284 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — As we now 

 publish Science-Gossip at least a week earlier than hereto- 

 fore, we cannot possibly insert in the following number any 

 communications which reach us later than the 8th of each 

 month. 



Q. R. (Elie, Fife).— Both specimens, in excellent condition, 

 are: No. 1, a large flowered form of Diplotaxis muralis ; 

 No. 2, the common, or plant generally met with in Britain, of 

 Diplotaxis muralis. 



W. D. (Carlisle). — The heath you enclosed was the Petty 

 Whin, or Needle Gorse, of the midland counties ; still we are 

 not surprised it puzzled you, for we never saw it so entirely 

 destitute of the long prickly spines. It is botanically named 

 Genista anglica, Linn. 



W. K. (Leeds). — Many thanks for the accurate sketch of 

 the Kentish water-weed ; it is the Hawthorn-scented Pond- 

 weed (Aponogetun die tacky on). We never saw it anywhere so 

 plentifully, and looking so beautiful, as in the large orna- 

 mental pond of the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. 



Mrs. H. (Chirk). — It is difficult to name any species from 

 merely popular descriptions. However, we have no doubt 

 that your little plant, with globular heads, is the pretty Apple- 

 moss (Bartramia pomiformis). 



R. B. (Glasgow). — The fern from Campsie is a very curious 

 form of the Male Fern (Lastrea filix-mas). Did you secure 

 the root? If so, and you could oblige us with a few fronds 

 or dried leaves, we shall be much obliged. 



A. F.— No. 1 is the Ling, or Grig, of Northern botanists 

 {Calluna vulgaris). No. 2 contains both the Scotch Heather 

 {Erica cinerea, Linn.) and cross-leaved Heather (E.tetralix, 

 Linn.). The latter may at once be known by the ciliated 

 leaves and flowers in a small (tuft) umbel at the end of the 

 stalk. No. 3 is also the cross-leaved Heather. 



H. Q. L. (Wallingford).— We are sorry your specimens were 

 so shrivelled and broken that it is difficult to again match 

 the fragments : when again sending, be kind enough to 

 press them for a few hours in some old book. No. 1. Skull- 

 cap (Scutellaria galericulata, L.). No. 2. The Eyebright 

 (Euphrasia officinalis, L.). No. 3. Centaury (Erythnva Cen- 

 taurium, L ), a species more frequently used by herbalists 

 than any known. No. 4. Spoded. No. 5. Polygonum Persi- 

 caria, L.). No. 6. Quite separate from the number sent, so 

 we did not know to which to refer it. 



C. W. (York).— Your extract from a magazine, giving an 

 account of a bird protecting its young against a venomous 

 snake by plucking off and placing the twias of a poisonous 

 shrub across the nest, reminds us of the oft-repeated story of 

 the Spider and the Toad, which forms the subject of one of 

 Cowper's poems. The dramatis personal only of the animals 

 are altered. There cannot be a doubt of its apocryphal 

 nature. 



M. Warren. — 1. Bryum pollens. 2, 4, 9. Bryum pseudo- 

 triquetrum. 3. Ceratodon purpureas. S. Hypnum cupressi- 

 forme, with Jungermannia albicans. 6. Uncertain. 7. Bryum 

 cernuum. 8. Hypnum fluitans. 



Miss F.— The foreign mosses sent us to be named will 

 require some time to examine. 



H. M. C. A. (Lewes).— Your plant is not a British species, 

 as you correctly surmise, but proves to be Vincetoxicum 

 officinale. 



Gregory. — Apply to Mr. King, Sea-horse House, Portland- 

 road, who will give you all the information you want as to 

 aquaria. 



C. E. E. — Your description of the contents of the hen's egg 

 seems as if it contained the embryonic chick. It can be 

 nothing else. 



J. S. — (Jet Lubbock's " Metamorphoses of Insects," price 

 3s. fid. (Macmillan). This will give you a good idea of the 

 general relative structures of insects. 



