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latter is the Xanthium spinosum, introduced from Europe, the achenes of which cling to the wool with such tenacity that it is almost impossible to detach them, and render it almost unsaleable. It spreads with such rapidity that in some parts legislative enactments have been passed for its extirpation; and where this is not done, it almost usurps the place of the more useful vegetation. President (Mr. George Bentham) stated that the Xanthium has in the same manner deteriorated the pastures in Queensland; whilst in the south of Europe, where it is equally abundant, it does not appear to cause such injurious results. Though generally distributed through Europe, the plant is probably of Chilian origin.

VEGETATION OF BERMUDA.-Mr. H. N. Moseley, one of the naturalists to the Challenger expedition, has recently communicated a paper on this subject to the Linnean Society. He states that about 160 species of flowering plants were gathered on the island, but of these not more than 100 were certainly native. Those of West-Indian origin were probably brought, as Grisebach had suggested, by the Gulf Stream or by cyclones, there being no winds blowing directly from the American coast which would be likely to carry seeds, which might, however, be conveyed from the continent by migratory birds. A note by Professor Thiselton-Dyer appended to the paper stated that 162 species sent over by Mr. Moseley had been determined at the Kew Herbarium, of which 71 belong to the Old World, while two, an Erythraea and a Spiranthes, were plants hitherto known as confined to single localities in the United States.

GEOLOGY.

MODE OF OCCURRENCE OF THE DIAMONDS IN SOUTH AFRICA.-In a paper on this interesting subject just read before the Geological Society of London by E. J. Dunn, the author stated that the diamonds of South Africa occur in peculiar circular areas, which he regards as "pipes," which formerly constituted the connection between molten matter below and surface volcanoes. The surrounding country consists of horizontal shales, through whieh these pipes ascend nearly vertically, bending upwards the edges of the shales at the contact. The rock occupying these pipes was regarded by the author as probably Gabbro, although in a very altered condition. Intercalated between the shale beds there are sheets of dolerite, &c., and dykes of the same rocks also intersect the shales at frequent intervals. Within the pipes there are unaltered nodules of the same dolerite. With regard to the relation of the diamonds to the rock of the pipes in which they are found, the author stated that he

thought it probable that the latter was enly the agent in bringing them to the surface, a large proportion of the diamonds found consisting of fragments. At the same time he remarked that each pipe furnished diamonds of a different character from those found in other pipes.

THE MINERAL WEALTH OF VIRGINIA. - The recent opening of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway from Richmond, on James River, to Huntington, on the Ohio, and the consequent laying open of a large tract of country hitherto almost inaccessible, has directed much attention in the United States to the resources of a district perhaps the richest and most valuable in mineral wealth of any in America. The railway crosses, at an oblique angle, several parallel belts of useful minerals. Near Richmond is a triassic coal-field long known and worked, though the coal is not first-rate and the expense of getting is considerable. To the west of this belt is a large deposit of iron pyrites, much of it auriferous. Still further west is Charlottesville, where the C. and O. railway is crossed by another of older date, abounding on both sides with some of the purest and finest magnetic oxides of iron known. These ores are very free from all injurious mixtures. A little further west there are several bands, or rather one band presented in several folds of exceedingly pure and rich brown hematites. Parallel with these is another line of railway, partly opened, connecting with the north. After an interval of 100 miles we come upon the coal-measures. The lower part contains a few good seams, but the middle part is exceptionally rich and valuable. There is here about 60 feet of coal in several workable seams, and a thickness of less than 300 yards of measure. The seams are intersected by the deep and picturesque gorge of New River and the Kanawha and reached by numerous tributaries. They can be worked with great ease at small cost, and no coals in the world can be better adapted for the coalcutting machine. Some of the seams have been opened and are in moderately active work, yielding three kinds of coal,-splint, a hard variety, well adapted for steam and marine engines; cannel greatly valued for enriching gas; and a moderately rich bituminous coal, good for household use, and believed to make excellent coke for iron-making and locomotives. All these minerals are capable of being worked as soon as the coal-fields are open, and it is satisfactory to know that measures are being taken to do this, and that English capital is being diverted in this direction. One English company has already started, and a branch rail is being constructed to enter the coal-seam and carry the mineral to the main line of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway. The coal is here about 150 miles from the iron ore, and iron can certainly be made for a price not exceeding 60s. per ton, either where

the ore occurs or where the coal is worked. Besides coal and iron, there are valuable deposits of kaolin and china clay; brine-springs that have been used for a century to make salt; important deposits of corundum used in making emery; exceedingly good mica in large plates, and a great deal of steatite or soap-stone. The development of these minerals is likely before long to alter very materially the relative importance of Virginia and West Virginia among the States.-D. T. Ansted, F.R.S.

