Page images
PDF
EPUB

NOTES AND QUERIES.

WATER BOATMAN.-Should any one be tempted to follow the advice of Mr. John Bockett by introducing the Water Boatman into an aquarium, let him beware of putting him in company with fish. When less experienced than at present, I introduced several into my children's aqua-vivarium, and in about two or three days such was the mortality that we thought some terrible epidemic had seized our fish. While looking mournfully at our pets, with this idea, we saw a Water Boatman lodge on the head of a rather large gold fish, who shook it off and swam away, but in a few minutes staggered, struggled, turned on its side, and died. Carefully watching them, we witnessed several similar attacks with the same result; I need not say the murderers were summarily ejected. No doubt they are amusing creatures in a separate tank.-L. H. F.

RURAL NATURAL HISTORY.-I know not how far Mr. Holland's ingenious speculation regarding 66 fistles is correct, but he may be interested in knowing that "fistula" is in the district (W. Norfolk), generally pronounced by the poor thistulo."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

CURE FOR AGUE?-A curious mode of treatment for ague is practised in Marshland. I give it as it was narrated to a clerical friend in that district. "Well, sir, you must catch a moll, and it must be a male moll." "What is a moll? says his reverence. A moll, sir! why one of those little creatures which they hang on trees" (meaning, O illiterate reader, a mole). Well, sir, you must then skin it, and dry the body in the oven, and then powder it, and you must take as much of the powder as will lie on a shilling every day in gin. You must take it for nine days running, and then miss nine, and then take it nine days more, and then (note well the final part of the treatment!) miss nine. By this time you are cured." "Thank you," said my friend, departing. But mind, sir," shouts the doctress, "it must be a male moll."-L.

66

BIRDS BREEDING IN CONFINEMENT.-The best and I believe only successful plan, is to put the pair of birds intended for breeding into the cage intended for that purpose, which should be hung against the wall of the room in which you intend having your birds at liberty, and (if they will) let them get as far as having young ones; at night open the doors of the cage (gently); in the morning and next day they will most likely fly in and out, and feed the young. The birds reared in this manner are stronger and healthier than when kept in a closed cage. Some of the birds mentioned by A. P. he will find it very difficult to get to breed in confinement, as Siskin and Snow Bunting, but all the others ought to do so freely. At first the Linnets are rather sulky, but when once they begin they get on very well. The hemp seed should be given very sparingly, as it makes them corpulent, and not inclined for breeding. Hard egg is most essential, and should be given (one between each pair) every week; it need not be chopped up, as was the old style, but cut in two and left in the half shells; in this way it will keep better. -R. R.

EARLY WASP.-I caught a female wasp (Vespa vulgaris) on the 22nd February, this year, being nine days earlier than the one recorded by your correspondent Henry W. T. Ellis. It was captured on a tree in Kensington Gardens, and was extremely lively.-H. H. O'Farrell.

SPAWNING OF THE FROG.-Your correspondent for March (George Dansey), in alluding to the above subject, stated that "spawning takes place in the night." This may be occasionally, but not as a rule. At our last meeting (Lower Mosley Street Schools Natural History Society), one of the members made a communication to the effect that he and his friend had been in the fields, and had come across a number of frogs that were in the act of spawning, some of which he picked up, and received the spawn in his hand. This was about four o'clock in the afternoon. I myself saw some toads spawning last summer at midday, in the Manchester Museum. As this is an interesting subject, it would be advisable for those who have watched the habits of frogs to give their experience, in order that we may ascertain whether they (frogs) do or do not spawn during the night.-H. Hyde.

SKELETON LEAVES.-I would feel greatly obliged if you or any of the subscribers to SCIENCE-GOSSIP could inform me how to dry skeleton leaves. After bleaching them, how do you prevent them from sticking to the paper on which you lift them out of the water? You can take them out of the water in the same manner as seaweeds, but then they stick fast to the paper.-J. S. S.

