NOTES AND QUERIES.

SOLAR SPOTS AND SPECTRUM.-As I have not the necessary instruments, I shall be very much obliged if any one who has will observe whether the proportion of chemical to other rays in the solar spectrum differs during the absence and presence of the solar spots.-E. P. F.

INITIAL LETTERS.-Are your readers aware, Mr. Editor, that letters addressed to any initials or fictitious names at any Post-office will not be delivered to the parties intended, but opened and returned to the writers? It would be well if this regulation were known to those who offer exchanges; and would you request "D. D., Post-office, Bitterne, Southampton," in SCIENCE-GOSSIP of September last, to give some other address ?-R. W.:

THE FOX-MOTH.-Mr. Garfit's description, in the December number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, of his finding the larvae of the Fox-moth (Bombyx rubi) in such numbers on the east coast of Lincolnshire, reminds me that when staying down in Galway, near Athenry, some four or five years ago, I witnessed a somewhat similar scene. The ground in that neighbourhood is very stony, and covered with heather and stunted furze-bushes. Upon these latter I saw a multitude of caterpillars, of what kind I knew not at the time. However, I have now no doubt, from Mr. Gascoyne's description, that they were those of the Fox-moth.-J. S. W. Durham.

ATROPOS.-Some time ago I had the good fortune to take nine larvæ of this fine moth during a week's visit in the country. I took as much care of them as possible, in hope of rearing at least one or two of them, but they all died in about three or four months after turning to pupa. Can any of the readers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP inform me how to keep them in a healthy condition during the pupa state ?-E. L.

SHOWERS OF FROGS.-"M. A. B." will be extremely obliged to any one who will freely and fully explain how showers of frogs and fish are produced. If they are not absorbed or drawn up into the clouds by the intense heat of the sun's rays, before descending to the earth in showers? An answer in the next number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP will be eagerly looked forward to.

FOLK-LORE: MAD STONES.-An extract from a New York paper (on page 213 of September number), relating a reputed immunity from the bite of a mad dog, in Pulaski, Tennessee, by the use of what is termed a mad stone, is followed by au expressed desire to know if there really exists in America a popular belief that certain stones possess the power of averting hydrophobia from persons bitten by rabid dogs. In reply, I would say that there is such a belief among the credulous, and it is quite wide-spread. It mostly prevails among the unlearned and superstitious, but is not confined 10 such. A very respectable lady in Richmond, Va., has one of these so-called mad stones, in which she has implicit faith; and I have known a reputable physician in Illinois who fully believed in their efficacy. There are no special localities where these stones are found, nor is there anything very peculiar in their appearance, nor have I ever heard of an authentic fact on which to start or substantiate such an apparently absurd belief.-Josiah Curtis, M.D., Knoxville, Tennessee.

GEOPHILUS ELECTRICUS.-On September 8th, whilst sugaring for noctuæ in a wood, I found a curious centipede crawling on the damp ground; it was about 1 inch long, pinkish, and had lots of legs; but the feature which attracted my attention was a peculiar phosphorescent light, resembling that of a glowworm (Lampyris noctiluca), given out from the whole of its body; it also left a luminous track behind it for several inches. When the bullseye was turned on it, the creature "vamoosed," as a Yankee would say; and having a strange apathy to this family of insects, it was allowed to escape. I find, in "Kirby and Spence," page 509, that it is Geophilus electricus, but little is said beyond the fact of its habitat usually being under clods of earth, &c. If any subscriber can give me more information concerning this remarkable insect, which is new to myself and friends, I shall be much obliged.— John Henderson, Reading.

