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GEOLOGY.

CRETACEOUS REPTILES.-In the American Naturalist for December, Professor Cope gives a vivid description of a geological expedition to Kansas, to explore the cretaceous strata. The account of nearly entire skeletons of extinct reptiles met with is most interesting. Among them were brought to lightthe bones of pterodactyle, two species of Clidastes. a dinosaurian, a crocodile, and various species of fish; all new to science. One very large fish is described, furnished with a powerful dentition, which has been named Portheus molossus. This seems to have been very abundant in that part of the cretaceous sea, and to have been as much the dread of its contemporaries as the smaller saurians. One singular reptile was discovered, having affinities to the Turtle family. If such was the case, the remains indicate a total expanse of twenty feet. This animal has been named Protostega gigas. A large Clidastes was also discovered, whose skeleton was forty feet in length. Some of the reptiles mentioned, such as Leiodon dyspelor, a new species, are said to exceed in length the dimensions of any known reptile.

NEW SPECIES OF FOSSIL CORAL. Mr. Vicary, of Exeter, has just described a new species of fossil coral, allied to Merulina, in the upper greensand which caps the new red sandstone about five miles to the south-west of Exeter. He regards this as probably supplying a link between past and present forms of corals.

TRILOBITES.-Professor Van Beneden has recently read a paper on the systematic position of the King Crabs and Trilobites, in which he says that the analogy between the Limuli and the Trilobites, and the affinity which connects these two groups, cannot be doubted by any one who has studied the embryonic development of the former. He states that the Trilobites must be separated from the Crustacea, and form, with the Scorpions and other Arachnida, a distinct branch, the origin of which has still to be ascertained. There can now be little doubt that the Trilobites had articulated legs, like those of the Limuli.

ORIGIN OF AMBER.- Professor Zaddach shows that the trees which yielded the amber must have grown upon the greensand beds of the Cretaceous period, flourishing luxuriantly on the marshy coast which then surrounded the great continent of Northern Europe. Probably the temperature was then much higher than it is now; and this even at that epoch extended to the now frost-bound Arctic regions, a fact which has been proved by the remarkable plant-remains of temperate climes which have

been recently discovered there. The amber flora of the Baltic area under review contains northern forms associated with plants of more temperate zones; and thus camphor-trees (Cinnamomum) occur with willows, birches, beech, and numerous oaks. A species of Thuya, very similar to the American Thuya occidentalis, is the most abundant tree amongst the conifers; next in abundance Widdring. tonia, a great variety of pines and firs, including the amber pine: thousands of these, it is supposed by the professor, might have perished, and while the wood decayed, the resin with which the stem and branches were loaded might have been accumulated in large quantities, in bogs and lakes, in the soil of the forest. If the coast at that time was gradually sinking, the sea would cover the land, and in due course carry away the amber and masses of vegetable detritus into the ocean, where it was deposited amidst the marine animals which inhabit it. But in higher districts the amber pines would still flourish, and so amber still continue to be washed into the sea, and deposited in the later formed greensand, aud still later overlying formation of the "brown coal."

THE ORIGIN OF PLANTS.-Messrs. Hall & Dana have recently shown that during the earlier part of the Upper Silurian period North America was covered by a great internal ocean. At the beginning of the Devonian period a slow and gradual emergence commenced, and eventually the dry land was covered with a peculiar and abundant flora. One genus of plants, Psilophyton, is common to Germany, England, and North America. The comparison of fossil plants of the Devonian rocks of Europe and Canada is very difficult, on account of their having so limited an area in the former continent. The above authors believe that acrogenous plants allied to the Club-mosses, and perhaps such simple forms as Eophyton, extended back to the Primordial period, and that we may look for the actual origin of land-vegetation in the Laurentian cpoch. The plants of the Lower and Middle Devonian are supposed to have the aspect of the remains of a decaying flora verging on extinction; whilst in the Upper beds there appear a great number of forms which afterwards were dominant.

A CORRESPONDENT in the Standard has given an account of a fine specimen of ichthyosaurus recently found at Charmouth, Dorset. Its length was six feet, the orbits of the eyes being seven inches in diameter. Within the pelvic cavities of this individual were the fossil skeletons of four young ichthyosauri. This circumstance of the female ichthyosaurus being found fossilized with the fœtus in situ is not new, and from it is deduced the conclusion that they were viviparous.

