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NOTES AND QUERIES.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE.-Observing something anusual about a bird the other day flying across the garden, curiosity prompted me to watch its movements. It pounced down upon a young bird and carried it away to a plum-tree; I approached cautiously, and perceived at once that the strange bird was the larger Shrike; it was mangling and tearing the bird it had caught like a carnivorous animal. Is this the bird's habit, as I never saw the like before?-H. Morgan.

Mr. Thomas Fenton, preserver of animals in Edinburgh, informs me that eight years ago, being out with a young man, Francis Dick, about half a mile to the north of Dundee, he was surprised to see a grey Butcher-bird fly out of a hedge with a bird dangling in its talons. His companion shot at but missed it, on which it flew to some distance, and alighted in a field, when they succeeded in shooting it.-Macgillivray's Birds.

COCKROACHES.-In answer to "J. G.," cockroaches may be much thinned, if not exterminated, by pouring a small quantity of common creosote (a gallon may be had at a gasworks for 6d.) into the crevices and about the places in which they usually appear. I think if a number of neighbours used it, the effect would be to clear the neighbourhood, and the only disadvantage is a healthy smell of coal tar.

-Thomas Dunn.

THE RATTLESNAKE.-I never once saw the rattlesnake attempt to spring at, or attack either man, dog, or horse. I have, again and again, teased a large rattlesnake with a twig, but never succeeded in provoking it to attack me. It is very sluggish in all its movements, and remarkably fond of creeping in the dust.-Lord's Naturalist in Vancouver.

The papers have recently recorded an instance of a rattlesnake which had escaped from confinement in a menagerie at Tunbridge Wells, attacking and killing a horse and a buffalo. The circumstances have been so fully detailed and widely circulated, that we need not repeat them. What reason can be assigned for this difference in the behaviour of rattlesnakes at home and abroad?-C. M.

TO DRILL GLASS.-Dr. Lunge gives the following method. It is simply the employment of dilute sulphuric acid; and he found it, on trial, to answer much better than the method referred to. Not only, it appears, is the efficacy of the cutting tool more increased by sulphuric acid than by oil of turpentine, but also, strange as it seems, the tools (files, drills, &c.) are far less rapidly destroyed by being used with the acid than with the oil. He also found it stated that, in the engineering establishment of Mr. Pintus, at Berlin, glass castings for pump barrels, &c., were drilled, planed, and bored, just like iron ones, and in the same lathes and machines, by the aid of sulphuric acid. As to drilling, Dr. Lunge can fully testify to the efficacy of that method. Whenever he wants, say, a hole in the side of a bottle, he sends it, along with some dilute (15) sulphuric acid, to the blacksmith, who drills in it, with a hand-brace, a hole of 4-inch diameter. This hole is then widened to the required size by means of a triangular or round file, again wetted with the acid. He also finds a great help in the latter when making graduations on litre-flasks, &c. There is hardly any smell

perceptible during the work, which proves how little the acid acts upon the tools, undoubtedly owing to their being tempered; but each time after use, he takes the precaution to wash and dry the files at once, and he has so far observed no sensible deterioration in them.

TIMBER-BORERS. The timber-boring insect, Tomicus monographus, has recently been introduced into Australia, where it seems to have been previously unknown. It is a most destructive creature, which seems to prey on casks and barrels with a voracity almost unequalled in the class to which it belongs. The T. typographus, a species more familiar to entomologists, is said to have destroyed no less than a million and a half of pines in the Hartz forest in the year 1783. An Australian paper gives the following description of this species, and of its ravages among the casks in some of the local breweries. The proboscis forms an excellent gimlet, with which the little insect penetrates the hardest wood in an incredibly short time, while the hinder portion is shaped like a shovel, and is employed in getting rid of the sawdust. They make clean holes through the staves; and some of the full barrels are leaking in fifty places. In a wine-cellar, thousands burrow into the wine and spirit casks. As soon as they get nearly through the wood, the liquor begins to ooze out, and the animal, of course, gets killed. Every description of box or barrel is full of them, also the doors and timber in the building. Almost every store in the township is infested with these mischievous insects. The head is red, with a proboscis somewhat resembling a parrot's bill; and the body is like a small black glass bugle broken off at the end; the whole length, a quarter of an inch.-Pop. Sci. Review.