WHITE VARIETIES (p. 201, vol. 7, and elsewhere). -It is not uncommon that white varieties occur among flowers and also fruits in the United States. These sometimes become hereditary, so to speak, especially among some of the smaller fruits. During the past summer I have met with white varieties of the blackberry (Rubus villosus) in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia; and I have been credibly informed that the same occurs among low blackberries or dewberries (R. canadensis). The bushes and vines bearing these white berries quite uniformly, year after year, present every feature and characteristic of the ordinary normal blackberry, and seem identical in all respects, except in producing fruit which ripens without colour. It may be novel to some of your readers, also, that a second flowering not unfrequently occurs upon pear-trees, apple-trees, cherry-trees, &c., in this country. This takes place mostly in the autumn, but this last year I saw an apple-tree with fresh blossoms on it, on the Nautahalah, in western North Carolina, as early as August 21. I have seen apple and pear-trees in fresh bloom, in New England, in October and November; and even now (October 25, 1871) Judge Andrews, of this city (Knoxville, Tennessee), has a common pear-tree in recent bloom. Sometimes, but rarely, we have a fair growth of fruit from second blooming, especially in some of the smaller fruits. I have known strawberries ripen in September and October in the Eastern States; aud here we had two very respectable crops of strawberries the past summer,-one at the usual time, early in May, and the second, from the same vines, ripened during the latter days of July and the early part of August. They were daily on sale in our market, as they had been nearly three months previously. Dr. Josiah Curtis, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.

SPONGE SPICULES.-Your correspondent "C." calls attention, in the December number, to the spicules of Spongilla fluviatilis, and gives drawings of them. He seems, however, to have made an error, to which I would call attention. The smaller, or birotulate, form of spicule is that of the ovary of Spongilla fluviatilis; but the other form, 'pointed at each end, and rough on the surface," never occurs in this sponge. It does, however, in Spongilla lacustris, being abundant in the dermal and insterstitial membranes; but it would be impossible to obtain both these forms from the same sponge. Each of these species of sponge has a more abundant form of spicule the skeleton spicule-which in each species is very similar. It is pointed at each end, but perfectly smooth, instead of being rough or spined on the surface.-II. R.

INSECTS AND FLOWERS.-With regard to the communication of "W. W. H.," in the December number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, I quite agree with him that butterfiies have a great objection to geraniums, and an equally strong predilection for a lavender hedge; but I think that he is mistaken in supposing that the flavour of the nectar influences the colour of the blossom. In obedience to a general law, butterflies settle on those objects which, by their nature and colour, are most likely to protect them, and shield them from observation. We never see a Meadow Brown soaring aloft like a Red Admiral; it always flutters near the sombre-coloured earth. A place well-known to London entomologists is Box-hill, in Surrey, which during the season literally swarms with graylings. Yet the hill is so covered with flint stones, that the butterflies are quite invisible until disturbed. There is also a little green tortrix (I think its name is Leptogramma literana) which is very abundant in the woods here during the summer months; but as it is of a bright green colour, and always settles on the under-sides of the leaves, it eludes the sharpest scrutiny.-E. C. Lefroy, Blackheath.

SAFFRON (p. 281, vol. vii.).-The writer of the work referred to by "J. F. C." has probably been misled by a similarity of name in assuming that the bastard saffron, or safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), is the plant from which Saffron Walden takes its name. The safflower answers well to the description given. It resembles a thistle, but the seed is smooth, and "without down." The "full-blown flower" is the part used for dyeing purposes, and when dried is said to resemble the true saffron so exactly, as only to be distinguishable by the absence of smell. About the "shrewd pilgrim" I can find nothing; but, according to Paxton's "Botanical Dictionary," this species of Carthamus was introduced into England from Egypt in 1551.-G.H.H.

