König were captured at the same time at Döllstedt, a village lying about eight miles from Gotha. Three men, while engaged in threshing, were led by a squeaking which they heard to examine a joist in a shed near to the spot where they were working. A quantity of straw was piled up from the floor to the roof; removing this, they could see in a large hole in the joist a number of rats (forty-two as it afterwards appeared), all of which were in due time dragged out; but what was the men's astonishment to find that no less than twenty-eight of these rats were united together by their tails-their heads when the bodies were extended forming a complete circle; and that the remaining fourteen were also, in like manner, bound into one mass. The animals were all about the same size, with clean glossy coats; but were evidently half famished. The two monsters were carried into their employer's house, where they caused no little excitement among the villagers. As soon, however, as the curiosity of the people was satisfied, the unfortunate rats were all put to death; but it was only by swinging them about for some time that they were able to separate two or three of the bodies from the general mass. The tails of those thus separated showed clearly the impression made by contact with their neighbours."Brehm. Illustrirtes Thierleben, vol. ii., p. 125.

The other authority to whom I alluded is Leunis, the author of "Das Thierreich." Under the head of Mus decumanus (Brown Rat) he writes: "The viscid tails of young rats, when enclosed in a very narrow space, are sometimes found to have grown together, and such a combination is commonly called a Ratten König. This curious circumstance occurs equally among individuals of the next species, M. rattus, or Black Rat. In the Natural History Museum at Altenburg there is preserved a Ratten König formed by the union of twenty-three

animals."

DURING the autumnal months, the leaves of

the Maple and Sycamore are liable to become infested with a kind of blight, which gives the leaves a whitened appearance, as though they were covered with finely-powdered chalk. This appearance may be overlooked when the plants are growing beside a chalky road in dry weather, for then all leaves look whitened alike; but when examined by means of a pocket lens, a number of minute black dots are seen scattered over the white stratum. These are the receptacles which contain the fruit of the "blight" or fungus. If a fragment be sub

mitted to the microscope, under an inch objective, the little black dots will assume a most elegant appearance. Each dot is a little sphere, flattened at the poles, with a reticulated surface, attached at the base by branching root-like threads to the leaf, and surrounded by a fringe or circlet of white radiating branchlets-divided once or twice-with their ultimate extremities curved or coiled in a circinate manner.* Thus much only will be observed of them in situ, save that when young their surface is yellowish, becoming browner and darker with age. If one of the receptacles is broken up and viewed with a higher power, it will be found to

contain numerous pear-shaped bags (asci), each holding eight spores. This is the fruit of the blight,

which is called Uncinula on account of its hooked appendages, and bicornis because the hooks or horns are double, or in pairs.

This kind of parasite is common both in Europe and America. With us, similar species are found on poplar and willow leaves, and others less like, as belonging to different genera, on guelder-rose, berberry, gooseberry, hop, crowfoot, pea, grass, and the leaves of various other plants. All of these deserve greater popularity with microscopists than they have yet secured. Our American readers will find a large and beautiful species (Uncinula polychata) on the leaves of Celtis occidentalis.

In the above figure one of the receptacles is given as seen under a half-inch objective, and beneath this three spores more highly magnified. On each side of the latter one of the tips, or outer extremities of the appendages.

Mounted slides of this and other microscopic fungi may be obtained of Mr. C. Collins, Great Titchfield Street.

ZOOLOGY.

