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IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



solidates their particles ; whilst in heavy ones, by 

 its organic debris, it destroys their solidity and im- 

 penetrable character, in both cases maiataining for 

 some time the porosity of the soil. 



The Divinixg-Eod.— Mr. H. B. Woodward 

 mentions, in the last number of the Geological 

 Magazine, that on the Mendip Hills the divining- 

 rod is still used. He went a short time ago to the 

 little hamlet of Gurney Slade, uear Oakhill, to look 

 at a shaft that had been sunk for iron-ore. Several 

 trial holes liad been sunk, and some of these had 

 been made at the instigation of the divining-rod— 

 we need hardly sny without success. 



IS'ew Species of Geaptolites.— In the Xov. 

 number of the Geological Magazine, Mr. John Hop- 

 kinsou, r.G.S., describes and figures several new 

 species of graptolites. The iirst is named Conj- 

 ■iwides gracilis, which genus Professor Nicholson 

 regarded as allied to our recent tubularians. The 

 other species are Dendrograptus ramulus, Grapto- 

 lithas acutus, Diplograptus pinguis, 1). finihriatns, 

 J), llinclcsii, and Dicranograpltis rectus. AH the 

 above new species have been obtained from the 

 Llandeilo rocks of the South of Scotland. 



"Valleys, Deltas, Bays, and EsTUAiiiEs"is 

 tbe title given by Dr. Ricketts, F.G.S., to his presi- 

 dential address to the Liverpool Geological Society. 

 The doctor is well known as an ardent and enthu- 

 siastic field-geologist, and this address proves he is 

 equally well up in the literature of the science, and 

 knows how to apply its principles to his own ob- 

 servations. 



The Glacial Period ix Ireland. — Messrs^ 

 Kinabau & Close have just published a little work 

 on the " General Glaciatiou of lar-Connaught and 

 its Neighbourhood," in the counties of Galway and 

 Clare. It is accompanied by a large map, elaborately 

 wrought, in whicli is shown the directions of 

 the glacial strite. The hardest rocks are shown to 

 be scored, scratched, and furrowed, often to a con- 

 siderable depth. The glaciating agent is believed 

 to be land ice. The streams of boulders are seen 

 to flow in every direction from a small central area. 

 Too much praise cannot be awarded to the authors 

 for their excellent and easily-understood map, or 

 for the clear and logical manner with whicii the 

 phenomena arc briefly described. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Potato Disease. — Docs not the plan practised 

 by Mr. E. T. Scott, Norwich, of putting sand 

 round potatoes in planting them, tend to confirm, 

 in some measure, the theory of the Rev. Mr. Moule, 

 as observed by \Y. T. Thisclton Dyer, B.A., frc, 

 in his paper which appeared in the last number of 

 SciENC E-Gossu' ? Again, I would ask, is it not in 



such -counties as Cheshire, where the soil is- 

 characteristically sandy, that we obtain potatoes of 

 the finest quality, and as a rule, too, of the healthiest 

 kind "^—Johii Harrison, Neiccastlc-on-Tyne . 



CojoiENTs ON Collecting and Setti.vg Lepi- 

 doptera. — It is true that " there is a right and a 

 wrong way of doing everything." I should there- 

 fore strongly advise inexperienced entomologists 

 not on any account to set their Icpidoptera in the- 

 manner prescribed by "P. E. A." in the November 

 number of Science-Gossip, for a collection that 

 would otherwise be valuable would, if set on flat 

 boards, be rendered wortldess. As far as ap- 

 pearance is concerned, I think the preference due 

 to Icpidoptera set upon boards with curved sur- 

 faces. Surely "P. E. A." is mistaken when he 

 says that this is the old way of setting; on the 

 contrary, the way he recommends is remarkably 

 old, whilst entomologists of the present generation 

 set their Icpidoptera on the plan recommended by 

 Dr. Ivnaggs, than whom entomologists could not 

 easily find a better adviser in pursuing their 

 studies. If setting Icpidoptera on llat boards were 

 the best method, 1 would ask "P. E. A." why the- 

 Icpidoptera in our public museums are not set in 

 that way, and also why our great authorities do- 

 not set "theirs on flat boards? It is within the 

 experience of most collectors that the wings of 

 Icpidoptera would not droop when taken off the 

 boards if the insects were allowed to remain on for 

 a sufficient length of time. As to wooden setting- 

 boards, they arc out of the question, as they would 

 turn the points of the strongest of entomological 

 pins, therefore, cork setting-boards alone should 

 be used ; but their surfaces need not be rougli, for 

 any ingenious youth can make them perfectly 

 smooth for himself with a little care. If collecting- 

 boxes be made of cardboard, they are liable to get 

 broken when in the pocket, which would be very 

 provoking if they contained anything rare. Allow 

 me then to recommend zinc pocket boxes, the cork 

 inside being kept moist, will prevent the specimens 

 from bccomnigstilf beforethey can be set._ Andflnally, 

 if chloroform be used for killing Icpidoptera, many 

 charming specimens will be utterly spoiled, as it 

 imparts a stilfness to the wings which cannot be 

 remedied. A jar containing bruised laurel-leaves 

 would be found better for the killing of Icpidoptera,. 

 if a bottle containing cyanide of potassium is not 

 obtainable. — //. A. Auld. 



Sagacity of Birds. — h. curious incident oc- 

 curred the other day. -\ gentleman was seated 

 in his summer-house, when he was startled by a rus- 

 tling noise behind him. On looking round, he beheld 

 half a dozen or so of common sparrows swooping 

 down upon his cat, which was doubtless watching 

 their movements, in the hope of a sumptuous re- 

 past. But this time Tommy was as mistaken as 

 he was unprepared, for the birds dashed at him, 

 and he inunediatcly turned tail and rushed into the 

 house ; one of the plucky young birds went into 

 the house after him, and poor unnerved Tom was 

 found ultimately crouched in great terror beneath a 

 bed unstairs. This is a remarkable thing, showing 

 the sagacity in these courageous little London 

 sparrows. It is the same species of reason doubtless 

 discernible in horses, when they form a body- 

 guard against approaching enemies.— //'. S. Palmer. 



Self-heal.— Can any of your readers kindly 

 favour me with some account (including the origin 

 of the name " Selt'-hcal") of the plant referred to 