DUST ON AQUARIA.-The following is a simple method of removing this. Lay a piece of paper gently on the surface of the water, allowing the whole under-side to become wet; then, carefully raising one end of the paper, peel it off, and the dust, &c., will be entirely removed, adhering to the paper. By repeating the process two or three times wherever dust, &c., occurs, the water will be found perfectly clean.-George Henslow.

FARO APOPHYLLITE. Can any of your correspondents give some information about this crystal? Quekett, in his work on the microscope, mentions it, on the authority of Sir David Brewster, as a splendid polariscopic object, "when the prisms are complete."-4. S.

HOW DID THEY GET THERE?-Some years ago while staying at Bicester, in Oxfordshire, I met with a circumstance which has often struck me as worthy of record. I was standing, on a hot summer's day on a bridge over a little stream, the parapet of which was formed of broad thin slices of stone, cemented one upon the other. The top stone appearing loose, I pushed it off, and its removal was followed by that of another, and another-to the detriment, I fear, of the bridge. When I had arrived at about the third layer, a toad hopped out, and as I progressed in my work of destruction, many more appeared-in all about a dozen. How did they get there? The cement appeared quite firm, save just at the top; and I could see no crevices through which they could have entered. The toads were very dry and dusty, and seemed to be quite at home in their nooks. The remarkable point was, that the lower I went, the more toads appeared; and how they got in is still to me an unexplained mystery.-B.

THE FIRST SWALLOW.-I was much surprised to see a martin (Chelidon urbica) on the 5th of this month. Mr. Jesse, in his "Gleanings," notes the 3rd of April as the earliest date for the appearance of the swallow; but here I never remember seeing them before the 15th or 16th. We are not giving our old friend a very genial welcome. - Robert Holland.

BIRDS BREEDING IN CONFINEMENT.-Though I ! cannot supply A. Pickard with the information he desires, yet the record of my experience may be of some assistance. Bechstein, I think, cites a few instances of cage birds breeding in confinement; but the occurrence is very rare.

A pair of greenfinches were brought up from the nest by a pair of canaries; the male bird acquired the song calls of his foster-father; but the female preserved the calls of the species. For several successive summers these greenfinches built nests, the hen laid eggs, but the male on every occasion prevented her from sitting. I have no doubt that if A. P. reared the birds from the nests, and thus to some extent domesticated them, they might be brought to breed in confinement, especially if they have the use of an aviary, containing growing shrubs and plants.-R. Tate.

REVOLVING STEREOSCOPES. There are few instruments more attractive and interesting in the family circle than a good revolving stereoscope, but unfortunately they have, because of their great cost, been used to a very limited extent. The importance of obtaining revolving stereoscopes to contain fifty slides, at greatly reduced prices, led me to suggest to two of the principal wholesale dealers in optical instruments in London, the desirability of producing revolving stereoscopes at such prices as would enable working men in the receipt of weekly wages, to obtain them with comparative ease; and I am glad to inform your numerous readers that revolving stereoscopes of neat appearance, and of excellent optical capabilities, may now be had of any respectable dealer in optical instruments, at about one third the sum previously charged for such apparatus. So popular are the new revolving stereoscopes that one dealer in Newcastle-on-Tyne has within the last few days ordered upwards of one hundred, and a similar or even greater sale, might by a little enterprise be obtained in all the large towns in the kingdom.-T. P. Barkas, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

HONEY ANT OF TEXAS.-A Texas paper of a late date, speaking of the honey ant, says: We have often heard of the 'honey ant' of Texas, but the account seeming so romantic, we have heretofore been hardly able to credit it, but as we now have a specimen before us, furnished by our friend Leo Smith, of this city, we can no longer have any doubts on the subject. These ants are a medium size between the large and small red ants, and are of a reddish and brown colour. Appended to the rear of each one is a transparent sac or globe filled with pure, clear honey, of a most delicious flavour. These sacs vary in size on different ants-ranging between the size of a buckshot and a navy pistol ball. On this sac, at short intervals, are attached thin layers about the length and width of half a grain of rice, and of a dark colour, evidently to strengthen it and keep it in shape. These interesting animals, when they crawl, draw their delicious load after them, and if the sac is empty, they set themselves to work to replenish it again. Whether they deposit this honey in their great general reservoir among the rocks, to draw from it as occasion may require, or hold and use it as individual property, we are not informed. Here is a curiosity that we believe has heretofore escaped the eyes and pens of our celebrated naturalists."