LEAF-MINERS.-Writing the words "Rural Natural History " reminds me of an amusing circumstance connected with the Bramble Leaf miner, described in Mr. Stainton's most charming article on Leaf-mining Larva in SCIENCE-GOSSIP for July. I fancy the larva of this moth must have been unusually abundant the particular year I allude to; for all the bramble leaves for miles round were what the country people called “snake-marked,” and you will scarcely credit the alarm excited by these 'signs." It is a fact, I assure you, numberless poor persons, and some educated people who ought to have been better informed, deemed these marks on the bramble leaves to be a sign" that the end of the world was at hand. Some years have elapsed, but to this day they think in the part of Wales I am alluding to, that if the bramble leaves are marked there will be much sickness.-Helen E. Watney.

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CATS' HAIR AND ELECTRIC SPARKS.-A black cat is the best to experiment upon, and do it in the dark, or at any rate in the dusk. It was a favourite diversion of mine when a girl. I wonder now that my old pet cat's hair did not stand on end, so continually did I brush it the wrong way.-Helen E. Watney.

BABY HYDROPHILUS.-"L. H. F." must give the larvæ small slugs and snails. They will not, I think, touch water-plants. They require molluscs; and, strange to relate, will break their shells adroitly. They make a sort of rest or table of their own backs, and bend their heads over in the most extraordinary way.-Helen E. Watney.

WOODLICE.-L'have discovered that these pests are fond of oatmeal. Therefore, in order to trap them, I got some glass_bottles, and, after breaking the necks off them, I let them down into my cucumber-bed, pressed the soil firmly round them, and then sprinkled a little meal round the edge of the necks of the bottles, which must be made level with the surface of the bed. I also put a little in the bottom of the bottles, the result of which has been that next morning I had trapped some hundreds, and I continue to do so every night.— J. B. S. S., in Gard. Chron.

HEDGEHOG ECCENTRICITIES, &c.-In the August number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP you mention the fact of a hedgehog transfixing pears on its spines and carrying them off. A friend of mine, and upon whose veracity I can rely, told me some few years since, that he had witnessed, when a boy, a hedgehog rolling itself amongst the apples fallen from a crab-tree, and when its coat was well covered by the fruit, quietly retreating to eat them at its leisure. You have also an article upon the bite of the adder (Pelias Berus). I may mention that a relative of mine had a very valuable pointer which had been bitten by an adder, and after being some time ill it recovered its health, but with the loss of nearly the whole of its hair,-looking as if it was a victim of chronic mange. There can be very little doubt but that the bite has proved fatal to the human being. I think it is Taylor, in his Medical Jurisprudence, who relates more than one fatal case. I have several times had both larva and pupa of Acheronția atropos, but have never heard them emit the noise mentioned by Mr. Newman, although there can be but one opinion as to the moth having the power to do so.-A. B. F.

GREAT AMERICAN SPIDER (Aranea avicularis, Linn.). This spider is indigenous to almost all South America, where it is called Abamdui, or Nbamdu-guazu,- that is, "the great spider." These spiders are two inches and one-fifth in length, and the thorax is an inch in diameter. They have eight hairy legs, terminating in fleshy pads. I do not know whether this spider belongs to the hunting or to the working spiders, that is, whether or not it makes its web in order to take insects, since I always observed it wandering over the ground or upon the trunks of trees, or concealed in the earth. If it does not find insects enough for its food, it boldly attacks humming-birds, small birds a little larger than itself, while they are upon the eggs or upon the young birds in the nests, and if it cannot have the parent birds, it feeds upon the young and upon the eggs. This great spider produces cocoons proportioned to its size, containing thousands of eggs, and places them in the fissures on the trunks of trees. The cocoon is three inches long and one inch and a quarter of a line broad. This extraordinary size of the cocoon has made the inhabitants, who do not observe carefully, imagine that this spider would take the cocoon of the bombice moth del Guyavo (Janus, Linn.), and having destroyed or eaten the chrysalis, would place her own eggs there, and then artificially close the hole by which she had penetrated it.-Termeyer, in Proc. Essex Institute, U.S.

