20 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Jan. 1, 1865. 



natui'e of the group •wLicli the species found in cer- 

 tain localities or certain similar rocks may afPord, 

 and the circumstances under which the organic 

 beings in question have lived, died, and been pre- 

 served for future investigation. — Ansted's Elemen- 

 tanj Course of Geology. 



Leiodon at NoR-mcH.— Mr. T. G. Bayfield has 

 recently called the attention of geologists to certain 

 fossils discovered in the chalk at Norwich. The pit 

 "which yielded them is called the Lollard's Pit, 

 whence a great quantity of chalk is annually re- 

 moved. In 1858 a few vertebrae of Leiodon anceps 

 were discovered, and identified by a tooth which 

 was in their immediate proximity. In October, 

 1864, a number of bones of the same skeleton 

 were found, including six vertebrge, a hundred frag- 

 ments of other bones, and two of the large cultrate 

 two-edged teetli, with two of the smaller kind from 

 the inner part of the mouth. 



Devilline. — A new mineral found in Cornwall 

 witli laugite, from which it differs in its lighter 

 colour, its lamellar structure, and its silky lustre. 

 Prom its composition it appears to be a hydrated 

 subsulphate of copper, containing about 8 per cent, 

 of lime, and nearly 3 per cent, of protoxide of iron. 



The Ileord Mammoth. — A remarkably fine fossil 

 head of ElepJias prmigeiiius has been found in the 

 Pleistocene sands and clay at Ilford. The upper 

 molars remain in place, and botli tusks have also 

 been preserved, one still in tlie socket, but seemingly 

 having been twisted round by the weight of the 

 head, when the fleshy tissue of its attachment had 

 deeompcsed, and before the skeleton was finally 

 embedded in the soil. The tusks are of spiral 

 curvature, and measure along their medial line above 

 10 feet 6 inches in length. No such perfect skull of 

 the true Mammoth has ever been found in England, 

 nor anything comparable with this important ex- 

 ample, so far as we are aware, except it may be the 

 fine fossil elephant in the Chichester Museum, a 

 specimen of which we have heard, but have not seen. 

 The present specimen in scientific value can only be 

 classed v/ith tlie famous one at St. Petersburg, and 

 Ave are glad to add that it has, by the promptitude 

 of Mr. Waterhouse and the trustees, been obtained 

 for our National Collection; while to Mr. Davis, 

 who was despatched by the Museum authorities to 

 extricate this gigantic fragile mass from the rough 

 loose earth of the quarrj% too much praise cannot be 

 given for the successful manner in which he has 

 accomplished that difficult i-A^k.—Aihenccum. 



Hymenopiiyllum Tunbktdgense and Wilsoni. 

 — Great difEcnlty is sometimes experiencedin getting 

 these tender ferns to grow in closed cases. A piece of 

 muslin placed at the top of the case to arrest some 

 of the light has great influence. 



Toe Invisible Would eevealed.— To an in- 

 telligent person, who has previously obtained a 

 general idea of the nature of the objects about to be 

 submitted to his inspection, a group of living ani- 

 malcules, seen under a powerful microscope for the 

 first time, presents a scene of extraordinary interest, 

 and never fails to call forth an expression of amaze- 

 ment and admiration. This statement admits of an 

 easy illustration; for example, from some water 

 containing aquatic plants, collected from a pond on 

 Clapham Common, I select a small twig, to which 

 are attached a few delicate flakes, apparently of 

 slime or jelly; some minute fibres, standing erect 

 here and there on the twig, are also dimly visible to 

 the naked eye. This twig with a drop or two of the 

 water, T\'e will put between two thin plates of glass, 

 and place under the field of view of a microscope, 

 having lenses that magnify the image of an object 

 200 times in linear dimensions. Upon looking 

 through the instrument we find the fluid swarming 

 with animals of various shapes and magnitudes. 

 Some are darting through the water with great 

 rapidity, while others are pursuing and devouring 

 creatures more infinitesimal than themselves. Many 

 are attached to the twig by long delicate threads 

 {Forticellce) ; several have their bodies inclosed in a 

 transparent tube, from one end of which the animal 

 partly protrudes and then \'&cg.Aq5 {Flosculance) ; 

 while numbers are covered by an elegant shell or 

 case {Brachionus) . The minutest kinds {Monads), 

 many of which are so small that millions might be 

 contained in a single drop of water, appear like ani- 

 mated globules, free, single, and of various colours, 

 sporting about in every direction. Numerous species 

 resemble pearly or opaline cups or vases, fringed 

 round the margin with delicate fibres that are in 

 constant oscillation {J/orticelhe). Some of tliese are 

 attached by spiral tendrils ; others are united by a 

 slender stem to one common trunk, appearing like a 

 bunch of hare-bells ((7ir//r//(?5/«/«). Others are of a 

 globular form, and grouped together in a definite 

 pattern on a tabular or spherical membraneous case, 

 for a certain period of their existence, and ultimately 

 become detached and locomotive {Gonium and Vol- 

 vox)\ while many are permanently clustered together, 

 and die if separated from the parent mass. No 

 organs of progressive motion, similar to those of 

 beasts, birds, or fishes, are observable in these 

 beings ; yet they traverse the water with rapidity 

 without the aid of limbs or fins ; and, though many 

 species are destitute of eyes, yet all possess an 

 accurate perception of the presence of other bodies, 

 and pursue and capture their prey with unerring 

 purpose. — Br. MantcWs TJionghts on Animalcules. 



TuE MiciioscorE Indooes. — Eor amusement and 

 instruction with the microscope, we need scarcely 



