130 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
however, that there are 216 distinct bones in the 
human body. 
48. Pottery.— In reply to "Quiner," we may 
say that it is impossible to do this subject justice 
In this department, and the best we can do is to 
^ive a few hints and recipes here, and a promise 
that the subject shall receive our attention at 
length in future numbers. Should the following 
be found useful to " Quiner," we may return to 
the subject again here: 
In enamelling articles of pottery and glass, the 
colors are prepared principally from the oxides 
of different metals melted with a vitreous flux, 
well ground for use in an essential oil, and in 
enamel painting laid on Avith a camel-hair pencil, 
the Are of the enamel kiln fusing the colors so 
that they adhere to the glaze. The principal 
■colors are oxides of lead, platinum, chromium, 
uranium, etc., etc. Oxides of tin and antimony 
give opacity. 
Manuscript books of recipes are very imperfect. 
Managers of works having had no scientific 
education, are not to be trusted when dealing 
with tills branch of pottery. 
Of '■ dips," something useful may be found 
in the following: 
Purple Dip.— 40 quarts of blue clay slip, 1 oz. 
<3alx blue, well ground, 2 ozs. manganese. 
Blue Dip.— 50 quarts blue clay slip, l oz. calx 
blue. 
Eed Sponge Dip,— 4 quarts red slip, 2 quarts 
white slip, 1 lb. steel filings, 1 lb. lead ore. 
Green Dip.— 5 quarts cane slip, 5 ozs. ground 
zaffre, 1 oz. copper scales. 
Another.— 1 quart blue clay slip, IK oz. ground 
ni'^kel. 
Vriiite Dip.— 6 quarts blue clay slip, 1 lb. steel 
iiliiigs, 1 lb. lead ore. 
Olive Green Dip.— 12 quarts cane slip, Yz oz. 
zaffre, well ground, 2 ozs. copper scales. 
Olive Dip.— 1 quart black marl slip, 2 quarts 
Wue clay slip, 2 ozs. zaffre. 
Another Blue Dip, said to be "very good."— 4 
lbs. Cornwall stone, 1 lb. Cornwall clay, 3 pints 
l)one slip, 3 pints blue clay slip, 10 ozs. cobalt 
blue. Fluxed liquid. 
Flux for Blue Edging, etc.— 4 lbs. flint glass. 1 
■of blue calx, 2 ozs. nitre. 2 ozs. borax. 
Queries. 
49. Ida, Phila., Pa.— If TNliss H., or some other 
well-informed person, will give a few hints on 
the cultivation of parlor plants, and describe 
wdiat plants are the best to nurture, a great kind- 
ness will be conferred on a life-long invalid. 
50. Katie B., Rochester, N. Y.— I am in want of 
■a recipe for cleaning kid gloves, one that has been 
tried by some of your "girl" readers who have 
been successful. I do not want any of the methods 
that are written in some of the cheap receipt 
books, as I have never been able to make a suc- 
cess of the work by doing it according as it is de- 
scribed in those books. What I want is a real 
practical, common-sense process, that any girl of 
fifteen can follow. Now, girls, which of you is 
going to send the best recipe ? 
51. Big Boy, Utica, N. Y.— Having tried my 
hand on amateur woodwork, with pretty satisfac- 
tory results— at least my friends say my work is 
nearly as good as if done by a professional— it is 
now in order for me to attempt the operation of 
*;ta,ining, varni'^hing, and polishing; and as 
many other "Big Boys" besides myself may 
wish to acquire some knowledge of the processes, 
I make bold to ask vou to publish a few recipes 
for this kind of work, and oblige an earnest stu- 
dent. 
52. Amateur, Newark, N. J.— I have a small 
^frindstone that has been in use quite along time 
and is worn away much more at one point than 
Jit others, and in consequence I find it very 
troublesome in grinding my tools, when such 
operation is necessary. Can you or any brother 
reader tell me if this trouble can bo removed, or 
will I have to purchase a new stone ? 
53. Monograms.— The requests this month for 
monograms are more numerous than for previ- 
ous months, and we fear we shall not be able to 
afford space for illustrating more than about one- 
quarter of them. The following are some of the 
combinations asked for: E. S. G.. plain; T. M. 
G., rustic; L. L. L.. ornamental; A. L. L., neat 
and plain; A. C, no directions; A. T., V. A,, and 
C. H. We have a number of other combinations 
asked for, but we cannot find space for more than 
tliose mentioned above- 
54. Monograms.— Bella S., Detroit, asks "why 
we do not publish some monograms suitable for 
embroidery work, such as are used for the cor- 
ners of napkins, handkerchiefs, and similar arti- 
cles ?" Well, Miss Bella, we shall be pleased to 
publish any suitable designs that we may receive 
for the purpose, and hope some of our lady 
readers will take the matter up, and furnish us 
with a number of designs for needlework. 
55. Nellie D., Denver, Col.— Last summer I was 
East, and saw quite a number of needle-cases 
made by using two shells, some fine flannel and 
ribbon. I have a number of shells, and shall bo 
pleased to have some information as to the man- 
ner of making the cases, if some of your lady 
readers will kindly impart it. 
56. H. A. K., Kansas.— How can I make a small 
electric light apparatus ? What do you think of 
the new portable electric light made in Boston ? 
Is it a good thing ? 
Note.— It is rather difficult to make a small 
electric light apparatus that is good for any- 
thing. The Grove or Bunsen battery, about 30 
cells, would probably be the most convenient. It 
was this form that was used by scientific lectur- 
ers before the days of the dynamo apparatus. We 
have not seen the Boston light, and cannot ex- 
press an opinion, but as we understand it, it is 
used chiefly for lighting gas, not for giving a 
light. You will notice that the advertisement 
reads, "Portable Electric Lighter." 
iliirlitt Jtpoit 
Retail Prices. 
IMPORTED CAGE BIRDS. 
Canaries, Belgian, per pair $6.oo to 15.00 
" French, Q3.ch. 6.001015.00 
" German, Hartz Mts., each 2.50 to 10.00 
Gold Finches, each 1.50 
Gold Finch (mules), each 2. 50 to 5.00 
Bull Finches, each 2.50 
Bull Finches (tuned), each 10.00 to 40.00 
African Finches, per pair 2.5010 5.00 
Chaffinches, each 1.50 
Linnets, each 1.50 to 2.00 
Linnets (mules), each 2.50 to 5.00 
Green Linnets, each 1.50 
Java Sparrows (blue), each 1.50 
Java Sparrows (white), per pair 4.00 to 6.00 
English Sparrows, per pair 1.00 
Siskins, each i.oo 
Gray Cardinal, each 4.00 to 5.00 
Nightingales, each 8.00 to 25.00 
Japanese Nightingales, each 5.00 to 10.00 
Thrushes, each 5.00 
Skylarks, each ... 5.00 
Troopials, each 1.. 7.00 to 12.00 
European blackbirds, each 5.00 
Black-caps, each 4.00 
Starlings, each 4.00 to 6.00 
Ring Doves, each 2.50*10 3.0^. 
