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meee NCEAGOSSIP
AN ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY RECORD OF
New UkE AND COUN TRY LORE
EDITED BY
JOEN Sie CANNING RON
VOL. III—NEW SERIES
LONDON: SIMPKIN MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & Co., LIMITED Tue Nassau PRESS ©
BERLIN: R. FRIEDLANDER & SOHN, CARLSTRASSE II
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(ANOTHER year has passed and another volume is complete—
a volume containing many facts and thoughts which could have been ill-spared preservation, and some _ which will add to the progress of Knowledge. I trust it has given as much pleasure to our readers as to those who have produced and arranged the material from which it is constructed. To the Contributors and Artists, the Editor offers his sincere thanks for the support they have given in what has been to him, as to them, mainly a labour of love; and would take this opportunity of tendering them his congratulations on the good quality of most of their articles. He desires to express his obligations particularly to those who have conducted the departments of Astronomy and Science Abroad, and to others who have furnished valuable series of articles upon special subjects.
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1, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, LONDON; 1897.
CONTENTS.
VOLUME I1IIl.—NEW SERIES.
Adams, Lionel E., 17 Adamson, Duncan, 184 Atkinson, W. J., 25
Ball, W. V., B.A., F.G.S., 333
Barbour, John H., 184, 194, 255
Barham, George, 129
Bastin, A. H., 214, 268, 340
Bechervaise, A. H., 43
Beer, Rudolf, F.L.S., 25, 62, 173, 237
Bell, Alfred, 283
Boulger, Prof. G. S., F.L.S., F.G.S., 8
Boycott, Arthur E., 114
Briggs, C. A., 52, 81, 131, 314
Briggs, H. Mead, 53, 110 bis, 137 bis, 138, 165
Britton, C. E., 132, 138 bis, 145
Bryan, E. F. J., 233
Bryan, G. H., Sc.D., F.R.S., 152, 175
Buckell, Francis, 52
Bulman, G. W., 255
Burton, James, 5, 52, 138, 158, 226, 251, 270, 278, 283, 303, 340
Cameron, A. C.G, 315
Carpenter, J. H., 13
Carr, Cyril, 130
Carrington, John T., 1, 18, 35, 41, 45, 65, 74, 82 bis, 97, 102, 104, 122, 131, 132, 137, I4I, I61, 190, 212, 220, 247, 249, 255, 272, 279, 289, 308, 334
Chatfey, W. J., 20
Climenson, Mrs. Emily J., 44, 73, 159, 216,
305
Cockerell, Theo. D. A., 137, 199, 239, 252, 302
Cole, Martin, 132
Cooke, J. H., 25
Cooper, J. E., 144, 147
Cordeaux, John, M.B.O.U., 171
Crowther-Beynon, V. B., 25
Deakin, Rev. K. A., 43, 165
Dennett, Frank C., 21, 49, 79, 99, 107, 135, 163, 193, 223, 253, 281, 311, 319, 337
Dixon, H. M., 310
Du Buisson, E. W., 109
Edwards, T., 282 Ekholm, Dr. N., 8&5 Enock, Fred, F.L.S., F.E.S., 13, 41, 68
Alder, 94 Alga, Freshwater, 145 Amphipeplea glutinosa, 308 Arion hortensis, 308 Armature of Helicoid Landshells : Covtlla, Relationship of, 128 * anax, 126 34 beddomeae, type, 127 a var., 127
wf charpenttert, 88 s », _ Var. hinidunensis, 127 iy erronea, 89, 90 a o var. evvonella, 127 » fryae, 89 immature, 90
” ”
CONTRIBUTORS.
Fish, David S., 72, 215, 263 Ford-Lindsay, H. W., 110 Friend, Rev. Hilderic, 10, 86
George, C. F., 153, 264
Gibbings, C. M., 82
Godfrey, Robert, 119, 160, 176, 217, 241, 294, 325
Griset, H. E., 61, 100, 210, 252
Gude, G. K., F.Z.S., 23, 51, 57, 69, 80, 88, 106, 126, 136, 154, 162, 178, 192, 204, 245, 274, 300, 332
Halfpenny, F. W., 225, 315
Hall, Thos. W., 109
Harris, George T., 24, 165, 222, 282 Henley, A., 341
Hick, Rev. J. M., 25
Howarth, Samuel, 236
Howkins, F. E., 53
Hyndman, H. H. F., B.Sc., 96, 124
Jackson, A. B., 144 Johnson, Alfred J., 109
Kane, W. F. de V., 34 Keegan, Dr. P. Q., 165, 211, 222, 283, 284 Kennard, A. S., 12, 118, 341
Lett, Rev. H. W., M.A., M.R.1.A., 24 bis, 29, 52 bts, 67
Lloyd, J. A., 255
Lones, T. E., M.A., LL.D., 322
Loydell, A., 165
Mapleton, Rev. H. M., 109
Marrat, F. P., 120
Marris, William H., 82
Marten, Chas. J., 255 bis
Martin, Edward A., 25 bis, 54, 138, 149, 194, 225, 252, 253, 276
Maslen, Arthur J., 142, 182, 234
McIntire, N. E., 92
Midgley, Thos., 109, 110 bis
Moffat, C. B., 82
Mott, F. T., F.R.G.S., 157
a
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Armature of Helicoid Landshells—Cont.
Corilla humbertt, 92 PP odontophora, 91 a rivolii, gt > ,, immature, 91 Plectopylis affinis, 276 a andersont, 154 a brachydiscus, 154 5 brachy plecta, 246 - clathratula, 300 3 clathratuloides, 332 a cutisculpta, 181 7 cyclaspis, 244 3 dextrosa, 156 » jfimbriosa, 179
Nicholson, C., 20
Nicholson, Wm. Ed., 265, 292 Nunney, W. H., 9, 82 Nuttall, G. C., B.Sc., 39
Ord, W. E., B.A., 202
Parritt. H. W., 314
Perks, F. P., 24
Piffard, Bernard, 225
Purchas, Rev. W. H., 14, 42, 70, 94, 159, 185
Ransom, Edwd., 314
Rice, David J., 201
Roberts, L. Amb., 165
Rousselet, Chas. F., F.R.M.S., 189 Rowley, F. R., 194
Saunders, G. S., 24, 252 Searell, R. Trist, 132
Sewell, S. Arthur, 125, 194 Sheppard, T., 282
Sich, Frank, 52, 137
Smith, Rev. Adam C., 32 Soar, Chas. D., 169
Stokes, Dr. Alfred C., 121, 148 Stone, E. M., 314
Swann, H. Kirke, 301
Tatham, John, M.D., 255 Taylor, P., 113
Teesdale, Martin J., 52, 226, 229 Thompson, William, 340 Turner, Edwin E., 248, 269 Turner, G. C., 49
Vogan, A. J., 194
Ward, H. Snowden, 341
Warrand, W., Major-Gen. R.E., 60, 109 Webb, J. C., F.E.S., 48, 95
Wheeler, E., 109, 110 bis
Wheldon, J. A., 117
Wilson, W., 24, 52
Williamson, R., 323
Winckworth, Catherine A., 138, 314, 315 Winstone, Benj., M.D., 314
Winstone, Flora, 251, 252, 313
Armature of Helicoid Landshells—Cont. Plectopylis fultoni, 179 a invia, 181 _ kavenorum, 245 s lamunifera, 205 = laomontana, 245 i multispira, 181 7 nagaensis, 206 ” perarcta, 155 at pmacis, 206 si plectostoma, 274 4 » var. tricarinata, 275 “A ponsonbyt, 178 ne pulvinaris, 180 ae retifeva, 301
Armature of Helicoid Landshells—Cont. Plectopylis servica, 205 5 shirotensts, 155 9% smithiana, 274 * stenochila, 204 Arvenurus bruzeltt, 264 Arrenurus crassipetiolatus, 264 Artesian Well, Geological Formation of,
333
Batrachospermum, 145
Bavarian Forest, Scene in, 289 Beech Branch, Flowering State, 14 Beech Branch, Ramification of, 15 Beech Branch, Winter State, 16 Birch, Spring State, 43
Birch, Summer State, 42
Calophasia platy ptera, 141 Clostevium, Subdivision of, tor Corilla, Diagram of Relationship, 128 Convolvulus, Leaf variations, 210
Dactylopius lichtenstoides, 199 Desmids, Straining-Net for, 323 Pipette, 324 », . Test-tube Stand for, 324 on Test-tube Table for Microscope,
324 Dragon-Fly, Nymph Tail-Fans, 9
Eclipse of Sun, Total, 319, 320, 321 Epichloe typhina, 291
Ficus cavica, Leaf variations, 210 Flat-Fish, Transformation of, 335 Flea-Egg and Larva, 95
Flounder, Transformation of, 334 “Fram ’’ Imprisoned in Ice, 259 Freshwater Mites, New British, 264 Fungus, Abnormal (Russula), 207
Grass-Snake, X Rays Photo of, 279 Grass, White Circles on, 291
AGA, A FRESHWATER, 145 Algz, Microscopic, 270, 303 Angler-Fish, 325 Aquatic Hymenoptera, 13, 41, 48, 68 Armature of Helicoid Landshells, 88, 126, 154, 178, 204, 244, 274, 300, 332 Arrenurus bruzelit, 264 Arrenurus crassipetiolatus, 264 ASTRONOMY, 21, 49, 79, 107, 135, 163, 193, 223, 253, 281, 321, 337 Almanack, Amateur Observer's, 253 American Universities, 50 Atlas, New Lunar, 21 Aurora, 49 Comet, 21, 163, 223, 253 Comet, Brooks’, 79, 107, 135 Comet, Star Eclipsed by, 79 Comet, Swift's, 21, 49 Double Star, New, 163 Eclipse, Lunar, 79, 107 Eclipse, Sun, 79, 107 bis Eclipse, Total, Sun, 135 Jupiter, Occultation, 79 Jupiter, Rotation Period, 311 Jupiter, Satellites, 3rz Jupiter’s Belts, 337 Lick Observatory, 134 Lunar Object, 107, 135 Mars, Opposition, 253, 337 Meteor, April 12th, 21, 49, 107 Meteor, Brilliant, 311 Meteor, November 2gth, 255, 281 Metecr, September 12th, 134 Meteorite near Namur, 50 Meteors, 21, 49, 79, 107, 163, 193, 223, 281, 311 Nebula, Great, in Orion, 337
CONTENTS.
Guelder Rose, 87 Guelder Rose, Abnormal, 87 Guillemots and Razorbill, 76
Hare Drive, 46
Hare, English, 47
Hawfinch, 191
Hawk, Kestrel (Taxidermy), 19 Hawkbit, Fasciated, 113
Helix aspersa, Teeth of, 75 Heron, Claw of, 190
Hippobosca equina, 18 Hippobosca equina, Claws, 18 Holly, Abnormal, 269 Hornbeam, Witches’ Broom, 290 Horse Chestnut, 150
Horse Chestnut, Autumn State, 151
Leaf-blade, Variations of, 61, 62, 117, 210 Lime, common, 71 Lime, small-leaved, 70
Manna, Coccus manniparus, 232
Manna, Edible Lichen, 22
Manna, Lecanora affints, 229
Manna, Lecanora esculenta, 229
Manna, Lecanova fruticulosa, 229
Manna, Lecanora tartarea, 229
Manna, Tamarix gallica, 230, 231
Mealy-Bug, New, 19
Mollusc, New British, 147
Moth, Lesser Shark, 141
Mourne Mountains (Map), 31
Mourne Mountains, Newcastle Down), 29
Movable Meteorological Station, 260
(Co.
Nightjar, Claw of, 190
Oak, Quercus pedunculata, Flowering, 187 Oak, Q. pedunculata, Fruiting State, 185 Oak, Q. pedunculata, Summer State, 185 Oak, Q. sessiliflora, 186
Orchis maculata, Variations of, 175 Oyster Killing Mice, 82
AKDIGIEES, | NOGES, “iG:
ASTRONOMY—Continued: Observations, Remarkable, 135 Observatory, New London, 337 Paris Observatory, Director, 223 Paris Observatory, Sub-Director, 280 Personal Equation, 21 Planetoids, 21 Planets, Minor, Discovery, 281 Procyon, 223 Saturn’s Rings, 49, 99, 163 Sirius, 223 Sun Spots, 193, 253, 281 Sunspots and Weather, 338 Sun’s Surface, Study, 193 Telescopes, Driving Cleck, 79 Variable Stars, 49, 79, 107, 135, 163, 193,
223, 253, 281, 311, 337 Venus, Rotation, 281 Yerkes Observatory, 223 Zodiacal Light, 107
Auk, Great, Eggs of, 341
Auk, Little, in Scotland, 326
Batrachospermum, 145
Bats and Music, 212
Biological Jottings, 173, 237
Biological Station, Essex, 144
Bird Life on Lowland Loch, 160
Birds, Migration of, 277, 296, 329
Birds, Sailing Flight of, 152
Birds, storm-killed, 326
Bog Slide in Kerry, 248
Books To READ, 18, 45, 74, 104, 132, 161,
190, 220, 249, 279, 308, 334
Affinities of Atoms, 75 Anti-Vaccination, 77
Parasite of Tortoise, 23 Petrel, Stormy. 77 Petricola pholadtformis, 147 Physa fontinalis, 308 Polychaeta, Heads of, 220
Rotifer, Brachionus bakeri, 121
Sabellaria alveolata, 221 Saturn's Rings, 99 Scabiosa arvensis, Abnormal, 248 Science at National Portrait Gallery :— Banks, Sir Joseph, K.B., 3 Bewick, Thomas, 4 Brewster, Sir David, 65 Canton, John, F.R.S., 66 Darwin, Charles, 1 Darwin, Erasmus, 97 Faraday, Michael, 3 Goldstnith, Oliver, 98 Herschel, Sir William, 37 Jenner, Dr. Edward, 37 Owen, Sir Richard, 35 Richardson, Sir John, 38 Sea-Urchin, Full-grown Larva, 105 Shells First Time Figured :— Corasia laurae, 57 Endodonta fusca, 59 Endodonta quadrast, 58 Ganesella apex, 58 Ganesella apex, v. apiculata, 58 Ganesella catocyrta, 57 Pyrvamidula omalisma, 59 Trochomorpha boettgert, 59 Spider, Tarantula, 1o4 Sunspots, Great Group of, 193
Vitrina pellucida, 308
Wallflower, Abnormal, 269 Water-Mites, 169 Witches’ Broom, 290
Booxs To ReEap—Continued. Applied Nature, Investigations, 309 Arboricultural Society, 48 Biological Experimentation, 45 Birds, British Sea, 76 Birds, Handbook, British, 77 Birds, Handbook, Great Britain, 20 Birds, Newton’s Dictionary, 250 Botany, Elementary, 251 Cambridge Natural History, 220 Chemistry, Elementary, 250 Diagramettes for Students’ Sketches,
221
Diseases of Plants, Fungoid, 290 Domestic Animals, Insects Affecting,
30 Barheaomlblees 48 Evoluticn of Bird Song, 74 Fishes, Natural History of Marine, Cunningham's, 334 Flora, Dumfriesshire, 75 Flora of Alps, 335 Fuel and Refractory Materials, 250 Game Birds, Handbook, 250 Game Birds and Wild Fowl (British) 336 3 Geology, Elementary, 190 Geology, Student's Lyell, 20 Gleanings, Natural History, Ancients, 22 Green Leaf and Sere, 190 Injurious Insects, Report on, 15 Insects and Spiders, 133 Hare, The, 46 aa Hemiptera~-Homoptera, British Islands,
from
309 Honey-Bee, The, 48
vi
Booxs To Rear—contsnued
Land and Freshwater Mollusca (Tay- lor’s Monograph), 75, 308
Land and Freshwater Shells, Col- lector’s Manual, British, 104
Leicester Literary, Philosophical Society, 310
Lepidoptera, Handbook, 45
Lepidoptera, Handbook to Order, 279
Lepidoptera of British Islands, 249
Life in Ponds and Streams, 249
Liverpool, Handbook, 133
Liverpool Marine Biology Committee,
Modical Guide, Everybody’s, 251 Minerals, Dictionary, 45
Minerals, Tasmanian, 249
Missouri Botanical Gardens, 133 Mosses, Analytic Keys, American, 280,
309 Mosses, Label-list of British, 338 Mosses, Students’ Handbook, British,
104
Nansen’s, Farthest North, 259
Natural History in Shakespeare’s Time, 335 :
New Thoughts on Current Subjects,
308 Optical Instruments, 76 Perspective, Theory, 190 Photogram, The, 133 Photographer’s Exposure Book, 251 Photography, Bichromates, 161 Photography, Exterior and Interior, 221 Photography, Stenopaic, 16: Physical Science, Studies, 279 Physiology, Handbook, 161 Plants, Manitoba, 132 Ros Rosarum ex horto Poetarum, 74 Round the Year, 190 Royal Natural History, 18, 105 Scenery, Switzerland, 74 Seedlings, Contribution to Knowledge,
18 Shertchley’s Physical Geography, 75 Smithsonian Institution Report, 336 Some Unrecognized Laws of Nature,
336 Sonth London Natural History Society, 753 330 Story of Chemical Elements, 221 Story of Electricity, 77 Story of Forest and Stream, 251 Structural Botany, Introduction, 249 Tourists’ Guide, Continent, 133 Taxidermy, Artistic and Scientific, 19 Természetrajzi Fuzetch, 310 Thousand Difficult Words, 45 Vaccination, Cost of, 77 Wayside and Woodland Blossoms, 133 Wild-bird Protection and Nesting- boxes, 338 Worms, Rotifers and Polyzoa, 220 X Rays, The, 133 Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, 226 Zoology, Text Book (Boas), 74 Botanical Jottings, 86 Botanical Teaching, 307 Botany NOTES, 24, 52, 110, 138, 252, 284, 310 Annularia levis, 110 Atriplex, Fasciated, 144 Auracaria, Fruiting, 24, 110 Botanical Opportunity, 252 Botanical Society, Bolton, r1ro Botany at Folkestone Museum, 338 Centaury, White, var., 24 Cotyledon, Abnormal, 52 Cyathus vernicosus, Ireland, 52 Feverfew, Abnormal, 52 Fungus, Abnormal, Russula, 252 Fungus, New, r10 Grasses, British, 310 Gyromitra esculenta, 24 Hazel-Flower, Abnormal, 310 Heracleum, Economic use, 310 Holly, Abnormal, 269 Lepidium ruderata, Berks, 144 Lilac, Abnormal, 52 Limosella aquatica, Clare, 252 Moss Exchange Club, 224 Nitella, in Aquarium, 226 Orchidacez, Alkaloids in, 252 Orchide, Age of, 252 Plants, Abnormal, 110 Plants on Disturbed Soil, 138
CONTENTS.
Botrany—continued Plants, Epping Forest, 138 Plants, Popular names, British, 219 Primrose, Abnormal, 52 Primrose, Early, Aberdeen, 52 Pyrus japonica, Fruiting, 52, 138 Scabious Abno , 248 Tree Branches, atrophy, 24 bts Vegetable Physiology, Prussic Acid,
24 Wallflower, Abnormal, 269 Wintergreen, Chickweed, 24 Yucca, Seeds in Europe, 255 Briggs Collection, to2 British Association, Isle of Man, 103 British Association at Liverpool, 103 British Collections, Kensington, 11
Calophasta platyptera, 131, 141 Camera, New “ Frena,” 102 Canary Islands, New Butterflies, 43 Channel Islands, Lepidoptera, 214, 268 Chapters for Young Naturalists, 62, 130 Characteristic Branching of Forest Trees, 14, 42, 70, 94, 150, 185 Chemistry of Paper, 96 Climateric in Evolution, 157 Clostevium, Subdivision, 100 Coccide, 239, 302 Coccide Associated with Ants, 239 Cold and Hunger, 124 Commensalism and Symbiosis, 5 Corasta laurvae, 57 Cortila, Armature of, 88, 126 Cozvtlla, Key to Species, 128 Covilla, New Species of, 88 Correspondence, 56, 140, 168, 258, 318 Country LoRE, 340 Australian Wool, 340 Coming of Spring, 340 Nightingales, 340 Spirza japonica, 340 Cress, Smooth Tower, 87
Dactylopius, 199
Dactylopius, European, 200 Dactyloptus lichtensiotdes, 199 Dactylopius nipe@, 200 Dactylopius psendonipaZ, 302 Daphnia and Rotifers, 60, 109 Death’s Head Moths, 116 Decimal Classification, Literature, 208 Desmids, Collecting, 323 Diatoms, Generic Names of, 32 Dipper, The, 294
Dissecting Extraordinary, 209 Dormice, Habits of, 20: Dragon-Fly Gossip, 9
East ANGLIA, RAMBLE IN, 72
Eclipse, Total Solar, 319
Eider Duck, 176 ~
Erne, In Quest of, 119
Erosion in Mollusca, 114
Exchanges, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 168, 198, 228. 258, 288, 318, 344
FEATHERED VERMIN, PENTLANDS, 241
Field Meetings, 8
Five-banded Land Shells, British List, 69, 137
Flea, Common, 95
Flora of Arctic Norway, 171
Fungoid Plant Diseases, 289
Fungus Growth, Abnormal, 207
Freshwater Mites, New British, 264
Freshwater Mites of Folkestone, 169
Fruits, British, 215
GeEoLocicaL Fretp Crass, 328 GroLocy NOTES, 26 54 Geological Photographs Committee, 54 Geological Sections, 54 Geological Society Medals, 280 Geology at Belfast,26 - Oldhaven Beds, 276 Thanet Sands, 54 Green Scum on Water, 158 Guelder Rose, 86
HAWKBIT, ABNORMAL, I13
Helicidaz, Some Unfigured, 57
Helix pomatia, New Locality, 22 Hepatics, Mourne Mountains, 29, 67 Herons, Effect of Fear on, 34, 109
Hints to Collectors, 233
Home Naturalist’s Notes, 44, 73, 159, 216,
305 Household Insects, 17 Hymenoptera, Aquatic, 13, 41, 48
INTRODUCTION MOoLLusca
BRITAIN, 12
OF INTO
LABORATORY, DAvy-FARADAY, 203 Leaf Variation, 61, 117, 165, 210, 273, 284
MANGANESE ORES IN HERTFORDSHIRE, 322 Manganese Ores in Wales, 92 Manna of Israelites, 229 Mealy-bugs, 199 Mealy-bug, new, 199, 302 Meteorological Exhibition, 307 Microscopic Algz, 270 Microscopy NoTES, 20, 48, 138, 222, 251 Acacia as Micro-object, 251 Asperococcus compressus, 132 Copepoda, Parasitic, 48 Hydra, preparing for Micros., 222 Hydra, What becomes of, 20 Hygroscopic Hairs, 132 Microscopic Slides, 226 Microscopy, 132 Microscopy Popular, 132 Mounting Mediums, 48, 132, 222 Preservation of Specimens, 251 Quekett Micros. Club, 48 Seaweed, New, 132 Mollusc, New British, 147 Mollusca, Erosion, 114 Mollusca, Introduction into Britain, 12 Molise. Varietal names, Fresh-water,
2
Monaco, Prince of, Marine Researches, 219
Mosses, Mourne Mountains, 29, 67
Mosses, Norway, 265, 292
Moth, new, British, 131, 141
NATURE NOTES, RIVIERA, 247, 272 Nomenclature, Confusion in, 282 North Pole, Summer at, 85 Norway, Arctic Flora, 171 Nostochacez, 158 NOTES AND QUERIES, 25, 52, 81, 109, 137, 165, 194, 225, 255, 282, 341 Africa, Expedition to Central, 26: Argynnis adippe, v. chlorodippe, 314 Argynnts niobe, 138, 314 Asparagus, Abnormal, 82 Auk, Little, Sussex, 25 Bacteria in Coal, 255 Bat, Daylight Flight of, 327 Bees, Inebiiety of, 282 Birds, Effect of fear on, tog Birds, Paternai affection, 225, 255 Birds, Reproduction lost limbs, 225, 315 Bitterns in Horsham, 252 Cleat, Derivation of, 165, 225, 314 Coal, Where not to find, 25 Cocoanut Germination, 52 Correspondence, Wanted, 194 Cuckoo’s Egg, tog Darwin and Heredity, 283 Death’s-heaa Moth, Larve, tog Dragon-Flies, Rearing, 341 Dragon-Fly Larve, Ferocity, 82 Duck Killing Birds, 120 Eel, Larve of, 314 Eggs, Cleaning hard-set, tog Elephus Africants, 25 Experimental Farms, 302 Fern, Fossil, Giant’s Causeway, 104, 225, 255, 282 Fly, Rare, 53 Focus Tube, New, 194 Fungus, Big, 225 Goldfish, Abnormal, 138 Great Auk’s Egg, Sale of, 341
NOTES AND QuERIES—continued Gull, Wedge-tailed, Breeding, 284 Hawk-Moth, Larve, 137 Helix pomatia, Roosting, 82 Helix pomatia in Essex, 22 Human Remains, Prehistoric, 25 Iron Embedded in Ivory, 226 Kingfisher, Choked, 255 Kingaehen in Yorkshire, 248 Lark, Nesting Site, 53 Leeches, Interesting, 20, 184 Lepidoptera, Hastings, 110 Lepidoptera, New Forest, 315 Lepidoptera, Norway, 25 Lepidoptera, Protection of, 310 Localities, Publication of, 194, 225 Marine Natural History, 255, 278 Marine Zoology at Cromer, 314 Mollusca, Additional British, 295 Mollusca, Value of, 314 Mollusca in Kent, List of, 341 Nightjars Hawking by Day, 138 Otters in Buckingham, 137 Oyster Killing Mice, 82 Pied-Wagtail in Winter, 25 Plusia moneta, Food, 109 Plusia moneta, Surrey, 81 Rooks Swallowing Fir-cones, 52, 81, 281 Scalariforme Shells, 82 Seaweed, New British, 132 Sedge-Warblers, Nesting, 110 Shadows, Tinted, 314 Strvex juvencus, 165
CONTENTS.