SAFFRON PEEL'S PARSLEY-LEAF (SCIENCEGOSSIP, 1871, p. 281).-Mr. Thornbury is not so far out as J. F. C. seems to think. The "Orangejuiced Saffron" is, no doubt, Carthamus tinctorius, more frequently called Safflower. "Peel's parsley. leaf" refers to the following anecdote from "The Life and Character of Sir Robert Peel," by Sir Laurence Peel, published in 1860:-"Mr. Peel was in his kitchen making some experiments in printing on handkerchiefs and other small pieces, when his only daughter.... brought him in from their garden of herbs' a sprig of parsley.... She pointed out and praised the beauty of the leaf, and looking, by habit of imitation, naturally to the useful side, she said that she thought it would make a very pretty pattern. He took it out of her hand, looked at it attentively, praised it for its beauty, and her for her taste, and said that he would make a trial of it.... A pewter dinner-plate. . . . was taken down from the shelf, and on it was sketched -say, rather, scratched-a figure of the leaf, and from this impressions were taken. It was called in the family Nancy's pattern, after his daughter. It became a favourite: in the trade it was known as the parsley-leaf pattern; and apt alliteration, lending its artful aid, gave its inventor the nickname of Parsley Peel.-James Britten, British Museum.

SAFFRON (p. 281, No. 84).-The writer quoted in the above note evidently fell into the error of confounding Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) with Saffron. The Safflower is a composite plant, and is not, I believe, cultivated in England. The following particulars will be seen to agree very well with the

description quoted by J. F. C. :-"It has an erect cylindrical stem, branching near the summit, a foot or two high, and furnished with sharp-pointed, oval, sessile, somewhat spiny leaves. ... On the opening of the flowerets they are rapidly gathered, without being allowed to expand fully. They are then dried with great care. It grows naturally in Egypt, and is cultivated largely in Spain and in many parts of the Levant, whence it is chiefly imported, and from India." (Balfour's "Cyclopædia of India." p. 293.) It is probably to its introduction into Spain that the tradition refers.-F. V. P.

INFUSORIA, &C.-Would you be kind enough to let me know which is the best method to prepare and mount Infusoria"? I should like to know by what means you get rid of the water in which the animalculæ are; and by what preservative you keep the cleaned infusoria ?-H. Sammann.

[The above inquiry is much too vague to enable us to give the information our correspondent requires. It is necessary to know what organisms he wishes to preserve. The terms infusoria and animalculæ are very indefinite. If he means the desmids and diatoms, full explanations of the best methods of preparing and mounting those forms have appeared from time to time in the pages of this Journal. If, however, our correspondent means such forms as Rotifers, Stentors, Stephanoceri, &c., no method has yet been discovered of preserving such delicate and sensitive organisms.]

ANCIENT SERPENT - WORSHIP. - Mr. John S. Phené, F.G.S., has made several interesting discoveries, and has just investigated a curious earthen mound in Glen Feochan, Argyleshire, referred to by him at the late meeting of the British Association in Edinburgh as being in the form of a serpent or saurian. The mound is a most perfect one. The head is a large cairn, and the body of the earthen reptile 300 feet long; and in the centre of the head there were evidences of an altar having been placed there. The shape can only be seen so as to be understood when looked down upon from an elevation, as the outline cannot be understood unless the whole of it can be seen. This mound corresponds almost entirely with one 700 feet long in America, an account of which was lately published, after careful survey, bv Mr. Squier. The sinuous windings and articulations of the vertebral spinal arrangement are anatomically perfect in the Argyleshire mound. Beneath the cairn forming the head of the animal was found a megalithic chamber, in which were a quantity of charcoal and burned earth and charred nut-shells, a flint instrument beautifully and minutely serrated at the edge, and burned bones. The back or spine of the animal form was found beneath the peat moss to be formed by a careful adjustment of stones, the formation of which probably prevented the structure being obliterated by time and rain.

ONCE MORE BORRAGO (see p. 239, vol. vii.).-My authority for the Italian borragine is Buttura, Dict. français-ital. et ital. français (Paris, 1832), and so it must be written, as the a in the second syllable is not long, but short. The Spanish borraxa is the old-fashioned mode of spelling of what, since 1815, is written borraja: the pronunciation of both was in all times the same (with deep guttural ). The Portuguese borragens is the plural of borragem. Also in other languages there are plant-names used in both numbers; as, for instance, Span, berro and berros-water-cresses. The Dutch bernagie is derived from the old verb bernen or barnen, to-day branden,

i.e., to burn, most certainly with allusion to the rough, somewhat stinging hairs of the plant. So much in defence of what I wrote.-A. Ernst, Caracas, Venezuela.