Are these ants unknown to entomologists, as the Editor of the American Paper believes, or if known, by what name are they distinguished?-S. 4. Stewart.

RURAL NATURAL HISTORY.-Will you allow me to correct a slight error into which my friend Mr. Holland has fallen, in your last number? He represents me as saying that the dock is "used in Buckinghamshire as an antidote to the sting of the nettle;" whereas I specified Essex as the county in which this use obtains (S. G., ii., 83). I would not have troubled you with this, save that I have not yet met with the practice in Bucks.-B.

PUFFANAS MULTIFORMIS.*-This curious fish is imported every year into England at the end of March, or in the first days of April, coming especially from the United States, sometimes also from France. Great numbers of species, or rather varieties, are known: the P. capensis or lunarius reported to have been found by Dr. Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope. The P. Martii found fossil in America in an aerolite, &c., are most interesting specimens. I believe the whale that was cast upon the shore near Dunkirk, in April, 1863, during a south-eastern storm, and which is described in a recent French work, is the P. bolanaformis. A new species is P. thermalis, just found at the island of Santorin (when out of hot water the fish dies), is boiled and eatable. English and French journalists sometimes gratify their friends with a dish of Puffanas fish; the French call them generally "Poisson d'Avril." I beg to warn your readers against any too marvellous news they may meet with in the papers at this season, assuring them, probably, it will belong to the genus Puffanas.-B. Melle.

DUST ON AQUARIA.-To remove this, I cut a newspaper into strips about 16 inches by 24 inches, my aquarium being 18 inches wide, and I frequently skim soup or broth. I find that two sweeps of the skim the surface of the water by running the edge of the strip of paper over it in the same manner as cooks strip of paper remove all the dust resting on the surface of the water, and leave it perfectly clean and brightly. Another advantage is that very little water is wasted, and the aquarium may be perfectly cleaned in twenty seconds.-T. P. Barkas.

DOUBLE ORANGES.-I have in my possession a small orange that was found in the centre of a large one, and is quite perfect except that the rind is wanting. And it was only the other day that I read in the Manchester Examiner and Times of one having been found with the rind upon it, and strange to say it was of the same yellow colour as the larger orange. As I am quite ignorant of the cause of the development of these double oranges, I shall be glad if any of your correspondents will enlighten me.-H. H.

AQUARIUM PEST.-L. H. F. (p. 70), asks why do the eggs of the water-snails, which are adherent to the sides of his or her aquarium, never hatch? Why, give them time! In my little book on the British Snails, I have stated that the eggs of the fresh-water snails are hatched in about thirty days; and I dare say, 'ere this, L. H. F. will have verified this.-R. Tate.

POLARISING A RAINBOW.-When a portion of a rainbow is viewed through a Nichol's prism, and the prism turned till the long diagonal coincides with the chord of the arc viewed, the coloured rays disappear. Do they consist of light polarised in one direction ?—J. W.

*Puff and anas = canard.

SPAWNING OF FROGS.-Frogs began to spawn here during the warm weather which we had at the end of February. I did not note down the exact date, but on March 2nd I passed a quantity of spawn imbedded in ice. Would the vitality of this be destroyed? A strange notion prevails here that three-year-old frogs destroy all the four-year-old frogs. The females are generally larger than the males, and hence the idea that they are of different ages; whilst the fact that many of the females do die after spawning,-from exhaustion, or because from weakness they cannot escape from their enemies, the boys,—has given rise to the belief that the smaller ones kill the larger ones. Frogs are also looked upon as good weather-guides. If they are of a bright yellowish colour, it will be fine weather; if of a dull brown, it will rain. Frogs certainly vary greatly in colour, but whether they are capable of changing their hue, like a chameleon, I do not know.-Robert Holland.