Petrel, Fulmar, in E. Lothian, 326 Petricola pholadiformus, 147 Phcenology in Ireland, 184 Plant Diseases, Fungoid, 289 Plant Life, 62
Plants, Abnormal, 269
Plants, Distribution of, 87 Plants, Extinction of, 263 Plants, Naturalization of, 263 Plants in Norway, 265, 292 Precious Stones, Artificial, 202
‘Princess Alice,”’ Marine Researches, 219
Pulex trvitans, 95
Rhyncholophus plumipes, 153
Ring Ousel, 217
Riviera, Nature Notes in, 247, 272 Rotifera, Byrachionus bakert, 121 Rotifera, Copeus quinquelobatus, 122
Rotifera, Structural Features in Ameri-
Can, 121, 148, 189
SATURN’s RinG System, 99 Saury-pike, Abundance of, 325 Scale Insects, 239
SCIENCE ABROAD, 23, 51, 80, 106, 136, 162,
£92, 313, 339 Academy Natural Sciences, 162 Album der Nat., Haarlem, 136 Annaes de Sciencias Naturaes, 51, 106 Annali del Museo Genova, 80, 106
Specimens, Value of, 314
Swallow in February, 314 Swallows, Late, 194
Swift, Late, 137
Telegony, reputed, 252
Thecla pruni, Herefordshire, 165 Thrush, Early Nesting, 314
Tales of my Tusks, 82
Vanessa antiopa, Scotland, 164, 194 Vanessa antiopa, Skye, 165 Vegetable Marrow, Abnormal, 131 Vipers in Damp Places, 110 Warbler, Pallas’ Willow, 284 Waterproof Cement, 109
Whale at Boscombe, 243 Whirlwind, Isle of Wight, 137
Yew Trees, Age of, 314
Zoological Gardens, Some National, 341
OBITUARY— Almer, the Guide, 224 Chappell, Joseph, 312 Cooper, J. A., 22 Cope, Edward Drinker, 338 Dollen, G. W., 338 Elger, Thos. Gwyn, 281 Findlay, Bruce, 53 Gatke, Heinrich, 301 Gould, Dr. B. Apthorp, 223 Gylden, Hugo, 218 Hale, Horatio, 254 Hick, Thomas, B.A., B.Sc., 108 Hodgkinson, J. B., 312 Inchbald, Peter, 53 Kriger, Dr. Adalbert, 50
Annalen des Nat. Hofmuseums, 51, 106
Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia Turin, 192
Botany Bulletin, Queensland, 106
Catalogue, 1897, Vienna Cryptogamic Exchange, 339
Das Tierreiche, 23
Economic Entomologists of U.S., 313
Feuille des Jeunes Nat., 51 bis, 136, 192, 313, 339
Linnéenne Revue, 192
Linnéenne Society, Bruxelles, 339
Naturaleza, La, 313, 339
Soc. Zoologique, Bulletin, 51, 80, 162, 313 339
Science a Monopoly, 213, 327 Science at National Portrait Gallery, 1,
35, 65, 97 Banks, Sir Joseph, 3 Bewick, Thomas, 4 Brewster, Sir David, 65 Canton, John, 66 . Darwin, Charles R., 2 Darwin, Erasmus, 97 Goldsmith, Oliver, 98 Grimaldi, Joseph, 66 Faraday, Michael, 2 Herschel, Sir William, 36 Jenner, Dr. Edward, 37 Owen, Sir Richard, 35 Richardson, Sir John, 38
Science at Nottingham, 93 ScIENCE-GOSSIP, 22, 50, 78, 108, 134, 164,
195) 224, 254, 280, 312, 338 Acetylene, Use, 224 American Assoc., 134
Lembert, John B., 108
Ley, W. Clement, 22
Lilford, Lord, 53
Moller, Dr. Axel, 253 Newton, Dr. Hubert A., 135 Nobel, Alfred, 224, 254 Palmieri, Luigi, 134 Prestwich, Sir Joseph, 50, 81 Raymond, Dr. E. H. Bu Bois, 254 Richardson, Sir B. Ward, 188 Slack, Henry James, 108 Tisserand, Francois F., 193 Wells, Sir Spencer, 280 Weyer, Dr. G. D. E., 281
Antarctic Meteorological Station, 280 Auk, Great, Egg of, 22
Aurora Display, Kirkwall, 254
Azeca elongata, 312
Bees Killed by Tomtits, 254
Bird of Paradise, New, 254
Birds, Society for Protection of, 312 Biological Station, Marine, 22 Biological Station for New Mexico, 22 Botanical Research Laboratory, 280 Brigg’s Collection, 78
Bristol Naturalists’ Society, 164 British Assoc., Liverpool, 78, 107, 134 Bryozoa, Chatham Chalk. 312
Wilson, William, 195 Oranges, Abnormal, 307, 341 Orchts maculata, Variations, 175, 225 Owl's Pellets, wanted, 17
PALZONTOLOGY, RISE OF, 142, 182, 234 Pavarge egeria, Hibernation, 13 Parasites of Tortoise, 236
Parasites of Plants, 237
Parasites, Fungoid, of Plants, 289 Pearly Nautilus, Eggs of, 271
Butterflies. Camberwell Beauty, 166
Cyanide, Illegal Sale, 108
Conchological Society, 164
Colour Blindness, 78
Clouds, Heights and Velocities, 254
Eagle, Golden, Yorkshire, 254
Economic Entomology, 78
Electric Light, Affecting Growth of Plants, 224
Elephants, Protection of, 164
Egret, Plumes in Millinery, 78
Essex, Technical Laboratories, 312
Vil
SciencEe-Gossip—Continued. Fish, West African, 312 Fern Extermination, 50 Field Columbian Museum, 134 Flying, Science of, 134 Folkestone Museum, Herbarium at, 338 Fossils, Prestwich Collection, 254 Foyers, Falls of, 50 Fungi, Deaths from Eating, 134 Fulham Science Society, 195, 224 Giant's Causeway, Enclosure, 78 Gilbert White, Bibliography, 195 Geologists’ Assoc., London, 50 Geology, London Field Class, 22 Heat Apoplexy, 108 Henley-on-Thames, Guide, 146 Injurious Insects at Agricultural Show,
22 Kelvin, Lord, Jubilee, 50 Kingfishers in Jondon, 254 Kites and Meteorological Observation,
33 Lepidoptera, Protection of, 254 Leucanta untpuncta in Ireland, 338 Liverpool Geological Society, 108 Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, 254 London Museums, Sunday Opening, 22 Marine Biological Association, 22, 338 Marine Biological Station, 134 Mollusca, Artificial Dispersion of, 108 Mollusca, Land, Antrim, 312 Mollusc, New British Land, 312 Mongoose in Jamaica, 254 Moth, New British Plume, 280 Natural History Exhibition, 312 Natural History Museum, Visitors, 78 Natural History, Popularising in France, 312 Naturalists’ Union, South-Eastern, 338 Naturalists’ Union, Yorkshire, 134 Newspaper Natural History, 78, 280,
312
Observatory, Bidston Hill, 78
Octopus, Large, 254
“ Ornithologist,”’ The, 22
Pasteur Institute, 280
Pear-Tree, Oldest Known, 224
Photography in Colours, 280
Physical Laboratory, Proposed National, 280
Pigeons, Protective Colour, 254
Plague Virus, 280
Polar Exploration, 108
Prestwich, Sir J., Biography, 280
Pyralid, A Leat-mining, 313
Rabies in London, 50
Rontgen Rays, Investigation Grant, 254
Royal Botanic Society, 50
Royal Institution Lectures, 195, 224
Sulphur in Relation to Crops, 312
Sunshine in Guernsey, 78
“Talisman” Expedition, Material of, 224
Technical Instruction in Beds., 78
Thrushes, New Work on, 78
Tomtits Attacking Bees, 254
University Extension, 22
Wicken Fen, for sale, 22
Zoology, International Congress of, 312
Shells, Five-Banded, List, 69, 137
Societies, Notices of Meetings, 198, 228,
258, 288, 318, 344
Starfishes opening Oysters, 131
Stone-cutting in Borrowdale, 211
Study of Aquatic Worms, ro
TEAL, NESTING, WORCESTER, 43
Thanet Sands, 129, 149
Tide-Waifs on Forth Shores, 325
Tortoise Parasite, 236, 282, 283
TRANSACTIONS, 27, 54, 83, III, 139, 166, 195, 226, 256, 285, 315, 342
Cambridge Entomological and Natural History Society, 286, 317
City of London Natural History Society, 139, 166, 195, 227, 285, 342
Conchological Society, 228
Glasgow Natural History Society, 198
Greenock Natural History Society, 228
Greenwich Natural History Society, 28
Hull Scientific and Field Naturalists’ Club, 257, 287, 317, 343
Vili CONTENTS.
CTIONS—conmiinued
Lambeth Field Club, 168
, 139, 166, 196, 226, 256, 285, 316.
68 ovih London Entomological and Norfolk and Norwich Natural History Natural History Society, 27, 55, 83, Society, 54, 15 6 16. 3
North London N £40, 166, 1906, 227, 256, 286, Soci
= et he YL Rh ed Scarborough Field Naturalisis’ Society. 257
Selborne Society, 81
VALUE OF VaRIATION, 122
WAaATER-wITES OF FOLKESTONE, 169 tory Society, Wellington College Natural Science Wiehe tere ey ty.50 7 = a
Sree og Woodpigeon, Food of, 20 Tree, Fire-proof, 30 Worms, Aquatic, Smdy of,
SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
SCIENCE AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY.
IN/OME that the collection of pictures of nota-
bilities deemed worthy to represent the foremost people who have made the name of respected
Britain gathered to- gether in their
new building, we see how small is the representa- tion of Sci- ence in the National Por- trait Gallery. In all there appear to be no more than - thirty repre- sentatives out of 1,036 por- traits. This may to some extent be ac- counted for by the fact that until re- cently these pictures have had no settled home, conse- quently few people knew whose por- traits were there and whose were absent among scientific wor- thies. It is to be hoped that before the al- ready well-
filled walls become more crowded, other and eminent investigators may have their portraits placed where they may be readily seen and venerated. There
By Joun T. CARRINGTON.
throughout the world are
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CHARLES DARWIN.
June, 1896.—No. 25, Vol. III. B
must be many such which may be, from time to time, available for acquisition, but, of course, these should only be of the very first rank of such men, or at least those whose names have become house-
hold words among stu- dents of na- ture in its widest sense. One would think that the Council of the Royal Society would take upon itself the duty of furthering the desirable ob- ject, by re- commending, when oppor- tunity occurs, any portraits which can be obtained. At present, that which is everyone's business ap- pears to be the especial duty of no one—hence the paucity in the represen- tation of men who have attained to eminence in Science, as compared
with Litera-
ture, Art, Jurisprudence, Politics, or War. We propose to place in review before our readers those portraits which are of especial interest to
2 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
them, giving a short sketch of each whom they portray. This will be made more valuable by the addition of sketches from the pictures themselves, by Miss J. Hensman, who has very kindly consented to make them for our pages, and to whom we desire to express our indebtedness.
The first picture which catches our eyes on entering Room xvi. is the replica of a fine portrait painted for the Linnean Society, at Burlington House, of the late
CHARLES ROBERT DarRWIN, (1809-1882).
This portrait is by the Hon. John Collier, a well- known painter who was personally acquainted with Mr. Darwin, as with many other men of science, having married a daughter of the late Professor Huxley. Mr. Darwin is represented as two-thirds length, about life size, dressed in his out-door costume of a black cloak, holding in his left hand a soft felt hat, just as he was wont to stroll about his beloved garden at Down. This picture was painted in 1883, from studies taken from life.
Nowhere has the heredity of ability of mind shown itself more than in the Darwin family. For four generations at least this ability has taken the form of scientific investigation. In 1644, a William Darwin possessed a small estate at Cleatham, and was a yeoman of the armory. at Greenwich to James I. and Charles I. His son William, who was born in 1620, served in the Royalist Army, and afterwards became barrister and Recorder of Lincoln. He married the daughter of Erasmus Earle, serjeant-at-law. A ’ third William Darwin, who was eldest son of the Recorder, married Robert Waring’s heiress, with whom came the manor of Elston which is still in the family. There were two sons, William again being the elder, and Robert the younger, who was educated for the bar; he had four sons, the eldest of whom, Robert, born in 1731, appears to have first indicated the taste for natural science which was to found the family distinction in later years. The fourth son was Erasmus, to whom we shall have occasion to refer later in these notes. Erasmus became a noted physician of his genera- tion, an accomplished botanist, and a man of great mental vigour. He had three sons, the eldest, Charles, being educated for the medical profession, was a man of the highest promise, but was unfortunately cut off through a wound whilst dissecting. His youngest brother, Robert Waring, born in 1766, became a leading physician at Shrewsbury, was made a F.R.S. in 1788, and was the father of Charles Robert Darwin, F.R.S., the subject of the portrait under notice. It is hardly good taste to continue this family history to the living members, and it is needless to remind our
readers that the two sons of the late Charles Darwin are ranked among our leading scientific men, each having again graced the family by becoming at an early age celebrated in their respective departments of scientific investigation and Fellows of the Royal Society.
The name of Charles Robert Darwin is so fresh in our memories, and his life’s work so important and well known, that it would be mere supereroga- tion to here recapitulate it. Suffice it to say that his name will go down to posterity as a philosopher, ranking with Socrates and the greatest thinkers that mankind has ever produced.
Among other portraits of Darwin extant are a water-colour drawing by G. Richmond; two in chalk by Samuel L. Lawrence; a bust (in 1869) by T. Woolner, R.A.; an oil painting by W. Ouless (1875), with replica at Christ College, Cambridge, which was etched by Rayon; oil-painting by W. B. Richmond (1879), also at Cambridge ; an etching, by L. Flameng, of Mr. Collier’s picture now referred to ; a lithograph in the Ipswich British Association Series; a medallion in Westminster Abbey, by Joseph Boehm, R.A., and the fine statue by the same sculptor on the staircase of the Natural History Museum, at South Kensington; there is also a bust of Darwin by Mr. Boehm in the National Portrait Gallery; a plaque by T. Woolner, in Wedgewood ware, is on Darwin’s rooms at Christ’s College, Cambridge. No portrait, however, of this truly great man can more faithfully depict that beautifully serene expression of one who had attained such profound knowledge, whilst living a life of the greatest simplicity, than that by Collier, in the National Portrait Gallery.
MICHAEL FARADAY (1791-1867).
The portrait of Michael Faraday, which is also in Room No. xvil., is pleasing and doubt- less life-like. It is of the head and shoulders of the sitting figure and is about two-thirds life size. This picture was painted, in 1842, by Thomas Phillips, R.A., and represents this great natural philosopher as looking young for his fifty years, with dark brown hair and fresh, healthy complexion. In the same room is a marble bust of Faraday by Sir Thomas Brock, A.R.A., presented, in 1886, by Sir F. Pollock, Bart., and the likeness between that piece of sculpture and the picture is unmistakable.
Michael Faraday was the son of James Faraday, born at Newington Butts, on the Surrey side of the Thames, in London. His father and mother were country folk, of the farming class, from Clapham in Yorkshire, who settled at Newington. They were far from well off in worldly possessions, the husband being a blacksmith. It will be thus better understood that Faraday’s genius was
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 3
individual as far as his family was concerned, and many are the stories of his shifts and plans to overcome necessity and grasp such education as was attainable in the days of his youth. At one period, about 1800, they were living in Jacob’s Well Mews, off Charles Street, Manchester Square. Near by, in Blandford Street, was a_ small
MICHAEL FARADAY.
stationer’s and bookbinder’s shop, and it was there Michael first started life as an errand-boy. The bookseller was one Riebau, who was so well pleased with the boy that he took him, without premium, at the age of thirteen, as apprentice. This apprenticeship as a bookbinder lasted for eight years. Among his first attractions to the physical studies which eventually passed to the deep learning and originality of thought which characterised him, were some desultory lectures by Mr. Tatum to which he was admitted like others on payment of one shilling. His first step, however, on the path which led to fame was through the gift of tickets from one of Riebau’s customers, for the last four lectures delivered by Davy at the Royal Institution, in the spring of 1812. He wrote out these lectures and submitted them to Davy, asking at the same time of Sir Humphrey, his help to get out of his trade to some occupation where he could study science. Davy took a fancy to him and employed him, at twenty-five shillings a week, as an assistant at the Royal Institution. Here we will leave him, for his scientific work is so well known that it requires no recapitulation. He died in a small house, placed at his disposal by H.M. the Queen, on Hampton Court Green, Michael Faraday was of slight stature though well built. He was by habit most active, energetic, and of great facial brightness and animation. A remark- able feature was that his head was so long from front to back that he could not wear ready-made hats. He always wore his naturally curly hair parted down the centre. He was a man of strong
B
emotions, generous, charitable and sympathetic. His relaxation consisted of occasional reading of light literature and frequent visits to theatres. A curious mixture was he of the logical and the thoughtless. He rarely thought of provision for the future, had an absolute trust that the Lord would provide for the morrow, and was a simple believer that he would be equally cared for after he left this sphere. Fortunately he received, much against his own inclination, a Government pension of £300 a year, which, with his plain style of life and few necessities, amply placed him in comfort to the end of his splendid life.
SIR JOSEPH Banks, K.B., P.R.S. (1743-1820).
The chief picture at the National Portrait Gallery of Sir Joseph Banksis most pleasing. It represents, in oil colours, by Thomas Phillips, R.A., a fine, stout, elderly gentleman of rubicund features. Dressed in a dark grey, rather loosely made frock coat, he is wearing sash and Order of the Bath. The figure is life-size, in sitting position, cut off above the knees. On his right-hand side is a table with a book and MS. lettered ‘‘On the Diseases of Whea—, by Sir Jos. Ban—.” His right hand is supported on a walking stick, which passes in front of the lettering of the MS. referred to. His hair is white, and he wears a short collar and white stock with frilled shirt.
Sir Joseph was the only son of William Banks, of Revesby Abbey, in Lincolnshire, but was born in
S1r JOSEPH Banks, K.B.
Argyle Street, London. His education was care- fully tended ; first he had a private tutor, then to Harrow School, thence to Eton, when thirteen years old. Up to that period all teaching had been most irksome, and grave fears were felt for his future educational prospects. Sud- denly he conceived a passionate fondness for
2
4 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
flowers, and thence to the study of botany. His first book was ‘' Gerard's Herball,’’ which he found in a mutilated condition in his mother’s dressing- room. Leaving Eton at eighteen he was entered as a gentleman commoner at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1760. There his botanical studies led him on to other branches of natural history. He applied for and received permission, as there were then not any lecturers on the subject at Oxford, to establish a lecturer on botany. This he did at his own expense; visiting Cambridge for the purpose and bringing back with him Israel Lyons, astronomer and botanist. This he was enabled to do in consequence of the death of his father, which occurred in his first year at college; leaving him ample fortune and the family estate. In con- sequence of his remarkable attainments in science, Banks was elected a F.R.S., in 1766, at the early age of twenty-two. He commenced io travel in search of plants in the same year, visiting Newfoundland. and staying the winter following jin Lisbon. His great friend was Dr. Daniel Solander, who had been a favourite pupil of Linnzus. Sir Joseph Banks’ first long expedition was with Captain Cook, in the ‘‘ Endeavour,’ which he equipped at his own expense, taking Dr. Solander and two draughis- men with him. The ‘“‘ Endeavour” sailed from Plymouth in 1768. He had many adventures, including the scientific observation of a transit of Venus, which was pari of the object of his voyage, and collected immense quantities of material. This voyage included South America, South Pacific Islands, New Zealand, New Guinea and Java. On the homeward passage, Cape of Good Hope and Si. Helena were visited, and England reached on 12th June, 1771. His next voyage was the exploration of Iceland, in 1772, and in 1777 Banks was chosen President of the Royal Society. Then followed some stormy years in the history of the society, the cause being a battle for supremacy between the physicists and what we now call the biologists; for the iime being the latter were successiul.
