380 



SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



We have pleasure in inviting any readers who desire to raise 

 discussions on scienrific subjects, to address their letters to the 

 Editor, at no Strand. London, W.C. Our only restriction 

 will be, m case the correspondence exceeds the bounds of 

 courtesy ; which we trust is a matter of great improbability. 

 These letters may be anonymous. In that case they must be 

 accompanied by the full name and address of the writer, not 

 for publication, but as an earnest of good faith. Ihe Editor 

 does not hold himself responsible for the opinions of the corre- 

 spondents. — Ed. S.-G. 



HEREDITV EFFECTS OF OCCUPATIONS. 



To the Editor o/'SciENCE-Gassu'. 



.Sir, — If acquired properties are transmissible to 

 offspring, must not the existence of hereditary trades 

 or occupations involve a vast field for the operation 

 of this kind of heredity ? Should not the effect on 

 individuals after many generations be cumulative ? 

 Have, however, the castes of India — in Ceylon every 

 trade has its caste or the habits, diets, or occupa- 

 tions peculiar to each, produced any eftects that 

 might be expected from this point of view ? Might 

 not habits or surroundings in operation during the 

 whole or the greater part of their lives be expected 

 to extend their effects to the germ-cell potentialities, 

 even where sudden mutilations have apparently failed 

 to do so ? This point has, if I mistake not, been 

 neglected ; but I should be obliged for references 

 thereto. C. G. S. MiiNTEATH. 



Upper Beiifoi-d Place. W.C. 



LECTURERS' DIAGRAMS. 



To the -ffrf/Zoz- (/SciE.NCE-GossiP. 



Sir, — During the last decade the method of illus- 

 trating lectures has been entirely rexolutionised. 

 Lantern slides have taken the place of drawn and 

 coloured diagrams, and in many respects the new 

 method is a great improvement. A larger variety of 

 subjects can be shown within the limited time, and 

 generall)' with greater accuracy of detail. A box of 

 slides is more easily carried about than a big roll 

 of thick paper, and in many lecture-rooms there 

 is much difficult)' in hanging diagrams so that they 

 can be well seen. Nevertheless the old method had 

 some advantages. The lecturer did not have to 

 speak in the dark, and in the matter of colour tlie 

 diagram can often beat the slide. The change, how- 

 ever, has probably come to stay, and a question 

 arises as to what is to become of the vast collection 

 of diagrams which must be cumbering the cupboards 

 of perhaps hundreds of lecturers throughout the 

 country. Is there any prospect for them beyond the 

 bonfire ? Consider what vast labour has been be- 

 stowed upon them, and how beautiful are many of 

 thein. I have seen some used for hanging on the 

 bare walls of corridors at soirees and exhibitions. 

 Could they be utilised in decorating Board School 

 rooms ? Anyone who will suggest a useful career 

 for these superannuated servants will deserve the 

 thanks of the community. 



It might help towards a practical result if we could 

 get together some statistics as to the diagrams now 

 lyingidle — viz. thesubjects illustrated, the number and 

 .size of the sheets, and whether or not coloured. If 

 anj'one feels sufficient interest in the subject to send 

 me particulars of his possessions in this line, I shall 

 have pleasure in collating them and sending the result 

 to Science-Gossip. F'. T. Mott. 



Creseent House., Leieeste)-. 

 January 2<)th, 1 900. 



NOTICES OF SOCIETIES. 



Ordinary meetings are ^narked t, excursions * ; names of 

 persons following excu7-sions are of Conductors. § LantOft 

 ilhist7-ations. 



North London Natural History Society. 



May 3.— t Research Work in Local Societies. R. \V. Roberts. 



,, 17.— t More Swiss Notes. C. B. Smith. 



,, iQ.—^' Epping Forest. James A. Simes. 

 South London Entomological and Natural History 



Society. 

 May 10.— t § " Orchids." 



,, 24. — 1§ Another Life History. F. Enock, F.L.S. 

 Lambeth Field Cluh and Scientific Society. 

 May 7.— t Growth of Plants. E. J. Davies. 



„ 19. *■ Kingsbury. E. Step, F.L.S. 

 Nottingham Natural Science Club. 

 May 5.- * Trent and Leen Valleys. J. Shipman, F.G.S. 



,, 19. — " Gedhng Wood and Burton Joyce. W. Stafford. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To CORRESPONDEN IS AND EXCHANGERS. - SciENCE-Gcssi^' 



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

 communications should reach us not later than the i8th of 

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

 munications 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 Science-Gossip must be addressed to the Proprietor 

 of Science-Gossip, ho Strand, London. 



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 Office, no 

 Strand, London, W.C. 



Editorial Communications, articles, books for review, 

 instruments for notice, specimens for identification, S:c. , to be 

 addressed to John T. Carrington, ho Strand, London, W.C. 



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, carnage paid. Duplicates only to be 

 sent, which will not be returned. The specimens mu,-t have 

 idtntifying numbers attached, together with locality, date, and 

 particulars of capture. 



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

 he undertake to return them unless accompanied with stamps 

 for return postage. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



F. B. (York). — The best way to soften wood preparatory to 

 section-cutting is to soak it in water for two or three days, or 

 to boil it for some hours. A more drastic means would be boil- 

 ing in a two per cei)t. solution of caustic soda ; but this would 

 require watching. The section-knife should be of the finest 

 steel, and have a strong but fine edge. An ordinary section- 

 knife is not strong enough, and a plane-iron knife is better. 

 Hard paraffin should be used for embedding. See a note on 

 " Preparing and Mounting Wood Sections " on page 215 of the 

 present volume of Science-Gossii'. 



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. 



Wanted. — " Ginger Beer " Plant. Offered, rare named 

 algae, or will make best other return possible - Miss Stanley, 

 Dalhousie, Heathfield, Sussex. 



Wanted Eggs. — Whinchat, wheatear, wood-warbler, kestrel, 

 pipit, swift, stonechat, chifi'chaff, woodpecker, hawfinch, gold- 

 finch, cuckoOj dunlin, 8:c. Offered, choice American birds" 

 eggs and skins, &c Lists exchanged. - Charles Jefferys, 

 Tetbury, Gloucestershire. 



Lantern Slides of Geological subjects and Glaciers, 

 wanted in exchange for others. — Samuel Wells, Richmond, 

 Yorkshire. 



Offered. — " The Naturalist," 1891 to 1896, inclusive (com- 

 plete). Wanted. " Geological Magazine," 1894 and 1895, oi- 

 before 1893.— T. Sheppard, 78 Sherburn Street, Hull. 



Microscope Slides of Diatoms, Botanical, and various; also 

 recent books on Chemistry, Machine Drawing. Exchange 

 for " Strasburgei's Practical Botany," books on Microscope, or 

 Beale's Neutral Tint Reflector, other slides or material.— John 

 J. Ward, Lincoln Street, Coventry. 



Wanted, eggs in clutches (side blown, with data) of birds ol 

 prey, including sparrowhawk and other British, also foreign. 

 Offered, clutches of eggs, British and foreign birds' skins, 

 books, &c -H. K. Swann. 42 Dalmeny Road, Tufnell Park, 

 London, N. 



