HARDW TCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



81 



table of my own experiments on this subject ; but 

 (hough I tried time after time to take a reading, I 

 regret to say I failed. Either I was on the spot too 

 early or too late, and I have really nothing, for this 

 season, at any rate, of a reliable nature to record on 

 my own account. I must content myself, therefore, 

 by giving a quotation on the subject from the late 

 Professor Balfour's Class Book of Botany, p. 522. 

 After remarking on the evolution of heat during 

 flowering, and the fact that the natural order Aroideae 

 present the most marked instances of this evolution, 

 the Professor says, " Deubrocket's examination of 

 the spadix of Arum maculatum gives the following 

 results : — 



From these observations, it appears that the maximum 

 of temperature in the spadix occurred at 5.30 p.m., 

 one hour and a half after the complete opening of the 

 spathe, and that the heat was 187 above that of the 

 surrounding air." The spadix emits a curious odour, 

 resembling that of the thyrse of the horse chestnut. 



As with the corm so with the fruit, starch and 

 raphides are found in every section examined. Pro- 

 fessor Gulliver, in his paper on " Plant Crystals," 

 (Science-Gossip, p. 97, 1S73) mentions the occur- 

 rence of raphides in the berry of A. maculatum, and 

 on page 98 gives a figure of the same. The raphides 

 of the berry appear to be larger than those of other 

 parts of the plant. Many months will have to pass 

 before again an opportunity is given of observing in 

 all its various details this interesting plant ; but when 

 that time arrives, there will yet be found much 

 material for examination, and a field for isteresting 

 research, and perchance new discoveries. 



Bath. 



Mr. G. C. Walker, F.R.C.S., writing to the 

 " Lancet," says that after he had operated for cataract 

 upon a favourite fox-terrier belonging to a friend, 

 chloroform having been used, the animal appeared 

 after the operation to be completely dead, none of the 

 remedies tried producing any good effect. At length 

 it occurred to him to employ artificial respiration and 

 nitrite of amyl simultaneously, instead of separately 

 as he had already done. The result was that "two 

 or three compulsory breathings of the amyl caused the 

 dog to jump up and stagger about the room most 

 actively." Since that time Mr. Walker makes it a 

 rule not to administer chloroform without having 

 nitrite of amyl at hand. 



MY GARDEN PETS. 



By E. H. Robertson. 



Part I. 



" "\ 70 U are so fond of dumb creatures, have you 

 JL no other pets ? " was one day the enquiry of 

 a friend, who, from my dining-room window, had 

 been long admiring my trustful window pets. 



"Many," I replied; "follow me, and you shall 

 see them." 



I led him, all expectation, into my garden, where, 

 at a few paces from the house, stood a row of bee- 

 hives, and smilingly was about to remark that there 

 were a few thousands, but was arrested by his dis- 

 appointed exclamation, "Oh, bees!" " This does 

 not augur well for his interest in my pets," thought I, 

 and the added assertion, "But you can't make pets 

 of them — they can't be tamed — -such little things 

 can't possibly know you,'' drew from me the reply, 

 " Indeed ! I not only can, but do, make pets of them, 

 and they certainly know me as well as, perhaps 

 better than, the birds do." 



Although politeness kept him silent, the look of 

 incredulity with which he regarded me told me 

 plainly what he thought. 



' ' Are you afraid of bees ? " I asked. His stammered 

 out " N-no. Oh, n-no," as, after turning up the 

 collar of his coat, and down the brim of his felt hat, 

 he plunged his hands into the depths of his trousers 

 pockets, and fell into the rear, led me, however, to 

 think that it would be wise to protect him from 

 possible attack. 



The alacrity with which he retreated into the house 

 when I suggested that he should be veiled and gloved 

 did just a little amuse me, I must confess, and when 

 I add that, although my dear friend is the author of 

 works treating largely upon bees and ants, he yet 

 does not really know the difference between the 

 largest Bombus and an ordinary honey bee, I think 

 my readers, also, will give free scope to their sense of 

 the ludicrous. Be-veiled, be-gloved, and closely 

 buttoned up, my bee-literary friend was again brought 

 forth, to be led to a spot where stood my four 

 strongest stocks. It was a lovely summer day, 

 and, honey being abundant, my pets were, in their 

 thousands, pouring in and out. 



"Aren't you afraid of their stinging you? " asked 

 my friend tremblingly, as, standing a little on one 

 side of a hive, so as to allow homing bees to enter, 

 I placed my bare hand upon the alighting board. 

 I made no reply, and as the in and out-flowing 

 streams passed over my hand and I yet remained 

 unhurt, he saw that his question was unnecessary. 

 Presently, "Dear me, how very singular — most 

 remarkable. Evidently look upon you as a personal 

 friend." 



"Well, so I am." 