In 178i Banks was created a baronet, the Order of the Bath was conferred upon him, and he became Privy Councillor int797. He died from gout at Spring Grove, Isleworth, t9th June, 1820, leaving a widow, but no children. His library and herbarium were lefi for life to his librarian, Robert Brown, with reversion io the British Museum: but Brown, shortly after the death of Sir Joseph, handed over all the treasures to the Museum. Sir Joseph’s artist, Francis Bauer, was provided for for life, io enable him to finish ceriain drawings and make others of new planis at Kew.
Banks was a munificent patron of Science rather than a worker ai detail, and if he ever intended io publish the full results of his collections, he abandoned the idea in 1782, on the death, by
apoplexy, of his friend Dr. Solander. He had up to then published comparatively little. His manuscripts are now in the botanical department of the British Museum. He was a man of strong will, considerable energy, and much individuality of character; in fact he was nothing if not autocratic.
THomas BEwIcK (1753-1828).
Of the three Bewicks, wood engravers, Thomas Bewick is best known among naturalists as the artist of the interesting engravings that illustrate his books upon “ British Birds,” which is his finest work, ‘‘ British Quadrupeds,’’ and many others. He was born at Cherryburn House on the southern bank of the river Tyne, at Ovingham, Northumber- land. It was but a cottage, and his father was John Bewick, small farmer and worker of a little
TxHomas BEWICE.
colliery for local consumption of coal. Thomas was the eldest of eight children by his father’s second wife, and John Bewick the other of the wood engravers of the family was the fifth; there being five daughters and three sons.
Thomas Bewick, who seems to have been a lad full of pranks and innocent mischief, had very little education beyond whai was locally available in the village, but he early showed a natural talent for drawing, and a deep love of nature. His first attempis at wood engraving were copies of inn-signs cut with his knife. Among the frst of his drawings were some made with blackberry juice. Ali this ended in his apprenticeship io Ralph Beilby, at Newcasile-on-Tyne, a goldsmith and seal-engraver. Here Thomas Bewick first received instruction in drawing and engraving. Wood- engraving was then in England in a very low condition of ari, but it fell io the lot of this youth,
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 5
in later years, to revive the art in Britain. Even now Bewick’s pictures are admired to the full, and his style frequently copied, although the art is, unfortunately, disappearing before the more rapid and less expensive ‘‘process’’ illustration so generally used. Bewick died on November 8th, 1828, at his house in West Street, Gateshead. In character, Thomas Bewick seems to have been a thoroughly upright, honourable man, unassuming, but very independent and industrious. He brought up his son Robert Elliot Bewick (1788-1849), to his own profession of wood-engraver, in which Robert was most successful. He designed and cut many of the characteristic tail-pieces which adorn the works of Thomas Bewick.
There are several portraits of Thomas Bewick in the neighbourhood of Newcastle-on-Tyne where the family name is deeply cherished. There are two in the National Portrait Gallery, the one sketched here by Miss Hensman being an oil painting by Thomas Sword Good. It was presented to the Gallery in 1894 by the Rev. Albert A. Isaacs, M.A., of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. In it Bewick is represented about life-size showing hardly more than the head. He appears to have been a man with well defined features, though a little hard and stern-looking. His complexion is depicted as florid, hair black, turning to iron-grey.
(To be continued.)
COMMENSALISM AND SYMBIOSIS.
By JAMES Burton.
{les is a matter of common knowledge that
frequently, both among plants and animals, a kind of companionship is maintained between two organisms. This is sometimes of advantage to one only of the two parties, but often both profit by the association. The companionship may range from mere accompaniment to that of the most intimate connection. When the two organisms may dwell the one within the other so as to form apparently but one body, the partner- ship is known as Commensalism or Symbiosis, ’ the former term being used generally for the connections of the less intimate kind, while the latter is restricted to those cases where the organ- isms have acloser union. It is at the same time true that no sharp line can be drawn dividing the one form from the other, as all intermediate states exist. Commensalism (which means having the same table) is well illustrated in its less intimate form by the Echeneis or sucking-fish, which accompanies other fish, sharks especially, no doubt profiting by the unconsidered trifles it picks up from the meals of its voracious messmate. It is able by means of a sucker on the top of its head to fix itself to the body of its friend, and thus gets conveyed from place to place without the expendi- ture of any exertion. Some sea anemones seem particularly inclined towards commensalism ; they are often found attached to the shells forming the homes of hermit crabs and even on the carapaces or claws of crabs, to an extent masking the animals on which they are fixed, and gaining in return a change of situation advantageous in the require- ment of food. They also themselves occasionally become the homes of tiny fishes which dwell within the cavity of their body. Some species of Holothuria (sea slugs), and a small fish, the Fierasfer, live in amicable and close companionship; the latter
inhabiting the interior of the former, but passing in and out as it finds requisite. A crab, Pinnotheres piswm, is frequently found inside the shells of various bivalves, among others the mussel, where it obtains shelter and apparently does its host no harm, though probably scarcely paying for its accommo- dation in the way believed by the ancients, who asserted that it warned its friend of coming danger by a gentle nip, and so got the valves closed in time to ensure mutual safety.
Some of the most interesting and typical cases, complete in all details, are to be found in Mr. Thomas Belt’s ‘‘ The Naturalist in Nicaragua. ’ If space permitted I should like to reproduce some of his observations, but they are too extensive. Anyone caring for natural history matters could not do better than procure this work. To take one instance—the trunk and branches of a species of acacia bear numerous pairs of strong curved spines, shaped something like a bull's horns. ‘These, when first produced, are soft and filled with a sweetish pulpy substance, which is soon eaten away by a small ant (Pseudomyrma), which makes a hole near the end of the spine and, after emptying it, dwells inside. ‘Here they rear their young, and in the wet season every one of the thorns is tenanted, and hundreds of ants are to be seen running about, especially over the young leaves.” If the plant is shaken or a leaf injured the ants swarm out from their homes and attack the aggressor, and are able to bite and sting severely. They thus form an efficient protection for the plant both against browsing mammals and also against the leaf-cutter ants, which are terrible foes to vegetation in general in that region. In return, the ants are not only supplied with houses and partial food by the acacia as described, but in addition certain glands situated on the leaves,
6 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
secrete a honey-like fluid greatly enjoyed by them, and solid food is also provided in the shape of small ‘‘fruit-like bodies’’ found on the leaflets when they first unfold; these ripen at intervals and are then most acceptable to the ants, which con- tinually run about the young leaves seeking for fruits in a suitable condition, and thus prevent injury, at the most critical time, from the depreda- tions of other creatures. This species of ant seems adapted for this particular tree and is not found anywhere else. Moreover, when Mr. Belt sowed some of the acacia seeds in his own garden in another part of the country, where the Pseudomyrma did not exist, the seedlings at once fell a prey to the leaf-cutter ants, while in their native district they were protected by their own _ insect companions. There seems reason to believe the spines are not fully developed in cases in which the ants do not tenant them, so that an actual modification of the plant in the insects’ favour is brought about in the majority of instances. Such a close relationship and mutual dependence as is here implied, of obvious benefit to both parties, is very remarkable, especially when existing between a plant and an animal so self-reliant and free as an ant. It almost amounts indeed to symbiosis, and may well be taken as leading us to a consideration of that condition.
Symbiosis means ‘‘ having the same life,” and in the connections described by the term, the organ- isms usually are actually connected by more or less complete bodily union, sometimes even to the extent of appearing as one to a careful observer. The examples of this condition are most of them of interest to microscopists, and itis in that connection especially I should like to treat them, particularly as many may be studied without trouble or difficulty by the ‘‘home naturalist.” The various small marine animals now known as Radiolarians (formerly Polycystina), and some of the Foramini- fera also, have embedded in the jelly-like substance of their bodies certain yellowish cells or granules; these, after having all sorts of theoretical functions assigned to them, are now almost universally believed to consist of true algz, living symbiotically in the ‘“‘sarcode”’ of the animal. They, in most cases, have a cellulose wall, nucleus, with colouring matter at least resembling the chlorophyll of the higher green plants, and appear like them to be able to excrete oxygen and form starch under the influence of light. It is conceivable that they use the carbon of their hosts as the basis for the starch production, as well as that contained in the water. It is quite probable that the oxygen they give off and some surplus portion of the starch are avail- able for the use of their living homes in return for the protective shelter afforded them.
It is not necessary to go so far for examples of what at least may be similar cases. Every
microscopist is acquainted with specimens of pond life of a colour identical with the algz that are their neighbours. Hydyva viridis referred to in SCIENCE- Gossip (Vol. ii., N.S., p. 276), various species of Stentor, Coleps, Pavamecium, and others, are of this tint. It has been asserted that owing to the presence of symbiotic algz in their body-walls, and in consequence of the presence of the plants, the animals are able to flourish with a greatly reduced food-supply, or even to bear its entire cessation for a time that would be fatal but for the assistance afforded by their indwelling companions, who procure it as already described in the case of the Radiolarians. It is true this theory is by no means so freely accepted as in the previous instance. If, as some of those even who oppose it in its entirety admit, the green colour is due to the presence of chlorophyll corpuscles, though not of actual algz, it certainly looks like the correct explanation, for chlorophyll is undoubtedly the most typical and characteristic distinction between plants and animals, physiologically considered. Strasburger, in his ‘‘ Handbook of Practical Botany,” gives an interesting instance which has the advantage of being easily observed by most microscopists. There is a small floating plant called Azolla; it is one of the Rhizocarps, a group of the vascular Cryptogams, and is closely allied to the ferns. It looks like a small fern frond and is from half to three-quarters of an inch in length. It consists of a stem with bright green pinnate leaves on each side, which float on the surface of water, having underneath membranous lobes immersed. The upper lobes are swollen or inflated, and havea cavity or hollow inside which communi- cates with the water through an opening on the inner side of the leaf, and growing from the walls into the cavity are long hairs, in some species at any rate. In the cavities in the leaflets of the living Azolla dwells another plant, one of the lower Algz, named Anabena; it belongs to the Nostocaceze and consists of rows of small bead-like cells, bluish green ; at intervals a larger cell slightly differing in colour occurs, which is called a heterocyst; I believe the purpose of these is not known, but probably they have some connection with re- production. The leaflets containing the Anabena may be pulled to pieces with needles on a slip in a drop of water, then on putting on a cover glass and pressing slightly, the little algae can easily be seen. A half-inch objective with B eyepiece, say about rro to 130 diameters, is sufficient, though a considerably higher power is better. Horizontal sections may be cut by laying the Azolla on a piece of cork or even on the finger, and making cuts from base to apex with arazor. Some are almost sure to show the chambers opened by the razor, and the Anabena inside. The slices mount nicely in glycerine or glycerine jelly, if the usual precautions
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 7
are taken to prevent too rapid plasmolysis. I have some under the microscope by me now which have been mounted about eight years. It is not easy to see what advantage the Azolla gains by this companionship, though there may be some; but it is certain the alga obtains protective security, and may not improbably utilise some waste product from its host. It is true very similar species, if not identical ones, are plentiful enough without any protecting plant. Their colour shows they are able to fix the carbon dioxide found in the water for themselves, and are thus fitted for an in- dependent life. The Azolla is commonly grown with other aquatic plants in tanks in warm green- houses, and requires a higher temperature than our open air in order to flourish, but it will live very well floating on an aquarium at ordinary dwelling- room heat during several months in the summer. I have on one or two occasions obtained it from botanic gardens, and no doubt anyone sufficiently interested might get it that way on application to the proper authority. I have also obtained it in the summer from Mr. R. Green, Central Avenue, Covent Garden Market, London, who supplies various aquarium requisites, and probably would be able to forward specimens by post if desired.
Many cases are known where a Nostoc, or closely related alga, takes advantage of cavities in other plants to enter and dwell there; they may be found in some of the Hepaticee and in the cells of Sphagnum, also in the large empty cells forming the velamen of the aerial roots of some epiphytic orchids. As in these cases, it is probable the tenant obtains no other advantage than that ofa comparatively secure resting-place, while the host is not benefited by its presence, it might be more appropriate to consider these as commensalism only.
The most perfect instance of symbiosis, however, is one with which, from its commonness, all are more or less acquainted, and which may be investigated without difficulty by anyone possess- ing amicroscope. It isnow generally accepted that lichens are composed of two distinct organisms, one an alga, the other a fungus. They live together in companionship, each helping the other to fight the battle of life. With their united capacities they are able to occupy and flourish in situations which neither could hold alone, places in which no other plant could contrive to exist. The alga is always one of the lower members of the class, mostly unicellular, occasionally filamen- tous. It has been found possible, insome instances, to isolate the alga from its fungal companion and to cultivate it as a normal independent plant. The fungus is usually one of the Ascomycetes, though occasionally another kind, but the attempt to grow them without the alga has not succeeded.
The satisfactory demonstration of lichen structure
is not very easy, partly because of the small size of the elements and partly because the fungus hyphe are with difficulty wetted, so that even with a thin section the tissues are apt to be filled with air, which obscures the A fairly successful method is as follows: trunks of trees, somewhat damp walls, palings, etc., are often covered with a layer of bright green; if some of this is examined with a one-fourth inch objective, it will be found very commonly toconsist ofround cells, insomecases single, in others in fours; these are alge of the Protococcus or Palmellacee group. In places the layer appears grey, instead of green, drier and more powdery. If a specimen of this is examined it will be found difficult to wet, and will appear dark and ill-defined under the microscope owing to entangled air. The grey colour and retained air is due to the presence of fungus hyphe growing around and between the cells of the alga, in the denser parts matting all together, and forming, in fact, one of the pulverulent lichens. Between the patches of grey lichen and green alga portions may be found in a transitory condition suitable for examination, and in damp weather, especially, observation of the composition of the lichens is fairly easy. Toattempt the examination of sections cut from a Thalloid lichen in its natural state is somewhat hopeless, as they seem to defy all the usual methods of getting rid of air in such tissues. I have had a Cladonia in weak spirit for months and at the end of the time it was no wetter than at first ; but pieces torn with needles and well soaked in slightly warm water will often show the arrange- ment of the alge, either in rows or scattered irregularly through the thallus, according to the species. It is believed that the fungus supplies to the alge, water containing mineral matters in solution, and receives in return carbo-hydrates, which the alge is able to manufacture under the influence of light, from a solution of carbon dioxide, owing to the presence of chlorophyll in its cells. It is probable that the amount of reciprocity between the two elements varies considerably among different species of lichens. In not a few cases perhaps the fungus actually lives as a parasite upon its imprisoned captive, giving nothing inreturn; but a more detailed consideration of the physiology of the relationship would here carry us too far and occupy too much space.
In conclusion, we must carefully note that both commensalism and symbiosis, though not parted by any sharp boundary line themselves, are each fundamentally distinct from parasitism. Further, though it is true that organisms living in such close relationship run a great risk of degenerating into that condition, yet, when they do so, the amicable companionship previously existing ceases at once, and as parasites they have no place in our subject.
9, Agamemnon Road, West Hampstead.
view.
8 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
FIELD MEETINGS. By ProFessor G. S. BourGeEr, F.L.S., F.G.S.*
EetELD WORKS is one of the chief objects of
local Natural History Societies, so far as it results in the registration of distributional or phenological phenomena, or in the observation of plants and animals under their natural conditions. For such field-work to be of scientific value, it is primarily requisite that it should be within definitely prescribed geographical limits. Every field club should, I think, have a precise boundary, whether that of a river basin, a county, a par- liamentary division, a parish, or some radius from acentre. County associations may well, of course, overlap the districts of various minor clubs, and I think it would be well for the latter to work without regard to school clubs, which will generally do well to adopt a radius.
In collecting fossils, where precise discrimination of zones may not be necessary—in getting together fungi for subsequent determination, study or demonstration, in a foray, and perhaps in some other cases, the combined research of many pairs of eyes may lead to better results than that of small select parties or solitary work; but it can hardly be denied that the main use of field meetings is educational or demonstrational rather than original discovery.
The successful organisation of a full and valuable series of field meetings involves a con- siderable amount of attention to troublesome detail. This is more especially the case if the club attempt to cater for lunches or teas. For my part I certainly think that such joint meals add much to the success of field meetings, most people liking to be saved all trouble as to securing some food, as also that of hiring conveyances, and even, if possible, that of taking railway-tickets, by some simple system of coupons, a lump payment, or, at least, an order, in advance. It will, therefore, be generally desirable, if he can be got, to have a special excursion secretary, with a consultative committee, or otherwise an excursion committee, the members of which will each undertake the management of one or more excursions. Such a committee should meet in the winter, so as to plan a season’s programme well in advance. Most clubs begin their excursions, I think, too late and end them too early in the year, often practically confining them to May, June and July, whereas an early spring ramble and an autumn fungus-foray might well, in my opinion, be included in every scheme.
To meet the convenience of members living in different parts of its district, the club excursions should be arranged as far as possible in divers
directions, and I would suggest that the officials of all the neighbouring clubs should be consulted, and, if possible, a joint meeting held with each in its territory and another within the boundaries of the club itself. In the case of such joint meetings, the main arrangements would naturally be made by the home club.
Where there is a river, an estuary, or a portion of coast within a club’s boundary, at least one dredging expedition should be attempted annually.
It will, I think, often prove useful to have a local guide who is well acquainted with footpaths, etc., in addition to the ‘‘ conductors ”’ who are responsi- ble for the purely scientific guidance of a party, though, of course, if the guide knows the localities of interesting natural history objects, so much the better. It is, I think, often a good plan to have several ‘‘conductors”’ for different branches of natural history ; and a short lecture in the field or several at different halts, if illustrative of things seen during the walk, will add much to its value; but the enthusiastic amateur photographer should not be allowed to waste much time, and bore the party, by taking mere ‘‘groups.” These field demonstrations may usefully be arranged in a series, a botanist, for instance, taking the various classes or natural orders of plants; at successive excursions, and with a little forethought, adequate illustrative specimens can nearly always be obtained. I have generally found that if a locality is chosen for its geologicai or archzological interest, the botanist and entomologist are almost sure to light upon something by the way, interesting to them. Certainly the secretary or some other conductor should have a whistle to keep the party together. We should, I think, do well to have separate ‘‘recorders”’ for different departments, one carrying the club vasculum for the club herbarium, another the camera for the club album of scientific photographs, etc., and from their records a terse account of the noteworthy results of each excursion may readily be drawn up either by the secretary or any other member present for the club proceedings. The most interesting work of a field meeting must be done on foot, but it will often be practicable to arrange a rendezvous for those driving or cycling.
In vehicles, meals, etc., it is always desirable to keep the generally necessary expenses as low as possible, so as to exclude no one, whilst anyone wanting more can make his own arrangements.
* A paper read before the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, at the Congress held at Tunbridge Wells, on April 25th, 1896.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 9
DRAGON-FLY GOSSIP. By W. H. Nunney.
Be accompanying figures are reproductions
from microphotos lately sent me by Mr. J. Mearns of Aberdeen, and, from the comparative aspect of larval species, are deeply interesting. Fig. 1. represents a caudal fan of the larva-nymph of Pyrrhosoma minium, which larva was somewhat minutely described by me in ScIENCE-Gossip for September (vol. i., N.S., p. 148), 1894. A curious thing with reference to this species is that the nymph when dead, from natural causes, and slightly decomposed, assumes much of the scarlet tint possessed by the perfect insect.
bony na aly Elen et Z FE Pe y
yy
nie
morphosis. This month of May, being so far hot, has produced to me one small male of L. 4-maculata, which emerged on the 8th about sundown. This is the first time I have observed the change to imago state in this species, and in none other have I so well been able to observe the development of the imaginal labium and appendages from the ‘‘ mask” of the nymph. The process is
marvellous, and needs to be watched with extreme patience and care to enable a good mental grasp of the details to be obtained, but is well worth the trouble.
The hinged portion of the nymphal mask
TaiL-Fans oF DrAGOoN-FLY LARVA-NYMPHS. Fig, 1, Fan of Pyvrhosoma mintum; Fig. 2, Micronympha pumilio; Fig. 3, M. elegans.
The other two figures are of the caudz of species of Micronympha. The difference in general shape and the characteristic branching of the trachez are very noticeable and, seen apart from the species to which they belong, they hardly seem to be congeneric. It is difficult to conjecture the reason for such difference in these lamella, as shape can have here but little to do with function.
For many months past I have had under observa- tion larvee-nymphs of all groups, representing many species ; of these five are now in my rearing glasses. Probably owing to the colder climate of the north, the larve of AZschne and Libellule from Scotland are far more vigorous and pugnacious than their southern forms. Further, I think I am justified in saying, they attain alarger size before the final meta-
merges, I believe, into the hypopharynx of the imago, whilst the centrally divided labium, at first puffy and of no particular shape, gradually broadens out into the noticeable lower lip and palpal lobes of the imago, approaching the maxilla and mandibles until occupying practically the same relative position as the mask of the larva.
It is curious how few parasites have been re- corded in connection with dragon-flies ; Polynema natans attacks their eggs, flukes thrive in the intestines of the larvz, Acari infest the wings of some perfect forms, and I have found a Dipteron, belonging to the family Borboride, associated with an adult 2&schna, a hitherto unrecorded
fact. : 25, Tavistock Place, Bloomsbury, London, W.C.
BS
10 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
THE STUDY .OF AQUATIC WORMS.
By THE Rev. Hitperic Frienp.
I—Pretminary Notes.
HE study of our indigenons fresh-water worms, and their allies which are found in damp places, though not strictly aquatic, has been greatly neglected, Until the publication, a few months ago, of Mr. Beddard’s ‘‘ Monograph of the Order Oligochzta,” there was next to nothing published in the English language on the subject ; and even now no one has taken up the group seriously, with a view to the tabulation of our indigenous species. Dr. Benham has done more than anyone else in this direction, but his studies have been limited largely to professional work as a lecturer on biology. Mr. Beddard has examined a few native forms, and some few which belong to other lands, though found at Kew and elsewhere im England. Dr. Bousfield has worked at one or two genera, but the full results of his researches have never yet been given to the world. Here, for all practical purposes. the matter ends; yet Beddard’s invaluable memoir shows that many worms which are ceriain to occur in England have been mono- graphed on the Continent, and a glance at the works of Vejdovsky, Vaillant, Rosa, Michaelsen, Eisen and others is enough to convince us that a very wide and fruitful field lies open to anyone who is prepared to take up the systematic investigation of the subject on English soil Having been for many years engaged in the siudy of earthworms, during which time I could not fail to accumulaie a large amount of material and first- hand imformation respecting the Oligochzts out- side the group usually known as earthworms, I have lately done something in the direction of tabulating these resulis. The ontcome is exactly as I had aniicipated. Almost every week brings mesome new species. This may mean either (z) new to Britain, or (2) mew to Science. Since the Enown British species may also be reckoned on one’s fingers it will be seen that not much labour is required to add something new. The foreign species which have been recorded, however, are very numerous, and what is new to Britain may have been long Known io Science. But when we come to consider the fact that insular faunas and floras always contain unique and interesting forms, it will not bea matier of surprise when I say that Great Britain possesses Many aquatic worms which are as yet unknown on the Continent, but probably also not a few which will be confined to our islands, and therefore of peculiar and special interest. In this I am not speculating, or posing as a prophet: *« We speak that we do know,” and in due time I shall lay before the scientific world some facts
which will be amply sufficient to justify this Statement.
