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worthy of your notice, a great part of its beauty being gone. When we first saw them, on a bright December day, among the dry grass at the roots of a quickset hedge, they really looked beautiful. Your piece, collected yesterday, is dull after being exposed for weeks to the weather. I suppose the authors are the little field-mice.-Thomas Cape.

SPARROWS' EGGS IN DECEMBER.-On the 4th of December last whilst going_over an old steeple near here (Orlestone, Kent), I accidentally found a nest of the house-sparrow (Passer domesticus) containing four eggs. Upon breaking one, I found it to my great surprise to be perfectly fresh, and evidently laid within a few days. The weather had been very mild for some time past. Is this a common occurrence, or not?-H.W.

BRITISH OROBANCHACER.-I shall feel much obliged if you or some of the correspondents of SCIENCE-GOSSIP can furnish me with any new observations with reference to the British Orobanchaceae. I shall be very glad of specimens of the plants, and especially so of the seeds of the different species of this family, as well as notes of experiments that may have been tried in their culture. I shall be happy to send specimens of other plants or seeds in exchange.-James Fletcher.

SAXIFRAGA GRANULATA.-I should be glad to hear the general opinion as to the nature of the characteristic granulations in the stem of Saxifraga granulata. Hooker in his Student's Flora says, "Stem bulbiferous," and further describes the "bulbs as large as a pea, brown." Bentham, in his British Flora, says that the " perennial stock is reduced to a cluster of small bulbs." Now Bentley in his Manual says that bulbs are confined to monocotyledonous plants. How can the contradictions be reconciled ?-W. G. Piper.

VERBASCUM AND DIGITALIS.-During a short stay at Brentwood this last summer I was struck with the almost entire absence of any plants of the genus Verbascum, the only plant which I saw of it being a dwarfed seedling. Their place seems to be entirely filled up by the Digitalis purpurea, which was a conspicuous object in many of the hedgerows. Round Norwich, and indeed throughout Norfolk, the reverse is the case, Verbascums being common, and the only plants of Digitalis which are found being escapes from cultivation. Is this absence of Verbascum in presence of Digitalis a general thing, or is it merely confined to the above-mentioned localities, and how may it be explained?-W. G. Piper.

THEOBROMA.-In Humboldt's "Views of Nature" I find it mentioned that the flowers of Theobroma cacao are frequently found on the root. Are there any analogous cases of this anomalous production of flower-buds on roots, or is it a frequent or only a casual occurrence ?-W. G. Piper.

A NATURAL BAROMETER.-In some countries frogs are used as barometers: the species employed for this purpose is the green tree-frog. They are placed in tall glass bottles with little wooden ladders, to the top of which they always climb in fine weather and descend at the approach of bad weather. This is a cheap and highly interesting weather-glass where the green_tree-frog is to be procured in its natural state.-E. Lovett.

INSECTS' EGGS.-Could any of your readers inform me why, or if it is usual, that Thecla quercus should lay their eggs on Fraxinus excelsior, when

Quercus pedunculata is more plentiful in the same locality, as I have constantly noticed it to be the case?-H. Glazbrook.

LARVA FROM PARIS.-Last September, in some of the parks of Paris, I found six larvæ, about two inches or two inches and a half long, very thick and fleshy, of a delicate pale green colour, and bearing a few short spines. By the beginning of October, they had all spun cocoons, varying in colour from dirty-white to light reddish-brown, rather small in size, compared with the larvae. The trees on which they feed grow luxuriantly in the Boulevards, parks, and suburbs of Paris, and somewhat resemble the Ash, but the foliage is brighter green. These trees appear to be rather scarce here, or, at all events, not common enough to obtain food easily for a brood of caterpillars. Now, as I expect to get a good supply of eggs, from which I should like to rear a number of larvæ, I shall feel greatly obliged to any of the readers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP who will inform me if they know of any common tree or plant which will answer as a substitute for their natural foodplant. I should be glad to know the name of the moth, which I fancy has been recently introduced from China or Japan.-E. D. M.

