160 THE QUERIST. 



Dr. SiithEuland, lately from the Arctic regions, who was present as a visitor, exhibited, 

 through Mr. A. White, some Podurce he found there upon the ice, which appeared identical with 

 the Dcs.sirea found on the glaciers by Agassiz in the Swiss Alps. 



During the evening various papers were read on different orders of insects brought home from 

 China by Mr. Fortune, which contained many novelties. 



€^i (^mml 



In the last number of "The Naturalist," I perceive a question is asked by S. Ilannaford, 

 Jun., as to the origin of the word "Wort," used in Botany. It is derived from the old Saxon 

 Yyrt, or Vcort, (Dutch, Worte,) signifying a herb, or plant generally. It is also sometimes 

 used to denote a plant of the cabbage family by some old authors ; and in other cases to denote 

 "new beer," either |ermented or not. — John L. Wight, London, June 4th., 1852. 



Wort. — This word is derived from Pj^pr, Peopr — Saxon; Worte — Dutch. Originally it was a 

 gei\eral name for a herb, and is still preserved in Lousewort, I/UUgwort, Spleenwort, Spearwort, 

 Spiderwort, Woundwort, &c., that is, a herb having specific (supposed) properties for destroying 

 Lice, for curing affections of the Lung, and Spleen, or a herb having hastate, or spear-shaped 

 leaves. In Latin we have Caulis, or Collis, the Cabbage Colcwort. In German, Krant. Bene- 

 dicteukrant, Herb-beicet ; Leus-krant, Louse-wort. (liefer to "Todd's Johnson's Dictionary," 

 Foiu-th Edition.) — E. Wilbraham Falconer, M. D., Bath, June, 1852. 



In reply to the query of your correspondent, Mr. Ilannaford, as to the origin of the word 

 "Wort," I beg to say that it is no other than the Anglo-Saxon "Wyrt," or "Wurt," (differing 

 only in orthography,) and is sj'nonymous with "herb," which is from the Latin "herba." Hence 

 the name "Woundwort" would imjily "the herb (wort) for wounds;" and so on with regard to 

 the other words cited by the querist. In further illustration of the signification of this term, 

 it might be remarked that in Anglo-Saxon it is frequently compounded with other words, as 

 ^^TFi/r(-bcd" a herb-bed; Wyrt-drenc, a. herb-drink, a purgative; Wyrt-gcard, a W'ort-yard — an 

 orchard; Wyrt-weard, a plant-keeper, or gardener. — I. W. N. Keys, Plymouth, June 1st., 1852. 



Wyrt. — Anglo-Saxon herb, plant, a general term. In old German, Wiirze, herbs. Modern 

 Geraian, spices. Urt — Danish. Ort — Swedish. Urt, jurt — Norse. Ort-gcard — Anglo-Saxon, a 

 garden — an orchard. — W. Gray, York. 



T. P. Fernic- — Mr. Tliwaite's receipt for a fluid for mounting and preserving Algse in. — Sixteen 

 parts of distilled water; one of spirits of wine, saturated with creosote, and carefully filtered 

 through chalk, and then mixed with the same quantity of Camphor water — Isabella Gifeord. 



In answer to Mr. Femie, in the Querist for this month, I would point out to him, in 

 addition to the fluids recommended in Quekett's work on the Microscope, for preserving Confer\'8e, 

 &c., the following solution of Corrosive Sviblimate in water, of which Harting, of Utrecht, thus 

 speaks — "For prcpa)Tvtions of delicate vegetable tissues, and, in general, of all tender organs in 

 which it is desired to retain the starch globules and chlorophyl unaltered, for fresh-water alga-, 

 diatomacea;, conferva?, infusoria belonging to the division rotifera, &c., a solution containing 

 one four-hundredth, or one-five hundredth of Corrosive Sublimate is the best preservative with 

 ■which I am acquainted." He also says "The blood corpuscles can be preserved unaltered in 

 no other fluid with which I have experimented. Tlie corpuscles of the frog requnc a fluid 

 containing one four-hundredth of Corrosive Sublimate; those of birds one three-hundredth; 

 of mammalia and man one two-hundredth.— R. May'smob, Devizes, May, 1852. 



Birds' Kcsts. — 1st. —Has any ornithologist treated of the arrangement of the materials of birds' 

 nests, in reference to their respective powers of conducting heat? or 2nd., of the difi'erent altitudes 

 at which bu-ds build their nests? or 3rd., whctlicr the latter has any, and Avhat reference to 

 the powers of flight in birds? — E. Wilbraham Falconer, M. D., Bath, June, 1852. 



I should feel much obliged to Mr. Mc'Intosh, or any of your correspondents, who would 

 favour me with a complete, or full list of the hardy -gi-o wing British Trees that will gi-ow from 

 slips or cuttings. — F. OiU'EN Morris, Nafferton Vicarage, Driffield, May 21st., 1852. 



