234 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS AND EXCHANOERS. — As We nOW 



publish Science-Gossip at least a week earlier than hereto- 

 fore, we cannot possibly insert in the following number any 

 communications which reach us later than the 8th of each 

 month. 



M. A. Jones. — Your specimen of fungus on willow-leaves 

 is Lecythea sahcrti. Lev. 



E. T. Scott. — Your rust is Lecythea populina. Lev. 



James Thomson. — The fungus on specimen of grass sent is 

 the common Red Rust {Trichobasis rubigo). 



D. J. (Manchester). — You are quite correct in those 

 numbered 1, 2, and 3 ; they are all variations of the Brittle 

 Bladder-fern (Cyttopteris fragilis). No. 2 is the variety 

 recognized by some pteridologists as Cystopteris den.tu.ta ; the 

 other two are the usual form. No. 4, Lastrea dilatata, and 

 No. 5, also a slender frond of L. dilatata. 



W. J. H. (Old Broad-street).— Your fern is a seedling of 

 the common Brake {Pteris aquilinn, L.). In its present state, 

 it is difficult to determine the species, but one very similar 

 was found many years since by Mr. Kirk, growing in a newly 

 excavated well at Coventry. At the time it was thought to be 

 a variety or a new species; in process of time, however, when 

 the rhizome is older, it assumes its old familiar face. 



J. H. M. — The specimen inclosed, found on walls in Lon- 

 don, is the Armaria serpyllifolia, Linn. ; it is not uncommon 

 on old walls, sandy pasture fields, &c. You should look 

 about in similar situations for ihe Arenaria leploclados, Guss. ; 

 it is a pretty species, but much more slender in its habit than 

 the above: it has been confounded with A. serpyllifolia until 

 recently. 



T. Buck. — You will find ample information as to where 

 " paste eels " are produced, by turning to the vol. of Science- 

 Gossip for 1873. 



J. S. M. — Crickets may be easily caught in houses where 

 they abound by exposing shallow plates or saucers of table 

 beer or stout. In fact, they get drunk ! 



E. H. Wells. — Please say whether by "Pond Mussel" 

 you mean Unio or Anodon. 



J. Hopkinson. — Parts to hand. Notice next month. 



To Querist. — A good many queries necessarily stand over. 

 Several packets we have sent off to be named, have not yet 

 been returned to us. Some may have miscarried; several are 

 unidentifiable. 



C. Bradley. — We believe the new edition of Pritchard's 

 "Infusoria" will be republished by Messrs. Van Voorst, 

 London. 



C. M. C. — The name of the " Portuguese Man of War " is 

 Physalia utriculus, which belongs to the oceanic Hydrozoa. 

 The Nautilus is a cephalopodous mollusk, and few animals 

 are more widely separated than these two. 



Gram. — An error appeared in both replies, published at 

 pp. 259 and 260 of Science-Gossip, regarding the botanical 

 name of " Gram." The mistake is only an error in printing, 

 but it might be confusing to Mr. John E. Daniel. Instead of 

 Acer orietinum it should be Cicer arietinam, " Chick Pea " is 

 one of its common names. — J. R. J. 



Captain W. Provis.— Newman's " Butterflies and Moths," 

 published in one vol. at 25s., by Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, 

 is the best work on British Lepidoptera. 



S. A. B. — The drawing is too obscure for any geologist to 

 determine the species of fossil, but there is no doubt it is an 

 Encrinite, not a Coral. 



E. Compton. — "Geological Stories " is now in a second 

 •edition, and may be had at 192, Piccadilly. 



W. P. and others will, we hope, pardon us for not insertine 

 further lists or seeds as microscopic objects. We have 

 received a very large number, and are extremely obliged to 

 all our correspondents for their kindly courtesy. 



H. J. M. — You had best get " Davies on Mounting," new 

 edition, published by Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, at hall a 

 crown. 



M. Morton. — Your specimen is the sea-side Spurrey {Sper- 

 gularia maritima). 



J. C — Dew is simply the condensation of the moisture con- 

 tained in the atmosphere upon any cold surface, such as that 

 of a leaf. Leaves cool rapidly in the evening, and their sur- 

 faces are thus brought into contact with the warm atmo- 

 sphere resting over them. 



Mar v M orton has sent us a packet of seventeen mosses, &c, 

 to be named. We cannot but think this a stretch of kindness 

 on her part. Could she not send us a few more ? Some of 

 them are among the very commonest of objects. 



E. J. Lever. — You had best obtain the cheap elementary 

 work on Mineralogy published by Collins ft Co., Glasgow. 

 Dana's Manual is the best work on the subject, but very 

 advanced. You can get Hardwicke's Catalogue of Scientific 

 Books by applying to 192, Piccadilly. The wotk on Crystal- 

 lography, pubiished in Orr's " Circle of the Sciences," ranks 

 highly. 



Ignoramus.— The Earwigs (Forficula) are arranged in an 

 order called Dermaptera or E'/plexoptera. They are con- 

 sidered to have a greater affinity with the Orthoptera than 

 with the Coleoptera, and have an incomplete metamorphosis. 



C. Donaoan.— Mr. W. W. Wilson, F.L.S., writes to us to 

 say that the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical 

 Society very properly admits lady members, and adds, what 

 we believe to be the natural consequence, that they are most 

 assiduous in their attendance ! Of course they are ! 



