Jan. 1, 1867.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



15 



some good practical advice, or friendly caution; 

 and for the inexperienced, who for the first time 

 emulates to climb a mountain, his little volume is as 



\ /if 





Fig. 8. 



indispensable as the " Rucksack," or the " alpen- 

 stock," and those who have trodden the rugged path 

 will doubtless do it better the next time after taking 

 a little of his advice. 



PERILS OE A NATURALIST. 



TjmOM a letter by Mr. William Gray (District 

 -■- Inspector of Public Works in Ireland), pub- 

 lished in the Belfast Northern Whig of December 

 15th last, we glean the following singular narrative. 

 Being in Londonderry on the Wednesday previous, 

 he resolved to find a correspondent, whom he had 

 not seen. Not knowing where to find the street he 

 inquired of a man on the footpath for Pump Street. 

 This individual not only pointed the way, but offered 

 to go with Mr. Gray and show him. During the 

 walk the conductor in " seedy uniform " says that 



he is a " harbour-constable." Arrived at the street, 

 and the number, the name on the door-plate proved 

 to be some other than the one which Mr. Gray was 

 seeking ; he resolved, therefore, on returning to his 

 hotel without further inquiry. The officious con- 

 ductor steps up to his side, learns the name of the 

 person sought, and again offers his services, this 

 time more pressingly, and urge* that it is all on the 

 way to the hotel. Pulling up at a doorway, they 

 enter, two or three policemen are standing about, 

 the conductor inquires for the sergeant, and Mr. 

 Gray for Mr. Greer for whom he was seeking. 

 Light then broke in upon him as his " seedy " friend 

 announced, in not very choice language, " You are 

 my prisoner ; I arrest you on suspicion ; I charge 

 you with coming down Pump Street and knocking 

 at every house you passed." Protestations were 

 vain, the prisoner was taken into the kitchen of the 

 police-barrack ; he explained who and what he was, 

 gave his card, announced his business, and produced 

 the following letter -. — 



" 19, Pump Street, Londonderry, March 2, 1866. 



"Dear Sir, — I would take it as a particular favour 

 if you would let me have a small quantity of the 

 Diatomaceous earth you refer to in Science Gossip. 

 I enclose two stamps, and remain yours, &c." 



The fact was made clear that he was a naturalist 

 and had exchanged letters with this gentleman 

 through the medium of a publication called Science 

 Gossip, but had never seen his correspondent, and 

 had been in search of him. By dint of perseverance 

 he was permitted to go again, under the protection 

 of two police, in search of his unknown corre- 

 spondent. This time the search was successful, one 

 of the police soon presented himself with Mr. Greer. 

 The latter apologized that since his note was written 

 the number on the door had been altered. The rain 

 poured in torrents as the five individuals marched 

 to see the mayor. This functionary was entertain- 

 ing a large dinner party, but did attend to his un- 

 bidden visitors. The "seedy harbour-constable" 

 made the charge, the prisoner denied, and ulti- 

 mately it was understood that the mayor was satis- 

 fied that the prisoner need not be detained, but 

 should be taken to the head-constable and have his 

 papers examined, and if he was satisfied Mr. Gray 

 might be released. The head-constable was not at 

 home. Eor an hour or more he was waited for. In 

 the interval Mr. Gray and Mr. Greer had time to 

 talk over their favourite pursuits. This did not 

 improve matters with the " harbour-constable," who, 

 of course, took care to hear all. "Eor," says Mr. 

 G., " when we talked of the thousands of Diatomacea>. 

 to be had in my district, the beauty of the Polycysiins, 

 the movements of Navicular, and the best way of 

 mounting Algse and Polyzoa, the poor constable 

 seemed utterly bewildered, and expressed his feel- 

 ings by saying, ' It was d d quare that fellows 