--

HYALODISCUS. Your correspondent "R. G." kindly sent me a slide of diatoms from under Menai Bridge, containing one specimen of what he considers to be Hyalodiscus subtilis, var. lævis. I find abundant specimens of the same form in slides of diatoms from Teignmouth and Isle of Arran. I believe it to be a Podosira, possibly Podosira maculata (S.), see Pritchard, p. 815, 4th edition, and S. B. D., vol. ii., p. 54, pl. 49, fig. 328. The disc is certainly convex, and not flat, convexity being the distinguishing characteristic of Podosira as opposed to Hyalodiscus. The markings, moreover, are not like an engineturned back of a watch, but the disc appears obscurely divided into compartments, each with two sets of oblique, intersecting, distinct striæ.-H. R.

THE LACKEY MOTH.-I recently found some eggs, greenish and of a conical shape. From a drawing I have seen, I believe them to be the eggs of the Lackey Moth. If so, a rather curious circumstance presents itself. Ín all books on insects that I have read, the eggs of the Lackey Moth are represented as being made in a ring round the branch of a tree. Now these eggs were laid on the trunk of a tree, and in a patch not-a ring. Is this a common occurrence? I have never seen it noted by any writer on entomology. Perhaps some of the readers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP may have met with a similar instance.-H. H. O'Farrell.

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY.-I saw here this year the first Brimstone Butterfly on the 15th of February. I believe this butterfly has no regular time for its apparitions, as several others; I have observed since nearly twenty years the periodical visits of birds, insects, &c., and have seen it sometimes very soon, when there was only a glimpse of fine weather. In 1852 it appeared on the 21st December; in 1862 on the 14th of January. The Brimstone Butterfly is called in French Citron," the Brimstone Moth Soufré."-B. Melle.

Сс

MICE AND COCKROACHES.-In the struggle for existence, is there any antagonism between mice and cockroaches? My house at one time, and for years, was swarmed with the latter, of which I have a special horror. At that period we had no mice. Within the last year or two mice have taken their abode with us, and are now not only numerous but supreme, the cockroach having disappeared before it, and this without any poison or other means having been resorted to. Have the mice eaten them or frightened them away ?-J. B. Keene,

SENSITIVE PLANTS (v. S. G., p. 94).-I have seen in some authors that the false Acacia (Robinia pseudo Acacia), when suddenly and violently shaken, seems also sensitive, but I never experienced that. -B. Melle.

BABEER (v.S. G. p.90).-Might that cane not be the Eriophorum Cannabinum, called, I believe, in India Bhabhar," and employed there with other grasses for making ropes ?-B. Melle.

AN EGG WITHIN AN EGG (v. S. G. p. 94).—We have here, in the Museum, an egg enclosed in another, just as the one described by C. A. J. A communication was made last year to the Academie des Sciences of a similar occurrence. The case seems to happen occasionally.-B. Melle.

SANTONINE, &c.-E. M. will readily procure most beautiful crystals of santonine from its solution in chloroform. By varying the strength of the solution, and the quantity laid upon the slide, E. M. will procure a variety of combinations. Let the solution evaporate spontaneously. My specimens are mounted dry. Has your correspondent tried Naphthaline? If not, he should do so, thus. Place a flake or two at the bottom of a watch-glass, over which put a lidless salve or pill box, with the bottom uppermost, and with a hole punched in it ; over the hole place your glass slip, and apply a spirit-glass to the under side of the watch-glass, when the vapour of the naphthaline will condense on the slide in most exquisite crystals (vide Intell. Obs. vol. vi., p. 441). I have not yet been very successful in mounting this highly volatile substance.— J. E. Whalley.

DOUBLE PEAR.-A notice of a peculiar pear in SCIENCE-GOSSIP reminds me of one I saw some time ago. It differed from that described by your correspondent in being a double pear, the second growing out of the eye of the first-hanging and separated from it by a stalk. This pear grew on a tree against a wall.-H. Smith.

