94 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



moment be entertained. Since the article on this 

 subject appeared in Science-Gossip (October, 1879), 

 I have been favoured with particulars of a well-boring 

 on Hayes Common by Lord Sackville Cecil. The 

 well was sunk in 1874, and is 156 feet deep. From 

 the section exposed it appears that the strata above 

 the chalk are about 100 feet in thickness, and the 

 pebble-beds proper are about 80 feet thick. — 

 Geo. Clinch. 



Water-cress. — Galen is said to have recom- 

 mended this plant, Bonet, Ponteau, Schroder, and 

 Ettmuller have likewise spoken highly of it in their 

 writings as an antiscorbutic, and now it is used in 

 domestic practice with very good effect by persons 

 of a lymphatic temperament. — Helen Watney. 



Larv^j of the Caddis-worms. — The larva of 

 the caddis-fly is usually supposed to be a vegetarian. 

 I have, however, seen it noticed that it sometimes 

 makes a meal of fish eggs ; it may, therefore, be of 

 interest to some of your readers to learn that I have 

 seen one of these animals feeding on a spider, and 

 have fed several others upon beef, mutton, and fish, 

 both raw and cooked. — G. C. Goody. 



Hints for a Marine Aquarium. — Having now 

 kept a marine aquarium for some time and with 

 wonderful success, I would be pleased to add a 

 little of my experience to that of Mr. Dymond, but 

 at the same time I would not suggest that a tall glass 

 aquarium is the correct, or even a good vessel to 

 keep marine creatures in, especially as it is very far 

 from imitating nature ; for in nature there is only 

 light obtained from the surface of the water, and not 

 from all sides as in a globe. Such a quantity of light 

 marine animals always more or less shun, as is proved 

 by the fact that such as can move, do move to the 

 more shady side of the vessel, or behind and under 

 stones. If, however, a globe must be used because 

 of its cheapness or such like, I would suggest that, 

 besides being in a northern aspect, the portion nearest 

 the window be covered by some screen. But if 

 possible, I would urge all those interested in watching 

 the life and mode of living of those wondrous 

 organisms of the deep, to procure for themselves a 

 slate aquarium, with only plate glass for the front, 

 and with a shelving false bottom, which can be 

 bought for £3. My aquarium, 3 feet long, by 2 feet 

 wide, and 1 foot 6 inches deep, costs no more. 

 The slate bottom lies at an angle of about 30 degrees 

 and thus gives a very pleasing effect for the erection 

 of rockwork, and you can see all things at a glance. 

 Again, there is then a very large quantity of water 

 always in the dark, which keeps the whole cool and 

 pure, for no algae will grow there, and only one half 

 the water is exposed to light ; by having a hole in 

 the corner the water behind can be drawn up and 

 syringed to the front, thus keeping up a sort of circu- 

 lation at times. I shall be pleased to give the 

 address to any one who would like one made like 

 mine, at any time. To raise the effect and usefulness 

 of the shelving bottom, I have made high ridges 

 with Portland cement (about 1 to i| inches high), 

 on this I put the sand, shingle, and stones, it then 

 looks like a thorough rocky shore. As to the aerating 

 of the water, I prefer syringing it with a large glass 

 syringe to any other mode, for it does not disturb the 

 sediment at the bottom, and more finely divides the 

 particles of water than by pumping air through a tube 

 from the bottom of the aquarium. Feeding anemones 

 with raw beef I do not think will answer well for 

 long, being much stronger and more likely to putrify 

 if any is ejected and lost sight of. I think an oyster 



cut into fine pieces and washed in fresh water is the 

 best possible food for anemones, or anything likely to 

 be kept in a private aquarium. I agree with Mr. 

 Dymond in his remark, that we should imitate nature 

 as nearly as possible. For pleasant reading and 

 instruction I think Mr. J. E. Taylor's book, and 

 Mr. P. H. Gosse's are the two best, for they both 

 seem to go heart and soul into the matter. — F. IV. H. 



Urticating Moths. — As an addition to the notes 

 which have appeared in Science-Gossip on the 

 urticating properties of certain moths, allow me to 

 state that I am not affected in the slightest degree by 

 the hairs of Auriflua or Chrysorrhcea. I have allowed 

 the larvae to crawl on my hands, face, and neck, and 

 not the least irritation was produced. It would be in- 

 teresting to know the various ways in which persons 

 are affected in a more or less degree. — IV. H. New- 

 berry, Exeter. 



Insects at Bournemouth.— Last year I spent 

 my holi 'ay at Bournemouth, so I give a short 

 account of some of the insects I took there, as it may 

 be of interest to some of your readers. I was there 

 the last week in July and the first fortnight in August. 

 L. sEgon was very common, in fact it was the only 

 Lycaena I saw except Alexis, of which I caught but one 

 specimen. Ccenonympha pamphilus and Epinephile 

 Tithonus and Janira were to be found in abundance ; 

 H. sylvanus was also common, and of Linea I caught 

 two. V. cardni appeared on the 3rd of August, and 

 was to be seen sparingly till the 14th, when it ap- 

 peared suddenly in hundreds all over the district, 

 especially in the West Cliff, where I could have 

 caught any quantity by just standing still and waving 

 my net to and fro. Simultaneously with the Cardui 

 appeared an immense swarm of P. gamma, and it is 

 rather underrating it (if anything) to say that they 

 were in thousands everywhere ; quantities were on 

 the shore drowned ; in fact on the 14th of August 

 there was scarcely any other insect to be seen except 

 these two, and the commons resounded with their 

 hum. From the diary of a friend living at Teign- 

 mouth, I see that there was also a large swarm of 

 .P. gamma and V. car did there in August, 1879, and 

 I had sent me from there in October about a dozen 

 larvae of V. cardui, all of which I succeeded in 

 rearing, the last imago coming out on the 13th of 

 December. They remained in the pupae state sixteen 

 or seventeen days. I kept them in a well-warmed 

 greenhouse, as they so frequently die when allowed 

 to hybernate. But to return to Bournemouth, I 

 caught a few fine specimens of S. Semele, but they 

 were not so common as the above. On the 12th of 

 August I was in the New Forest, but as I was driving 

 I did not make many captures, I caught one L. Sibylla, 

 and saw several which we disturbed as we drove 

 along : how very handsome they look flying on the 

 outskirts of the woods. I only saw one Paphia there 

 and that was a very fine specimen. Agrotis, Putris, 

 and Porphyrea, I caught sparingly. Hadena mono- 

 glypha was also to be found. Anarta myrtilli was 

 not uncommon. Nemoria viridata was common, so 

 was Pseudopterpiia cythisaria, the two latter being 

 found more commonly on the West Cliff than else- 

 where. I obtained one specimen of both Acidalia 

 strain in a/a and imitaria. Phasiane palumbaria 

 was very common among the heather. Fidonia atto- 

 maria were to be caught plentifully. Nomophila 

 hybridalis was common. I obtained one specimen of 

 Crambus Warringtonellus, also one of Phycis palum- 

 baria, both of which were scarce. Endotricha fra- 

 mialis was to be found plentifully on the common 

 bordered by Talbot Wood. The larva of Saturnia 



