Jax. 1, 1865.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



11 



•who are observers of nature, in its minute 

 and more obscure forms, and who, amidst the 

 busy cares of life, have been content to leave 

 for a tiaie the ceaseless anxieties of <£ s. d, 

 and contemplate the world which is around 

 them. 



In the month of September last, the v/eather 

 having been exceedingly humid and oppres- 

 sive for several days, we observed, as the 

 dusk of evening approached, that an unusual 

 number of unhappy flies had come to an un- 

 timely end in various parts of the house, not 

 on the windows only, but, as a closer examina- 

 tion showed, they were tightly fixed to the 

 wainscoted walls and other smooth and polished 

 surfaces. Varnished and glass-like objects 

 had been genei'ally selected, although rarely 

 rougher surfaces had sufficed, the smoother 

 being evidently preferred as being probably 

 better adapted for adhesion. We could re- 

 member the time when we had seen dead 

 flies sticking to the windows, surrounded by a 

 little cloud, which in our ignorance we then 

 thought was only dust ; but the time arrived 

 when we learnt that the so-called dust was a 

 v^egetable growth, and we were now aware 

 that these flies had died in consequence of 

 the overpowering attack of a fungus, to which 

 they had succumbed. The curiosity which at 

 times had possessed us so strongly as to make 

 us look with longing eyes at the victims on 

 our neighbour's windows, and wish we might 

 be allowed to cut out a small piece of his 

 glass, say 'three inches by one,' induced us 

 now to investigate a little more closely than 

 hitherto the humble subjects of our remarks. 



A diligent search rev/arded our endeavours, 

 for after some time had been spent in watch- 

 ing our small friends, we perceived one which 

 was not so lively as its companions, but rather 

 in a semi-torpid condition, which had extended 

 its proboscis and by aid of its tv/o fore feet 

 appeared to be clutching the glass with a 

 spasmodic eflTort. Here then, at last, was an 

 opportunity of obtaining a good specinien for 

 further examination. One minute sufficed to 

 fetch a slip of glass, and then, carefully placing 

 the fly on the centre of it, we were gratified 

 at beholding the victim again extend its 

 proboscis, and, with the assistance of all its 

 legs, resume the position in which we first 

 saw it. For security Vi^o placed a large bell- 

 glass over it and resumed our hunt. Another 

 " incurable " quickly met our fond gaze, and 

 in its turn was placed on another glass slide. 

 It proved as docile and tractable as its fellov/, 

 and readily adhered to the glass. Feeling 

 we were now sufficiently supplied, we pro- 

 ceeded to watch with some attention, but 



were not enlightened by any movement on 

 the part of the patients. Unlike the Daven- 

 port Brothers, they were evidently unable to 

 release themselves from the bonds v^hich 

 restrained them, so we left them quietly for 

 an hour, and at the end of this period observed 

 a dulness on the glass, though it was so 

 slight as not to be easily discernible. At 

 the end of two hours, another peep revealed 

 the fact that what had appeared as only a 

 dulness before had now developed to a dis- 

 tinct white cloudiness, which extended for a 

 short space from each side of the abdomen, 

 and gave evidence of forthcoming work for 

 the microscope, as soon as the slides might be 

 safely moved, without risking the somewhat 

 fearful calamity of disturbing the innocent 

 subjects of our notice. We therefore left 

 them for the night, full of hope that the 

 returning day would reveal a further develop- 

 ment of this interesting parasitic plant. 



With the " cock's shrill clarion " we awoke 

 on the following morning, and no follower 

 of the chase ever left his bed-chamber more 

 eager for the sport than we v/ere to ascertain 

 the state of our prisoners ; nor Vi^ere we 

 disappointed in our hopes as to the result ot 

 the last eight hours. The flies were dead ; 

 but v/e did not grieve, on the contrary, we 

 rather preferred it, for it promoted the object 

 of our inquiry, by rendering the vegetation 

 of the plants more complete, as was proved 

 by the first glance we took at the glasses. 

 The white dust now extended to the edges, 

 although not at all in a regular and even 

 film, but seemed radiated in waves more or 

 less opaque, while the flies had maintained 

 their original position and consequently had 

 all the appearance of life. 



Desirous to see the end of this parasitic 

 growth, we refrained from disturbing it until 

 more than a week had elapsed, when we sub- 

 mitted one of the slips to examination under 

 the microscope. We then perceived that 

 what appeared to be a v/hite dust, consisted 

 of innumers^Me small disc-like spores or seeds, 

 which v/erc ilat and circular, each having a 

 nucleus and a few markings or rays extending 

 from the centre to the edge, so that they 

 might be familiarly compared to cart-wheels 

 in appearance. The fly itself also proved au 

 interesting subject for examination, as the 

 hairs which covered it in all directions were 

 beautifully decollated with snow-white glo- 

 bules, like bunches of grapes. The v/ings. 

 legs, and proboscis were likewise dotted witii 

 similar spores, while they were abundant at 

 the less horny parts, between the plates of 

 the abdomen, 