"MISSING LINKS."-The researches of Professor Marsh in the tertiary strata of the neighbourhood of the Rocky Mountains promise to yield some of the most important results to palæontology that have yet been laid before the public. Most of the generic forms are intermediate connecting groups that are now widely separated, and therefore are to be regarded as veritable “missing links." Among them is a six-horned rhinoceros, that undoubtedly connected the ruminants and the pachyderms. Another interesting form is a small horse, no bigger than a fox. Prof. Marsh is engaged in preparing his already great store of material for publication, although the beds have not yet been half investigated. The investigations had to be carried on at great risk, an account of the Indians.

NEW SPECIES OF FOSSIL DEER.-Mr. Randall Johnson has described a new species of fossil deer in the "Annals of Natural History" for January, under the name of Cervus latifrons. He obtained the specimen from the Norfolk Forest-bed. This makes the ninth species which has been obtained from that interesting deposit.

HORNBLENDE ROCKS.-Hornblende rock may in some places be schistose, or nodular, or concretionary. Some of the schistose portions of this kind of rock, from Iar-Connaught, Ireland, have been proved by Forbes to be derivate rocks; con. sequently such portions must be metamorphosed tuff. Where hornblende rock is nodular or concretionary, it may have spheroids from the size of a man's head to four or five feet in diameter, irregu larly heaped up together, with the interstices filled with schistose-looking stuff, that has a foliation rudely curling round the nodules; or the interstices may be occupied with a felsitic rock, or even with a quartzitic stuff, or perhaps with two or more of these substances mixed together.-Kinahan's Handy Book of Rock Names.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

A MYTHICAL MAN-EATER.-In SCIENCE-GOSSIP for June, 1867 (p. 128), in an article upon an old natural history more than a century old, I described a strange beast called the Lamia. This creature is said to be bred in Libya; to decoy men to it by exposing its bosom; to have a face and breast like a

beautiful woman; and its hinder parts like a goat. This is said to be the creature mentioned as the Lieliath in the 34th chapter of Isaiah and the 4th chapter of Lamentations. So runs the old chronicler. Never having heard of the monster I was amused to read of a legend existing in modern Abyssinia regarding it, which seems to require some explanation, as it is so very circumstantial. Mansfield Parkyns says, in his very interesting work entitled "Life in Abyssinia,' published by Murray in 1868 (on p. 404): "There is an animal, which I know not where to class, as no European has hitherto succeeded in obtaining a specimen of it: it is supposed by the natives to be far more active, powerful, and dangerous than even the lion, and consequently held by them in the greatest possible dread. They call it 'wobbo' or 'mantillit,' and some hold it in superstitious awe, looking upon it more in the light of an evil spirit with an animal's form than a wild beast. Their descriptions of this animal are vague in the extreme: some say that its skin is partly that of a lion, but intermixed with that of the leopard and hyena; others, again, assert that its face is human, or very like it. It appears in the valleys, happily only rarely; for they say that when it takes its abode near a village, it pays nightly visits, entering the very houses, and carrying off the children, and even occasionally grown-up persons. One had been killed some years ago on the river Weney, and its skin presented to Oubi (king of Tigré); but I could never discover what became of it. I heard of a village which had suffered considerably from its depredations, and for several days watched every night in the neighbourhood, but without success." F. A. A.

SOLUTION FOR PRESERVING SEA ANEMONES.I find in my note-book the following recipe, extracted from the "Manual of Scientific Enquiry" (p. 361, published by Murray & Co.):-Take bay salt 4 oz.; alum 2 oz.; corr. sublimate 2 grs.; rain or distilled water 1 quart. Place the actinia in sea-water until fully expanded; then add the solution slowly and quietly, when the animal will be killed and fixed in the expanded state. It should then be transferred to a bottle containing fresh solution.-J. P. Belmont, Dartmouth.

