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SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



a height of about three inches were transplanted 

 into separate pots. The canes grown under glass 

 were kept at the usual temperature of a vinery 

 until they had attained a height of two feet, when 

 they were transplanted into a hothouse in which 

 the temperature rose during the day to 100 ° Fahr. 

 Canes grown in this way attained a height of seven 

 and a half feet, and two of the specimens exhibited 

 had grown fine heads. The best plant grown in 

 the open air, attained a height of only ten inches. 

 The best results, Mr. McGlasham thought, would 

 be attained by planting the seeds early in March, 

 and growing each seed in a separate pot from the 

 first, so as to avoid damaging the roots when 

 transplanting. — G. W.Niven, Hon. Sec, 27, Brymner 

 Street, Greenock. 



The Cage-Bird Club. — We have received the 

 " Transactions," for October and November, of this 

 club, which has its headquarters at the Inns of 

 Court Hotel, London, W.C., where the honorary 

 secretaries may be addressed. The club list now 

 numbers no less than 5,000 persons, who may be 

 described as actively interested in the study (or 

 pleasure of keeping) cage-birds. Dr. W. F. Green 

 is Chairman of the club. At its meetings the papers 

 read and discussions are interesting to others than 

 those possessing a taste for the objects of the club. 

 The " Transactions," which are elegantly produced 

 (published by Elliot Stock), appear to be issued 

 monthly, and contain the papers read at meetings, 

 with reports of the discussions. The paper read at 

 the October meeting was upon " Hybrids," by Dr. 

 J. Denham Bradburn. In speaking of hybrids 

 between goldfinch, canary and bullfinch, the 

 lecturer drew a diagram of a triangle, placing gold- 

 finch at its apex, canary at the left-hand angle and 

 bullfinch at right angle. The line from canary to 

 goldfinch is marked " easy," that from goldfinch to 

 bullfinch "difficult, but certain," and the lower 

 line from canary to bullfinch " very difficult, but to 

 be done." The canary seems to be the bird, as 

 one might expect from its artificial condition, 

 which will most readily hybridize with other 

 finches. Dr. Bradburn places the following order 

 as that in which canary mules are obtained. Gold- 

 finch-canary, then linnet-canary, redpole-canary, 

 siskin-canary and greenfinch-canary being frequent, 

 the last, like the bullfinch-canary, being attended 

 with some difficulty. The lecturer stated that only 

 from very healthy parents on both sides, might 

 hybrids be expected. The paper is one of con- 

 siderable interest, and evoked an active discussion 

 which included albinism in mules. — [J.T.C.] 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — Science-Gossip 

 is published on the 25th of each month. All notes or other 

 communications should reach us not later than the 18th of 

 the month for insertion in the following number. No com- 

 munications can be inserted or noticed without full name 

 and address of writer. 



Notice. — Contributors are requested to strictly observe the 

 following rules. All contributions must be clearly written 

 on one side of the paper only. Words intended to be 

 printed in italics should be marked under with a single line. 

 Generic names must be given in full, excepting where used 



immediately before . Capitals may only be used for generic, 



and not specific names. Scientific names and names of 

 places to be written in round hand. 



The Editors are not responsible for unused MSS., neither 

 can they undertake to return them, unless accompanied with 

 stamps for return postage. 



Subscriptions. — Subscriptions to SciENCE-GossiP,at the 

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 mence at any time. 



The Editors will be pleased to answer questions and name 

 specimens through the Correspondence column of the maga- 

 zine. Specimens, in good condition, oi not more than three 

 species to be sent at one time, carriage paid. Duplicates 

 only to be sent, which will not be returned. The specimens 

 must have identifying numbers attached, together with 

 locality, date and particulars of capture. 



All communications, remittances of subscriptions, books 

 or instruments for review, specimens for identification, etc., 

 are to be addressed to John T. Carrington, i, Northumber- 

 land Avenue, London, W.C. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



T. B. Fletcher (West Norwood).—" Natur und Haus " is 

 published in Berlin. Write to the Editor, who will give you 

 the particulars. 



H. Poole (Shanklin). — We are sorry to say that your 

 specimens were so crushed in transit through post-office as 

 to be lost. All delicate objects should come in a strong box. 

 A tin match-box would have done. 



A. Draper (Sheffield).— Mother Carey's (chicken) is a 

 sailor's corruption of mater cara, and is generally applied to 

 all the ocean petrels, but more especially to the storm-petrel. 

