H ARD WI CKE ' S S CIE NCE-GO SSI P. 



263 



Ch.erocampa Celerio (the Silver-Striped 

 Hawk-Moth) at Leicester. — It may interest some 

 of the readers of Science-Gossip to know that a 

 specimen of the above rarity was brought to me alive 

 on September 30th, having been taken in a house 

 in Guildford Street the Sunday previous. Owing to 

 rough handling, the specimen was somewhat rubbed, 

 but is otherwise in good condition. It is now in my 

 collection. — F. R. Rowley, Sub-Curator, Museum, 

 Leicester. 



A Suggestion for Scientific Societies. — I 

 have no doubt but that many of the secretaries of 

 the numerous scientific societies, which have recently 

 sprung up in this country, have, like myself, found 

 how difficult it is to provide papers to be read at 

 their meetings. The society to which I am hon. 

 secretary has been started for about three years, and 

 hitherto we have been fairly successful, but it is im- 

 possible that the few members who have come 

 forward and have read papers, can be expected to 

 continue to do so. It has struck me therefore, that 

 it would be an excellent plan, if members of scientific 

 clubs would read, or even lend, their papers, to other 

 societies. If you agree to the practicability of this 

 suggestion, perhaps you will kindly open your 

 columns to some further correspondence on this 

 subject, with the view of promoting some such 

 arrangement being carried out. — An Hon. Sec. 



Seeds of Solanum dulcamara. — A foreign 

 correspondent, C. C, writes to the effect that in 

 Orfila's capital tract, Toxicologie generate, it is said 

 that a cock suffered no inconvenience after having 

 swallowed seeds of S. dulcamara. 



Sagittaria sagittifolta. — With reference to 

 notes in this and preceding vol. of Science-Gossip, 

 the same correspondent remarks that Casparus 

 Bauhinus, in his Prodromo theatri botanici describes 

 very accurately an unknown gramen bulbosum aqua- 

 ticum, and gives a recognisable figure of the bulb of 

 the Sagittaria. Casparus Bauhinus seems to think, 

 however, that the bulb is the origin of the leaves, 

 while it is the nutritive reserve for the next year, 

 and a mode of propagation. 



Birds and Ants. — The same correspondent, 

 referring to Mr. Mattieu Williams' remarks on p. 222, 

 says that he has, during the past spring, gathered 

 many nests of ants, and given the larvre and the 

 adult ants to some caged nightingales. These ate 

 the ants with such eagerness that none could escape 

 their notice, and the birds showed great impatience 

 to get at the ant box. 



Crocus nudiflorus. — This flower is, I believe, 

 rarely if ever, found in the north of England. 

 Bentham, in his " British Flora" says, " It does not 

 grow nearer to us than south-western France, though 

 it is said to be perfectly naturalised in the meadows 

 about Nottingham, and in some other localities in 

 central England." There is now (October 7th), or 

 was, some twelve or fourteen days ago, a considerable 

 quantity of these bulbs in flower in a field on the 

 outskirts of Rochdale. As far as I can tell, these 

 have never been seen to flower before, or, at least, 

 not for some years past. It is therefore, I think, a 

 fact, quite worth the notice of the readers of 

 Science-Gossip. This flower is easily distinguished 

 from the Colc/iicum autumnale, by its bearing three, 

 instead of six, stamens, and from the Crocus vernus 

 by the flowers being rather larger, and only flowering 

 in the autumn. I should be glad to know if any 

 of the Science-Gossip readers have ever seen or 

 heard of it still further north ? — Jane Fish-wick. 



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 must adhere to our rule of 

 not noticing queries which do not bear the writers' names. 



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 of 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. 



H. L. — Answer next month. 



H. W. Case. — Your exchange unsuitable in form as sent. 

 Inserted as altered. 



J. J. A. — For all information about Dr. Braithwaite's " British 

 Moss Flora," apply to the author, 303 Clapham Road, London. 



Dr. A. C. Stokes. — Received with thanks. 