J. Laing.— From the sketch of the stone, we have no doubt 

 it is a natural internal cast of a fossil sea-urchin, perhaps 

 Ananrhytes. The small holes are the perlorations for the 

 ambulacral feet. 



T. McGann. — The " Star-fish, which has no arms," you 

 refer to, is either Goniaster equestris, or Goniaster Temp/etonii ; 

 most likely the latter, as the former ii very rare. The spi- 

 cules sent to us are probably those of Uraster glacialis. 



W. Marshall. — Notes on the "Harvest Bug" occur in 

 several of the back volumes of Science-Gossip, notably in 

 that for 1873. You will find it figured and described in 

 Carpenter's work on the Microscope. 



W. H. S. — Your insect is evidently one of the Homoptera, 

 or Bug famdy, and is called Pentatoma dissimilis. 



L. J. M. — Your supposed "Glow-worm" has deceived 

 many a one. It is not uncommon, and is a species of Centi- 

 pede, called Geophilus electricus. Of course, it lias no rela- 

 tionship whatever to the Glow-worm, which is a beetle. 



8. A. S.— The " plant from Texas " is a locally common 

 species ot Corniculnria, a genus of '• horsf-hair " lichens 

 abuiu'ant in the southern states of North America. 



Mrs. D. — The malformed rose you sent us was altered by 

 the divisions of the calyx .sepals) being converted into leaves. 

 Dr. Masters, in his " Vegetable Teratology," calls this kind 

 of malformation " phyllody of the sepals." 



M. Needler. — Your "Aquatic Ichneumon" is doubtless 

 Polynema nutans, a hymenopterous insect of aquatic habits, 

 which swims by means or its wings. You will find a full de- 

 scription of it in the Linnean Society's Transactions for 1863. 

 We should much like to see one of your mounted specimens. 



W. Jacobs.— Your marine specimens are: No. 1. Apiece 

 of sea- weed incrusted with Bryozoa (Membranipora pilosa). 



2. A limy sea-weed (Cornllina officinalis). 3. A calcareous 

 polyzoan (Tubulipora). And 4. A red sea-weed (Plocamium 

 coccineum). See figs, and descriptions in " Half-hours at the 

 Sea-side." 



F. W. S. — Your Australian sea-weed is Ballia pulcherrima. 



" Chemicus." — Your sea-weeds are: No. 1, Odonthalia 



dentata. 2. Faded form of Delessaria alata, narrow var. 



3. Ptilosa plumosa. 4. Fucus serratus. 5. Rhodymenia 

 palmata. 6. Delesseria alata, var. angustissima. And 7. 

 Ptilosa plumosa. 



H. C. C— The excrescences on backs of oak-leaves are 

 called " Oak-spangles." They are caused by the leaves 

 having been punctured by a species of Cynips, and are, there- 

 fore, not fungi. 



Dr. Foote. — Prof. Williamson's work is published by the 

 Royal Society in their " Philosophical Transactions," in parts 

 or memoirs. Apply to secretary of Royal Society. 



EXCHANGES. 



Th e first six volumes of Science-Gossip bound in two, in 

 exchange for really good Entomological Microscopical Slides. 

 Must be first-class. 



A gentleman resident in the Hawaian Islands would be 

 happy to exchange specimens of the Volcanic Rocks of the 

 islands with any one who would supply him with those of 

 Great Britain.— J. B. D , Shelton, Hanley, Staffordshire. 



Wanted. — A few specimens of Synavta and Chirodota 

 violacea, in exchange for well-mounted Objects, &c — W. L. S., 

 6, Dagnall Park-terrace, Sethurst, S.E. 



