HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



99 



faithful likeness which it has reproduced of organic 

 creatures, is shown well in the small closed-up flowers 

 of the encrinite, in the delicate markings on the shell 

 of the echinoderm, or in the more bulky mass of 

 mineralised sponge or coral. 



To show how prolific the formation is in organic 

 remains, the following list is appended ; -about one- 

 half were comparatively rarely met with, small 

 ammonites, particularly portions of them, being 

 perhaps the most plentiful. 



Brachiopoda. 

 Terebratula. 

 Rhynconella. 



Polyzoa. 

 Brachiolites spongida. 



Lammellibranchiata. 

 Inocoramus sulcatus. 

 Do. concentricus. 

 Cucullsea glabra. 

 Do. carinata. 

 Plieatula pectinoides. 

 Area. 



Kemus ten era. 

 Cardita tenicosta. 

 Pecten. 



Actinozoa. 



Plocoscj'phia labrosa. 

 Cyclocyathus Fittani. 

 Trocosimbia sulcatus. 



Annelida. 

 Vermicularia concada. 



Gasteropoda. 

 Twoidites elegans. 

 Do. senequierianus. 

 Rostellaria carinata. 

 Aporochais orbiquiana. 



Cephalopoda. 

 Nautilus clementinus. 

 Ammonites symmetricus. 

 Do. lautus. 

 Do. communis. 

 Do. tuberculatus. 

 Do. auritus. 

 Do. Bouchardianus. 

 Do. splendens. 

 Do. Bendantii. 

 Scapites sequalis. 

 Hamites. 



Belemnites attenuatus. 

 Do. minimus. 



I Cri'iozdea. 



Pentacrinites Fittoni. 



i Echinoidea. 



I Hemiaster minimus. 



One specimen of a fossil nut was also found, re- 

 sembling somewhat in shape and size the stone of a 

 damson. 



From this list it will be seen that to those who 

 know what to look for, and who are able to see 

 differences in specimens which to the ordinary eye 

 give no sign, a goodly increase in one's collection 

 will accrue from a few visits to the Warren. 



It should be stated that the specific differences 

 amongst the ammonites have been quoted from the 

 Jermyn Street collection. As some species have 

 been named from their shapes, as symmetricus, com- 

 munis, etc., and others from external appearances, 

 such as, for instance, aurites, splendens, etc., and as 

 certain specimens have been found to possess charac- 

 teristics of more than one species, some of the 

 specific names are superfluous, and the number and 

 names of the various specimens in the above list 

 should probably be reduced. 



What a pity it is that there is not some central 

 academy of science, which should sit in solemn 

 conclave, and decide authoritatively on the specific 

 name which any newly-discovered species is to bear. 



NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. 



/I N Account of British Flies {Diptera), by F. V. 

 ^J- Theobald, vol. i. (London: Elliot Stock). 

 We have frequently called attention to this im- 

 portant work as the parts came out. In its entirety 

 it makes up a handsome and attractive volume. No 

 other order of insects has been so much neglected as 



the Diptera, and it was for that reason we gave pro- 

 minence to the series of papers in our columns, by 

 Mr. Brunetti, two years ago. The Diptera is a new 

 hunting-ground for the entomologist who has had 

 enough of lepidoptera and coleoptera. Let him get 

 Mr. Theobald's present volume, and go farther 

 afield. Walker's work on the subject is now out of 

 print. Mr. Theobald's book is well illustrated with 

 woodcuts and plates. 



The Birds of Derbyshire (London : Bemrose & 

 Sons), by F. B. Whitlock. This is a first-class book 

 and one which every Midland ornithologist should 

 not fail to procure. It is tastefully bound in a 

 strong, plain cover, and is illustrated by first-rate 

 photographs and sketches. The paper is of very fine 

 quality, the print fairly large, and altogether it 

 will be found a most readable book. After an intro- 

 ductory chapter, Mr. Whitlock goes on to take each 

 species separately, and to record any notes obtainable, 

 which bear upon that special species,' ending up with 

 a general summary, in which he states that in Derby- 

 shire there are to be found a hundred and ten 

 breeding birds, or a grand total of one hundred and 

 forty-six species. 



The Earth's History, by R. D. Roberts, M.A., 

 D.Sc. (London : John Murray). Dr. Roberts adds 

 one more to our numerous geological text-books, 

 under a somewhat ambitious title. The volume is 

 nicely got up, and contains several useful maps, 

 printed in colours ; but beyond this the book 

 contains only the well-known materials worked up 



GOLD-TAILS AND BROWN-TAILS. 



A MOTH of very delicate beauty, with wings of 

 snowy whiteness, was generally very abundant 

 last year. The body is pure white, too, all but 

 the tail-end, which terminates in a tuft of golden 

 hairs in the male, and in the female is increased in 

 size almost to a little button, or knob. These golden 

 tufts give it its name of gold-tail : in science, Liparis 

 auriflua. The moth, like many other beauties, is 

 deceptive, and not innocuous, as persons who handle 

 it, and especially those with delicate skins, will soon 

 find out to their cost. It possesses a property known 

 as " urtication ; " in other words, it stings like nettles, 

 to the well-known smart of which, an intolerable 

 irritation is thrown in, in order to make it more 

 pleasant (?). This property is even more pronounced 

 in the larvae, or caterpillars, which in the spring may 

 be seen in swarms on the blackthorn and whitethorn 

 hedges. They are extremely pretty, in fact showy, 

 creatures, with stripes of bright scarlet, and white 

 tufts of hair. Though the caterpillar has an evil 

 repute, it does not seem to be known that the moth 

 is capable of urtication. A non-entomological 

 brother of mine captured one of these moths, in- 



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