HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



!63 



■stooped down to examine, nnd saw directly that the 

 light proceeded from some insect, neither centipede 

 nor glow-worm. I think the light extended to the 

 under side of the body, as the creature left very 

 brilliant streaks on the pebbles as it ran over them. 

 The upper part of the thorax was extremely brilliant, 

 and I only regret that I cannot remember whether 

 the wing cases stood in the luminosity. The light 

 was really beautiful, being more brilliant and crys- 

 talline in its character than I have ever seen on a 

 centipede. After a minute, I caught the insect and 

 brought it in, when I was astonished to see a common- 

 looking black-beetle. Another insect very faintly 

 luminous was close by the one described when first 

 seen, but the light of this second insect disappeared 

 nlmost immediately, and I could see no more of it in 

 the darkness. I imagine the luminosity of the hard 

 case of a black-beetle at least to this extent to be no 

 very conwuon occurrence, but it is a well-known fact 

 that many insects are occasionally, though rarely, 

 luminous. Mr. Gosse, in the "Romance of Natural 

 History," gives instances of strong luminosity in a 

 mole-cricket, and in a crane-fly. This and other 

 evidence seems to show that insects may be oc- 

 casionally luminous of which thousands may be taken 

 without a trace of the phenomenon. I have sent 

 the insect to a scientific relation of mine, C. F. George, 

 Esq., of Kirton-in-Lindsey, for examination. It will 

 be interesting to know if your readers have bad any 

 similar experiences. — yohii C, Scudainorc, Norfolk. 

 P.S. — The heeil&h Steropcsuiadidus. — C. F. George. 



Praying (?) Mantis.— On the 15th of April, I 

 found a mantis which differs so much from those I 

 have found here during the last thirteen years, that 

 I should like some information from you or your 

 'readers. Colour : ash grey, with five white sjoots on 

 fore legs (or arms), and two white bands on the other 

 legs. Head : back of head elongated into a kind of 

 tower standing above the eyes, about twice as long 

 as the lower part of the face ; the top flattened in 

 front and white at the tip ; antenna with double 

 curve and black tips. Abdomen : divided into seven 

 ■segments ; the joints very distinct on the upper side, 

 l)ut carries it curved over the back, showing the 

 imder side of abdomen with three projections on each 

 segment, the centre one very large and forming a 

 kind of pouch. As this has been found much earlier 

 in the year than usual, is it a survivor from last year 

 or a young form ? Can some reader give me any 

 information as to the life-history of the mantis? — 

 W. Harvey. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — k% we now 

 publish Science-Gossip earlier than heretofore, we cannot 

 possibly insert in the following number any communications 

 which reach us later than the Sth of the previous month. 



To ANONViMOUs 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 De.\lers 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 " e,xchanges " offered are fair 

 e.\changes. 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 oar gratuitous insertion of 

 " exchanges " which cannot be tolerated. 



We request that all e.xchanges may be signed with name (or 

 initials) and full address at the end. 



H. E. Fountains — Wood's " Common British Beetles," 

 price IS., and Cooke's '" Ponds and Ditches," price 2S. 6ii. The 

 latter is published by the Christian Knowledge Society. 



G. D. Brown. — Thanks for your friendly hint. We are 

 aware of the leaf-fungus you mention ; but in the case to which 

 the answer was given, the black spots were not due to fungoid 

 growths, but to the cause usually assigned. 



A. S. M.\cKiE. — From your sketches, we have no doubt the 

 fossil is a Belemnite, prot)ably from the Oolitic formation, and 

 perhaps re-deposited in the Drift beds. It is a very common 

 species in the Oolite and Lias. See Taylor's " Geological 

 Stories." 



J. H. D. — You would do best to address your query to the 

 editor of "The English Mechanic." 



J. Boring. — No doubt the sparrow you saw was partly an 

 Albino. They are not uncommon ; you may generally find one 

 or more in every village. 



E. H. W. — The phosphorescent millipede was no doubt 

 Gfophiliis clcitricus, a not uncommon species, remarkable for 

 its glowworm-like power of emitting light. This insect has long 

 been known to naturalists. Its phosphorescence seems most 

 powerful in the autumn. 



W. Jefferv (Chichester). — We hope to publish your interest- 

 ing paper very shortly. 



A. ,W. Weyman. — Get Lankester's " Half Hours with the 

 Microscope," edited by F. Kitton, published by Messrs. Allen 

 & Co., Waterloo Place, at '2.S. 6d. 