STICKLEBACK OUT OF WATER.-The other day the boys were turning out the aquarium, and left the fish-which were three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus)- rather too long in a bottle. The consequences were that many of them died. The aquarium glass was refilled, and the boys put the live sticklebacks in, leaving the supposed dead ones-of which I rescued three-in a saucer, without any water. This was at 4 p.m. Just before I went to bed-it being then 10 p.m.I saw that the boys had not taken away the supposed dead fish. I determined to give them a small lecture for the omission; and poured a little water into the saucer, and put it on one side. The next morning, when I told a boy to take it away, he said, "Why, sir, here is one of the fish alive!" And sure enough there was. We put it into the aquarium, and it has lived a week. Do sticklebacks generally live six hours without water ?-F. R. R.

SANTONINE.-To prepare slides of rosette crystals, place about ten grains of santonine in a small test tube, and pour upon it one dram of chloroform, and dissolve by a gentle heat; then drop upon glass slips a small portion of the solution, which will rapidly evaporate, depositing fine rosette crystals of the salt. Canada balsam or Deane's gelatine medium will answer well for mounting them.-F. R. Martin, Redland, Bristol.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ALL communications relative to advertisements, post-office orders, and orders for the supply of this Journal should be addressed to the PUBLISHER. All contributions, books, and pamphlets for the EDITOR should be sent to 192, Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contributions should not be received later than the 15th of each month. No notice whatever can be taken of communications which do not contain the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, if desired to be withheld. We do not undertake to answer any queries not specially connected with Natural History, in accordance with our acceptance of that term; nor can we answer queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an appeal to any elementary book on the subject. We are always prepared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish the replies, provided some of our readers, besides the querist, are likely to be interested in them. We cannot undertake to return rejected manuscripts unless sufficient stamps are enclosed to cover the return postage. Neither can we promise to refer to or return any manuscript after one month from the date of its receipt. All microscopical drawings intended for publication should have annexed thereto the powers employed, or the extent of enlargement, indicated in diameters (thus: × 320 diameters). Communications intended for publication should be written on one side of the paper only, and all scientific names, and names of places and individuals should be as legible as possible. Wherever scientific names or technicalities are employed, it is hoped that the common names will accompany them. Lists or tables are inadmissible under any circumstances. Those of the popular names of British plants and animals are retained and registered for publication when sufficiently complete for that purpose, in whatever form may then be decided upon. ADDRESS No. 192, PICCADILLY, LONDON, W.

A. C. K.-It is clearly impossible.

A. G. H.-1. Helix hispida; 2. Limnea glaber; 3. Pisidium cinereum; 4. Helix concinna; 5. No specimen; 6. Limnæa palustris; 7. Helicella excavata.-R. T.

J. D. L.-Your specimen is the operculum of a recent species of Turbo.-R. T. Letters received after the 15th of the month cannot be replied to until the following month. F. E. B.-Most probably a species of Dytiscus.

S. J. B.-Alcoholic solution of corrosive sublimate. Alcohol, 50 parts to 1 of the salt. Let your objects be perfectly dry. ERRATUM.-Page 66, Vol. III., for J. W. Mencher, read J. W. Meacher.

J. H. A.-Your quill arrived unsealed. No insects, nor remains of them, to be found.

J. D.-The caterpillar is that of the Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata).

M. "Our Common Insects," by Mrs. E. W. Cox, price 2s. 6d. London: R. Hardwicke.

W. V. A.-You have omitted to enclose your address. H. H.-The fault of which you complain is certainly frequently committed, but we hardly see how you would propose to remedy it. A cheap work must necessarily be, to a certain extent, elementary also.

W. N.-Nothing new. It is constantly observed.

H. R.-Your packet for R. G. is to hand. We must, however, decline the responsibility of forwarding glass and a letter by "Pattern post." Both are forbidden by the rules of the Post Office.

