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HARDWICKKS SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



mutual study. We are pleased to notice the first 

 Annual Journal and Report of the above Society for 

 i8S2. From it we learn that papers have been 

 read on " Pollen Grains," by Miss Alcock ; on " Proto- 

 cocats nivalis" by Mr. D. R. Sharpe (hon. sec.) ; 

 by Mr. E. B. Knobel, F.R.A.S., on "Crystallisation," 

 and " The Principles of the Spectroscope ;" by Mr. 

 Harrison on *' Mounting Microscopical Objects ;" by 

 Mr. R. W. Davies on "The Honey Bee ;" by Mr. 

 F. R. Row on " Photomicrography." The Report 

 shows a very healthy and highly creditable state of 

 affairs. 



The Sign x . — I cannot find that any microscopist 

 with whom I am acquainted has been either puzzled 

 or misled by the above sign. When a certain figure is 

 said to represent an object X 500 diameters, we can 

 •without difficulty ascertain its actual size, and thus 

 be able to compare it with our own specimens ; on 

 finding it agrees in outline, size, and the more con- 

 spicuous details, we are satisfied as to their identity, 

 and if it lacks the finer structure displayed by our own 

 objective we at once conclude that the one used by 

 the writer was inferior, or that he could not manipu- 

 late it to the best advantage. An inch is an inch, 

 although its smaller divisions are not indicated. — 

 F.K. 



Talc was used by the old microscopists for 

 covering their specimens, but is rarely used now for 

 preparations intended to be permanent ; it is some- 

 times substituted for a film of selenite, and sold with 

 cheap polariscopes, but it is not satisfactory.— /^ K. 



•'Studies in Microscopical Science."— 

 (Edited by A. C. Cole, F.R.M.S.) The scientific 

 and artistic merit of these weekly issues, instead of 

 falling beneath the high character they attained at 

 first, have, if possible, improved upon it. To the 

 microscopical student they come as a royal road to 

 learning. Here is a beautifully mounted slide of 

 some object, accompanied by a " Study," written by 

 some specialist, illustrated by an exquisite coloured 

 drawing and a list of works on the subject, together 

 with full and complete instructions to the student 

 how to mount the object for himself. And all for 

 one shilling, including postage of slide and " Study ! " 

 Comment is needless, although we may be allowed to 

 wonder how Mr. Cole and his coadjutors manage to 

 doitl 



Burrowing Bee.— A burrowing bee which ap- 

 pears in numbers when gooseberry blossoms disap- 

 pearing before fruit is formed. About a fourth larger 

 than hive bee, and densely clothed with orange- 

 coloured hairs, which in the bright sunshine are 

 intensely red, and cause the creature to look as 

 though it had fallen into a heap of vermilion. Ex- 

 cavates a deep burrow in my lawn. Male smaller 

 than female.—^. //• K. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse in Staffordshire. — 

 Some twenty years ago the servant of a relative of 

 mine, who lived near Eccleshall, was out one evening 

 shooting rabbits. When too dark to see plainly, he 

 turned to go home, when a flock of birds flew over 

 his head, into which he fired, bringing down three, 

 one of which he could not find, owing to the fading 

 light, though on going in the morning to look again, 

 he found it, but nearly all eaten by vermin. The 

 birds turned out to be pin-tailed sand-grouse. The 

 two first picked up were stuffed, and I have often had 

 the opportunity of seeing them, and very beautiful 

 birds they are.— jT, D., Cofton Hackdt. 



Errata.— Notes on Damping the Pup^ of 

 Lepidoftera, &c. — In the second part of my paper 

 on the above subject (Science-Gossip for September, 

 p. 203), the words emergence and appearance (sixth 

 and seventh lines from top of page) were, by error, 

 transposed. — W.J. V. Vandenbergh. 



The Water Spider. — I found a water spider 

 near the end of June this year ; it was placed in a jar 

 containing vallisneria. In the night it spun a thin 

 filmy irregular sphere-shaped chamber, which it 

 had filled with air, placing the chamber near the top 

 of the water. When out and crawling about, a fly 

 was placed near the habitation ; attracted by its strug- 

 gles, the spider soon seized it, and after some mauling 

 carried it into its room, pushing it under the bell. 

 Some few hours afterwards it was ejected a shape- 

 less mass. The operation of enlarging the chamber 

 from about j inch to i inch in length or depth 

 was very interesting to witness. The spider is 

 about g inch in length without the legs, and 

 about /g in width ; dark brown, appears black in the 

 water, body appears to be covered with fine short 

 hairs. When in the water, the abdomen and corselet 

 are always covered with a film of air, the total reflec- 

 tion of the light from many parts of it giving it a 

 silvery appearance as it scuttles through the water. 

 After adding a ring of almost invisible film to its 

 room by working inside, it proceeded to fill up with 

 air, which it accomplished by mounting to the 

 surface of the water protruding the abdomen above the 

 surface, withdrawing it with an extra quantity adher- 

 ing to it. Descending with the bubble, which 

 appeared to be retained in side by the help of the 

 hindermost legs, it next inserted the body under the 

 bell, released the bubble, and mounted for a fresh 

 supply, repeating the process until the bell bubbled 

 over with excess. Once in descending, which was 

 always done quickly, the bubble escaped ; something 

 like reason occurred. It paused, thought it was of no 

 use to go back empty-handed, having no load, the 

 burden which acted upon it the reverse way of most 

 burdens having vanished, it mounted for a fresh load, 