T. Joy. — We conclude the insect sent us had escaped, for 

 none was in the smashed box when it reached us. 



G. D. B. — Accept our best thanks for your kindl}' remarks 

 and criticisms. 



F. R. T. — We have not heard the name of the plant you 

 mention, nor been able to find it. Of course, we cannot answer 

 when you are not sure you have spelled the name correctly. 



C. Burton. — Either the Hampstead Naturalists or the 

 Western Club (of which see notice in present Science-Gossip) 

 would be glad to welcome you, and both would be well situated 

 for you. Write to the secretaries. 



J. M. — See Lecture by Professor Huxley, delivered at the 

 Fisheries Exhibition, Norwich, on " The Herring ;" also paper 

 (price 6rf.) published by the International Fisheries Exhibition 

 last year, by R. W. Duff, M.P., on "The Herring Fisheries of 

 Scotland." 



G. A. H. — It is difficult to judge of a bird from a slight portion 

 of wing like that you sent, but we have little doubt the bird is 

 the female greenfinch. For an account of the death-watch 

 beetle and its sounds, see an article in Science-Gossip for 

 November, 1880, called " A Wood-Carver's E.xperience of the 

 Death-Watch Beetle." 



EXCHANGES. 



SPLENDiDLY-preserved and correctly-named Swiss Alpine 

 plants. Price 6d. each. — Address, Dr. B., care of Editor of 

 Science-Gossip, Piccadilly. 



Duplicates: Bytliinia tentacidaia (Sarno Rio, Naples), 

 Helix calcarata (^lalta), Mytilics initiiinns (Sicily), Dentalium 

 stragiilatmn (Messina), Helix elata (Sicily), and few other 

 Sicilian shells. Desiderata: Balea lucifuga, Vitriiia Drapar- 

 iialdi, and other British land and marine shells. Send lists. — 

 John Platania-PIatania, Via S. Giuseppe No. 14, Acireale, 

 Sicily. 



To exchange, a microscope, i in., ^ in., and \ in. combined 

 powers, in cabinet, also books and microscopical slides, for 

 other microscopic slides or good watch. Lists to — S. Harrison, 

 Dalmain Road, Forest Hill, London, S.E. 



Will exchange twelve dozen microscopic slides in cabinet, 

 or three dozen physiological ones, for good magic lantern. — 

 G. Brocklehurst, Roundhay, Leeds. 



Eggs of shrike, nightingale, spotted flycatcher, black-headed 

 bunting, blackcap, redstart, golden-crested regulus, titmouse, 

 chiffchaff", grebes, coots, rooks, jays, and many others, for 

 eggs of black and red grouse, gulls, terns, &c. — H. Medley, 

 Palmerston Square, Romsey, Hampshire. 



Offered, L.C, 7th ed., Nos. 150, 174, 197, 280, 313, 375, 

 406, 528a, 564, 587, 594, 813, 83s, 859. 999, 1008, 1039, 1071, 

 1208, 1322, 1333, 1363, 1422, 1447, 1448, 1504, &c. Send lists. 

 — H. Fisher. 52 K. Y. C, Clifton, Bristol. 



Duplicates: Mitra cinciella. Conns tessellaius, Pyrulci 

 vespertilio, Clanciiliis Pharaonis, Helix Juvinastoina, Cyprcpa 

 Arabica, C. argiis, C.canrica, C. lynx, C. sicrcoraria, C. vitel- 

 liis, &c. Wanted, foreign shells, and British fossils. Exchange 

 lists. — J. E. Luster, Arragon Close, Richmond Road, Twicken- 

 ham. 



Good microscopic slides, various, in exchange for other slides, 

 materials, or apparatus. — J. J. Andrew, 2 Belgravia, Belfast. 



Good microscopic slides for exchange. What offers?— 

 Samuel M. Malcolmson, M.D., Union Hospital, Belfast. 



Fresh specimens of Vnnessa atalanta, also healthy pupae of 

 S titer inthiis populi. — D. Fergusson, 77 Skene Street, Aberdeen. 



Wanted, diatom sides in exchange for slides oi A7-achnoi- 

 disctis ornata {" in situ ") on coralline, a splendid object for 

 binocular and dark ground illumination; also other slides, 

 chiefly diatoms. Send list. — H. Morland, Cranford, near 

 Hounslow. 



Wanted, foreign butterflies ; will exchange British lepi- 

 doptera, coleoptera, and foreign and English shells. — C. M. D. 

 Dods, 47 Chepstow Place, Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, W. 



