256 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Nov. 1, 186S. 



mens of the Mysis or Opossum Shrimp, a most 

 interesting abnormal genus of the Crustacea, par- 

 taking much of the external form and appearance of 

 the true shrimps, but on closerexamiuation exhibiting 

 peculiarities of structure completely isolating them 

 from these, and which may form the subject of 

 another paper. In conclusion is appended a brief 

 reference to those polyzoons which most closely 

 approximate the form here treated upon. 



Valkeria shares in common with it eight tentacles, 

 but the ccenecium is of a more complex structure, 

 consisting of a branching polypidom, on which are 

 clustered distinct cells, containing the individuals ; 

 setae moreover are not represented. Bowerbankia, 

 on the other hand, cultivates bristles, but is a com- 

 pound householder, and is, in addition, the happy 

 possessor of a complex and characteristic gizzard. 

 Professor Allman, in his magnificent monograph of 

 our indigenous fresh-water species, describes two 

 infundibulate forms — Fredericella and Paludicella : 

 the number of tentacles are in each, however, con- 

 siderably in excess, and in other points they diverge 

 considerably. 



Fig. 2-11. 



The accompanying illustration suffices to show 

 the relative position of the various parts. Fig. 244 

 is the aspect presented under the one-inch objective, 

 showing at a the animal fully expanded, and at b 

 the same retracted ; the tentacles are represented 

 at t, and the half-projecting setae at s ; these latter 

 may be entirely withdrawn. Pig. 245 represents a 

 group of these polyzoons under a lower power. 



W. S. Kent. 



[We have been informed that this Polyzoon was 

 taken by other members of the Quekett Micro- 

 scopical Club at an "excursion" to the Docks. — Ed.] 



DADDY LONGLEGS. 



EOR some few days past we have been struck 

 with the apparent suicidal mania among the 

 renowned " daddy longlegs " (Tip/da oleracea), 

 which tempted them into the house, seemingly with 

 the express intention of yielding themselves 

 willing victims to the flames. To-day, however, 

 September 19, the climax was reached. 



Early in the morning our worthy milkman sent to 

 us to know if "anything was a-going to happen," 

 for " he never see sich a sight in all his life ; " he 

 was sure that if there was one there was a hundred 

 thousand million, and the " posteses " were covered 

 that thick that you couldn't see the wood, and the 

 ground was covered with them ; and did they bite ? 

 After assuring him that they most probably did not 

 portend any dire calamity, and that they did not 

 spit fire, he went on his way rejoicing, and we 

 sallied forth to view the wondrous scene. 



The night had been wet and windy, and the 

 enormous pools of water which, on such occasions, 

 always form on the London Fields, to the credit of 

 the Hackney Board of Works, presented a most 

 singular sight. In some places they were literally 

 covered with corpses, stiff, cold, and damp. They 

 lay like the army of Sennacherib, unsmote by the 

 sword. The remnants of the slaughtered host, a 

 goodly number, were hopping and staggering about 

 in a quasi-inebriated manner. All the railings and 

 seats in this rural spot were covered with the dis- 

 comfited multitude, huddled up two and three thick, 

 as if for warmth. The pathways, on which they 

 were not so easily distinguished, owing to their ap- 

 proximating closely to the colour (or discolour) of 

 the gravel, were alive with them, all skipping about 

 like frantic schoolgirls on a half-holiday. Few, 

 very few, were seen flying like decent insects. I 

 do not scruple to say that there must have been 

 hundreds of thousands on the London Fields, and 

 all the neighbouring roads swarmed, while the 

 Hackney Downs were literally covered with them. 

 How far they extended in other directions I do not 

 know. 



In the evenings they were enabled to commit 

 suicide in a most pleasing manner. As I have said, 

 they forced their way into the house, and more than 

 one, panting doubtless for fame (not f-l-ame), 

 drowned or boiled himself in cups of hot tea; 

 others showed their desire for renown by doing all 

 in their power to get shut up in books ; but by far 

 the greater number, influenced doubtless by high 

 sanitary motives, adopted the cinerary system, and 

 burnt themselves up in a most praiseworthy man- 

 ner. Lighted candles were great favourites, so one 

 was especially devoted to their service. No sooner 

 was it lighted than a performer came bump into 

 it, sticking his clumsy body into the melted wax to 

 prevent his falling off, and deliberately frizzling his 



