HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



47 



Unseasonable Foliage. — "With reference to a 

 paragraph under the above heading, in the December 

 number of SciENCE-GossiP, it may interest your 

 readers to know that a similar phenomenon occurred 

 in the south of Devon. A severe gale on September 

 1st withered the foliage of many trees, especially 

 the horse-chestnuts. In the end of September fresh 

 leaves appeared on several of these trees, and on one 

 in a garden in Adelaide Terrace, Exmouth, several 

 spikes of blossom opened fully. These were, how- 

 ever, small and poor compared with the usual spring 

 flowers. At the same time, in the same garden, a 

 good deal of apple and pear blossom appeared, and 

 in an adjoining garden there was also a laburnum in 

 full flower. Both these gardens were much exposed 

 to the gale and suffered severely. I may also 

 mention that several swallows (house-martins) were 

 seen at Exmouth on November nth, shortly before 

 eleven o'clock a.m., flying about or sitting on the 

 telegraph-wire. They had been seen near the same 

 spot (a favourite haunt) once or twice in October, 

 but have not been observed since. — E. S., Exmouth. 



The Holly. — Many years ago when curate of 

 Checkendon, Oxon, my good old squire, the late 

 Adam Duff, drew my attention to a curious fact 

 about the holly. In the woods there it attains the 

 dimensions of a tree. Well, as high as cattle can 

 possibly reach the leaves are armed with sharp 

 prickles, above this they are quite smooth and with- 

 out this armature. This is a curious fact. I looked 

 over Selby, but he does not allude to it in any way. 

 —A. H. B. 



[Southey alludes to the fact in his poem on the 

 Holly.— Ed. S.-G.] 



CONCHOLOGICAL NoTES. — R,eferring to Mr. 

 George Roberts' query respecting ants, permit me to 

 say that I have frequently availed myself of their 

 services in clearing small and delicate shells of the 

 animal. I have placed the shells in a cardboard 

 tray, under a bell-glass, near an ant's nest in my 

 garden, and the result has been most satisfactory. — 

 J. W. Cundall, Redland, Bristol. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — As we now 

 publish SciENCK-GossiP earlier than heretofore, we cannot 

 possibly insert in the following number any communications 

 which reach us later than the 8th of the previous month. 



To Anonymous Querists. — We receive so many queries 

 which do not bear the writers' names that we are forced to 

 adhere to our rule of not noticing them. 



To Dealers and others. — We are always glad to treat 

 dealers in natural history objects on the same fair and general 

 ground as amateurs, in so far as the " exchanges " offered are fair 

 exchanges. But it is evident that, when their offers are simply 

 disguised advertisements, for the purpose of evading the cost of 

 advertising, an advantage is taken oi oxix gratuitous insertion of 

 "exchanges" which cannot be tolerated. 



We request that all exchanges may be signed with name (or 

 initials) and full address at the end. 



J. F. (Manchester.) — Many thanks for your friendly hints 

 and congratulations. 



George E. East. — " The Transactions of the Liverpool 

 Geological Association," vol. iii., Session 1882-3, 's published 

 at five shillings, and may be had of Mr. Henry Young, 

 IS South Castle Street, Liverpool. 



M. L. W. — Write to the secretary of the Geological and 

 Polytechnic Society of Yorkshire. No doubt he will be able 

 to supply you with a copy of Messrs. Law and Horsfall's 

 paper. 



Chemicus.— Your formula was correctly expressed. 



G. Smith (Dudley). — Your box was duly received, but not the 

 slightest trace of any insects was within. 



J. Fleming and others. — Accept our best thanks for con- 

 gratulations on the artistic character of our first coloured plate. 

 It is pleasing to find our efforts to improve Science-Gossip 

 meeting with so much success. 



S. B. Axford. — Raphides maybe easily obtained from the 

 onion, Turkey rhubarb, pine-apple {Scilla maritiina), the 

 common dock, nettles, leaves of iris and most species of Lily, 

 sepals of geraniums. They may be found in most monocoty- 

 ledonous plants. See articles on the subject in vol. of Science- 

 Gossip for 1873. 



