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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



the foot-paths ; the hemlock, found also in the sandy 

 north, reappears on the waste ground ; and the fields 

 are rich with scarlet poppies. The great hairy willow- 

 herb [Efiilobium kirsutum) appears by the stream, 

 the water-plantain (Alisma plantago) in still water, 

 the burdock {Arctium lappa) is more frequent, and 

 Scandix peclen-veneris springs on cultivated ground. 



It is noticeable that the cowslip is not found in 

 Man except where planted. Lamb's-lettuce (Vale- 

 rianella olitoria) and yellow toad-flax (Linaria vul- 

 garis) are local, and seemingly recent. Veronica 

 Buxbaumii, however, which must be a late introduc- 

 tion, is abundant, and has spread to remote corners 

 of the isle. The white meadow-saxifrage (Saxifraga 

 granulata) I have seen only on one spot, a grassy 

 brow on the western coast. 



Something might be said, did space permit, on 

 Manx plant-lore ; as the use of the mountain-ash 

 (Manx, " Cuirn ") in connection with May-eve super- 

 stition, of the elder (Manx, "Tramman") as a 

 protection against charming, and of many wild plants 

 as rustic medicines. Some curious information on 

 these subjects will be found in the recently published 

 "Folk-lore of the Isle of Man," by Mr. A. W. 

 Moore. 



P. G. Ralfe. 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



One of the greatest modern scientific satires is that 

 "Water finding," by means of a hazel wand, is 

 revived! It is so much easier than studying geology, 

 and receives, as a rule, more of ecclesiastical support. 



The Council of the Wesley Scientific Society met 

 in London on March 31st, under the presidency of the 

 Rev. Hilderic Friend, F.L.S., and resolved to canvass 

 the members and subscribers with a view to the re- 

 organization of the Society, and the monthly issue of 

 a superior Journal, to contain illustrated articles, 

 original memoirs, summaries of work done by other 

 Societies and individuals, and other matter of interest 

 to students of science and natural history. Great 

 regret was expressed at the injury sustained by the 

 Society, owing to the unwarranted amalgamation of 

 the "Wesley Naturalist " — the former official organ of 

 the Society — with another periodical, and the mind 

 of the members is now being ascertained respecting 

 the reconstruction and more efficient working of what 

 has proved itself to be a very useful, and necessary 

 organization. 



The following are among the Lecture Arrange- 

 ments at the Royal Institution, after Easter : Pro- 

 fessor T. G. Bonney, Two Lectures on "The Sculp- 

 turing of Britain — its later stages," (the Tyndall 

 Lectures) ; Mr. Frederic E. Ives, Two Lectures on 

 "Photography in the Colours of Nature; Professor 

 Dewar, Four Lectures on " The Chemistry of Gases ; 

 Professor H. Marshall Ward, Three Lectures on 



"Some Modern Discoveries in Agricultural and 

 Forest Botany " (Illustrated by Lantern). The 

 Friday Evening Meetings were resumed on April 

 29th, when a Discourse was given by Dr. William 

 Huggins, on the " New Star in Auriga ; " succeeding 

 Discourses will be given by Captain Abney, Dr. 

 B. W. Richardson, Mr. J. Wilson Swan, Professor 

 Dewar, and other gentlemen. 



Messrs. Tempere and Dutetre announce the 

 publication of a series of slides, to be accompanied 

 by Explanatory Text, on " The Micro-Fungi of 

 France." 



The latest news from the newly discovered Dover 

 coal-field, is that 762 feet of coal-measures have 

 been penetrated beneath the cretaceous and oolitic 

 rocks. At the depth of 1, 140 feet, a coal-seam 2 ft. 

 6 in. thick, was passed through. The depth now 

 reached, is 1,875 ^ eet > an( i mne seams of coal have 

 been pierced. 



We are pleased to draw attention to M. Tempere's 

 " Memento du Catalogue de Preparations Micro- 

 scopiques " (168 Rue St. Antoine, Paris). Micro- 

 scopists will find it very useful. 



A descriptive pamphlet has been issued relating 

 to the programme of the Edinburgh Summer 

 Meeting of Art and Science in August next. It 

 is a delightful programme — botanical rambles, 

 zoological .dredgings, microscopical investigations, 

 demonstrations, conversaziones, and lectures galore! 



Mr. G. Viney says : — " A splendid specimen of a 

 female great northern diver has been captured at St. 

 Anne's-on-Sea, Lancashire, lately, and is now in the 

 possession of Mr. Oldfield, Church Road. There has 

 not been one seen here for a dozen years till now." 



We heartily welcome another magazine, " The 

 Irish Naturalist," edited;by Messrs. G. H. Carpenter 

 and R. Lloyd Praeger, the first number of which has 

 just been published (London : Simpkin & Marshall), 

 price 6d. It will be devoted mainly to Irish geology, 

 botany, and natural history generally. 



We have received a copy of Mr. Arthur Bennett's 

 valuable paper entitled " Records of Scottish Plants 

 for 1 So, 1," an addition to "Topographical Botany," 

 reprinted from the " Annals of Scottish Natural 

 History." 



Mr. J. A. Ellis, i Pomona Place, Fulham, writes 

 as follows : — " Last year, through the kindness of 

 several subscribers of Science-Gossip, I was enabled 

 to form several natural history collections for the 

 schools in our vicinity. I desire to do the same this 

 year, and should be greatly obliged to readers having 

 duplicate Botanical, Entomological or Geological 

 specimens, if they would forward them to me. 

 Specimens of foreign and colonial seeds, fibres, etc., 

 used commercially and medicinally, are especially 

 desired." 