STAG-BEETLES.-Several old and decayed trees have been recently cut down in Greenwich Park, and a few days ago a piece of wood, a foot in length, and four inches in thickness, taken from the root of one of them, was brought to me; the outer part was perfectly decayed, so that it crumbled at the touch, and it contained about twenty larvæ of the Stag-beetle (Lucanus cervus). The larvæ, which had the usual white fleshy appearance, were from one to two inches in length, and very sluggish. Among them I found an extremely small male stag-beetle, rather more than half an inch in length. I placed the wood in a box, and in two days the larvæ had buried themselves completely, and were out of sight. About Blackheath and Greenwich Park, in July and August, the perfect insects may often be found on fine evenings in considerable numbers, crawling up fences or flying about. I have sometimes obtained a dozen or more in an hour's search.-E. H. Glaishier.

THE AQUARIUM IN WINTER.-I don't see how W. Swatman is to keep his aquarium out of doors successfully during the winter, and would not recommend any plan for so doing. Can he not remove it for the season and place it near a window? The pleasure of studying the aquarium, I should say, would be considerably enhanced if he could do so. I keep golden and Prussian carp, roach, and a swarm of minnows, and some mussels. These I find, after much experience, to be far the best for a furnished aquarium. Your perch doubtless gobbled the newt, for they are most hungry creatures, though I never heard of one doing so before. I would add, that I filled my tank with water, Sept. 1872,-it contains about twenty gallons and thirty fish, and have never lost one.-M. H. Clare, Cheltenham.

IONIAN SNIPE.-The late Lord Lytton, in his translation of the Epodes of Horace, in a foot-note at page 424, of the second Epode, alludes to the line "Non attagen Ionicus; "the "attagen," he writes, being variously interpreted woodcock, snipe, and more commonly moorfowl. The Ionian Snipe is, to this day, so incomparably the best of the Snipe race, that I venture to think it is the veritable "attagen Ionicus." Would any of your correspondents kindly

supply me with a few particulars relative to the superiority of this snipe over the other varieties ? Does it bear the palm for flavour and size? On a reference to Montague's "British Birds," edited by Newman, nine kinds of snipe are mentioned, but I fail to see any allusion made to the Ionian kind.— John Colebrooke.

EUPLECTELLA.-At p. 23 Mr. Spicer asks for an explanation of the presence of a crustacean in the interior of a specimen of the above. This is easily furnished; the fact being that the crustacean is invariably placed in the Euplectella by the dealers; or, at any rate, by the native preparers of the specimens. If any one possessing one of these spongeskeletons will open carefully the ends of the tuft of spicules forming the anchoring-means at the base, the end of the tube will be found quite open and ready for the introduction of the crustacean, or any similar object that the ingenuity of the preparer may suggest.-E. B. K. U.

HOW TO DESTROY ANTS.-If "E. B. F." will place a brood of young chickens or pheasants in a coop near to the ant-hills, and then with a trowel turn the eggs and ants to the surface, he will find them quickly disappear. The birds must not be more than a fortnight old, or they will do harm to the plants. By this method I have quite cleared my garden of these troublesome intruders.-L.

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FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. In reply to "M. A. H.," I may say that the kind of tank suitable, would, of course, depend on his own fancy : some prefer oblong, some round tanks. My own is a common propagating-glass, about 16 inches in diameter. The first thing he must do is to get some yellow loam, wash it well, place a layer, about two inches thick, inside the glass; he must then plant his aquatic plants in this loam. Next procure a small quantity of gravel, which he must strew on the top of the loam, the object of this being to keep the water clear. Now fill it up with water, let it stand for about a week before putting any fish in. The fish should be gold carp, a few minnows, tench; a small eel or two might also be introduced with advantage. The mollusks should be a few Paludina vivipara and Planorbis corneus, which act as scavengers, by eating up the green confervæ which accumulate, more especially during the summer months, on the sides of the tank. Now as to the insects. The only insect I find that agrees with the fish is Hydrous pisceus, a specimen of which I have kept for the last six months. I may say that I am only an amateur in aquariums, having only kept one for a little over twelve months, but I think very successfully, as I have maintained the balance between the animal and vegetable life so well that I have not changed the water once since I first put it in. My plants are Vallisneria spiralis and Anacharis alsinastrum. If "M. A. H." cannot obtain them, I shall be most happy to send them to him, or any one who wishes them; if he will forward to my address a box suitable for the purpose.-J. L., Wigan.