THE FROG SEASON.-The frog season is now at its height. The thousands of frogs born early in the spring now swarm the marshy ground. The quantity disposed of in Buffalo is surprisingly large, The principal dealers sell easily 1,200 per day, and the consumption of four hotels which have the

delicacy in their bills of fare will probably add 500 to that amount. As there are several smaller grocery stores which sell daily from 25 to 50 pairs, it will be safe to say that not less than 2,000 are being eaten in Buffalo every day. Already over 100,000 have been sold, and the remaining two months of the season will increase that amount to nearly 300,000, which is but a moderate quantity, considering the already large and yearly increasing numbers which inhabit the river islands and all along the shore of Canada. The article retails at from 1 dol. to 1 dol. 50c. per 100.-Buffalo Express.

GRASSHOPPERS IN AMERICA.-The ravages of these little pests seem to have begun in earnest. The hemp crop of the county has been 'almost entirely destroyed. A few crops may escape them. One day suffices for them to clean off a hemp-field as bare as before the sowing. The blue grass is in many places destroyed, and has suffered much wherever they have gone. Timothy and clover have also been very greatly damaged. The oat crop, it is thought, will be utterly ruined, as they prefer that to wheat, which they have so far only slightly damaged. The corn is not exempt, but has been injured less than any other crop except wheat. The gardens have suffered terribly; nearly all early vegetables have been eaten by them. They swept a garden bare in a few hours. A lady informs us that in the morning she had as fine a garden as she ever saw, and in the evening scarcely a vestige of it was left. It is consoling to know that the weeds also suffered.-Minnesota Paper.

BANGOR AND WRENTHAM. In reference to queries in SCIENCE - GOSSIP concerning these localities, I always supposed that the Bangor mentioned by dealers was Bangor, Maine, although I do not know of any earth from near there; but as such deposits (sub-peat deposits I have been in the habit of calling them) are common all over our country this side of the Alleghanics, no doubt one was once found there. Such deposits being but small, as a general rule, soon get obliterated. The "Wreatham, U.S." is Wrentham, Mass., a locality from which Ehrenberg had specimens.-A. M. Edwards, New York.

REARING GOLD FISH.-Your correspondent informs us (p. 165) that his small pond or fountain basin is 9 feet by 5 feet, and lined with Portland cement. Presuming from that information, the pond contains nothing more than water, beside the débris he mentions. Now, one thing is certain (I write from some years' experience): your correspon dent, G. A. W., will not succeed in keeping his fish (much less rearing them) unless he adopts some method of keeping up vegetable growth in the water, whereby there may be kept up a constant interchange of gases between the two kingdoms; and that may be attained by the following simple method:-Cover the bottom of the pond with gravel (washed, if he prefers, but I think not so good) two or three inches thick, in which insert a quantity of plants of common fresh-water weeds, and when they become established, and make a little growth, then G. A. W. may hope to keep his gold fish alive and healthy. The losing of two or three fish may arise from one of two causes: first, they may have been purchased of a dealer who had had them some time on hand; secondly, they may have been what are commonly called "Warm-water Fish."B. H.

WANTED A MEDIUM.-I have again tried my hand on Deane's Gelatine and Lawrence's Jelly, and have again failed. I can't get them as clear as I want them. I used Cox's Gelatine (English) the best I could get here. In the Glycerine Jelly, though made with extreme exactness and care, confervoid growths appeared in less than a week in my bottle, though I put it up, sealing as closely as I could. But I made one or two experiments-the most successful of which I will state. When the jelly was as clear as I could get it, I prepared a solution of carbolic acid by shaking up a few drops of the acid with distilled water, and added of this what I thought would flavour the jelly to the distaste of animalculæ or confervæ. This vial has till now been entirely free from any growth or cloudiness other than the original impurities, which I have not succeeded in getting out.-E. C. B., Portland, U. S.

CAT-FLEAS.-In Mr. M'Intire's article under this title (SCIENCE-GOSSIP i., 278) a figure is given showing the spinous fringe on the under side of the head and on the pro-thorax, which agrees with my own observations of this species. In the "Micrographic Dictionary," article "Pulex," the dog-flea is described as the possessor of these appendages, and the head of the cat-flea is referred to as "naked." The figures on Plate 28 correspond to the letterpress. I shall be glad if some gossiper can enlighten me on this discrepancy. My own specimens were "taken from the life," and I keep no dog.— E. Marks.

