01 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



but it is comparatively easy to procure and maintain 

 the more hardy ones, and to lay in a stock of water 

 once, instead of weekly. I can give the addresses of 

 eight trained aquarium-collectors who can supply 

 these things, and it is generally much better to 

 depend upon them than upon ordinary fishermen, 

 whose business it is to supply dead fish, and there- 

 fore cannot be supposed to understand the manage- 

 ment of living ones. 



I am glad to see in January Science-Gossip a 

 notice of Mr. Hughes's half-crown book, on the 

 management of marine aquaria. This paper is an 

 advance upon most old aquarium works, — even if 

 he is wrong upon one point, — his favourite one ; but 

 when information is to be had from accepted autho- 

 rities, who are right upon all points, it is like waste 

 power not to use it. We have not time and oppor- 

 tunity each to work out things for ourselves ; when 

 this is done for us, shown to be right, the results 

 clearly demonstrated, printed and published at small 

 cost, it seems a pity to go wrong, and cause needless 

 suffering to harmless animals under our care. It 

 is sad to " sin in light." I know that competent 

 teachers are wanted, and that much remains to be 

 learnt ; but I thiuk that the extra trouble and 

 expense of aquarium-keeping might be greatly 

 reduced by taking intelligent hold of experience 

 already gained, and following accepted principles, 

 proved such by the most satisfactory 'results, and 

 laid down by those most competent to form an 

 opinion. 



I much appreciate the manner in which your 

 correspondents have graciously accorded informa- 

 tion on the development of newts, in response to 

 my question in answer to G. M. Doe, on the " Spawn 

 of frogs and toads." It is surprising that an 

 "eminent naturalist" should teach the popular 

 fallacy that tadpoles drop their tails when no longer 

 needed. A lady corroborates the idea that the tails 

 are absorbed, and do not tumble off; she never 

 found them tumble off, but often watched them 

 growing gradually shorter. 



I conclude the experience of " H. E. G.," that 

 newts' eggs are "disposed in small lumps, and 

 frequently covered with clay, leaves, and earth," 

 must be the exception ; since J. Eullager and others 

 have seen them laid singly, and doubled up in the 

 leaves of aquatic plants. Js he sure the eggs re- 

 ferred to belonged] to the Newt {Triton) ? I have 

 since had access to that beautifully illustrated and 

 carefully -written volume, " Bell's British lleptiles," 

 published in 1839, and find it considered the best 

 treatise on the subject. He says newts' eggs are 

 laid separately on aquatic leaves, at intervals during 

 many weeks. Frogs' spawn is in lumps, and develops 

 rapidly; toads' is in strings, consisting of a double 

 row of eggs arranged alternately. 



The "mistake" alluded to recently by E. 

 Maingay, in "H. E. E.'s" remarks on tadpoles, inour 



last, evidently arises from a misprint or slip. If iu 

 Science-Gossip for December, p. 280, line 8 from 

 top, the word frog be substituted for "newt," the 

 sense is made perfectly clear, aud consistent with 

 the rest of the text. Each reader can easily correct 

 his own copy, and prevent further mistake. 



Will "H. C. C. M." give the date of year and 

 month when he found frog spawn a week earlier 

 than usual ? 



If people are wishing to study this most interest- 

 ing development of tadpoles for themselves, I 

 would recommend them at once to provide suitable 

 accommodation, by preparing the tank or glass 

 beforehand ; taking special care to place some por. 

 tion of the sand or rockwork above water, for the 

 tiny breathers to disport upon. Shade the glass 

 from the beginning: this will prevent the growth of 

 excessive vegetation, but allow time for a less ram- 

 pant crop of spontaneous vegetation, which is the 

 best sort to supply oxygen for the animals to breathe. 

 It would take too long here to explain why it is 

 undesirable to transplant growing plants into 

 aquaria, but as amphibians are not proper aquarium 

 animals per se, it is quite right to introduce such 

 vegetation as would be otherwise unlawful, espe- 

 cially as young tadpoles begin their lives as vege- 

 tarians, and leaves are required for food, as well as 

 for the safe deposition of eggs. Therefore eventu- 

 ally get such plants as are recommended by James 

 Fullager, in Science-Gossip for May, 1874, p. 

 101, — Anacharis alsinastrum, Callitriche verna, &c, 

 or Vallisneria spiralis, which coming originally from 

 warmer climates, bears forcing all the year round. 

 In March or April, look for the spawn, and make 

 careful observations and drawings whenever possible> 

 and give Science-Gossip the benefit. The draw- 

 ings in " Bell's British Reptiles " are worthy of 

 emulation, bearing evidence of extreme care and 

 exactness. 



George Mivart's three-shilling book on " The 

 Common Frog " (Nature Series), I have not jet 

 seen, but imagine it contains information that would 

 be interesting to many of us. It would be well to 

 read what he says, aud make comparative notes on 

 time, temperature, and conditions of existence, as 

 bearing on special developments. 



" Trust him little who praises all ; him less who 

 censures all; him least who is indifferent to all," 

 says a philosopher. I take this to mean, we may 

 trust him most who takes earnest pains with any- 

 thing, for, 



He would gladly learn and gladly teach. 



G. S. 



" Wiien the short life of the Worker-bee is ended, 

 we are sure the creature has had a pleasurable 

 existence, that her labours have been of love, and 

 that to her work has been that which we call happi- 

 ness."— & Wood's "Dwellers in our Gardens." 