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Mississippi, and Texas, that such is their habit. In the winter of 1843-4, I was engaged making a survey on the banks of the Homochitto Lake, near the Mississippi river, S.W. front of that State. The day was warm and sunny, and as I halted near the margin of a pond nearly dried up, to pick up some shells, I startled a litter of young alligators, that scampered off, yelping like puppies; and retreating some twenty yards, to the bank of the Lake Homochitto; I saw them reach their refuge in the mouth of a five-foot alligator. She evidently held open her mouth to receive them, as, in single file, they passed in beyond my observation. The dam then turned slowly round and slid down beneath the water, passing into a large opening in the bank, beneath the root of an ash-tree. The water was rendered turbid here and nowhere else, enabling me to find the mouth of what was, probably, the place of hybernation. I made a communication of these facts to Sir Charles Lyell, who visited me shortly afterwards. Some notice was made of it, and I think the statement will be found in the volume of his "Second Visit to the United States." Doubtless, this refuge is temporary, and the young are released at their own or the mother's pleasure; the descent being but partial, in no way reaching or interfering with the process of digestion. I have found the stomach of an alligator, killed during winter, when nearly torpid, almost empty and clean, excepting the two or three pieces of wood-cypress, if I correctly remember-rounded off, as if by attri tion or lateral friction, of three, six, and ten cubic inches. These are common, and taken in doubtless for slow digestion during hybernation.-Caleb G. Forshey, Fellow N. Orleans Academy of Science.

THE HEDGEHOG.-The interesting paragraph on the common Hedgehog in last month's number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, I am able to supplement from experience. The Hedgehog is frequently infested by a mite, which lays its eggs in the skin; the mites increase with astonishing rapidity and weaken the Hedgehog by their constant feeding upon it. The frequent use of soap and water is absolutely necessary to free the Hedgehog of the parasites; tobacco juice may be used also with advantage. No animal is fonder of water than the Hedgehog, which swims and floats in it, with evident delight. When domesticated, the Hedgehog requires a roomy deep box or basket, well filled with hay or paper shavings; it likes to be well covered and warm; it requires milk, and for food any scraps from the dinner-table, bones of pigeon, partridge, chicken, the small bones of lamb, pieces of liver, and bits of lean meat. In autumn, hedgehogs begin to look out for a winter sleeping-place, and ought to have a convenient box prepared for them, with plenty of hay; they make a neat nest for themselves and ought not to be disturbed; it is sufficient to feel if they are warm; if they are uncoiled and cold, they must be attended to directly, warmed and well fed, after which they will probably go to sleep again. Hedgehogs that are thrown out of their natural habits by being domesticated, seldom lie dormant for more than a week at a time. The Hedgehog becomes a most interesting pet, soon knows its name, and is very gentle and most grateful for kindness, and patient under the washings necessary for keeping it free of parasites, making itself sleek to the accustomed hand.-Jane Barwell Carter.

DERIVATION OF "LADY-BIRD."-Could any of the numerous readers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP inform me the correct derivation of the word "Lady-bird"

(Coccinella septempunctata)? It never struck me as anything out of the way till the other day, when I happened to hear an argument upon the subject, which was brought to a termination by my friend saying he had tried to find this point out but had not succeeded, it had therefore been allowed to fall through.-T. Palmer.

REMOUNTING OBJECTS.-I bought some old but very fine injections in fluid the other day. But they all want remounting, as the cells contain air more or less. I have remounted several in fresh Goadby solution, but I am not sure whether the old fluid was the same. How can I find it out? I notice some of the newly mounted specimens have shrunk a little. I have tried the old solution with various tests, and I think proved that it was not spirit and water, or chloride of calcium. Please advise me, as I should be sorry to spoil them.Wm. Statham.

A WHITE ROBIN.-Much has been said lately by some of your correspondents about white sparrows; doubtless they would be interested to hear of what I consider a far greater rarity. Some years ago an uncle of mine caught in a trap (what was said to be) a white robin. It was identical in form with the redbreast, but its plumage was of a creamy white, and it had bright pink eyes. The bird was kept in a cage for some weeks after its capture, but at length it died. Its body was preserved, and, of course, regarded as a great curiosity. -G. O. Howell.

