Feb. 1, 1SCS.] 



HARDAVICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



so 



chain, as I did in 1856, then accompanied by my 

 brother Robert. In the following year my brother 

 Adolphe also advanced into Turkistan from India, 

 but unfortunately was killed at Kashgar in August, 



1S57. 



The most important views of the Kuenluen chain 

 were those taken from the neighbourhood of a 

 station named Sikander Mokam, for from it the eye 

 embraces the whole range from the Yurungkask 

 Pass eastwards, and is at the same time enabled to 

 penetrate the numerous depressions and indenta- 

 tions which mark its sides. I have given a profile 

 drawing of one of these views on plate vii. of the 

 outline panorama of the chief mountain ranges of 

 Higher Asia, in my atlas. 



Canadian Cotton. — The following is an extract 

 taken from a Canadian paper: — "Public attention 

 has lately been directed here to some specimens of 

 Cauadiau cotton, gathered by Mr. Nettle, which 

 equals silk in texture, and which can be produced 

 in any quantity. This is indigenous to the country, 

 and grows as a weed in the greatest abundance, and 

 has been long used by the Canadian farmers for 

 various domestic purposes. It is not improbable 

 that at some future, and not very distant day, its 

 value will be better appreciated, and that after due 

 attention has been paid to its culture, it may enter 

 largely into competition with the foreign product 

 upon which we are now exclusively dependent." 

 If this is true, our seedmen ought immediately 

 to avail themselves of the aid of their "corre- 

 spondents " to obtain seed of this plant, which seems 

 to offer quite a new branch to the agriculture of 

 temperate climates, as should all horticultural 

 societies, whether national or local, for distribution 

 to experimentalize with. — George Neichjn. 



The common Whiting of the shops affords a 

 ready and abundant supply of foraminifera and 

 diatoms. Whiting is simply pounded chalk, and 

 may be relied on as genuine for there is no cheaper 

 substitute. As much of it as can be heaped on a 

 fourpenny piece may be put into a tumbler of water, 

 after being well stirred and then allowed to settle 

 for a minute, the milky fluid must be poured away 

 and fresh water added. This should be repeated 

 until the water is clear enough to allow the bottom 

 to be seen. Then stir again and the moment a 

 little collection of sediment forms in the centre, 

 dip it up, drop it on a glass slide and set aside. 

 Repeat this for each slide and when dry, select the 

 best for mounting in balsam. This for foraminifera. 

 Eor diatoms dissolve in acid and treat the residuum 

 like other infusorial earths. — S. S. 



A parasitic Rotifer.— Mr. Pay Lankester has 

 found a curious parasitic Rotifer in the body-cavity 

 of two species of Synapta in the Channel Islands. 

 A figure of this parasite is given in the last part of 

 the Microscopical Journal. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Otters. — When a gamekeeper was ferreting for 

 rabbits a few days ago, in the neighbourhood of 

 Oxton, Cheshire, two otters suddenly rushed out of 

 the hole into which the ferret had just entered. 

 The keeper, having a double-barreled gun with him, 

 shot them both on the spot. One was a fine full- 

 grown female and the other a young male, both 

 being in exceedingly good condition. Their hole 

 was in close proximity to a small pond, towards 

 which they made for their escape. They have been 

 sent to be stuffed in Birkenhead where they were 

 exhibited to the public for a few days, and are now 

 in the possession of J. Smyth, Esq., Oxton, who 

 would, I have no doubt, shew them to any 

 incredulous zoologist who might wish to see them. 

 They are considered a great rarity in this part of 

 the country. — W. F. Price. 



Bittern in Aberdeen. — A fine specimen of the 

 Bittern (Ardea stellaris, Linn.), w r as shot in the 

 parish of Auchterless, on the 20th Dec, 1S67. The 

 stomach contained fragments of the Water Beetle 

 {Dytiscus marginalia). It is now a very rare bird in 

 this county. — G. Sim, Aberdeen. 



Elephant Hawk Moth. — One morning during 

 the last summer I found at West Drayton a specimen 

 of this beautiful insect on the inside of a window 

 that had been left open all night. — T. B. 



Chameleons. — In a former number of the 

 Science-Gossip, one of your correspondents ex- 

 presssed a wish to know of any treatment of 

 Chameleons which had been successful. A few 

 weeks ago I saw an intelligent letter from a lady 

 who had kept two Chameleons all through the 

 severities of an English winter, for the space of six 

 months, from which I am allowed to quote some 

 very interesting information as to their mode of 

 living, sleeping, eating, &c. These Chameleons 

 were specimens, and came from Alexandria. They 

 were kept in a glass stand placed in a sunny 

 window; a silk braid was attached to their hind 

 leg, which was again attached to a plant in the 

 stand, so as to permit them to climb wherever they 

 wished. This pleased them very much, and they 

 were always well and moving about, which is their 

 great delight. Their night arrangements were very 

 complicated. They were put to bed every night in 

 a small tea-chest, in which was placed a hot-water 

 tin covered with thick flannel, and the animals were 

 again covered up warmly with flannels. The lid of 

 the box was perforated with small holes. The 

 Chameleons were fastened down, as they have a 

 habit of making themselves quite flat and thin, so 

 as easily to slip away. Their favourite food is flies 

 or worms. Meal-worms were procured for them, as 

 that is the food used in the Zoological Gardens. 



