HA RD W1CKE S SCIENCE- G OS SIP. 



233 



It is lamentable to think that lovers of good 

 English as well as of open air observations, will 

 never more be delighted with the writings of Richard 

 Jeffries, the author of " Wild Life in a Southern 

 Country," "The Gamekeeper at Home," etc. 



Mr. Howard Grubb, the well-known Dublin 

 telescope maker, has received the honour of knight- 

 hood. 



Professor Spencer Baird, the distinguished 

 chief of the Smithsonian Institute, and well known 

 American ornithologist, is dead. 



The invitation of the New South Wales Govern- 

 ment, made through their agent-general last year, for 

 the British Association to meet in Sydney next 

 January, has been withdrawn. 



Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace has just returned 

 home from a ten months' lecturing tour in the United 

 States and Canada. 



The recent eclipse of the sun excited much 

 attention in Berlin, where 200,000 people waited in 

 the hope of seeing it. 



The first number of the Hampshire Field Club 

 (edited by the Rev. G. W. Minus) promises well as a 

 valuable contribution to the natural history, &c, of 

 the British Islands. 



We have received a copy of Dr. A. B. Griffiths' 

 paper (from the Proceedings of the Royal Society), 

 on " The Nephridia and Liver of Patella vulgata," 

 detailing some valuable original researches. 



We have received a copy of Dr. Thomas Alcock's 

 "Natural History of the Coast of Lancashire," 

 published by John Heywood, Manchester. Dr. 

 Alcock has long been known both as an enthu- 

 siastic student, and an able populariser of natural 

 science. 



Messrs. King, Mendham & Co., of Fairfax Street, 

 Bristol, have issued a new Illustrated Price List of 

 the Electrical and Magnetic apparatus manufactured 

 by them. Even to those not directly interested in such 

 matters, this brochure is very interesting, as showing 

 the vast number of practical appliances ; whilst to 

 practical men it must be invaluable. 



We have received a copy of the Indian " Annals 

 and Magazine of Natural History," which is founded 

 on the lines of the well-known journal of that name, 

 published by Taylor & Francis. Our Indian 

 contemporary is in the first year of its existence, and 

 promises to be a most valuable auxiliary to natural 

 science, especial in the wide field opened out in our 

 Indian possessions. 



The vast and various collection of minerals now 

 shown at the American Exhibition by Professor Foote, 

 are well worthy of a special visit by naturalists and 

 geologists. There are about twelve tons of the best 



specimens of their kind ever seen, many being quite 

 unique. Lapidaries are at work cutting and polishing 

 them, and the young geological collector may pick up 

 some valuable "wrinkles," whilst those desirous of 

 obtaining choice cabinets of beautiful minerals can 

 obtain them at prices varying from is. to 150/. 



MICROSCOPY. 



Diatoms raised from Spores. — Microscopists 

 will be interested in hearing that Professor Lockwood 

 has succeeded in raising diatoms from spores. The 

 diatoms raised in one experiment were from spores 

 whose vitality had lain dormant in total darkness 

 fourteen and sixteen years respectively. He has 

 demonstrated that diatoms have embryonic stages 

 with silicate fronds. 



The Hessian Fly. — With commendable thought- 

 fulness, Mr. Fred Enock issued early in August a 

 slide showing the puparia of this agricultural and 

 much-talked of pest in situ, as the fourteenth of his 

 "Entomological Studies," together with a full 

 description and illustration of the inse:t and its 

 habits. 



Cole's Microscopical Studies. — All micro- 

 scopists, whether students or amateurs, will hear 

 with general regret that Mr. A. C. Cole has issued 

 the last of his present series of microscopical studies ; 

 invaluable to the student from their histological clear- 

 ness, and the delight of all from their high artistic 

 finish. Each instalment of these " studies," with 

 their illustrative slides, has been eagerly awaited, 

 until the signature " Cole Deum " has come to be 

 the sign manual of the highest and most delicate 

 microscopical finish. Mr. Cole has perhaps always 

 been at his best in pathological and physiological 

 preparations. His singular adeptness in staining and 

 injecting has been simply invaluable in this connec- 

 tion, as is amply demonstrated in this last issue, which 

 contains slides illustrative of Tubercular Renal 

 Phthisis, Secondary Epithelioma, and Leucocy- 

 thsemia of the kidney. In each the nuclei are 

 sharply differentiated, marking out the glomeruli and 

 tubules of the rays and pyramids, and bringing the 

 pathological characters out with perfect distinctness. 

 It is unnecessary to praise one or many of the 

 preparations, since unvarying excellence has been the 

 main feature of Mr. Cole's work. The last issue also 

 includes sections of liver-fluke, Aristolochia sipho, 

 ovotestis of Helix, human tape-worm, leaf of 

 psoralea, petiole of ivy, Tingis hystricellus, seed of 

 sun-ray, and odontophore of Cyclostoma elegans. 



Micro-Photography.— Can any one give me a 

 few hints in micro-photography, and would there be 

 any chance of my succeeding, with no experience in 

 ordinary photography ? — Edwin Goodwin. 