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EARTHWORMS.-In last month's SCIENCE-GOSSIP, your correspondent E. P. P. wishes to know of more authorities on the subject of worms. I find that an anonymous writer in a series of papers in a magazine of some few years back, gives the following account of the common earthworm. (He is talking about a man being pained by cutting the worms in pieces with his spade.) "If some theories once current had been correct, this severing the body should have caused only the multiplication of the individual; for it was believed that each part contained vitality, and became a perfect animal. The progress of knowledge dissipated this idea, and established the belief, that if an earthworm be cut in two, only the piece which bore the head would be found alive after the lapse of a few hours; that on this segment a new tail would be gradually formed, and all appearance of injury, in time, effaced. It was also asserted, that if the division be made near the head, the body will remain alive, and will renew the head, and the head, with its few attached segments will die.'” The statement that the head will be thus renewed, has, however, been recently called in question in A Report on the Structure, Habits, and Classification of the British Annelida, by Dr. T. Williams. In this valuable communication it is stated, that "the views which commonly prevail with reference to the regenerative powers of these animals are greatly exaggerated, if not altogether incorrect. A true head is never reproduced. If a worm of any species, the Nais filiformis, for example, upon which the principal of my observations have been instituted, be cut into two parts, the anterior never reconstructs a true tail; nor does the posterior ever re-organize a true head; but both fragments will live for a considerable time, and the anterior extremity of the posterior fragment will suck in nourishment, swell in size, and become more vascular, while it preserves the distinctive organization of one of the middle rings of the body. It never re-forms a true head.”—H. 4. 4.

ALAUDA ARBOREA. — How is it possible to describe this delightful bird, the Tree Pipit? The months of song are May and June; and if it be true that the Cuckoo at this time sings night and day, it is also certainly true that the Tree Pipit quite makes up by day for the short rest it takes by night. For the complete enjoyment of this bird's music, I will suppose the reader in a hayfield, redolent with sweet clover and grasses, and the many hundred odours of early summer. I would then draw his attention to a little bird on the top of the nearest tree, repeating three or four times in succession notes so like those of the canary, that it would be quite excusable to mistake them. He will then notice the producer of those sounds shoot suddenly upwards, like a sky-rocket, to the height of a hundred feet or more, flutter its wings like a

wind-hovering kestrel, and so descend gently to the top of another adjacent tree, uttering all the while the softest cadence of half-notes it is possible to imaginė. After a short rest, there will be a repetition of the canary song, another successful ascent, another quivering descent towards the top of the first or some other tree hard by, ever warbling in the most evident and wildest enjoyment its delicious diminuendo cadence from the top of its flight to the moment when it seizes the topmost twig of the selected tree. Colonel Montagu says this bird is rare in Cornwall, and Mr. Morris makes the same remark, but both are evidently in error; for in May and June, in this neighbourhood, no other bird of passage is so common, and certainly no other to be compared to it for general interest. How long it stays here I cannot tell, for it ceases singing the end of June or beginning of July, and then I am unable to distinguish it from the titlarks. Evidently Alauda arborea is a much more appropriate name for it than Alauda trivialis, as it frequents woody and rich districts, and not crossways and downs, like skylarks and titlarks. I hope every reader of these remarks, who is not already familiar with this bird, will make it a point of becoming so next hayseason; the song and flight are so peculiar, that it will be impossible to mistake it for any other.— Joseph Drew, Nansladron.

VITRINA PELLUCIDA. - - Can this species withdraw itself completely into its shell? Our most recent manual-Tate's "Land and Fresh-water Mollusks "-adopts the negative side, but without giving any fact or authorities. Having considerable doubts on the matter, I consulted such works as I possess or have access to, and the following is the result. Our standard authorityMr. Jeffreys, in his "British Conchology "-writes, "the whole of the body can be withdrawn into the shell." MacGillivray, a careful and accurate observer, in his "Mollusca of Aberdeenshire," says, "when young, very active, and incapable of withdrawing entirely within the shell; but when fullgrown, as I have observed, it can withdraw itself completely." In Reeves's "British Land and Freshwater Mollusks," the author offers no opinion, but adduces M. Moquin-Tandon in the affirmative; and Mr. Berkeley, "who has observed this mollusk with great attention, and published its anatomy in the