The season, however, for meetings, papers, and discussions is for the present at an end, and ere the next term arrives there will be full opportunity to confirm and enlarge my resulis. It will then be shown that the recorded species of Marionia, Fridericia, Limmodridus, and others can be greatly extended; and if, meanwhile, some learned European or American confrére does not publish a new list of additions to these and other genera, which include those which I have discovered, the British fauna will be able to show a list of aquatic or limicoline worms which will compare favour- ably with that of other lands.
In the meantime, only good can result fom stating what has already been done. In my next article, therefore, I propose supplying a list of species already known io exist in Great Britain, arranged in the order followed by Mr. Beddard, so that we may be able, in future, to show what additions are made from time io time to the indigenous species, as well as indicaie which are new to Science. Bui, if the besi results are to be secured, the work should not be left to one col- lector, or one investigator. It is in the nature of things that only a few possess the necessary apparatus, literature and experience to know when a species is new, or, if old, io what genus it belongs. It cannot, therefore, be expecied that many of your readers will care io make a sysiematic siudy of aquatic worms, but every one who is interested in the advancement of Science can do his part by taking up ihe work of colleciing. We want noi only to discover new species, but also to record the distribution of the forms which occur, whether new or old. There is literally nothing known of the disiribuiion of aquatic worms in England The earthworms have been iolerably well worked, and splendid results have been achieved in the matier of the Polychzia. Now we want to work out the families which form the connecting link between the terresirial forms on the one hand and the marme on the other. These cannot fail io be of special interest and value from the biological standpomt. We know that many fresh-waier species closely approach the marine forms, and that Many Marine species are similar io those found im fresh water, but there is yet an immense amount of mew workiobedone. .
Perhaps some one who reads these lines, and is longing for an opportunity to take np new work, may be asking—How can I be oi service here, where
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. II
shall I look for specimens and who will tabulate the results of my gleanings? In what book can I find clear instructions for identifying specimens if I wish to work up my gleanings? Let me supply answers, and, in the first place, everyone can help by making collections in every conceivable spot. Aquatic worms and their allies are ubiquitous; from seashore to mountain height there is scarcely a spot where one or other of the species may not be sought. If the collector lives by the seaside he should be especially careful to examine estuarine runnels, dykes or ditches, backwashes, and all places where there is decaying vegetable matter. Here both water-worms and white worms will be found, as well as red worms belonging tothe genus Pachydvilus or the related Marionia. Inland, every pond and ditch, stream and lake, gutter and drain, wood and copse may be explored. Under the moss which covers with a rich green garb the rugged sandstone rock will white and yellow worms be found, as well as in the timber and mould formed by the decaying of a tree or of last year’s leaves. Among water-weeds which are floating in the lake or pool, at the roots of the weeds growing in old ponds or quarries filled with water, among the mud of horse-ponds and gutters—anywhere, every- where the collector may look. The specimens may for some time evade his observation owing to their minute dimensions and his untrained eye, but in due course he will be rewarded. In the muddy margins of streams and rivers one often finds three or four different species living together. Some kinds are gregarious, others lead a more solitary life.
If the collector wishes to identify his species he must have access to the ‘‘ Monograph,” by Beddard, a volume which is published at two guineas net. The works of Vejdovsky and others are only accessible to men of means or to those students who have access to a first-class scientific library, such as those connected with the learned societies. For the rest, one may find scattered articles in the various journals and magazines, but as the results have all been tabulated by Beddard up till the end of 1894, and little, if anything, has been done in England since then, the ‘‘ Monograph”’ must, for the present, be the principal source of information.
Seeing that many can collect, but only a few can work out their gleanings for want of a handy, accessible text-book or manual, it will be a convenience if someone will act as referee, and undertake to examine the collections which may be made, and report the results to suitable magazines. I can only speak for myself, but I can assure the reader who may be prepared to help in this good work, that I shall always be ready to do for the aquatic worms what I have already done for the terrestrial species during the past six or seven years. During that time I have raised the number
of British earth-worms from a doubtful eight or ten to a positive quarter-of-a-hundred species; the collections having reached me from almost every part of the country.
Nearly all the species may be sent packed lightly in damp moss in tin boxes. They should be in a living condition, as results from specimens in that state are much more satisfactory than those from preserved specimens. If found in grass, leaves, straw or decaying material, they may be sent with the food ; but if they live among earthy matter it often happens that they are battered in transit if the earth is included in the package. Purely aquatic forms may be usually sent in tubes or bottles with water and plants; but as they often perish quickly if kept too long confined, they should be despatched the same day as the gather- ings are made. Bottles and tubes should be enclosed in tin boxes for greater security, and with each consignment should also be sent a note specifying habitat, date, locality and other par- ticulars of a local nature, calculated to throw light on their mode of life, period of sexual maturity, and other facts of biological interest. For the present, consignments may be made to me at the address given below, and in my next article I will commence a list of species already described as British. I shall, as a rule, acknowledge by post- card any collections which may reach me, but as the work involves a great expenditure of time and money, collectors who wish for special informa- tion will oblige by sending addressed envelopes.
If SclENcE-Gossip can thus be made the pioneer in this interesting pursuit, its resuscitation will not have been in vain.
7, Fern Bank, Cockermouth.
BRITISH COLLECTIONS AT KENSINGTON.—We sincerely hope that the rumour is unfounded, which Mr. Henry H. Howarth refers to in ‘‘ Natural Science.” It is to the effect that the special collection of British Animals at the British Museum of Natural History at South Kensington is to be distributed into the general collection. We feel certain that the result would be most disastrous to the encouragement of natural science studies in this country. We know it is a depart- ment which is constantly referred to in an unobtrusive manner by many young naturalists who thus spare the time and patience of the courteous assistants in the students’ rooms. Rather let us hope the collection may eventually be increased by making it a completely typical reference collection, where those of the large number of persons who cannot visit the museum on week-days may on Sundays compare their captures and obscure specimens for identification. No such opportunity elsewhere occurs in London. That the general public are interested in and educated by the special British collection one may easily find by listening to the surprised and intelligent remarks made by visitors on seeing gathered together the animals which occur in their own country.
12 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
INTRODUCTION OF MOLLUSCA
INTO BRITAIN.
Ry A. S. KENNARD.
a? all students of the Mollusca the publication
of Mr. H. Wallis Kew’s book, ‘‘ The Dispersal of Shells,” was very welcome. For here is a work of about three hundred pages dealing entirely with the mollusca, and there is not a new species or even a new variety described in it; neither has any attempt been made to alter our old-established names. For these mercies we are indeed thankful. Mr. Kew has here brought together a large number of facts dealing with the means of dispersal possessed by freshwater and land mollusca. Whatever errors there are are those of omission rather than commission ; but in chapter ix., which is headed ‘On the freshwater and land mollusca in- troduced into the British Isles by human agency,”’ there is much to take exception. It is obvious that the question whether a species is or is not indigenous is best settled by an appeal to the geological record. This Mr. Kew has not done. I will readily admit that the published lists of pleistocene and holocene mollusca are too often unreliable; but this is not to be wondered at, very few geologists know anything about our recent shells, and, on the other hand, their fragmentary condition does not appeal to the conchologist. But in spite of this much good work has been done of late years, more especially by Mr. Clement Reid and Mr. B. B. Woodward. Mr. Kew first of all states that: ‘‘Of the forty- six freshwater species included in the Concholo- gical Society’s List of 1883, there are only two, the zebra mussel, Driessena polymorpha, Pall, and an American coil-shell, Planorbis dilatatus, Gould, which can be reasonably regarded as human importations, and, as far as I know, only one other, Spherium ovale, Fér., has ever been looked upon as even doubtfully indigenous.”
That Planorbis dilatatus has been introduced there can be no doubt, but this is not so with regard to Dreissena polymorpha, Pall. Mr. Kew has collected the opinions of the ‘‘ authorities,’ and we find that with the exception of Gwyn Jeffreys, they all have regarded it as introduced from the Continent. Dr. Jeffreys’ opinions, which are set forth in his ‘‘ British Conchology,’’ conclude with the hope that this species might be found in the upper tertiary deposits in this country. This has now been done, for in Mr. B. B. Woodward’s paper, ‘‘ The Pleisto- cene Mollusca of the London District” (Proc. Geol. Ass., vol. xi, No. 8), it is recorded that Mr. W. J. Lewis Abbott found a single valve of this species at Whitefriars, London, in a deposit ten to fifteen feet from the present surface and which ‘“‘ most probably accumulated at the mouth of the old
Fleet ditch, in the early days of the city’s existence.” Of course a single valve is not much to go upon, and more evidence is wanted; but there can be no doubt that the introduction of this species is by no means such a certainty as Mr. Kew states. Mr. Jeffreys is the offender with regard to Spherium ovale; it occurs with Planorbis dilatatus in Lancashire, and he thought that it might be Sphevium transversum, Say, but as it is found in the forest bed of Norfolk this opinion is untenable. As to the statement which Mr. Kew quotes that Planorbis glaber, Jeff., is identical with P. parvus, Say, and, like P. dilatatus, introduced, Mr. Dall, after careful comparison of the types, has pro- nounced these species to be different, and P. glaber is one of the most abundant shells in pleistocene deposits. Of terrestrial species it seems there are several whoseclaims to be true nativesare considered doubtful. Testacella maugei, Fér., is considered to be a recent introduction. It has never been found in any deposit in this country, but the same remark applies to its allies, T. haliotidea, ‘Drap., and T. scutulum, Sow. ‘The life-history of these species is such as to render it extremely unlikely to have been entombed in any deposit; so that at the present, geology cannot help us, and we must wait for further evidence before expressing an opinion. Passing by Stenogyva goodallii, Miller, and Helix elegans, Gmel., both of which have been introduced, we come to Helix pomatia, L. As regards geological evidence it is again negative. It has never been found in any deposit in this country, so that perhaps the view that it is not a native may be the true one. Helix cantiana, Mont., Mr. Kew remarks, ‘‘can hardly be looked upon even as a possible importation.”” But is this so? At the present time it is one of the most abundant species in the south-east of England, and is found in many other parts of England; yet in spite of this it is unknown in any deposit even the most recent ; and this has led Mr. B. B. ‘Woodward to express the view that it is post Roman in its introduction, and with this opinion I must concur. Helix cartusiana, Mill, although at the present time restricted to the counties of Kent and Sussex, had formerly a more extended range, as it has been found in an alluvial deposit at Felstead, Essex, so that Gwyn Jeffreys’ later view that it was ‘‘clearly indigenous ” is the correct one. Helix pisana, Mill, shares with H. cantiana and H. pomatia the distinction of being the only helices not found in a fossil state. This fact, and its distribution in these islands are almost conclusive proof that it is not truely a native. With regard to Helix obvoluta, Mill, in
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 13
addition to the evidence given by Mr. Kew in favour of its being indigenous, there is the fact that it has been found in the pleistocene of Cambridge. There is one species which Mr. Kew has omitted, perhaps because it occurs in slightly brackish water as well as fresh, namely, Paludestrina (Hydrobia) jenkinsi, Smith. The facts concerning this species are so recent that there is no need here to recapitulate them. First described from the Thames Marshes, where it swarms in countless myriads, it has since been recorded from Topsham, Sandwich, near Lewes, and Staffordshire. Mr. Lionel E. Adams, in 1892, suggested that it might have been introduced from the Baltic. That it is an introduction there can be but little doubt, but until it has been found in some other locality outside the British Isles it is waste of time to speculate about its true habitat. In conclusion, I must differ most heartily from Mr. Kew’s statement that ‘‘ we are unable to distinguish our native fauna withany degree of certainty’; a careful examination of the more recent deposits is all that is required, and when this is done it will be found that not only will our true molluscan fauna be known, but that many problems connected with distribution will be settled also.
Benenden, Mackenzie Road, Beckenham, Kent.
AQUATIC. HYMENOPTEROUS INSECHS: By FreEpb. Enock, F.L.S., F.E.S.
UV) NDER the above title several minute parasitic
hymenoptera have been described, notably the two found simultaneously by Sir John Lubbock (Eimn-)Erans., vol: xxiv, p. 135). he habits and economy of hymenoptera are so varied that the wonder is that so few have been found inhabit- ing either the eggs or larvee of aquatic insects. I venture to think that one reason for this is that the study of the British hymenoptera, especially the Chalcididze, has been much neglected by ento- mologists. The present condition of this family in our national museum proves that very little attention has been given either to re-arrange or add to our indigenous species. This is much to be regretted, as frequently an enquirer as to the name of a minute insect has the greatest difficulty in making it out. Another reason why our progress is so slow in discovering new species in this branch, is that those who study and work so hard at the rotifera appear not to have time to consider other creatures which may be drawn into their nets. As an instance of this, it was only by the merest chance that the first specimen of ‘““an aquatic hymenoptera insect’’ caught last year was not emptied out without any record, for the ‘‘ pondist,”” when he first saw it, ‘‘ thought it a
fly which had tumbled into the water"; but by a chain of circumstances it was rescued and recorded (ScIENCE-GossiP, vol. ii, N.S., p. 89), and there is now every probability of its life-history being fully worked out. I have already proof that this most extraordinary aquatic hymenopteron does not confine itself to laying its eggs in those of dragon-flies.
Last year I was fortunate in obtaining a large number of this insect (males and females), keeping many of them alive in water for a considerable time, enabling me to observe the habits and economy of the fly, which, after most careful microscopic examinations of the thoracic structure, antenne, etc., I found to agree in every point with Haliday’s description of Cavaphvractus cinctus. The unique character of this genus being the ‘‘ reeled ”’ metathorax, to show which I have prepared a number of specimens in various positions.
Owing to the kindness of Dr. R. F. Scharff, Director of the Dublin Science and Art Museum, I have been enabled to make a lengthy and exhaustive examination of the original Haliday type collection of British Mymaride, from which I have gained invaluable information, and though many of the carded specimens are ‘‘ hoary with age’’ and gum, I hope, with the help of the hundreds of specimens which I have mounted for the microscope during the past twenty years, to unravel some of the mystery and doubt which appear to have sur- rounded this family, containing, as it does, the most minute and most exquisitely lovely of winged insects.
The strange Prestwichia aquatica, Lubbock, has not been observed since its first capture in 1862. May I ask all ‘‘ pondists,” or ‘‘muddists,” as they delight to call themselves, to keep an extra vigilant eye open for this little-known aquatic hymenopteron, which, however, does not belong to the Mymaride. I have succeeded in breeding several species of semi-aquatic hymenoptera from various sources, but have not yet identified them.
21, Manor Gardens, Holloway, London, N.
HIBERNATION OF ParRARGE EGERIA.—I have had under observation, during this winter, a brood of the ‘‘speckled wood”? butterfly (Pararge egeria), which I raised from ova deposited at the end of August, 1895. Some of the various members of this brood have behaved unusually during hiber- nation. The larger portion fed up rapidly in autumn, turning to pup, the remainder being still in the larval condition. It is usual, I believe, for this species to hibernate as caterpillars. I placed half the pup of this brood out of doors, and the rest were kept in our dining-room, where there is a fire daily during winter. No change was observed until the first week in February, when some of the chrysalides began to turn dark-coloured, and the first perfect example emerged on February 7th. About the same time, the larve, which had remained passive, commenced to feed, and are rapidly progressing towards maturity.—J. lek Carpenter, Johnson Villa, Gleneagle Road, Streatham, S.W.; February 13th, 1896.
14 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
CHARACTERISTIC BRANCHING OF BRITISH FOREST-TREES. By THE Rev. W. H. Pourcuas.
(Continued from Vol. II., page 321.)
Tse BEEcz.
N the beech (Fagus sylvatica, Linn.) we have another example of a tree whose leaves are alternate and so disposed as that each third leaf ranges directly over the first, the fourth over the second, and so on, thus causing them to be two ranked. Then, since it is the tendency of leaves to present one surface to the sky, the other to the earth, spreading horizontally on each side of the upright main stem, the primary branches, which spring from buds formed im the axils of those leaves, will also exhibit a iwo- tanked arrangement as to their point of origin, although, as they lengthen, they take a more or less upward direction; then the secondary and succeeding orders of branches to which these give rise will spread in a horizontal or fan-like manner, forming, in sum- mer, shelves or layers of foliage. The young shoois are pendulous, indeed, at first, but as the season advances they become more rigid and assume a horizontal or even an ascending direction.
The beech is remarkable for the rapid elongation of the young leading shoots. This takes place in such a way that the internodes develop more rapidly than do the young leaves which they bear. Thus in the early part of the season, the leaves near the extremities of the young pendulous shoots are smaller in proportion to the internodes than they are when each has attained its full develop- ment. The internodes or spaces between the leaves are in the beech longer than in some other trees, being frequently two and a quarter inches or more in length in the leading shoots, and hence the intervals between the lateral branches arising from these leading shoots are corre- spondingly long. In the branchlets to which these
teral branches give rise it is shorter, as will just now be seen. The annual shoots of the beech are slender, scarcely a quarter of an inch in diameter, and this contributes to their flexile and pendulous character.
The flowers of the beech are never, I think, produced immediately from leading shoots of the main branches, at least, not in its early life, for in the early life of the tree such shoots give rise to leafy side-sprays or branchlets; but as the tree grows older and the branch becomes twice pinnate, some of the branchlets of the second order, instead
of producing side-shoots with long internodes, like those of the primary shoot, form short branchlets with undeveloped internodes, 7.2. spurs, the leaves of which are close together in rosettes, instead of Deing ranged at intervals along a lengthened axis.
BEECH, IN THE FLOWERING STATE.
This is the preparation for flowering, but it is not by every one of the nodes that such spurs are formed, but mainly by those in the lower part of the shoot, whilst those nearer the point give rise to leafy shoots, and these (secondary) leafy shoots or branchlets produce, in the following season, spurs like those of the primary shoot. The point also of such branchlets often becomes shortened into a spur.
It is only by spurs that the flowers of the beech are produced, and not, I believe, by these until the second year of their existence ds spurs. The flowers spring from the axils of the closely-packed leaves of the spur, the staminate or male flowers first or lowest in order, and these are arranged in
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 15
small pendulous catkins, several of such from each spur. The fertile or pistillate flowers are enclosed in a pod-like involucre, which eventually becomes the woody and bristly enclosure of the nut or mast. This involucre is borne ona shorter and stouter stalk than the staminate catkins, and one such involucre only is produced by each spur, and is placed near its tip. The terminal bud of a spur is always a leaf-bud, not a flower-bud, and thus the spur can go on lengthening indefinitely, although slowly. It sometimes happens, however, that a spur will forsake its character and, under the influence of a moist season or some other cause, will take the form of a slender leafy shoot, with fully-developed internodes.
growing quite near, and apparently of equal age, retained the leafy long-jointed character of their youth.
A striking peculiarity of the beech is the way in which its branches, more particularly the lower’ and older ones, follow the same line of growth from their origin onward to the end of the last season’s shoot. I have measured one of the longest of such branches which I have seen in the neighbourhood from which I write, and I found its length to be more than fifty-five feet; and this is no extreme case. The ramification of the beech thus contrasts strongly with the abrupt changes of direction which we see in the gnarled branches of the oak and in some examples of the wych-elm.
RAMIFICATION OF THE BEECH.
One may constantly find branchlets which have begun as spurs, and, as such, have grown barely half-an-inch in the season, the leaf-scars being placed as close as possible above each other, and then shooting out with internodes of as much as two inches in length. The tendency to form spurs varies in different seasons, but it usually increases with the age of the tree, and thus old trees show fewer and fewer of the long lithe shoots which characterised their early growth, and gradually assume a stiff and short-jointed habit, eventually becoming bare and stagheaded in aspect. There is, however, much difference in this respect between individual trees. I have seen one tree quite covered with fruiting spurs, whilst others
This length of branch without change of direction arises partly, perhaps, from the long-jointed habit of growth, but more especially from the fact that the bud at the end of each leading shoot is not as in the elm and in the lime, an axillary bud, but is the end of the axis itself, which in autumn closes up into a winter bud possessing greater force of development than the axillary buds below it. In some cases the yearly shoot lengthens for an inch or more beyond the last leaf before closing up into a winter bud, but in other cases there is no space between the last leaf and the terminal winter bud, the leaf-scar being found close to the base of the bud; but in these instances we always find at least a rudimentary axillary bud between the leaf-
16 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
scar and the end bud, proving that this latter is really a portion of the axis. At other times this last axillary bud will be found nearly as large and vigorous as the terminal bud. When the two buds are thus close together, at the end of the year’s shoot, the axillary bud seems to have almost as much force of development as the terminal bud, and to share with it the future leadership, so that a forking of the branch is the result. This seems to occur chiefly in the upper part of the tree.
The angle which the branches make with the main stem, and the secondary branches with their parent branch, is small, usually less than half a right-angle, but the older and longer limbs soon lose this, for after ascending for a little they are made to arch and bend downward by the weight of branches and foliage. The delicate spray at their extremities shows for the first season or two the flat fan-like or shelf-like habit of growth which has been mentioned; but after a while the slender twigs take an upward direction as they lengthen, and become irregularly twisted and crowded. In the upper part of the tree the leading branches all ascend, and, being crowded with secondary branches and spray, have a somewhat brush-like form when seen in winter.
Considered as to its general features the beech is one of our noblest forest trees. There is considerable difference, however, in the growth and ramification of different individuals accordingly as the leafy or flowering habit of growth prevails. The finest examples are those in which the vigour of the tree is expended in forming lengthened leafy shoots rather than in the production of short-jointed spurs, for an excess of these latter is apt to give the branches a stiff, unclothed appearance.
The stem is massive, often short when the tree is growing alone, but when amongst other trees, and more especially if in a grove of its own kind, the stem rises as a lofty column, crowned above by the dense head of foliage, and deriving peculiar beauty and refinement of character from the smoothness of the pale-grey bark with which it is clothed. Towards its base the stem often spreads out into buttress-like ribs or projections, connected above with the larger and lower branches, and continued downward into the main roots which run for a while above the surface of the ground in an irregular sort of network with deep hollows between them. This is more particularly the case when the tree happens to be growing on a sloping bank.