 In like manner the great black petrel (Procellaria gigantea) 

 of the Pacific Ocean is called Mother Carey's goose. 



George Oldfield (Norton Malton). — Your Chipping 

 Norton fossil is Cypriardia intermedia of Mid Lias. We 

 could not find anything in the two small black paper 

 packets. 



W. Hetherington (Nenthead).— "The Mineral Collector" 

 is published at 58, Pearl Street, New York, monthly, price 

 ten cents, or one dollar per annum ; we do not know that it 

 is sold in England. The insect is the common cockroach 

 (Periplaneta orientalis). Rest next month. 



EXCHANGES. 



Notice.— Exchanges extending to thirty words (including 

 name and address) admitted free, but additional words must 

 be prepaid at the rate of threepence for every seven words 

 or less. 



Offered, 500 specimens of Aculeate hymenoptera (un- 

 named), collected in Perthshire in 1894. Wanted, lantern 

 slides of insects.— T. M. McGregor, The Mills, Morse Cross, 

 Perth. 



Polished Geological specimens of Devonian corals and 

 sponges, British shells, fossils, unmounted microscopic 

 objects to offer. Wanted, Iceland spar, also a microscope ; 

 first-class exchanges. — J. Sclater, Strand, Teignmouth. 



Offered, several specimens of Bulloea hydatis, and a 

 quantity of foreign shells. Wanted, preserved British sea- 

 urchins, starfish and marine shells. — H. Poole, Uplands, 

 Shanklin, Isle of Wight 



"The Naturalist's Journal," from July to December, 

 and " The Ornithologist," from January to July, 1894. — What 

 offers in side-blown birds' eggs to R. J. Waller, 4, Pier 

 Terrace, Lowestoft. 



Wanted, cuckoos' eggs with those of foster parents, 

 especially thrush, blackbird, pied flycatcher, house-sparrow, 

 tree-sparrow, lesser redpoll, red-backed shrike, cirl-bunting. 

 — W. Wells Bladen, Stone, Staffordshire. 



Offered, Lepidoptera — ophthalmicana, octomaculana, 

 graminis, variata, firmata, rnunitata, lignata, comitata, 

 populata, imminata testata. Wanted, various Lepidoptera, 

 butterflies preferred. — R. H. Watt, 4, Buchanan Terrace, 

 Paisley. 



Wanted, L.C., 8th Ed., 1326, 1338, 1341, 1342, 1345, 1349, 1350, 

 1359, 1768, 1774, 1776, 1779, 1780, 1784, 1786, 1795, 1797, 1805, 

 1808, 1810, 1823, 1827, 1830, 1831, in exchange for rare and 

 local South of Ireland and other plants. — R. A. Phillips, 

 Ashburton, Cork. 



Offered, eggs of gannet and fulmar-petrel. Wanted, 

 manv common species of British birds' eggs. — W. Hy. 

 Heathcote, M.C.S., Preston. 



For exchange, 100 eggs of osprey in sets, also noddy, sooty 

 and Caspian terns, and 100 other species of rare eggs, likewise 

 fine birds and skins.— W. Raine, 181, Bleeker Street, Toronto, 

 Canada. 



Section-cutter (Valentine's knife) in exchange for 

 photographic accessories, as dishes, printing-frames, etc., or 

 cash ; knife is almost new. — A. H. Locock, 26, Courtfield 

 Gardens, London, S.W. 



What offers for microscope ; Roy, Zeiss, Rocking and 

 other microtomes ; objectives by Zeiss, Spencer, Ross, 

 Wray ; bacteriological and photomicrographic apparatus ; 

 botanical and anatomical unmounted sections? — A. J. 

 Doherty, 63, Burlington Street, Manchester. 



Wanted, Helix aspersa, vars. conoidea, nigrescens, 

 grisea, unicolor, marmorata, albofasciata, albescens and 

 virescens; Limnaea palustris, vars. fasciata, roseolabiata, 

 glubosa, obesa and angulata. Offered, marine shells. — 

 James Simpson, 6, St. Andrew Street, North Aberdeen. 



British, land, freshwater and marine shells, a few foreign, 

 foreign stamps and set of Tuck's door-panels, " Autumn 

 Leaves," new, cost 15s. What offers ?— M. A. Oldroyd, 

 Faversham, Kent. 



