?8o 



SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



numerous, present another, perhaps more scientific, 

 sphere of action, and possibly one of great geo- 

 logical interest. For example, suppose one has 

 obtained from the Arctic regions a sample of some 

 marine deposit of bygone days. Search among the 

 material is practically sure of reward by finding 

 specimens of Foraminifera, of course in a fossil 

 condition, now only represented in its living or, as 

 it is termed, " recent state " in the Equatorial 

 regions of the earth. The inference to be drawn is 

 that where the specimen on the slide was living it 

 occurred in a climate not far removed in tempera- 

 ture from that of our Equatorial regions, where the 

 identical species is now to be obtained in a living 

 form, unless our material was carried by some pre- 

 historic Gulf Stream, to the Arctic regions, and so 

 deposited. Is not an enigma such as this enough 

 to induce anyone to take up the study of those 

 wonderful microscopic shells, and try to prove by 

 analogy, circumstantial evidence, or some means 

 why a species should be found fossil and living in 

 such widely differing temperatures ? 



A similar class of scientific conundrums, if I 

 may so call them, meets one quite as frequently in 

 the study of recent animals. A species may be 

 plentiful in the Adriatic, but not known to exist 

 anywhere else except at Valparaiso, where the 

 form is identical. Why should this be 1 Perhaps 

 if sufficient search were made, which cannot be 

 with the present limited number of workers, the 

 form might, given the same conditions, be found 

 at intermediate places, unless indeed environment 

 and evolution have so altered the appearance of 

 the species in the intermediate space that it is un- 

 recognisable. It is improbable that a species would 

 occur only in these two far-apart localities. 



In conclusion, I would say that if this appeal 

 for more workers should induce anyone to take up 

 this study, the student will never regret its com- 

 mencement. The pity is that life is too short, and 

 that the days follow too quickly to enable one to 

 work enough for satisfaction. I shall be most 

 happy at any time to help, so far as I can, by 

 advice or any other means in my power, any- 

 one who may care to look even into the fringe of 

 this far too little known study. 



Yours faithfully. 



W. B. Thornhill. 



Castle Cosey, 



Castle Bellingliam, Ireland. 



Geologists' Association. 



Hay 4. — * Swanscomb. A. E. Salter, E.Sc., F.G.S. 

 „ 11. — *Leighton Buzzard. A. M. Davies, B.Sc, F.G.S. 

 ,, 18.—* Grays. M. A. 0. Hinton and A. S. Kennard. 

 „ 25.—* The New (G.W.R.) line from Wootton Bassett to 



Patehwav. Rev. H. H. Winwood, M.A., F.G.S. 

 „ 29.—* Bristol and Duudry Hill. Rev. H. H. Winwood. 



Preston Scientific Society. 



May 1.— f" Flora." W. Clitheroe. 



London Geological Field Cla^>. 



May 4.—* Arlesey. Professor H. G. Seelev, F.R.S. 

 „ 11.— * Gomshall. Professor H. G. See'ley, F.R.S. 

 „ 18. — * Aylesford to Maidstone. Professor H. G. Seeley. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — Sclence-Gosslp is 

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



Business Communications. — All business communications 

 relating to Scdznce-Gossip must be addressed to the Manager. 

 Sctence-Gossep, 110 Strand, London. 



Editorial Communications, articles, books for review, instru- 

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

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



Subscriptions. — The volumes of Science-Gossip begin with 

 the June numbers, but Subscriptions may commence with any 

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

 postage), and should be remitted to the Manager, Sctexce- 

 Gossip, 110 Strand, London, W.C. 



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.— Collection of English wild plants, mounted on 

 cartridge paper, also small collection of West Australian flowers. 

 Several " Hobbies." What offers ? — Miss Graham, 42 Tisbury 

 Road, Hove, Brighton. 



Offered. — Clan, dubia, Sph. lacustre, Cy. elegans, Hel. erice- 

 torum, H. rupestris, Cardium echinatum, etc. Wanted, Kalmia 

 and Prunus cuttings, voung greenhouse plants and bulbs. No 

 shells— A. Whit worth," St. John's, Isle of Man. 



Waxted.— " Science-Gossip," Nos. 13 to 24, 205 to 216, 229 to 

 240 (O.S.), and Nos. 21, 22, 24 to 28, 38, 41. 47, and 75 (N.S.). Full 

 value given in Bi'itish L., F.W., and Marine Shells. — W. Hy. 

 Heathcote, F.L.S., Preston. 



Wanted. — 2 or 2 J inch Telescope with Astronomical Eye- 

 piece. Offered, Heads or Horns of South African Antelopes. — 

 J. G. Brown, Pell Street, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 



Wanted. —Geological material for Microscopic mounting in 

 exchange for sawn sections or mounted sections, or would saw 

 sections of material to share mutually. — A. Stott, Five Ways, 

 Aldridge, Walsall. 



NOTICES OF SOCIETIES. 



Ordinary meetings are marked f, excursions 9 ; names of persons 

 following excursions are of Conductors. Lantern Illustra- 

 tions §. 



North London Natural History Society. 



Ma/ 2. — t " Icework in Britain." Miss H. K. Brown. 

 v „ 16.—* Evening at Winchmore Hill. O. G. Pike. 



„ 24.—* New Forest. R. W. Robbins. 



„ 27. — * Cuxton. J. A.Simes. 



Lambeth Field Club and Scesxttfic Society. 



May 6.— § " Wild Flowers at Home." Edward Step, F.L.S. 

 ., 11.—* Epping Forest. C. H. Cooper. 

 „ 18. — * Box Hill and Leatherhead ( Geoloeical). 

 „ 27.—* Oxted and Limpsfield. W. Rivers. 



Nottingham Natural Science Rambling- Club. 



May 4. — * Stapleford. 



Manchester Museum, Owens College. 



May 27.— f " Evolution." W. E. Hoyle. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



The Nature of Animal Fat. By C. Ainsworth 



Mitchell, B.A. Oxon. Illustrated 353 



Fruiting of Lesser Celandine. By Charles E. 



Britton 356 



Ax Introduction to British Spiders. By Fraxk 



Percy Smith. Illustrated 358 



Butterflies of the Palaearctic Region. Bv Henry 



Charles Lang, M.D. must rated .. . . 360 



Land and Freshwater Mollusca of Hampshire. 



By Lionel E. Adams, B.A., and B. B. Woodward, 



F.L.S 362 



Classification of Britlsh Ticks. By Edward G. 



Wheeler. Illustrated .. .. .. ..363 



Irish Plant Names. By Johx H. Barbour. M.B. . . 365 



Books to Read. Illustrated . 367 



Chemistry — Science Gossip. . 369,370 



Microscopy. Illustrated . .. .. 371 



Astronomy 375 



Photography. Illustrated 377 



Correspondence — Notices 379,380 