DEATH'S-HEAD MOTH (Acherontia atropos).Your correspondent in the August number appears to have some doubt about the pupae of this insect uttering the shrill sound peculiar to the moth, and I also question very much if, during the chrysalis state, it has any power at all of producing sound. I have had from time to time many pupæ, but never heard the slightest noise from any of them, nor do I remember to have ever heard or read of an instance of pupa producing sound, but, on the other hand, I have several times heard from the moth itself this singular shrill note, and I believe it to be a peculiarity only exhibited by the perfect insect.T. G. D., Leeds.

INSECT-SOUNDS.-In books on British moths the Death's Head is said to produce a squeaking noise, and no other instance is given of either moths or butterflies producing a similar sound. I cannot but think this to be an error. In several butterflies I have noticed that when caught they have emitted a sound like that of a blowfly. Having caught a specimen of the small tortoiseshell (Vanessa urtica), on proceeding to nip it near the thorax I was struck by the sound it made, only differing in intensity from that caused by a fly under similar circumstances.-H. H. O. Farrell.

LARVE IN MUSHROOMS.-Сan any of your readers inform me in what manner the larva enters the mushroom? I have frequently noticed immense quantities of these-many half an inch in length, white, with nearly a black head, and have been much puzzled concerning them, knowing that the food is so short a time coming to perfection. How old can the grub or larva be when it makes its appearance; and if it has not been feeding in the ground previous to the mushroom showing itself, it must grow with amazing rapidity.-J. B. Waters.

TO GROW CHARA.-Dr. S. would be glad of information on the proper method of treating Chara and Nitella when grown in aquaria, in order to prevent the growth of Conferva upon them. A large quantity of this is constantly springing up, which he finds is not prevented by keeping a number of water-snails in the glass jars. He has always lost these plants from the same cause.

BOTTOM OF AQUARIUM.-As very many marine animals burrow, and as the observation of their proceedings is very interesting, they should be provided with the means of gratifying their inclinations. For this purpose a layer of sand should be put on the bottom of the tank, which may vary in depth from one to three inches. If sand from a sea-beach can be readily obtained, it is the most suitable; but the next best is coarse river sand, such as the Thames sand, commonly sold at the stone-wharves of London for building purposes. It should be well washed until the water runs away clean; fresh water will do very well for this, but it must be drained off before the sand is put in. What is called silver sand, and the common yellow earthy sand sold in the shops for scouring, are not at all suitable, as they will tinge the water after any amount of washing, the former with lime the latter with ochre. Small pebbles or fine gravel, likewise well washed, may be used to vary the bottom with the sand. Masses of rock, of dimensions suitable to the aquarium, should be put in, to afford shelter and concealment to such animals as like the gloom. To afford this in the highest degree, a flat piece may be set, like a table or cromlech, upon two or three upright blocks; or two tall pieces may lean against each other, forming a rude arch, care being taken, whatever arrangement be chosen, that the masses stand with stability. It is of little consequence what sort of rock is selected-limestone, sandstone, granite, conglomerate-but the rougher and the more full of cavities and angles the blocks are, the better will be the effect.-Gosse's Aquarium.

HYBERNATION OF BIRDS.-In Jesse's "Gleanings from Natural History" are included some of Gilbert White's, of Selborne, unpublished papers, in one of which is the passage, 'Repeated accounts of Swallows, in large numbers, being seen, spring and fall, perched on branches of trees overhanging the water, induce me greatly to suspect that House Swallows have some strong attachment to water independent of the matter of food; and that if they do not retire into that element, they conceal themselves in the banks of pools and rivers during the uncomfortable months of winter." The hybernation of Swallows, either by submersion or concealment in holes and crevices, was a favourite theory of Mr. White's, and a subject that he tried to elucidate, but without success. Had the worthy old naturalist known such a fact as that stated by your correspondent "G. W.," his theory would have been much strengthened. I have myself seen Swallows taken out of the thatched roofs of old cottages, and out of chimneys, in appearance very like those described as taken out of the water near Dantzic; but in every case they were dead. From their appearance, they seemed to have crept into the holes, and become torpid, and then, probably from cold, perished. Is it possible that birds of any kind, even in a torpid state, can exist for a lengthened period under water? The fact related by your correspondent would seem to prove that they can.-R. O. 0.

