March 14th; it was then obviously only just extruded, as the globules were in a clear compact mass, and not yet fully expanded. Older spawn was found at the same place this same day; also, several couples of frogs were still breeding. C. R. E.

A BOTANICAL DIFFICULTY.-Will you, or any of your readers, kindly set me right in the following difficulty:-I find, on reference to Garrod's "Materia Medica" and Oliver's "Botany," they state that Humulus lupulus and Cannabis sativus belong to the natural order Urticace, while Royle and Headland's "Materia Medica," Bentley's "Botany," and Squires's Companion to the Pharmacopoeia," state that they belong to Cannabinaceæ. Which is right?-E. R. H.

TO PRESERVE WASPS' NESTS.-A correspondent asks how to preserve a wasps' nest? I have never seen a wasps' nest preserved, but I have seen two very fine specimens of hornets' nests. They were taken out of the roof of a house. When all the hornets were out, the nests were put under a large bell-glass with several pieces of camphor. After being kept so for some time they were removed, and no smell was to be perceived, though they were full of larvæ. They were afterwards kept under a glass, and I think some camphor kept with them to preserve them from moth.-T. B. Blow.

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MICE ENTERING CAGES. Like your correspondent "E. M. P.," I have been annoyed by mice entering cages against walls; but it has not occurred very frequently, and the only object of the visit was seemingly the seeds to be obtained from the floor of the cage: those in the glasses were rarely touched. In one instance a mouse showed some dexterity in paying his nocturnal visit, as the cage was hung high up, and to get in the mouse must have made an angular leap from the edge of a shelf. From the examination of the cage on successive days, it was evident these visits were repeated, probably by the same animal. There was an old and very tame canary into whose cage a mouse would enter, sometimes even in the day if the apartment was deserted. The bird did not seem alarmed at its visitant, and if any one entered the room, the artful mouse would keep quite still at the bottom of the cage, and only on the observer coming up close, would it make a sudden dash at the wires and effect its escape.J. R. S. C.

A ONE-LEGGED BULLFINCH.-I possess a bird of this species, which by accident lost one of his legs, but which, nevertheless, is more active than some birds possessing the natural number of these valuable supports. His greatest achievement is to stand upon his stump and scratch his head with the yet remaining limb. If his cagedoor be left open, he will leave it and hop rapidly along the table, eluding the grasp with dexterity. Though he always goes to roost upon his perch, he almost invariably loses bis equilibrium some time during the night, and is compelled to repose thereafter at the bottom of the cage, since he is far too sagacious to exhaust himself by making a succession of attempts to reach the perch in the dark. But it is odd that he seems to 66 abhor a vacuum;" he is never to be found asleep in the morning in the middle of the cage, but hobbles up to one of the sides, against which he steadies him

self. He will occasionally eat at night, an unuusal thing with English birds, though common amongst canaries.-J. R. S. C.

"MOTH AMONG CLOTHES."-Having just been told by a lady friend the best method she has ever tried for the preservation of clothes from the ravages committed by moths, I think I can hardly do better than let "W. M. M." have the benefit of my friend's recipe. It is simply this:-Obtain from a chemist a small quantity of "bitter apple powder," and sew it up in little silk bags. Place one or two of these among the clothes, and no moth will ever venture to thrust either its proboscis or its ovipositor within a goodly distance of the bag, box, or drawer wherein the powder lies.-L. V. H.

SILVER IN SURREY.-Three weeks ago some workmen were excavating and forming a reservoir for the waterworks at Moulsey, when, about thirty feet below the surface of the earth, they discovered a quantity of silver ore. A specimen of the quartz shown to me appeared to be richly impregnated, the ore running in large veins. Of the quantity found, and the extent of ground it covered, I have not been able to obtain any definite information.Thomas C. Oborn.

WHITE VARIETIES.-A white variety of Centaurea nigra exists in several localities about here. (Although not lessening the pest of the plant to the agriculturist, nevertheless it interests the botanist by its pretty white tufts.-W. T. Iliff, Epsom.

