242 SELECTED NOTES FROM 



great success with common salt and distilled water. Some 

 weeks ago I mounted some specimens with the above medium in 

 a shallow cell, and they now retain the same shape and colour as 

 when taken from the pond. Of course specimens mounted in this 

 way only do for low powers. A good description of Volvox 

 appeared in the Popular Science Revieiv^ July, 1878. 



Wm. Elliott. 



Sphagnum— Bog Moss.— The Sphagnums may be found in 

 nearly every boggy place. They have a whitey-brown appearance, 

 sometimes tinged with red or green, and are described in books 

 as " mosses without roots." The Sphagnums have little bladders 

 (utricles) attached to their stalks to buoy up the plants when in 

 the water ; these utricles also have certain distinctive character- 

 istics in different species. The specific names usually refer to the 

 form of the leaf. 



Some authors divide the order into obtuse-leaved and 

 acute-leaved. S. molliisciwt^ S. cymbifoHum^ and S. compactum 

 may be classed in the obtuse-leaved division. S. squarrosum, S. 

 acutifoliiim^ and 6*. plumosum may be placed in the acute-leaved 

 division. 



S. cymUfolium is a very common moss, easily remembered by 

 its spoon or boat-shaped leaves, and its large size (6 to 12 inches). 

 The utricles of stem have spiral fibres. 



S. compactum has leaves similar to the above, but a more 

 densely tufted habit and smaller size (2 to 4 inches). The 

 utricles of stem have the same external form as S. cymbifolium^ 

 but without any spiral fibres. 



^. moUuscum is a tiny species (2 to 4 inches) with obtuse 

 leaves, and has utricles with the upper lips hooked and free, also 

 without spiral fibres. 



6". acutifolitim is a common species, and has narrow-pointed 

 leaves ; the size of the plant varies from 6 to 1 2 inches long. 



S. sgtiarrosum, as its name indicates, has acute squarrose 

 leaves. 



S. plumosum has a beautiful feathery appearance, and usually 

 grows floating in the water, but when taken out the leaves collapse 

 like a mop. 



W. N. Cheeseman. 



Apathus.— Kirby and Spence (small edition, p. 353) call these 

 insects parasitic inhabitants of some humble bees' nests, being 

 unprovided with the usual polliniferous organs. 



E. E. Jarrett. 



