2o8 



HA R D WICKE ' S S CIE NCE - G O SSIP, 



many stalks encompassed about with a multitude 

 of fat leaves, at the top whereof come yellow 

 flowers." 



We noted next the pretty lilac-blue sheep's-bit 

 [Jasione inontana) scarcely an inch high, and then a 

 plant which, from its blossoms having been attacked 

 by some insect, was at first extremely puzzling. It 

 proved to be a variety of the bitter-sweet [Solaujim 

 Dtdcamara) with thick fleshy leaves, the S. marimim 

 of Syme. The lesser dodder {Cii scuta Epithyinicrii) 

 was here too observed, not only feeding on the 

 furze, but also on the wood sage about which it 

 twined its deadly and mal-odoriferous heads of 

 florets. It here seemed to have an especial liking for 

 that labiate. 



The bright yellow petals andglaiicous leaves of the 

 horned poppy {Glaiichtm hitcum) were very conspicu- 

 ous, mingled with plenty of that curious prickly 

 plant, the sea holly [Eryjigittm mm-iiiiniim), 

 then in jDerfection. Among the shingle peeped 

 up the downy heads [of the hare's-foot trefoil 

 dwarfed to an unusual degree, and occasionally to be 

 seen were some early blooms of the pretty little 

 ladies' -tresses {Spiranthes aiitiimnalii) amidst the sand 

 which one would have thought too arid for this 

 demoiselle of the British Orchis to have chosen for 

 her dwelling. While traversing the shore we came on 

 that deceptive-looking composite, the carline thistle 

 (Carlina vulgaris) which resembles so much a brown, 

 withered flower, that those who had not before seen 

 it, deemed it dead and discoloured. On our return 

 through North Hayling we made no floral finds worth 

 notice, excepting that of both the wild mignonettes 

 (Reseda lut^-a and J\. hiteola) growing together on a 

 heap of chalk and rubbish. 



It may be added that the flora of Hayling seems to 

 resemble that of the Isle of Wight, especially as to 

 the littoral kinds of grapes which were then out of 

 flower. We gathered the single glumed fescue, 

 {Festuca uniglumis), the sea cat's tail {F/ikuiii aim- 

 arhivi) and the marram [Fsaniina arcuaria), but the 

 rarer nit-grass {Gastridium Icndigerum) — obtained in 

 the early summer, and which occurs also at Thorney 

 had then disappeared. The ramble in Hayling was 

 by all, who thoroughly enjoyed it, voted well worth 

 repetition. 



F. H. Arnold, LL.B. 



The Mocking Bird is often called Nightingale 

 in the United States, but it is not unlike in plumage 

 to our thrush, and one species in the Southern States 

 (the Carolina mocking bird) is occasionally termed 

 the Robin. American robins are not like our red- 

 breasted gentlemen, they are a bluish-grey colour, 

 with some amount of white, or at any rate light 

 feathers. I was very disappointed when my American 

 friends pointed out their " Robin " to me. — //. E. IV. 



MICROSCOPY. 



Bubbles in Glycerine Jelly. — Can any of the 

 readers of SciENCE-Gossir give me any explanation 

 of the spontaneous appearance of bubbles or 

 "vacuoles" in glycerine jelly? I have mounted 

 several slides in this medium, and in many cases have 

 been positive that the objects have been perfectly free . 

 from air, but after an interval of days, sometimes of 

 months, I have found the objects disfigured by a 

 perfect network of bubbles, branching in all direc- 

 tions, and sometimes even resembling trees, corals, 

 and ferns in their various forms. Now, unless there 

 is some remedy for this, no reliance can be placed on 

 glycerine jelly, and the sooner its untrustworthiness 

 is made known the better. I should be very glad if 

 correspondents would inform me whether they have 

 had the same experience ; if not, how they use the 

 jelly, and if so, would they suggest the cause of the 

 evil, or a way of preventing it? — G. H. Bryan. 



"Synopsis of the Freshwater Rhizopods." 

 — Mr, R. Hitchcock, the President of the New York 

 Microscopical Society, has just published a valuable 

 condensed account of the genera and species of 

 North American rhizopods, founded on Professor 

 Leidy's recently-issued monograph upon the same 

 subject. Copies may be obtained from Mr. Bogue, 

 3, St, INIartin's Place, price s^s. 



Asthmatos ciliaris. — Professor Leidy is of 

 opinion that the infusorian which goes by this name 

 is nothing else than the epithelial cell of the air 

 passages. It will be remembered that this infusorian 

 has been found in the mucus of asthmatical persons. 



Microscopic Test for Poison. — To test fluids 

 for such minute qualities of certain alkaloids as 

 would not answer to chemical procedure. Professor 

 Rossbach places, uncovered, on a slide, a drop of 

 water containing Infusoria, which being carefully 

 examined, a little of the suspected fluid is applied. 

 If organic poison be present the Infusoria become a 

 formless sediment. 1-15,000,000 of a grain of 

 atropine may be thus detected. 



Gutta-percha Cells. — Ur. Phin finds these 

 become granular and brittle. If held together with 

 shellac, or other varnish or cement, they may last a 

 long time. 



Wax Cells. — These are recommended by Mr. 

 Walmsley, for mounting in fluid, glycerine, &c. 

 A wax ring is bedded in one of white zinc cement 

 and receives successive coatings, as the last becomes 

 hard. Then a thin coating is applied ; the cell is 

 filled, the object arranged, a cover glass adapted, a 

 clip attached ; and the slide is washed with clean 

 water and a pencil and wiped. After a time another 

 ring is made and the cell is finished off. — J. R. M. S. 



