Dec. 1, 1SG7-] 



H A 11 D \V I C K E* S SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



277 



MICROSCOPY. 



Preparation of Snails' Tongues.— I present 

 a plan devised many years ago, for such small forms 

 as Littorinu and the like, whose lingual ribbons are 

 extremely tender, and difficult to see as well as 

 handle. I use a rather strong solution of caustic 

 potassa, the strength of which I cannot exactly 

 specify, as it must vary with the species under 

 manipulation, some having ribbons of such strength 

 that they will bear the very strongest solution, 

 while others will be injured by immersion in a 

 comparatively weak liquid. Into this solution in a 

 test tube or other convenient vessel, plunge the 

 whole animal ; in the case of the smaller creatures, 

 shell and all. The specimen may be fresh, or 

 preserved in alcohol, but on the former the potassa 

 will act most vigorously. I have found that one 

 good way is to let the animal stand in the shell 

 until it dies and begins to decompose, when it can 

 readily be removed, and falls in pieces. The lingual 

 ribbon, as a general thing, is not easily decomposed. 

 Now either set the potassa solution, with the animal 

 in it, aside for some days, or boil it at once. You 

 will then find that almost everything dissolves and 

 becomes " soap," except the shell and operculum, a 

 few shreds of muscular fibre, and the prized lingual 

 ribbon. Erequent washing with fresh water now 

 removes all the alkali, and leaves the teeth clean 

 and in perfect order. It can then lie mounted in 

 any preservative fluid which is miscible with water, 

 and is best removed to alcohol to be kept until it is 

 mounted. To mount it, remove it from the spirit- 

 and without drying plunge it in pure spirits of 

 turpentine, in which it should be boiled for a short 

 time to drive off some of the alcohol. It can now 

 be mounted in Canada balsam, when it shows all its 

 beauties in a remarkable manner, and, at the same 

 time, shows its effects on polarized light. I would 

 say, that the potassa cleans the shell and operculum 

 beautifully. — A. 31. Edwards, New York. , 



Chelifers formed the subject of a paper by 

 Mr. S. J. Mclntire at the meeting of the Quekett 

 Microscopical Club on the 25th of October. During 

 the discussion which ensued it was elicited that at 

 least oi species were known and described, of which 

 39 were European, 7 African, 7 American, and 1 

 Asiatic. Of the European only nine had at present 

 been found in Great Britain, and of these it, is be- 

 lieved that these species are peculiarly British. 

 Only two species appear to have been known to 

 Linnaeus under the specific names of eancroides and 

 acaroides, the former name being still applied to 

 one of the commonest of European forms. Mr. 

 Mclntire exhibited living specimens as types of the 

 two genera — of Chelifer, with two eyes, and Obisium, 

 with four eyes. The subject excited considerable 

 interest. 



BOTANY. 



Flora of Bucks.— May I again direct the at- 

 tention of your readers to this subject ? Since my 

 first notice appeared in Science-Gossip, in March, 

 1S65, I have been actively engaged in collecting 

 materials for a Buckinghamshire Flora, with but 

 partial success ; indeed, I am almost as ignorant as 

 I then was regarding the botany of the entire north 

 of the county. My knowledge of South Bucks has, 

 however, considerably increased, although it is by 

 no means perfect at present ; the district with which 

 I am best acquainted being comprised within a 

 radius of five miles from my residence at High 

 Wycombe. The number of flowering plants and 

 ferns at present recorded for the entire county is but 

 771 : of these I hope soon to publish a list, which I 

 shall be glad to send to any one who may desire it. 

 I trust that this second appeal for help may not be 

 made in vain; the smallest contributions will be 

 thankfully received. — James Britten, High Wycombe. 



Cucumbers.— It is related by Pliny that Tiberius 

 the Emperor was so fond of cucumbers that there 

 was not a day throughout the year but he had them 

 served up at his table. The beds and gardens 

 wherein they grew were made upon frames, so as to 

 be removed every way with wheels ; and in winter, 

 during the cold and frosty days, they could be drawn 

 back into certain high covered buildings, exposed to 

 the sun, and there housed under roof. These appear 

 to be the earliest accounts of the forcing of plants 

 of which we read. It is probable, also, that artifi- 

 cial heat was used ; as we find, by the remains of 

 their villas in this country, how perfectly the Romans 

 were acquainted with the method of warming their 

 rooms with flues. — Phillips's " Fruits of Great 

 Britain.'" 



Ivy at Ciiadkihk.— There is a very curious 

 ivy- tree at Chadkirk, a small village about four 

 miles from Stockport. This ivy grows upon, and 

 almost covers, the walls of (I believe) the clergy- 

 man's house. It is an old tree, the main stem being 

 four or five inches in diameter. About ten years ago 

 a door was made at one end of the house, and to 

 give room for it, many of the largest branches of 

 the ivy were cut through, the lower parts being 

 taken away, the upper parts being left on the wall. 

 Thus, at least one-third of this fine plant was severed 

 from the main tree, and all supplies of nourishment 

 from the soil cut off. Strange to say, the severed 

 limbs have not died, as is usual in such cases, but 

 the aerial roots by which the ivy fixes itself the wall, 

 and of which the sole use is usually to enable it to 

 cling, appear to have accommodated themselves to 

 circumstances, and to have acted like true roots, 

 drawing enough moisture from the stone walls to 

 enable the ivy to live, and it is at the present 