THE "LIVER."-There appears to be a great diversity of opinion as to the bird now known as the Liver, which figures so conspicuously in the arms of Liverpool. Can you tell me what bird is meant?-Inquirer.

TRI-PETALOUS PRIMROSE.-On the 11th November I gathered, in a wood near Battle, several blooms of Primula vulgaris (common primrose), one of which was a curious variety, with only three petals. It does not seem very unusual for primroses to bloom in the autumn, as in the year 1865 I gathered some on September 26th. I may also mention that on the 19th November I observed three swallows flying in the sunshine at Battle. The temperature in the shade at the time was below freezing.-J. H. A. Jenner.

MICE IN TRAPS.-Will any of your readers explain the phenomenon of the death of mice caught uninjured in a live-trap? A house-mouse-after being in the trap a short time, shaking the wires and trying every means of escape-seems to resign itself to its fate and at once die, instead of patiently and without further struggle awaiting the coming of the trapper, as a rabbit does in a snare. It is found in a sitting posture, plump and sleek, but cold and stiff. A field-mouse taken in a similar trap remains alive for a longer time, but dies after some hours in a similar manner. Has the mouse the power of dying of its own will? Or are fright and exhaustion the causes of death? Neither the one nor the other can be nearly so great as it must suffer, often for a lengthened time, from a cat before she destroys it.-Philomys.

WALKING FERNS, &c.-On a recent visit to a noted watering-place, called Bedford Springs, in Bedford County, Pa., I was very much pleased to find one of the finest specimens of the Chamtozorns rhizophyllum (Walking Fern) I ever saw, situated on a rock just above where a strong spring arises. The rock was entirely covered, some of the fronds being a foot in length. Should any of the readers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP wish any leaf fungi, I will gladly supply them, by sending their address to me. I have quite a variety of them. I notice Roestelia physota growing on the leaf of Pyrus coronaria (sweet-scented crab-apple), which is, indeed, beautiful. I have also a collection of diatomaceous deposits, and desire to send them to you, or such as may desire them. They are mostly from Pennsylvania.-Dr. J. Curtis, Knoxville, Tennessee.

A HOUSE TO LET.-In the aquarium at the Crystal Palace a very diverting entertainment was lately given by the Hermit Crabs. A fight was in progress between a little crab and a big one; but it was a spiritless affair, the big one evidently disdaining so small an opponent, and the small one, naturally taking advantage of such lukewarmness, wanted the big one's shell, and would probably have continued to annoy him had he not caught sight of a comrade who was leisurely examining an empty whelk shell (as a man might look over a house he fancied). Towards this comrade he went, and a smart encounter followed,-a struggle for the possession of the residence. They held one another's claws to gain advantage in the attack, until

at last the comrade seemed tired of the contest, and retired, doubtless satisfied with his old house, and not thinking the new one worth fighting about. The little crab having obtained possession of it, turned it quickly over into a convenient position, and rapidly drawing his defenceless posteriors from their confined shelter, inserted them into the new one, and marched off victor.-H. W. B. G.

OAK EGGAR.-Are the urticating properties of the oak eggar (B. quercus) larvæ commonly known? On taking one of these caterpillars into my hand last autumn I immediately experienced a smarting sensation (resembling the sting of a nettle, only not quite so painful) in the part which came in contact with the creature, and the pain continued for four or five days. I was out of health when I touched the larva, so perhaps that had something to do with the smart occasioned, for another person with me at the time, on taking up the caterpillar, felt no pain whatever.-E. H. S..

