i6o 



SCIEXCE- G OSSIP. 



THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SALON. 



The eighth annual exhibition of the Photographic 

 Salon was opened at the Dudley Gallery of the 

 Egyptian Hall. London, on September 21*t. and con- 

 tinues until November 3rd. This collection affords 

 an almost unique opportunity of comparing the 

 methods of applying the different styles and pro- 

 - - f artistic photography as used throughout 

 the world. There are upwards of two hundred and 

 fifty pictures shown, and the average merit of this 

 year's collection is markedly in advance of its pre- 

 decessors. The •• Salon " was founded and has been 

 maintained by a private society of leading persons 

 interested in artistic photography. It is known to 

 themselves as " The Linked Ring."* 



NOTICES OF SOCIETIES. 



Ordinary meeting* are marked t. excursions* ; names of persons 

 folloicing excursions art. of Conductors. Lantern Illustra- 

 tions ■■ . 



Manchester Museum, Owens College. 



Oct. 13. — " The Historv of Gold. Tin, and some other Metals." 

 Prof. W.*Bo\d Dawkins. F.R.S. 

 ,, 14.— - Hill and "Valley." Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins. F.R.S. 



North London Natural History Society. 



C :'. 4. — f Pocket-book Exhibition and Microscopical Evening. 

 .. 13.—® Horniman Museum, Foresc HilL 

 ., 18. — f "The British Flora in Relation to those of Neighbour- 

 ing Lands." C. S. Nicholson. 



Nottingham Natural Science Rambling Cun . 

 .:. ;7. — Annual Meeting and Conversazione. 



Kensington Popular Science Lectures. 



-. 18.— § " The World when Yonns." Rev. J. 0. Bevan. M.A.. 



F.S.A.. F.-.S. 

 .. 25. — § "The Chemistrv of the Earth's Crust." Cecil 



Cams-Wilson. F.R.3. Edin., F.R.G.S:. F.G.S. 

 Nov. 1. — i '• How Rocks are made." Cecil Cams- Wilson. 

 .. -— § - ; The Life of the Past" F. W. Rudler. F.G.S.. etc-. 

 .. 15.— § •' Land and Scenerv." H. R. Mill. D.St-., LL.D.. 



F.R.S. Edin. 

 .. 2-.— ; "Some Electrical Discoveries." Prof. Ashley Carus- 



Wilson, M.A., Assoc. M.Inst. C.E., M.Inst. E.E. 



Kensington Town-hall, at 4.45 p.m. 



Lambeth Field Clue and Scientific Socdity. 



Cct. 1. — f " "My Friends, the Whistlers and Croakers." Mr. E. 

 W. Harvev-Piper. 

 „ 13.—* Brockwell Park. Mr. H. J. Siidmersen. 

 .. 15. — Gossip Meeting. Display of Fungi, Notes on Meteors. 

 . . i- . — s Annual Soiree and Exhibition. 



NOTICE TO READERS. 



In consequence of pressure on onr space, Mr. E. Sanger 

 Shepherd's continuation of the " Photography ot Colour " and 

 other important articles unavoidably stand over. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



E. R. D. (Salisbury!. — We fear the electric lamp you kindly 

 submit is too cumbersome for the use of insect-collectors, as it 

 occupies one hand. Have you seen the little electric lamps 

 attached to a coat button hole, used by omnibus ticket-inspectors 

 in London ? They are much more applicable. It is nearly 

 seven years since the address of Science-Gossip was in Picca- 

 dilly. 



J. H. B. (Chatham). — The spider is Epeira diademata Clk., the 

 common " garden spiaer." The species is subject to great varia- 

 tion in point of colour, so it is only natural that extra large or 

 unusually coloured indiviouals should be considered as rarities. 

 The most tangible specific distinction or this spider is the vulva 

 (on the underside of the abdomen, towards its fore part). This 

 organ under a hand lens appears to consist of two dark dots, 

 from which springs a long semi-transparent projection which 

 bends down towanls the spinners. Formalin is not suitable for 

 spiders. They have to be pulled about for purposes of examina- 

 tion and identification, and if preserved in formalin solution the 

 legs, palpi, and other Tarts get brittle and break off. Cse 

 methylated spirit. — F. P. S. 



E. B. (Hailsham). — Ladies' tresses (fiplranthes autumnalis). 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchanger-. — --ip is. 



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

 munications should reach us not later than the 18th of the month 

 for insertion in the following number. No communications can 

 be inserted or noticed without full name and address of writer. 

 Notices of changes of address admitted free. 



Editorl\l Communications, articles, books for review, instru- 

 ments for notice, specimens for identification, ic. to be addressed 

 to John T. Carrington, 110 Strand, London, W.C. 



Subscriptions. — The volumes of Science-Gossip begin with 

 the June Lumbers, but Subscriptions may commence with any 

 number, at the rate of 6s. 6d. for twelve months (including 

 postage), and should be remitted to the Office, 110 Strand, 

 London, W.C. 



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 Editor will be pleased to answer questions and name 

 specimens through the Correspondence column of the magazine. 

 Specimens, in good condition, of 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 identify- 

 ing numbers attached, together with locality, date, and par- 

 ticulars of capture. 



The Editor is not responsible for unused MSS., neither can he 

 undertake to return them unless accompanied with stamps for 

 return postage. 



EXCHANGES. 



Entomologist's Annual, complete set, and many other 

 entomological works; exchange British shells, canaries, fancy 

 pheasants, or glass-topped boxes. — C. S. Coles, Pheasanmes. 

 Hambiedon, Cosham, Hants. 



Microscopy. — Animal hairs, about sixty varieties: what 

 offers ? Mounting material not required. — J. T. Holder, 77 

 Erlanger Road, St. Catherine's Park, London, 5.1. 



Botanical,— Offered. Lond. Cat. B. Plants 264. 701, 798, 1,063. 

 L285, 1.619. 1,786. 1.870, 1,926. Wanted, 219. 324. 342. 350, 384. 

 387. 615, 800, S47.— A. Hosking, 48 Norwich Street, Cambridge. 



Diatom slides in exchange for other objects, or works on 

 microscopy. — H. Piatt, Priory Villa, Victoria Road North, 

 Southsea. 



CONTEXTS. 



PAGE 



Sir John Bennet Lawes. (Portrait) 129 



Notes on Spinning Animals. By H. Wvt.t.ts Kew. 



Illustrated . ..130 



Pond-Life tn the New Forest. By G. T. Harris, 



F.R.P.S., and C. D. Soar, F.R.M.S. Illustrated. . . 132 

 Geological Rotes in the Orange River Colony. By 



Major B. M. Skinner, RJl.M.C. Illustrated .. . . 134 



On the Nature of Life. By Geoffrey Marten . . 1-35 

 AN Introduction to British Spiders. By Frank 



Percy Smith. Illustrated 138 



Esi :as of Plant Life. By Dr. P. Q. Keegan .. 140 

 Butterflies of the Palaearctic Region. By Henry 



Charles Lang, M.D. Illustrated 143 



On Colourlng of Molluscs' Shells. By Reginald J. 



Hughes 145 



Irish Plant Names. By John H. Barbour, M.B. . . 147 



Books to Read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 



Science Gossip 150 



Microscopy 151 



Physics — Geology 1 55 = I 56 



Chemistry 157 



Astronomy — Notes and Queries . . ^ . . . . 158, 159 



Notices — Exchanges 160 



