112 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[May 1, 1868. 



are entirely superseded by the use of chloroform, 

 which may be economically applied by means of the 

 following contrivance : — 



Fig. Ill, a, represents the case complete, con- 

 taining two ordinary test-tubes about half an inch 

 iu diameter and three or four inches long, and a 

 small bottle of chloroform. These are fitted loosely 

 into the end of a stout piece of deal wood by 

 boring with a joiner's auger; the wood is then 

 reduced to the smallest dimensions consistent with 

 strength, and covered with leather according to 

 fancy. Eig. Ill, b, represents one of the corks from 

 the tubes fitted with a small camel-hair pencil, the 

 test-tubes being of the same diameter. The corks 

 can be changed, and one pencil is sufficient for the 

 two. Having made a capture, the pencil is dipped 

 into the chloroform, and quickly applied to the tube 

 containing the insect. Small specimens are instantly 

 stupified ; so a number of them may be placed in one 

 tube without danger of mutilation. If the tube be 

 kept corked tight as much as possible, one dip of 

 the pencil will serve for a number of small insects. 

 For larger specimens, the screw-top bottles answer 

 well, with a cork fitted through the wood top, and 

 a piece of sponge fixed, as shown at c. 



The small brush is also useful for sweeping small 

 specimens into the tube >. In this way (the brush 

 moist with chloroform) I have captured at various 

 times upwards of one hundred Podura (springtails) . 



P. 



ON THE TABLE. 



rpHE three books "on the table" which call for 

 special notice this month belong respectively 

 to Zoology, Botany, and Astronomy, and are devoted 

 to the popular phases of each. Here is a Local 

 History of Birds, a Gardening Book, and Half-hours 

 with the Telescope. The first of these is entitled 

 " The Birds of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, a 

 contribution to the Natural History of the two 

 counties, by Alexander W. M. Clark Kennedy. 

 Ecap. Svo., pp. 232. Eton : Ingalton & Drake. 

 London : Simpkin, Marshall, & Co." The author 

 professes to follow in the footsteps of the able 

 authors of "Ornithological Rambles iu Sussex," 

 the "Birds of Middlesex," and the "Birds of 

 Norfolk," and all that the printer's art could per- 

 form for him has been achieved. If the work is not 

 equal to that of some of his exemplars, the author 

 has, at least, in this, his " first literary essay," suc- 

 ceeded in producing a useful and pretty contribution 

 to our ornithological literature, which is highly 

 creditable to an " author of sixteen." We will not 

 look with too critical an eye at the coloured photo- 

 graphs, but wish the volume all the success which 

 its youthful author can desire, and close it with 

 the following anecdote of the " Hooded Crow " : — 



" A friend was driving home one evening, when 

 he observed one of these crows feeding on a dead 

 sheep by the roadside : he shot it, picked it up, and 

 placed it carefully in the bottom of the carriage— 

 apparently quite dead. He had not proceeded far 

 when, on hearing a noise behind him, he looked 

 round, and was surprised to see the bird sitting on 

 the back rail of the vehicle ; on stretching out his 

 hand to recapture it, to his amazement, the crow 

 flew away. He watched it for some distance, and, 

 as it flew strongly and well, it appeared evident 

 that the bird had been only shamming." 



The next volume is a "Handy Book of the 

 Elower Garden, being practical directions for the 

 propagation, culture, and arrangement of plants 

 in flower-gardens all the year round, by David 

 Thomson, gardener to Lady Mary Claude Nisbet 

 Hamilton. Small Svo., pp. 364. London and 

 Edinburgh : William Blackwood & Sons." This is 

 just the practical book which the amateur, with a 

 garden under his own hands, will be glad to see. It 

 is written by one who is evidently thoroughly up in 

 the subject, and, what is more rare in a gardener, 

 possesses the power of communicating in a book his 

 knowledge to others. The volume is neatly got up, 

 well arranged, clearly written, and contains good 

 lists of plants for all seasons and conditions, and, 

 altogether, receives our hearty commendation. 



Finally, we have "Half-hours with the Telescope, 

 being a popular guide to the use of the Telescope as 

 a means of Amusement and Instruction, by Richard 

 A. Proctor, B.A., F.R.A.S., with illustrations on 

 stone and wood. 12mo., pp. 109. London : Robert 

 Hardwicke." This is a companion volume to Dr. 

 Lankester's " Half-hours with the Microscope," and 

 gives in seven chapters much practical information 

 on the structure and use of the telescope. It is just 

 the popular book on the subject that was wanted, 

 and contains within a small compass, in plain 

 language, what many wish to know, and none 

 should be ignorant of who aspire to be " lovers of 

 nature." 



Mistletoe on Azalea. — We believe that the 

 presence of Mistletoe on an Azalea is a fact hereto- 

 fore without parallel; nevertheless, the following 

 note from Mr. Rust, the gardener at Eridge Castle, 

 Tunbridge Wells, shows that it is really a fait 

 accompli: — "In this neighbourhood Mistletoe is 

 very abundant ; it grows on the Thorn, Crab, 

 Apple, and on the Poplar in great quantities ; but 

 1 certainly was surprised to find it one day last week 

 growing on one of our common hardy Azaleas in the 

 shrubbery here. The parasite in question is in a 

 prosperous condition, and appears as if it would 

 make a good growth this year." — Gardener's 

 Chronicle, April 4, 1868. 