R. A. B. (Kingston). — Grove's "Characese" is published by 

 Newman, price ■2s. The best work on the British Hepaticse is 

 that by Dr. Carrington, published by Messrs. W. H. Allen & 

 Co., in coloured parts, price 3.5-. 6r/. each. A cheap work on 

 the Liverworts, &c. (with numerous wood-cut illustrations) 

 was written many years ago by Dr. M. C. Cooke, and 

 published by Hardwicke. Apply for it at Messrs. Allen & Co., 

 13 Waterloo Place, London. 



C. H. Waddel (Warrenpoint). — Your fungus usually attacks 

 oak wood. It is Xylostroiita gigatitcutn — sometimes known as 

 "oak leather." Try a strong solution of carbolic acid for it. 

 We warrant that if properly applied you will not be troubled 

 with the fungus again. Vou can obtain Science-Gossip 

 direct from our publishers by sending postal order for 5J., which 

 covers the cost of one magazine and postage for one year. 



George Timmins (Troy, N. Y.). — As you will see by refer- 

 ring to Dr. Stoke's article in our last number, gasoline is a 

 universal solvent for microscopical cements. 



W. P. B. — You will find a complete account of the life-history 

 of the caterpillar which destroys the turnips in Miss Ormerod's 

 "Manual of Economical Entomology," and also in her 

 " Reports," for the last two or three years. 



A. Ogilvy. — Please send us another supply of diseased leaves 

 of Gloxinia. 



A. H. B. (San Francisco). — A slight reference to the Infu- 

 sorian genus Ceratium may be found in the " Micrographical 

 Dictionary," but the best and fullest occurs in Saville Kent's 

 " Manual of the Infusoria." As far as we have been able to 

 warrant them your slides are correctly named. We will report 

 as to the supposed lichen in next number. 



M. Roux wishes to know where he can procure a " Mechani- 

 cal finger to pick up diatoms." Perhaps some of our readers 

 can tell him ? 



EXCHANGES. 



Between two and three thousand continental Phanerogams 

 in exchange for recent works on cryptogamic botany or 

 microscope. — W. B. Waterfall, g Redland Grove, Bristol. 



Wanted, seeds of British wild flowers, especially woodland 

 species. Exchange seeds of New Zealand plants (mostly 

 shrubs, trees, and alpines), or spores of ferns ; or if means of 

 transit offer, dried flowering plants or ferns (named), insects, 

 &c.— T. P. Arnold, Boys' High School, Christchurch, New 

 Zealand. 



SciEN'CE Gossip, unbound, for 1S77, 1881-3 inclusive, with a 

 few odd numbers. What offers ? — George Pirie, Carron Terrace, 

 Stonehaven, N.B. 



Wanted, quantity of pretty shells, small flat kinds pre- 

 ferred ; also corals and other things suitable for shell baskets, 

 &c., exchange for marine a'gs, first-class micro-slides, un- 

 mounted material, ferns, &c. — T. M'Gann, Burren, Co. Clare. 



Wanted to correspond with collectors of spiders, in order to 

 purchase or exchange specimens. — Jno. Rhodes, 360 Black- 

 burn Road, Accrington. 



Stamp album, containing upwards of 400 miscellaneous 

 foreign stamps in tolerably good condition ; in exchange for 

 micro-slide, books, or bees. — W. T. C, i6 Earl's Court Road, 

 Kensington, W. 



Wanted, perfect fossil shells, all formations. Recent British 

 shells, marine, land, and freshwater, offered in exchange. — 

 C. Jefferys, Langharne, Carmarthenshire. 



Wanted, exotic butterflies, set or unset. 'British, European, 

 and American Lepidoptera offered in exchange. — A. H. Shep- 

 herd, 4 Cathcart Street, Kentish Town, London. 



Will exchange coi'ection of British birds' eggs (120 speci- 

 mens 60 species), collrction of rocks, fossils, &c., skulls, and 

 few odd natural history specimens for fishing tackle, creel, &c., 

 or fishing books. — F. J. Corkett, High Street, Winslow, Bucks. 



Adams, G., " Essays on the Microscope," containing a 

 general history of insects, with frontispiece and 32 folio plates. 

 2nd ed., 4to., half calf, 1798. By F. Kanmacher, F.L.S. 

 What offers? Local floras preferred. — G. H. Knowles, 

 4 Carfax Square, Clapham Park Road, S.W. 



Cassell's new edition of " European Butterflies and Moths " 

 By W. F. Kirby. Complete in 61 parts, for instruments for 

 stuffing birds. — Hugh Fleming, 40 Thomson Street, Aberdeen. 