IPSWICH SCIENCE-GOSSIP SOCIETY.-This flourishing society, founded several years ago by readers of and contributors to our magazine, held its annual conversazione on the 10th December. About 750 of the principal inhabitants of the town were present, who evinced their interest in scientific matters by discussing the various objects exhibited. Among the principal exhibitors were Messrs. W. Ladd, J. Wiggin, B. Edwards, Powles (with a patent sandblast in full action), Dr. Drummond, Messrs. W. Vick, Howes, Garratt, Budden, and others. Physical science was especially well represented, and natural history by collections of mosses, shells, fossils, butterflies, flint implements, &c. A collection of pictures, by the late Henry Bright, a local artist, added to the variety; and the performances on two of Whight & Mann's magnificent pianos (an Ipswich manufacture) lent a charm to the evening. Great credit is due to the chairman, Mr. W. Vick, and the hon. sec., Mr. Henry Miller, for the successful issue of the meeting.

SHORE-LARK. It may be of interest to note the occurrence of the Shore-lark (Alauda alpestris). The bird, a fine male, was observed in a birdseller's window in Bristol. The man had it brought

to him with several yellow-hammers, caught within a short distance of the city. I had the pleasure of seeing it, and noting its characteristic markings. The yellow head, elongated feathers, and black patches on top of head, side of beak, and breast being specially prominent.-E. Wheeler.

PINE-APPLES.-At a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, held at South Kensington, very recently, I was much interested at some reremarks made by Mr. Liggins, F.R.H.S., upon the great size which the pine-apple attains in the celebrated Pitch Lake of Trinidad. This gentleman's observations are reported in the Gardener's Chronicle of December 6th, which also, in a foot-note, quotes Canon Kingsley, from vol. i. of his work "At Last; a Christmas in the West Indies," which corroborates Mr. Liggins' statements. The lake appears to consist of soft powdered pitch and reddish-brown sand. Could not the attention of gardeners be drawn to this (to me) novel culture of pine-apples in this country? I seek advice of some practical geologist or chemist on this matter, who, perhaps, would be good enough to recommend some artificial substance, consisting of bitumen and brown sand in certain defined proportions, but which should answer all practical purposes of horticulture. It would be an immense boon conferred upon English gardeners, if, by a happy combination of pitch and sand, they should be able hereafter to grow the most luscious of fruits to a much greater size than it has hitherto attained here. I may also remark, that, at the same meeting of the society, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley alluded to some splendid Cayenne pine-apples as having been grown in the Royal Gardens at Frogmore, under the influence of heat obtained from oak-leaves (decayed); the plants standing on about six feet of this material.-John Colebrooke, F.R.H.S

THE QUEEN BEE.-Major Munn was the first to put bar-frames into (not with) a box or case in 1834, the same as the modern bar-frame hive, which has raised bee-keeping to (not in) such perfection, &c. The fructification of the queen bee is always the death of the drone. (This is what your correspondent on p. 262 (1873) wants to know.)-Wm. Carr.

A VORACIOUS PERCH.-Fishing a short time since in a mill-pool, I hooked a perch weighing threequarters of a pound. Just as I was on the point of landing him, my hook snapped in the middle of the bend, and the fish escaped. An hour or two after, a friend, who was with me, landed, on the opposite side of the pool, a perch, which on examination proved to be the one I had lost, as we found the broken hook securely fastened in his mouth.-The perch was plump, and evidently a well-fed fish; and the pool, I have no doubt, abounds in food, from the fact that twenty roach taken in one afternoon from the same spot, with the rod and line, weighed, together, over thirty pounds.-J. Henry Vaughan.

MUSCA FORMICIFORMIS.-This is, I believe, the name of a small fly resembling a winged ant, which I have, now and then, seen in great numbers in hot, dry, summer weather, but at no other times. They crowd as close together as they can find room on the branches of low bushes, and on blades of grass, within the space of a few feet square. They move a good deal among themselves, but do not seem to take wing. They remain in the same spot for many successive days. I have noticed a peculiar odour from them. The plants, on which they stay do not

seem at all injured. I should wish to learn more of their nature and habits.-S.T.P.

THE SNAKE AND THE TOAD.-One hot summer's afternoon-it was a Sunday in August,-I remember, and a good many years ago-my father called us all out into his melon-garden. There was something for us to see," he said. In a corner of a pit, coiled up and fast asleep, lay a full-grown snake, evidently digesting a large meal, for his stomach was enormously distended. A toad, which was kept in the pit to destroy the vermin, was nowhere to be seen.The snake had eaten him up!-M. A. Livett.

