9 2 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Castle — if it still exists — in Renfrewshire, and whether 

 naturalists are allowed to visit it, because there is an 

 interesting point to be cleared up in connection with 

 it. In the old " Statistical Account " it was said to 

 be the home of the lesser horse-shoe bat {Rhinolophus 

 hipposideros), and if so it would be the only known 

 Scotch locality for the species, and so the most 

 northern point of its range in these islands. I should 

 not think of disputing the accuracy of the record, as 

 the writer was acquainted with other species, but the 

 late Mr. Alston, a great authority, refused to admit 

 this bat into the "Fauna Scotica." The bats of 

 Scotland appear to be the following : — The lesser 

 horse-shoe bat : Renfrewshire. The long-eared 

 bat : common ; as far north as Aberdeen. The 

 pipistrelle : common ; as far north as Sutherland. 

 Daubenton's bat : common ; reported from Kirkcud- 

 bright, Dumfries, Renfrew, Lanark, Fife, Aberdeen, 

 and Banff. Natterer's bat (reddish-grey bat) : rare : 

 Argyle and Midlothian. The whiskered bat : rare ; 

 I have seen a specimen from Rannoch, Perthshire : 

 not before recorded ; but probably mistaken for the 

 pipistrelle. In conclusion, I would urge your readers 

 to examine all bats that come in their way, as a 

 greater knowledge of the British species is much to 

 be desired. — J. E. Kelsall, Fareham, Hants. 



MICROSCOPY. 



Hardy's Flat Bottle. — In the description Mr. 

 Rousselet gave last month of the flat bottle, he omitted 

 to mentionthe cork, which is not only useful but a 

 necessary item to complete the "bottle." This I 

 generally make from the end of the internal piece of 

 rubber, so that it fits naturally. With the cork inserted 

 the bottle with contents can be safely carried in the 

 pocket, and can also be placed on the stage of the 

 microscope lengthwise, so that it does not require 

 holding. For this purpose jj inch thick is too much, 

 it is better to use rubber of jj to $ inch. To clean 

 the " bottle," use a stiff wire with some cotton cord 

 round the end. — J. D. Hardy. 



The Royal Microscopical Society. — The Feb. 

 "Journal" contains papers on "The Fresh-water 

 Algce of the English Lake District," by A. W. 

 Bennett, F.L.S., "Note on Microstomas Ameri- 

 cana" by W. M. Maskel ; and " Note on the Minute 

 Structure of Pelomyxa palustris" by G. Gulliver. 

 There is in addition the usual excellent "Summary 

 of Current Researches " in things microscopical. 



The Quekett Microscopical Club. — General 

 satisfaction was felt at the announcement that the 

 Quekett Microscopical Club was going to resort to its 

 good old ways, and have a soiree, or scientific evening. 

 This came off on the 9th March, in the Library of 

 University College (thanks to the council of the 

 College), and was largely attended ; not a few ladies 



being among the visitors present. The exhibition 

 was uncommonly good, as the Queketters, who 

 individually possess many beautiful and rare slides, 

 determined to do their best, in competition with the 

 recent scientific evening of the Royal Microscopical 

 Society. So their treasures were brought out, and 

 very many beautiful and uncommon objects were on 

 view. Some of the best displays at the scientific 

 evening above referred to, were again repeated, 

 giving great satisfaction. The list of objects would 

 be too long for me to recapitulate, but I must mention 

 one or two of special interest. Hydra tuba was on 

 view, and giving off its medusa-like buds freely. One 

 of these was shown in a separate microscope. Mr. 

 Dodswell had not forgotten to bring his bulblet of 

 Chara, in which the remarkable cyclosis was going 

 on. Mr. Charters White, in one of the bays of the 

 room was showing off his micro-photographs as 

 lantern slides : thus quickly putting Dr. Crookshank's 

 ideas, as set forth at the Royal Microscopical Society's 

 exhibition, into practice. Mr. Parsons had the 

 curious and obscure polype, which is suspected to be 

 the cause of the annual appearance in the Victoria 

 Regia Tank of the Royal Botanic Society of the 

 unique fresh-water medusa (Lymnocodium) which is 

 such a puzzle to scientists. Mr. Enoch's drawings 

 and preparations were again before appreciative 

 observers. Several very fine slides of spider's eyes 

 were noticed. But the whole exhibit was so excellent 

 that one frequently heard the question, " Why cannot 

 the club do this sort of thing oftener?" Such a 

 display as this shows that the Queketters are not 

 quite gone to sleep yet. Let us hope they will 

 wake up, and repeat the pleasing results of many 

 years ago. It is true many of the old friends' names 

 are not now on the list, but still, many are left, and 

 their esprit de corps is strong yet.— S. J. Mclntire. 



BOTANY. 



GEcidium Aquilegle in America. — Last 

 summer I found an GEcidium growing on the leaves 

 of Aquilegia ccerulea, James, near the head of Swift 

 Creek, in the Langre de Cristo Range, Custer Co., 

 Colorado. This specimen has been very kindly 

 determined for me by Dr. W. G. Farlow, of 

 Cambridge, Mass., who writes: "It is CEcidium 

 aquileg'ue, Pers., which has not been recorded before 

 in this country, I believe." There are several species 

 of Aquilegia in the Rocky Mountains, but A. ccerulea 

 is the most abundant and perhaps the most beautiful 

 of them all, its pale blue floweis being conspicuous 

 on the mountain-sides under the fir-trees in July and 

 August, at an altitude of ten thousand feet and above. 

 The tall stalks of Primula parryi bearing pink flowers 

 are also frequent by watercourses in the same situa- 

 tions.— T. D. A. Cockerel I, West Cliff, Custer Co., 

 Colorado. 



