to be general throughout the Mediterranean region, and in many places it occurs in great profusion. It is the M. prie-dieu of the southern provinces of France and Italy."

DOGS AND PORTRAITS.-"J. R. D.'s" Pomeranian dog is not singular in his dislike of a portrait. Some years ago we had a Pomeranian who took a particular dislike to a portrait of my grandfather, which hangs in the dining-room; sometimes she would jump up and bark at it without any apparent reason, but if the wind made a noise in the chimney she would often jump on to the sideboard (over which the portrait hangs), to get at it. Any noise whatever that she didn't understand she used to refer to this picture and bark accordingly-flattering for the artist. I may mention that the eyes in the portrait are very well done, and seem to look at you wherever you stand; this may have had something to do with it.-Edward Thornton Evans.

DOUBLE ANEMONES.-There is at the present moment living in my marine tank a specimen of the "Plumose" anemone from Tenby, which has been gradually developing for some time past; another about half way up the stem, and now presents all the appearance of a double anemone. Is not this very unusual ?-W. H.

BREAKING OF FERN-CASES.-Looking over the back Nos. of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, I find on page 119, No. 5, an inquiry in regard to the breaking of the shade of a fern-case, the owner suggesting that it might be due to the expansion of heated air. This is very unlikely. If the shade fitted tightly in a groove, this might occasion it, but the most probable cause is that in wiping the interior shade at some time the surface was slightly scratched, and this scratch suddenly extended into a crack. This is no uncommon circumstance. Barometer tubes are frequently cracked by wiping them with gritty cloth pushed through with a wire; and on one occasion I lost several glass jars from having been careless in freeing them from sand and grit before wiping them out. They stood quietly on the shelves for some time and then fell to pieces apparently without any cause.-J. P.

It is

ENORMOUS PUFF-BALL.-I have in my possession a specimen of the common Puff-ball, Lycoperdon gemmatum, of what I imagine to be a very unusual size, which was found near this town on September 22nd. The dimensions are as follows:-Height from the ground, 5 in.; greatest diameter, 6 in.; diameter at right angles to same, 4 in.; circumference, 18 in. of a very light and spongy consistency, but nevertheless weighs 134 oz. I am not aware that it is a different species from the common one; as, size excepted, it has precisely the same appearance, smell, &c., both externally and internally, as the latter.-Frank J. Allen, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

GOLDFISH BREEDING.-Will A. J. R. Sclater, in explanation of his article in September number, kindly say if the fish given away from the ponds of his friend lived and grew, and also can he explain how it was that the fish would breed in the ponds of his friend and not in his own tank, although he tried for twelve years? Will he also explain how the tanks or ponds were supplied with water, and what would be about the temperature of the water during the breeding-time ?-J. B. Ky.

EGGS of Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Dipper, Red Grouse, Crow, Ray's Wagtail, Kestrel, Sparrow-hawk, and others, for other good Eggs.-R. Standen, Goosnargh, near Preston, Lancashire.

LEPIDOPTERA, British Land and Freshwater Shells, for others, or for works on Natural History.-W. K. Mann, Granby House, Granby-hill, Clifton. Bristol.

WELL-MOUNTED Slides or good Material for mounting; for unmounted Animal Parasites, in spirits.-John Boyd, Sunnyside, Victoria-park, Manchester.

RAKE SPECIES of British Land and Freshwater Shells offered for specimens of Unio tumidus, var. ovalis, from the Exeter canal, or specimens of the white transparent Bulimus acutus, from Cornwall.-Address, Miss Fanny N. Hele, Fairlight, Elmgrove-road, Coltram, Bristol.

ОтHER Rare Plants wanted, for Astrantia major, Lychnis viscaria, Carum verticillatum, Rumex maritimus, Senebiera didyma, Calamagrostis lanceolata, &c. &c.-H. L. J., 33, Bridge-street, Cambridge.

WELL-BLOWN specimens of Puffin, Razorbill, Shag, Herring Gull, Lesser B. B. Gull, Oyster-catcher, &c., for other good Eggs.- Alfred Bindon, 22, Argyll-street, W.

FOR the beautiful little Millipede, Polyrenes lagurus (alive or dead), or its hairs mounted, send two good mounted Slides. The Millipede is illustrated in SCIENCE-GOSSIP for 1872, page 31. No lists accepted.-C. Eaton, 48, Currierslane, Ipswich.

EGGs of Great Crested Grebe, Ring-Ousel, Red-breasted Merganser, Quail, Lesser Tern, Black Tern, Arctic Tern, Creeper, Kestrel, Mealy Redpole, Woodchat, Shrike, and others (with one side hole), for other good Eggs.-T. W. Dealy, 142, Clarence-street, Sheffield.