WHITE VARIETIES.-It may be interesting to some to know that I have found white varieties of the following plants:-Ajuga reptans, two or three specimens; Betonica officinalis, a single specimen; Geranium Robertianum, a large number of specimens; and Hyacinthus non-scriptus, a few specimens. All these grew on a clay soil, with the typical plants. I also found growing on a very chalky soil one large specimen of Cichorium Intybus. I think a white variety of this last plant is uncommon.-T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts.

THE BRITISH FORGET-ME-NOT (Myosotis).-The British species of Forget-me-nots-namely, M. palustris, repens, and cæspitosa-are often confounded with each other. We frequently find, especially in old herbaria, both M. caespitosa and M. repens labelled Myosotis palustris. All the three species inhabit bogs and the margins of ditches and ponds, and may with propriety be called by the old familiar name Forget-me-not; but this is no reason for assuming that they are all one species; besides, by attending carefully to a few well-defined characteristics, they may at first sight be easily recognized. The two first, named M. palustris and M. repens, have angular stems, dark-green foliage, a rough habit of growth, and creeping roots; on the contrary, M. cespitosa has a light-green, translucent, and elegant appearance, with tufted fibrous roots, and roundish stem. Myosotis palustris (Kiphoff?).-Roots creeping, blackish; stem angular; pubescence of the stem spreading; flowers large, bright blue, with a yellow eye; calyx divided about one-third way down; segments broad, triangular, single-ribbed; raceme usually leafless. M. repens (Don.) may be known from the preceding species by its smaller and palercoloured flowers, leafy raceme, leaves tapering off to an acute point, and lanceolate acute calyx-segments. M. cespitosa (Schultz), whole plant of a slender, tufted, elegant appearance; roots fibrous, not creeping; stem roundish, clothed with white close-pressed pubescence; calyx divided halfway down; segments lanceolate, 3-ribbed; corolla small, concave, equalling the tube; lobes entire. The flowers of M. palustris and repens are seldom found except of a bright blue colour, but white varieties of M. cespitosa are not unfrequent. On Delamere Forest I have seen large masses of M. palustris and caspitosa intermingled; the latter, however, had only white flowers. Although these species prefer a damp or boggy soil, they may be grown successfully in the garden border.-James F. Robinson.

A STRANGE REPTILE.-You may incline to notice a curious creature lately found in a garden in this town. It is a specimen of the Crowned Tapayaxin (Phrynosoma Blainvillii), common in America, and often made a pet of in California. It is between a lizard and an iguana, and is, including the tail, about five inches in length. It is covered all over with triangular spines, and has two long horns at the back of the head. The tail, which is not a long one, is bordered on both sides with spines, and the entire animal is plated with armour, like the Armadillo. The feet are very delicate and beautiful, terminated with long, sharp, and elegantly curved claws. When in its native state it can run with considerable rapidity, but in confinement it remains almost stationary, even when touched. It feeds on insects, and is said to be very partial to red ants. How it came into this locality is at present a mystery, and how long it has been there is also unknown.-Irwin Sharp, Weston-super-Mare.

GIFSY-MOTH. - In the September number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, page 215, Mr. J. R. S. Clifford mentions a Gipsy (Liparis dispar) which was taken near Odiham in 1870. He may be interested to know that I have lately seen a fine male of species, taken flying, last summer, in the same locality. It is much darker, and slightly larger than those specimens which we obtain by breeding. It was captured by a Mr. Holland, of Reading, and I have no doubt of its authenticity. This moth is easily reared from the egg, and I was much pleased with the brood I reared during the past season. The larvae are strikingly handsome; but I was not successful in obtaining a female equal in size to the figure in Newman's "British Moths." Have other entomologists remarked this ?-John Henderson.

[Erratum, under "White Varieties," on p 281, vol. vii. for Burglifield read Burghfield.-J. H.]

