HARD WI CKE 'S S CIENCE -GOSS IP. 



209 



Preserving Crustaceans. — Having successfully 

 preserved some hunclretls of crustaceans, I can confi- 

 dently recommend the following method as giving 

 good results : — First carefully take off the carapace, 

 and with a pair of forceps remove the whole of the 

 adherent flesh from the interior, completing the 

 cleansing process by thoroughly rinsing with fresh 

 water, for which purpose a bottle-syringe will be 

 found extremely useful. All the soft matter is then 

 to be removed from the body of the crab, picking out 

 with the forceps as much as possible of the muscular 

 fibres at the base of the legs, and finally wash away 

 all the debris with water. The crab must then be 

 placed in a current of air to dry, taking care that it is 

 not exposed to the direct rays of the sun, as too much 

 heat would alter the natural colour of the specimen. 

 Before the crustacean is quite dry, the carapace 

 should be replaced, and the legs pinned out on a cork 

 setting-board, and the whole put in a warm place to 

 dry. It is unnecessary to attempt to remove the flesh 

 in the legs and claws, as the muscular fibre contained 

 in them will entirely dry up if the foregoing instruc- 

 tions are properly carried out. — Thomas D . Russell, 

 48, Essex-street, Strand. 



Researches among the Acarid^. — In a recent 

 number of Ahiture there appears an account of the 

 researches made by M. Meguin among the Acaridce, 

 and particularly on that strange asexual form known 

 as Hypopes. This is a form which is not absolutely 

 necessary for reproduction, although it seems to occur 

 under certain biological conditions for the conserva- 

 tion of species. In the aerial reservoir of birds, espe- 

 cially of the GallinaceiE, there is found an inoffensive 

 species of acarus, called Kytodites glabcr, which 

 sends off colonies even to the bronchial branches, and 

 the marrowless bones of the limbs which are in com- 

 munication with the air-vessels. Another harmless 

 acarus has been found in the cellular tissue of birds, 

 living and dying there. A third species, which lives 

 normally between the barbs of the feathers, produces 

 in the skin of birds, especially of pigeons, at the time 

 of moulting, a hypopial vermiform nymph. Without 

 this latter precaution, the species would soon be an- 

 nihilated, on account of the falling of the feathers 

 during the moulting season. 



The New Museum in Dublin. — In the second 

 part of Industrial Art (a capital new monthly shilling 

 magazine devoted to technology and art, and profusely 

 illustrated with highly artistic vignettes) there is a 

 well-written article on this subject. It was a scheme 

 of Mr. Sullivan, M. P., who seems to have wished for 

 a science and art focus in Dublin which should equal 

 that of South Kensington in England. The scheme 

 seems to promise, however, that the new Dublin 

 Museum, like that at Edinburgh, will simply be a 

 satellite of that at South Kensington. 



The Gorilla. — A young gorilla, the first living 

 specimen which has been exhibited in this country, 



has for some time been shown at the Westminster 

 Aquarium. It is about three years old. Those who 

 have the opportunity should not neglect to see it. 



The Rothsay Aquarium. — We have received a 

 copy of the official guide-book to this flourishini; 

 aquarium, compiled by the curator, Mr. Barker. 

 The matter, is well and popularly presented to the 

 public, and the guide cannot fail to interest visitors 

 in the objects exhibited to them. 



New Species of Birds. — In the August number 

 of the Annals and JMagazine of Natural History, 

 Lord Tweeddale has described four new species of 

 birds from the Indian region, under the names of 

 Megalurits riificeps, Niltava leiuura, Diazuin xant/10- 

 pygiiim, and Oxyccra Everetti. 



BOTANY. 



Fructification of Sycamore. — The Sycamore, 

 Acer pseudoplatanus, belongs to the natural order 

 Sapindacem, the flowers of which are partly charac- 

 terized by having eight stamens and a two-celled 

 ovary. In the Sycamore, as every one knows, the 

 two ovaries eventually become a fruit, formed of two 

 diverging winged seeds, called a Samara. That there 

 are only two winged seeds, by reason of the suppres- 

 sion, under ordinary circumstances, of several others, 

 is clear from the fact that occasionally a sycamore 

 fruit may be found in which three, four, five, and 

 even six winged seeds have been developed. Per- 

 haps eight should be the theoretical number, to cor- 

 respond with the eight stamens. But the fact to 

 which I wish to draw attention is that, for some 

 reason or other, this year the suppressed cells of the 

 ovary have been developed in a very remarkable 

 manner. Sycamore fruits, with three, four, five, and 

 six winged seeds are as common almost as with two. 

 Those with three seeds are on some trees almost the 

 rule rather than the exception ; they are less frequent, 

 with larger numbers of seeds, but still a bunch can 

 scarcely be found that has not at least one fruit with 

 four wings. My observations extend to Cheshire, 

 and North Wales along the Vale of Llangollen, and 

 on to Dolgelley. I observe that the abnormal growth 

 is most marked in young and vigorous trees ; but 

 even old trees of a 'large size are, to a considerable 

 extent, the same. It would be interesting to hear if 

 this curious phenomenon has been general ; and more 

 interesting still if any correspondent can suggest a 

 reason for it in this particular year. — Robert Holland. 



Erica mediterranea. — Mr. Stewart, in the 

 June number, says that he believes Erica mediterranea 

 to be extinct on Urrisbeg. This is a mistake ; but it 

 is very local, only growing in one small valley. I 

 found it there in June abundantly, but with nearly 

 all the flowers withered and brown. Any one going 

 in search of it had better get a guide to the spot. 



