Jan. 1, 18G8.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



17 



goes on for ever — that is to say, throughout all 

 generations — of course no one can tell; but if it 

 does — and there is no reason to suppose the con- 

 trary—then it is self-evident that the posterior 

 portion of one of these worms is, as I observed 

 before, practically never-dying. It is simply fitted 

 every now and then with a new head ! In fact, 

 the tail of the first Syllis ever formed, provided it 

 has had the good luck to escape external accidents, 

 must still be in existence — a truly venerable 

 animal, and without controversy "the oldest inha- 

 bitant" of the seas! — W. W. Spieer, Clifton. 



Colias Edusa in Ireland.— If " W. B." will 

 refer to the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, vol. iii. 

 p. 4, he will learn that this insect is not uncommon 

 in Ireland. Mr. Edwin Birchall mentions Colias 

 edusa as "common in some seasons on the south 

 and east coast ; occurs more rarely north of 

 Dublin ; in profusion at Killarney in August, 1865." 

 — Edward S. Hames, Brettell-lane, Stourbridge. 



Late Swallows. — I saw at the railway station 

 here, on Thursday last (November 28), a pair of 

 swallows flying about quite actively, it being a 

 sunshiny day with us. I fancy this is rather a late 

 appearance of these birds. — W. Hambrough, 

 Worthing. 



Late Swallow.— On the 30th November I saw 

 a swallow flitting about Hackney Common. — G. 

 Bullard, South Hackney. 



Bulijius Goodallii, Miller. — This West-Indian 

 species of shell appears to be gradually extending 

 itself in the nursery grounds of this country. It 

 has propagated for many years among greenhouse 

 exotics at Bristol, but this morning a couple of 

 living specimens were brought to me from the 

 orchid-house of Mr. Day, of this place. His gardener 

 says the animal is very destructive to the plants.— 

 C. Ashford, Grove House, Tottenham, 27th Nov. 



Conchological Notes.— I have lately taken 

 one or two varieties of fresh-water shells which do 

 not appear to be mentioned in any Conchological 

 works; and as they are very distinct from the 

 types of the species, I venture to report them in 

 Science-Gossip. The first is a pure milk-white 

 variety of Planorbis nitidus, of which about a dozen 

 specimens, along with many of the typical colour, 

 have been taken in a drain at this place. Another 

 is a bandless variety of Paludina listeri, similar to 

 the variety uuicolor of P. contecta, mentioned by 

 Mr. Jeffreys in his "British Conchology." The 

 specimens were like the type, with the exception of 

 being free from any trace of bands. The last is a 

 variety of Physa hypnorum, which has the last 

 whorl of the shell bluntly, but very distinctly keeled. 

 The specimens were somewhat larger than the 

 ordinary form of the shell. The two last-mentioned 



varieties, as well as the. first, were taken near this 

 place (Brigg, Lincolnshire). — Thomas Ball. 



Marsh Snail (Paludina listeri). — The other 

 day I noticed a habit of Paludina listeri, which to 

 me was quite a new one. I was searching for the 

 shell in a locality where it is usually very plentiful ; 

 but at first no specimens could be found, and it 

 seemed as if it had disappeared for the winter ; but 

 at last I began to find shells here and there, partially 

 buried in the mud, and further examination showed 

 that in almost every case in which one could be 

 seen, there was in reality a considerable number all 

 huddled together and buried in one common hole ; 

 often as many as from twelve to twenty being thus 

 congregated ; remiuding one of the winter conglo- 

 merations of Helix aspersa. Is P. listeri known to 

 be social in its hyberuating habits ? — Thomas Ball. 



Coloration of Ciirysalids.— I am very glad to 

 see that one of the correspondents of Science- 

 Gossip, in a recent number, has to a great exten 

 confirmed my observations with regard to the 

 coloration of ciirysalids. I have not the smallest 

 doubt of the fact that when exposed to view, as 

 most of the butterfly ciirysalids are, they are dis- 

 guised in form, colour, and markings, also that the 

 skin is sensitive to light and colour for a short time 

 after the transformation, i.e. until it is dry. I 

 would refer your correspondent, and all who may 

 take an interest in the subject, to the Zoologist of 

 December, which contains a paper read by me at 

 a meeting of the Entomological Society. — T. W. 

 Wood, F.Z.S. 



Bugs.— A correspondent, writing about bed bugs, 

 asserts that they will livehalf-an-hour or more when 

 completely saturated with spirits of turpentine. I 

 have put a single spot of turpentine on a bug many 

 times — on a couple of scores at least — and invariably 

 they straightened their legs, lifting their bodies as 

 far from the ground as possible by that action, and 

 never afterwards stirred. This morning I caught 

 a fine bug, and having placed ,him on a slide 

 underneath the microscope, applied turpentine. I 

 had a powerful light shining through him, so as to 

 render his internal arrangements visible, and at the 

 end of half a minute there was no perceptible sign 

 of life. My experience is that turpentine in any 

 form is certain death to bugs. Salt and water does 

 not act quickly or very efficaciously with the bugs 

 I have had to deal with. The assertion that the 

 odour is either delicate or agreeable needs no re- 

 futation. The writer must have peculiarities in his 

 likings : most people find the smell strong enough, 

 and certainly very disagreeable. I have read that 

 spiders have an antipathy to bugs, and would eagerly 

 devour them. I have tried this by enclosing various 

 sorts of spiders— both garden and house— with 

 bugs, and I never was able to get either to attack 