THE POSTAL MICROSCOPICAL CABINET CLUB.— In the first box of the Northern circuit of the "P.M.C.C." (Postal Micro. Cabinet Club), Mr. R. Harris Philip, of Hull, inclosed a slide of "Sting of Scorpion," to which he appended the following note:"The 'beastie' from which I prepared this slide was caught by a friend amongst some cotton seed imported from Tahiti. I kept it for about two months, at the end of which time it died-for want of food, I suppose; for, though I tried it with all kinds of insects (which books say are its usual diet), yet I could never induce it to eat anything. Indeed, one small larva I put in, finding the scorpion's back easier for walking on than the sand at the bottom of the jar, used to make a regular promenade of it, without molestation, so long as it kept off the head; but Scorpio evidently considered touching his head too great a liberty, and used to project the trespasser to the other end of the jar with a fillip of the tail, apparently, however, not using the 'sting." Mr. P. would be obliged to any one who can tell him what they would eat, in case he should have the luck to find another. Since sending you copy of rules, which appeared in the December part of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, I have received letters from several gentlemen wishing to join the club these, as we have now our full complement of members, I have been obliged to refuse; but have since determined that, after the 1st of January, the president and myself will be pleased to conduct a SECOND CLUB (if agreeable) under the same rules as our present club. I shall be glad to receive all applications for membership as early as possible.Alfred Allen.

RARA AVIS.During December, 1873, three Hoopoes were observed in the parish of Freshwater, Isle of Wight. One of them was seen by the Rev. C. Bowen, of Heatherwood, Freshwater, to alight under the verandah of his house. Several years ago a pair of these birds were shot in this neighbourhood; but they have not again made their appearance until the present time.-4. G. Weld.

MARKINGS ON LEPIDOPTERA.-In reply to J. W. Russell, I cannot find, on reference to Stainton's, Newman's, Wood's, or Morris's works, that there is any difference in the markings between the male and female of V. Urtica or C. Phlæas. But in C. Pamphilus, according to Morris, the brownish markings at the edge of the wings are darker and more decided in the than the specimens.-W. L. Sarjeant.

SIGNS USED TO DENOTE SEX (p. 261).—The sign? has no connection with the goddess Ceres, or her sickle either. Your correspondent will find the whole matter treated of in Mr. Rodwell's "Lectures on the Birth of Chemistry." Suffice it here to say that the sign is the symbol of the planet Venus,

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SUCKED EGGS. A friend of mine was looking over a recent number of SCIENCE - GOSSIP, and saw the paragraph headed "Sucked Eggs,' when he informed me that he had discovered a blackbird's nest in a tree in his garden, containing three eggs which had been similarly treated.James J. R. Bate.

SUBSTITUTE FOR A WATER-NET.-I have used occasionally of late, instead of a net of canvas or other material, a metal culinary implement (called, I believe, technically, a small colander), which answers well for securing some insects and larvæ, being fastened to a long handle. Its shallowness is one objection; but the water runs off more speedily from the débris brought up, and the metal does not, of course, wear away, while ordinary nets are soon frayed or torn.-J. R. S. C.

EUPLECTELLA.-Mr. Spicer, in last month's number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, expresses his surprise at some crustacean having gained admission into the interior of the Euplectella speciosa. Attached to the case containing my specimens is a printed description, which states "that the Spaniards in Manilla regard them as formed by the soldier crab, which must take up its place in the tube before the network in the upper end is formed." Whether this is a correct explanation of the formation of this beautiful sponge may be open to grave doubt, but the presence of the crustacean in question would seem to favour the supposition.-W. R. T.

