112 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



58. The Elea. 



The figure of this insect is nearly 17 inches in 

 length, and is really a very good drawing; but, 

 of course, none of the internal structure is shown. 

 The pygidium is indicated, but, as might be ex- 

 pected, no detail is given. The eye is thus de- 

 scribed : " On each side of the head is a round and 

 beautiful black Eye, in the middle whereof may be 

 seen a round blackish Spot, which is the Pupil of 

 the Eye encompassed with a greenish glittering 

 circle or Iris, as bright and vivid as the Eye of a Cat. 

 Behind the Eye is a small cavity, wherein a cer- 

 tain thin Film, beset with many small transparent 

 Hairs may be observed moving to and fro, and 

 which may probably be the Ear." 



The writer concludes his description of the 

 flea with the following advice of how to catch your 

 Ilea : — "If you attempt to catch them, remember 

 always to wet your Thumb and Einger with 

 Spittle." 



59. s The Louse. 



This is even more magnified than the figure of 

 the flea, its length being nearly 20 inches. A 

 minute description is given of this insect and its 

 habits, but in too forcible a style to suit the fas- 

 tidiousness of the modern reader. This plate con- 

 cludes the work. We cannot, however, conclude our 

 notice of the labours of the learned doctor without 

 referring to two figures on Plate XXIV., of which 

 Fig. 61 is a. facsimile of one of them. 



"These, it appears, are copied from Piso's Natural 

 History of Brazil, in which he tells the story of a 

 FishermaD, whose Hook being entangled, contrary to 

 his Expectation, on a Pocky Shallow not far from 

 Paranambuque, brought up with it, on his pulling 

 it out of the water, Spunges, Corals, and Sea-weeds, 

 instead of Eish. He took Notice, amongst the rest, 

 of a little odd-shaped Plant, about halfaEootin 

 length, with a soft spungy roundish Body, enlarging 

 from the Bottom upwards, after the Fashion of a 

 Pear, and having short Boots, which had fastened it 

 to the Bock. The Inside of it was composed of 

 wonderful little Cells and Hollows, and its Surface 

 was all over covered with a tenacious sticky Matter, 

 resembling the glew of Bees. On the Top was a 

 ■wide Opening or Entrance (as is shewn in the figure), 

 so that it might properly be called Apiarum mari- 

 num., or a Sea-Bee's Nest, for as soon as it was 

 brought to Land, it swarmed with little blewish 

 Worms, which by the heat of the Sun were changed 

 into small black. Flies or rather Bees; but they all 

 flying away, nothing can be asserted as to their 

 making Honey.", 



"However, as the little Cells or Combs and waxy 

 matter of Bees were evidently there without doubt 

 the substance of the Honey itself, or whatever else 

 is contained within them, will be discovered by the 

 Divers, when they shall observe these Bees' Nests 

 more curiously, and thoroughly examine them at 



different Seasons of the Year in the Places where 

 they are produced." It is scarcely conceivable 

 that 200 years ago the knowledge of Natural 

 History was so slight, that even the great Doctor 

 Hooke, a F.B.S., and a man of European reputa- 

 tion, should have taken "Occasion to enquire 

 whether the Hulk or Case was a Plant growing be- 

 fore of itself at the Bottom of the Sea, out of 

 whose putrefaction these strange kind of Maggots 



Fig. 6], Apiarum marinum. 



might be generated ? or whether the Seed of cer. 

 tain Bees sinking to the Bottom might there natu- 

 rally form itself that vegetable Hive and take root ? 

 or whether it might not be placed there by some 

 Fly diving, or whether it might not be some peculiar 

 Propriety {sic) of that Plant whereby it might ripen 

 or form its vegetable Juice into an Animal Substance? 

 or whether it may not be of the Nature of a Spunge or 

 rather a Spunge of the Nature of this ? " The 

 learned doctor has, no doubt, hit upon the true 

 solution of this mysterious production at last. 

 {To be continued.) 



MICROSCOPY. 



Microscopic Fungi in Ferneries. — An in- 

 teresting paper on this subject was recently read 

 before the Oldham Microscopical Society, by the hon. 

 sec, Mr. Pullinger. He stated that in the autumn 

 of 187-1 a rockery was constructed in a greenhouse, 

 and backed up with peat, &c, for the culture of 



