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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Studies in Microscopical Science. — We doubt 

 ■whether any department of natural science is ex- 

 hibiting so much diligence as microscopy. This is 

 evidenced by the increasing current of microscopical 

 literature. Mr. Arthur C. Cole, P".R.M.S., has 

 commenced contributions from his own extensive stock 

 of practical knowledge under the above title. The 

 first two parts are beautifully got up, the coloured 

 illustrations being exquisite. We wish the new 

 venture hearty success. 



On the continuous observations of minute 

 Animalcula. — Having found some difficulty in 

 keeping minute living objects under_ observation on 

 account of the water evaporating, and also that any 

 attempt at a supply produced currents which washed 

 away all very small organisms, I \\ as led to try a 

 different proceeding. I put upon a slide a small quantity 

 of water, and a very minute portion of plant, not using 

 enough water to occupy all the space under the cover 

 glass, but leaving part of it occupied by air. I then 

 melted some paraffin wax, and put a ring round 

 cover on turntable, thus sealing up the contents. I 

 have inside a variety of minute beings, embracing 

 two species of rotifers, several other species of 

 animalcula, and living diatoms, several hundred in 

 all, ard at the expiration of a week they are still alive 

 and active. I then tried the same process on Cyclops 

 qtiadricornis, only I made a shallow cell to contain a 

 depth of water just enough not to squeeze the creature 

 betwixt slip and cover. I sealed this up air-tight with 

 wax, and have had the young cyclops hatch out of 

 the eggs in each instance some dozens in number, and 

 very active. Of course, in this instance also, I only 

 use a small drop of water, the rest of cell is filled with 

 air which is in contact with the water all round. The 

 Cyclops, old and young, are doing well at the end of 

 forty-eight hours. Obviously if one finds a rare 

 minute creature, and wishes to send it to a friend for 

 inspection, one may seal it up in this way without 

 the risk, or it may be, certainty of losing it involved 

 in placing it in a tube. It will live comfortably 

 enough during transmission by post, or during the 

 few hours required to carry it to the meeting of a 

 society, or a friend's house. It is even safer in trans- 

 mission, because the quantity of water used is not 

 enough to shake about as it will in tubes or small 

 bottles, and half a day's fishing to find it again is 

 dispensed with, as it is sure to be on the slide. — 

 Eikciii Holmes, 149 Essex Road, Islington. 



Stellate Hairs of Deutzia. — Some one was 

 asking how to prepare these. The Rev. Adam Clark 

 Smith, of Crowborough, told me he always scraped 

 them off with a sharp knife. I therefore tried it. 

 Scrape the leaf carefully, and transfer to slide with 

 camel-hair pencil. The scraping is not always 

 necessary. I would suggest some kind of a washing 

 first— 7c;//;? Alex. Ollard, FR.M.S., Enfield. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Stephanoi'S lajiellaris. — I have recently met 

 with considerable numbers of Stephanops lamcllaris, 

 of which a figure is given at page 277 of Science 

 Gossip for 1S66. I have not been able to find any 

 later reference to this animalcule, and my object now 

 is to inquire if there is any ground for believing it 

 to be the male of a species which I find with it in 

 considerable numbers which does not possess the 

 frontal plate of Lamellaris, but is like it in many 

 respects. — Edwin Ilolnics. 



Preparations for the destruction ani> 

 prevention of Mites in Entomological Col- 

 lections. — I should be glad to know whether any 

 of the entomological readers of Science-Gossip use 

 any other preparations than the following for the 

 above purpose : camphor, naphthaline, bisulphide of 

 carbon, benzole, and mercuric bisulphide (corrosive 

 sublimate). I should also be glad to hear from any 

 entomologist who has used the oils of cajaput, anise. 

 thyme, marjoram, amber, or turpentine, or any ot 

 them (mentioned by Dr. Knaggs at page 120 of the 

 new " Lepidopterists' Guide." As I am collecting 

 information upon the subject, I should be glad of 

 answers through the post.— //''. J. J'. J'lmdeiibeisli, 

 Hornse^', N. 



Parasites in Snakes.— It may be interesting to 

 the readers of Science-Gossip to know that the 

 TiTnia infest the bodies of snakes as well as the 

 mammalia, and I shall for the sake of those interested 

 in the study of Entozoa describe the result of some of 

 my investigations : — In the low country of Ceylon, 

 about an elevation of 2000 feet above the sea, there 

 are a considerable number of snakes known to 

 Europeans as " Green Tick Polongas," or " Patchey 

 Polongar" of the Tamils. These creatures are 

 usually found in low scrubs, bushes, and underwood, 

 sometimes in the vicinity of water, and at others in 

 garden hedges. In their movements they are slow, 

 and rarely offer to move away when discovered, 

 usually resting with their heads placed close to the 

 coils of their stout bodies. The head is flat and 

 broad, with great depth of gape. The poison fangs 

 are nearly hidden when unexcited, and are much 

 curved in outline ; they are so placed, that I am of 

 opinion that unless the stroke were given to one side 

 or the other, the fangs could not inflict a wound, as 

 they appear too curved to present the point in a 

 forward strike. The eyes are large, and deeply set. 

 i The length of body ranges from three feet and down- 

 ■ wards. I have never secured any of a greater length 

 than the above. The body is very stout and powerful, 

 but, like the vipers, the tail comes rapidly to a blunt 

 point. The general colour of this "Tick " is green, 

 varied by markings of dark brown, throughout the 

 region of the back ; the entire ventral surface being 