THE COMMON HEDGEHOG.-In your Notes and Queries for November a correspondent, who signs himself "L.," gives some interesting facts respecting a captive female hedgehog, a mother, with four young ones. He states as follows:-"I fear that the mother died from exhaustion, as she suckled her young, and I did not know what to give her except bread and milk." The writer further says, as to hedgehogs, "I should like to know more about their food and habits." Very much has been written as to the food and habits of the hedgehog, but, nevertheless, no writer with whom I am acquainted has at all indicated the amount of sustenance really needed and taken by these comparatively small mammalia; and a delusion prevails, that a very small quantity of food, a few slugs and beetles, will suffice to feed this animal. The Hedgehog belongs to the order Insectivora, its teeth clearly indicating that its food is entirely of an animal character. Hedgehogs require a large amount of food. In your journal, of two years ago, "L." will find, under the heading Common Hedgehog, a communication signed "J. H., M.D.," in which it is stated that a hedgehog, after an evening meal of six drachms of cooked mutton, actually contrived to capture and devour a red breast which roosted in a small fernery within the reach of the thorny-backed marauderer. I have frequently kept hedgehogs, small and large,

and find that they will eat all animal substances freely-slugs, beetles, meat, either fresh or high (so called), also skin, and the softer feathers of birds; and they will take bread or oatmeal soaked in milk, as cats are taught to do. If well tamed, they will come when called to be fed, in the daylight, but they are nocturnal in their habits, from twilight to dawn foraging about, seeking whatsoever feeble or imprudent animal may be captured, or whatsoever animal substance may be found on the ground; and eating in this way they act as scavengers. On account of the nocturnal habits of the Hedgehog, this animal is a capital destroyer of cockroaches. A jackdaw will pick these creatures up with much more activity, but, unfortunately, Jack begins to blink and falls asleep when the sun goes down, so that he is of no use when all is still and dark, and the Blattide are out seeking their food. I may mention that hedgehogs die occasionally from scrofulous glandular disease. Some years ago I met with a large male hedgehog, which, from some cause, could not coil itself up when alarmed. It shortly died, and on examination I found that the lymphatic glands of the neck were diseased, and that, on account of the great thickness of the skin of the animal's neck, the matter from the glands could not reach the surface of the body, and so discharge itself; hence the poor animal's sufferings and death. In Norway the Hedgehog is named Pin Swin.-John Harker, M.D., &c.

A WASP AND SPIDER BATTLE.-In last month's SCIENCE-GOSSIP, Mr. Howell mentions having seen a wasp decapitate a brother. A precisely similar circumstance took place in my presence a few weeks since. That spiders are most afraid of wasps I infer from a circumstance I witnessed many years ago. A wasp became entangled in the web of a spider, located in the upper corner of a window, when the spider rushed out to secure his prey, and a battle of some minutes' duration occurred, ending in a dear-bought victory by the spider, the wasp falling dead on the floor, and the spider dying a few minutes afterwards.-A. Nicholson.

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COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED UP TO THE 12TH ULT. FROMT. B. W.-W. S. jun.-C. B.-C. P.-J. L. L.-C. C. U.F. H.-A. W. L.-8. T. P.-J. S. jun.-F. T. M.-T. R.F. B.-W. R. T.-H. M. J. U.-M. B.-H. B. T.-E. C. L.W. J. B.-R. H.-E. C.-R. H. N. B.-F. W. H.-A. F. B.E. E.-J. H.-E. F. E.-J. W.-D. H.-T. Q. C.-A. G. W.J. S.-H. G.-J. A. jun.-J. J. V.—J. A.-F. M.-W. L. W. E. -E. F. E.-A. N.-R. H.-W. C.-J. L. H.-H. E. T.-F. H. -J. E. T.-E. L'-M. M.-W. W. S.-W. R. W.-J. R. S. C. -J. G. M.-G. G.-J. H. L.-A. A.-W. L. S.-8. A. S.J. L. C.-W. O.-H. G.-C. J. W. R.-O. B.-E. S. B.D. T. A.-T. J. E.-J. D.-R. M. G.-E. D. M.-J. F. C.C. C. U.-R. H. N. B.-H. C.-K. P.-A. G.-F. I. B.W. G. P.-W. W.-E. L.-C. P. G.-R. D.-E. B. K. W.W. A. T.-E. A. H.-R. T.-A. S., &c.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A. F. BUXTON.-Carbuncle is the name given to a variety of the precious garnet (Pyrope). It belongs to the cubical system, and it is composed principally of silica, alumina, protoxide of iron, with lime, magnesia, and protoxide of manganese. It is found in Bohemia, Saxony, and Ceylon.

H. T. M.-The following are the names of the moths sent: No. 1. Lesser Broad-border (Tryphæna ianthina); No. 2. Large Mallow (Eubolia cervinaria); No. 3. Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassica); No. 4. Marbled Minor (Miana strigilis); No. 5. Small China Mark (Cataclysta lemnalis).

