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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



white blackbird occasionally occurring, but we should 

 rather speak of this as a pied one. We send a little 

 sketch to show the appearance of the throat, or rather 

 iipper part of the breast. — Elizabeth Ediuards. 



Aqltarium experiences. — Perhaps the following 

 may be interesting to aquarium keepers. I lost 

 several of my carp. They darted about and then 

 went up to the top of the water, kept on one side and 

 ultimately died. My attention was one day called to 

 the fact that a small beetle (I forget name, black, 

 \ long) had settled on a carp's back and was being 

 frantically conveyed about the aquarium (vvliich in 

 this case is a large bell-glass 22 inches in diameter), 

 and, so far as the beetle was concerned, free of charge. 

 Subsequently I found two of the same beetles 

 enjoying themselves in a similar way, having fastened 

 on to the top of the carp's tail and levying black- 

 mail in a way that would do credit to any far-seeing 

 cannibal. They were eating the carp up by inches ; 

 on the principle of take a little and come again. 

 The carp has since died. I found that the boat-fly, 

 or water-boatman, has the same interesting habits, 

 with the slight difference of fastening itself under- 

 neath the hapless fish. The sticklebacks were left 

 alone — but all newts disappeared. The beetles and 

 boat-flies are now in an abode of their own, and, for 

 aught I know, eating up each other. — John Alex. 

 Ollard. 



R.\RE MoTHS.^Can any reader of the Science- 

 Gossip tell me where I should be likely to come 

 across the following two rare moths, Cannre and 

 Neuricse, in the east of England ? — E. P. D. 



How Leeches breathe. — In the September 

 number of Science-Gossip, Mr. G. Forden says 

 that in the leeches "respiration is effected partly by 

 the general surface of the body, but principally by 

 means of special organs, termed segmental organs 

 or respiratory pouches, formed by involutions of the 

 integument." The segmental organs are now gene- 

 rally considered to have an excretory function. In 

 Branchellion there are lobe-like extensions of the 

 integument which may be respiratory, but I think the 

 majority of leeches breathe by means of the skin 

 alone. Huxley gives the following account of the 

 nervous system of the Turbellaria : " Tlie nervous 

 system consists of two ganglia placed in the anterior 

 end of the body, from which, in addition to other 

 branches, a longitudmal cord extends backwards on 

 each side of the body. In some cases, these lateral 

 trunks exhibit ganglionic enlargements, from which 

 nerves are given off; and they may become approxi- 

 mated on the ventral side of the body, thereby 

 showing a tendency to the formation of the double 

 ganglionated chain characteristic of higher worms. — 

 W. J. B. 



The Milkwort.— Science-Gossip, pages 152, 

 189, 214. Will your correspondents, W. Mower and 

 E. Edwards, pardon my asking if ihey are quite sure 

 that the specimens of milkwort which they found in 

 flower in the middle of April were Polygala vulgaris ? 

 As H. E. Watney remarks, the "Gang Floure " 

 generally blossoms much later, but I am well aware 

 that sheltered nooks give wild-flower gatherers many 

 pleasant surprises, and I am putting my query in no 

 quibbling spirit. I write chiefly because I want to 

 hear of new localities for a species, or variety called 

 by some botanists P. calcan-a, and because I want to 

 call attention to it as I know it is often overlooked. 

 This polygala is in its perfection of beauty in April ; 

 at any rate I have found it in large quantities in 

 Hampshire during that month. It is very distinct 



from vulgaris when closely examined. The Rev. C.A, 

 Johns, in his " Flowers of the Field " (a book to which 

 I owe a deep debt of gratitude), says it differs from 

 the ordinary milkwort " in having the lower leaves 

 tufted," and in " blunt calyx wings which are differ- 

 ently veined," also, in "ceasing to flower almost before 

 the common milkwort begins." Are W. Mower and 

 E. Edwards quite sure that the flowers which they 

 gathered in April were not those of Polygala 



calcarea ? — S. A. 



Bridges. 



The Extinction of Rare Plants. — Having 

 read the remarks by Mr. T. G. Harris on the above 

 subject, I should like to back him up in any plans 

 for the furtherance of the protection of plants. But 

 while deploring these wholesale depredations, I 

 would also point out that some safety and reliancf; 

 may be placed in the ignorance of these rapacious 

 vendors of plants, for some few weeks ago an ad- 

 vertisement appeared in the "Bazaar" offering the 

 are man-orchis (Aeeras antJiropopJiora) at a very 

 low price per dozen. On the arrival of a dozen 

 they were nothing else, than the common tway-blade 

 [Lislera ovata). At the same time, some movement 

 is necessary to prevent extinction of rarities, and I 

 think thit if some head botanist will undertake to 

 receive suggestions and advice from others, some 

 satisfactory result may be attained, either by the 

 formation of some society or the individual efforts- 

 of every botanist in his own locality. — T. C. Vize. 



A remarkable Tree. — The following is from 

 a letter sent bv Thomas de Hoghton, Lieutenant, 

 R.N., of Wolfreton Kirk, Ella, Hull, and published 

 in the "Standard" last August (in reference to- 

 his report on the Torres Straits Pearl Shell Fishery). 

 "Whilst writing of Torres Straits I should like to 

 mention a somewhat curious tree I saw on one side 

 of the islands there, which, though probably known- 

 to science, would, I think, be new to most of your 

 readers. While lying in H.M.'s schooner Beagle off 

 the island in question I was told Ijy a white man 

 resident there, that there was a tree there which took 

 bones up to its upper and all its branches, and walk- 

 ing over one afternoon to see this tree, I certainly 

 saw a large tree, I suppose quite thirty feet or more in 

 height, with the extremities of all its branches and 

 twigs covered with bones, apparently adhering to ■ 

 them. My informant told me that as the tree stood 

 close outside some huts, they noticed that bones 

 thrown under it were taken up (by I believe its- 

 leaves) in some way, so they always threw bones- 

 there afterwards, and the result was the tree was 

 laden with them when I saw it. It was quite im- 

 possible they could be placed there by human agency, 

 I think, as many were on the extremes of too slender 

 branches to bear any weight, and I have no reason to 

 doubt the statements of the white men residing on 

 the island; and should Mr. Moff, of Plymouth, son. 

 of a warrant officer, residing there, see this, I am sure- 

 he would confirm it." Is the above tree known tO' 

 science? — J. A. 0. 



Adders Hissing.— In Science-Gossip (Sept, 

 no.) Mr. Campbell considers that I am incorrect in 

 two cases. As regards the first I most certainly, 

 have noticed that adders do most frequently hiss 

 after a warm shower of rain. Perhaps I was too 

 incautious in saying that the hissing of the adder is. 

 due only to the creature's joy of existence ; but I 

 have observed adders hissing when I feel perfectly 

 sure they were totally unaware of my presence. On 

 several occasions I have noticed this, and when the}'' 

 did not appear in the least put out, if I may use the 

 expression thus. I trust that if I have been in-^ 



