HARDWICKE'S S C IE N C E-GOSSIP. 



261 



formerly. However, they grew and multiplied till 

 in 1872 tliere were at least fifty individuals of this 

 species. But the strange thing is that last year, 

 and this year also, the serrate have all entirely dis- 

 appeared. I cannot believe that any one meddled 

 ■with them, nor has the soil at all been disturbed. 

 Minor is still in abundance, but not one plant of 

 Secunda is to be found. How are we to account 

 for this ?— 72. W. 



GEOLOGY. 



The Lemming ix Cave Deposits. — Professor 

 Owen has communicated a note on this subject to 

 the Royal Society. When his "British Eossil 

 Mammals " was first published, this animal had not 

 been found in England. Since then it has been 

 found in lacustrine brick-earth at Salisbury, asso- 

 ciated with remains of the mammoth. ~ The sup- 

 posed lemming from Brixham Cave, the Professor 

 believes to be a Pika, a tailless hare, and not a 

 lemming at all. 



Fossil Oyster-Bed.— Your correspondent E. 

 Lovett will probably find that the "recently-dis- 

 covered " bed was noticed in 1872 in the " Memoirs 

 of the Geological Survey," vol. iv. As, however, 

 neither the exact locality nor the geological position 

 of the bed is mentioned in his letter, I can but 

 infer that the "bottom-bed" of the Woolwich and 

 Reading Series is alluded to. This bed was laid 

 open at Croydon, in 1869, and oyster-shells have 

 been known to occur in it in othej- places for many 

 years. — W. W. 



The Geologists' Association. — This useful 

 society, which has its head-quarters in University 

 College, has just issued Parts 6 and 7 of its " Pro- 

 ceedings," in which are some capital papers by 

 Samuel Sharp, E.G.S., on "The Geology of North- 

 amptonshire"; and a very elaborate essay by the hou. 

 secretary, Mr. W. H. Hudieston, F.G.S., on " The 

 Yorkshire Oolites." The chief features of this 

 association, however, are the periodical excursions 

 (sometimes of several days' extent) which its mem- 

 bers make to well - known fossiliferous localities, 

 under the generous leadership of celebrated palaeon- 

 tologists and geologists. During the last summer, 

 and that of the previous year, such excursions were 

 made to Brighton, Hatfield, Plumstead, Cropness, 

 and the Malvern district. The " Proceedings " are 

 ably edited by J. L. Lobley, Esq., E.G.S. 



Record of Geological Literature.— It has 

 been decided to publish, as a yearly volume, a 

 Record of works on Geology, Mineralogy, and 

 Palaeontology, British and Foreign. The first 

 volume will be printed by the middle of 1875, and 

 will contain short abstracts or notices of papers, 

 books, maps, &c., published during the year 1874. 



It is estimated that this volume will contain from 

 200 to 300 pages, and that its price will be 10s. 6d. 

 The editor of the volume is Mr. William Whitaker, 

 B.A., F.G.S., of the Geological Survey, who is 

 well known for his extensive acquaintance with 

 geological literature. Among the gentlemen -who 

 are assisting in the work are Messrs. Carruthers, 

 David Forbes, Prof. Geikie, Prof. Green, Prof* 

 Rupert Jones, Rudler, E. T. Newton, Topley, 

 Henry Woodward, and others. This work will be 

 greatly helped if Provincial Societies and Field Clubs 

 will forward copies of their publications to the 

 editor. It is expected that the number of sub- 

 scribers will cover the expenses ; but if not, several 

 well-known geologists have come forward as 

 guarantors. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



A Natural History Field Club in Ijondon. 

 —On referring to back numbers of the Science 

 Gossip, I came across a short paragraph by Mr. 

 James Britten, F.L S., in which lis regrets the want 

 of a working " Naturalists' Field Club " in Loudon, 

 and expresses his readiness to help any that might 

 be formed. If a few such well-known naturalists 

 as himself were to stai't a society of the kind, I have 

 every reason to believe they would meet with great 

 success, and be conferring a real benefit on many. 

 This want is but poorly supplied by the numerous 

 Microscopical Clubs of the metropolis. The absence 

 of that, enthusiasm (so characteristic of the Country 

 Field Clubs) keeps most of the really active workers 

 from the periodical excursions made by the London 

 clubs. I trust the matter may not be allowed to 

 drop, and that Mr. Britten and others of the leading 

 naturalists will take the matter in hand this winter, 

 so that before next season a Naturalists' Field 

 Club in London may be " uu fait accompli." — James 

 Groves. 



Snakes and Toads. — An American correspon- 

 dent has told you that he once saw a snake eating 

 a toad. As I was walking in the New Forest this 

 summer, 1 saw what looked like a leafless bough, 

 with a dead toad lying at the end of it. Upon 

 approaching, I discovered it was a snake, in the act 

 of swallowing a toad. The head of the latter was 

 in the snake's mouth, from which the toad's body 

 and legs stuck out quite stifily._ When I stooped 

 over them, the snake quickly glided away, and left 

 the toad half covered with thick saliva, and quite 

 stupefied. I bathed the toad's head, and it slowly 

 came to its senses, and at last crawled away. — John 

 Hugh Bertram Brooke, Stockwell. 



Do Fishes utter Sounds ?— The other day I 

 was out trawling, and amongst a number of fishes, 

 such as soles, plaice, &c., was a common skate, 

 about 18 inches in width. About half an hour after 

 this latter fish was caught, I heard it utter a series 

 of distinct squeak-like sounds. Several friends 

 were with me at the time, and we were all astonished 

 at the performance. 1 should be glad to know if 

 any of your correspondents have met with a similar 

 experience. — CP.O. 



Herring Gull. — Sitting at my window'one day 

 lately, I was much amusedj by watching the 