Hookeria late-virens (not in fruit), Trichostomum flexicaule, Mycerella julacea, offered for Bartramidula Wilsoni, Edipodium Griffitheanum, Bryum demissum, Buxbaumia aphylla, or other rare Mosses.-Miss Fisher, 6, Wallerton-road, St. Peter's-park, Paddington, W.

WANTED, 39, 135, 194, 220, 260, 345, 360, 535, 637, 701, 746, 772, 1929, 1103, 1135, 1208, 1225, 1229, 1233, 1263, 1282, 1293, 1321, 1341, 1342, 1352, 1363, 1411, 1474, 1618, Lon. Cat., 7th edition. Send lists of Desiderata.-J. Harbord Lewis, 180, Mill-street, Liverpool, S.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED UP TO 8TH ULT. FROM:~ F. K.-G. H. K.-J. R. S. C.-C. H. G.-J. P. B.-J. E. S.W. W. W.-J. F. R.-F. R. M.-C. M. C.-S. A. B.-G. B.W. E.-R. B.-E. M. F.-R. S.-W. W. R.-T. P.-H. B. T.J. L. H.-C. P.-T. W. W.-J. P. G.-E. C. O.-W. K. M.Dr. L. L.-H. J. T.-M. M.-G. S.-J. P.-A. J. R. S.W. S. jun.-J. W.-J. B.-W. H. P.-W. G.-J. H. F.-W. P. -A. E.-W. F.-F. W. R.-A. M. C.-J. P.-C. M. C.H. E. W.-T. W. D.-H. B.-A. B.-W. W. W.-C. D.-C. B. -Dr. C. C. B.-W. H. G-C. E.-E. N. B.-J. C.-J. C. T.F. H. W.-W. G. C-E. D. M.-E. E.-C. P. O.-H. J. M.F. E F.-H. L. J.-G. H. K.-F. M. H.-J. H.-W. E.-B. B. -G. O. H.-E, M.-J. P. B.-J. G.-L. R. G.-C. L.-J. H. U. -E. L-T. B. W.-W. H. G.-F. C.-T. B.-T. B. L.--T. J. —F. H. F.-J. H.-H. T. R.-J. S. M.-W. W.-C. M. C.R. H. F.-T. H. B.-C. H. M.-J. H. J.-H. P. M.-W. G. C. -F. H. A-J. H. M J. B.-F.-W. G. C.-W. P.-J. R. T.— H. C. C. M.-W. G. D.-M.-W. W. W.-J. S. A.-J. H.— A. J. R. S.-O.-J. H. G.-E. H. W.-&c. &c.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS AND EXCHANGERS.-As we now publish SCIENCE-GOSSIP at least a week earlier than heretofore, we cannot possibly insert in the following number any communications which reach us later than the 8th of each

month.

M. A. JONES.-Your specimen of fungus on willow-leaves is Lecythea sal.ceti, Lev.

E. T. SCOTT.-Your rust is Lecythea populina, Lev. JAMES THOMSON.-The fungus on specimen of grass sent is the common Red Rust (Trichobasis rubigo).

D. J. (Manchester).-You are quite correct in those numbered 1, 2, and 3; they are all variations of the Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis). No. 2 is the variety recognized by some pteridologists as Cystopteris dentata; the other two are the usual form. No. 4, Lastrea dilatata, and No. 5, also a slender frond of L. dilatata.

W. J. H. (Old Broad-street).-Your fern is a seedling of the common Brake (Pteris aquilina, L.). In its present state, it is difficult to determine the species, but one very similar was found many years since by Mr. Kirk, growing in a newly excavated well at Coventry. At the time it was thought to be a variety or a new species; in process of time, however, when the rhizome is older, it assumes its old familiar face.

J. H. M-The specimen inclosed, found on walls in London, is the Arenaria serpyllifolia, Linn.; it is not uncommon ou old walls, sandy pasture fields, &c. You should look about in similar situations for the Arenaria leptoclados, Guss. ; it is a pretty species, but much more slender in its habit than the above: it has been confounded with A. serpyllifolia until recently.

T. BUCK.-You will find ample information as to where "paste eels" are produced, by turning to the vol. of SCIENCEGossip for 1873.

J. S. M.-Crickets may be easily caught in houses where they abound by exposing shallow plates or saucers of table beer or stout. In fact, they get drunk!

