M 



HAflDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



line of fault of 3,000 feet. This operation was 

 followed by a long period of denudation, and this 

 by a post-tertiary depression, which the author 

 terms the " Sahara submergence," after which the 

 land was re-elevated at least 3,000 feet, but perhaps 

 considerably more. A gradual subsidence appears 

 to be still taking place. 



NOTES AND aUERIES. 



How TO Prevent Mould. — Will any reader of 

 Science-Gossip inform "P. J. S." how to prevent 

 mould in fern-cases ? 



To Polish Shells.— Having noticed in your 

 magazine for February the question asked " Howto 

 polish shells," page 39, I send the following receipt 

 which I have seen used, and know answers well. — 

 When you have collected your shells, wash them in 

 clean water, and then prepare two-thirds water and 

 one-third muriatic acid. Having first placed your 

 shells in a glass or basin, then pour the water upon 

 the shells, afterwards the muriatic acid ; let them 

 remain in this a few minutes, then take them out 

 and wash them again in clean water, rub each shell 

 dry with a piece of flannel (fine, of course), finish 

 them over with gum-water, using a camel-hair pencil 

 for the purpose. — Elizabeth Edioards. 



Ladybird. — The etymology of " lady-bird," a 

 name given to various species of Coccinella, although 

 pre-eminently to C. septemptmciata, can he easily 

 traced. That it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, 

 Our Lady, is evident from a glance at the word 

 Marien-kafer, the German name for the insect. The 

 same beetles are popularly known as lady-cows, -flies, 

 or -bugs. Some view the affix bird as a corruption 

 of bng, but they seem to overlook the fact that our 

 glow-worm was once known as the gloic-bird, and 

 surely that beetle was never known as the glow-bug. 

 Mr. E. Adams, quoted by Wedgwood, starts a 

 dilferent conjecture: the name "was probably given 

 as seeming more appropriate to a flying creature 

 (than tliat of lady-cow) ; but bird may here be a 

 corruption of bode or bud, a name given to insects 

 of different kinds, as sham-bode, dung-beetle, wool- 

 lode, hairy caterpillar." He further says, " The 

 beetle, whose spotted back might scarlet-red surpass," 

 was not termed a bug on account of its colour, but 

 obviously from its disagreeable odour. But what 

 could be more offensive to eye and ear than thus 

 placing the Virgin Mary side by side with the horror 

 of many a honest household. The name cow is not 

 readily traced ; we are forced to reason from analogy. 

 If Ocypiis oleiis is called a coach-horse in England, 

 and an ox in Iceland, and if Geotrupes stercorarius 

 is known in Poland as a "little cow," why should 

 not a lady-bird be a cow too ? I suppose to an 

 entomological ear the affix " fly " is positively ex- 

 cruciating, but here we must deal tenderly with our 

 forefathers, and remember that when they named 

 the creature biology was in its infancy, and every 

 insect that possessed organs of flight and was not 

 identical with the beetle or the butterfly, was as a 

 variety of fly. The lady-bird is the " Lady of 

 Planders," and has other aliases too " numerous to 

 mention." — E. liaise. 



How TO Cut Slices or Coal. — Can any reader 

 inform me how to cut thin sections of coal ? In most 

 works on the preparation of microscopic objects, the 



authors say the coal is macerated for about a week 

 in a solution of carbonate of potash, at the end of 

 which it is possible to cut tolerably thin slices with 

 a razor. I have numerous pieces in solutions as 

 above, and I find after being in even for months 

 they are as hard as when first put in. Is it requisite 

 to have any special kind of coal?— if so, what kind? 

 I shall be glad of any information upon the subject. 

 — /. Q., Croydon. 



The Origin of Window Gardening.— 1 shall 

 be extremely obliged if any of your readers can 

 inform me anything as to the origin and early history 

 of this now popular, and I might add fashionable, 

 branch of floriculture, together with the names of 

 the earliest plants and flowers used for this pur- 

 pose. — B. 



The Mysterious Mousetrap. — I see in last 

 month's Science-Gossip that Joseph J. Warry 

 wonders what removed the mousetrap and ate the 

 mouse. Very likely it would be its brethren. A 

 few weeks ago I bought a penny mousetrap and set 

 it at nigbt. In the morning I was surprised to find 

 a mouse partly pulled through the wires, with its 

 head eaten off. The trap had been removed a short 

 distance from the place I set it, through the other 

 mice trying to pull it through the wires, I suppose. 

 Most probably Joseph J. Warry's mouse ate all the 

 bait in the trap before it fell a victim to its brethren. 

 — Jno. Staincliffe. 



Marine Aquarium. — I think " J. G." can obtain 

 sea-water from any dealer in aquarium requisites 

 for about sixpence a gallon. Mr. King, of Great 

 Portland-street, used to supply it, and 1 suppose 

 does so still, as well as seaweed, &c. I kept a small 

 aquarium for a long time near London some years 

 ago, but I obtained the sea-water during trips to the 

 seaside, using well-washed wine-bottles for its con- 

 veyance. — George Guyon, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. 



Query about Microscopes. — Would any one 

 kindly oblige an inquirer with some information as 

 to the relative merits or advantages of the various 

 stages pertaining to Microscopes ; viz., the plain 

 sliding stage, the circular and rotating stage, the 

 mechanical stage ? Also as to " draw-tube," &c. I 

 have a small Prench instrument (triplet), reputed 

 to be 200 diameters, and am desirous of replacing it 

 by something more serviceable and satisfactory 

 (witb coarse and fiue adjustment, &c.) ; and as the 

 instruments of different opticians are so various in 

 manufacture and price, all the information I can 

 gather seems to tend to confusion, and I meet with 

 no friends and acquaintances who have any knowledge 

 of microscopes whatever. Is it absolutely necessary 

 to obtain the basis of a good instrument only by the 

 expense of the mechanical stage, and other compli- 

 cated apparatus? As to objectives, the author 

 of "Half Hours " recommends in a general way the 

 1-inch and U-inch. Would that apply to the second 

 or third rate quality, or to the higher and more 

 expensive glasses ? — Enquirer. 



Reptiles and their Young.— I was very much 

 interested with Mr.Porskey's account of the alligator 

 taking her young ones in her mouth and conveying 

 tliem to a place of safety. Had we more of these 

 observers of nature,Ithinkwe might get the question 

 solved about our own reptile, the viper, as to whether 

 it does the same thing. I can easily understand a 

 five-feet alligator opening her capacious jaws and 

 the young taking refuge there; pvX there is no 

 comparison between a reptile of this size and a small 