The skeleton of the beech as seen in winter, shows the main branches sweeping onward from their origin to their tip in an unbroken, although often pleasingly curved line, and crowded towards their end with slender branchlets and sprays. These, in
summer, are clothed with a wealth of foliage, and they lie often so closely one upon another as to leave little room for such breaks and hollows as give variety of light and shade. The extremities of the branches with their spray stand out, indeed, from the general mass, but their outline is too pointed and tapering, the spray too widely scattered, to present any broad surface on which light can rest.
BEECH, IN THE WINTER STATE.
Their beauty lies rather in their feathery delicacy. This is best seen in the elegant and often drooping terminations of the lower branches, particularly in early summer when clothed with their shining and silky-margined foliage. When suffered to grow undisturbed the branches often feather down almost to the ground. (To be continued.)
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 17
TUNBRIDGE WELLS CONGRESS.
A CONGRESS of delegates from the principal
scientific societies and field clubs of south- eastern England was held at Tunbridge Wells on April 25th last. It was largely attended ; amongst others, representatives were present from the Tunbridge Wells Natural History and Philosophic Society, Tunbridge Wells Amateur Photographic Society, Bromley N.H.S., Brighton N.H.S., North Kent N.H.S., Sidcup N.H.S., Horsham N.H.S., Hastings and St. Leonards N.H.S., Rochester N.H.S., West Kent N.H.S., New Brompton and District N.H.S., Ealing N.H.S., Geologists’ Associa- tion, East Kent N.H.S., Dover N.H.and Antiquarian Society, Eastbourne N.H.S., Folkestone N.H.S., North London N.H.S., City of London College Scientific Society, City of London N.H.S., Sidcup Literary and Scientific Society, Maidstone N.H.S., Society for the Protection of Birds; and the Commons Preservation Society. There was also a large attendance of both ladies and gentlemen interested in the Congress; some of whom had come long distances.
The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing, M.A., F.L.S., President of the Tunbridge Wells Society, was elected Chairman. The Congress was originated as well as largely organized and carried out by Dr. George Abbott, Hon. Secretary of the same society, the object being to pass certain resolutions for the formation of a union of natural history and scientific societies of south- eastern England. The Chairman explained the objects, which were concisely set out in the following letter, written by Dr. Abbott to Sir Douglas Galton, the President of the British Association :—
‘The Natural History and Philosopical Society, Tunbridge Wells ; March 2nd, 1896. Sir D. Galton. —Dear Sir,—I beg to enclose you a programme of the Natural History Congress which is to be held here next April. Some remarks in your Ipswich address encourage me to draw your attention to the possible usefulness and importance of such unions to the British Association. As soon as our Union is established and we are in working order, I shall propose that our district is divided up amongst the different societies—to each being allowed a definite portion of the map as its sphere of work. Next, that each society shall nominate and, with their consent, elect suitable person or persons in every village in such district as honorary corresponding members of the respective societies and associates of the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies. Each society would offer the members: (1) Free admission to their lectures and excursions; (2) copies of their Transac- tions; (3) the use of their library; (4) assistance in naming of specimens, and with the formation of school museums. The corresponding members, in return, would be asked to: (x) Forward surplus natural history specimens to their societies’ museum. (2) Supply prompt information on the following subjects: (a) new geological sections; (b) details of wells, borings, springs, etc. ; (c) finds of geological and antiquarian interest. (3) Answer such questions as the British Association or the local society may require; (4) keep an eye on historic buildings; (5) assist the Selborne Society in carrying out its objects. Such appointments would be certain to stimulate individual scientific work in the parishes, and, if care were exercised in making the appoint- ments, they would ere long be much appreciated. If we are able to accomplish this in the south-east
of England, I think there would be no difficulty in starting and carrying on similiar Unions all over England. Each Union would be certain to have one or more representatives at your Annual Congress, and in this way, as soon as the Unions were universal, you would be in touch with persons in almost every village in the United Kingdom. Your circular letters of inquiry could then be sent out to the secretaries of each Union, and soon quickly distributed to all localites. I assume, of course, that there is little or no need to increase the number of members of the British Association, and it is only because I think it would make its work still more thorough and universal that I advocate this new extension of its important work. On its usefulness to the Natural History Societies I need not dilate, as you doubtless know there are two or three Unions actively engaged in doing scientific work, and in direct communication with the Association. In time, too, I hope ours will become equally useful. After reading your Ipswich address, I cannot help thinking that to this new scheme the Same arguments might be applied as those quoted by you which were given originally in favour of the establishment of the Association fifty years ago. {n conclusion, may I venture to suggest (a) that it would be an advantage if a delegate from the British Association attended our Congress at Tunbridge Wells; (b) that your Council should consider the advisability of encouraging the formation of similiar unions (ten or twelve) in the different districts of the United Kingdom. A grant of £25 from your funds could do much, in the course of one or two years, to establish all the Unions. —Yours truly, G. Abbott.” Upon the reading of this letter, on the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. Griffith, Assistant General Secretary of the British Association made some general remarks upon the advantage of such Union, and the possible support which the Association might render at a future time.
On the proposition of the Chairman the following resolution was carried: ‘‘ That the delegates from various scientific societies of Surrey, Kent, and Sussex, assembled in Congress at Tunbridge Wells on the 25th of April, 1896, agree that the Congress shall meet annually, by invitation, at the home of one or other of the associated societies.” It was agreed to add London, Middlesex, and Hampshire to these counties. It was then decided that the Congress should meet annually at the home of one of the associated societies, in a different town each year, and that Dr. Abbott should be the Hon. Secretary of the Union; the Rev. Mr. Stebbing being elected President for the ensuing year. Tun- bridge Wells was then selected as the next meeting place. Several papers were then read, dealing chiefly with the subject of the meeting, and a most successful Congress brought to a close. The day's proceedings included a short excursion before the meeting, the visitors being shown the principal features of the immediate neighbourhood, including the outcrop of Tunbridge Wells sandstone. The members of the Tunbridge Wells Society also entertained the visitors to luncheon and tea.
Owts’ PELLETS WaNTED.—I should be much indebted to anyone who will send me owls’ pellets, stating (if possible) the species to which they belong, the locality ; also whether there is game in the neighbourhood, and, if so, of what sort. (The amount of postage will be returned.)—Lrone! E. Adams, 77, St. Giles’ Street, Northampton.
18 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
Ne Bee bee Diz eS
NOTICES BY JOHN T, CARRINGTON.
Report of Observations of Injurious Insects and Common Farm Pests during the year 1895; with Methods of Prevention and Remedy. By ELEANOR A. ORMEROD, F.R.Met.Soc., F.E.S. 166 pp. royal 8vo, with 30 illustrations and 2 plates. (London: Simpkin Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Co.,
Limited, 1896.) Price 1s. 6d.
We have, elsewhere, on several occasions pro- tested that our Government, as represented by the department over which Mr. Chaplin now presides,
HIPPoBosca EQUINA.—1 and 2, nat. size and magnified from life; 3, pupa removed from puparium. Puparium, nat. size and magnified. (From Miss Ormerod’s
“ TInjurious Insects.’’)
should allow Miss Ormerod to go on unaided year after year at what must be considerable sacrifice, doing what most enlightened Governments do for themselves. Here has this lady, single-handed, been for more than twenty years trying to instil some elementary knowledge of their insect foes into British farmers and fruit- growers. The feeble leaflets issued by ‘‘ the department” are a remarkable contrast to the excellent reports of Miss Ormerod, the nineteenth of which is now before us. If these were circulated by Government aid through all village schools in rural districts, and intelligently explained by the teachers, much good might be attained. A leading feature of the report just issued is an article on flies injurious to horses and cattle. It is accompanied by two finely-drawn plates of the foot of forest-fly (Hippobosca equina) from two aspects. There are also figures in the text, two of which we reproduce to show the admirable manner these reports are illus- trated. In consequence of the last military manceuvres having taken place in the New Forest, where Hippobosca is frequently troublesome to horses, some attention has been drawn to these flies. Miss Omerod has collected much information about these pests, some being of scientific value to dipterists, as well as to horse owners.
and long prickly bristles. (From Miss Ormerod’s ‘‘ Injurious Insects.”)
A Contribution to our Knowledge of Seedlings. By the Right Hon. Sir Joun Lussock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S., D.C.L., LL.D. 288 pp. crown 8vo, with 282 figures in the text. (London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Tribner and Co., Limited, 1896.) Price 5s.
This is a popular edition of Sir John Lubbcck’s well-known larger work on the germination of plants, and forms vol. Ixxix of ‘‘ The International Scientific Series.’ So little is understood of the reason why the forms of cotyledons should difter so greatly from the subsequent leaves of plants, that any knowledge attainable for unravelling this mystery of nature should be valuable. The subject is so easily studied, and so deeply hidden are the causes of variation in form of the cotyle- dons, that the circulation of this new popular edition of Sir John’s work will open up a wide field of investigation. The comparative study of the earlier stages of plant-life among many persons who previously saw little interest in seedlings will be much extended by the issue of this book. It is needless to add how plainly written, well arranged, and encouraging to early investiga- tors are the pages in the new edition of ‘‘ Seedlings’ by this versatile author.
The Royal Natural History. Edited by RicHARD LYDEKKER, B.A., F.R.S. Illustrated by 72 coloured plates and 1,600 engravings. (Londonand New York: Frederick Warne and Co.) Published in ts. parts.
Part 31 of this fine work is out, and with it we leave the vertebrates and enter some description of the various classes of invertebrates. In- deed, the last few pages of Part 30 were also devoted to them, commencing with the sea-squirts or Ascidians. In Part 31 are two brilliantly coloured plates of insects, and the title-page and index to Volume v._ In this number also are some orders of insects, Hymenop- tera, Diptera, and a portion of the Lepidoptera.
.Foot oF H. Eguina, showing double claws, central process
A portion of the claw of H. maculata.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
Artistic and Scientific Taxidermy and Modelling. By Montagu Browne, F.G.S., F.Z.S., 463 pp. small 4to, with 22 full-page illustrations, and rz others in text. (London: Adam and Charles Black, 1896.) Price 21s.
This is a beautifully-produced book, well printed and handsomely illustrated. It is ‘‘A manual of
Hawk (KESTREL).
instruction in the methods of preserving and reproducing the correct form of all natural objects, including a chapter on the modelling of foliage.” The veteran author is the well-known curator of the Leicester Corporation Museum, who, years ago, issued a small handbook on the same subject. This work is of a far more pretentious character, and is one of the most important on taxidermy yet
19
published in England. The recent revolution in natural history museum management—so ably led by Sir William Henry Flower at South Kensington—has raised the craft of taxidermy to
a fine art. Our older manuals have therefore become out of date, and some such work as that before us was needed. This book
Showing method of bracing and binding the feathers. (From Montagu Browne’s “ Artistic Taxidermy and Modelling.”)
is divided into ten chapters on the various sections dealt with, including tools used in the work, killing and preservative agents, modelling compositions, collecting animals for subjects, treatment of mammals, birds, reptiles and fishes ; also chapters on modelling flowers, foliage, fruits, fungi, algz, etc.; concluding with a chapter on mounting animals in an artistic manner and a
20 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
bibliography of these subjects. Perhaps the most instructive chapters are those devoted to modelling the bodies and limbs of mammals, birds or fishes, and the making of artificial foliage, flowers and other vegetable products for decorative purposes. Mr. Montagu Browne must indeed be successful in this department as will be gathered from the following quotation taken from page 405 in connec- tion with his description of a case of herons in the Leicester museum. ‘‘An odd thing in connection with this case, and one specially flattering to the artist, is that few people realize that the elm-leaves are modelled, and frequent questions have been addressed to the attendant as to where the water is kept in which the stumps are presumably placed to keep the leaves green, whilst one or two visitors have gone a step further, and enquired if it is the heat of the room which has caused the stumps to throw out leaves!’’ The bibliography is extensive and a large number of works are mentioned, but as might naturally be expected. several are overlooked ; we are, however, pleased to see included the fine work on Taxidermy by Oliver Davie, noticed in these pages in July last. The illustrations are well reproduced, suitably selected, and will be found generally useful: the least pleasing, perhaps, being that of fighting tigers, one of which seems as though suffering from a wasting disease of the tail. Plate x. is effective, and we reproduce it with pleasure for the benefit of our readers, by per- mission of the publishers.
A Handbook to the Birds of Great Britain. By R. BowDLerR SHARPE, LL.D. Vol. iii., 346 pp. 8vo, with 93 coloured plates. (London: W. H. Allen and Co., Lid., 1896.) Price 6s.
This is one of ‘‘ Allen’s Naturalists’ Library,” a series we have on several former occasions had the pleasure of noticing. The volume before us con- tains the continuation of the ducks, and that difficult class, the waders. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe has brought the information on each species well up to date, and there is much pleasant reading for ornithologists, and abundant information for all who take only a casual interest in bird life. Dr. Sharpe has managed excellently to write some admirable chapters on the waders without plagiar- ising other authors, a task far from easy. His quotations are well chosen, especially some on the habits of certain American species closely allied to members of our own fauna. Dr. Sharpe’s know- ledge of the group is extensive and, what is important, fresh in his mind, as he has only recently completed a work on the shore-birds in the ‘‘ Catalogue of Birds.” The book is dated February 26th of this year,so that it is hardly possible to obtain more recent information.
The Student's Lyell : A Manual of Elementary Geology. Edited by John W. Judd, C.B., LL.D., F.R.S. 658 pp. 8vo, with coloured map and 736 figures. (London: John Murray, 1896.) Price gs.
All students of geology will welcome Professor Judd’s admirable new edition of ‘‘Lyell.”” As stated in the preface by Dr. Judd, the progress of geological science during the last quarter of a century has rendered necessary very considerable additions and corrections, and the re-writing of a large portion of the book, but there has not been any interference with the author’s plan and methods, which have so characterised Lyell’s work. With the aid of this new edition and a series of specimens, now so readily referred to in the public museums, or obtained from Mr. Russell, 78, Newgate Street, London, the young student should find geology easy indeed, compared with the time when Lyell first issued the work.
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INTERESTING LEECHES.—I was much interested in Mr. Burton’s note on the above (ScIENCE- Gossip, vol. ii., N.S., p. 306). I think his leeches must be the same kind I have sometimes found feeding on water-fleas. The manner in which they do this is very curious, and can be well observed under a two-inch objective. They insert the small end between the valves of their victim, and when firmly attached, a little telescopic sucker goes to work probing about, and sucking out all the soft internal parts, when it reaches the eye the black pigment is seen to shoot down the sucking- tube in a stream. I have sometimes found them attached to the glass of my tanks by their posterior sucker, and waving about with a water-flea impaled on the small end. I have one now on the glass with about thirty young ones under it, it has been in the same position every time I have looked at it, for at least a week past. Like Mr. Burton I have been unable to find any description of these creatures, and should be glad of further information as to their life-history-and habits.— W. J. Chaffey, 294. Windham Road, Bournemouth.
Wat Becomes oF Hypra.—The appearance of Major-General Varrand’s note under this very pertinent title (ScieNcE-Gossip, N. S., vol.ii., p. 276), and the fact that Mrs. Climenson has mentioned my mame in connection with this interesting subject (SciENcE-Gossip, vol. ii, p. 314), has induced me to make a brief statement of the facts to which she refers in her ‘‘ Notes of a Home Naturalist.” Finding Mrs. Climenson was not acquainted with Hydra vulgaris and H. viridis, I put up about a dozen of the former and two or three of the latter in a small tube, with some bits of Anacharis; also specimens of Cauthocampitus and Cyclofs as food for the Hydra. I filled the tube with water from my aquarium, corked it tightly, and packed it carefully in cottonwool ina small box. I was greatly surprised to learn that, on the arrival of the little parcel, not one Hydra could be found, though the other occupants were very much in evidence. I could not think of any reason for the failure of the Hydra, so I despatched another precisely similar tube, with a precisely similar result, except that about three of the Hydra had not quite disappeared, though they did so after- wards. All the Hydra were extremely small— mere dots, in fact, when contracted—and I thought that perhaps the Cyclops and Cauthocamptus were too much for them, owing to their having knocked the little Hydra off their perches, and perhaps killed them with the blow. I rather incline to the belief that it was the railway journey that upset them, though I received safely a similarly packed tube of fair-sized Hydra, sent by Mr. Bolton, of Birmingham, all of which were alive. I do not think that it was the close confinement that was responsible for their demise, as I kept some after- wards in a similar tube, and they lived for some days. The apparently absolute and complete dis- appearance of them is the most mysterious part of the question; they seem to have vanished into thin air—or water, rather. I shall await further notes on the subject with much interest.—C. Nicholson, 202, Evering Road, London, N.E.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 21
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On June 14th there is an occultation of Jupiter. The disappearance takes place at gh. 52m. p.m.; the reappearance at roh. 43m., but the planet will be too near’ the horizon for this latter to be
observed.
THE Moon.—The Strand Magazine for April con- tains an interesting paper on ‘‘ Lunar Scenery ’’ by Sir R- Ball, prefaced by a reduced copy of Mr. T. K. Mellor’s outline map (Horne and Thornthwaite), and containing copies of some Lick and Paris photographs.
PLANETOIDs.—It is stated that, although Dr. Max Wolf, of Heidelberg, has discovered so many of these little bodies—the last on April 2nd—he has never directly observed one of them through the telescope, his discoveries being made from the photographic plates, on which, whilst stars are shown as points, planets appear as short lines owing to their motion.
Comet.—Professor Lewis Swift, Director of the Lowe Observatory, South California, discovered a comet on April 13th. It was situated in R.A. 3h. 39m. Dec. N. 19° 40’, in other words, 5° south of the Pleiades. It was described as bright. Since then it has travelled rapidly north, so that on May 3rd, Mr. E. R. Blakeley, of Dewsbury, found it in
R.A. 3h., Dec. N. 57°, still travelling to north- east. Its diameter appeared about 3’/, it was irregularly round, and fairly bright. Dr. Schorr calculates that it passed its perihelion on April
17th, 1896, 12h. 14°4m. The comet appears to be a new one. PERSONAL EQuATION, in making telescopic
observations, is a subject which perhaps hardly receives so much attention asitshould. A singular instance of this has just been brought to light. Professor Ed. E. Barnard has published the results of his observations on the satellites of Uranus. He states that Ariel is about half a magnitude brighter than Umbriel; of the other two, Titania and Oberon, he concludes that they are of constant, nearly equal brightness, though his earlier ob- servations made it seem that they both varied to the extent of fully a magnitude. He has been forced to the conclusion that if there are two nearly equal lights, to his eye the lower appears fainter.
NEw Lunar ATLAs.—It is to be hoped that ere long Professor Dr. L. Weinek, of Prague, will suc- ceed in having his photographic atlas of the moon finished and published. To that end, Miss C. W. Bruce, of New York, has generously contributed 1,250 marks, and the Imperial Academy of Science at Vienna, has granted a subsidy of 500 florins. Such an atlas would prove a far better ‘‘ court of appeal’’ than any of the published maps could possibly do, in difficulties such as arose in October, 1866, when the late Professor Schmidt missed Linné, a crater which Lohrmann had described as ‘‘very deep,’ and in its place found only a bright patch and a little hill. Another time when such a work would have proved of inestimable use would have been in 1877, when Dr. Hermann Klein, on May 27th, discovered what is believed to be a new crater, now known as Hyginus N. Those who have familiarized themselves with selenographical detail have long felt the need of such a work.
MetTEors.—On April 12th, about 8 h. 5 m,a brilliant meteor was visible, having a slow motion from west to east. Reports of it are to hand from places so far distant as the Isle of Wight and Ren- frewshire. In London its altitude above the north- north-east horizon was about 25°. Mr. Frank Sich, jun., Niton, Isle of Wight, writes:—‘‘On Sunday night, April 12th, about five minutes past eight, I was fortunate enough to see at Niton, in the Isle of Wight, avery large meteor. It was travelling some- what slowly, and rather low down in the north-east, and going towards the east. I did not observe that it left any trail behind it, but attached to it on the west side was a small cone of red light. The meteor-light was yellow. It suddenly ‘ went out’ without any audible report.”" It helps much if those who witness these beautiful phenomena, note, as nearly as possible, their path amongst the stars, or, at least, their altitude, and also, in making known the same, state their exact place of observation. This is of use in the calculation of the meteor’s distance above the earth. From sucha comparison of observations, M. Camille Flammarion calculates that the great meteor of February toth, which caused so much sensation and, indeed, damage, at Madrid and neighbourhood, must have been at the height of 14:4 miles at the time of its explosion. Thus he writes in the Bulletin of the Société Astronomique of France.
22 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
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In our last number appeared a note on ‘‘ Wood- peckers near London,” by Mr. J. A. Cooper. We regret to say that this genial ornithologist contracted a cold at Eastertime which speedily caused his death. He will be much missed at the meetings of some London societies.
On April zoth, Mr. Noble bought at auction, at Mr. Stevens’ rooms in Covent Garden, for 160 guineas, a great auk’s egg which was a fine specimen, though very slightly damaged on one side. It was from the collection of the late Mr. Tuke.
WE have received the first three parts of a new monthly magazine devoted to ornithology, bearing the name ‘‘ The Ornithologist,’”’ edited by Mr. H. K. Swann. Each number contains an illustration. The articles and notes on birds are of a popular character, and many are of interest. We wish our new contemporary success.
LITTLE more than a year ago we noticed in these pages a clever book by the Rev. W. Clement Ley, M.A., on ‘“Cloudland.”” Even then Mr. Ley’s health had so far failed that his son was entrusted with seeing the work through the press. We have now to announce the death of this talented meteorologist and author, under peculiarly sad circumstances.
. Miss ELEANoR A. ORMEROD, so long known as an authority in this country on economic entomo- logy, will have a fine display, illustrating injurious insects, at the forthcoming Bathand West of England Agricultural Society's Show at St. Albans. In addition to actual material supplied by farmer correspondents, which will be fully explained, this lady’s sister has prepared some large diagrams.
WE have received a specimen of a scientifically constructed tobacco-pipe made by the Biltor Company, of 93, Oxford Street. The new arrange- ment is excellent for stopping the nicotine and oils from entering the mouth. This is attained by inserting an absorbant cartridge into the stem, which effectually arrests the noxious oils, and renders smoking a pleasure, not only to the smoker, but to his neighbours who probably dislike the smell of a foul pipe more than genuine tobacco smoke.
THE LONDON GEOLOGICAL FIELD CLaAss com- mences its eleventh year of most useful work. The teaching is given during excursions made on Saturday afternoons between the end of April and middle of July. The excursions are of a popularly scientific character and are open to ladies as well as gentlemen. They are conducted by Prof. H. G. Seeley F.R.S., who gives short lectures upon the districts visited, which are all within easy access of London. Further particulars as to membership and future excursions may be obtained by writing to the Hon. General Secretary, Mr. R. Herbert Bentley, 31, Adolphus Road, Brownswood Park, South Hornsey.
HEL1x pomatia is recorded by Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb, from Chapple, in Essex, which is a new locality for this edible land-snail.
