i6 



HARD WICKE 'S S CIENCE - G SSI P. 



tinued to wriggle about for a considerable time, ap- 

 parently not much inconvenienced by a dose of these 

 ardent spirits. — A. M. 



How TO RESOLVE TEST DiATOMS WITHOUT 



ANY SrECiAL Apparatus. — Turn the instrument 

 at right angles to the sun ; close the diaphragm 

 so as to cut o§^ all light bdaiv the stage; or, if that 

 cannot be done, place a piece of black paper behind 

 the slide. Bring the light on to the object at the angle 

 zvhich suits it best. This is easily done by moving the 

 microscope to the right or left. If necessary, increase 

 the light by the use of the stage or stand bull's-eye 

 condenser. That is all. A black ring round the 

 covering-glass is an objection when the cover is small, 

 as it interferes with the light. To carry out this plan 

 successfully, only two things are necessaiy — viz. , the 

 sun and an object-glass, capable of resolving the test, 

 just before it. It is not intended to supersede the 

 use of the apparatus, for the sun is far too uncertain 

 an illuminator to 'be depended upon, and most men 

 work by night ; but it may be useful to those who 

 cannot afford to purchase any apparatus— not even 

 an oblique illuminator, the cheapest of all. I must 

 justify this allusion to my pet child by stating that I 

 have not, and never have had, any pecuniary interest 

 in its sale. Having been asked questions as to its capa- 

 bilities, I can only repeat what I have before stated, 

 viz., that by its help I can resolve tests which I never 

 could touch before, though possessing achromatic 

 condensers, spot lens, &c. — John Bramhall, St. 

 yohCs Vicarage. 



Dammar. — I have used this as a mounting medium 

 during the last four years, and with the most satis- 

 factory results. The manipulation is very simple, 

 and herein lies its great value to the microscopist. 

 With all due deference to Mr. Williams (p. 254), I 

 do not think that 3.ny finishing varnish is required if 

 a thick solution of dammar in benzol is used. — 

 F. Coles. 



ZOOLOGY. 



To Secretaries of London Natural His- 

 tory, ETC., Clubs. — We shall feel obliged by the 

 secretaries of the various Natural Histoiy and Micro- 

 scopical Clubs in and around London communicating 

 to us the titles and addresses of their societies, with 

 a view to publishing a list of them. The date of foun- 

 dation might be added, as well as the names of presi- 

 dents and secretaries. 



The Disease in Pheasants — " Gapes."— Some 

 years ago I paid considerable attention to the malady 

 called "gapes," in consequence of its destroying a 

 large number of valuable Cochin-China chickens 

 belonging to a friend. To begin with, I found the 

 affection to be most prevalent during a wet, 



miserable season ; the bird which simulated "gaping" 

 by the opening and shutting its beak, was really 

 gasping for breath, as a very cursory examination 

 made out that the trachea was more or less clogged 

 up with parasitic worms, as Dr. Dickson properly 

 described them, of "a letter Y shape." As I had 

 paid no particular attention to Helminthology, I 

 confess this " Siamese Twin" formation puzzled me 

 extremely, until I had some conversation about it 

 with Prof. Siebold, the eminent naturalist, who had 

 paid great attention to parasitic worms ; he put the 

 matter clear, and pronounced my "double-headed 

 worm "to be Syngnathus," and to be the male and 

 female in copula, the smaller body to be the male, 

 and the union to be ''■permanent." I have not Cob- 

 bold on parasitic worms to refer to, but I daresay he 

 would enter into detail respecting a pest which has 

 doubtless destroyed more game and valuable poultry 

 than all the other bird-maladies put together. My 

 business was to find a remedy for a disease about 

 which the poultry-fanciers were naturally becoming 

 clamorous, and I hit upon a very simple and very 

 effectual method of cure, which found its way into 

 The Field, was received enthusiastically, and was, I 

 believe, the means of saving thousands of valuable 

 lives, for the lives of Cochin-China chickens in that day 

 might well be described as "valuable." There was 

 eventually a delightful simplicity in treating the little 

 feathered patients, and all depending upon the dislike 

 all kinds of worms are known to entertain for " tur- 

 pentine." A small feather or camel-hair pencil, and 

 a bottle of this said turpentine formed the Materia 

 Medica. The operation for the relief of "gapes" 

 was a rapid one, and consisted in dipping the feather 

 or camel-hair pencil in the turpentine, and at the 

 instant the chicken, held in the left hand, gaped, 

 inserting the brush or feather so charged as deep as 

 possible into the trachea, and twirling it round to 

 insure a fair distribution to the worms in possession. 

 The chicken laid on the ground naturally gave a 

 series of kicks and flourishes, and, I may say, in- 

 variably coughed up a great mass of the said Y-shaped 

 worms, and then went on liis way, I have no doubt 

 rejoicing exceedingly. I believe that this simple pro- 

 ceeding was in all cases effectual where it was adopted 

 before the bird was actually moribund, and I could 

 not find that the malady " gapes " recurred in the 

 same individual. Should it, however, do so, the 

 turpentine treatment might again be employed, as I 

 certainly never saw its use followed by any but the 

 happiest results. As I always read Science-Gossip 

 with pleasure, I am glad to be able to contribute a 

 short paper, which, I trust, will not be found devoid 

 of interest.— >/i« Anthony, M.D., F.R.M.S. 



The Rosy Cribella.— (OV^^//rt rosea. MuUer.) 

 — When dredging during the past autumn off the 

 entrance to Lame Lough, I was fortunate enough to 

 secure a magnificent specimen of the above rare star- 



