 become evident that the above do not fulfil the con- 

 ditions.—^. 



Ceystals op Aloine. — A correspondent com- 

 plains of want of success in obtaining them by the 

 method described at p. 33, to which Mr. Roberts 

 replies—" With regard to the aloine, your corre- 

 spondent did not follow my directions. I said 

 proof spirit should be used to dissolve the aloes 

 whereas he used chloroform in one instance and. 

 strong alcohol in the other." — Albinus John Roberts. 



Aphides. — Your correspondent P. S. B. (p. 54) 

 appears to labour under a mistake which might mis- 

 lead. She states that she observed a very small soft 

 grub enclosed in a smooth silky cocoon, which she 

 thinks was the chrysalis state of the perfect aphis ! 

 What she saw was most likely the larva of some fly 

 or moth, as it is well known that the aphides are 

 viviparous, bringing forth their young alive, perfect 

 in all respects but in size, and therefore these can 

 never assume the pupal nor even the larval form. 

 The so-called eggs, which are laid by the female 

 towards the close of autumn, are, it is conjectured, 

 but a case sheltering the inclosed aphis from the 

 severity of the winter season, and for the further- 

 ance of this object the female of the A. lanigera 

 covers each case with down from her own body. — 

 Em He L. Ragonot. 



Salicine.— Can any reader of Science Gossip 

 kindly tell me how the circular expansions of 

 salicine upon a slide are to be obtained ? With me 

 upon evaporation salicine always forms silky hair- 

 like crystals, which do not produce so good an 

 effect under polarized light. — /. H. 



Place small fragments of salicine on a glass slide ; 

 fuse carefully by the heat of a spirit-lamp ; when 

 cold, touch the glasslike fused masses with a piece 

 of moistened blotting-paper or a moistened finger ; 

 the smaller portions will then show the discoid, 

 crystalline structure, which is so much admired. — 

 A. J. Roberts. 



Mounting Rotifees, &c. — Would you kindly 

 tell me if Yolvox globator, Rotifer vulgaris, Amceba, 

 &c, &c., can be mounted as slides, and how ? And 

 whether Fhistra foliacea and Scrupocellaria scntposa 

 can be kept alive for two or three weeks, and how ? 

 Also how they can be mounted as slides? — Fanny 

 L.8. 



Has Eanny consulted "Davies on Preparing and 

 Mounting Microscopic Objects V'—Ed. 



Nest of Kingfishee.— In Science Gossip (p. 27) 

 Mr. Lord says : " The Belted Kingfisher never has a 

 nest, neither has its British relative, but digs an 

 ugly hole into a mud-bank, or, taking forcible 

 possession of one already excavated, lays its eggs 

 on the bare earth at the end of the burrow." The 

 Rev. J. G. Wood, in his " Homes without Hands," 

 says : " The nest is composed wholly of fish-bones, 

 minnows furnishing the greater portion" (page 61). 

 Also at page 60 he says : " That the eggs are laid 



