HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



i6i 



Distribution of the Diatomace.^;. — A paper 

 on this subject, read before the Whitehaven Scientific 

 Association, by Mr. B. Taylor, is an excellent example 

 of what can be done by painstaking research. The 

 gatherings tabulated have been made at different 

 times daring several years past within a radius of 

 about five miles from Whitehaven. The locality 

 where every species was found is given, and six closely 

 printed pages are filled with Mr. Taylor's lists. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Local Names. — The following is a list of names 

 now, or lately in use in the vicinity of Whitby, York- 

 shire, " Catswerril," squirrel {Sciurus vulgaris); 

 "Moudiwarp," mole {Talpa Europaa) ; " Ratten," 

 common rat [Miis rat(iis) ; " Rizzle," weasel {Aliistela 

 vulgaris) ; " Billybiter," blue titmouse (Farus 

 C(zruleiis) ; '* Bullspink," bullfinch [Pyrrhula vul- 

 garis) ; " Collier," swift {Cypsehis apus) ; " Cooscot," 

 or " cushat," ringdove {Cohiinha palumhus) ; 

 "Crake" or " Cruke," rook {Co7-vus frugilegus) ; 

 " Cuddey," hedge-sparrow {Accciilor modularis) ; 

 "Dowp," carrion crow {Corvus corone) ; "Glead," 

 kite (Milvus vulgaris) ; "Gowk," cuckoo [Cuculus 

 canorus) ; " Herring-sue," common heron {Ardea 

 cinerea) ; " Lairock," skylark {Alauda arvcnsis) ; 

 " Nanpie," or " Pyet," magpie {Pica caudata) ; 

 "Teeafit," lapwing {Vaiiellus cristatus) ; "Ask," 

 common newt {Lissotriton pnnctatus) ; " Hagworm," 

 common snake {Tropidoiiotus natrix) ; " Cuvvins," 

 periwinkles {Turbo liitoreus) ; " Flithers," limpets 

 {Patella) ; " Brock," the cuckoo-spit insect {Cicada 

 spumaria) ; " Buer ". or " Buver," gnat {Culcx 

 pipic'fis) ; " Bum'ler " or " Bumblebee," humble bee 

 {Bornifus Urrcsiris) ; " Cow-lady," " Ladyclock," or 

 " Judy-cow," lady-bird (Coccinella) ; " Forkin 

 Robin" or " Twitchbell," common earwig {Forfictila 

 auricularia). — J. P. Dotchoti. 



Limax maximus killed by eating Starch. 

 — A slug of this species was found in a basin of dried 

 starch, which had been used for laundry purposes. 

 That it had eaten very freely, was evident from the 

 marks left upon the surface. These marks were so 

 sharply defined that the number and form of the 

 denticules of the animal's jaw might have been pre- 

 dicated from them. For the next three days the slug 

 remained inert and apparently exhausted in the basin, 

 during which time it voided 68 cylindrical ovate 

 pellets of a French-grey colour, about 4imm. long 

 and 2j broad. Having read that the observations of 

 Nageli go to prove that prolonged treatment with 

 saliva will remove from starch the substance coloured 

 blue by iodine, I was curious to know whether the 

 simple acts of mastication and deglutition were suffi- 

 cient to produce this effect, for slugs as well as 

 snails are provided (for their size) with an enormous 



pair of salivary glands, so large indeed that were 

 those of man in the same proportion we should have 

 them a foot long. Accordingly I submitted some of 

 these fKcal pellets to an analyst. His report, how- 

 ever, was that a solution yielded the usual blue when 

 treated with iodine, and in as marked a degree as pure 

 starch does, and that the material apparently consisted 

 of starch which had undergone no change in passing 

 through the alimentary canal. On the morning of 

 the fourth day, I found the slug dead. — C. Ashford. 



TiNGis hystricellus. — Just thirteen years ago 

 (April 1869) there appeared in Science-Gossip, 

 vol. V. p. 84, a description of a new Tingis, by Mr. 

 H. C. Richter, who named it Tingis hystricellus. The 

 insect was discovered by me about the year 186S on 

 the Bringall plant, and was more or less abundant till 

 toward the close of the year 1871, when it suddenly 

 disappeared and was no more seen until about the 

 middle of the present month, although diligently and 

 persistingly searched for year after year by myself 

 and my head servant, who takes an interest in such 

 work. About a fortnight ago, while collecting another 

 species of Tingis from a lily leaf in our kitchen garden, 

 a Tingis hystricellus imprudently alighted upon the 

 sleeve of my coat, which at once led to the examination 

 of the Bringall plants in the garden, and I soon dis- 

 covered that our long lost friend had reappeared in 

 great force. Since then I have collected a consider, 

 able number, which I intend to forward to my friend 

 Mr. Thomas Curties, of High Holborn. They have 

 been killed by immersion in hot water, and antennas 

 and legs arranged in proper order with a small hair 

 pencil. This work, although very tedious, was not 

 difficult, for most of the insects died with outspread 

 legs and extended antennce. Each was examined 

 under a lens. I am induced to make this communi- 

 cation to you as I am occasionally asked by readers of 

 Science-Gossip for specimens of the insect, which 

 I have hitherto been unable to supply. It is curious 

 that these insects should have disappeared for such a 

 length of time and then have suddenly reappeared. 

 Our search for them was not alone confined to our 

 immediate neighbourhood. Distant vegetable gardens 

 were also examined, and I cannot find that they have 

 been met with in other parts of the island.— 6". Green. 



Cardiff Naturalists' Society.— The report 

 of Transactions for 1881, includes some excellent 

 papers, especially the Address of the President (Mr. 

 G. E. Robinson) ; " A Walk in the Country," by Dr. 

 Vachell ; "Glacial Actions in the neighbourhood of 

 Cardiff," by Mr. T. W. Edgeworth David, and a 

 capital and full Meteorological Report for 1881, by 

 Mr. F. G. Evans. 



" The Butterflies of Europe."— By Dr. H. 

 C. Lang, F.L.S. (London, L. Reeve and Co.) We 

 have received Part viii. of this beautiful work ; the 

 plates keep up their high artistic character. 



