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HARDWICKE'S SC 1ENCE - G OSSIP. 



the points of difference between the spawn and tad- 

 poles of the Frog, Toad, and Newt. Spawn : — The 

 spawn of the frog is disposed in irregular masses 

 generally under water. The spawn of the toad is 

 disposed in regular strings under water. The spawn 

 of the newt is disposed in small lumps, sometimes 

 separately, and is generally covered with earth (or 

 leaves ?). Tadpoles .— -The tadpole of the newt has 

 gills, and a tail during part of its life, and develops 

 its hind legs first. The tadpole of the toad re- 

 sembles the former, but never possesses gills. The 

 tadpole of the newt has a tail permanently, gills 

 during part of its life, and develops its front legs 

 first.-//. F. F. 



Warty "Newts.— I have made newts and diving 

 water-spiders subjects of special observation among 

 other inmates of the aquarium. In May, 1873, I 

 obtained a number of warty newts from a pond near 

 Northampton, and decided to try the practicabilty 

 of keeping newts through the winter with great suc- 

 cess. After the stock, owing to some being given 

 away and others escaping (none died), had been 

 reduced to three in October, 1 placed these in a 

 large bell-glass with two inches of water covering a 

 bottom of sand. A large island of stones, sur- 

 mounted by a sod of grass, occupied the centre. 

 The newts continued taking very rare baths till the 

 middle of November, and eating occasionally a lively 

 worm. As there was a fire in the room, 1 suppose 

 they delayed their hybernation. From November 

 till the end of February they lay apparently torpid 

 under the stones, taking no food, and moving lan- 

 guidly if touched. They then gradually became more 

 lively, and were often found lying under water, and 

 occasionally took food. A very slight growth of the 

 dorsal crest was now to be noticed. The newts 

 were all males; and the depth of water was in- 

 creased jto about six inches, leaving still a small 

 island in the centre. These three newts again 

 passed the winter of 1874 in a similar manner, in 

 London ; but one died this spring, and another 

 escaped, owing to a heavy shower of rain causing 

 the aquarium to overflow. The one still retained, 

 who now goes by the name of " Billy," shows an 

 attachment, which I should not have* expected in 

 such a low order of the animal kingdom. This winter 

 he is spending, with other newts, in a small garden, 

 and I hope will present himself again in the spring. 

 The colony are hybernating under the doorstep. 

 During his aquarium life he always came to the 

 surface to take a worm from my lingers, and, when 

 hungry, would ask for food by swimming up from 

 the bottom. I have often taken him out, and he 

 has made a meal of three worms while walking 

 about my study table in a most fearless manner. I 

 would just add before closing, that the Rev. S. A. 

 Breuan may be quite sure that his newt's tail was 

 eaten off by the sticklebacks— F.rperto crede, and 

 that a newt in fair health will seldom, during its 

 aquatic life, refuse a lively worm.— F. U. Wood. 



Fauna and Flora of the New Forest.— I shall 

 feel greatly obliged to any one who will inform me 

 if there is a book published on the fauna and flora 

 of the New Forest or South Hants ; and, if so, the 

 title, date, and price; also, whether there is a 

 natural history society or field club at Ringwood, 

 Christchurch, or Bournemouth.— #. D. 31. 



Pupa of Privet-moth.— In your November 

 number for 1871 there is a query regarding the 

 pupa of the Privet Hawkmoth remaining in the 

 same state— still alive— for the whole year : and not 



having seen any answer, I extract the following 

 from " Westwood" :— " The young caterpillars, 

 when first hatched, have the tails remarkably long, 

 the bodies very rugose ; but they become smooth at 

 the final moulting. By the end of August or middle 

 of September they are full-grown, and become of a 

 dirty-red colour, when they descend into the earth 

 and change into a dark brown chrysalis. The moth 

 appears the following June or July. Sometimes, 

 however, the insect will remain two or even three 

 years in the chrysalis state, and then become 

 winged as perfectly as if it had appeared at the 

 ordinary period."— C M. C. 



Veronica.— By the bye, would any of your readers 

 tell me what is the connection (if any) between the 

 botanical name of the Speedwell and the Saint 

 Veronica who figures in the "Stations of the 

 Cross " ? 



Sprod, or Salmon-trout. — The Wype, a t^al 

 river in Lancashire, drains that part of the cou n ty 

 which lies between the watersheds of the Ribble 

 and Lune, and empties itself in the Irish Sea at 

 Fleetwood. In the summer months great numbers 

 of the salmon-trout ascend this river in order to 

 deposit their spawn in its higher reaches, many of 

 which are caught in their passage, and sold as 

 salmon, being little inferior to that king of fishes ; 

 the flesh, however, is not so intense salmon in colour. 

 Within thirty years the fish had no other name in 

 the district than that of " sprod," and is still so desig- 

 nated by the old people. I have examined all works 

 relating to English river-fish within my reach, but 

 have failed to find the name of "sprod." It would 

 be very interesting to me if any of your many readers 

 could give instances where, in other parts of the 

 country the name "sprod" is applied to the salmon- 

 trout. I have an opinion that the word is of Danish 

 or Norwegian origin, as there is evidence that this 

 part of the county was formerly an extensive Njrse 

 colony. — James Pearson. 



Struck by Lightning.— I have been much 

 interested in a letter under this title in the number 

 of Nature for March 25th, p. 405, and I now send 

 you a similar account, which may interest some of 

 the readers of Science-Gossip. The occurrence to 

 which I refer took place on the 11th of June in the 

 present year at Swefling, near Saxmuudham, in 

 Suffolk. In order to render my account intelligible, 

 I must briefly explain the position of the buildings 

 which were simultaneously struck by the lightning. 

 The Church and Rectory are distant aboutil50 yards 

 from each other ; while at a distance of 200 yards 

 from either stands an old-fashioned wooden windmill 

 supported on brick piers. About 12 o'clock on the 

 day I have mentioned I was walking along a road in 

 front of the Rectory with my back to the Church, 

 from which I was distant about 80 yards, when I 

 felt a sudden shock and what seemed a smart stroke 

 across the calves of my legs, with a very loud and 

 sharp report. My first impression was that the 

 lightning had struck me, and also some iron hurdles 

 which were close to my left hand. On turning 

 round 1 saw at once that the church-tower had been 

 struck by lightning; the weathercock had dis- 

 appeared, and a jagged portion of the flagstaff alone 

 remained, while the churchyard was filled with a 

 grey smoke or haze. I was not hurt, though for a 

 few seconds feeling a numbness in the calves of my 

 legs. I therefore hastened forward, and on reaching 

 the Rectory was much surprised to find that the 

 lightning had entered the house. The servants de- 