Zoological Journal," in the negative. We have thus-Jeffreys, MacGillivray, and Moquin-Tandon, who consider that it can withdraw completely into its shell, and Tate and Berkeley, who say that it cannot; the balance being decidedly on the affirmative side. With the light of MacGillivray's observations before us, may not Messrs. Tate and Berkeley have drawn their conclusions from immature specimens? I offer this as a possible solution only. I will conclude with a note of a fact that came under my own notice. In one of my conchological rambles in November, 1871, I met with half a dozen very fine V. pellucida, which I put into a chip box. On my return home the box was placed on a sideboard in a room in which was a fire. Opening the box a few hours later, I found each animal had withdrawn into its shell, leaving the latter adhering to the side of the box by a slight film of mucus round the edge, as is the invariable habit of the genus Helix and others under such circumstances. But though able to retract completely into its shell, it cannot, seemingly, do so to the same extreme extent as the generality of the univalved mollusks, and leave a considerable space

within the aperture between it and the animal. I have never met with this species in a hybernated state, nor heard of any instance. I do not think that it hybernates at all; its hardy nature renders such a resource unnecessary. But I am inclined to think that it æstivates in extremely hot and dry weather, though I cannot remember having met with it in that state naturally. Perhaps some of the readers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP can throw a little light on this part of its economy.-F. G. Binnie, Herlaugh Lodge, Tadcaster.

MICE IN TRAPS.-Your correspondent "Philomys," in last month's number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, notices the fact of mice dying whilst uninjured in live-traps. That this occasionally, but not generally, happens, must be known to most persons who have employed live-traps for the capture of these vermin; but it does not appear to me, from actual observation, that the little creature "seems to resign itself to its fate, and at once die." On the contrary, I have always found the dead mouse to be bathed in perspiration, giving out a most unpleasant odour; and I infer that death is the result of the fearful but vain struggle to escape from the prison-house, and is most probably caused by the rupture of some internal organ. The sufferings of mice in the grasp of a cat are possibly not so severe as we should naturally imagine, for in Livingstone's "Missionary Travels in South Africa," p. 12, the doctor describes his own sensations when caught by a lion. "The shock produced a stupor, similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after the first shake of the cat. It caused a sort of dreaminess, in which there was no sense of pain nor feeling of terror, though quite conscious of all that was happening. The shake annihilated fear, and allowed no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. This peculiar state is probably produced in all animals killed by carnivora, and, if so, is a merciful provision by our benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death." -W. R. T., Scarborough.

WHITE VARIETIES.In your last, Mr. Blow speaks of the Cichorium Intybus, with white flowers, as an uncommon plant. I may state that previous to so much building round the town of Epsom, it was not unfrequently met with in the Parade Fields. About three years ago, I found at Half-mile Bush (Epsom) the Solanum Dulcamara, with white flowers and yellow berries. I went after it this last season, and although I found, in the same locality, plants with purple flowers and red berries, I could not see a vestige of the white variety I have alluded to, and would suggest whether plants may not sport from coloured to white, and, under favourable circumstances, return to their pristine condition.-W. T. Iliff, Epsom.

ERGOTIZED GRASS.-When I sent to SCIENCEGOSSIP the notice of the ergotized Alopecurus agrestis the weather was fine and open, and I never dreamt of all the frost which has followed. This frost, I am bound to say, scattered all the ergot in a few hours, having left the affected culms perfectly bare of ergot and seed; and of course the cold has not let any fresh ergot become developed. These facts I was first led to suspect on noticing that the crops of a brace of partridges shot in the field were literally stuffed with the ripened seeds and ergot from the grass; and upon going to look for it in the field, I was vexed at finding it all destroyed. I mention this that you may kindly, in your next

number, intimate to my numerous correspondents the cause that I have not responded to their request for specimens. I sent you all that I had gathered before the frost came, and will, if possible, satisfy my friends either with the ergot or something of interest, as I should be sorry to appropriate their stamped envelopes.-Jas. Binkman.

SHREW-MOUSE.-In Staffordshire, this much-persecuted little animal is called the Nursrow. Bailey's Dictionary gives another odd name, viz. Shrovemouse, and defines a shrew-mouse as "a field-mouse of the bigness of a rat, and colour of a weasel, very mischievous to cattle, which going over a beast's back will make it lame in the chine; and its bite causes the beast to swell to the heart and die." Bailey derives shrew-mouse from the Danish skoumusz; but, as applied to a scolding woman, derives shrew from the Teutonic scheyren (modern German, schreien), to make a bawling. Webster gives as the derivation of shrew, used in either sense, the Saxon word screawa. Which is correct ? -G. H. H.

