HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



i43 



little seeds one collects when walking through bushes, 

 1 nit which can all be pulled out with a needle into the 

 separate fibres. The separate bundles are generally 

 of a light brown colour, but when in great quantities 

 it appears sometimes brown, and at other times 

 almost black. In calm weather it collects principally 

 on the surface, but when the sea is agitated, it then 

 sinks to a small depth. — D. Wilson Barker, pen., 

 F.R.Mrf. Soe.j Chief Officer, s.s. "International:' 



The Pied Fly-catcher. — On the 25th and 26th 

 of April, I observed near here, a bird very rare in 

 this part of the country, the pied flycatcher 

 (Muscicapa luctuosa) ; a remarkable bird, owing to its 

 strongly contrasted black and white plumage, and its 

 great activity. I can find only two cases recorded 

 of the appearance of this bird in Somerset or Glou- 

 cestershire, and both of these were many years ago. 

 Morris, in his " British Birds " states that he had never 

 seen this bird alive. I should be glad to learn 

 whether this species has been observed elsewhere this 

 spring.— Alfred C. Pass. 



Holly Leaves. — The old holly-trees about here 

 (Epping Forest) invariably show this tendency, the 

 leaves of the upper part of the tree usually having only 

 the terminal spine, with sometimes one or two 

 additional spines. I have never seen a holly leaf 

 in the forest without the terminal spine. It is a 

 question whether the phenomenon is to be accounted for 

 on the cattle theory, since those long upper branches 

 of old trees which hang down within reach of the 

 larger animals, frequently bear many leaves with only 

 the one spine. Again, why should this one spine 

 always remain ? Is it known that cattle will eat holly 

 leaves, if the upper ones are given to them ? There 

 seems to be an analogy between the upper leaves of 

 an old holly and those of an old ivy, as in both the 

 characteristic shape is lost. What is the explanation 

 in the case of the ivy ? — F. W. Elliott. 



Flint Implements. — Are any flint implements 

 found in the neighbourhood of Bagshot, and if so 

 where is the best place to look for them ? — Charles 

 Noble. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — As we now 

 publish Science-Gossip earlier than formerly, we cannot un- 

 dertake to insert in the following number any communications 

 which reach us later than the 8th of the previous month. 



To Anonymous Querists. — We receive so many queries 

 which do not bear the writers' names that we are forced to 

 adhere to our rule of not noticing them. 



To Dealers and others. — We are always glad to treat 

 dealers in natural history objects on the same fair and general 

 ground as amateurs, in so far as the " exchanges " offered are fair 

 exchanges. But it is evident that, when their offers are simply 

 disguised advertisements, for the purpose of evading the cost of 

 advertising, an advantage is taken oi our gratuitous insertion of 

 " exchanges " which cannot be tolerated. 



We request that all exchanges may be signed with name (or 

 initials) and full address at the end. 



A. S. Mackie. — i. Limncra percgra, but rather doubtful. 

 2. Spluerium lacustrc. 3 and 4. We do not undertake to name 

 foreign species. 5. Cypraa Europtra, if British. 6. The so- 

 called "seal's egg" is the shell or "test" of a sea-urchin, an 

 Echinoderm. A somewhat larger one with spines adhering was 

 recently pointed out as a humming-bird's nest ! 



Herbert B. Alexander. — Your objects "are the so-called 

 pseudo-podia of the moss Aulacomnittm attdrogynitffi." The 

 stalked heads "consist of little gemma which in this moss often 

 replace the spores (capsules bearing spores are rarely found 

 on it)." 



S. J. H.— An answer next month if possible. 



D. Bradley. — See "Engineering" for 1877 for articles on 

 the Aneroid Barometer, which may answer your purpose. 

 There should be numbers of \ the series also in some preceding 

 year. Negretti and Zambra's " Treatise on Meteorological 

 Instruments " is said not to be so thorough. 



V. A. Latham. — Thanks for your suggestion. But a reviewer 

 may not always know the price of a book reviewed. E wart's 

 book on the "Dissection of the Frog" is published at is. 6d. 

 (London : Simpkin.) McAlpine's'work is at present withdrawn 

 from publication. 



G. E. E. jun. — Write for specimens of " The Naturalist," (id. 

 Editors, Park Row, Leeds; "The Midland Naturalist," 6d., 

 (London, Bogue) ; " The Natural History Journal and School 

 Reporter, i,d., (William Sessions, York) ; (2) Lyell's " Student's 

 Manual of Geology" gives a good many. 



C. D. jun. — Your criticisms are too violent and "unparlia- 

 mentary." Reconsider them and write again. 



S. Chadwick. — Where and in what formation was the fossil 

 spine found ? 



Thirsk. — Several of your mosses either had no fructification 

 or it became spoiled. 



