II A R D W I C K E'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



•47 



and, upon making a closer examination than I had 

 previously done, observed something in the fur near 

 its neck, which appeared to be living. On attempt- 

 ing to seize it with the forceps it started off, but I 

 at length secured it, and found it to be an immense 

 tick, about the size of a small pea, but resembling 

 the ordinary mouse flea. On removing this creature 

 from the mouse, it seemed much relieved, but even- 

 tually died. Is it usual to find ticks of such a large 

 size ? — G. M. Doc. 



Capture of Cynthia Huntera in Hants.— On 

 p. 25G of last vol.SciENCE-Gossir a correspondent 

 briefly records the capture of this species in Hamp- 

 shire. Without making the, slightest imputation 

 on the good faith of the writer, I would ask him 

 whether he has not mistaken some variety of Cardui 

 for its A mericau relative ? The existence of Huntera 

 as a British insect having always been considered 

 most apocryphal, an undeniable occurrence would 

 be worthy of more than a passing notice. — Charles 

 Lovekin. 



A " Singing Mouse." — A short time ago I had 

 the pleasure of listening to a veritable singing- 

 mouse. The creature was caught, by means of a 

 trap, in a cupboard, where a kind of faint warbling 

 noise had long attracted my attention. Its song, 

 which resembled that of a distant canary, was full 

 of pleasing variations, and often lasted fifteen or 

 twenty minutes without interruption. When thus 

 engaged, its whole body seemed to tremble. Its 

 ears were large for a mouse, and its tail was of un- 

 usual length, but in other respects it resembled the 

 ordinary "nibbler." I kept the " little stranger " 

 in a glass vessel for some time, when it unfor- 

 tunately escaped, and fell a prey to the merciless 

 cat. — Geo. 0. Hoicell. 



Basalt.— " B. B. W." and "W. R. J." ask for 



information on this subject. I beg to refer them to 

 the Geographical Magazine, alluded to in my note 

 on this subject in last October number of Science- 

 Gossip; also to draw their attention to the last 

 paragraph of that note. The deeper their inquiries 

 go, the more likely they are to detect the great 

 geological error of classifying igneous and unstrati- 

 fied rocks together. — H. P. Malet. 



Eolk-lore about the Nettle. — Are there 

 any modern instances of bfilief in the superstition 

 noticed by Brand, that bunches of nettles hung up 

 exert a preservative influence, acting as a charm, 

 for example, in the preservation of beer from turning 

 sour ? — C. 



Eauna and Flora of the New Forest.— In 

 reply to your correspondent "E. D. M." (Science- 

 Gossip for December), I venture to suggest Wise's 

 "New Forest ; its History and Scenery." It is not 

 of course devoted exclusively to the Natural History 

 of the district, but it includes chapters on the Geo- 

 logy, Ornithology, and Botany; and in the appendices 

 will be found lists of the birds, flowering plants, and 

 Lepidoptera peculiar to, or common in this locality. 

 It is published by Smith, Elder, & Co. I do not 

 know the publishing price, as I purchased my copy 

 at a bookstall for (I think) 4s. 6d. I think it pro- 

 bable that Messrs. Walford Bros., booksellers, of 

 the Strand, would give " E. D. M." some informa- 

 tion respecting a "Fauna" or "Flora" of the dis- 

 trict if such there be ; but I have never heard of 

 such a work, nor of the existence of a " Natural 

 History " Society, or " Field Club," at either one or 

 other of the three places indicated by your cor- 

 respondent.— A. P. 



Ticks on Dormice.- I have a dormouse, who is 

 much infested with white ticks, which come when 

 he is asleep. If any of your correspondents can 

 give me any advice as to the remedy, I should be 

 much obliged. — /. II. B. Brooke. 



Labels for Orders of Plants. — Seeing we have a 

 good catalogue of British Plants, also a good set of 

 labels for same, may I name another hint, viz., a set of 

 labels for the covers of the orders, with the numbers 

 of those orders, same as those in London Catalogue, 

 but larger type ; this would save trouble and time 

 in writing them, and would, upon reference, catch 

 the eye sooner than writing, the covers generally 

 being in coarse brown paper. The sets when 

 printed could be advertised, and no doubt made to 

 pay if neatly and boldly printed.— A Subscriber. 



Irish Antiquities. — In the January number of 

 the Sciencf.-Gossip, " G. G." has made an over- 

 sight, when he states that I have described the oval 

 bullan at Slieve-na-Cailliagh as post-Christian. In 

 describing the bullous it was necessary to figure and 

 describe all types, and of that at this locality it is 

 distinctly stated, " seem to be pre-Christian, as they 

 have only been found in the interior of the De 

 Danaan tuiams or earns." The tuiams at New 

 Grange and Dowth, and the numerous earns on 

 Slieve-na-Cailliagh, are supposed, on good evidence, 

 to have been the sepulchral monuments and tombs 

 of the De Danaan kings. The battles of South and 

 North Moytura, between the De Danaans and the 

 Firbolgs, in which the latter were vanquished, are 

 supposed to have been fought in the year A.M. 

 3303, and the De Danaan, according to the Four 

 Masters, held the country for 197 years. If, there- 

 fore, these tuiams and earns were erected by the 

 De Danaans, they and the enclosed bullans must be 

 pre-Christian. All these monuments have already 

 been described— that of New Grange years ago, in 

 one of the tracts printed in the Appendix to Dr. 

 Gerrard Boate's '' Natural History of Ireland," a re- 

 print of which was published some years ago by Thorn, 

 of Dublin. Since then, among others, Wilde, and 

 recently Fergusson, have given elaborate descriptive 

 plans and sketches of the New Grauge and Dowth 

 monuments; while Du Noyer and Conwell have 

 described those on Slieve-na-Cailliagh. The latter 

 antiquarian's excellent sketches and description will 

 be found in the " Proceedings of the Royal Irish 

 Academy," and at present he is engaged on an ex- 

 haustive history of the place. — The Writer of 

 " Sketches in the West of Ireland." 



Sparrows and Peas.— It is a very great pity 

 that so many have such a prejudice against, birds, as 

 injurious ; and consequently destroy them : when 

 they really do an infinity of good, and are easily 

 prevented from doing much harm. I always 

 encourage them coming about the garden and 

 premises, and have not at all suffered from doing so, 

 besides having the pleasure of watching them and 

 seeing how tame they will become. As to my 

 peas, they never suffer. When I sow them, I simply 

 stretch two lines of worsted over the row, and they 

 are never touched. — E. T. Scott. 



Juniper Bushes. — Whilst rambling on the hills 

 near Steyning, I saw a quantity of juniper bushes 

 with large quantities of berries upon them. 1 have 

 not met with any elsewhere, and a botanical friend 

 of mine asserts his belief that they are to be met 

 with (growing wild) in no other part of Sussex. 

 Can any of your readers inform me if the idea is 

 correct ? — T. C, Brighton. 