REMEDY WANTED.—In reply to “A. E. M.," I forward the under-mentioned receipt, which has been found efficacions in removing from the ceiling of a church dark stains which were supposed to have been caused by the admixture of sea sand in the mortar or cement. Wash to be laid on with a common whitewash brush: 4 gallons of clean soft water, 1 pint of oil of vitriol. For colouring after: 1 bushel of Huddleston lime slaked in warm water, 4 lb. of Russia tallow melted in hot water, 1 lb. of green copperas dissolved in warm water, 1 lb. of English umber, all mixed together, reduced to a proper thickness for laying on the work with strong beergrounds laid on with a brush.-A. C. T.

CLEANING SKELETONS.-I have had the following receipt given me for cleaning skeletons, and it has answered perfectly to the present time. After skinning and disembowelling the animal, cover it with unslaked lime, adding a little water. Look at it occasionally, and remove the flesh, which will come off easily. This method bleaches the bones, preserves the ligaments, so that the skeleton must always be in its proper position, and does not smell at all. All kinds of animals-birds, lizards, &c.— can be done this way.-Alfred C. Haddon.

THE NAID WORM.-I have had for some days, in the live-box of my microscope, one of the tribe of annelids. I have frequently examined him with a Ross's 1-inch object-glass. It is the Nais, about half an inch in length, and has hanging about the body (most of them being near to his tail) a goodly

number of Vorticella microstoma; some budding, some dividing, some sessile, some stalked, but all fringed with cilia; some have become detached whilst the Nais has been swimming in the live-box. It is the only specimen of the Nais I have found so adorned. Is it often found? The Naid worm is a beautiful subject for microscopic observation. The specimen I have been examining shows considerable power of elongation and contraction. Its movements in the box have now been incessant for six days. The cephalic portion elongates the most. The bristles, which are seated upon tubercles, are very fine, beautifully transparent. The movements of the animal are very rapid, but he does not seem to use the bristles for progression, but seems to advance like a snake or eel, whilst the tail terminates by a disc like a leech. The elongation of the animal takes place in each segment between the bristles. Whilst at comparative rest (I have never found it still) the encephalic segments are shorter than those which carry the vascular trunk; and when the head is protruded it looks like the snout of a pike. I have not made out the mouth sufficiently to describe it with precision. The parasites upon him do not interfere with his freedom of movement.-Alfred Carpenter, Croydon.

DOUBLE LEMON.-A friend has sent me a remarkable example of a lemon, which, on being cut across, was found to have a smaller lemon growing inside it. The inclosed fruit was about the size of a nutmeg, completely covered with yellow rind, which bad the texture and the aroma of the ordinary external skin. It was a little irregular in shape, showing the marks of union of the carpels of which it is formed, but the sutures are completely united. A section of the inner fruit shows a small quantity of pulp and juice in each carpel, but no attempt at pips. The lemon itself was squeezed before the inner fruit was discovered, so it is impossible to say whether it contained any pips; but it is believed that it did not. The smaller fruit was attached to the base of the larger one without any intervening stalk. The genus Citrus is very prone to form supernumerary carpels in its flowers, and these occasionally protrude through the apex of the ripe fruit; but it is unusual to find them completely inclosed. In this case I am inclined to think that the ovules have taken the form of carpels rather than that there was a second whorl of pistils in the flower.-Robert Holland.

