161 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



or never seen, and as a commercial article Spanish 

 saffron, or Azafran, if Mrs. Watney prefers it, 

 is generally regarded as the best kind: though 

 it might at one time have been dipped in oil, 

 such is not the practice now. Next in quality to 

 the Spanish comes Frencli, and then Italian. A 

 reference to p. 349 of Lindley and Moore's "Trea- 

 sury of Botany," or p. 444 of Beiitley and Red- 

 wood's new edition of "Pereira," will confirm these 

 statements. The next paragraph of Mrs. Vv'atue.v's 

 I have to deal with runs as follows— "The Meadow 

 Saffron is a different plant ; from it colchicum is 

 produced ; and we likewise have an early purple 

 crocus, the C. Vermis, or spring crocus; but neither 

 of the latter possess any medicinal virtues, I be- 

 lieve." The colchicum produced from the Meadow 

 Saffron, which is the Colchicum autumnale, L., does 

 really possess medicinal virtues; it is an article 

 well known to every medical man, and is given in 

 different forms, in rheumatism, dropsy, &c. Wine 

 of colcliicum is a popular specific in gout. In 

 point of medicinal value the Colchicum is a more 

 important plant than the Crocus. — John R. Jackson, 

 KeiD. 



The Saffkon. — I am much obliged to both your 

 correspondents " H. B." and J. W. White, for 

 drawing my attention to an error which appeared 

 in my notice of this plant published in the May 

 numliier of Science-Gossip. I seldom read my 

 effusions in print. I ought to do so when proofs 

 are not furnislied, and critics, who have drunk 

 " deeply " of the " Pierian spring," on the alert. I 

 also know that I am a careless writer, and that the 

 best of P. D.'s is not infallible. I believe I wrote, 

 or at any rate I intended to do so, — "There are 

 three species of crocus besides the saffron crocus, 

 — the naked-flowering, the lesser, and the spring cro- 

 cus ; neither of which possess any medicinal 

 virtues." The C. nudijlorus, or naked-flowering 

 crocus, produces its bloom before the leaves. Mr. 

 White probably alludes to tliis species. "H. B." 

 asks, "What is colchicum?" As I have sent up 

 a notice of the plant from which it is extracted, 1 

 will only subscribe myself, — H. E. Watney. 



Tufted Duck. — I should doubt the bird 

 described by "G. E. R." being a Tufted Duck, or, 

 at least, a sure bred one in any state of plumage. 

 I infer from its having a crest that it was a drake. 

 —G. 



Pigeons. — Can any of your correspondents 

 inforui me if it is a common circumstance tor two 

 birds to be hatched from one egg ? I have a pair 

 of Beards so hatched. They are both healthy and 

 alive. — Columba. 



Chemical Puopeiities of Pdngi.— What are 

 the chemical properties of the fungi wliicli cause the 

 luxuriant growth of grasses on the fairy rings? 

 Does the manuring property arise from the decom- 

 position of full-grown fungi, or is it attracted from 

 the atmosphere or soil by tlie spawn ? — 11. IT. D. 



SuGAKiNG^— Reading the article on moth-collect- 

 ing by Dr. Xnaggs reminded me of my old plan of 

 boxing insects alter sugaring. I carry a number of 

 "Vesuvian" boxes, and when the insect is quietly 

 settled, I place over it the half-opcm drawer, and 

 sliding it in, capture my prize without risk from 

 handling, or any necessity for a net. I also use a 

 small, flat, dark lantern, fixed by a leather strap 

 round tlic waist, which arrangement leaves the hands 

 at perfect liberty. — //'. G. 



The "Game Cock."— Is the "Game Cock," 

 now happily scarce, merely a variety of the genus 

 " Gallus," handed down to us, unmixed, from remote 

 antiquity ? Or is it, as I have been told by one who 

 speaks, as he says, from personal knowledge, across 

 between the cock pheasant and the farm-yard hen ? 

 —J. W. B. 



Natural History Guide to Scarborough. — 

 It may be of interest to some few readers of 

 Science-Gossip, who may perchance visit Scar- 

 borough, to know that there is a guide to that 

 place containing a list of the local fauna and flora 

 of the neighbourhood, and also the precise spots 

 where they occur. These lists have been compiled 

 by several eminent naturalists resident in the 

 vicinity of Scarborough, and who have for some 

 time past worked the neighbourhood with consider- 

 able patience. The botanist, zoologist, entomologist, 

 and geologist will find this book a most valuable 

 assistance in their pursuits whilst sojourning there. 

 The publisher is S. W. Theakstou, of Scarborough. 

 —H. A. AuUl. 



A Microscopical Difficulty. — Believing that 

 a record of failures is sometimes as useful as a 

 notice of success, I wish to mention a difficulty I 

 have long experienced in the preparation of a 

 certain class of microscopic objects, and to request 

 the advice of some of your more experienced cor- 

 respondents in suggesting a remedy. I have long 

 taken much interest in the preparation and mount- 

 ing of the various spiculaj found in the skins of 

 British and foreign Synaptee, Holothurise, and 

 Chirodotse, as well as those of Gorgonise ; but 

 hitherto without the invariable success 1 hoped for. 

 The difficulty has been, how to remove the soft 

 parts completely without destroying the calcareous 

 spiculae. I have tried liquor potassse pure, and in 

 almost every degree of dilution ; but the result has 

 been that, after a time, a portion of the fleshy sub- 

 stance becomes insoluble, or is converted into a 

 sticky substance, like birdlime ; on further boiling 

 to remove this, the spiculse begin to corrode, and 

 after a time disappear altogether. Thinking that 

 the previous preservation of some of these specimens 

 in spirit may have hardened the skins, I have tried 

 previous maceration in pure water, but without 

 success. In the cases where I had mounted some 

 that were clean and very carefully and well washed, 

 they remained perfect for some years, but vdtimately 

 the same corroding process began to show itself, 

 although I had no reason to suppose there was any 

 fault in the Canada balsam. 1 should, however, 

 observe that some prepared apparently in the same 

 way ten years ago remain as good as ever, though I 

 really cannot say why ; showing that my failure is 

 not an unavoidable one. 1 shall feel extremely 

 obliged for any suggestions that yourcorrespoudeuts 

 may kindly oli'er.— A'. Battersby. 



IIow TO Kill Moths.— I see in your May num- 

 ber of Science-Gossip a request for some receipt for 

 destroying moths, i have one, which has kept them 

 off lor about thirty years. I believe it never fails 

 to keep off moths, but am not sure it will destroy 

 them. Spirits of wine, 4 pint ; spirit of turpentine, 

 f pint ; camphor, 3 oz , to be shaken before using, 

 and kept in a stone bottle. The woollen clothes or 

 furs to be wrapped in linen, and crumpled-up 

 pieces of Wottiug-paper, dipped in the liquid, to be 

 placed in the box with ihc.n, so that it smells 

 strongly. This requires renewing about once a year. 

 — Maryaret Lotoe. 



