CORRESPONDENCE. 
Ar the suggestion of several correspondents we open with 
this volume a department in.which our readers may address 
the Editor in letter form. We have pleasure in inviting any 
who desire to raise discussions on scientific subjects, to’ 
address their letters to the Editor, at r10, Strand, London, 
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In that case they must be accompanied by the full name and 
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of good faith. The Editor does not hold himself responsible 
for the opinions of the correspondents.—Zd. S.-G, 
TrR1IsH PLANT NAMEs. 
To the Editor of SCIENCE-GOSSTP. 
Srr,—-It appears that your Correspondence Page, 
the new feature of ScrENCE-GossIP, is being taken 
full advantage of, and it is certainly miost pleasant to 
see correspondence on interesting subjects going on 
among your readers. Especially is it so to me, as I 
am enabled to reply to ‘‘ Inis Fail’s” letter on Irish 
Plant Names. 
In the first place, allow me to thank him for the 
interest he has shown in my article (az¢e, p. 130), and 
for the suggestions which he is good enough to give. 
I would ask him before going further, to notice the 
few notes I have made in this month’s number of 
your paper, written before I received my November 
SciENCE-GossiP; and I may add that I hope to carry 
out the suggestion of translating someof the Irish words, 
possibly early next year. Referring to an alphabetical 
list, several suggestions have been made as to the best 
way of dealing with it. One is, that I should follow 
the classification adopted by the ‘‘ London Catalogue” 
of British plants, and arrange the names in such an 
order ; another, that I should adopt the classification 
usedin the ‘‘ Cybele Hibernica,” as the plants are Irish. 
With regard to the letter from ‘‘Inis Fail” 
Sighe (p. 131 and 132) is correct, so far as I am aware, 
and Sighe is synonomous with Sithe, fairy. I am 
sure ‘‘Inis Fail” knows that the spelling of Irish 
words varies somewhat, and that is how we may have 
both words meaning the same thing, which is what 
he suggests, ‘‘ fairy’s glove.” 
Why Cran—a tree, should be specially applied to 
the maple I cannot say, but may add that Cran 
Maplais also signifies the maple. 
It is not Span, but Slan lus which is the Irish for 
plantain ; but supposing the word were Span, it would 
apply, because this plant has power to stop bleeding, 
a virtue which resides in its leaves. 
Both Seamrog and Seamsog are right, the word is 
sometimes spelt one way and sometimes the other. 
I notice what ‘‘Inis Fail” says about omissions. 
There are many Irish names left out of my list, but 
some of them I only found out, since the article was 
‘written, and I hope when next space can be spared, 
to considerably increase my former list, with the aid 
of your correspondent and that of others of your 
readers who can help. 
Bangor, Co, Down. JouN H. Barsour. 
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Ordinary meetings are marked +, excursions * ; names of 
persons following excursions areofConductors. 4 Lantern 
Illustrations. 
GEoLocicaL Society or Lonpon. 
Dec. 1.—+The Zones of White Chalk on English Coasts. 
Dr. A. W. Rowe, F.G.S. 
New Rhaetic Section at Bristol. W.H. Wickes. 
Percy Emary, Hon. Sec. 
Nortu Lonpon Naturat History Society. 
Dec.  7.—+Debate. Are Acquired Characters inheritable 7 
Bp 21.—tAnnual Meeting. 
TuNBRIDGE WELLS NatuRAaL History AND PHILOSOPHICAL 
Society. 
Dec. 1.—tSome Facts about Birds. Miss Turner. 
a 8.—§The Eternal Stars. Sir R. Ball, F.R.S. 
A g.—§Time and Tide. Sir R. Ball, F.R.S. 
»  15.—tDawn of Economic Science. A. T. Shear- 
man, M.A, 
LamBetu FieLp Crus. 
Dec. 4,—Fire. Miss A. L. Hodson, 
39 g.—*Nat. Hist. Collections. St. George's Library, 
Buckingham Palace Road. 
a 18.—Astronomy of the month. H. Wilson. 
Limerick Fierp Crus. 
Dec. 12.—}‘‘ Archaeology.” 
M.R.S.A.I. 
Francts Neale, Hon. Sec., Limerick. 
PRESTON SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 
Dec. 13.—Conversazione. 
Sectional Meetings are also held at 119, Fisher- 
gate, 8 p.m., on Dec. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 
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SoutH Lonpon EnTomMoLoGicAL AND NaturaL History 
Society. 
Dec. 14.—tMeteorites. John T. Carrington. 
Stanley Edwards, Hon. Sec., 
Hibernia Chambers, S.E. 
Hutt Scientiric AND Firtp Naturatists’ Cius. 
Dec. 13.—tOf Planetary Motion. J. A. Ridgway. 
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Notice.—Exchanges extending to thirty words (including 
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SpipeRs WANTED.—In view of the series of articles on 
British Spiders now appearing in Science-Gossip, the 
Editor appeals to Field Naturalists to save and send to the 
author, Mr. Frank P. Smith, 15, Cloudesley Place, Islington, 
N., any specimens they may meet with. Mr. Smith willmake 
the best return possible for the material. Full instructions 
for collecting Spiders appear in this number on page 195. 
WANTED, good specimens Trilobites, Fossil Ferns, or 
Oolitis Echinoderms, in exchange for characteristic 
Cretaceous Fossils. Write, stating species and condition, to 
Edward R. Swales, 43, Cheriton Road, Folkestone. 
WanrTeb, a few living Testacella sentulum, also some of 
the rarer British Vertigos.—J. E. Cooper, 68, North Hill, 
Highgate, N. 
WanteD, }-plate camera. Will exchange latest treadle 
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50s. worth of fretwood.—J. Brown, Rosemount, 808, Church 
Lane, Old Charlton, S.E. 
Wantep to purchase or exchange, to value, Wm. Smith's 
Synopsis of British Diatomacez, 2 vols., 1853-1856.—M. H. 
Stiles, Doncaster. 
NortTHerRN SCENERY—Will exchange prints of, for photo- 
micrographic botanical, zoological, etc., prints. — A. 
Nicholson, Carlton House, Greenbank, Darlington. 
Orrerrep—Good micro-slides in exchange for others, or for 
books on diatoms.—J. Ferguson, 41, Melrose Gardens, 
Shepherds’ Bush, W. 
Rey. Timothy Lee, Adm. 
Stanley Austin. 
i 
