184 



'HARDWICKE'S SC lENCE-GOSSIP. 



the consistence of thick gold size. When spread 

 over the edges of the glass cell or vessel intended to 

 contain the object, it should be allowed to dry for a 

 quarter of an hour, by which time the benzine will 

 have evaporated, leaving the surface exceedingly 

 sticky; and this stickiness is not impaired by its 

 immeision in water. Consequently, if the cell or 

 vessel, with its contents, is wholly immersed, the 

 cover may be applied and pressed firmly in its place 

 while still under the surface of the fluid. No other 

 fastening is absolutely required, but it is better 

 when the surfaces are dry to apply a solution of 

 shellac or other varnish round the edge of the 

 cover. 



ZOOLOGY. 



British Association. — The meeting at Belfast, 

 on the 19th of August, promises to be a very suc- 

 cessful one. The President, Professor Tyndall 

 (himself an Irishman), delivers the inauguraladdress, 

 and Professor Huxley and Sir John Lubbock deliver 

 the other two customary discourses. Excursions to 

 all places of interest, such as the Giant's Causeway, 

 Lough Neagh, Carrickfergus, &c., in the neighbour, 

 hood, are arranged for on the Saturday afternoon 

 and the following Thursday, and, as is well known, 

 these have a world-wide celebrity for their geologi- 

 cal importance. In another part of our columns 

 will be found an exhaustive sketch of this depart- 

 ment of science, written by a competent authority, 

 which we hope will be found useful to such of our 

 readers as may be members of the Association. A 

 new feature of interest this year is the room to be 

 set apart for the exhibition of specimens and appara- 

 tus used in illustration of papers. ■ 



Natural History of Norfolk.— The Norfolk 

 and Norwich Naturalists' Society stands foremost 

 among the provincial associations of its kind for the 

 earnest and excellent work its members have done 

 within the few years of its existence. Starting with 

 the idea that their duty was first of all to investigate 

 the natural history of the county, they were enabled 

 all the better to do this through having among their 

 ranks gentlemen of well-known authority on several 

 subjects. Among others, Mr. C. G. Barrett, the 

 assiduous entomologist, had already done good 

 work, not only in always being ready to help younger 

 students, and as a reference to any difiiculty arising 

 in respect to entomology, but more particularly he 

 bad been noted for the exhaustive manner with 

 which he investigated the Lepidoptera of Norfolk 

 whilst he resided at Norwich. Many of his notes 

 were published in the Entomologists^ Monthly 'Maga- 

 zine, and now we have the pleasure of drawing 

 attention to the " Supplement " (of SO pp.) to the 

 " Transactions " of the Society, in which the lepi- 

 dopterous fauna of Norfolk are minutely described. 



and many of their varieties noted. The lists an 

 habitats are further enriched by Mr. Barrett's great 

 knowledge of the literature of the Lepidoptera. No 

 fewer than 1,24Q species are thus enumerated, and 

 entomologists generally will appreciate as they 

 ought this important contribution to natural 

 science. 



'■ Birds and Primroses." — For several seasons 

 we have been annoyed by finding the ground around 

 our primroses, &c., strewn with their blossoms. 

 Careful watching at last discovered the cause of the 

 mischief. Chaffinches and other small birds were 

 detected in the act of nipping off the flowers, and 

 no doubt rested on our minds that their object was 

 ■ — as suggested by Mr. Darwin — to obtain the 

 nectar. I may add that the flowers attacked were 

 perfectly healthy : we saw no insects. — H. M. C. 

 Alten, Barcombe. 



Popular Science. — The Popular Science Review 

 for July contains several valuable articles, all by 

 eminent writers, to which we are anxious to draw 

 the attention of our readers. Among others are to 

 be noticed a fully illustrated paper on "Plumu- 

 larians," by the Bev. Thomas Hiucks, F.B.S. ; one 

 by Dr. Leith Adams, F.R.S., on the "Natural 

 History and Geographical Distribution of Living 

 and Extinct Bears ; " and a third on "The Lichen- 

 Gonidia Question," by the Rev. J. M. Crombie. 



Noxious and Beneficial Insects.— The sixth 

 Annual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial, and other 

 Insects of the State of JMissouri, by C. V. Riley, 

 State Entomologist, has just appeared. Like the 

 rest of these valuable reports which have been given 

 to the world, the present is marked by careful 

 observation, and details of the life-history of the 

 insects, which cannot fail to be of great economical 

 value. The illustrations are often of every stage, so 

 that the recognition of the different species is ren- 

 dered an easy matter for those to whom the report 

 will be most useful. A word of commendation 

 ought to be given to the artist for the excellent 

 style of the illustrations. 



Insects and Flowers. — I have observed this 

 spring that the bees extract honey from the flowers of 

 the Wisteria by drilling a hole through the calyx. I 

 have seen the big bumble-bees drilling the holes, and 

 the honey-bees making use of these holes. Whether 

 the latter have strength to bore the holes I am not 

 sure ; but it is curious that they should not treat 

 the honeysuckle in the same way. It would be 

 easier to pierce the corolla of that flower than the 

 tough calyx of JFisteria, and it would yield a more 

 abundant supply of nectar. No doubt there is some 

 reason why they do not, and perhaps you can inform 

 me what it is. — C. T. 



Skeletons of Small Animals. — I can recom- 

 mend the following as a ready mode of obtaining 



