194 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Late Swallows — On Sunday, October 25th, 

 1896, I saw three swallows and a martin wheeling 

 around the houses of Carew Road, Thornton Heath, 

 near to the recreation ground. This date appears 

 to be worthy of record. — E. A . Martin, 69, Bensham 

 Manor Road, Thornton Heath. 



Fossil Fern at Giant's Causeway. — I noticed 

 this year when at the Giant's Causeway, Antrim, a 

 fossil fern, which I have not seen chronicled any- 

 where before, but which may be of interest. It 

 was the distinct impression of an almost perfect 

 fern -leaf on one of the hexagonal surfaces of one of 

 the columns of that part of the Causeway termed 

 the Honeycomb (I am not quite sure if it was 

 the Honeycomb, but I think it was, and next year 

 I intend to look for it again). I am unable to say 

 what this fern was or how it could get there. 

 Perhaps some of your geological readers might be 

 able to suggest a cause. — Johi H. Barbour, Bangor, 

 CO. Down; November 8th, 1896. 



New Focus Tube. — Messrs. W. Watson and 

 Sons, of 313, High Holborn, London, are introduc- 

 ing a new focus tube on a very much improved 

 principle. The electrodes are widely separated, so 

 that there is no chance of sparking between them 

 outside the tube ; also, by a simple device, the 

 whole of the cathodic stream impinges upon the 

 platinum anode, and a special metal is used by 

 means of which hydrogen is stored. When the 

 tube gets high in vacuum, it is only necessary to 

 warm it by a spirit lamp to be at once brought to 

 the desired pitch of exhaustion. These tubes are 

 much more brilliant than any other forms that we 

 have yet seen. 



'Camberwell Beauty in Scotland. — I see notes 

 in SciENCE-Gossip (pp. 164 and 165) as to the 

 occurrence of Vanessa antiopa over Northern Scot- 

 land, stating that its occurrence in that quarter is 

 rare. I do not see why it should be confined to the 

 south of our Islands, as I have seen it in Norway 

 and you say that it might have come from Scandi- 

 navia. Morris, in his " British Butterflies," says 

 that it has been noticed in Scotland " as far north 

 as Ayrshire," which is only just over the Border. 

 I may mention that I once caught a specimen 

 which had settled on the road opposite the Fifth 

 Avenue Hotel in the heart of New York, and that 

 I have seen it in Switzerland and other parts of 

 Europe. — S. Arthur Seivall, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, W. 



The Publication of Localities. — I have read 

 with much interest, Mr. Carrington's account of 

 the discovery of Calophasia platyptera, Esp., under 

 circumstances which, in his opinion, seem to 

 establish its claim to inclusion amongst our 

 recognised species ; but I venture to think that his 

 action in describing so minutely the situation of 

 the spot where the insect was procured will be 

 greatly deplored by all entomologists worthy the 

 name, or, in other words, by those who are 

 entomologists first and collectors afterwards. At 



a time when we are beginning to realise that, 

 unless speedy action be taken, many of our rarer 

 species will soon be ours only in name and in the 

 shape of cabinet specimens ; also when the 

 Entomological Society is engaged in formulating 

 some scheme for checking the ravages of the 

 indiscriminate collector, whose sole aim appears to 

 be that of record breaking in the acquisition of long 

 series of " good things," it is peculiarly unfortunate 

 to find our esteemed editor aiding the spoilers in 

 their work. I am not now concerned in discussing 

 the question as to whether the history of Eupithecia 

 extensaria is or is not likely to be paralleled in the 

 present instance, but I cannot refrain from express- 

 ing my conviction that the Brighton locality will 

 be practically worked to death, so far as platyptera 

 is concerned, by the close of next season. Some 

 will probably think my view an unnecessarily 

 pessimistic one, but others, who have had practical 

 experience of the persistent and unscrupulous war- 

 fare waged against many of our choicest species by 

 so-called entomologists, will no doubt join with me 

 in protesting against the indiscriminate publication 

 of details, putting " all and sundry" on the track of 

 rarities. Whilst there are black sheep in our 

 ranks, and I am afraid we must with sorrow 

 confess that there are many such, it is our duty in 

 the best interests of entomological science to 

 emulate the example set by Mr. G. T. Harris on p. 

 165 of the November issue of this journal, where I 

 rejoice to note that he safeguards Thecla pruni in a 

 Herefordshire locality. — F. R. Rowley, Corporation 

 Museum, Leicester. 



Correspondence Wanted.— As a boy I used to 

 see and read Science-Gossip. Mr. J. Jenner Weir, 

 F.L.S., Mr. McLachlan, Dr. Wallace (Darwin on 

 one occasion), visited my father's house, he being 

 President of the West Kent Microscopical Society. 

 I have travelled over almost every part of Australia 

 as explorer, "overlander" (cattle-driver), miner, 

 artist for the Illustrated London News, and in later 

 y^ars as mining correspondent for the Coolgardie 

 Miner. I was artist for the Royal Geographical 

 Society of New South Wales on the " Bonito " (New 

 Guinea Expedition, of 1885). Corresponding with 

 Mr. Jenner Weir until his death, I used to send 

 him butterflies, and relate to him what I saw in 

 my travels. I am no scientific expert, but really 

 love collecting and studying insects and animals. 

 Mostly in out-of-the-way places, my opportuni- 

 ties for obtaining little-known species of the fauna 

 and flora of Australasia are unrivalled. It is a pity 

 such an exceptional opportunity is thrown away. 

 Might I trouble you to consider if you could intro- 

 duce me to a correspondent similar to Mr. Weir ? — 

 someone who has a larger mind than the every- 

 day specialist-naturalist. There is much a true 

 lover of nature could learn from me, although I 

 hardly know the Latin name of a single animal. 

 I was the first to draw attention in print to the 

 tree-kangaroo of Queensland, in my novel, " The 

 Black Police." In return for such help, I want to 

 be posted with the latest thoughts of the broad- 

 minded naturalists with whom my correspondent 

 comes in contact. I would like also to have 

 certain questions answered from time to time as to 

 specimens I might send. The opportunity for 

 collecting — especially lepidoptera and other in- 

 sects, birds, minerals and plants — is great ; and it is 

 really a pity that there is no one to whom I can 

 send things, who could make use of them. Can 

 you recommend any person who would care to 

 correspond with me? — A. J. Vogan, Taxiranga, Bay 

 of Plenty, New Zealand. 



