II A RD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSS I P. 



i43 



second best in a race with a good lively slug.— A. J. 

 "Jenkins, New Cross. 



Four-footed Bird.— The following paragraph 

 was taken from a well-known weekly newspaper about 

 a year ago. "An American naturalist, Mr. Em. 

 Brigham, has announced the discovery of four-footed 

 birds on the Anabija river, in the island of Marago, at 

 the mouth of the Amazon. Curiously enough, the bird 

 scientifically called Opisthocoma cristata is four-footed 

 only in early life, and after a few days one pair of legs 

 develop into wings. The bird . . . frequents the beds 

 of ' aninga,' a semi-aquatic plant, and rarely flies far 

 from its peculiar haunts." I am not a student of 

 ornithology, and this seems hard to swallow." — 

 A. G. H. 



Notes from South Australia. — I have lately 

 come out here, and shall be very glad to have ex- 

 changes etc. with you for such things as I can pro- 

 cure here, and I'll be glad to know what you wish 

 me to do for you. Anything interesting to an amateur 

 photographer, either in way of reading or appliances 

 will be very acceptable ; mine is full plate with \ and 

 2 carriers. On my arrival here in October it was some- 

 thing magnificent to see the Orchidacere of the hills 

 in bloom, and all the shrubs in endless variety and of 

 exquisite beauty, even grasses were in themselves 

 sufficient to call for unreserved admiration. Oh how 

 I wished I could have sent collections to my various 

 English correspondents, as I used to when at home 

 in the hills of Burren, co. Clare, and I hope I will 

 next season be able to do so. There are such lovely 

 orchidaceous plants in every shape and colour (yellow, 

 blue, white, brown, copper, etc.), and as for bulbous 

 plants they are innumerable. One very pretty thing 

 I saw under shrubs and shady glens was, Drosera 

 Menziesia, a bulbous-rooted D., size of a marble, 

 with a crown of spathulate leaves on the surface, from 

 which rose a zigzag spike, on top of which four or five 

 flowers, size of 6d. (white with lovely pink spots), the 

 stem 18 inches, covered all along with small cup- 

 shaped leaves, studded with crimson and pink 

 tentacles ; it is a semi-trailer, and holds itself upright 

 by the curling of the little leaf-stalks round the twigs 

 and grasses, in the way of the nasturtiums. If two 

 or three happen to grow together, the effect, in the 

 sunshine, is something to remember, as they clasp 

 each other and become quite a pillar of sparkling 

 jewels. These bulbs, I trust, I shall be able to intro- 

 duce to my English friends, and shall be glad if you 

 mention me to yours, or insert any portion of this in 

 your journal and oblige me very much. — T. McGann. 



Spider's Contrivances. — Referring to a spider's 

 contrivance "explained by G. E. G. in the Science 

 Gossip," I found several similar instances at 

 Biirgenstock on the Lake of Lucerne, but instead of 

 a fragment of stone sometimes a piece of clay was 

 employed. This plummet was so far distant from 

 the spider's web above, that I had no means of arriving 

 at the clever and probably truthful explanation given 

 by your correspondent. — J. Lawrence Hamilton, 

 M.R.C.S. 



Toads Spawning.— On Saturday April 14, I 

 observed a large number of toads in a ditch on the 

 Lea marshes near Clapton. I counted no less than 

 nineteen breeding, and could have seen many more 

 in all probability, had I used my net. I captured a 

 group of five, all closely clinging together. In my 

 net, one old toad detached himself from the mass, 

 apparently in a great rage, and bit vigorously 

 through the muslin, which however he did not injure. 



The remaining toads were making a queer noise, 

 something between croaking and squeaking. When 

 I had repeatedly shaken the net, they very reluctantly 

 left each other, and then, to my surprise, I found that 

 the centre of attraction was a large frog. I was 

 unable to see whether it was male or female. I 

 should like to know whether any instances are recorded 

 of toads breeding with frogs. My experience is that 

 as a rule toads do not begin to breed until the frogs 

 have ceased to deposit their spawn ; I should like to 

 know whether this is a fact, and also whether toads 

 croak. I have always studied the habits of frogs and 

 toads, and consider the latter to be by far more 

 interesting and intelligent than frogs, green or other- 

 wise. They are also much more easily kept alive. 

 I have had one in my possession since Sept. 1884, and 

 he is quite tame. — James Holloxuay. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — As we now 

 publish Science-Gossip earlier than formerly, we cannot un- 

 dertake to insert in the following number any communications 

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



To Anonymous Querists. — We must adhere to our rule of 

 not noticing queries which do not bear the writers' names. 



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 of owe grattiitous 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. B. M. (Longsight). — Your "Exchange" was an advertise- 

 ment, and could only be inserted as such. 



E. P. — You will find a fuller general account of the Norfolk 

 and Suffolk crags than could be given in Dr. Taylor's Address, 

 in his "Geological Stories" ('Story of the Crags'), and a still 

 more extensive account in his 'Geology of Suffolk,' in White's 

 "Suffolk Gazetteer and Directory." 



E. W. Mathers and A. G. H. — See Rutley's "Elementary 

 Manual of Mineralogy," 2nd ed. Also various papers on the 

 subject in Science-Gossip. The fullest information, however, 

 is in Mr. Teall's work on Petrology. 



J. S. H. — Your alga appears to be a species of Batrachosper- 

 mum. Dr. M. C. Cooke is now publishing, in parts, a work on 

 British freshwater alga?. 



J. H. James. — The " Selborne Magazine" is published by 

 Eliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, E.C. 



R. C. C. — You will be able to get sheet indiarubber by 

 ordering it through any apothecary. See articles on " Double 

 Staining," in Science-Gossip, vol. for 1875. 



EXCHANGES. 



Shall be glad'-to correspond with persons interested in 

 Australian Orchidacea?, and other plants and seeds for cul- 

 tivation, &c. ; also in microscopic slides and material, &c. 

 Exchange photographic and scientific books and journals.—* 

 T. McGann, Kaumantoo, South Australia. 



Wanted, mineral specimens, fossils, foraminiferous materials, 

 echinoderms, &c, and mounted slides. Will give good ex- 

 change. — J. H. Cooke, 178 Prince of Wales Road, Sliema, 

 Malta. 



I shall be glad to meet with a correspondent in conchology, 

 with a view to occasional exchanges. Will exchange shells of 

 this district and others for land or freshwater shells, British or 

 foreign, also marine. — J. Ruisell Weldman, 14 Hargher Street, 

 Burnley, Lanes. 



Curious old compound microscope, by Martin, date about 

 1843, fitted in cabinet with six object glasses, two liberkuhns, 

 stage forceps, ten ivory slides, eighty-three glass slides and 

 fourteen wooden ditto, and various other appliances ; originally 

 cost .£50. What offers?— R. H. L. James, Watford Vicarage, 

 Herts. 



Duplicates. — Sph. rivicola, D. poly}iwrpha, N.Jluvuitilis, 

 V. piscinalis, P. ttitidus, Helix sericea and caperata, B. 

 vbscurus, C. tridens, and many others. Wanted, B. Leachii, 

 and varieties of Helix hortensis. — F. C Long, 8 Cog Lane, 

 Burnley, Lancashire. 



