26o 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



" Natural History Notes." — This excellent 

 little periodical always contains good matter ; among 

 other papers now appearing we may mention Professor 

 Boulger's "Hints on Commencing the Study of 

 Botany," and Mr. T. Marshall's on " Plant Symbol- 

 ism, as connected with the Early History of 

 Mankind." 



White Varieties. — Seeing that some interest is 

 being taken in the Albino varieties of flowers by the 

 readers of Science-Gossip, I forward a list of some 

 which I have seen in this neighbourhood. Herb 

 Robert {Geranuim Robert iamnn), on the road- 

 side near Brisco, and growing from a joint in the 

 masonry of a sluice wall at Woodbank. Spiny 

 restharrow {Ononis spinosa), on gravel beds in the 

 Esk, near to the metal bridge. Small scabious 

 [Scabiosa Coliniibaria), both white and pink varieties, 

 Stainton banks, river Eden. Round-leaved bell 

 flower {Campamila rotuna'ifolia), St. "Ann's Hill 

 and Croglin. Rampion bell flower {C. rapunculus), 

 hedge-side, near Harker, probably a garden escape. 

 Heather [Calhina vulgaris) on Kingmoor, Bowness 

 Flow, &c., generally to be found on all our moors 

 and mosses in more or less quantities. It has appeared 

 in several places this year where it was never known 

 before. Centaury {Erythrcra centauriitiii) near Bow- 

 ness-on-Solway. Lousewort [redicnlaris sylvalica), 

 on waste ground near Corby quarries. Red dead- 

 nettle {Laminm piirpiircuvi) grows in some quantities, 

 mixed with the ordinary flower, at Barras Lonning 

 Dalston. Forget-me-not {Myosotis pabtsiris) not un- 

 common. Spotted orchis (Orchis i?iaailata)'K.mgmoor 

 Wood. I have also met with the double-flowered 

 celandine [C/telidoniiim majtts), and a very fine plant 

 of the twayblade [Listera ova/a) with three leaves. — 

 W. Duckworth, Stamvisc, Carlisle. 



GEOLOGY. 



Pebbles of the Drift.— Mr. W. J. Harrison, 

 F.G.S., the science demonstrator of the Birminjrham 

 board schools, and whose excellent work on the Geology 

 of the Counties of England and Wales we recently 

 had much pleasure in calling attention to, is one of 

 the hardest scientific workers in the midland counties. 

 We beg to draw notice to a paper of his, recently 

 published in the "Proceedings of the Birmingham 

 Philosophical Society," on tlie " Quartzite Pebbles 

 contained in the Drift, and in the Triassic Strata of 

 England ; and their Derivation from an Ancient 

 Land Barrier in Central England." The title fully 

 sets forth the scope of this important paper. 



Evolution.— An article by Dr. James Croll, 

 F.R.S , entitled "Evolution by Force impossible, a 

 New Argument for Theism," written before his recent 

 llness, will shortly appear in one of the quarterlies. 



"The Hematite Deposits of Furness." — 

 This is the title of a most elaborate and abundantly- 

 illustrated paper by Mr. J. D. Kendall, C.E., F.G.S., 

 recently read before the North of England Institute 

 of Mining Engineers, The author enters into a 

 detailed description of the various deposits, shows 

 their form, position, and inner nature, gives their 

 geological age (as older than the Permian), and then 

 discusses their origin. In opposition to the received 

 opinion, Mr. Kendall thinks that the Whitehaven 

 deposits show clearly that the ore in them was not 

 thrown down in caverns, for thin layers of shale are 

 frequently continued through them from the walls on 

 either side. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Starrows. — Myself and friend who have taken 

 much interest in watching sparrows, have not noticed 

 any variations in the colour of their beaks, only that 

 which is usual betAveen the male, female and young 

 bird ; the beak of the (i) being black, that of the 

 (2) flesh colour, and that of (3) dusty brown, and close 

 up to the mouth yellowish-white. — Clara Kingsford, 

 Canterbury. 



Preserving Crustacea. — In reply to T. D., the 

 plan that I have followed with considerable success 

 in the preservation of some thousands of specimens 

 of Crustacea is a remarkably simple one, and may be 

 briefly described. In the first place, specimens of 

 half an inch or three-quarters of an inch in diameter 

 need not be dissected or cleaned out, but may be 

 dried and set at once. Larger specimens should (if 

 they be crabs) have the upper position of the cara- 

 pace carefully removed with a knife. In the case of 

 the lobster forms, the thorax should be removed from 

 the abdomen in the same way. Remove all the 

 internal portions and wash thoroughly in cold, clean, 

 fresh water. Should the carapace be a delicate or 

 thin one, cotton wool of a suitable colour may be in- 

 serted in order to assist in keeping the natural tint of 

 the animal. Now replace the carapace and any of 

 the limbs that it has been necessary to remove for 

 cleaning (small claws need not be cleaned out), and fix 

 by means of a strong, clean cement. Set the speci- 

 men up with pins on a piece of soft pine, arranging 

 the limbs, &c., in order for the cabinet, and place the 

 board of specimens in a cool, dark spot, where the 

 process of drying will go on evenly. This is the real 

 secret of success, as a little heat or light will bleach 

 the animals in a very short time. Crustacea should 

 be set up soon after death, and should be well 

 washed in fresh water or they will give in damp 

 weather. If T. D. will communicate with me I shall 

 be happy to assist him iViX\\\e.x.—Ed%va7-d Loz<ett, 

 George Street, Croydon. 



A Field of Scabious. — The beautiful sight 

 presented to me a few days since (September 7th) by 

 a field at Claygate, near Esher, Surrey, almost full of 

 Scabiosa succisa in bloom, led me to inquire into the 

 various popular names which have been given to 

 that well-known species of scabious. Of these, "blue 

 cap " would seem to be one of the most appropriate. 

 But " Devil's bit " is probably the commonest, and is 

 supposed to be taken from the peculiar conformation 

 of the root, branching off almost at the ground, and 

 looking almost as if it had been bitten off at the 