FIGHTING ANTS.-As I have already stated in a previous number, I am much troubled with red ants, which completely overrun my garden, twenty or more colonies being established under one wall. I can only destroy them with boiling water, which also kills the border plants. Any other remedy will be thankfully received. The other morning I found my little friends had been engaged in sanguinary warfare; dead ants covered the gravel paths for a distance of about ten yards, while a numerous "ambulance corps" were very busy carrying off the dead. I have never found them actually engaged in battle, so I suppose most of the fighting is done at night, as the dead are very numerous in early morning. If they go on at this rate much longer, there will be no further need of boiling water! judging from the multitudes of slain.-John Henderson, jun., Reading.

CHAMELEONS UTILIZED, It occurred to the writer of this, some years ago, that it would not only be highly interesting to keep chameleons for the sake of observing their extraordinary habits and mode of existence, but also that it would be highly profitable to keep them as domestic pets, for the purpose of lessening the torment and annoyance we suffer from our common house flies (Musca domestica), and other more strange and travelling insects; and that for this utilitarian purpose chameleons should be cultivated in those climates they are natives of. They would live comfortably in our dwelling-houses, and certainly in such rooms as are used as sitting-rooms, and where a fire is constantly kept. Thus, by keeping these most interesting creatures, who are unlimited warfarers against flies, gnats, and all other such "small deer," we might study and learn much that would be instructive, and at the same time we could get rid of the accursed plague of house flies and of numerous other insects.-W. Mawe.

LARVA OF A KIND OF GNAT.-There is a very transparent larva of a gnat which sometimes abounds in clear ponds, a description of which is given in various books; but I have not seen its food particularly mentioned. It feeds on other animals, and I have found the common blood-worm in its stomach. This is a curious object for the microscope, as by pressing the creature between two glasses the stomach is inverted, and forced out of the mouth, when it is seen to be covered with rows of spines pointed backwards, I suppose to retain its food--E. T. S.

STARCH IN GERANIUMS.-I see that the pith in geraniums has its cells pretty well filled with'starch. Can any one inform me if many other of our English herbaceous plants resemble geraniums in this respect, as I have not noticed the same thing in any I have tried? Of course I do not refer to arums or bulbous plants. The grains of starch are small and irregular, but they show the cross well with polarized light.-E. T. S.

HONEY. On what plants do the bees which gather the honey sent from Narbonne feed, and will they grow in this country? There are three kinds of pollen in the honey: one resembles a ball with the equators set at right angles to one another; the second and commonest is of an oval shape; and the other round, and set with spines,-I expect from a syngenesious plant.—E. T. S.

THYNNUS VULGARIS (the Tunny of the Mediterranean).-A fine specimen of this fish was taken in the Laira, at the mouth of the Plym, near Ply; mouth, on the 22nd of July last. It measured 9 feet long, was 5 feet 10 inches round the body, and its tail was 3 feet wide. A photograph was taken by Mr. Ramsey. I have several of the scales left, and shall be happy to send them to any one in exchange for Lepidoptera.-John Purdue, Ridgeway, Plympton, Devon.

IRRITATING EFFECTS OF CATERPILLARS' HAIRS. -I have found the short hairs on the outside of the cocoon of Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa Quercus) very annoying. The hairs of A. Caja, the common Garden Tiger, are also possessed of urticating properties when in cocoons; the living larvæ of both have no irritating effects whatever on my hands when handled, however carelessly.—John Henderson, Juu. CHARAS.-Will any correspondent kindly tell me the best method of drying these plants? They are so extremely brittle that I have much difficulty in preserving them.-S. M. P.

ROCKWORK FOR AQUARIUMS.-Very beautiful specimens of rock work, suitable for small aquariums, may be obtained by melting broken glass bottles in a furnace. When intense heat is applied and the glass kept in for a great length of time, it will come out almost purely white, and often in the most beautiful forms.-Jos. Laing.

