SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



365 



louping-ill, and doubtless other diseases will 

 eventually be traced to these parasitical pests. 



As the study of ticks is of so much economic 

 importance, a few hints as to the methods of col- 

 lecting and preserving them may not be out of 

 place. The object in view is usually identification 

 of species, or investigation of the life-history of the 

 parasite. For the former purpose the large dis- 

 tended females, which are generally those first 

 noticed on the host, are of comparatively little 

 use. The great distension of body obliterates some 

 material characteristics and obscures others. Where 

 these large females are observed careful search 

 should be made for the much smaller specimens in 

 the other stages, by which identification is facili- 

 tated. 



Ticks of a uniform brownish colour may generally 

 be preserved without damage in spirits of wine, 

 but those having variety of colour shovdd be im- 

 mersed in 3 per cent, formalin. For examination 

 and future reference I find it convenient to mount 

 them dry in cells as microscopic objects. This 

 keeps them clean and free from dust. Those that 

 have been soaked in formalin must be very 

 thoroughly washed and dried. Even then they 

 will be found to deposit an oily dew on the slide 

 and cover-glass. This can only be removed by re- 

 mounting, which may have to be done more than 

 once. Treated in this manner they have so far 

 retained their colours excellently. They may also 

 be mounted in Canada balsam as transparent 

 objects, but so mounted they are far harder to 

 identify, and I have found difficulty in clearing 

 the body of its contents when preparing them in 

 this manner after they have been much dis- 

 tended. 



For the purpose of studying their life-history 

 ticks may be kept alive for long periods in tightly 

 corked glass bottles, but many species require to 

 be supplied with a little very slightly damped sand 

 and fresh moss. Provided there is enough moisture 

 to keep the moss alive, and no more, lest the ticks 

 become mouldy, they will survive many months. 

 Air does not seem necessary to them. If collected 

 in any immature stage when fully distended they 

 will undergo metamorphosis, or when adult the 

 females will lay eggs, in confinement. 



It is scarcely necessary to emphasise the im- 

 portance of keeping notes of the date and place 

 where specimens are found, together with any 

 circumstances attending their capture, especially 

 the prevalence of disease amongst hosts infested 

 by them. 



(To be conti it tied.) 



New Arctic Expedition.— It is reported from 

 Vancouver, British Columbia, that Mr. Bernier 

 proposes to exploit a new Arctic expedition. He 

 has made arrangements for building a specially 

 designed ship, which will be arranged so as to store 

 provisions that will last for seven years. The 

 contract for the ship is said to be £16,000. 



IRISH PLANT NAMES. 

 By John; H. Barbour, M.B. 



(Continued from page 306.) 



Compositae (continued). 



Gallan greancair. gallan, " branch " ; grean, 

 "gravel." refers to the roots branching in gravelly 

 s< >i 1 . Tussilago farfara. coll 's- 1'< 11 it . 



Gallan mor. Pobal or Piobal Pubal. 

 "names." Petasltes officinalis. pestilent wort, 



butter-bur. 



Boglus. " soft plant." Senecio pahidosus. 

 bird's tongue. 

 Buafanan n.\ heasgaran. easgar, " plague " ; 



eascar, "enemy"; buafanan. "toad." BuiDE 

 Bailscean. yellow rain. BUADALLAN or BUA"Q- 

 gallan. Buad, " food " ; gallan, •• branch," -rock." 

 Senecio jacobaea. ragweed, seggrum. St. James' 

 wort, 



Gron lus. gron, " a stain." CBANLUS. "tree 

 herb." vulgaris, simson. groundsel. 



COCOIL. Copogtuaitil. tuaite, " rural " : 

 copog, " a large leaf" ; " a large rural leaf." Lea BAN 

 LIOSTA. liosda, " lingering," " heavy " ; " the hair 

 which sticks." Meacax doga. Meacan tobac. 

 Meacax tuax. Meacax tuatail. meacan, '.' a 

 root," therefore plant ; doga, - mischievous." tobac. 

 "elect"; tuan, "hedge." tuatail. -awkward"; 

 hence such names as " mischievous plant." " hedge 

 plant," "awkward plant." Arctium, lajypa. bur- 

 dock, clotbur. cucculeys in King's Co. 



Deilgxeac. deilgne, "thorns," ''prickles." Onicm 

 lanceolatus. spear thistle. 



CURRAC or CURAC XA CUAIG. curiae, "a cap.' 

 cuaig, possibly cuac, "cup." Gormax. goriu. 

 "blue." Centmrca cya/mis. bluebottle, hurt- 

 sickle. 



MULLAC DUB. mullac, " the top "' : dub. " great " 

 or -black." "Blackheads.*' NlANSGOT. Cen- 

 tattrea nigra, matfellon. horse-knops. 



Caserban or Castearban. purely "bitter." 

 Lus ax tsuicair. suice, -sooty." but it may be 

 related to Lat. succurrere, " to run under." 

 Whichever is most correct, I think this name refers 

 to the root. Oiohorium intybits. succory. 



DUILLEOG BRIG IDE, DfJILLEOG MA IT, DUIL- 

 LEOG MIN are respectively "St. Bridget's leafl( 

 •' excellent leaflet," "tender leaflet." Lapsana com- 

 munis, nipplewort, duck cresses. 



( luas liat or Cluas luc. Hat, " hoary " ; luc, 

 "mouse"; cluas, "ear"; "hoary or mouse ears." 

 I Hi raci it m pilosella. mouse-ear. hawkweed. 



Baine muc or MUIC. "pig's milk." Blioct 

 POCADAN. blioct. "milk"; focan, •■ a plant." Foea- 

 nan mix, -a little thistle." Sonchu* oleraceus. 

 sow-thistle. 



Feocadan. Fotanan. Soitch ua arvensi*. corn 

 sow-thistle. 



BEARNAN BEARNAC both \vord> refer to " gaps," 

 "cuts." CEISEARBAX. "bitter." SEARBAN. " sour." 