A RARE FISH.-In a recent number of Land and Water there was a note on the capture of a rare fish off the Northumberland coast-the Long Flounder (Platessa elongata). Only four or five specimens of this fish are on record. It is still more singular to find it ranging so far north as Northumberland. The specimen has been placed in the Newcastle Museum.

STAG-BEETLE.-Has "A. E." (SCIENCE-GOSSIP, p. 283, vol. vii.) ever been bitten by a stag-beetle ? His observations would imply as much without actually asserting it. They were numerous where I formerly lived, and I have often tried to get them to bite a stick, but never succeeded in doing so ; indeed, the insects always appeared remarkably inoffensive, and, so to speak, tame. Notwithstanding the formidable appearance of the masculine mandibles, their length would rather tell against their power; and I should certainly feel more shy of a nip from the less imposing, but I suspect more effective, jaws of the female.-G. Guyon, Ventnor.

PROCESSIONARY MOTHS (pp. 106 and 184, vol. vii.). -In the first of these articles we are told, after naming the three species of the so-called "Processionary Moths," that "neither of the species is found in England;" and in the latter, that the larvae have made their appearance in a garden in Dorset "for the last dozen or fourteen years." It is well known to those who have paid attention to insects, that the species in question are none of them British. Are we to understand by the communication of our fair friend that these species of caterpillars were introduced, and are now thriving in her garden? I suspect the caterpillars of the Lackey-moth (B. Neustria), and not the Processionary Moth, are those observed in Dorset. It is a well-known fact, that several species of caterpillars found in England possess an urticating nature from the spines adorning their bodies; amongst which those of 4. Caja, L. auriflua, B. trifolii, and many others, are familiar examples to those who are in the habit of rearing them.-G. B. C., Ringwood.

TALKING BULLFINCH.-A male bullfinch, in the possession of Mrs. Cooke, Old Catton, Norwich, can speak three separate sentences,-"Come along,' "Look here," Pretty, pretty, pretty dear," the first very distinctly.-W. B.

RING OUSEL.-It is not a very uncommon occurrence to see the Ring Ousel in Dorset and Wilts during the autumn months. These birds visit the mountainous districts of this country in the spring of the year, travelling southward as the autumn approaches. About six years ago, a gentleman caught one of these ring ousels, near Cerne Abbas. If I remember rightly, it was towards the end of November, during very inclement weather. The bird was a very beautiful specimen of the male Turdus torquatus, and was in my mother's possession for some time. We christened him Charlie, after the donor, and he became one of our best-loved household pets. In a very few weeks Charlie lost all his natural shyness, and became charmingly attractive. He would come to the side of his cage and utter a peculiarly clear strong note, almost like the song-note of a thrush, and beg to have his head rubbed. He would peck crumbs out of my mother's hand in the most delicate gentleman-like manner imaginable. We fed him like our other birds, on mixed seeds, home-made German paste, &c., and he appeared well and happy. His end was most untimely and sad. A neighbour's cat, having a penchant for birds, attacked the cage one day, and succeeded in putting an end to poor Charlie's existence, as well as killing two canaries, who shared his home, and were great friends of the ring ousel.-Barbara Wallace Fyfe, Nottingham.

BOMBYX QUERCUS. I have personally experienced the urticating property of the hairs of B. Quercus, noticed by your correspondent in last month's SCIENCE-GOSSIP. I opened some_cocoons of this species, and both my brother and I got the hairs from the cast skin of the caterpillar into our hands and faces, causing considerable irritation. I have been told that it is only the hairs of the female larvæ that are irritating, but I don't think so. I had often previously handled the caterpillars without getting the hairs into my skin.-Harry Leslie.

BIRTH AND DEATH OF A HIPPOPOTAMUS.An interesting event took place at the Zoological Gardens on the 9th of January. A baby hippopotamus was born, and great endeavours were made to keep it alive, but in vain. The little animal was unable to suck, and after three days it died from lack of nourishment. Some difficulty was experienced in getting the baby away from its mother, and when it had been safely placed in the hands of its foster-parent, Mr. Bartlett, the indefatigable curator, managed to get about a pint and a half of milk down its throat. It was too far gone, however, to rally, and died almost immediately. The young hippopotamus could swim as well as its mother.