PICRIS BROOMRAPE.-In SCIENCE-GOSSIP for 1871 (p. 119) there is a paragraph by "J. B., Bradford Abbas," referring to this plant as being 'abundant in the hedge-rows and clover-fields of Dorset." There is, I have no doubt, a mistake here as to the name of the plant intended to be referred to. The true Picris Broomrape (Orbanche Picridis, F. Schultz) is by no means a common plant, and has only been recorded from Cambridge, Pembroke, Kent, and Isle of Wight. Although from its ascertained range it is very possible the plant may be found in Dorset, it is not likely to be abundant, as represented by "J. B." The plant he refers to is probably Orbanche minor, which is very common, in the South of England at least, on clover; it occurs, but much less frequently, on other plants, and I have seen it on a Gazania in a garden. O. Picridis is held by many botanists to be merely a variety of this species, from which it differs very slightly. I do not think it has been found on any plant but the Picris.-F. I. Warner, Winchester.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ALL communications relative to advertisements, post-office orders, and orders for the supply of this Journal, should be addressed to the PUBLISHER. All contributions, books, and pamphlets for the EDITOR should be sent to 192, Piccadilly, London, W. To avoid disappointment, contributions should not be received later than the 15th of each month. No notice whatever can be taken of communications which do not contain the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, if desired to be with. held. We do not undertake to answer any queries not specially connected with Natural History, in accordance with our acceptance of that term; nor can we answer queries which might be solved by the correspondent by an appeal to any elementary book on the subject. We are always prepared to accept queries of a critical nature, and to publish the replies, provided some of our readers, besides the querist, are likely to be interested in them. We do not undertake to return rejected manuscripts unless sufficient stamps are enclosed to cover the return postage Neither can we promise to refer to cr return any manuscript after one month from the date of its receipt. All microscopical drawings intended for publication should have annexed thereto the powers employed, or the extent of enlargement, indicated in diameters (thus: × 320 diameters). Communications intended for publication should be written on one side of the paper only, and all scientific names, and names of places and individuals, should be as legible as possible. Wherever scientific names or technicalities are employed, it is hoped that the common names will accompany them. Lists or tables are inadmissible under any circumstances. Those of the popular names of British plants and animals are retained and registered for publication when sufficiently complete for that purpose, in whatever form may then be decided upon. ADDRESS, No. 192, PICCADILLY, LONDON, W.

L. H. S.-The late nest of Song Thrush is probably a second hatch. It is not uncommon, especially as the autumn was so fine.

E. H. S.-Not an uncommon occurrence, especially after a wet season.

H. F. P.-Tridontium (Dicranum) pellucidum.—R. B.

J. S. W. Durham.-The remains of plants embedded in mica-schist are not fossil, but merely roots which had pene. trated through the softer portions of the rock and been left there the same circumstance may frequently be observed in boulder clays.

REV. G. PINDER.--Answer next month.

S. A. BRENNAN.-The list of white varieties of wild flowers has not been received.

T. S.-Green variety of Fluor Spar (Fluate of Lime), probably from Alston Moor, Cumberland, where it is common. E. A., Clifton.-Campylus linearis.

B. L. T.-1. Tapes pullastra. 2. Nassa reticulata, both common British marine shells.

S. WILLIAMS.-The Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellatus).

J. A.-Mrs. Keating was the lady to whom stamps were sent. She is very likely travelling about.

R. E. L.-You omitted to inclose the fern whose name was required.

H. J.-No. 1. Tunicate (Botryllus). (Lecidia).

No. 2. A lichen

H.T. M.-The shells are of the commonest kind, and their names might have been found in any elementary work on British conchology. No. 1. Lymnea stagnalis; 2. Planorbis corneus; 3. Planorbis marginatus; 4. Planorbis vortex.

E. H. S.-No. 1 is the Wedge-rust fungus (Melampsora). No. 2. Oak-spangles.

T. E., Bucks.-A common fossil in the Lias formation (Gryphea incurva). Probably from the drift-beds, where it had been re-deposited.

L. D.-See Lyell's "Antiquity of Man," also Lubbock's "History of Civilisation."

J. O., Liverpool.-We shall be happy to assist you as far as possible; but first "try."

R. N.-Probably "White rust" (Cistopus candidus); leaf much decayed.

PETRA. A good recipe for cleaning skeletons will be found elsewhere in our columns.

EDWARD B.-Not a seaweed at all. See SCIENCE-GOSSIP or November last.

R. S. A., Birkenhead. 1. Hydrobia silvæ. 2. Rissoa. 3. Kellia. 4. Nussa nitida. 5. Worm-tubes (Spirorbis) on back of seaweed.