BEECHES. For several years past there has been considerable mortality among beech-trees in some plantations of thirty or forty years' growth having been quite emptied of those trees. The first symptom of disease which I have noticed is that portions of the bark are covered with a substance resembling mould, but which seems to consist of the eggs of some kind of insect. The following year, these having disappeared, the bark begins to separate from the tree and to decay, and in about two years the tree dies. Can you tell me whether the insect is the real cause of this? I have enclosed a little of the substance containing the eggs.—R. O. O.

BIRDS PREENING.-I think the paragraph from "Waterton's Essays," in SCIENCE-GOSSIP for August, “What's the bird doing?" is not altogether correct in the remark about the preening to clear themselves of insects. Now, I don't think it fair to accuse our feathered friends," when at their toilet, of being infested with vermin. Birds that become so infested do not preen their feathers, but sit moping; and when they do move, it is by sharp, hurried movements and frequent lifting of the feet, evidently being annoyed, as though something was pricking their feet. Canaries, when so infested, often stand quite still, looking suspiciously at their feet or shoulders. Birds which often bathe and preen their feathers are free from, or seldom have, any insects about the body or feathers. On the other hand, birds that are more careless of themselves, and do not preen much, are very much infested. For instance, the Woodlarks will sing and be in good condition, but do not preen themselves, and are mostly infested. I have a young Blackbird in my aviary. So assiduous is he, that he bathes once or twice a day, and much of his time is spent in preening his feathers; and I think I could safely say he has not any insects about him. Indeed, I have seen young birds, without feather or stubble, and scarcely any down on them, go through the routine of cleaning their feathers. And the gland over the tail certainly does contain an oily matter, which is used by birds to put a gloss on their feathers, also to make them, to a certain extent, resist wet. If a bird is closely watched while cleaning himself, one may observe him take the gland in his bill, squeeze the oil to the top of the gland, pass the side of his head over the gland, and touch himself lightly about the body. This simple fact may be seen by taking notice of water-fowl when preening themselves.-Chas. Rudd.

VOLCANOES IN THE CAMEROONS MOUNTAIN.-It may interest you to hear that the Cameroons Mountain, whose volcanic fires have long lain dormant, is again in a state of active eruption. On the night of the 15th inst., the lava seemed to rush with tremendous force out of the east side, a few hundred feet from the top, then pour over in a grand cataract of fire, and flow off E.S.E. in a crooked fiery stream down the mountain-side. The molten lava poured out, from sunset, when it was first seen, till after midnight, increasing in volume. Clouds obscured the mountain next morning, but it has been seen burning thrice since. It is apparently quiet now. There was no thunder for several days preceding, but we had a gale of wind from the E.N.E.-an unusual direction-coming an hour before sunset on the 14th inst.: a tornado, in fact, without thunder or rain, except a few drops.Extract of a Letter from C. Livingstone, Esq., H.B.M. Consul, Fernando Po, to Dr. Hooker, F.R.S.

CANARY ANTIPATHIES.-A friend of mine reading in the SCIENCE-GOSSIP a paragraph on canaries disliking blue, told me of a canary of hers that had the same antipathy to black, and if, when dressed in that colour, she approached the bird, it would nearly kill itself, by violently beating its head against the bars of the cage. All other colours had not the same effect.-B. L. W.

FORAMINIFERA.-I should feel obliged if any of your correspondents would inform me whether the Foraminifera portrayed in No. 26 of your journal are obtained from one washing, or from how much chalk. I have washed a considerable quantity, and though I find beautiful pieces of quartz and shapeless masses of transparent and opaque material, yet I find no fossil deposit whatever, unless the pencils I see are such. Do I wash too much, and throw away the shells, &c. ?-J. H. Gramshaw, M.D.

AN INVADING ARMY OF SNAILS.-On the 11th of May of the present year, I was witness, with seven other members of my family, to an extraordinary concourse of snails. I took notes of the occurrence at the time, and send them at the risk of their being a little out of date, having omitted to do so at the time. A light accidentally held down to some hencoops in a yard adjoining the house, about ten o'clock on Saturday, the 11th of May, revealed a most extraordinary and disgusting sight. Snails, with and without shells-chiefly the long black snail-were climbing up the bars of the coops, filling the foodpans and blackening the ground. The whole family was called out to witness it, and it was soon found that an army of these slimy creatures was advancing from the kitchen garden, the entrance to which was about ten yards distant from the coops. A further search showed that some other hen-coops at the top of the flower-garden were similarly but not quite so abundantly infested. The day had been showery, and it followed one of frequent thunderstorms and great rain and hail. These storms followed, as your readers may remember, on some excessively hot weather quite unusual at that time of year. I cannot well give an idea of the number of slugs and snails; some of those who saw them said there must have been thousands. Salt was profusely applied, and the dead bodies were shovelled up next morning. Were these creatures attracted by the barley-meal? What sense led them to the coops? Why did they leave the gardens? Had electricity anything to do with their appearance ?-L.