E. H. WELLS.-Please say whether by "Pond Mussel" you mean Unio or Anodon.

J. HOPKINSON.-Parts to hand. Notice next month. TO QUERIST.-A good many queries necessarily stand over. Several packets we have sent off to be named, have not yet been returned to us. Some may have miscarried; several are unidentifiable.

C. BRADLEY.-We believe the new edition of Pritchard's "Infusoria" will be republished by Messrs. Van Voorst, London.

C. M. C.-The name of the "Portuguese Man of War" is Physalia utriculus, which belongs to the oceanic Hydrozoa. The Nautilus is a cephalopodous mollusk, and few animals are more widely separated than these two.

GRAM. An error appeared in both replies, published at pp. 259 and 260 of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, regarding the botanical name of "Gram." The mistake is only an error in printing, but it might be confusing to Mr. John E. Daniel. Instead of Acer arietinum it should be Cicer arietinum, "Chick Pea" is one of its common names.-J. R. J.

CAPTAIN W. PROVIS.-Newman's "Butterflies and Moths," published in one vol. at 25s., by Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, is the best work on British Lepidoptera.

S. A. B.-The drawing is too obscure for any geologist to determine the species of fossil, but there is no doubt it is an Encrinite, not a Coral.

E. COMPTON." Geological Stories" is now in a second edition, and may be had at 192, Piccadilly.

W. P. and others will, we hope, pardon us for not inserting further lists or seeds a microscopic objects. We have received a very large number, and are extremely obliged to all our correspondents for their kindly courtesy.

H. J. M.-You had best get " Davies on Mounting," new edition, published by Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, at half a

crown.

M. MORTON.-Your specimen is the sea-side Spurrey (Spergularia maritima).

J. C.-Dew is simply the condensation of the moisture contained in the atmosphere upon any cold surface, such as that of a leaf. Leaves cool rapidly in the evening, and their surfaces are thus brought into contact with the warm atmosphere resting over them.

MARY MORTON has sent us a packet of seventeen mosses, &c., to be named. We cannot but think this a stretch of kindness on her part. Could she not send us a few more? Some of them are among the very commonest of objects.

E. J. LEVER.-You had best obtain the cheap elementary work on Mineralogy published by Collins & Co., Glasgow. Dana's Manual is the best work on the subject, but very advanced. You can get Hardwicke's Catalogue of Scientific Books by applying to 192, Piccadilly. The work on Crystallography, published in Orr's "Circle of the Sciences," ranks highly.

IGNORAMUS.-The Earwigs (Forficula) are arranged in an order called Dermaptera or Euplexoptera. They are considered to have a greater affinity with the Orthoptera than with the Coleoptera, and have an incomplete metamorphosis. C. DONAGAN.-Mr. W. W. Wilson, F.L.S., writes to us to say that the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society very properly admits lady members, and adds, what we believe to be the natural consequence, that they are most assiduous in their attendance! Of course they are!

EXCHANGES.

WANTED, a few specimens of Fossil Fruit from the Sheppey section of the London clay; also Shells from the Barton series. E. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

I HAVE about 300 species of British Lepidoptera, and I am desirous of exchanging them for other specimens of Natural History, either alive or preserved.-W. Watkins, 21, Caves'. terrace, Shepherd's-bush, W.

DIATOMS, and Cuticle of Petal of Pelargonium, well mounted, for good Slides of Polycistina, Spicules, Spines, &c. -T. H. Buffham, Clarence Villa, Clarendon-road, Walthamstow.

Two or three Heads of Equisetum (Horsetail) containing spores, wanted; well-mounted Bee's-tongue or other Slide offered.-J. H., Jun., 45, Kensington High-street.

Orthotrichum phyllanthum, O. Bruchii, 0. leiocarpum, offered for 0. cupulatum, O. anomalum, 0. pumilum, 0. Sprucei, O. rivulare.-Miss Warren, 39, Thurloe-square, S.W. TRANSVERSE, vertical, or oblique sections of Human Toothfang, mounted; for Anatomical, Physiological, or other Micro. Slides.-W. G. Daish, Melville-street, Ryde, I.W.

NORTH American Lepidoptera and Coleoptera for British Lepidoptera.-Captain Wm. Provis, Detroit, Michigan, United

States.

FOR Egg-shell of Japanese Silkworm Moth, for Polariscope, send a stamped directed envelope to W. H. Gomm, Somerton, Somerset.

FOR Seeds of Portulaca, send a stamped directed envelope to Wm. Goodacre Cokayne, Forest-road East, Nottingham. CYSTALS for Polariscope and other Slides, for Mounted Objects. Will send a quantity to select from.-Thomas Buck, 111. Corporation road, Middlesbro.