EXTRACTING LINGUAL RIBBONS.-What is the best method of extracting the lingual ribbon (palate) of very small mollusca? I find liquor potasse answer in most cases; but with Clausilia and other small shells I have completely failed. I suppose that the membrane is so delicate that the liquor potassæ dissolves it.-C. P. Ct.

A MYSTERIOUS MOUSETRAP.-Last night when I left the office an ordinary ld. mousetrap was baited and set. This morning, in looking for a prisoner, the trap had gone, and after a while I found it removed some little distance from where it was set, covered with blood, bait gone and within a foot of it was the mutilated remains of a mouse. Not a bit of flesh could be seen, and it seemed as if it had been nicely skinned, minus one or two small portions of which were missing. The head was scalped. Can any of your readers tell me how this could have occurred? The trap was set in a large drawer, consequently out of a cat's reach, and no cat is kept. I may mention that a mouse caught two days previously swarmed with small insects very like fleas. Could these insects have done the mischief, or would other mice have eaten their brother?-Joseph J. Warry.

FRESH-WATER AQUARIA.-There have been, from time to time, so many hints given with regard to aquariums in the pages of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, that it seems almost like sending coals to Newcastle to forward any further information; but since "M. A. H." requests it, I will just say that I found a slate square tank, with a glass front and glass top slides, answer most admirably. I purchased this tank for a marine aquarium, changed my mind, and converted it into a fresh-water one. I put a little rockwork in it to afford shade for the fish, and introduced a few plants, Vallisneria spiralis, Chara vulgaris, and Anacharis alsinastrum (confervæ will usually appear spontaneously if the aquarium is in good

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order). The Water-boatman, and the large Water beetle, Hydrous pisceus-not the carnivorous Waterbeetle mind-and the Caddis-worm are all suitable. Sticklebacks are very amusing, but I gave them a glass globe to themselves. I went in largely for fresh-water aquaria at one time. I had a small pond in the garden stocked with gold-fish, the snigeel, the common frog, and the smooth water-newt; I also had a large round glass aquarium in the greenhouse with millers'-thumbs, small water-tortoise, and minnows. Much depends, of course, on the size of the aquarium "M. A. H." wishes to stock. must not over-crowd it. The fresh-water Limpet and the viviparous Paludina are desirable inmates, but I should never put the Duck-mussel, or either of the Mud-shells in a tank; they are better suited for a pond out-of-door aquarium. Small Cray-fish are interesting, if, like the Sticklebacks, they have a glass house to themselves. Whirligig-beetles do. well in an open aquarium, and the least mud or earth put at the bottom of an aquarium the better. I used to put river-sand and well-washed pebbles in mine, water alone being sufficient to nourish the aquatic plants. I had a small jet of water over the glass tank in the greenhouse, which I could turn on at will, and I found it a great aid in keeping the inhabitants of the aquarium healthy.-Helen Eliza Watney.

WOOD ANTS (page 283, last vol.).-I have frequently observed wood ants ejecting formic acid in the manner described by Mr. N. M. Richardson, and have pointed out the fact to others. If, after the nest has been (disturbed, the hand be passed over, the surface of the ant-hill, the drops of fluid produce a sensation of cold upon the skin, and if a clean steel knife be waved rapidly several times close to the insects, the effect of the acid is as if the knife had been dipped in strong ammonia, and the smell is sufficiently powerful to take away the breath for the moment.-Francis Brent.

MARINE AQUARIUM. Could any reader of SCIENCE-GOSSIP kindly give me some hints as to the formation and maintenance of a small marine aquarium in London, also as to where I could obtain my supply of water to start it with, as it would be inconvenient to bring it from the sea. -J. G.