THE MAELSTRÖM.-What is the nature and causation of what is called the Maelström on the coast of Norway? What are its phenomena? Does such a thing really exist? as many tell me it is all a myth. Is it in any way connected with our volcanic phenomena ? or what gave rise to it ?— C. T. Richardson.

VOLVOX QUERY.-I have recently taken Volvox Globator in considerable quantities (the first I have ever found), but I cannot succeed in keeping these more than a day or two. Are they all devoured by the other inhabitants of the water? I have no microscopic friend to enlighten me, or I would not trouble you.-F. G. Paine.

THE HARVEST MOON.-What constitutes the difference of what is called the Harvest Moon? There are not any two volumes giving similiar ideas upon the subject, and all are scanty and unsatisfactory in their information.-C. T. Richardson.

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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, contri

butions 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: x 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.

W. E. M.-We regret our inability to inform you where you can obtain the deposit you require.

B. L. W.-The "lumps" on willow-leaves are galls produced by an insect. If you will rear the insect from the galls and send it, we will endeavour to name it for you.

J. S.-We are informed that a complete catalogue of British Mosses is in course of preparation.

F. A. W.-In the winter, when living food for your frogs cannot be found, they will not require it. Have you really forgotten that reptiles hybernate?

C. E. D. will only find what she requires by searching through numerous volumes, such as Gould's "Birds of Asia," &c. &c.

J. B. L.-No. 1, Orthotrichum pulchellum; 2, Bryum pseudo-triquetrum; 3, Climacium dendroides.-R. B.

G. C. B. (Darjeeling).—The plants are Isopyrum thalictroides, L., and Hymenophyllum ciliatum, Sw., the latter new to India, although well known in tropical America and Asia, and has lately turned up in New Zealand. Will our correspondent forward herbarium specimen for one of our national collections.-J. G. B.

I. R. B.-You will find all particulars respecting mounting seaweed in "Davies on Mounting, &c." (price 2s. 6d.).

T. P.-More extraordinary instances of tame fish than that you describe are on record. Did you never hear of the trained gold fish of the Chinese?

G. B. C.-Communications acknowledged but not inserted should be considered as declined.

SILKWORMS.-We fear that Miss B. will be much disappointed in rearing silk and selling it. Dr. Wallace, of Colchester, did supply eggs of the Ailanthus silkworm.

J. R. W.-No. 4, Carex panicea; 5, Eriophorum angustifolium.

W. R.-No. 4 is Luzula campestris.--R. B.
J. C. D.-Sphagnum acutifolium ?

T. H., Jun.-No. 3, Bartramia fontana; 4, Homalothecium sericeum.-R. B.

T. P. F.-The white substance on beech-trees formerly classed as a fungus, under the name of Psilonia nivea, is an insect production.

A. G. W.-We are desired to inform you of your mistake, the fungus being the common Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus).

W. D. R.-No book published with coloured figures of all the British Neuroptera. Coloured figures of British moths are contained in Wood's Index Entomologicus, which may be had for about £4.

W. M. J.-No. 1, Pellea hastata; 2, Pteris longifolia; 3, Aspidium (Cyrtomium) falcatum.-J. G. B.

J. H. R.-Galeopsis Ladanum and Carex ovalis.-J. G. B. G. E. B. (Darjeeling).-Polygonum molle (Don), and Symplocos ramosissima (Wall.).-J. G. B.

W. G.-The form and position of the basal ray-plates in your little star show it to be Ophiocoma neglecta of Forbes (Br. Star Fishes, p. 30), Ophiura elegans of Leach (Zool. Misc., ii. 57), Ophiolepis elegans of Gray (Cat. of Radiata B. M., p. 24).-P. H. G.

CLARE.-The Beetle is a female of Saperda carcharias, not at all common in Britain.-W. H. B.