In the number of SciENcE-Gossip for September last, we wrote an article upon the preservation of our fauna and flora. It advocated the formation of reserves for the purpose, and among other places suggested Wicken Fen. We now hear this fen is for sale, and could be purchased for a comparatively small sum. Can anything be done to apply the property to this purpose?
Messrs. Ross anp Co. of 111, New Bond Street, W., have issued two fully illustrated cata- logues of optical instruments. One of these is devoted to the most modern photographic appara- tus and the other to microscopes and objectives, hand-telescopes, field and opera-glasses, and many other necessities to our comfort and enlightenment. These catalogues are priced sixpence each.
THE Agricultural Department of the University Extension College at Reading has issued its second annual report upon field experiments on hay, pasture and root crops, carried out in 1895. ‘The reports are by Mr. Douglas A. Gilchrist, B.Sc., the director of the department, and Mr. P. Hedworth Foulkes, B.Sc. The latter portion of the report deals with insect and other animal ravages of crops in the district.
Dr. ALBERT GUNTHER, F.R.S., is the President of the Linnean Society for the coming year.. He recently retired from the keepership of the Zoologi- cal Department at the British Museum. Born at Esslingen, in Wiurtemburg, sixty-six years ago, his knowledge of the English language is most perfect, and most of the scientific papers which have contributed to make his name so well-known in connection with zoology were written in English.
Now that all the natural science museums in London are open on Sunday afternoons, many naturalists, who through their daily occupation rendering it previously impossible, will have golden opportunities of visiting these magnificent institu- tions, as well as the picture galleries. The little known, but splendid Museum of Practical Geology, in Jermyn Street, adjoining Piccadilly Circus, is by no means the least interesting.
THE Journal of the Marine Biological Association for February contains some notes and a figure relative to specimens of female common eels in the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, displaying nearly mature ovaries. There are also important papers on the ‘Culture of Sponges,” by Mr. E. J. Allen, B.Sc., and upon the ‘‘Improvement of Sponge Fisheries,” by Mr. George Bidder. It does not appear that, as at present understood, the artificial culture of sponges is commercially profitable, though exceedingly interesting from a scientific point of view.
Pror. T. D. A. CocKERELL of Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A., is anxious to establish for scientific research a biological station in that
State. He proposes to combine with it a holiday home for rest for over-worked students and teachers. The climate is magnificently healthy
and bracing. It is intended to carry on the establishment without ‘‘interference of politicians and other self-interested or ignorant persons.” We sincerely hope the plan will succeed, for it sounds just like the place to which we are longing to retire.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 23
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“Das TieRREICH”’ (The Animal Kingdom. Friedlander, Berlin, 1896). The German Zoo- logical Society has launched upon the gigantic task of a complete synopsis of the animal kingdom. Since the publication of Linné’s ‘‘Sestema Nature,” no attempt has been made to deal with all living forms of animal life, yet the number of known species has, since that period, increased so inordinately, that the want of a comprehensive review has become but too painfully apparent to all working zoologists. It is therefore proposed to issue a concise exposition of the animal kingdom, by the review and delineation of all the species that are now living or have become extinct within historic times, and of their systematic groups, which will serve as basis and starting- point of all future systems. This large under- taking will express the present condition of our knowledge, and will be based on a treatment which will partake of the nature of both criticism and compilation. To ensure the completion of the enormous material within a reasonable time, it has been decided to divide the work among a large number of specialists, which will at the same time give each division or group _ the highest possible scientific standard. The uniform treatment of the various subjects will be controlled by a number of carefully planned rules and regulations. For the naming of forms and systematic groups, the rules adopted by the German Zoological Society will be strictly adhered to; for abbreviations of names of authors the Berlin list will be taken as basis. The work will be under the general editorship of Geh. Reg. Rat., Prof. Dr. F. E. Schulze, who will be assisted by a committee composed of the President of the German Zoological Society and Geh. Reg. Rat., Prof. Dr. K. Mébius and a number of editors for the chief divisions of the animal kingdom. The following divisional editors have already been appointed: Professor F. Blockmann, of Rostock, for Brachiopoda; Professor Oscar Boettger, of Frankfurt -on- Maine, for Batrachia; Professor M. Braun, of Kénigsberg, for Platyhelminthes ; Professor O. Biitschli, of Heidelberg, for Protozoa ; Professor C. Chun, of Breslau, for Cnidaria and Ctenophora; Professor F. Dahl, of Kiel, for Arachnoidea; Professor C. W. von Dalla Torre, of Innsbruck, for Hymenoptera; Professor L. Doederlein, of Strassburg, for Mammalia ; Professor E. Ehlers, of Géttingen, for Bryozoa; Dr. W. Giesbrecht, of Naples, for Crustacea; A. Handlirsch, of Vienna, for Rhynchota and Neur- optera; Dr. W. Kobelt, of Schwanheim, for Mollusca; H. J. Kolbe, of Berlin, for Coleoptera ; Dr. H. Krauss, of Tibingen, for Orthoptera; Professor R. Latzel, of Klagenfurt, for Myriopoda ; Professor J. Mik, of Vienna, for Diptera; Dr. G. Pfeffer, of Hamburg, for Fishes; Professor A. Reichenow, of Berlin, for Birds; Professor F. E. Schulze, of Berlin, for Porifera; Dr. A. Seitz, of
Frankfurt-on-Maine, for Lepidoptera; Professor J. W. Spengel, of Giessen, for Vermes, exclusive of Platyhelminthes and Tunicata. A further list of specialists for the minor divisions is given, several of which, however, are also editors of the primary divisions. In addition to the well-defined species the work will include the enumeration of in- sufficiently described and dubious species, as well as sub-species and varieties, important stages of development, alteration of generations, and specially remarkable biological conditions. The geographical distribution will be given under each species, together with the principal literature, and a complete list of synonyms, so that the work when complete will contain information on every name used in Zoology since the introduction of binomial nomenclature. To facilitate the grasp of the subject systematic synopses and numerous keys for the determination of groups and species will be added. To each separate division will be appended a list of abbreviations used, a systematic index, and a complete alphabetical register. On the completion of each group further indices will be given, and at the end of the whole work, a general index and general register. The language employed will be chiefly German, but in exceptional cases, English, French, or Latin may be used. The work will be published in parts, each of which will treat of one or more related groups, but they will appear independently of any systematic sequence. Thesize of the parts will vary, but will not in any case consist of less than three sheets. For some of the larger groups the number and size of the parts is already announced. For instance, the Platyhelminthes will consist of four, the Crustacea of eleven, the Hymenoptera of thirteen, the Mollusca of fifteen, the Reptilia of three, the Birds of sixteen parts. The completion of the work, it is estimated, will take twenty-five years. Each part can be had separately, and the price will depend on the size ; but to those who undertake to subscribe to all parts published during five years the price will be seventy Pfennig (about gd.) per sheet, and will be some- what less for larger parts, or a trifle more for smaller ones; the price for separate parts will be increased by one-third. The first part is promised for the commencement of 1897. In case of a sufficient number of subscribers being found, a separate edition, on writing paper, will be issued, as well as one printed on only one side of the paper. A specimen part has already been issued, treating of the Helicozoa, by Dr. F. Schaudinn, consisting’ of twenty-four pages including the index and a list of abbreviations of citations exclusive of those contained in the list of the Zoological Record. On considering the period over which the publication of this gigantic work is to be spread, one fact forces itself on the mind, /.c. that those parts issued towards the end of this period, to whichever divisions or groups they may happen to belong, must of necessity be more complete and up-to-date than those issued earlier, and unless appendices to those earlier parts be given, we fail to see how the absence of uniformity in this respect will be overcome. In whatever way those respon- sible for the production of this immense under- taking will deal with this question, there is no doubt that all zoologists, no matter in what part ol! the world, will be under a great obligation to the Zoological Society of Germany for initiating such a work, the utility of which can only be appreciated by those whose sphere of labour happens to be cast amongst the productions of the animal kingdom.
24 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
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WHITE VARIETY OF COMMON CENTUARY.—With reference to Mr. Gardiner’s note (ScIENCE-GossIP, vol. ii., N.S., p. 272) I have often found Evythrea centauvium, with pure white flowers, in the neighbourhood of Cushendall, co. Antrim ; this is a sea-side locality —H. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbrickland, co. Down.
GYROMITRA ESCULENTA AT STAINES.—During an excursion of the Lambeth Field Club to Staines, on Easter Monday, April 6th, a fungus, which was at first thought to be a morel (Morchella esculenta), was picked up on a grassy island in the middle of a stream flowing into the Thames. Since then it has been identified as a specimen of Gyvomitra esculenta, a closely allied form, but of very rare occurrence in Britain. In this species the pileus is lobed and irregular, with a hollow interior, and the stem is short, widening at the base, and having a whitish downy (villous) covering. Some doubt exists as to the desirability of treating this species as an esculent, in spite of its specific name.—F. P. Perks, 41, St. Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross, W.C.
FRUITING OF AURACARIA.—A fine specimen of Auyracaria imbricata, twenty feet in height, well furnished with branches down to the ground, in a cottage garden on the north road from Newry, co. Down, produced fine fruit-cones in 1894. As they were a novelty to me I was interested in observing them as I drove that way from time to time. J hoped they would have come to perfection, but though the locality is only a hundred feet above sea-level and well sheltered, the prolonged frost of 1895 affected this tree so severely as to kill all the branches except a few at the very top ; in fact, the tree is now a most unsightly object and as good as dead. Other Aurvacaria trees of which I know, and in more elevated and exposed situations, are still flourishing; so, perhaps, the effort to perfect its fruit made this Newry tree more susceptible to the effects of the cold of last year.—H. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbvickland, co. Down.
_ ATROPHY OF TREE-BRANCHES.—Mr. Carrington in his article on “‘ Atrophy of Tree-branches”’ (vol. ii., N.S., p. 281), desires that exceptional cases may be recorded. Frequently when threading my way through the pine-wcod at Esher, in Surrey, fora few hours’ work in the Black Pond, I pass a case of fasciculation in Pinus sylvestris where this growth is very noteworthy. It occurs near the tree-top, and is not, | am afraid, very accessible for study, unless with the aid of climbing-irons. It is, however, worthy the careful observation of any person interested, who may find himself in the neighbour- hood of the pond. The tree is situate a short distance from the round-house, and can scarcely be missed.—George T. Harris, London, S.W.
ATROPHY OF TREE-BRANCHES.—AS you invite discussion on your paper on ‘“‘ Atrophy of Tree- branches’ (SciENcE-GossIP, vol. ii., N.S., p. 281), I should like to make a few comments. After mentioning a remarkable mass of twig growth ona Scotch fir you say that ‘‘ these abnormal bunch-like
growths are caused by a condition of atrophy in the growth of the branch.’ Surely this kind of growth would be more truly termed hypertrophy, as there is really no want of life, nourishment or growth in the branch, only that the latter is changed in form. These abnormal growths are usually caused by gall-mites or fungi. ‘‘ The bird- nest-like masses,” often known as witches’ brooms, sO common on birch trees, are caused by one of these gall-mites (Phytoptus spec.) which infest the buds and feed on the young leaves within them, stopping their growth to a certain extent and also that of the shoots. In consequence, the buds break into much shorter shoots than usual. The buds on these also being attacked, a dense mass of twigs is soon formed. The witches’ brooms on fir-trees of various kinds are the result of the tissues of the trees being infested by certain fungi, see Kimer and Oliver’s ‘‘ Natural History of Plants.’”—Geo. S. Saunders, 20, Dents Road, Wandsworth Common.
CHICKWEED WINTERGREEN.—Among other things which came under my notice in 1895, as being above average, was the large number of seed-producing plants of that interesting representative of our indigenous flora, Trientalis europea. Although there might not have been more plants in flower than in other seasons, more of them succeeded in ripening their fruit. It has been customary for me to find many of the seed-vessels of this plant falling to the ground when the flowers fade, but there has always been some portion which has produced fruit. Being one of the most beautiful of our native flowers, and a comparatively provincial one here, not appearing in the warmer parts of Britain, the matter of its bearing fruit may be worthy of being noticed, as I have certainly seen mention in some standard work that it does not readily or abundantly produce seeds. This, doubtless, is governed in general by the area within which observations are taken of plants, the nature of one season from another being also a factor in this direction, the variations of the seasons causing variations in the development of plants. Some, of course, are more easily acted upon than others, and it would be interesting to know where in course of its range and in what proportion it produces seed.—W. Wilson, Alford, Aberdeenshire.
Prussic AcID IN VEGETABLE PuysioLocy.—Of the various substances which enter into the compo- sition of the plant body, the proteids are beyond doubt the most important. They are the charac- teristic constituents of the protoplasm with which life itself is so closely associated. The problem of how these complex bodies are elaborated from the simple food stuffs available to the plant has long been a riddle to physiologists and still is one of the darkest processes we have to deal with. A step forward, however, is marked by the valuable contri- bution which Dr. M. Treub has recently made to the subject. He has investigated the formation and distribution of hydrocyanic acid in the tissues of one plant (Pangium edule), and although, with scientific caution, he refrains from drawing gene- ralisations from this one case, thoroughly though he has examined it, he has yet succeeded in laying a firm and sure foundation for future work in a subject which may be said to have as its final reward the explanation of the secret of life. For who can deny that in the chemistry of protoplasm lies hidden the mystery of life? Proteids are compounds of such simple elements as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur, which,
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. “
however, are bound together in an almost incon- ceivably complex manner. We know that the green leaves manufacture carbohydrates (com- pounds of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen) from carbonic acid gas and water under the influence of sunlight. We are also aware that the roots absorb from the soil the nitrates (compounds of oxygen and nitrogen) which, thanks to micro-organisms, have appeared there, and that the sulphur com- pounds of soil enter the plant by the same route. In other words, we know that within the plant are present materials, available as food, which contain between them the same elements as a proteid; but, starting from this consideration, we have hitherto been unable to explain any of the steps which lead to the formation of the complex organic nitroge- nous compounds from these substances. Pfliiger long ago (1875) held the purely hypothetical view that there was a close connection between the proteids of living protoplasm and cyanogen, in fact that in living proteids the nitrogen was associated with carbon in the form of cyanogen (in which two atoms of carbon are united to two atoms of nitrogen). Treub has now made it certain that in Pangium edule hydrocyanic or prussic acid (carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen united together) is the first visible nitrogenous compound to appear in the constructive processes. He has found that both in the cortex and pith of the stem there are special cells particu- larly rich in prussic acid. This substance can also be detected in the pericycle. In the leaves it is usually to be found in all the parenchyma cells, in the flowers and fruits it is also present. The great channel along which hydrocyanic acid moves from part to part of the plant is the soft base or phloem. If the outer layers of the leaf-stalk be cut through, or conduction in any other way hindered, an accumulation of prussic acid takes place in the ‘blade of the leaf whilst none of the acid can be detected for some distance below the point of section. By acareful study of such cases as these, it could be definitely established that hydrocyanic acid is formed in the leaf and conveyed away to other portions of the plant by the soft bast. Another interesting fact that was determined was that those special cells of the cortex or pith, filled with prussic acid in their earlier days, became the seats of proteid accumulation in later times. Among the factors necessary for the formation of prussic acid, two were found to be absolutely essential (1) That carbohydrates be present; (2) That a supply of nitrates be forthcoming to the leaf. Light it was found was not directly necessary. Treub employed the ‘‘prussian-blue test,’ familiar to all chemists in ascertaining the presence or absence of hydrocyanic acid in any tissue of the plant. The position, then, that we have reached through Treub’s researches, is that in Pangium edule, prussic acid—a comparatively simple compound—is the first visible nitrogenous organic body to be synthesised in the plant ; whether this is the case throughout the vegetable kingdom or whether it is the plan adopted in this single instance only, or in one or two other plants as well, remains for the future to decide. Any who feel interested in the subject should certainly refer to Treub’s original article (‘‘Sur la localisation, etc., de l’acide cyanhydrique dans le Pangium edule’’ Ann. du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg. Vol. xiii., 1895, pp. 1-89), or to the report of the Paper he read before the British Association at Ipswich last year, or to the admirable summary in the ‘‘ Botanische Zeitung” (Bot. Zeit., No. 7, 1896, p. 102).—Rudolf Beery, Elmwood, Bickley, Kent.
LEPIDOPTERA IN Norway.+—-Can any one tell me through the pages of ScizNcE-Gossip what lepidop- tera I am likely to find near the Nordfjord in August, and if there are many species then out in that region ?—(Rev.) J. M. Hick, Trimdon Vicarage, Trimdon Grange, R.S.O.
ELEPHUS AFRICANUS.—Can any reader imform me through your pages where I might be able to obtain some information relative to the occurrence of Elephus Africanus in the fossil state in England ? If so he would greatly oblige.—J. H. Cooke, 123, Monks Road, Lincoln.
PIED-WAGTAIL IN WINTER.—An _ apparently solitary specimen of the pied-wagtail is spending the winter here and is constantly to be seen searching for food in the garden and about the buildings. Is it not somewhat unusual for this bird to be found so far north at this time of the year.—Vernon B. Cvrowther-Beynon, The Grange, Edith Weston, Stamford ; February gth, 1896.
LittLtE Auk IN SussEx.—As an addendum to Professor Newton's article on page 1 of the last volume of ScIENCE-GossIP, it is perhaps worth a note in your pages, that a group of eight specimens of this bird was exhibited at West Croydon Hall, by Mr. Thorpe, the Croydon taxidermist, last autumn, which had been taken near Hastings during the great frost in the early months of 1895.— Ed. A. Martin, 62, Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath.
PREHISTORIC HuMAN JEMAINS.—In a note (ScIENCE-GossIP, vol. ii., N.S., p. 313). Mr. Kane remarks that it is curious that no reference to the interesting find of prehistoric human remains near Le Puy, Auvergne, is made by writers of antiquity of man. He appears to have over- looked Lyell’s ‘‘Antiquity of Man” in which there is a pretty full account (3rd ed., 1863, p. 194). Scrope, in his ‘‘Geology and Extinct Vol- canoes of Central France (2nd ed., 1858, p. 182), also mentions the subject, and gives two sketches of the spot where the fossils were found.— W. J. Atkinson, 76, Christchurch Road, Streatham Hill, London, S.W.
WHERE NOT TO Finp CoaL.—A sentence in your review of the ‘‘ Missouri Geological Survey’’ reminds me of the attempt which was made last year to find coal in Silurian strata at St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. An old lady left a considerable sum of money for the boring to be made with this object in view. Certainly it cannot be said that coal has never been found in Silurian rocks, but on the other hand it does not seem credible that anyone with any pretence toa little geological knowledge, would have had atrial boring made for coal through strata of that age. As the author of the survey says, a very little study of the strata soon deter- mines whether or not the rocks of any given district are likely to furnish coal. The Silurian strata of St. Kildare did not.—Ed. A. Martin, 62, Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath.
26 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
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GEOLOGY SS ey ~
GEOLoGy AT BEeLFast.—We have to record a remarkable week of geological studies conducted
by Professor G. A. J. Cole, M.R.1.A., F.G.S., of the Royal College of Science for Ireland, which terminated at the end of March. A paper on the structural details of the Antrim rhyolites, read at the microscopical meeting of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club, commenced the course, lantern-slides showing the microscopic character of local lavas, varied by others of rhyolitic areas in other parts of Great Britain. The scheme included six excursions for the study of geology in the field, three hours each evening being devoted toa class on petrography, necessarily limited to a dozen students, resem- bling a ‘‘special course’ at the Dublin College of Science.
The first field excursion was to Squire’s Hill, where the series of Cretaceous quarries were visited, Professor Cole pointing out and explaining the methods in which the many dykes had intruded through the sedimentary rocks; also drawing the attention of his students to the difference between the Irish Cretaceous series and that of England, showing the persistence of upper chalk fossils such as Belemnitella mucronata through the limestone to the base of the glauconitic chalk, whilst the general paleontological characters suggested that the chalk must represent the Senonian, the greensand the Turonian, and the somewhat barren lower beds (which, however, furnished Pecten quinquecostatus and other characteristic fossils) belonged to the Cenomanian series. A visit to the basaltic quarry led the party across Carr’s Glen to the Cave Hill quarry, with its great dyke showing horizontal columns, which traverses the chalk and the over- lying basalt.
The second excursion made an early start for Stewartstown, involving a walk of ten miles through fine rolling country, passing Tullahoge, and on to Tullyconnell for the Permian strata that are so rare in Ireland. The survey memoir describes a section on the roadside, but this is no longer visible, a block below the road, nine or ten feet long, and a poor exposure in an adjacent cottage garden, being all that now remains. The rock is very fossiliferous. The Castle Farm quarries at Stewartstown furnished fossils from the Carboni- ferous Limestone, some pits in the lower coal measures being passed on the return drive to Dungannon,
On Friday the party walked from Dundonald, among the interesting partially-cemented gravels, full of travelled pebbles, by the old road to Scrabo, a halt being made by the way to visit and photograph the Kemp stone. Professor Cole utilised the pause for lunch on the slope of Scrabo, whence a glorious prospect was obtained of Strangford Lough and the distant coast of Antrim, by explaining how this outlier of Triassic sandstone was formed by the slow sinking of shallow-water lakes, a parallel being found in the
present condition of the Great Salt Lake in America. Saturday was devoted to the rhyolitic area, which has been specially studied by Professor Cole for some years, and magnificent weather favoured the party as they drove from Doagh to Sandy Braes, and proceeded to visit the innumer- able exposures that are found over the charming heathery moorland, where the glassy lavas of the old volcano are displayed in marvellous variety. The causes of this variety were fully explained by Professor Cole, who said that hitherto geologists had sought for acid lavas from Hungary or Lipari, and only a few realised the stores that lay decom- posing on the hilltop around Tardree. Lunch at the southern quarry on Tardree was followed by a walk across Carnearny Brae into Antrim, visit- ing a hole where the rock showed singularly large felspar crystals found by Mr. A. G. Wilson, and an interesting boss of glassy rhyolite, with both spherulitic and perlitic structure, discovered by Professor Cole some time ago.
The geologists made a fresh start on March 23rd, the place selected being Barney’s Point, near Magheramourne, where abundant Lower Lias fossils were obtained. Fragments of Rhaetic rock led Professor Cole to point out that these Liassic beds had probably slipped forward over the lower strata. Crossing the backbone of islandmagee, the party inspected the fine basaltic cliffs at the Gobbins, longing for the access to their face which will be given, should the walk projected by the Northern Counties Railway Company ever be constructed. The return to the ferry showed the opposite hills blue with approaching rain. Yet splendid weather favoured the final excursion on the following day, which included a visit to the mountain range of Mourne. The dykes south of Newcastle, which traverse the uptilted Ordovician strata, frequently traversed themselves by later dykes, were visited, Professor Cole demonstrating their age by explaining that the Mourne granite which cut through them was of the same age as the rhyolites of Antrim.