JOHN DAWSON.-The Testacella Maugei is of a dark brown colour, sometimes mottled or speckled with black, red, or white. Its shell is larger and more cylindrical than that of the nearly allied species T. haliotidea. The Black Slug (Arion ater) is carnivorous, and devours earth-worms. The Testacella haliotidea also preys upon the earth-worms, and will follow them up inio their burrows.

W. K.-The name of the Horse-eye Nut is Mucuna gigantea, a native of the East Indies, but extensively grown in the West Indies. The Calabar Bean is quite distinct from it, being oblong, round, slightly curved, and of a deep mahogany.colour. The Horse-eye Nut is round, compressed, greyish in colour, with a black band round the margin.J. T.

A. STORMONT.-Will you kindly communicate your address to us, as it was not given in your note?

"WHEN THE SWALLOWS HOMEWARD FLY."-We received several scores of notices of the late stay with us of the Swallows, all testifying to the extraordinary mildness of the present winter up to Christmas. We thank our correspondents for their trouble, and this reference to the number sent will be an apology for not publishing them all!

W. H. W.-Your description of the animal answers exactly to that of the Barbastelle Bat (Barbastellus Daubentonii), given in Bell's "British Quadrupeds." It is well known as a native of France, but only of late years discovered to inhabit this country. It is in the southern counties that one would expect to find it most commonly in England.

W. BENNET.-It is the Pellucid Limpet (Patella pellucida), of deeper water habits than the common limpet, and known by its pellucid shell and pretty bright blue lines radiating from the apex.

J. A., JUN.-The only trustworthy work on Exotic Butterflies that would come within your means is Hewitson's, published in parts, by Lovell Reeve, at, we believe, 2s. 6d. each.

J. L. H.-Exchanges of Natural History objects are inserted gratis, if not more than three lines in length.

E. L.-You will by this doubtless have seen that the announcement of the Dodo being still alive has been contradicted. It was a bird called by Prof. Owen a " Dodlet."

R. P.-Your sketch is that of the fossil root of the Sigillaria, one of the commonest of the coal plants. It goes by the name of Stigmaria ficoides.

P. THOMAS.-It is the Hair-worm (Gordius aquaticus), usually believed by schoolboys and others to be the transformation of horse-hairs by immersion in running water. The larval stages of these worms are usually passed parasitically in insects.

S. A. S.-You had best obtain the volume of Labels for the Herbarium, by Robson, published by Hardwicke, Piccadilly, last year. It is the completest list yet issued, printed on one side for herbarium use. The generic names are, if we remember right, given as you desire.

BELEMNITE. For preserving your Gault fossils, first gently brush them with a weak solution of common glue. This will prevent them falling in pieces. Afterwards, when this has dried, brush them over with copal varnish, to produce the shiny appearance you desire. We think, however, you had better omit the latter, as it warms in summer and gets sticky, so that the dust adheres to it.

J. P. GREELY.-A correspondent has kindly recommended us the following receipt as an antidote to wire-worms:Sprinkle the ground well with soot, and then plant it with potatoes; when the potatoes are taken up, the wire-worms should be taken out and destroyed. If this be done for a year or two, the ground will be entirely cleared from them. If the land is heavy and clayey, a heavy dressing of lime, at the rate of 30 tons per acre, will prove beneficial.

ERRATUM.-On page 13 of last No. of 8.-G., and in 22nd line, for "terrestrial," read "arboreal."

E. C.-You will find a note respecting the connection of the Eagle with St. John, offered as an explanation of the "Liver" on the seal of the Liverpool arms, in the February No. of SCIENCE-GOSSIP for 1872. For St. James and the Scallop, and other hagiographical matters, consult Husenbeth's "Emblems of the Saints."

W. L. W. E.-We are very sorry to remark that, though we got your note, the bees have not yet "turned up"! ORIGINAL SUBSCRIBER.-We are not aware that you can purchase collapsible tubes ready filled with Canada balsam but it is not difficult to get the tubes first and to fill them afterwards. You had best inquire at a good chemist's. The cheap perfumery is sold in the collapsible tubes. 2nd. You had better apply to any good microscope dealer for the material you desire, and we doubt not he will be glad to send you his catalogues. 3rd. For the purpose of studying the dissection of animals, you cannot do better than obtain London: Hulk & Henfrey's "Anatomical Manipulation." Van Voorst. The second edition (just issued) of Davies " On Mounting, &c." (London: Hardwicke) is still cheaper.