GEOPHILUS ELECTRICUS.-The following notes on an electric centipede, which I kept in captivity for some days a few years ago, may prove interesting to your correspondent Mr. Henderson :-"October 13th, 1869. A friend brought me an electric centipede (Geophilus electricus) this evening. He found it on Primrose Hill. I laid it on some damp earth in a small glass jar. When I breathed on it, it writhed about and became luminous. The luminosity had sometimes a greenish, sometimes a bluish tint. The green seemed to be confined to the head and the blue to the body; but of this I am not sure, for the colours were usually so intermingled, and the difference between the shades was so slight,

that it was almost impossible to distinguish between them. The power of showing light appeared to be weakened by frequent exercise. After a time my breathing on the centipede only caused its head to become luminous, and at length the luminosity entirely ceased. 14th. This morning I took the centipede into a dark closet, and breathed on it two or three times, but with no effect. In the evening my breathing on it had the same effect as it had last night. First its whole body became luminous, after a time only its head was lighted up, and at length it showed no light at all. 15th. To-night it again showed its light, but not so brightly as heretofore. 16th. This evening also the centipede became luminous, but not so brightly even as last night. I think the insect was injured in some way by the roughness of its captor. It appears to me to be dying. 20th. I have not been able to make any observations during the last few days, and this morning I find the centipede is dead." These notes were not made from memory, but at the time, and may therefore be depended on. It will be seen that the insect lived in captivity exactly a week. It never showed any disposition to crawl from the spot on which it lay when first put into the jar, and never moved, I think, except when breathed upon, or otherwise disturbed. This inertness I attribute to its having been injured when it was taken.-John Landels.

A. ATROPOS, PUPA.-Your correspondent "E. L." may succeed in breeding perfect specimens of 4.atropos by placing the pupa in a hat-box containing damp moss, which should be kept moderately warm near a fire. Sphagnum moss is the best for the purpose, and it should be prepared by baking it, to destroy any insects it may contain. Without sufficient moisture the moth cannot break through the pupacase. If not forced in this way, but allowed to remain in the pupa state during the winter, they seldom come to anything in the following year.-H. A. Auld.

DAYLIGHT AURORA.-On Friday, January 5th, about four p.m., I observed a peculiar appearance of the sky in the N.E. It consisted of fine dark rays, or stripes, coming apparently from a centre not far below the horizon. A friend of mine observed a similar appearance on Saturday, the 6th, at the same hour. Have these phenomena any connection with aurora by daylight," mentioned in your last number-Julia Colson, Swanage.

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THE UNICORN.-I was much interested in Mr. Kitton's article on medieval science. These historical reflections are useful as indicating the degree of real progress which has been made. If it is not outside your province, I should like to be informed if there is any connection between the unicorn, employed as a supporter of the British arms, and that figured in Mr. Kitton's paper from the seal of Margaret of Scotland? The latter, it will be remembered, was given to illustrate the medieval tradition of how the fabulous animals were caught.-T. E.

MALVERN NATURALISTS' CLUB.-The Rev. W. Symonds, F.G.S., who has presided over this club so admirably for eighteen years, has at length retired. The members have shown their sense of Mr. Symonds merit by presenting him, after a luncheon given for the purpose, with a splendid silver epergne. To Mrs. Symonds, on the same occasion, was presented a capital portrait of her husband. The address from the members set forth

the great obligations under which the club laboured to Mr. Symonds, for his able and long presidency. The presentation was made, on behalf of the club, by Sir William Guise, Bart., President of the Cotteswold Naturalists' Club.

BONY EXCRESCENCES IN SKIN OF TURBOT.-Can any of your readers inform me of the use of the bony excrescences in the skin of the common turbot? They are scattered at too great distances to be of any service as defences. These bodies are chiefly confined to this and other species of fish, all of which I believe are what are commonly called "flat-fish." -H. B.

PARTRIDGE'S FLIGHT.-The velocity of the Partridge's flight is curiously illustrated by an occurrence recently communicated to me by a friend. A covey of partridges got up in a field and flew off towards a road, along which ran the telegraph. One of the birds was observed to strike the wires and fall, after continuing its flight a short distance. On being picked up it was found that the wire had completely severed the head from the body. The bird was a fine cock partridge, and the spot where it had fallen was twenty-two yards distant from the telegraph.-G. H. H.