HEDGEHOGS.-I have had several tame hedgehogs, and I always found that they would eat meat with avidity. They had the run of the garden, and they would generally come to the house in the evening for a piece of meat or a bone. One that I had for some time got very tame, and would readily take food from the hand. He would lick up milk or jam with great pleasure. We gave him a little box with hay in it, but he preferred to make a nest for himself, which he did among the ferns in the garden. His end, like that of many pets, was unfortunate-he was found drowned one morning in a tub of water in the garden.-T.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED UP TO THE 14TH ULT.-F. J' -J. F.-T. L.-T. McG.-R. B. jun.-B. W. F.-J. L.-E. L. -E. H. G.-J. H. M.-C. E. L.-J. F. G.-H. W.-T. D.C. C. U.-T. C.-J. W.-S. U. B.-T. W. H.-A. D.-A. W.T. P.-T. J. W.-G. O. H.-C. P.-G. E. B.-A. W. L.O. M.-G.S. T.-J. H. M.-W. H. H.-H. B.T.-J.D.-J. L. H. -H.M. J. U.-F. J. A.-R. T.-J. L.-W. H. W.-E. W.-W.S. -J. B. C.-J. W. R.-H. G. G.-J. R. 8. C.-J. T.-J. G.E. M.-J. E. B.-C. J. W.-J. F. C.-T. B. L.-R. T.-F. 8.B. T.-H. A. M.-L. A. W.-M. C. C.-T. B. W.-J. BW.R.T.S. WH. W.-J. W.-W. K. B.-H. D.-G. H. K.-G. I. J.J. H.-H. S.D., &c.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

F. J.-The occurrence of vegetable remains in the chalk is exceedingly rare, and generally limited to fragments of wood. We have no doubt whatever that your supposed "sea-weeds," in filmt (of which you send a sketch), are the dendritic markings of oxide of manganese. They are of common occurrence in cracked flints, as well as on the surfaces of the cracks in the harder chalk.

J. I.. See an article in SCIENC■-Gossip for February, 1872. on "How to Prepare Skeleton Leaves." It will give you all the information you require.

R. B., jun., reads us an editorial lesson on our remissness in not inserting his own communications. We assure him we shall be very glad to do so, when we get anything worth inserting. Our space obliges to defer many paragraphs we would like to publish.

NAMING PLANTS.-We have received from "Miss H." a packet of above 20 species of plants to be named, some of them of the commonest forms. This is rather a wholesale attack upon editorial labour and patience, but place aus dames!

C.-Your specimen of microscopic fungus on the leaves of the Box is Puccinia buai. See Cooke's "Handbook of British Fungi," No. 1514. Can you forward us a specimen ?

F. BARNARD.-The specimens inclosed, of the groundsel leaves from Australia, are attacked by variety d of Ecidium compositarum. Bee Cooke's "Handbook," No. 1624.

J. W. RUSSELL.-The fossils are rather obscure, but those on the fragment of rock from Hastings appear to be Cyrena media, a common Wealden fossil. The chalk fossil from Eastbourne is only part of the impression of an ammonite.

C. J. W.-Iron-ore is not found in the Sussex chalk, that we are aware of, except, perhaps, as detached nodules of iron sulphite. A good elementary Mineralogy is published by Lockwood & Co. (Weale's series), at a low price; but your best plan would be to get Dana's "Student's Manual of Mineralogy."

SUB.-Perhaps you are not aware of our rule not to answer anonymous queries. We are obliged to adhere to this; and if you will put your query in the ordinary way, we shall be glad to answer it.

P. A. We cannot undertake to return the specimens sent us to be named. They have frequently to pass from us to more competent judges, and we cannot guarantee their safety from accident or being mislaid. Those of our querists who have to await replies, must remember that we are obliged to consult the leisure of those gentlemen who are good enough to answer queries or name specimens.

T. ORAMS.-The Hibiscus liliflorus is a native of Bourbon, and was first introduced into this country in 1822.

W. S. E.-See a capital article in the Popular Science Review for January last, by the Rev. T. R. Stebbings, entitled What are we to believe in Science-Teleology or Evolu. tion?"

T. DYER.-The word Octopus should be accented on the first syllable-the practice of accenting it on the second is bad, and has no grammatical warrant. We do not see why you should not speak of this animal in the plural as "Octopuses." It is now thoroughly anglicised, and to use the plural "Octopuses " is as correct as to say "Elephants," or "Rhinoceroses."