" Collector's Hand-book of Algae, Diatoms," fee., new, 

 price 2s. 6d., exchanged for one on Lichens or Mosses. — 

 B. M. O., 21, Newington Green, London, N. 



Offered. — Nos. 6u6, 468'', 4ti8«, and Leptarus incurvatus, 

 for 9, 43, 44, 49, 62, 89, 9<>, 255, 267, 348, 349, 358, 36l), 367, 368, 

 372, 377, 418, 457. 4681, 484, 492, 538, 556, 665, 698, 810, 934, 

 and 939, " Lond. Cat," 7th ed.— John W. Burton, 35, Hemans- 

 street, Liverpool. 



Living Desmid, Diatoms, and Volvox globator, wanted, in 

 exchange for Micro Slides.— J. Bewlay, Vine-street, York. 



Wanted. — Coal measure Fossils, unmounted, for Mounted 

 Sections of Echinus spine. Wanted also large E. spines for 

 sectionizing. — M. Fowler, 20, Bum-row, Slamannan, N.B. 



Head ot Japanese Silkworm (Bombux Yama-mai). — Send 

 a stamped directed envelope to W. H. Gomm, Somerton, 

 Somerset. 



Hair of Ornithorthrynchus, Vampire Bat, Polar Bear. Camel, 

 and others, unmounted, for other good Objects. -E. J. W., 

 14, Albion-road, Dalston, E. 



Skin of Dog-fish, neatly mounted, making a beautiful 2 in. 

 object. For exchange send slide to C. P. Ogilvie, 23, Fitzroy- 

 square, London. 



Wanted.— All kinds of Foreign Birds' Skins, Eggs, and 

 Nests. Give in exchange British Skins, or send list of many 

 useful things to exchange.— Lebe, 230,West. street, Sheffield. 



Micro. — Offers requested for one scruple weight of 

 prepared Foraminifera. Wanted, Foraminiferous Sand. — 

 J. Green, the Cross, Match. 



Mounted Slide-iof Foraminifera, from Ilfracombe. Devon, 

 to exchange for Slides or Material. — H. a. Francis, Keswick 

 House, 48, White Ladies* road, Clifton, Bristol. 



Aglaia, Quercics, Corydon, Adonis, Alveolus, Castrensis, 

 Salicis, Ligniperda, Citraria, &c. ; Pupre of Onccllatus, 

 Populi, Titiee, Ligustri, Menthattri, Vinula,Sic. Desiderata: 

 Lepidoptera and Birds' Eggs. — R. Green, Rainham. Kent. 



SiDE-blown Eggs of Curlew, C. Sandpiper, T. Owl, R. 

 Plover, Golden ditto, Dunlin, Dipper, O. Catcher, R. Grouse, 

 Landrail, A. Tern, Redshank, Black Guillemot, &c, in 

 exchange for other good Eggs. Unaccepted offers not 

 answered.— J. D., 9, Lancaster-street, Carlisle. 



" Lond. Cat.," 7th ed.— Nos. 16, 18, 62, 79, 82, 99, 1 17, 167, 

 1774, 223, 234, 2426, 315, 417, 422, 4276, 442, 468m, u, 493, 498, 

 534, 576, 687e, 7576, 8416, 1,036, 1,090, 1,142, 1,1811, 1,242, 

 1,5406, 1,558 (subcarulea), 1,665, 1,589, 1,590, 1,629c, 1,654, &c. 

 — Send lists to J. Harbord Lewis, 180, Mill-st, Liverpool, S. 



Have a quantity of jelly, also an earthy matter rich in 

 Diatoms, Desmids, &c. Will be glad of offers of Mounted 

 Slides, named, in exchange. — J. J. Morgan, Tredegar. 



Wings of Urania fulgens and portions of Urania Sluanus 

 for Microscopic Slides. Edusa, .'Egiin, Quercus, Bidentata, 

 Nupta, Pai, Brunnea, Lot >, Spadicea, Oxyacantha, and 

 Por/ihynea, for other Macro lepidoptera, or dried British 

 plants. — Joseph Anderson, jun., Aire Villa, Chichester. 