SINGING MICE.-It appears to me, from personal observation, that the phenomenon of the so-called singing mouse must be referred to some other cause than that of happiness. Two cases have fallen under my notice. The first mouse was caught in a live-trap, and soon drew attention to itself by the peculiar sounds it uttered. It is some years ago, but I remember the huddled-up form which it assumed, and the apparent indifference to anything which it manifested. I forget whether it ate food in captivity. It lived but a short time, continuing the sound in the presence of a friend. The second mouse was noticed under a sofa, and when attempts were made to capture it, it would merely run to the other end of the sofa, and, assuming the same huddled-up form, continue the sound. This was killed whilst being captured: but both gave me the idea of their being diseased and wretched. I would rather refer the cause to disease of the respiratory organs,—in fact, call it a kind of wheezing. Something analogous to this occurs to an old lady of my acquaintance, who is liable to a peculiar affection of the bronchial tubes, which produces a constant twittering or chirruping, reminding one strongly and ludicrously of a bird. This is called by the lady herself "the little bird in her throat." There is also a resemblance between mice in this state and birds at certain seasons, which favours the theory of their being under the influence of the tender passion. A goldfinch, in particular, that was in my possession for several years would, at a certain time every year, puff up his body and ruffle the feathers, keeping up, at the same time, an incessant twittering, increasing the sounds vehemently on my approaching the cage. I have every reason to believe that rats utter the same sound, but in a lower key.-H. J. Bacon.

ARBORESCENT SILVER.-I have prepared many of these beautiful slides as described by "F. K.,” SCIENCE-GOSSIP, p. 17, but finding it very difficult to remove the piece of copper wire without disturbing the crystals, I adopted the plan of using a long piece of thin copper or brass wire, and bent a portion into a T shape to rest on the table, or the coil itself did as well, the end of the wire being bent down to touch the slide in the centre of the drop of nitrate of silver solution. When the feathery deposit of

metallic silver was formed, the finger or a pencil passed under the wire would raise it without disturb ing the crystals, it being simply a perpendicular lift. If the action is continued too long, a blue tinge will result from the formation of nitrate of copper. By using different thickness of wire and strength of solution various effects are obtained.-G. Guyon, Ventnor.

OAK EGGAR.-I believe the urticating properties of the Oak Eggar (B. Quercus) larvæ are more known than "E. H.S." thinks, for in the south of Devon it is a very common insect: the side hairs are those that are injurious. I have taken one of those creatures in my hand with a kid glove on, and the hairs so stuck into the glove that every time I used it I had a fresh sting, and the irritation continued for several weeks. The larvae of the Fox (L. Rubi) has the same properties, only stronger; even touching the cocoon of either larvæ, which is composed partly of the hairs of the caterpillar, the fingers are stung. As to the effect only occurring on persons of delicate health that is not correct, but it may be more painful on fine skin. If the insect is handled very tenderly, there will not follow any inconvenience.J. G.

PODURA SCALES.-I have in my collection and now take especial care of it, a slide of test scales of the Podura, mounted by the late Mr. R. Beck. I remember him telling me that he found the Podura in the rock-work in his mother's garden. He was, as is well known, a keen observer, and might thus make discoveries which would escape the notice of some. After reading Mr. M,Intyre's excellent article in SCIENCE-GOSSIP, I commenced a hunt for them, and in the cellar found a lead-coloured species, some few of which yielded a scale equal to Mr. Beck's. I must, however, say that I did not get one slide in twenty, nor one scale in five thousand, that was of any use. Perhaps it is this difficulty in meeting with well-marked scales which makes "L.L.B." doubt if they can be found. In Mr. Beck's slide I notice there are only two well-marked ones. Perhaps, as suggested, the age of the insect has something to do with it. At all events, they appear the exception, not the rule.-E. G., Matlock.

A RARE PLANT.-At page 168 of your vol. for 1867 is a notice of that curious plant Phyllactidium pulchellum, and as localities were asked for, it may be worth while to state that it is very abundant in the neighbourhood of Chester. While examining recently some anacharis under a low power, I observed the under surface of the leaves thickly dotted with it, in some cases forming a riband nearly the length of the leaf. The anacharis was taken from an out-door tank supplied with water from the Dee. It has also been found in one or two ponds in this neighbourhood.-C. Mills.

INITIAL LETTERS.-The following is the reply of the Secretary of the Post Office on this important subject:-Vide paragraph 200, page 133, British Postal Guide. "Letters addressed to initials at the Poste Restante, or to a District or Branch Office, are returned to the writers." This does not apply to receiving-houses, where the letter-receivers may take in letters addressed to "initials " if they consider that they would be justified in so doing. At Provincial Post Offices also, the postmasters may take in letters addressed to initials" if they think proper.

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