R. H.-Thanks. You shall be advised in good time.

E. C.-We cannot recognise the insect from your description. Try tobacco smoke, or syringing with a strong decoction of tobacco.

T. O. We have tried your experiment, but failed of success. It is not easy to understand à priori why the effects of which you speak should be produced.

H. C.-1. Impossible, without first identifying the species. 2. They rarely lay in this country; we do not know where eggs can be obtained. 3 and 4. See Vol. II., pp. 164, 186, 213, 237, and 256. 5. Consult "Brewster's Optics," or "Lardner on the Microscope."

J. B. L.-1. Bryum alpinum; 2. Hypnum commutatum ; 3. Hypnum (Eurhynchium) prælongum.-R. B.

TH.-Hypnum (Eurhynchium) piliferum, with prælongum intermixed. Plantago coronopus is very variable-sometimes hirsute, sometimes nearly glabrous. The Riccia appears to be barren fronds of Sphærocarpus Michelii.-R. B. Can you forward a few specimens of this genus for a correspondent?

W. C.-It is very unsatisfactory attempting to name specimens from sketches or bare descriptions. Can you not send a frond?

W. H.-We know of many similar works, but none containing more detailed information. What branch of Entomology do you intend to study?

W. D. G.-You have omitted to give your name. "Lankester's Aquavivarium" is the best, but is now out of print.

H. R. C.-1. "Anatomical Manipulation," by Tulk and Henfrey (Van Voorst, 1844), which may be picked up, secondhand, for 3s. or 4s. 2. We know of no single book that would supply the deficiency.

J. M.-Solitary butterflies are often taken at unseasonable periods.

W. F.-Podure can be obtained at any time during the

summer.

T. L.-Such abnormal forms are far from uncommon.

W. F. S.-You cannot do better than purchase " Davies on Mounting," London: R. Hardwicke, in which you will find all the particulars you seek.

C. J.-Your red sea-weed is Ptilola plumosa.

M. H.-Your suggestion is good, and shall have due consideration.

DOUBLE EGGS.-Having been overwhelmed with correspondence upon this subject, we are compelled to postpone many communications for want of space.

EXCHANGES.

FLINT FLAKES (arrow head?), several varieties from the gravels around Belfast, for similar flakes from other localities, or Geological specimens.-W. Gray, Mount Charles, Belfast.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTHS from Antrim, &c., for other objects, mounted or unmounted.-W. Gray, Mount Charles, Belfast.

FOSSIL DIATOMACER (mounted) for other mounted objects. -W. Fletcher, Grammar School, Bromsgrove.

BRITISH SEAWEEDS for British Birds' Eggs, or Preserved Foreign Reptiles.-F. Stanley, Harold-road, Margate.

GORGONIA SPICULES and Tabellaria flocculosa (mounted) for other good slides of Diatoms or Polariscope objects.W. H., Stamp Office, Fordingbridge.

PENCIL-TAILS for Infusorial Earths or Diatoms, unmounted. -H. H., 3, Edward-street, Moseley-road, Birmingham.

FOSSIL WOOD in sections from Ashby de-la-Zouch.Stamped envelope to J. Butterworth, 5, Bridgewater-street, Oldham.

COTTON SEED for Diatoms or Entomological slides.-E. M., 6, Holford-square, Pentonville, W.C.

CALYTREA (20 species) for a good skeleton of the Squirrel. -G. A. Lebour, Fez Lodge, Addison-crescent, Kensington, W.

BRITISH BIRDS' SKINS for Eggs of the same.-J. Aspdin, Richmond, Yorkshire.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

"The Birds of Norfolk," by Henry Stevenson, F.L.S. Vol. I. London: Van Voorst.

"The Doctrine of the Correlation of Forces," by the Rev. J. Cranbrook. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas.

