6 4 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



The Hemel Hempstead Natural History Society 

 has issued its Annual Report for 1SS4, which, 

 besides notes of field excursions and fungoid and 

 insect finds, contains abstracts of lectures delivered by 

 Dr. Collingwood on "The Floating Population of 

 the Ocean " and by Dr. J. E. Taylor on " Mountains 

 and Valleys." 



During the past month lectures were delivered 

 by Dr. J. E. Taylor before the Hitchin Natural 

 History Society, on " Coal, and how it was formed," 

 and before the Clevedon Natural History Society, on 

 " Flowers and Fruit in relation to Insects and Birds," 

 and at Alton Institute, Hampshire, on " Earthquakes 

 and Volcanoes.'' 



The newly-formed Society of Amateur Geologists 

 is making progress. At the last meeting, held at 

 31, King William Street, E.C., Mr. Henry Fleck 

 read a paper on "Granite;" microscopic and hand 

 specimens were exhibited in illustration of the reader's 

 remarks. 



Canterbury Cathedral has just received a 

 donation of geological and mineralogical specimens 

 from the Rev. J. H. S. Sparrow. This is the first step 

 towards the conversion of cathedrals into museums ! 



Rich deposits of graphite and haematite have been 

 discovered in Aberdeenshire. 



We have received from Mr. W. Henshall a box of 

 "fabric" slides, a new departure in microscopic 

 mounting, and one which is of promise for the future, 

 as it is calculated to render assistance in determining, 

 by means of the microscope, the nature and quality 

 of textile fabrics. 



A A"ery useful feature in the " Journal of the New 

 York Microscopical Society " (a new publication of 

 which we have received the first number), is a list of 

 articles of interest to microscopists which have 

 recently appeared in other journals. This number 

 also contains useful matter in connection with the 

 application of electricity to microscopy. 



It is said that the supposed new island off Iceland 

 does not exist ; that the locality has been examined 

 by French and Danish vessels, with the result that no 

 new island is to be found. 



We are glad to find that the University of St. 

 Andrews (which has always been the first to recognise 

 scientific merit by its distinctions), has just conferred 

 the honorary degree of LL.D. upon Professor Ray 

 Lankester. 



We are pleased to find that the Linnean Society 

 has conferred the distinction of Associate upon 

 Mr. J. E. Uagnell, of Birmingham, in appreciation of 

 the botanical work he has done. 



Mr. S. Gilchrist Thomas, the inventor of the 

 basic Bessemer process is dead, at the early age of 

 thirty-four. 



We are always pleased to call attention to the 

 numerous praiseworthy efforts, now being evolved 

 among young people, for obtaining a practical 

 knowledge of normal science. We know of none 

 better than the "Practical Naturalists' Society," 

 formed for the purpose of encouraging practical 

 scientific work, &c, among its members and the 

 collection, exchange, arrangement, and preservation 

 of objects. The society is purely postal, and is 

 forming a useful exchange library of reference. 

 The hon. sec. is H. Snowdon Ward, Great Horton, 

 Bradford. 



Anything which may tend to prevent those 

 distressing collisions which too often take place 

 between ships at sea cannot fail to be of importance. 

 Mr. W. Balch has patented a portable rocket-firing 

 apparatus which can be held in the hand, loaded with 

 a rocket or shell at a breech in the tube, and discharged 

 by a blow from the other hand. The shell when at 

 its height bursts, producing a group of red or green 

 stars, as the case may be, directing the on-coming 

 vessel which way to steer her course. These rockets 

 may also be made to give loud and distinctive reports, 

 and can be utilised for other purposes in connection 

 with shipping. 



It is with unfeigned sorrow we have to record the 

 death by smallpox, of an old and genial friend both 

 of the editor and his magazine, Mr. E. C. Rye, the 

 well-known author of " British Beetles," editor of the 

 "Zoological Record," and librarian of the Geogra- 

 phical Society. Many will miss his cheery presence, 

 his ready wit, his abounding humour, his delightful 

 readiness to help anyone who wanted it and deserved it. 



MICROSCOPY. 



Electrical Microscopic Lamps. — "The 

 American Monthly Microscopical Journal " con- 

 tains an account, with illustrations, of various adapta- 

 tions of electricity to purposes of microscopy. The 

 incandescent lamps, in which platinum wire occupies 

 the place of the ordinary carbon filament, are 

 supported on jointed arms, attached either to the 

 microscope itself, or to a separate stand, so that the 

 light may be placed near the object, and either above 

 or below the stage. A warm stage can also be 

 provided, by allowing the current to pass through a 

 spiral of platinum wire placed in the stage below the 

 object. 



Liverpool Microscopical Society. —The 

 President, Mr. Charles Botterill, at the annual 

 meeting recently held, read a paper on " The Theory 

 aml Practice of Microscopical Illumination." He 

 first called attention to the importance of the subject, 

 pointing out that no matter how perfect the micro- 

 scope and its appliances might be, nor how beautiful 