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.

WANTED.-Some or all of the following ferns, established plants,-need not be large. Adiantum macrophyllum, tenerum (if true), and trapeziforme; Asplenium præmorsum. latum, and dimidiatum; for which a liberal exchange in other varieties will be given. List sent to select from.Address M. M., Post Office, Faversham, Kent.

SEND stamped and addressed envelope for a leaf of the Evergreen Oak. Any object of microscopic interest acceptable.-E. H. S., Norwood Lodge, Streatham, Surrey.

WANTED dried specimens of Nos. 5, 7, 10, 30, 32, 43, Lond. Cat., for other plants.-Address A. H., Spring Bank, Burnley.

SCALES OF PETROBIUS (land variety) and of Macrotoma major (well mounted), for well-mounted microscopic slides.Rev. W. M. Hutton, Lezaque Vicarage, Ramsey, Isle of Man.

STATOBLASTS of Alevonella fungosa (mounted) in exchange for other good mounted microscopic objects.-John C. Hutcheson, 8, Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow.

P. CORYDON for other lepidoptera; Bombyces preferred. List to W. J. Lovett, Holly Mount, Croydon.

POLYGALA OXYPTERA, Pyrola arenaria, &c., for British Leguminiferæ, Ericaceæ, or Orchidaceæ.-J. H. Lewis, 180, Mill Street, Liverpool.

EXCHANGE. For Weevils, Wing-case of Diamond-beetle (unmounted).-Edith Meyrick, Downshire Lodge, Blessington, co. Wicklow, Ireland.

DUPLICATES, Galathea, Urtica, Atalanta, Ocellatus, P. Populi, Caga, Subaccipeda, Menthrasti, Signiperda, Bucephala, Vinula, Quercus (all bred); pupa of S. Populi for pupa of Carpini: my wants are numerous.-R. Garfit, Market Square, Alford, Lincolnshire.

CHOICE slides of selected Diatomaceæ in exchange for unmounted and unprepared insects in perfect condition, and properly preserved in spirit or otherwise.-Address Arthur C. Cole, 66, St. Domingo Vale, Everton, Liverpool.

Ecos.-Gyr Falcons', Merlins', and Great and Lesser White Herons', &c., for exchange for other eggs.-Address A. C. A., Post Office, Staines.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

"The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine." December. "The Zoologist." December, 1871.

Annals of Natural History," for December. "Insects at Home"; being a popular account of British insects, their structure, habits, and transformations, by the Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A., &c. (with upwards of 700 figures). London: Longman, Green, & Co. 1872.

"Historical Geology," by Ralph Tate, F.G.S., &c. Illustrated. London: Lockwood & Co.

"Quarterly German Magazine." November. "The American Naturalist." November.

"Bird Life." December.

"The Mountain," by Jules Michelet. London: T. Nelson & Sons.

"Nature, or the Poetry of Earth and Sea," by Madame Michelet. London: T. Nelson & Sons.

"Beautiful Birds in Far-off Lands," by Mary and Elizabeth Kirby. London: T. Nelson & Sons.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.-T. A.-L. H. S.-H. W.B G. -W. T. M.-P. W. R.-G. C.-O. S.-G. E. R.-I. S.E. H. S.-J. H. A. J.-C. E. B.-T. C. B.-G. G.-J. R. S. C. -E. A. M. (accepted).-W. H. L.-T. G. B.-G. H. K.-J. D. -H. H.-T. O. W.-Dr. J. C.-H. H. H.-A. E.-J. F.S. A. B.-E. P. F.-F. C.-G. J. B.-A. C.-J. S. W.-E. L.M. A. B.-J H.-R. H. W.-A. C. T.-S. L. B.-E. H. (accepted).-H. E. W.-J. F. R.-J. B.-E. C. L.-G. H. H.W. S.-G. G.-J. C.-J. B.-J. G.-J. B. B.-C. M.-T. E. M. -J. T.