The party subsequently ascended by the Bloody Bridge and Glen Fofany, when another address taught the students that many so-called moraines were in reality great detrital fans of mountain débris. Mr. La Touche (Geol. Survey of India), who was with the party throughout the week, described the making of such a fan in the Himalayas in a few hours, when a mountain torrent swept every- thing before it, spreading a mass of mud and stones over the lower ground, the river at first flowing over its handiwork, and subsequently cutting through it. An ascent of Thomas Mountain, to see the fragment of the Ordovician strata that remains—a relic of the great sedimentary arch under which the molten granite gathered—was followed by a descent through the grounds of Donard Lodge.
The value of such a week cannot be over- estimated; and any field club that has such a chance to offer to its members well deserves itsname. This is the third time that the Belfast Club has been fortunate in securing instruc- tions from Professor Cole, and the importance of such continuity is manifest. The presence of members of other clubs recalls pleasantly the recenty-founded Irish Field Club Union, with its useful plan of admitting members of other clubs who may be temporarily in a strange place to the honorary membership of the club of the locality.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 27
==
TRANSACTION 5
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RoyaLt METEOROLOGICAL Society. — At the meeting of this Society on Wednesday evening, March 18th, Mr. E. Mawley, President, in the chair, Mr. Frederic Gaster, F.R.Met.Soc., of the Meteorological Office, delivered a Lecture on ‘‘ Weather Forecasts and Storm Warnings, how they are prepared and made known,”’ which was illustrated by numerous instruments, diagrams, and lantern-slides. Mr. Gaster said that in the preparation of forecasts the position held by the barometer was so much more important than that of any other instrument that its action must be fully comprehended if the rest of the work was to to be at all clearly understood. The lecturer having fully explained this, referred to the use of a single isolated instrument, and showed how new light was thrown on the observer who could have telegraphed to him simultaneous observations from a large number of places scattered over a considerable area of the earth’s surface. The kind of variation in the distribution was dealt with, isobars were drawn, and the phenomena which they exhibit in the way of high and low pressure areas described. An explanation was given of the terms ‘“ cyclonic”’ and ‘‘anticyclonic,” and the generally opposite characteristics of these two systems were referred to. Mr. Gaster next drew attention to the obvious ‘importance of the variation in the weather over a given area caused by alterations in the position of the cyclonic and anticyclonic systems, and the importance of the fact that the former tended to move round the latter from left to right. This led to some remarks on the indications observed when disturbances were advancing towards our islands from different points. Attention was drawn to secondary systems, both of high and low pressure, the forms they assume, and their effect on the weather which, but for their presence, would probably have accompanied their primaries; and the necessity for allowing for such systems in sending warnings to our coasts. The lecturer then remarked on the value of auxiliary informa- tion, such as is to be obtained from decided changes in the direction of the wind, sudden changes of temperature, the movements of clouds at different levels, observations made at high level stations, and telegrams from the United States. Mr. Gaster next explained how the information is made known to the public. Forecasts are issued by the Meteorological Office in the Daily Weather Report, and also communicated to the press, etc. Hay _harvest forecasts are issued to certain selected authorities who circulate them as much as possible in their neighbourhood. Storm warnings are telegraphed to our coasts with instructions to hoist the cone—point up—when the gale is probable from northerly to easterly points, and point down, when from southerly to westerly points. In conclusion, the lecturer drew attention to the marked improvement which had occurred in these warnings in recent years, and to some of the occurrences which from time to time caused failures.
THE SoutTH LonpON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NaTuraL History Sociery.—February 27th, Mr. R. South, F.E.S., President, in the chair Mr. A. E. Waters, B.A., of Cambridge, and Mr. J. A. Lucas, B.A., of Kingston-on-Thames, were elected members. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited specimens of Hybernia leucophearia, from Abbotts’ Wood. The pale and dark-bordered were found in equal proportions and only one black specimen was taken. Mr. Short, a bred series of Acronycta
myvice, with a dipterous and a series of hymenop- terous parasites, /chnewmon fuscipes from its larve. Mr. Dennis, two living females of Vespa germanica, taken in February. Mr. Perks, two living specimens of Rhagium inguisitor, L., from Epping Forest. Mr. McArthur, communicated notes on the occurrence and life-history of Coccyx cosmo- phorana, and Retinia resinella. He said that the former was always more or less common at Rannoch, where the latter was unknown. As far as he had observed the larve of the former did not in Scotland feed in the way described by Kalten- bach. He was convinced that the larve did not normally feed on the refuse of RF. vesinella, but that it did so at Forres he was perfectly certain. A long discussion ensued, during which it was suggested that R. vesinella had not abstracted all nourishment from its food, which was hence available as pabulum for C. cosmophorana, and so presumably the latter species had different habits in different districts. Mr. Billups then read a Paper entitled ‘‘Hymenopterous and Dipterous Parasites reared by Members of the Society during 1891-2,’ and exhibited in illustration a large number of species with the hosts they had preyed upon.—March 12th, the President in the chair. Col. Partridge exhibited bred specimens of Phigalia pedaria, from Epping, of a unicolorous grey with dark nervures; a specimen of Agvotis puta, having alternate dark and pale bars; and the specimen of Hadena albifusa, taken by him at Portland, August 15th, 1888. Mr. South, bred specimens of P. pedavia, from a black female taken at Macclesfield. The males were of the same form as those of Col. Partridge, but most of the females were black. Mr. Adkin, specimens and sections of the nodules of Retinia resinella, to illustrate remarks made at the previous meeting. Mr. Frohawk, bred male and female of Nyssia lapponaria, the ova having been obtained from Mr. Cristy, the female was alive. Mr. West, of Greenwich, a female N. hispidavia, taken in West Wickham Woods. Mr. Lucas, a carding spider taken at Hampton Court. Mr. Barrett, the series of the various species of the genus Dianthecia, from his own collection, including every shade of both D. carpophaga and D. capsophila, from various British localities ; D. barretti, with Continental D. /uteago for comparison, and the only known Welsh and English examples; D. cesia, with Continental forms for comparison ; D. albimacula, from Dover, Folke- stone and Portsmouth; two drawers from the cabinet of Mr. Sydney Webb, containing the same species, and including the two D. compta from the late Mr. Bond's collection; and also Mr. Adkin's series of Dianthecia. In the discussion which ensued, Mr. Barrett considered D. carpophaga and D. capsophaga, as one and the same species, he was convinced that D. barretti was but an extreme local form of the Continental D. /uteago, and felt almost inclined to say that there never was a British specimen of D. compta. Messrs. Adkin and Tutt preferred to consider the first-named as closely allied species possessing extreme parallelism in
SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
their range oi variation. Various members testified as to the doubtful origin of British D. compia. Mr. Hall said that he always found D. carpophaga larve on Lychnis respertina, and scarcely any on Silene. Mr. McArthur gave instances of how D. conspersa always resembled the colour of rocks or walls on which it sat in various districts. Mr. Tuit said that D. cucubali was the only member of the genus which came to sugar, and that it was also double brooded.—Hy. J. Turner (Hon. Report Sec.)
Norte Lonpon Naturat History Society.— Meeting on Thursday, March 12th, 1896, Mr. C. B. Smith, President, in the chair. Mr. C. S. Nicholson, of ‘‘Elmsleigh,” Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, was elected a member of the society. The Amphipyridz were shown by Messrs. Prout and Bacot, and the former genileman also exhibited specimens of Teniocampa ot miniosa, bred this year from Chaiienden larve. Mr. Bacot had recenily seen a bai flitting about Cheapside. Mr. L. Jj. Tremayne drew attention io an article by Mr. Tui, in the February number of “‘ The Eniomologisis’ Record,” on the nomenclature of the Zygzeninz. Assuming Mr. Tait io be correct, he rather agreed with his view that it was high time thai naiuralisis should iake io naming this family correcily, and he suggested that the society, which is at present bound by the *‘ Eniomologist * list, shonld consider the advisibility of revising its nomenclature. Mr. C. Nicholson opened a discussion on The Amphipyridz. He illustrated his remarks with specimens of the family, including Mania maura from Hale End, and var. virgaia. Healso exhibited a pair of wings of each species denuded oi their scales, in order io show the neuraiion, and some explanatory drawings. He explained the nomen- claiure of the family, and proceeded io deal with the species in all their stages. He alluded to the neuration of ithe imagines, and said that Mania maura bad an extta nervure. He also touched on the various classifications of the family by different authors. Mr. Proui disapproved of the genus Amphipyra, the species of which he thought were ceriainly generally distinct. Mr. Bacot remarked that the young larva of Pyramidza is certainly a looper when it first leaves the egg-shell —On Saturday, April zith, the society visited the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park. The parity met im the Insect House, and afierwards visited most of the other objects of interest, especially attractive being the young gorilla (Anihropopithecus gorilla), and chimpanzee (A. ivoglodyies), also the manatee. Many other objects were discussed, and several specimens of the moth Bision hiriaria were found on irees in the gardens during the afternoon. The gardens are always atiraciive io naiuralisis, bui are especially well worth visiting at this season oi the year.—Lawrence J. Tremayne (Hon. Sec-_)
Greenwich Naturait History Socirry.— A meciing was held on February 5ih, 1806, Mr. Andrew Kerr, President, in the chair. Dr. Calder exhibited a number of laniern-slides—many of them prepared by Proiessor Glaisier, of Glassow— of bacieria that are inimical io man. Mr. M. FP. Dunlop exhibited living and mounied specimens of Desmids, Rhizopoda, Infusoria, Roiifera, and Enio- mosiraca. The Secretary gave a demonsiraiion of the remarkable optical properties of the Japanese Magic Mirror. (Illustrations of about tweniy different designs of mirror-backs were thrown on the screen, and seven Japanese mirrors were shown, several of which exhibited the magical phenomenon. —G.W. Niven, Hon. Sec., 27. Brymner Sireet, Greenock.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
The NEw Votume (Volume III.) of Scrence- GossiP commences with this number, the Pub- lishers having decided not to issue the March, April and May numbers, which have fallen into arrear. The issue for June will therefore be numbered 25, to maintain the sequence. This course is adopted in order to bring information up to date, and to ensure in future the publication of the Magazine regularly on the 25th of each month.
Susscrietions for Volume III. will commence with the Jane issue.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.
To CorRESPONDENTS AND EXCHANGERS.—SCIENCE-GOSSIP is published on the 25th of each month. All notes or other communications should reach us not later than the 18th of the monih for insertion in the following number. No com- munications can be inserted or noticed without full name and address of writer.
Noticz.—Coniribuiors are requested to strictly observe the following rules. All contributions must be cleazly written on one side of the paper only. Words intended to be printed in ttalics should be marked under with a single line. Generic names must be given in full, excepting where used
immediately before. Capitals may only be used for generic, and not speciiic names. Scientific names and names of places to be written in round hand
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Tse Editor will be pleased to answer questions and name specimens through the Correspondence column of the maga- zine. Specimens,in good condition, of not more than three species to be sent at one time, carriage paid. Duplicates only to be sent, which will not be returmed. The specimens must have identifying numbers attached, together with locality, date and particulars of capture.
Att editorial communications, books or instruments for review, Specimens for ideniincation, cic. to be addressed to o=Nn T. CarRincTon, z, Northumberland Avenue, London,
iC.
EXCHANGES.
Noticz.—Exchanges extending to thirty words (including name and address) admitied free, but additional words must be prepaid at the rate of threepence for every seven words or less. :
Cuczoos’ =£GGs with those of foster parent wanited.— W. Wells Bladen, Stone, Siafiordshire.
A FEW nests and imagines of Pelopzus #avipes (ithe American mud-dauber) in exchange for other species.— Harry Moore, 12, Lower Road. Rotherhithe, SE.
OFFzZRED, “ Handbook of Geological Terms” (very rare) in
exchange for “Prehistoric Europe,” “ice Age.” or other standard geological works—J. H. Cooke, 223. Monks Road, Lincoln. =
Exotic. European and British Lepidoptera for others.— Rey. j. M. Sich, Trimdon Vicarage, Trimdon Grange. R.S.O.
OQFFZRED. ion Slides of upper chaik (polyzoa) for the same number of lower cretaceous forms, or sitident’s microscope worth noi less than £3 3s—W. Gamble, 2, Wesi Sireeci, New Brompion, Kent.
For exchange, ine specimens of Fluor spar (blue John), amorphous, m crystals, purple or banded, many varieties: also fine carb, limestone fossils, many species. Desiderata. Nauitili om all formations and good ammonites, particularly from Wealden and greensand——W. F. Holroyd, Greenfield, near Oldham.
Scizxcz-Gossir, 1875 io 1887 inclusive, excepting Augusi, i875. What offers:—J. F. Greenway, 11, High Sireet, West Bromwich. > ;
Siies, teleutospores, fungi, and others offered: wanted, posiage stamps (including many off old or foreign letters and parcels), insects, other slides, etc—Dr. Bryan, Thomlea, Cambridge.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 29
MOSSES AND HEPATICS OF MOURNE MOUNTAINS.
By Rev. H. W. Lett, M.A., M.R.I.A.
apt Mourne Mountains in the County Down
have been introduced to the readers of SCIENCE-GoSSIP (SCIENCE-GossIP, 1895, p. 85) as worthy of a visit from tourists who are phanero- gamic botanists. But they are even still more worthy of the attention of students of the crypto- gamic flora of this country, as I hope in some measure to show in this paper.
Mosses, hepatics, lichens, fungi, fresh-water alge, desmids and diatoms abound in and about the Mournes The whole district is a veritable happy hunting-ground for such. It is not too
k. Welch, Photo.)
much to assert that in no other part of the kingdom are so many species, more especially of the first two families just mentioned, to be found within easy access of a railway station and excellent hotel accommodation.
There are extensive sand-dunes, several miles of sea-side rocks, wooded glens through which tumble mountain streams, wild stretches of boggy moor- lands intersected by long deep valleys with their rivulets, and elevations—more or less rugged—up to 2,796 feet altitude, with a few lakelets. So that every variety of suitable habitat for these lovely forms of vegetation exists within the area.
The investigation of the cryptogams of this district has not been altogether neglected in the past, though doubtless there is still much to be
Jury, 1896.—No. 26, Vol. III.
NEWCASTLE AND SLIEVE DONARD.
done., Mr. Templeton, of Belfast, a well-known and accomplished botanist and zoologist at the begin- ning of the present century, made some notes on the mosses and hepatics which will be found in the North-East of Ireland—‘ Flora’’ and Supplement (published in 1888-95)—while in recent years Mr. S. A. Stewart, F.B.S.E., of Belfast, editor of this “Flora”; the Rev.C. H. Waddell, Mr, J. J. Andrew, and the present writer, have collected mosses and hepatics in various parts of these mountains. A large portion of the results of their work is recorded in the above-mentioned ‘ Flora," and ina
4]
Belfast.
‘‘ Report on the Mosses, Hepatics, and Lichens of the Mourne Mountains,” by H. W. Lett, read before the Royal Irish Academy, and published in the “ Proceedings” of that body in 1890 (pp. 265-326). As I still have a few copies of this Report to spare, I shall be glad to post one to any person sending me his address with two-pence for carriage. It contains a full list of all the localities.
Some of the fungi have been recorded in a “ List of the Fungi of the North of Ireland,’ by H. W Lett, published in the ‘‘ Proceedings "’ of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club, Appendix, 1884-85. And I may mention that Mr. W. West, of Bradford, Yorkshire, has, from time, examined squeezes and scrapings which I sent him from the Mournes, and furnished me with a list of the fresh-
Cc
time to
30 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
water alge, desmids and diatoms which he identified in my material. This I hope shortly to publish. On the present occasion, my remarks will be confined to the mosses and hepatics. As I use the nomenclature adopted in Dr. Braithwaite’s “British Moss Flora,’ I shall omit the author’s names.
The view of Slieve Donard, which is the highest mountain in Ulster, is reproduced, by permission, from a photo taken by Mr. R. Welch, of Belfast. It gives an excellent idea of the proximity of the mountain to the town of Newcastle and the sea, the great cairn on the summit being only three miles from the parish church. In the sand-dunes there is strong evidence of the presence of golfers, but passing through their links, the botanist will meet, among the mimic mountains of sand, with Tortula vuralis, var. avenicola, Bryum proliferum, Mollia micvostomum, Grimmia canescens, Climacium dendroides, Brachythecium albicans, Hypnum cordifolium and Pallavicina hibernica. And at the extreme northern edge of the sand-hills inside the ruins of Dundrum Castle (which of itself is well worth a visit) will be found Eurhynchium pumilum. A little way up the Shimna River, not far from the railway station at Newcastle, have been found Ovthotrichum vivulare and Brachytheciuwm velutinum.
Near the centre of the village of Newcastle the road is cut through a black basaltic rock, one of the numerous dykes that traverse the Mournes. This is known to the villagers as ‘‘the Rock; and on the top of it stands the parish church of St. John, built by an Earl Annesley. On the sides of the rock cutting occurs Mollia littoralis. Following this route on past the ruinous harbour, the road skirts the sea, with Slieve Donard towering above. The rocks here produce Grimmia maritima, Mollia inclinata, Hypnum cupressiforme, var. lacunosum, and Blindia acuta. About a mile and a-half from New- castle, on the old walls of the Bloody Bridge, I have gathered Barbula brevifolia and Zygodon viri- dissimum, vax. vupestre.
After these preliminary rambles, attention will be turned to the mountains. The demesne of Donard Lodge, which runs round the base of Slieve Donard, is not very productive of either mosses or hepatics. In it, however, will be found Bryum alpinum as low down as one hundred and fifty feet. The higher parts of it, where the larch and Scotch-fir and spruce show by their stunted growth that they are on the verge of their region, are well worth searching, especially above the harbour, where I have found some rare plants, and in the neighbourhood of the ice-house.
The stream which bounds and slides down its rocky channel in this demesne is the White River. It can be followed for two miles up the glen, between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedah, and at the upper end of it the adventurous will have an
opportunity of exercising their skill in scrambling and climbing.
The streamlet which joins the White River close to the ice-house should be followed up to the rocks known as the Black-stairs. Here, after rain, there is a considerable waterfall in a-narrow chasm. This and the surrounding rocks I have found to be the best moss-ground in the district. It faces the north, is protected from the sun’s rays, and is always cool and more or less moist. | Mosses and hepatics are everywhere, and on every stone and rock. From this locality the top of Slieve Donard is invisible, being shut off by the projecting shouldet, designated Thomas’s Mountain, on the rocky face of which several rarities have been found. From Thomas’s Mountain to the base of the cone of Slieve Donard is a stretch of boggy moorland where I met with many species that did not come under my notice elsewhere.
Moss-tramping in the Mournes, as the writer knows from the experience of twenty-five years, is the delightfully quiet work that a botanist enjoys. Although so close to Newcastle, Rosstrevor and Warrenpoint, when one gets a mile away into the heathery region one seldom, if ever, meets with a human being. There are no roads, except the one through the Deer’s-meadow, no houses, no refreshment rooms, nothing to induce the mere noisy tripper. In all my rambles through these mountains I have not met (excepting the turf- makers in their season in the Deer’s-meadow) more than three persons. One was a gentleman who was descending by the Black-stairs from Slieve Donard and suddenly came round a rock from the face of which I had just secured a moss, and still had my sailor’s-knife open in my hand. He was so alarmed at suddenly meeting me, with the bare blade, that he took to his heels without a word, On another occasion, near Shanslieve, I was followed by a game-keeper, who, on coming up to me, watched my operations for some time till at last he scornfully remarked, ‘‘ Why, it is only fog you are lifting ’’—fog being a local name for moss —and he left me to go on my way.
Though sheep-tracks are the only marked paths through the Mournes, there is no diffculty in making one’s way anywhere through them. The accompanying map will be of some use for this purpose. Those who desire a better guide should procure the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland, scale of one inch to a mile, Sheets Nos. 60 and 61, price one shilling each.
The mosses and hepatics which I found on the Slieve Donard localities described above are as follows:—Sphagnum acutifolium and its vars. purpureum, rubellum, luvidum, arctum and versicolum, S. squarrosum with var. laetevirens, S. vigidum and its var. compactum, S. subsecundum, also var. contortum, S. papillosum, S. cymbifolium; Andreea petrophila
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 31
and vars. acuminata and gracilis, A. alpina; Cathavinea undulata ; Oligotvichum incurvum ; Polytyi- chum subyotundum, P. nanum, var. longisetum, P. aloides, P. uynigerum, P. alpinum, P. piliferum, P. juniperinum, P. strictum, P. commune; Fissidens bryoides, F. osmundioides, F. taxifolius, F. adian- toides ; Leucobryum glaucum ; Ditrichum homomallum ; Dicranella heteromalla; Anisothecium squarrosum ; Campylopus atrovirens, C. brevipilus, C. setifolius, C. fragilis, C. pyviformis, C. flexuosus ; Dicranoweissia civvata, Dircranum majus, D. bonjeani, D. scoparium, with var. orthophylla, also its var. alpestve ; Dichodon- tium pellucidum ; Onchophorus crispatus ; Ceratodon
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J
B. pallens, B. ventricosum, B. filiforme ; Mnium undulatum, M. hornum, M. punctatum ; Hedwigia albicans; Neckera crispa; Pterigophyllum lucens ; Hetevocladium hetevopterum ; Thuidium tamaviscinum yi Isothecitum myurum; Bachythecium vivulave, B. viride, B. plumosum; Eurhynchium myosuroides, E. swartzii; Hyocomium flagellare ; Rhyncostegium tenellum, R. vusciforme; Plagiothecium denticulatum, P. borvevianum, P. sylvaticum, P. undulatum ; Hypnum revolvens, H. uncinatum, H. jilicinum, H. commutatum, H. falcatum, H. cupresst- forme, vars. jilifovme and ericetorum, H. molluscum, H. palustre, H. stellatum, H. sarmentosum, H.
yvulabulum, B.
Wroggics Leap rmaré Hole
Wee Nis
Dh eeu
Map oF THE MourNE Mountains.
purpureum; Mollia tenuivostvis; M. verticillata, M. tortuosa; Leervsia contorvta; Webera sessilis ; Grimmia pruinosa, G. pulvinata, G. decipiens
and var. vobusta, G. funalis, G. trichophylla, G. donnit, G. ovata, G. elliptica, G. aciculavis, G. aquatica, G. microcarpa, G. heterosticha, G. obtusa, G. affine and var. gracilescens, G. fascicularis, G. hypnoides ; Glyphomitrium daviesti, G. polyphyllum; Anoectangium mougeottit; Pleurozygodon compactum ; Orthotrvichum affine, O. diaphanum; Funaria hygro- metrica, F’. obtusa, F. templetoni; Tetraplodon bryoides ; Bartramia pomiformis, B. fontana; Pohlia acuminata, P. elongata, P. nutans, P. cruda, P. annotina, P. albicans; Bryum inclinatum, B. bimum, B. alpinum,
B. argenteum, B. capillave, likewise var. magus,
Cc
cuspidatum, H. schreberi, H. purum; Hylocomium proliferum, H. squarrosum, H. loreum, H. triquetrum ; Frullania dilatata, F. tamarisct ; Lejeunia hamatifolia, L. ovata, L. serpyllifolia; Radula aquilegia; Anthelia julacea; Bazzania trilobata; Cephalozia bicuspidata ; Saccogyna viticulosa; Cincinnulus argutus; Scapania undulata with var. purpurascens, S. nemorosa, S. vesupinata, S. compacta; Diplophyllum albicans ; Lophocolea bidentata ; Coleochila taylori ; Jungermania quinguedentata ; Southbya obovata; Mesophylla com- pressa ; Marsupella emarginata, M. sphacelata; Alt- cularia scalaris; Acolea crenulata, A. obtusa; Pellia epiphylla; Aneura pinguis; Conocephalus contcus ; Marchantia polymorpha. (To be continued.)
