30 



HARDWICKE'S SCI ENCK- GOSSIP. 



Spencer F. Eaird, of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 in 1854. Since that time it has become, in many 

 streams, steadily more abundant ; and although 

 weaker tiian the common sun-fish, it seems to be 

 driving them off, or at least taking their place. 

 With the mass of hook-and-line fishing-boys, this 

 species is a genuine rara avis, as it will not take 

 the hook, however seductively offered. At least 

 such has been my experience ; and I have been 

 able at odd times to take some species with a 

 hook that usually bother the " hook-and-liuers ;" as 

 the " Gizzard-Shad " {Dorosonia cepedian-uni), the 

 " pirate " {Aphrodederus sai/amis), and some of the 

 smaller " darters " {Et/ieostoiuoid(c). 

 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. 



A SIMPLE METHOD EOR PREPAEING 



SKELETON LEAVES. 



fT^HE old method for preparing skeleton leaves 

 -^ v.as to macerate tliem in water for several 

 weeks until the epidermis and parenchyma were 

 completely decayed; afterwards to rub away be- 

 twixt the fingers in clean water all the decayed 

 matter ; then to bleach the skeleton by exposing 

 it to the sun's rays. This plan is very tedious — 

 enough almost to tax the patience of Job, — and in 

 most cases it is given up in despair, because not 

 only does it take up much valuable time, but tlie 

 skeleton is frequently imperfect, for some of the 

 more delicate veinlets having become too soft, are 

 rubbed away with the cellular matter. 



Eroni experience, I can honestly recommend what 

 I call the new method to all young botanists, espe- 

 cially so to my fair friends, who take up the science 

 of botany more as an intelligent amusement than 

 for severe study. It has many advantages over the 

 plan detailed above ; very little patience is needed ; 

 it is cleanly, and tiie skeleton is ready for mounting 

 or placing in the vase in three or four hours. Of 

 course, in this, as in other tilings, a little practice 

 is needful to secure perfection. 



First dissolve four ounces of common M-ashing 

 soda in a quart of boiling water, then add two 

 ounces of slaked quicklime, and boil for about 

 fifteen minutes. Allow this solution to cool; after- 

 wards pour off all the clear liquor into a clean 

 saucepan. When the solution is at boiling-point, 

 place the leaves carefully in the pan, and boil the 

 whole together for an hour. Boiling water ought to 

 be added occasionally, but sufficient only to replace 

 tliat lost by evaporation. The epidermis and parcn- 

 cliyma of some leaves will more readily separate 

 than others. A good test is to try the leaves after 

 they have been gently boiling for about an hour, 

 and if the cellular matter does not e;isily rub off 

 betwixt the finger and thumb beneath cold water, 

 boil f'.xm again for a short time. When the flesliy 



matter is found to be sufficiently softened, rub 

 them separately but very gently beneath cold water 

 until the perfect skeleton is exposed. The skele- 

 tons at first are of a dirty-white colour; to make 

 them of a pure white, and therefore more beautiful, 

 all tliat is necessary is to bleach them in a weak 

 solution of chloride of lime. I have found the best 

 solution is a large teaspoonful of chloride of lime to 

 a quart of water: if a few drops of vinegar are added 

 to the bleaching solution, it is all the better, for 

 tiien the free chlorine is liberated. Do not allow 

 them to remain too long in the bleaching liquor, or 

 they become too brittle, and cannot afterwards be 

 handled without injury. About fifteen minutes is 

 sufficient to make them white and clean-looking. 

 Dry the specimens in white blotting-paper, beneath 

 a gentle pressui-e, after they are bleached. 



Simple leaves are the best for young beginners 

 to experiment upon : the vine, poplar, beech, and 

 ivy leaves make excellent skeletons. Care must be 

 exercised in the selection of leaves, as well as the 

 period of the year and the state of the atmosphere 

 when the specimens are collected, otherwise failure 

 will be the result. The best months to gather the 

 specimens are July and August. Never collect spe- 

 cimens in damp weather; and none but perfectly- 

 matured leaves ought to be selected. 



James E. Robinson. 



CORMORANTS AT HOME. 



f\R the S'ith of June of the present year (1871) 

 ^-^ I was introduced to a most interesting assem- 

 blage of Cormorants. The way they received me, 

 and the manner of carrying out their domestic 

 arrangements, may be interesting to some of the 

 readers of Science-Gossip. 



On the Northumberland coast, a few miles from 

 shore, lies a group of islands called the Earn 

 Islands, thirty-two in number, if the barren rock of 

 half an acre or so may be considered worthy of that 

 name. These islands vary much in size ; but it is 

 one of the larger that I have to do with now, and 

 the one on which, in September, 1838, the Forfar- 

 sJiire was wrecked, witli the rescue of whose crew 

 tiie name of Grace Darling is so intimately con- 

 nected. Not a hundred yards from the spot on 

 which this luckless ship struck is the home of the 

 Cormorants. During the time of incubation these 

 birds, together with the lesser Black-backed Gull 

 and a chance Eider Duck and Guillemot, are the 

 sole inhabitants of the island. The herbage is very 

 scanty; but even this is not made available to pro- 

 tect the nests. The barest spots are selected by 

 the Gulls to lay their eggs; and without the 

 slightest attempt to form a nest, two or three eggs 

 are deposited, and it requires the greatest care to 

 avoid treading on them. It is the Cormorants' dwell- 

 ings, however, that I want to say a few words about. 



