132 CORRESPONDENCE. 



The first 264 pages only of this bulky work are occupied with the Report of 

 the Secretary of the Institution ; the remaining 500 form the General Appen- 

 dix, and are devoted to the Record of Recent Scientific Progress in Astronomy, 

 Geology, Geography, Meteorology, Physics, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Botany, 

 Zoology, and Anthropology ; thus giving us a very large amount of informa- 

 tion relating to the various sciences. The value of the work is further increased 

 by a well-arranged index. 



Correeponbence. 



To the Editor of the Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science, 



Sir,— 



Till I read the pleasant " Rambles of a Naturalist," by 

 Miss A. M. Charlesworth, at p. 12, I never heard of any other plant being 

 connected with Danish blood-spilling than the Dwarf Elder, Sambucus 

 ebulus. In Smith's " English Flora," Vol. 2, one of its names is given 

 " Danewort," and the following note added : — " Our ancestors evinced a just 

 hatred of their brutal enemies the Danes, in supposing the nauseous, fetid, and 

 noxious plant before us to have sprung from their blood." I may mention 

 that this plant is not common either in England, Scotland, or Ireland, and 

 curiously enough, two localities that I know of in the last, are spots where 

 history records bloody fights to have occurred in days of yore. 



H. W. Lett. 



7o the Editor of the Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science. 

 Dear Sir, — 



We are so much pleased with our Journal, that we feel 

 like the little boy about the Christmas plum pudding, that it does not come 

 often enough. We would like to have it once a month, and not be " wearying" 

 all through the quarter for another part. Don't you think you could manage 

 it ? not, of course, as bulky as it is at present, but, perhaps, a third of the 

 size, and price sixpence. I am certain it would increase its popularity. To be 

 sure, it would also increase your work, but what of that when we have such a 

 willing editor ! And then, if space could be provided for Query and Corres- 

 pondence Columns, which are a necessity in every magazine of the present 

 day. There is just one thing more I would like to see in your pages : the 

 price of each book you review ; I never could understand the reason of 

 suppressing this most important item, and surely it would not be more trouble- 

 some than giving the number of pages in each volume. Many a time I see 

 books noticed which I long to order, but hesitate lest I should be incurring 

 too great expense. 



You are to be congratulated on the issue of the January Part of the 

 Journal, which is by far the best and most readable we have yet had. 



I am, yours truly, 



H. W. Lett. 