WANTED, to exchange for Physiological and Anatomical Slides, Lieberkuhn's, or as part of the price of a high-power objective, the whole of SCIENCE-GOSSIP from the commencement to the end of last year, 7 vols, in publisher's covers, the rest unbound; in excellent condition.-O., 3, Woodville, Gravesend.

SEVERAL species of Graptolites from co. Down, for species from other localities.-Wm. Gray, Mount Charles, Belfast. WANTED, Marine Algæ, Polyzoa, Marine Mollusca, Starfish, &c. Good exchange.-F. R. Martin, Shaldon, South Devon.

WANTED, Draba incana and rupestris, for other Rare Plants.-Send lists to W. H. P.. 2, Belgrave-street, Derby. Sphinx convolvuli (captured this season).—Wanted, 4. crategi, L. sinapis, E. blandina, E. Cassiope, L. Sibylla, A. Iris, G. C. album, A. Lathonia, T. pruni, P. Arion, P. Acia, H. paniscus, or offers.-W. Low Sarjeant, 6, Dagnall-parkterrace, Selhurst, S.E.

A ONE-EIGHTH Object-glass (Gundlach's), offered for a Copy of Smith's work on Diatoms.-Address, R. Battersby, M.D., Glindalough, Caragh Lake, P.O., Killarney.

WANTED, good Diatomaceous Material, for A. Ehrenbergii, mounted.-Address, M. Fowler, 20, Burn-row, Slamannan,

N.B.

WANTED, Acme lineata, Limnæa involuta, and Limar gagates, for Helix pomatia, Helix carthusiana, Planorðis lacustris, and other British Shells.-Address, M. M., Post Office, Faversham, Kent.

SHELLS offered, specimens of Zonites excavatus and var. vitrina, Zonites glabra, Heliz rotundata, var. alba, Cochlicopa triden, var. crystallina, and Helix fusca, &c.; for Limnea involuta, Acme lineata, Vertigo alpestris, V. substriata, V. pusilla, V. angustior, or other rare Shells.-Joseph Whither. ham, Cross-lane, Marsh, near Huddersfield.

THIRTY selected, named Micro Fungi, mounted in book form, for other objects.-T. Brittain, 52, Park-street, Green Heys, Manchester.

FOR Puccinia Epilobii (brand), address T. Brittain, 52, Parkstreet, Green Heys, Manchester. No exchange required. FOR Peronospora infestans, Potato Blight, send stamped envelope and object of interest to T. Brittain, 52, Park-street, Green Heys, Manchester.

Arabis stricta, Scirpus triqueter, or others, offered for Hippophae rhamnoides.—Address, G. B., 143, New Bondstreet, W.

FOR Forbes' Coloured Index of British Shells, will be given Fossils, Minerals, Shells, or Polish Slabs of Madrepores, or Malachite Ornaments.-A. J. R. Sclater, Bank-street, Teignmouth.

WANTED, some well-prepared and well-mounted Chemical Crystals: the commonest kinds not wanted.-Send lists, &c., to H. B. Thomas, St. Peter's Coll., Cambridge.

Mites, How to Preserve, 238, 257.
Moles, 140.

Molluscs, Tyrian Purple, 142.

Opaque Objects for Microscope, Seeds
good for, 255, 260.
Organisms, Copper in Animal, 160.
Ornithogalum Pyrenaicum, 138.
Ostrich, African, 154.
Ostrich, American, 154.
Our Jack, 74.
Owl, Fern, 71.

Owl, Tengmalm's, 65.
Oxen and Music, 263.
Oxfordshire, Field Clubs in, 260.
Oxhydrogen Lanterns, 22.

PAINTED LADY (Cynthia Huntera), 256.
Parasite on the Common House Fly, 18.
Parasites in Greenhouse, 56.
Parasites in Caterpillars, 282.
Parrot-keeping, 69, 92, 141.
Parsley, 189.

Patients, the Microscope in the Examina-
tion of, 185.

Pea (Pisum), History of, 130.
Pear-tree, a Curious, 214.
Penguins, 155.

Perca cernua, 277.
Pharmacy, Cottage, 234.
Phenomena, Frost, and Evaporation from
Ice, 3.

Phosphates in the Cambrian Rocks, 138.
Pirate Birds of the Northern Seas, 198.
Plant Eccentricities, 42.
Plant-names, English, 231.

Raphides of Asparagus, 278.
Rare Plants and Field Clubs, 167.
Rare Plants, Rediscovery of, 231.
Rats, Brown, 143.