EXCHANGES. 



Wanted, a few specimens of Fossil Fruit from the Sheppey 

 section of the London clay ; also Shells from the Barton 

 series. — E. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon. 



I have about 300 species of British Lepidoptera, and I am 

 desirous of exchanging them for other specimens of Natural 

 History, either alive or preserved. — W. Watkins, 21, Caves'- 

 terrace, Shepherd's-bush, W. 



Diatoms, and Cuticle of Petal of Pelargonium, well 

 mounted, for good Slides of Pnlycistina, Spicules, Spines, &c. 

 — T. H. Buffham, Clarence Villa, Clarendon-road, Waltham- 

 stow. 



Two or three Heads of Equisetum (Horsetail) containing 

 spores, wanted ; well-mounted Bee's-tnngue or other Slide 

 offered. — J. H., Jun., 45, Kensington High-street. 



Ortliotrichum phyllanthum, O. Brucliii, 0. leiocarpum, 

 offered for 0. cupulatum, O. anomalum, 0. pumilum, O. 

 Sprucei, 0. rivulare. — Miss Warren, 39, Thurloe-square, S.W. 



Transverse, vertical, or oblique sections of Human Tooth- 

 fang, mounted ; for Anatomical, Physiological, or other Micro. 

 Slides.— W. G. Daish, Melville-street, Ryde, I.W. 



North American Lepidoptera and Coleoptera for British 

 Lepidoptera. — Captain Wm. Provis, Detroit, Michigan, United 

 States. 



For Egg-shell of Japanese Silkworm Moth, for Polari- 

 scope, send a stamped directed envelope to W. H. Gomm, 

 Somerton, Somerset. 



For Seeds of Portulaca, send a stamped directed envelope 

 to Wm. Goodacre Cokayne, Forest-road East, Nottingham. 



Cvstals for Polariscope and other Slides, for Mounted 

 Objects. Will send a quantity to select from. — Thomas Buck, 

 111. Corporation road, Middlesbro. 



Wanted, to exchange for Physiological and Anatomical 

 Slides. Lieberkuhn's, or as part of the price of a high-power 

 objective, the whole of Science-Gossip from the commence- 

 ment to the end of last year, 7 vols, in publisher's covers, the 

 rest unbound; in excellent condition.— O., 3, Woodville, 

 Gravesend. 



Several species of Graptolites from co. Down, for species 

 from other localities. — Wm. Gray, Mount Charles, Belfast. 



Wanted, Marine Algse, Polyzoa, Marine Mollusca, Star- 

 fish, &c. Good exchange.— F. B. Martin, Shaldon, South 

 Devon. 



Wanted, Draba innann and rupestris, for other Rare 

 Plants. — Send lists to W. H. P.. 2, Belgrave-street, Derby. 



Sphinx conrolvuli (captured this season). — Wanted, A. 

 nratcegi, L. sinapis, E. blandina, E. Cassiope, L. Sibylla, A, 

 Iris, G. C. album, A. Lithonia, T. pruni, P. Arion, P. Acts, H. 

 paniscus, or offers. — W. Low Sarjeant, 6, Dagnall-park- 

 terrace, Selhurst, S.E. 



A one-eighth Object-glass (Gundlach's), offered for a 

 Copy of Smith's work on Diatoms. — Address, R. Battersby, 

 M.D., Glindalough, Caragh Lake, P.O., Killarncy. 



Wanted, good Diatomaceous Material, for A. Ehrenbergii, 

 mounted. — Address, M. Fowler, 20, Burn-row, Slamaunan, 

 N.B. 



Wanted, Acme lineata, Limncea inrolutu, and Lima* 

 gagates, for Helix pomatia. Helix carthusiana, Planorbis 

 tacustris, and other British Shells. — Address, M. M., Post 

 Office, Faversham, K> nt. 



Shells offered, specimens of Zonites excavatus and var. 

 vitrma, Zonites glabra. Helix rotund'ita, var. alba. Cochlicopa 

 trident, var. crystallina, and Helix fuscn, &c. ; for Limneen 

 involuta, Arme lineata. Vertigo a/pestris, V. substriatu, V. 

 pusilla, V. nngustior, or other rare Shells.— Joseph Whither- 

 ham. Cross-lane, Marsh, near Huddersfield. 



Thirty selected, named Micro Fungi, mounted in book 

 form, for other objects. — T. Brittain, 52, Park-street, Green 

 Hevs, Manchester. 



For Puccinia Epilobii (brand), address T. Brittain, 52, Park- 

 street, Green Heys, Manchester. No exchange required. 



For Peronospora infestans, Potato Blight, send stamped 

 envelope and object of interest to T. Brittain, 52, Park-street, 

 Green Heys, Manchester. 



Arabis strict a, Scirput triqueter, or others, offered for 

 Hippophue rhumnoidet. — Address, G. B., 143, New Bond- 

 street, W. 



For Forbes' Coloured Index of British Shells, will be given 

 Fossils, Minerals, Shells, or Polish Slabs of Madrepores, or 

 Malachite Ornaments.— A. J. R. Sclater, Bank-street, Teign- 

 mouth. 



Wanted, some well-prepared and well-mounted Chemical 

 Crystals : the commonest kinds not wanted. — Send lists, &c, 

 to H. B. Thomas, St. Peter's Coll., Cambridge. 