Initials lost. — The lesser celandine is Ranunculus Jicaria, 

 a flower of the buttercup order. The celandine, or greater 

 celandine, is Chelidonium majus, also a yellow flower, but 

 belonging to the poppy order. The two plants are very unlike 

 one another, though the name is similar. 



EXCHANGES. 



Good botanical, histological, crystals, polariscopic, diatoms, 

 fish scales and miscellaneous, microscopic slides for others as 

 good of bacilli, entozoa, alga:, desmids, zoophytes, rocks, fossil 

 woods. — B Wells, Dalmain Road, Forest Hill. 



Wanted, British and foreign Arionidae and Limacidae, also 

 foreign Unioidae and Physae. Offered, shells, minerals, and 

 specimens of Citiomorium coccineum. — Cajetan Platania Pla- 

 tania, Via S. Giuseppe, No. 14, Acireale, Sicily. 



Lepidoptera. — Duplicates : Cardamine, Corydon, Io, Ata- 

 lanta, .S". fopuli, Ligustri, Z. Trifolii, Betularia, Piniaria, 

 Rhomboidaria, Defoliaria, Rubiginata, Dubitata, Pyraliata, 

 Perla, Lutosa (fair), Suffusa, Lota, Spadicea, Ferruginea (fair), 

 Oxyacanthas, Cerella. Desiderata numerous. Accepted offers 

 answered within a week. — George Balding, Ruby Street, 

 Wisbech. 



Lang's " Butterflies of Europe," value .£3 15J. Wanted, 

 Lindsay's " Lichens," " Journal of Microscopy," vols, i., ii., 

 and iii. Offers solicited. Martin J. Harding, Old Bank, 

 Shrewsbury. 



Wanted, an aquarium, with slate bottom and plate-glass 

 front, back, and sides, size about 2 ft. X 10 in. X 10 in. Will 

 give in exchange complete set of Cassell's " Technical Edu- 

 cator," unbound, or "Building News" for 1878 and 1880, 

 bound in half-yearly volumes. — W. H. Pratt, 15 Gill Street, 

 Nottingham. 



Wanted, any or all London University Calendars, 1879-1884, 

 inclusive. Offered, Darwin's "Cross and Self Fertilis. of 

 Plants," Weale's " Integ. Diff. Calc," "Sybil "(by Disraeli), 

 Swainson's " Insects," or other mathl. or scient. works. — 

 W. G. Woollcombe, The Close, Exeter. 



Wanted, Science-Gossip, Jan. to May" (or complete year), 

 for 1870, also 1871, 1872, and 1873. Miscellaneous books in 

 exchange. — W. Greener, 38 Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith, W. 



Wanted, " Hogg on the Microscope ;" Clarke's " Objects 

 for the Microscope," and other microscopical books; also 

 Science-Gossip complete for 1881, and " Common British Sea- 

 Weeds," by L. Lane. Will give in exchange well-mounted 

 micro slides. — W. S. Anderson, 7 Granby Street, Ilkeston. 



Large number of British marine shells to exchange. Will 

 collectors in all parts of the kingdom send lists of duplicates 

 and receive mine? — J., 15 Warren Street, Tenby. 



Wanted, a good microscope. Can offer in exchange a 

 double-barrelled air-pump and accessories ; electrical, chemical, 

 and other apparatus ; books ; stamps ; dried plants, &c, to full 

 value. — Mr. Edwards, 34 Ling Street, Liverpool. 



Wanted, "Journal of Naturalist during Voyage round the 

 World," by the late Charles Darwin ; and the first two vols, of 

 the " Journal of the Postal Microscopical Society," unbound. 

 Stand condenser for microscope, and also turntable. — L. Francis, 

 i Elm Villa, Elm Grove, Rye Lane, Peckham, S.E. 



Specimens of the new British plant, Potentilla Norvegica 

 (see Hooker's " Student's Flora," last ed.), for new varieties of 

 land and freshwater shells or antiquarian objects. Plant not in 

 flower till June. — G. Roberts, Lofthouse, near Wakefield. 



Wanted, vols, xi., xii., and xiii. of Maund's " Botanic 

 Garden," or odd numbers.— Miss Higgins, 93 Wellington Street, 

 Luton, Beds. 



= Good specimens of Canadian insects, reptiles, birds, and 

 minerals for English specimens of the same ; also a few Canadian 

 land and freshwater shells for exchange. Correspondence 

 solicited with parties desiring specimens of zoology, botany, 

 and geology from Canada. — W. D. Shaw, Sect. Treas. Montreal 

 Agassiz Association, 34 St. Peter Street, Montreal, Canada. 

 •» i in., \ in., and ^ in. objectives by Ross; exchange good 

 binocular stand.— S., 20 Montpelier Road, N.W. 