Red Blood Corpuscles of the Hippopota-
mus, Walrus, and Eared Seal, 18.
Red-throated Diver, 88.

Red Varieties, 208.

Reproduction of Desmids, 16.

Reptiles, to Preserve, 166.

Resting Spores of the Potato Fungus,
249, 266.

Riverside Bunting, 52.
Robins, Death of, 263.

Rocks, Ancient, near St. David's, 20.
Rookeries of Old London, 214.

Royal Microscopical Society, Scientific
Evening, 16.

Rumex maximus, 91.

Rupture Ash and the Shrew Ash, 260,

SAGACITY OF Cows, 71.
Salamanders, Fossil, 233.
Salmon-Trout or Sprod, 280.
Salts for Polarizing, 184.

Sand Dunes and Blowing Sand, 116.
Sandpiper, Green, 256.
Sandpit, Charlton, 262.

Schmidt's Atlas of Diatomaceæ, 39.
Scientific Evening at the Royal Micro-
scopic Society, 16.

Scilly Isles, Rambles in the, 222.
Scotch Arran, the (Rambles on), 178.

Plants, Double-flowered Wild, 231.
Plants, Etymologies of, 143, 163.

Plants, Insectivorous, 187.

Plants, Preserving, 1.

Plants, Rare, at Castle Eden, 18.

Monads, Researches in the Life History Plants, Sudden Appearance and Dis-

appearance of, 71, 117.
Plants, Variegated

and Ornamental

Foliage of Wild, 231.
Plumage of Wingless Birds, 155.
Polarizing Salts, 184.
Pope or Ruffe, 277.

Pope, the, as an Aquarium Fish, 261.
Poplar Hawk Caterpillars, 215, 263.
Popular Science Lectures, Illustration of,
277.

Portland Stone, Silicious Substances
found in, 112.

Post-Christian Antiquities, 227, 261, 271.
Potato Beetle, the Colorado, 92, 142, 161,

200.

Potato Disease, a New Disovery in Con-
nection with, 208.

Potato Fungus, Resting Spores of the,
249, 266.

Potato-tree (Solanum crispum), 19, 137.
Praying Mantis, 292.

Preparation of the Diatomaceæ, 184.
Preservation of Marine Animals, 46.
Preservation of Spiders, 87.
Preserving Fungi, 163.

Preserving and Setting Hymenoptera,
217, 269.

Preserving Insects, 93.
Preserving Marine Algæ, 21, 47.
Preserving Plants, 1.
Preserving Reptiles. 166.
Preserving Star-fish, 162.

Prismatic Mounting Slips, 135.
Privet-moth, Pupa of, 280.
Proliferous Daisy, 140.
Protoplasm, 242.

Protozoa (Actinophrys Sol), 107.
Puff-ball, Enormous, 283.
Pupa of Privet-moth, 280.

20.

Sea Anemones, 23.

Sea Lions, 175.

Seal (Otaria), Red Blood Corpuscles in, 18.
Seaside Shrubs, 95, 142.

Sections, to remove Air-oubbles from, 39.
Seeds as Opaque Objects for the Micro-
scope, 255, 260.

Selborne, Gilbert White, of, 257.
Self-centring Turntable, 230.
Sertularia, 212.

Setting and Preserving Hymenoptera,
217, 269.

Sexes in Hermit Crabs, 189, 238.
Shark, Basking, 88.

Sheep, Anecdote of, 214.

Shells, the Umbilicus in Univalve, 23, 69.
Sherwood Forest, 163.

Shrew Ash, the Rupture Ash and the,
260.

Shrubs, Seaside, 95, 142.
Shrubs, Winter, 208.

Silicious Substances found in Portland
Stone, 112.

Silk Fowls, 156.

Sinapis arvensis, 232, 186.

Sium latifolium in Wiltshire, 232.
Sketches in the West of Ireland, 83, 97,
127, 227, 247, 261, 271.

Slate, Cleavage of, 119, 137, 164.
Slides, Useful, 274.
Slug-Threads, 190, 206.
Small-pox, the Lymph of, 160.
Snake and Hen, 140.

Snake-eating Snake, 114, 161.
Snake, the Congo, 185, 207.

Solanum grandiflorum or dentatum.
Songs of Birds, 81.

South African Diamonds, 20.

Sparrows and Peas, 263.

Sparrow v. Mouse, 71, 119.

Spartium junceum, 88.

Spawn of Frogs and Toads, 245, 213, 276.
Sphæraphides in Urticacea and Leonurus,

Pyrethrum inodorum, 187.

QUEEN BEE, 93.

Spiders, Mode of Search for and Capture

of, 109.