T. R.-Cooke's "Handbook of British Fungi "is the best and most exhaustive of its kind published in any country. We know of no other introduction to the study of microscopic fungi than the work by the same author, published by Hardwicke, Piccadilly.

H. A. M.-1. The publisher of Gwyn Jeffrey's "British Conchology" is Van Voorst, Paternoster-row, London. It is in five vols. 2. You had better apply to the Hon. Sec. of the Folkestone Natural History Society concerning their “Guide to the Natural History of the Neighbourhood," and its price. Or perhaps some of our readers will take the hint, and send us the information.

J. GROVES. For information respecting the Botanical Exchange Club, apply to H. C. Watson, Esq., Thames Ditton. H. S. RICHARDSON.-You will find an account both of the Glass-rope sponge (Hyalonema), and investing Polythoa, in an article by Mr. F. Kitton, which appeared in SCIENCE-GOSSIP for February, 1872.

EXCHANGES.

EGGS of the Kestrel, Jay, Rook, Magpie, Garden Warbler, &c., for Lepidoptera or Pupæ.-Address, J. L. H., Southstreet, Reading, Berks.

WELL-MOUNTED and well-prepared Polycistina and rare Diatomaceæ, Springfield, Barbadoes, for diatomaceous material.-H. B. Thomas, Boston, Lincolnshire.

MICROSCOPIC SLIDES of Marine Algae and Star-fish, also small unmounted Star-fish, for good Slides.-R. T. Smith, 25, St. Alban's-street, Weymouth.

DUPLICATES, Templi, and probably eggs of same, for distribution about the 20th March: send small box prepaid.John Harrison, 7, Victoria Bridge, Barnsley.

FOR Palate of Limpet unmounted, Patella rulgaris, send stamped envelope, to Jas. Lumsden, 197, Dorwig.street, Wigan. Any Microscopic material acceptable.

▲ SUPERIOR Galvanic and Electric Apparatus for a Microscope.-J. W., Lindow-grove, Alderley Edge, near Mauchester.

SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA, for Lond. Cat. Nos. 154, 325. 429, 511, 621, 636, 697, 711, 871, 873, 958, 1149, 1176, 1181, 1225, 1572*.—J. Groves, 13, Richmond-terrace, Clapham-road, London.

A COLLECTOR of British Birds will be glad to exchange specimens with another collector.-Address, W. H. Hunt, Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset.

FOR beautiful Transparent Spines of Echinus sphæra, send stamped envelope aud any Microscopic object of interest to John Butterworth, Goats, Shaw, near Oldham.

Helia obvoluta for named Cyclades.-J. E. Blomfeld. Culvers-close, Winchester.

WANTED, a Geologist's Pick Hammer for a hook entitled "Insect Architecture," nearly new.-T. B. Linley, 88, Blackfriars-road.

The Monthly Microscopical Journal, unbound, for 1869, in good order, open to offers.-F. T., Eaton Lodge, Rugeley, Staffordshire. Has any one a small printing-press to part with?

FOSSIL Diatoms, well mounted, for Selenites.-Thos. Lisle, Moorfields, Wolverhampton.

SEEDS: a few opaque slides of Portulaceæ, for other slides. -E. Lamplough, 17, English-street, Hull.

WANTED, Limnæa glutinosa, L. peregra (varieties), Acme lineata, offered for Foreign Marine Shells, or sundry British species.-A. W. Langdon, 4, Castle-Down-terrace, Hastings.

SEA ANEMONES, Marine Algæ. Fronds or Living Plants of 35 different Irish and Scotch ferns, Gentiana verna, Neotta spiralis, and several other interesting Alpine and native Orchidea. (Descriptive list sent for 3d.), for choice Alpines, Books, Papers, &c., on scientific subjects, &c. &c.-Terence McGann, Burrin, Oranmore, Ireland.

WANTED, vols. 6, 9, and 10, bound or unbound, of the Monthly Microscopical Journal, and Rabenorst's "Die Süsswasser Diatomaceen," for each of which I will give 18 wellmounted slides of Diatoms, all type Species.-B. Taylor, 56, Lowther-street, Whitehaven.