W. H.-We are not aware of any means of obtaining the scientific journals for perusal, except by purchasing them, or as member of some scientific society.

A. L.-The fern is Pteris tremula, Br.-J. G. B.
D. W. R.-The caterpillar of Acronyeta Psi.

EXCHANGES.

BEETLES.-Carded specimens of British Beetles in exchange for other species.-James Walkden, 89, Grosvenorstreet, Manchester.

ZEOLITE Or Needlestone (Crystals) from the Giant's Causeway, affording beautiful slides for the polariscope, in exchange for other objects.-William Gray, Mount Charles, Belfast.

EGGS of Ringed Plover, Snipe, Teal, &c., offered for those of the Cuckoo, Kingfisher, &c.-Mrs. C. Battersby, Cromlyn, Rathowen, Westmeath.

ALPINE PLANTS in exchange for others in good condition. -T. Howse, Jun, Garrybank, West Hill, Upper Sydenham. BRITISH MOSSES.-Specimens of fifty species for British Grasses, Sedges, or Willows. Lists exchanged.-R. A., Leegomery-road, Wellington, Salop.

ECHINUS SPINES. Acrocladia trigonaria from Feejee Islands, unmounted sections for other objects.-Lists to E. Marks, 6, Holford-square, Pentonville, W.C.

MELICERTA RINGENS may be obtained on application to A. Nicholson, Fareham. A small bottle or sealed quill should accompany the request.

FOSSIL WOOD, Fossils from the Chalk, &c., for other Fossils. Address, F. Stanley, Harold-road, Newtown, Mar. gate.

HIPPARCHIA SEMELE, &c., for other Lepidoptera in good condition.-D. Baxendale, Akroydon, Halifax.

RASPBERRY BRAND.-Aregma gracile.-Send stamped and directed envelope to T. W. W., 53, Buckingham-place, Brighton.

VICIA SYLVATICA for Gonepteryx Rhamni, or Arge Galathea.-W. D. Robinson, 2, Shandwick-place, E.

POLARISCOPE OBJECTS (Crystals, &c., mounted) for exchange.-A. L., 61, Buckingham-road, N.

ACNANTHES LONGIPES, Diatoma vulgare, or Synedra radians (mounted), for other mounted Diatoms.-E. Capron, Shere, near Guildford.

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"The London Catalogue of British Plants." Sixth edition. London: Robert Hardwicke. 1867.

"The American Naturalist," July, 1867. No. 5. Salem : Essex Institute.

"Proceedings of the Essex Institute." Vol. V., No. 3. Salem Published by the Essex Institute, June, 1867.

"A Trip to the Land's End," by the Rev. M. C. T. Sturman, B.A.-London: E. Billing & Son, 152, Bermondsey-street. "The Naturalist's Circular for July and August, 1867." London.

"Second Report of the Quekett Microscopical Club, July, 1867."

Symons's Monthly Meteorological Magazine," No. XIX., August, 1867. London: E. Stanford.

"Country Life," Nos. I. and II. London: 10, Bolt-court, Fleet-street.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.-A. M. E.-T. H., Jun.F. H.-B.-H. H. O'F.-R. B.-H. E. W.-P. F. & Co.E. A. B. (Cleveley).-C. B. B.-A. M.-W. E. M.-J. B. B.B. L. W.-J. B. A.-F. I. B.-G.-A. G. W.-J. H.-C. E. D. -J. F. R.-D. C. B.-W. G.-S. C.-F. A. W.-B.-E. W.J. W. W.-J. S.-J. S. (Perth).-W. E. B.-A. S.-T. G. D.R. A.-T. P.-I. R. B.-G. J.-W. H.-R. O. O.-E. M.J. H. R.-A. L.-D. B.-M. A. G.-B. H.-F. S.-G. B. C.R. R. S.-B. D.-James.-R. A. S.-P. P.-W.-J. N. E. A. N.-W. W. J.-L. L. S.-A. M. E.-W. D. R.-A. B. F.— C. R.-T. W. W.-J. B.-E. L. L.-J. H. G.-J. B. W.S. D. L. A.-G. D.-J. H. R.-E. C. B.-A. L.-W. K. B.J. B.-W. H.-C. T. R.-C. H. G.-J G. T.-F. G. P.— D. W. R.-J. W. L.-G. T. K.-J. A. T.

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