"RURAL NATURAL HISTORY."-On looking over SCIENCE-GOSSIP for the year 1867, at page 86 I came on the above heading; and on reading it discovered three cures for whooping-cough, as stated by Mr. R. Holland to be used by the inhabitants of Chesire as infallible for the chink-cough, which is identically the same name used in this locality for whooping-cough, with nearly the same remedies used.-Recipe No. 1: A lock of hair off a person who has never seen his father, to be tied round the child's neck. No. 2: Hairy caterpillar, or

granny, if met with accidentally, to be wrapped up in a cloth and tied round the child's neck. No. 3: If the parents of the child see any one riding on a piebald horse, they are to follow him, and ask what cure can he give for "chink" cough, and whatever he says is a certain cure, no matter what. No. 4: A miller of the third generation of millers is to take the child, and hold him in the mill-hopper while the mill is going: a certain cure is effected. No. 5: Take the child, and pass him three times underneath an ass and over his back. I agree with Mr. Holland that it would be most interesting if a collection of curious and superstitious remedies about plants and animals, which prevail amongst the people, were collected from time to time, and recorded in SCIENCE-GOSSIP.

NET FOR GEOMETERS. The dusk of summer evenings is one of the most favourable seasons for netting moths of the Geometer family; but even when they are fairly inside one of the ordinary nets, it is a difficult matter to see them. If, however, a net made of thin white calico be used, the moths are easily seen, and as they always settle down when caught, they are easily boxed.-E. C. Lefroy.

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SAFFRON (Colchicum autumnale) grows very plentifully about here (Much Wenlock) in the pas tures, and is a great nuisance to the farmers, as they are obliged to have it pulled to prevent their stock being poisoned by it. From personal observation, I am able to state that it flowers in September, bearing only one purple flower on each stem; but no vestige of a leaf. The leaves appear the following April and May. The seed-bearing stem springs up in the midst of the leaves.-J. S. HERACLEUM GIGANTEUM. Can any reader of SCIENCE-GOSSIP tell me the real name of a plant, the seed of which is sold in various shops as that of Heracleum giganteum? This, of course, is given on account of the size to which it grows, but gives no clue to what the plant really is. It is umbelliferous, and the stem is maculated as that of the hemlock; but, unlike that plant, is rough and hairy, and the leaves much thicker and coarser,-some four feet across. Indeed, it appears to be a sort of waterhemlock, or Cicuta virosa; but it grows in my garden to the astonishing height of fifteen feet, and has a head of bloom from a foot and a half to two feet across. I was told it was a biennial, but I have had it flowering for two successive years. Last year it was not more than half its present height. Will it grow any higher next? Shade and plenty of wet seem congenial to it. It would make a noble ornament for the wilderness part of a garden.J. H. G.

CURIOUS TURBOT.-Dr. Norman, of Collingwood House, writes to Land and Water:-Mr. Samuel Amis, fish-merchant, of King-street, in this town, has kindly forwarded me a very extraordinary turbot, weighing about 12 lb. The dorsal fin of this fish terminated near the head in a thick curved projection resembling the vignette of a malformed brill, in "Yarrell's British Fisheries," vol. ii. p. 242. The head and gills were perfectly smooth, and of a light flesh-colour; the belly, instead of being white and flat, was exactly like the upper side, and studded with the usual tubercles; moreover, it was remarkably convex, or plump, as Mr. Amis rightly called it. I have seen several turbots with the same skin on both sides, but perfectly flat, and our oldest fishermen do not recollect one with the belly resembling this.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We must remind our friends, who make use of this column, that the following rules should be strictly adhered to:First. That perfect specimens be sent. Secondly. That all the information as to habitat, &c., that the inquirer can give should be forwarded with them. Thirdly. To bear in mind that drawings, unless very perfectly executed, are useless, and a tyro is very apt to omit some distinctive characteristic which would enable the examiner to decide the genus and species of the object sent. Lastly. Never to send an object for identification until the inquirer has used his best endeavours to find out for himself all the information he requires. Questions are very frequently sent, which the slightest effort on the part of querist in looking through some elementary treatise would have given all the knowledge required.

W. O. NICHOLSON.-The parasite on owl is a bird-fly (Ornithomya), especially common on the Short-horned Owl. G.-The eggs on the feather sent were laid by Lipcurus ebræus, one of the Anopleura.

EDWIN SMITH.-The former scales are those of Seira Buskii, one of the Podurade (formerly included in the genus Degeeria, but now separated from it by Lubbock). The others are either from the Petrobius maritimus of our coasts, or from the inland species of Petrobius.

T. C. OBORN.-The insect taken from the Hedge-hog is the common "Hedge-hog Tick" (Ixodes hexagonus), and, from its size, doubtless a female.