FOSSIL specimens of Rhizodus, Spirifera, Inoceramus, Terebratula, Leda, Nucula, &c., for mounted Diatoms, Foraminifera, &c.-L. A. Waddell, 36, N. Frederick-street, Glasgow.

Vertigo pygmacæa, var. pallida, for Pupa ringens, Vertigo alpestris, or Vertigo antivertigo, or Clausilia Rolphii, for Limnæa involuta or Lucanea oblonga.-J. Fitz Gerald, Westterrace, Folkestone.

SEND stamped addressed envelope for the following hairs: Sea otter, land otter, roebuck, astracan, fox, tutch, mink, opossum, Russian sable, French sable, gill sable, American squirrel.-J. H. M., 17, Walham-grove, St. John's, Fulham, S.W.

Helix lamellata, Zonites excavatus, for Vertigo antivertigo, V. alpestris, V. substriata, V. angustior, or H. fusca, or Acme lineata.-J. Whitenham, Cross-lane Marsh, Huddersfield.

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THE ORIGIN OF GREAT FIRES FROM A NATURAL HISTORY POINT.

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Ta recent meeting of the Lower Mosley-street Natural History Society, I submitted a piece of leaden waterpipe, sent to me by Captain Drew, who received it from Mrs. Bakewell, St. Mary's Gate, in January last. It appears, Mrs. Bakewell's kitchen in St. Mary's Gate is infested with rats: they have, on several occasions, bitten through the water-pipe and flooded the place. The pipe has been twice bitten through, and the hole soldered up. The rats, no doubt, being thirsty, bit through the pipe to allay it. Two instances have occurred at Phillips's warehouse, Church-street; one in 1851, the other in 1856: in both cases the rats gnawed through a leaden gas-main-pipe a few inches above the floor. Other similar instances have occurred of rats gnawing a gas in mistake for a water-pipe: it has been thought that they heard the water bubbling in the gas-pipe, and have not found their mistake until they had penetrated the pipe. Phillips's warehouse was on both occasions damaged by fire through some of the employés seeking for the escaping gas with a light.

A fireman, in the performance of his duty, often meets with many curious and interesting instances of causes of fires, a few of which I will give, which you may, perhaps, think worth while to find a corner for in your very interesting Gossip on natural history, &c.

I have attended and traced several instances of fires occurring through rats and mice gnawing lucifer-matches. Matches are now dipped in paraffin wax instead of sulphur, as before; the rats or mice have carried them under the floor for the No. 112.

purpose of gnawing off the wax; in doing so their teeth have come in contact with the phosphorus at the ends, and so fired them. In 1856 I attended a fire at the Sultan's Palace at Scutari, Asia Minor. After the fire, I gathered from under the flooring a quantity they had been gnawing. Some years ago a fire occurred in London, caused through a jackdaw getting at a box of lucifers, and pecking them until it set them on fire.

Fires have occurred through rats and mice conveying under the flooring-boards oily and fatty rags, which have afterwards spontaneously ignited. This is rather a common cause of fires in cottonmills.

The following is an extract from the Journal of the United Service Institution, Whitehall-yard, London, No. 52, for 1868: "One of the presents sent to the Museum of this Institution is a rat's nest and young. The nest was set on fire by a lucifer-match, ignited by the old rat as she worked it into her nest. Lieutenant A. H. Gilmore, R.N., states a fire occurred on board Her Majesty's ship Revenge from a similar cause."

Cats and dogs have caused fires in various ways; such as upsetting explosive and inflammable things into fires and lights, also through lying inside fenders and under fireplaces. Hot coals have fallen and adhered to their backs, which caused them to beat a hasty retreat, no doubt being anxious to get rid of the annoyance as soon as possible. They have sometimes succeeded by rolling or rubbing on carpets, curtains, beds, straw, shavings, and other inflammable things. The last instance I recollect occurred at a baker's shop in Albion-street, Gaythorn. A dog was lying under an oven fire, a piece of chip fell from the fire on to his back; he immediately ran to some shavings, rolled upon them, at the same time setting them on fire before the eyes of his master. In 1863, three distinct fires were caused in one room of a gentleman's house in Canonbury, Islington, through a cat lying inside the fender, when some hot ashes

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