30 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Eeb. 1, 1SC5. 



surface, and in the case of one of the Indian 

 bats, the scales are arranged in curious whorls 

 at regular intervals, not unlike the stem of 

 the well-known plant " Equisetum." TLe 



Pig. 3.— Spanish Mekiko. 



liairs of the mouse (fig. 5), and rabbit (fig. 6), 

 as well as all the rodents, are admirable ob- 

 jects, from their distinctly serrated surfaces. 



Eig. 4.— Mohair. 



Without attempting to enumerate the ani- 

 mals whence these interesting objects can bo 

 obtained, it may be briefly stated that every 

 hair has its own peculiar characters, and is 

 worth all the patience and time which can be 



Pi ' ^ I 



ml ' 



Eig. 5.— Mouse. 



devoted to it. For examination under the 

 polariscope hairs of all kinds, when properly 

 mounted, are popular objects of admiration, 

 exhibiting with extreme brilliancy charac- 

 ters and definitions otherwise unattainable, 

 for the critical examination of hairs, recourse 

 must be had to the use of acids and alkalies, 

 aided by pressure and gentle lieat ; but for 

 mounting hairs or sections of hairs on glass 

 slides a different method mu;-:t be adopted. 



Macerate in ether to cleanse them from fatty 

 matters, and if opaque they mvist be soaked 

 in turpentine, then mount them in balsam. 

 Sections may be obtained by gluing several 



mm 



Eig. 6.— Rabbit Fuk. 



hairs together and then slicing them with a 

 sharp knife or razor. 



In concluding this brief notice of hairs, the 

 young microscopist is reminded that the field 

 is a wide one, and that it is not at all neces- 

 sary to go beyond the boundaries of his native 

 haunts to obtain materials for au extensive 

 cabinet of interesting specimens. 



W. M. B. 



THE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY AND 

 ITS METAMORPHOSE& 



by pkofessor a. de quatrefages. 



(external phases.) 



ALL our readers must have seen the cab- 

 bage-butterflies (Pieris Brassicce) in their 

 gardens, or in the country; they have black 

 bodies, white ringed antennae, and wings 

 which are white on the upper side, but yel- 

 lowish below, and covered with black spots, 

 whose number and position mark the sexes. 

 They are frequently seen in the months of 

 August and September flying in pairs, some- 

 times in i)ursuit of each other, and occasionally 

 rushing round and round, as though engaged 

 in some severe contest. It seems as if a real 

 struggle was going on, but it is absolutely 

 nothing of the sort. The male urges his suit, 

 and the female rejects it in true coquettish 

 spirit. Finally, she settles down, but her 

 wings are closely applied to each other, in thii 

 way covering the entire body. The male 

 moves round and round her for a few moments, 

 and then, as if he had taken his final departure, 

 flies almost out of sight ; but this is evidently 

 a ruse. As soon as the female unfolds her 

 wings and exhibits her entire form, he 

 returns quickly enough, but to uo purpose ; 