W. B. C.-The insects are Anobium striatum, and are always destructive to furniture. The only certain remedy (applied in the case of rare and valuable carvings) seems to be the saturation of the wood with corrosive sublimate by means of hydraulic pressure. Mr. Rye, however, recommends, as a possible remedy, a good soaking with boiling water containing carbolic acid. See zoological paragraph in present number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP.-C. G. B.

W. A. LUFF.-Nos. 1 and 2 are, Strachia oleracea. 3. Carpocoris nigricornis. 4. Brachypelta aterrima. 5. Edipoda carulescens. Nos. 1 and 2 are British species, but not common; 3 is rare; 4, not British; and 5 is reputed British, but there are no authentic examples.

F. V. EDWARDS.-Feed your anemones on small pieces of mussels, or fine raw beef about once a day.

E. W.-Thanks for the slides, which are admirably mounted. You had best consult Stephen's "Illustrations of British Entomology" for the names. The plant is Equisetum

arvense.

HENRY TAYLOR.-Your specimen appears to be Nostoc commune (Tremella terrestris, Dill.). Its reproduction is by spherical cells, placed irregularly in the course of filaments, from which they finally become separated. Try a little lime for removing it.

LYDIA, M.P,-See above paragraplı.

W. E. SHARP.-The eggs sent are-Nos. 1, 2, and 3, those of the Green-finch (Fringilla chloris), and No. 4, Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellii).

T. BAKER.-The wine-bottle cork seems to be permeated with the mycelium of some fungus, probably Mucorina; but, unless in fruit (which it is not), it is difficult to determine. Careful sealing the tops of the corks will prevent it, unless the cork is already attacked, in which case it is useless. This phenomenon is the equivalent of "dry-rot" in wood.

HENRY PEARSON.-Your mosses arrived all jumbled together, so that it was impossible to know how you had numbered them. They should be properly and separately mounted before sending, and not loose. Send others.

W. E. H.-The phenomenon is very curious, but not unusual. See Dr. Master's " Teratology."

W. C.-Many thanks for your present of Lichens. MOSSES.-1. Hypnum striatum; 2. H. molluscum; 3. H. cupressiforme, var. ericetorum; 4. H. cuspidatum, and H. fluitans; b. H. cupressiforme.-R. B.

DR. J. P. H. B.-1. Your Cuphea (which we suppose to be identical with that described by you in SCIENCE-GOSSIP for 1871, p. 187) is the C. plutycentra, Barth., which is figured and described by Mr. Robert Holland at p. 81 of the same volume. Griesbach refers to its naturalizing itself in the West Indies, and cites C. micropetala, Kth., as a synonym. 2. Yes; Veronica arborescens. 3. We regret that we cannot identify from your description the conifer known as "Jerusalem Candlestick ;" we will, however, bear it in mind.-B. MRS. MARLAND.-The slug sent is Testacella haliotidea. See Tate's "British Mollusks." London: Hardwicke.

J. CRICHTON.-See article on "Collecting and Preserving Flowering Plants and Ferns," in the May number of Gossip. Mrs. Lankester's "Plain and Easy Account of British Ferns" (London: Hardwicke) will furnish you with all the information you want.

ANONYMOUS.-We are obliged to adhere to our rule of not attending to anonymous correspondence.

Jos. LAING.-The egg is that of the Yellow-ammer. The crystals are selenite, or sulphate of lime.

T. P.-It is most likely the larva will come out next

season.

S. M. P.-The specimen is Chara hispida. JAMES CRICHTON.-Your specimen is Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha).

EXCHANGES.

NOTICE. Only one "Exchange" can be inserted at a time by the same individual. The maximum length (except for correspondents not residing in Great Britain) is three lines. Only objects of Natural History permitted. Notices must be legibly written, in full, as intended to be inserted.

ERRATUM.-Mr. Ford's address in last month's Gossip should have been "Stamford" instead of "Hamford.” AULACODISCUS KITTONI, with 6, 7, or 8 processes, offered for one with 5 or 10.-Mr. Hamrele, 46, Charlotte Street, Hull.

Six slides, illustrating anatomy of Calabar Beetle (Pentondon quadreus), offered in exchange for six other correctly named slides. Animal structure preferred.-Edward Ward, 9, Howard Street, Coventry.