2) =
32 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
GENERIC NAMES OF DIATOMS.
By Rev. ApAM CLARKE SMITH.
prem my connection with the’ Postal Micro-
scopical Society, I know that a number of persons are interested in and are working at Diatoms, that most fascinating subject. They are, however, unless classical scholars, sadly hampered in their study with the nomenclature. For the sake of an acquaintance, I have translated, as far as I could, the generic names, and thinking that the list might be useful to others, I have offered the result to SCIENCE-GOssIP.
These generic names were generally given from fanciful resemblances ; many are very happy, and help greatly to separate the class from others, but some are difficult to ferret out, or to perceive the resemblance. I have made out what I could; I have left the others as blanks, hoping that some readers may be able to hit the meanings; if so, I shall be very glad if they are sent to me that I may add them in some future number of this periodical.
It will be at once perceived that I have not taken proper names of individuals, such as Kitton’s ; that of itself would form an admirable memorial of some of our leading Diatomists and scientific men, whether alive or dead.
Some of my difficulties I have submitted to Mr. Grove and Mr. Nelson, but they seem as much puzzled as I am. Any one in London who has access to the library of the R.M.S. or to the University Libraries of Oxford and Cambridge, might discover the meaning, or the intention of the givers on first naming them.
The specific names are more easily to be made out, being mainly derived from the Latin; whereas the generic are generally Greek combinations, and sometimes are very fanciful.
The (g) after some words signifies that it is taken from the genitive case, as actis—a ray, genitive— actinos. :
DERIVATIONS OF GENERIC NAMES OF DIATOMACE2.
ACHNANTHES, sea-foam flower; achné—sea-foam, and anthos—a flower.
ACHNANTHIDIUM, a small Achnanthes.
ACTINISCUS, a rayed bag ; actinos (g), and ascos—a bag or bottle.
ACTINOCYCLUS, a rayed circle; actinos (g), and cuclos—a circle.
AcTINODIScUS, a rayed disk; actinos (g), and discos—a disk.
Actinoptycuus, folded rays; actinos (g), and ptuchos (g)—a fold.
ALLOIONEIS, a differently-sided boat; alloios— different, and neis = naus—a ship.
AMPHIPRORA, rounded prow; amphi—around, and prora—a prow.
AMPHIPLEURA, rounded sides ; amphi, and pleura— a rib.
AMPHITETRAS, four-sided; amphi, and tetras— four.
AMPHORA, a jar.
ANORTHONEIS, not an ‘‘ Orthoneis.”’
ANTHopIScuUS, a flowered disk; anthos—a flower, and discos.
ARACHNOIDIscUuS, the spider’s-web disk ; arachné — a spider, and discos.
ASTEROLAMPRA, a Shining star; aster—a star, and lampros—shining.
ASTEROMPHALUS, a star in the centre; aster, and omphalos—the navel.
AULIscUS, a small reed or pipe.
BACILLARIA, small rods.
BaAcTERIASTRUM, a Star with rods ; bacterion—a rod, and astron—a star.
CampPyLopiscus, a saddle-shaped disk ; campulos— bent, and discos.
CAMPYLONEIS, a bent boat ; campulos—bent, and neis.
CERATAULOS, horn tube; ceras—a horn, and aulos—a hollow.
Crstopiscus, a girdled disk; cestos—Venus’s girdle, and discos.
CHELONIODISCUS, a tortoise-shaped disk ; cheloné— a tortoise, and discos.
CH@TOocEROS, a horned chest ; coiteé—a chest, and ceras.
CLIMACOSPHENIA, a wedge-like ladder; clima- cos (g), and sphen—a wedge.
CocconE!Is, a berry-like boat; coccos—a berry, and neis.
COLLETONEMA, a filament of forms in mucus; colletos—glued, and nema—a filament.
COSCINODISCUS, a sieve-like disk ; coscinon—a sieve, and discos. .
Cosmiopiscus, a well-ordered disk ; cosmios—well- ordered, and discos.
CrasPEpopiscus, a bordered disk; craspedon—a border, and discos.
CRASPEDOPORUS, a bordered hole; craspedon, and poros—a hole.
CYCLOTELLA, a small circle.
CYMATOPLEURA, having swollen sides ; cuma—the swell of the sea, and pleura—a rib.
CyYMBELLA, a cymbal ; cumbalon—a hollow basin.
DENTICULA, a small tooth.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 33
D1atToma, brittle-wort ; dia—through, and temno— to cut.
Dictapia, double-branched ; clados— a branch.
Dictyonelis, a netted boat ; dictuon —a net, and neis.
Dictyopyxis, a netted box; dictuon, and puxis—
a box.
DirLoneIs, a duplex boat ; diplos—double, and neis.
ENCYONEMA, a pregnant filament; encuos—preg- nant, and nema.
Enpictya, netted ; en—in, and dictuon—a net.
EnTOGONIA, an angle inside another ; entos—within, and gonia-—an angle.
EpiITHEMIA, a small lid.
Evucampia, well curved; eu—well, and campe—a bending.
Evunotia, well-backed ; eu, and notos—the back.
EvuNOTOGRAMMA, well-backed writing; eu, notos, and gramma—a letter.
EvupHyYLLopivm, beautiful leaf; eu, and phullon— a leaf.
Evpopiscus, a distinctly-footed disk; eu, and podos (g)—a foot, and discos.
Evopia, distinctly swollen; eu, and oidos—a swelling. (If this be the right derivation, the word should be spelled Eucedia.)
FENESTRELLA, a small opening or window.
Fracivaria ; fragilis—brittle.
GerpuHyRriA, a small bridge; gephura—a bridge.
GLYPHODESMIS, glupho—to carve, and desmis—a bundle; or desmos—a fetter or chain.
GrLypuHopiscus, a carved disk; glupho, and desmis or desmos, and discos.
GoMPHONEMA, a filament of wedge-shaped forms; gomphos—a wedge, and nema.
GONIOTHECIUM, a box with angles; gonia—angle, and thecé—a box.
GRAMMATOPHORA, bearing an inscription; gramma, and phorus—bearing.
GyrotycuHus, a round and folded form; guros— round, and tuchos (g)—a fold.
HELIOPELTA, sun-shield; helios—the sun, and pelta—a shield.
Hemiautus, half a sheep-pen; hemi—half, and aulis—a fold. (Like one side of a sheep-pen, such as we see on the Sussex Downs.) Or, aulos—a tube or pipe.
Hemiunpiscus, half a disk; hemi, and discos.
HETERODICTYON, a variable net ; heteros—different, and dictyon.
HIMANTIDIUM, a small strap or thong.
HyALopiscus, a transparent disk; hualos—trans- parent, and discos.
ISTHMIA, a narrow neck.
dis—twice, and
IsopIscus, ; Isos—equal, level; and discos. LAMPRISCUS, lampros—shining, and
ascos—a bottle.
Liraviscus, lily-disk ; leirion—a lily, and discos.
LicmopHora, the fan-bearer; licmos—a fan, and phoros.
LITHODESMIUM, and desmos,
MastTOoG Lola, a nipple-like mucoid mass; mastos— the breast, and gloios—glue.
ME LosiRA, a filament of apple-like forms ; melon— an apple, and seira—a cord or filament.
MERIDION, like the face of a clock; meridion—noon- day.
MonopsiA, having one eye; monos—only, and opsis—eye-sight.
Navicura, a little boat.
ODONTELLA, a little tooth ; odontos (g)—a tooth.
OponTIpIvM, a little tooth ; odontos (g).
OMPHALOPELTA, a Shield with a centre ; omphalos, and pelta.
ORTHONEIs, a Straight, symmetrical boat ; orthos— straight, and neis.
OrTHOsIRA, a straight chain; orthos, and seira.
PARALIA,
PaRELION, like a mock-sun; parelios—a parelion.
PrEponia, a melon; pepon.
PINNULARIA, a small feather ; pinna—a feather.
PLAGIOGRAMMA, inscription on the side; plagios— sideways, and gramma.
PLEvROSIGMA, with sides like the Greek =; pleura, and sigma.
Poposira, a footed chain; podos (g), and seira— alluding to the stalk, or stipes, by which the diatom is attached.
PoposPHENIA, a footed wedge; same as podos in Podosira above, and sphen.
Poropiscus, a pierced disk; poros—a passage, and discos.
PorpEia, a Clasp, or buckle.
PyrGcopiscus, a disk with a tower ; tower, and discos.
PyxILiA, a little box ; puxis.
RAPHONEIS, boat-shaped, with herring-bone mark- ings; raphé is the suture of the skull—herring- bone work; hence raphis—a needle: hence it may mean the clear line separating the two opposite sets of markings.
RuHABDONEMA, a fillet of rods; rhabdos—a rod, and nema. RIPIDOPHORA,
phoros.
RHIZOSOLENIA, stem, and solen—a pipe.
RuoicosicMa, a crooked letter =; rhoicos—crooked, and sigma.
RHOICOSPHENIA, a crooked wedge; sphen.
RutiLaria, a lovely folding; rutis—a fold, and laros—lovely.
SCEPTRONEIS, a sceptre-like boat ; sceptre, and neis.
- lithos—a stone,
purgos.—a
fan-bearing; ripis—a fan, and
* riza—a root or
rhoicos and
sceptron—a
34 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
SCHIZONEMA, a branching collection of boats; schizo—to divide, and nema.
SCOLIOPLEURA, with crooked sides; scolios— crooked, and pleura. SKELETONEMA, ; skeletos—dried
up, and nema.
STAURONEIS, a boat with a cross; stauros—a cross, and neis.
STEPHANODISCUS, a crowned disk; stephanos—a crown, and discos.
STEPHANOGONIA, an angular or pointed crown ; stephanos, and gonia.
STEPHANOPYXIS, a crowned box; stephanos, and puxis.
STICTODIScUS, a spotted disk; stictos—spotted, and discos.
STRANGULONEMA, a constricted filament; strangos —a strangling, and nema. (The filaments are constricted deeply, as though tied with thread.)
STRIATELLA, a small ridge; stria.
SURIRELLA.
.SYNDETONEIS, a boat bound in another; sundetos —bound together, and neis.
SYNEDRA, a joining together; sunedros—a sitting in council.
SyRINGIDIUM, like a shepherd’s pipe; surinks—a pipe.
SYSTEPHANIA, stephanos.
TABELLARIA, a little tablet.
TERPSINOE, heart-gladdening, 7.¢. musical.
TetracycLus, of four circles; tetras—four, and
; sus—together, and
cuclos.
TuHa.assiosira, sea-filament; thalassa—the sea, and seira.
THALASSIOTHRIX, sea-hair; thalassa, and thrix— the hair.
THAUMATODISCUS, wonder-disk; thauma—a
wonder, a juggle (called from the ‘“ thauma- trope,” a child’s toy), and discos. THAUMATONEMA, wonder-filament ; nema. Toxonip1A, like a little bow ; toxon—a bow. TRICERATIUM, three-horned ; tris—trice, and ceras.
thauma, and
TriInAcriA, three-pointed; tris, and acron—a point. TROCHOSIRA, a wheel-like filament; trochos—a
wheel, and seira.
TROPIDONEIS, a twisted boat; tropé—a twist, and
neis. TRYBLIONELLA, a little dish ; trublion—a dish. XANTHIOPYXIS. ZyGoceros, a horned yoke; zugon—a yoke, and ceras. I trust these explanations will interest some, and will help towards the understanding of these marvellous beauties of Nature.
Eastmoor, Church Road, Bournemouth East; May, 1896.
EFFECT OF FEAR UPON HERONS.
N a former number (ScieNncE-GossiP, Vol. ii., N.S., p. 194), a correspondent describes one of a flock of partridges flying over a railway train, falling dead, apparently from fright. One September, a few years since, I had an opportunity of testing a statement I had frequently heard made when shooting over Irish bogs, namely, that a heron, when fishing for eels or frogs in a ditch or bog-hole, becomes paralysed if surprised by a person suddenly appearing on the bank above him, and shouting or gesticulating violently ; when they can be killed with sods or stones. On this occasion I was walking on a high bank bordering an estuary of a river running into Sheephaven, co. Donegal, in a gale of wind, and numerous herons, driven by the rising tide off the flats, were sheltering from the wind under it, and flying off from time to time almost from beneath my feet as I passed along. Suddenly I remembered the story of my gillies of days gone by, and resolved to put it to the test. Making a detour, I approached the shore further on where the bank was very steep and fringed with furze. On reaching the edge (for the high wind prevented my approach being heard) I saw a heron standing right beneath, and flapping my cloak and shouting, to my surprise it sat down and waited till I rushed down the bank. Shielding my face from its dangerous beak, I took it up and carried it to the field above. When put down it remained crouching in a sitting attitude on the ground watching me, and uttering occasionally a low croaking sound. When I went about ten yards off, it rose to its legs and walked deliberately to a furze bush and sat down under it. I then took it into the open field and threw it into the air as high as I could: it merely expanded its wings and pitched again and sat down.. Taking it to the shore I retired, and then it waded out till the waves lifted it off its feet, when to my surprise it paddled manfully against them for a while, but the wind drove it back. After some fifteen or twenty minutes of my rather cruel experiments, I left it where I found it, apparently paralysed with terror, but unhurt. It could spread its wings and the wing-bones were sound, and it was apparently uninjured in any way. Judging from the top-knot it was a young bird, but not of that year. W. F. DE V. KANE.
Drumreaske House, Monaghan.
We have received from Mr. R, Kanthack, 18, Berners Street, London, W., illustrated priced catalogues of astronomical and physical instruments _ made by C. A. Steinheil Sohne, of Munich. These catalogues are sent free, on application, to those interested.
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. So
SCIENCE AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY.
By Joun T. CarrincTon.
(Continued from page 5.)
Sir RicHarD OWEN (1804-1892).
HREE decades since, the name of Professor Owen was frequently before the public. Many wondrous things were attributed to his knowledge of anatomy and animal structure. Those times were towards the end of the days when the term ‘‘natu- ralist’? was as- sociated with museum’ speci- mens, and before the word ‘ biolo- gist” for the time being drove it out of fashion. Richard Owen was born in a house at the junction of Brock and Thurnham
Streets, in Lan- Y caster, on the iM 2oth of July, 1804. ll )
His father was a West India mer- chant, of Fulmer Place, Bucking- hamshire, where his grandfather had lived and acted as High Sheriff of the county. Owen’s
ee a ain a A sn J
woman of as \
rina overs ill i) rst experience
of school was at the grammar school at Lancaster, where he went at the early age of six years. There he met, as schoolfellow, William Whewell, in later years a well-known writer on scientific subjects and the unfortunate inventor of the abominable word “‘scientist.’’ At school Owen never showed any brilliancy or taste for natural history, heraldry being rather to his bent, if he had any.
In 1820, Owen was apprenticed to a surgeon- apothecary of Lancaster, his indentures being
Sir RicHARD OWEN.
transferred to two other surgeons before his time expired. Under the last of these masters he had to attend the county gaol to conduct post-mortem examinations, in which he soon became much inte- rested, developing apassion for anatomy. On leaving Lancaster, he entered the University of Edinburgh
and attended, other studies, the lec- tures on anatomy by Dr. John Bar- clay, who, though not the Uni- versity _ profes- sor of anatomy, was a man of great ability and reputation. To his excellence in teaching com- parative anatomy Owen always at- tributed, in after life, his great success. Without waiting to take his degree, Owen, in 1825, removed to St. Bartholo- mew’s Hospital in London, where he went the bearer of a letter of introduction from Barclay to the noted Dr. Abernethy, who appointed him Prosector for his surgical lectures. In 1826 he passed for his Fellow- ship of the Royal College of Surgeons, and set up in private practice at 11, Took’s Court, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. In 1827 he received, through Abernethy’s influence, the post of Assistant Keeper of the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, under William Clift, a devoted pupil and assistant of Dr. John Hunter. He it was who had lovingly cared for these collections from the time of the great surgeon’s death until they came under the custody of the Royal College. In 1829 Owen was appointed
among
36 SCIENCE-GOSSIP.
Lecturer on Comparative Anatomy at St. Bartholo- mew’s. At the Hunterian Museum he met Cuvier, and on his invitation went, in 1831, to Paris, where Owen attended the lectures of Cuvier and Geoffroy St. Hilaire, and worked in the dissecting rooms of that city. His first published paper appeared in ‘‘The Transactions of the Medico-Chirurgical Society,’ in 1830. In 1832 his ‘‘Memoir on the Pearly Nautilus’’ founded his reputation, and in 1834 he became F.R.S. In 1833 he founded the ‘Zoological Magazine,” but he soon severed his connection with it. been engaged to Caroline Clift, the only daughter of his friend and chief at the Museum, but it was not until 1835 that his prospects admitted of their marriage. In 1842 he was made joint Conservator with Clift, who soon afterwards retired, when Owen became wholly responsible, with J. T. Quekett as his assistant.
In 1836 Owen was appointed first Hunterian Professor of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons. Honours then began to fall fast upon him, including a civil list pension of £200 per annum, granted by Sir Robert Peel; and about that time it is said he refused a knighthood.
Up to 1852, from his appointment as Curator of the Royal College of Surgeons, he had occupied small rooms in the College buildings; in that year, however, the Queen gave him the use of the cottage named Sheen Lodge, in Richmond Park, where he resided until his death. In 1853, Owen took his wife to Paris, and lectured in French at the Institute, Later, on his connection with the British Department of the Universal Exhibition, Napoleon III. created him a Knight of the Legion of Honour. This was not his first association with an exhibition, for he was a member of the Organising Committee of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and was destined to be later occupied at the building on its removal to Sydenham, where he suggested and carried out the design for the models of extinct animals still to be seen in the grounds at the Crystal Palace.
In 1856, he was appointed to the specially created post of Superintendent of the Natural History Department of the British Museum. Previously the collections had been in charge of the principal librarian. The permanent staff at the Museum having hitherto been in a very in- dependent position, continued their work much in their own way, leaving the administrative work for Owen of the smallest. Instead of resenting this, he quietly settled down, free from financial anxiety, his salary being £800 a year, to study the vast material in the Museum, and his publications became most voluminous, though we doubt their great value for future generations.
Owen was a man of strong views in some
For some seven years he had .
directions, and in him Charles Darwin found a steady opponent to his theory of natural selection as the origin of species; Owen following his courtier’s instinct in supporting the orthodox view of special creation.
Richard Owen’s most useful work in his con- nection with the British Museum was his persistent application to the Government for more space for the collections than was available at Bloomsbury. In this he was well supported by the heads of the department, but it was not until 1881 that the new museum at South Kensington was open to the public, though he commenced his agitation in 1859. In 1883, his health had become a source of anxiety to his friends, and being in his eightieth year, at his own desire he resigned his position at the Natural History Museum, in which he was succeeded by the present director, Sir William Flower, K.C.B., F.R.S. In 1884, Owen was made a Knight Commander of the Bath, and his annual pension was augmented. He survived until 1892, when he died and was buried in the churchyard at Ham, near Richmond, where his wife had preceded him in 1873.
It would be hardly in place in these sketches of scientific worthies to criticise Sir Richard Owen as a man of science. He was eccentric from some points of view, and a link between the old times and the new. He never fully appreciated the new, but clung tenaciously to the old. As an example of what we mean, we have only to compare what we remember of the natural-history department at Bloomsbury, with the magnificent galleries as now arranged at Cromwell Road, Kensington.
The portrait of Sir Richard Owen hangs in Room xvil. of the Gallery. It was painted by H. W. Pickersgill, R.A., and represents Professor Owen in his academic gown holding in his left hand a nautilus shell. The portrait is about half life-size, at middle age, showing the black hair and: large black eyes which were so characteristic of his face. He changed considerably in later years, growing more massive in his features.
Sir WILLIAM HERSCHEL (1738-1822).
There are two pictures of this celebrated astro- nomer in the National Portrait Gallery, one in oil colours at the age of fifty years, the other in pencil. The former is about two-thirds life size, by Lemuel F. Abbot. It was purchased for the Gallery in 1860. He is represented simply by head and shoulders, dressed in a rich purple brown coat and wearing white stock and frilled shirt. His hair is grey, full at the back, and may have been a wig, though it is drawn as though natural. The pencil sketch is by Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A., and was purchased in May, 1891. It represents Sir William at an apparently earlier age than the oil-painting, as his face is far less full,
SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 37
Frederick William Herschel was born in Hanover, November 15th, 1738, of Protestant parents. His first Christian name was seldom used, and he was generally known as William Herschel only. His ancestors were long employed about the Hano- varian Court in various capacities, either in the gardens, or chiefly in the bands of music attached
Sir WILLIAM HERSCHEL.
to the regiment of Guards. William was engaged as hautboy player, but his health becoming shaken, he was made to desert his regiment by his parents, who shipped him off to England. Here he had a hard struggle for existence for the first three years of his residence, but fortunately he got the appointment of bandmaster of the Durham Militia, after which he became a music teacher at Doncaster, and conducted concerts in other parts of Yorkshire. In 1765 he was organist at Halifax, whence he went to Bath in the same capacity. There he studied harmony and mathe- matics after many a day of sixteen hours’ teaching. This led on to astronomy, and he hired a small reflector from a quaker optician. With his brother’s help, and some tools, in 1773 he set up his first telescope, and on March 4th, 1774, observed the nebula of Orion, a record of which is preserved by the Royal Society.
From that time, by slow and laborious work, he steadily made his way as an astronomical observer, until the jointure he received with his wife, on their marriage in 1788, left him free for greater work.
Herschel was a man in every way to be admired, gentle, cultured, earnest and painstaking in every- thing he undertook. Full ofsimplicity and kindness, he was ever ready to help others. His fidelity in friendship was notorious. It is related that in the midst of his busy life in Bath he left every- thing to search for a younger brother who had run away from home.
At last there came the great necessity of those times, royal favour; it included, by the way, free pardon for his deserting the regiment of Guards and a Knighthood of the Royal Guelphic Order of Hanover, It is impossible here to enumerate all the astronomical achievements of Herschel—it would occupy pages ; the titles alone fill sixty-nine pages in the memoirs published by the Royal Society. He was virtually the founder of sidereal science, and he left records of 2,500 nebula, whereas 103