EXCHANGES.

WANTED: Clausilia biplicata, C. dubia, and Bulimus montanus. Offered: B. montanus, C. laminata, Cyclostoma elegans, and others.-Miss F. Hele, Ellenslea, Redlands Grove, Bristol.

Phalaris paradoxa, Sisymbrium pannonicum, &c., for grasses in general, particularly of genera Bromus, Festuca, and Panicum.-J. Harbord Lewis, 180, Mill-street, Liverpool, S.

FROM eighty to a hundred Foreign Land Shells all duly reported, for which should be pleased for Northern English, Irish, and Scotch Algæ.-Henry Goode, 13, Clarence-street, Penzance, Cornwall.

A STAMP ALBUM containing about 650, open to offers.Address, J. L. Copeman, 12, The Walk, Norwich.

I SHOULD like to exchange Bird Skins with some British reader of the SCIENCE-GOSSIP.-Franklin W. Hall, 14, Parkstreet, New Haven, Ct., U.S.

WANTED, good mounted Injections. I will give Stained Tissue. Send stamped envelope to Wm. Sarjeant, jun., Caverswall, Stafford.

WANTED, good slides of Isthmia nervosa, good Naviculæ, and Cuxhaven Mud Diatoms for first-class Slides.-H. B. Thomas, Boston, Lincolnshire.

WANTED, Storm-tossed Scraps, Marine objects of interest, &c., dried and named. Can offer Slides, Fossils, and other objects of natural history.-E. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

WANTED, Larvae of P. crategi, C. Davus, E. Medea, L. Sibylla, A. Iris, and ova of any hairstreak except Quercus, for Microscopic Slides, or other Lepidoptera.-W. L. Sarjeant, 6, Dagnall park Terrace, Selhurst, Surrey.

Achimenes, Gesnera, and Euconodium bulbs, for wellmounted Slides, Diatoms, &c.-Address, 135, St. Owen-street, Hereford.

BONE SECTIONS, long and transverse, Camel, Horse, Ox, Sheep, and Pig, mounted or unmounted, for good Slides or material.-W. Officer, Wilmington, Hull.

SCALES of Bream unmounted, for other good objects.Stamped envelope to Miss Watkins, 15, Union-street, Deptford, S.E.

MICROSCOPIC FUNGI, Ecidium rubellum, E. urtica, Clustercups from Coltsfoot, Pilewort, and Goat's-beard, all mounted, for well-mounted objects-Anatomical or Polarizing subjects in preference.-G. Garrett, Harland House, Whersted-road, Ipswich.

I HAVE the following duplicate Nos. in the London Cat. of British Plants :-752, 746, 929, 1036, 1052, 1037, 732, 418, 229, 676, 957, 867, 881, 698, 472, 1165, 187, 425, 1179, 1168, 1234, 897, 180. Desiderata sent on application.-E. A. Hall, Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

WANTED, Papilio Machaon. Will give Pamphila Acteon.R. M. Glazbrook, Lower Caversham.

HAIR from tail of Indian Elephant (trans-section), part of Shell Wing of Locust, and many other good objects. sections preferred.-Send list to C. C. Underwood, 25, Gloucester-place, Portman-square, London.

DIATOMS from Litcham, cleaned.-Send stamp and address to W. White, Litcham, Norfolk. Any material acceptable. FORAMINIFERA and other Microscopic Shells, and Diatomaceæ well mounted for other mounted objects.-H. Cockson, 24, Rodney-street, Liverpool.

BEAUTIFUL Crystals of Spinel Ruby and rough Amethysts, Topazes, and other precious stones, for Microscopic Slides.G., 20, Maryland-road, Harrow-road, W.

ALGE from the Channel Islands, North and South Devon, and Cornwall, for any or all of the following Sea-weedsgood specimens required:-Callithamnion floccosum, pluma, and Brodici, Fucus Mackæii, Delesseria angustissima, Phyllophora Brodiei, Rhodymenia cristata, Puncturia tenuissima, Sphacelaria plumosa, Arthrocladia villosa, Sporochenes peduncalatus, Polysiphonia parasitica (very fine in Scotland), Nitophyllum laceratum (very fine in the Orkneys).-Henry Goode, 13, Clarence-street, Penzance, Cornwall.

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