G. S. — Write to Mr. E. T. Draper, 8 Harringey Park, 

 Crouch End, London, N. 



C. C. — An answer probably next month. 



George Rees. — Thanks for your note and sketch. Refer to 

 Dr. Maxwell Masters' "Vegetable Teratology," if you have 

 access to it. It is probable you will find some figure or descrip- 

 tion therein a propos. 



Fred Chall'S. — The question of the fluidity of the interior 

 of the earth would not be set at rest by the sinking of a shaft 

 into molten lava. 



A. P. — The plant seems to be certainly Erica teti-alix, or 

 cross-leaved heath. At the same time, the leaves are not very 

 definitely in fours. 



F. J. R. — Hewitson gives coloured illustrations of the eggs 

 of apparently all the birds he names in his two volumes. 



R. M. and another. — Exchanges apparently anonymous. 



J. Forbes. — Dr. Pereira's "Materia Medica " and "Thera- 

 peutics" (Longmans): Royle's "Manual of Therapeutics" 

 (Churchill); "The British Pharmacopoeia" (Spottiswoode & 

 Co.). One of these might suit you. If you could get a sight 

 of the Library of the Pharmaceutical Society in Bloomsbury 

 Square, London, you might get further hints. 



EXCHANGES. 



Wanted, " Rust, Smut, Mildew, and Mould," by Cooke ; 

 also "Pond Life," by Slack. Will give in exchange well- 

 mounted slides of insects, &c. — J. Boggust, Alton, Hants. 



Parts up to press, Braithwaite's " British Moss Flora," mag- 

 nificent plates, clean and uncut, for corals, eggs, Crustacea, or 

 other objects. — James Ellison, Steeton, Leeds. 



Wanted, good micro slides or small telescope in exchange 

 for my large glass cylinder for electrical machine. — Cook, 

 Morton Buildings, Blackburn. 



Cassell's " European Butterflies and Moths," Nos. 1 to 16 

 inclusive, and several numbers of "The Entomologist" for 

 exchange : wanted, micro slides, chiefly botanical. — H. W. 

 Birney, Mayville, New Park Road, Bedford. 



A tube of Volvox globator will be exchanged for well- 

 mounted slide, diatoms preferred. — F. Shrivell, Hadlow, Kent. 



Wanted, Hobkirk's "British Mosses" and volumes of 

 Science-Gossip, bound or unbound, from 1868 to 1875 inclusive. 

 Will give good micro slides in exchange. — Samuel M. Malcolm- 

 son, M.D., 55 Great Victoria Street, Belfast. 



Exotic butterflies: rare species of Papilio much wanted for 

 figuring for a monograph of the genus ; need not be fine. Many 

 duplicates of such and others for exchange, also wings of bril- 

 liant species. — Hudson, Railway Terrace, Cross Lane, Man- 

 chester. 



Offers requested for " Knowledge," up to date, 7 vols., and 

 "Illustrated Science Monthly," vols. 1 and 2. — J. Humphrey, 

 253 GIossop Road, Sheffield. 



Wanted, the following parts of the "Monthly Microscopical 

 Journal," parts 1 to 7, 13, 17, 19 to 31, 33 to 39, and 55 to 73, 

 will give good micro slides in exchange, or unmounted sections 

 if preferred. — J. J. Andrew, 2 Belgravia, Belfast. 



Wanted, from beginning to end of 1872, Science-Gossip ; 

 good micro slides and pendulograph writings in exchange. — J. J. 

 Andrew, 2 Belgravia, Belfast. 



Aquarium, 17 X 7b X 10 in., inside measure, fitted with rock- 

 work, fountain, waste-pipe, &c, slate bed, plate-glass front; 

 also Camden's " Britannia, 1695," numerous maps and plates, 

 and "Half Hours in the Green Lanes;" exchange one or all 

 for micro accessories or " Familiar Wild Flowers." Metronome 

 by Maelzel, mahogany case with bell ; will exchange for con- 