"The Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science." No. XXVI., April, 1867. London: Churchill & Sons. "The Quarterly Magazine of the High Wycombe Natural History Society." No. IV. Wycombe: W. Butler. "Theoretical Astronomy Examined and Exposed," by "Common Sense." London: Job Caudwell.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED:-J. R. C.-J. S. T.-A. L.J. W. M.-W. S. M. D'U.-W. G.-W. F.-J. D. L.-D. E. G. -J. G.-R. H.-F. A. A.-J. E. W.-Dr. L.-S. J. B.-A. S.E. K.-F. S.-L. H. F.-F. E. B.-C. D.-W. P. M.-B.H. H. O'F., Jun.-J. F.-J. S. S.-J. D.-F. R. M.-J. G. (Sherborne).-C. J. W.-J. J. O.-F. R. S.-W. C.-S. C.H. R.-H. H.-A. W. C.-J. B. K.-J. P.-J. M.-M.-E. H. -C. G. F.-W. G. (Belfast).-J. W.-B. (Melle).-G. B. C.W. N.-J. D. L.-J. B.-W. V. A.-G. B.-E. C,-J. H. B.— T. O.-C. C. K.—G. G.—J. A.-G. A. L.-A. H,-H. C.-L. S. -G. H.-J. W. W.-H. U. C.

O

EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE, 1867.

For me, the genial day, the happy crowd,
The sport half-science, fill me with a faith.
This fine old world of ours is but a child
Yet in the go-cart. Patience! Give it time
To learn its limbs: there is a hand that guides.

The Princess.

[graphic]

NOTHER and final stroll through the Paris Exhibition enables me to add a few memoranda to the notes which appeared in the May number. It must be premised that everything approaches as much towards completion as it is likely to attain, and now it would furnish plenty of occupation for a week to see all that is to be seen in the Palace and Park. The fresh-water aquarium is in operation, but the marine was still unfinished, and consequently unfurnished, when I left. In one of the German courts (XXXVII.), in the outer circle, are two full-length life-size portraits of Napoleon and Frederic the Great, which at the distance of a few yards appear to be oil paintings, but on approaching closer they are seen to be composed entirely of dried "everlasting" flowers. These are exhibited by J. C. Schmidt, of Erfurt, and the only drawback connected with them is, that they are placed in such an out-of-the-way corner, that it would be difficult to find them, unless by devoting some time in hunting for them. Not far from hence (Sal XXXVI.), a number of small cases are exhibited, which contain a most complete series of "Bees and their enemies," which well deserve notice. In the Russian department, inner court, near the Fine Arts, is a small collection of considerable interest, though not occupying much more than a square foot of space; it consists of spiders and caterpillars, both very difficult objects to preserve well, No. 30.

and yet here they are as plump and nearly as brightly coloured as when alive. The caterpillars are crawling over artificial green leaves, and look as though they were "all alive," enjoying a meal. Ask me not how they are done, for I cannot tell; there was not the slightest intimation, not even of the name of the exhibitor, and not a soul present who could tell me. Not far from this spot, in the same court, are groups of dried flowers, especially pansies and pelargoniums, looking as fresh and natural as the caterpillars.

In the Austrian department I was attracted towards a picture about twenty-seven inches long, by a kind of presentiment that the subject was familiar, and so it was, though not scrupulously exact, but a very good representation of Westminster Abbey, done in straw mozaic, by F. Otto, of Linz, and priced at 1,500 francs. It required close observation to detect that it really was all straw. One is often led by association into a curious train of thought, as I was on this occasion. Passing into the Bavarian court, a quantity of wool recovered from old garments, under the well-known names of "mungo" and "shoddy" was exhibited, and beside it the catalogue, or trade list-not in German, nor in French, but in English. Of course one might imagine that the lists were printed in the language of the country in which the goods were in greatest demand. With the consolation that there was still plenty of "shoddy " in the world, I passed on, and found myself in the Rue d'Espagne, where a long row of cases against the wall, by different exhibitors, contained a very large collection of the remains found in the Swiss Lacustrine habitations. Here was a day's work to examine the hundreds of objects, well displayed, named, and with the extra advantage of a gentleman then on the spot, probably one of the exhibitors, ready and willing to afford

G

« EelmineJätka »