BRITISH dried plants to interchange.-J. Harbord Lewis, 180, Mill Street, Liverpool, S.

DUPLICATES.-Io polychloros, semele, rhamni; Larvæ of jacoba; Eggs and imagos of auriflua; Eggs of sambucata. Offers requested. -William Mann, 17, Wellington Terrace, Clifton, Bristol.

EGGS of Kingfisher, Cuckoo, Hawfinch, Curlew, Oyster. catcher, Mute Swan, Bernicle Goose, Sparrow-hawk, and Kestrel Hawk, for other good eggs. Unaccepted offers not answered.-Fred. Anderson, Alresford, Hants.

PARMELIA PARIETINA, on receipt of good unmounted object and stamped addressed envelope.-C. J. Jones, Gilmore Range, Shaw Heath, Stockport.

ECIDIUM RUBELLUM for unmounted object. - Address, enclosing stamped envelope, W. Dutton, 17, Hewitt Street, Hightown, Manchester.

DENDRITIC Spot on paper and other slides for mounted objects.-T. W. Cowan, Horsham.

GOOD SLIDES, or payment, for specimens of Mole Cricket Hornet, large green Grasshopper, Blatta gigas. Fresh specimens preferred.-C. L. Jackson, Clarendon Terrace, Bolton. FOREIGN SHELLS, with name and locality, in exchange for British Birds' Eggs.-F. Chester, 30, Smollett Street, Kensington, Liverpool.

WANTED, Silicious Cuticles, &c. for polariscope, in ex change for Diatomaceæ and other good objects.-H. E. Freeman, 1, Rose Villas, Wood Green, N.

FOR portion of skin of British Shark, or Dog-fish, send stamped and directed envelope, with object of interest. Mounted slides preferred.-Direct, F. S., Post-office, Rugeley, Staffordshire.

BRITISH Lepidoptera in exchange for either British or Foreign Lepidoptera.-T. Pickin, Mount Fields, Frankwell, Shrewsbury..

HAIRS from seed-pod of Leucodendron argenteum (Zanzibar), mounted for polariscope; Pollen of Mallow, Clustercups from Willow-herb, &c., for other well-mounted objects. -J. Ford, Stamford.

VERTIGO PYGMEA for Helix fusca; Helix lamellata for authentic specimens of H. concinna.-G. S. Tye, 58, Villa Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire.

MOUNTAIN Limestone Fish Remains for Old Red Sandstone species.-J. Hunter, Richmond, Yorkshire.

LARVE of Arctia caja (Tiger-moth) for microscopic material. Send list.-Rev. Jno. Hanson, 14, Bagby Square, Leeds. FOR Scales of Dunias alcippus and Vanessa clelia from West Africa (mounted) send two good slides to E. Lovell, Holly Mount, Croydon.

PALATES (mounted) of Helix, Limax, Patella, Littorina, &c., Spiracles of Insects, &c., in exchange for good objects, mounted or unmounted. Alfred Guthrie, Ward Road, Dundee.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

"President's Address to the Liverpool Nat. Hist. Soc." "Stone Implements." By John Evans, F.R.S. London: Longmans. "American Naturalist," for July. "Canadian Entomologist," for July.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED up to 10th ult. from W. G. S.-C. C. A.-L.-S. M. P.-J. C.-T. P.-J. L.W. O. N.-G.-E. W.-F. V. W.-W. A. L.-W. B. C.T. C. O.-E. S.-H. T.-L. M. P.-W. E. S.-T. B.-H. P. -W. E. H.-W. C.-J. C.-J. H. G.-J. S.-E. C. L.-J. L. -S. M. P.-J. H.-J. P.-E. T. S.-W. M.-W. T. I.L. V. H.-J. R. S. C.-T. B. B.-E. R. H.-C. R. E.-G. S.G. T. J.-A. W. L.-M. A. D.-J. R.-T. O. W.-R. H.N. S. W.-A. H.-T. W.-S. I.-T. C. I.-8. H.-A. E. M. -W. C.-J. S. W.-F. K.-C. K.-W. S.-R. T. L.-W. E.F. H. W.-H. A. A., &c.