BECEEATIVE SCIENCE. 



n 



tte covering-glass whilst under observation. 

 Had this simple expedient, which, is equally 

 available to examinations in water, been more 

 generally adopted, our knowledge would be 

 more complete than it is of some doubtful 

 forms, whilst others would never have ob- 

 tained admittance on our lists to become 

 "opprobria Diatomearum" — horrid puzzlers 

 that we know not what to do with. An easy 

 way of hardening the balsam, when the 

 mounting is complete, is to put the slide on 

 the mantel-piece, in a room with a fire, for a 

 few days, or it may be put over a water or 

 sand-bath, on a little metal table heated by a 

 spirit-lamp j or where many have to be done 

 at once, in an ingenious apparatus, like the 

 Dutch-oven in principle, to which the name 

 "Eetino-Klibanon," or slide-dryer, has been 

 applied. Tuffen West. 



and only 65.0° in 1847, giving a range in greatest heat 

 of 20.0^ during the past seventeen years. 



The gi-eatest cold was as low as 32.0° in 1845 and 

 1852, and never below 46.5° in 1846, giving a range 

 of 14.5° in gi-eatest cold. 



Three-quarters of an inch of rain is the lowest 

 amount that has fallen in September, this occurred 1855 ; 

 5i inches fell in 1852, being a range of 4f inches. 



September is usually free from cloud, and at night 

 the temperature descends towards the freezing point 



E. J. Lowe, 



ASTEONOMICAL OBSEEVATIONS 

 FOR SEPTEMBER, 1859. 



Sun in constellation Virgo till the 23d, then in Libra. 



On tlie 1st the sun rises in London at 5h. 13m. 

 r .m., and sets at 6h. 46m. p.m. On the 30th he rises 

 at 6h. Om. a.m., and sets at 5h. 40m. ; 



Twilight ends on the 6th at 8h. 38m. p.m., on 

 the 28th at 7h. 38m. 



Day breaks 12th, 3h. 20m. a.m., 27th, 3h. 59m. a.m. 



Full moon 12th, 8h. 31m. a.m. New, 26th, Ih. 

 56m. p.m. 



The moon at greatest distance from earth on the 

 8th, at midnight. Least distance on the 24th. 



Mercury is somewhat favourably situated for ob- 

 servation, being in Leo at the commencement of the 

 month, and in Virgo at the end of the month. 



Mercury in conjunction with Mars ; evening of the 

 6th, within 6° of moon on the evening of the 25th. 



Venus very smaU, and very unfavourably situated 

 for observation. Li superior conjunction with sun on 

 the 27th. 



Venus in Leo till the middle of the month, then in 

 Virgo. 



Mars in Leo. Invisible, close to the sun. 



Jupiter in Gemini, a morning star, rising midnight. 



Saturn is in Leo, and invisible until the end of the 

 month, and then unfavourably situated for observation. 



Uranus is in Taurus. 



Occultation of Stars by the Moon : On the 16th, 

 Epsilon Arietis, 4J magnitude, disappearance, 9h. 

 55m. p.m. ; reappearance, lOh, 10m. p.m. On the 

 22nd, mu Cancri, 5th magnitude, disappearance, 111. 

 29m. a.m.; reappearance, 2h. 21m. a.m. 



Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites : On the 7th, the 

 3rd moon will disappear at lb. 23m. 59s. a.m., and 

 reappear at 4h. 25m. 45s. a.m. On the 13th, the 1st 

 satellite wiU disappear at Ih. 20m. 52s. a.m. 



E. J. Lowe. 



THiNaS OF THE SEASON— SEPTEMBEE. 



FOR VARIOUS LOCALITIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Birds Arriving. — Sea Curlew, Snipe and Snipe 

 Jack, Green Sandpiper, Bean Goose. 



Birds Departing. — Blackcap, Nightingale, 'White 

 Throat, Sedge Warbler, Beed Warbler, Wood Wren, 

 Grasshopper Lark, Eeed Sparrow, Swallow (H. rus- 

 iica), Eed-backed Shrike, Flycatcher, Chiff-chaff, 

 Stone Curlew, Wheatear, Ring Ousel, Sandwich Tern, 

 Common Tern, Black Tern, Euff. 



Insects. — Twelve and Sixteen- Spotted Ladybird, 

 Clouded Yellow, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Death's 

 Head Hawk-moth, Helophanus fennicus, Chlenius 

 vestitus, Acridia viridissima. 



Wild Plants in Flower. — Small Fleabane, Com- 

 mon Eagwort, Creeping Water Plantain, Jointed Glass- 

 wort (sea-shore), Saffron Crocus, Grass of Parnassus, 

 Persicaria, Arbutus, Sharp-leaved Mint, Eed Mint, 

 Woundwort, Bur Marigold. 



