ApiiiL 1, 1S65.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



81 



an india-rubber ring, dip a camel-liair brusli iu 

 i>3p]ialte, and by it fasten the ring exactly over the 

 circle of black paper ; reoerse the slide, so that the 

 ring may dry and adliere evenly. Then take a few 

 nacre glass slides, and by the aid of the "turn-table" 

 make a circle of asphalte iu the centre of each, 

 apply another coat of asphalte when the first is diy, 

 and we shall then have shallow cells for leaves, &c. 

 Let us now take a moss— say, the commonest 

 species, such as Fumria hjgrometrica, or common 

 cord-moss,— select a few of the capsules (they are 

 mature when of a fine golden-brown colour) ; take 

 out a slide with an india-rubber ring on, the gum, 

 our dissecting microscope, and two glovers' needles. 

 We first gum all over the dead-black paper ; place 

 thereon, longitudinally, a capsule bearing calyptra, 

 &c., and a small portion of the seta ; another capsule 

 with the calyptra off, showing the operculum side- 

 view ; another with the operculum off, presenting a 

 side-view of the peristome. Then add upper half of 

 capsule cut in two transversely, and placed upon end 

 so as to show the peristome in situ. Now take one 

 of the shallow cells made of asphalte, and fill it with 

 glycerine and camphor-water ; in this place leaves 

 from the stem, branch, and perichsotium ; use an- 

 other cell for the operculum, calyptra, and aunulus, 

 and another for the inflorescence. When the slides 

 are finished, put a label on 

 one end like this. The 

 upper figures refer to the 

 family, 58 to the genus, 1 to 

 the species. These slides 

 should then be arranged for 

 ready reference in boxes. 

 I find the shilling boxes 

 holding two dozen most convenient, as they will 

 stand on end, and can be placed like books on a shelf 

 or in a book-case. 



I have said nothing about mauipulation, as that 

 can be obtained in any work on the microscope ; 

 but would point out that the best method of dis- 

 secting the peristome is to run the smallest entomo- 

 logical pin you can get through the centre of the 

 capsule ; fasten it down to a piece of cork, cut it iu 

 two transversely, just below the mouth— nearly all 

 the spores will come out; transfer that portion 

 which has the peristome only to a slide with a little 

 water, and gently brush away the few spores that 

 may adhere ; and then place on another slide, arrange, 

 and finish off. If we place the whole capsule on a 

 slide with water at once, we shall never get rid of 

 the clouds of spores, and after fruitless endeavours 

 to obtain a clear view of the peristome, be obliged to 

 give it up as a bad job. 



In conclusion, I need only remark that if the 

 mosses are studied in the way I have endeavoured 

 to point out, the student will in time have a most 

 valuable collection ; and in its formation will derive 



XXII. 



58 • I. 



Funaria 

 I hycjrometrica. 



A'ekistome. 



an amount of pleasure never to be realized by the 

 person who merely sticks a smashed clump to a 

 sheet of paper, and calls it a specimen. By my 

 method he will find that — 



" Here to charm the curious eye 

 A host of hidden treasures lie ! 

 A microscopic world that tells 

 That not alone in trees and flowers 

 The spirit bright of beauty dwcUs ; 

 That not alone in lofty bowers 

 The mighty hand of God is seen, 

 But more triumphant still — iu things mancoun!, 

 as mean." 



RoDEuicK M'Leod. 



[N.B. — Although sent as an original contribution, 

 we are aware that this paper has appeared in the 

 "Liverpool Naturalists' Note Book," but as very 

 few of our readers will have had the opportunity of 

 seeing it, no valid objection can be raised to its 

 appearance here. We may add, by way of request, 

 that our correspondents wiU not send communica- 

 tions "as original" which have akeady been pub- 

 lished without a statement to that effect. If we 

 should fail to make the discover^', some one of our 

 readers would be sure to find it ovX.—Ed. So. (?.] 



THE HEDGEHOG. 



{Erinaceics Europccas.) 



As I have formerly found this animal to be a most 

 entertaining pet, I am sorry to know that he is daily 

 becoming less frecjueut amongst us, as persecution, 

 the result of prejudice, aud the trimming up and 

 removal of old fences are tending to make this once 

 common creature somewhat of a rarity. 



I have been for years a keen observer of the 

 habits of the hedgehog, and never yet saw a single 

 case for suspicion of any mischief belonging to him. 

 The notion of his sucking the cows, which once pre- 

 vailed, is now scarcely believed by the "barn-door 

 savage," a race still not uncommon, as testified by a 

 savage desire for killing anything. 



As regards the charge of egg-sucking brought 

 against the hedgehog, 1 could never arrive at a tittle 

 of real evidence in its support. 



Seen in the fields, the hedgehog would seem to be 

 a dull, inactive creature ; but in domestication I have 

 found them most " larking " individuals. I formerly 

 kept a couple in my geological museum, and though 

 they were comparatively quiet in the day-time, yet 

 they were ever ready to come aud eat bread and 

 milk from my hands. At night, they became as 

 " active as cats," and the rate at which they 

 would run along the corridors of my college, and 

 even get up aud down-stairs, was surprising; aud 

 here they were not a bad police, for as equally active 

 students would sometimes prowl from room to room 

 on " bolstering dire intent," the chance of stepping 

 upon a hedgehog, or having him run against one's 