ICHNEUMON AND COBRA.-It is so generally believed that the bite of the cobra is fatal to all animals except the ichneumon, or mungoose, which is believed to possess in its blood, or to have some capacity for discovering, an antidote to the poison, that we are glad to find some exact experiments on the point. Surgeon-Major C. R. Francis, writing in the Indian Medical Gazette for April, details the results of some very interesting inquiries recently conducted by him. These results show in the most conclusive manner that the ichneumon is not possessed of any special immunity from the effects of the cobra's poison, and that, since it dies almost immediately after it has been bitten, its supposed instinct for the discovery of an unknown (!) herb is equally a delusion. Surgeon-Major Francis, who had collected seven lively cobras for experimentation, thus describes the results: "Before commencing the experiment, the cobra was tested, a supply of fowls and small birds being retained for the purpose. In each case the tested bird died shortly after being bitten in the usual way. It faltered in its gait, limped, sank on the ground, became lethargic, and then fell into convulsions, in which it was carried off. Sufficient time was then allowed for a copious re-secretion of the poison, and the animal to be bitten was presented to the cobra. As a rule, the latter would not voluntarily bite its victim; and it became necessary to force the poisonfangs into some fleshy part of the latter. In the case of the mungoose the inner part of the thigh was selected. The operation was most successfully performed in each case by two snake-charmers. Three mungooses were operated upon, and they all died, at intervals varying from fifteen minutes to six hours each, in precisely the same way." A positive result of this kind is worth thousands of negative ones, since it really decides the question definitively. We may state that two other interesting facts have been arrived at by Surgeon-Major Francis: (1) that harmless snakes are just as liable to the poisonous effects of the cobra's bite as are other animals; and (2) that the cobra itself is the only creature which appears to be uninfluenced by the poison. This last would appear to be demonstrated by an experiment in which two cobras were made to mutually wound each other without any apparent result beyond temporary inconvenience.

How MUSK-RATS SWIM UNDER THE ICE.Musk-rats have a curious method of travelling long distances under the ice. In their winter excursions to their feeding-grounds, which are frequently at great distances from their abodes, they take in breath at the start, and stay under water as long as they can. They can rise to the ice and breath out

the air in their lungs, which remains in bubbles against the lower surface of the ice. They wait till this air recovers oxygen from the water and ice, and then take it again, and go till the operation has to be repeated. In this way they can travel almost any distance and live any length of time under the ice. The hunter sometimes takes advantage of this habit of the musk-rat in the following manner. When the marshes and ponds where the musk-rats abound are first frozen over, and the ice is thin and clear, on striking into their houses with his hatchet for the purpose of setting their traps, he frequently sees a whole family plunge into the water and swim away under the ice. Following one of them for some distance, he sees him come up to renew his breath in the manner above described. After the animal has breathed against the ice, and before he has time to take his bubble in again, the hunter strikes with his hatchet directly over him, and drives him away from his breath. In this case he drowns in swimming a few rods, and the hunter, cutting a hole in the ice, takes him out. Mink, otter, and beaver travel under the ice in the same way, and hunters have frequently told me of taking otter in the manner I have described when these animals visit the houses of the musk-rat for prey.-San Francisco Scientific Press, Jan. 25.

VARIETIES OF BUTTERFLIES.-In looking through the back numbers of SCIENCE-GOSSIP, I observe that in the number for October, 1867, a correspondent makes inquiries about varieties of C. Edusa and 4. Paphia. When he says legs of Edusa, does he not mean wings? I have taken such a variety on several occasions, but in each case they were males; I have never yet noticed it in the opposite sex. The so-called "black variety " (Valezina) of Paphia I have seen on several occasions in the New Forest, and taken it once or twice. One season I knew of seven or eight specimens having been taken by different entomologists. Unlike Edusa, the variation in this species is entirely restricted to the females. One specimen I have has a lighter patch" on each fore-wing, as described, but another is so entirely dark that the spots are almost hidden. Speaking of varieties of butterflies, I may mention that the variety of the Ringlet (S. Hyperanthus) which is destitute of the markings from which it takes its common name, is often to be met with in the forest, also varieties of A. Galathea with the under side of the hind wings of a brown colour.-G. B. C., Ringwood.

cr

VENOM OF TOADS (p. 114).-Is the toad so poisonous as we are led to infer from a paragraph borrowed from the British Med. Journal? The names of three French chemists are there given in evidence of the fact-if fact it be-that "smaller

animals coming under the influence of the venom undergo true narcotic poisoning, soon followed by convulsions and death." Now it is a most remarkable circumstance that the experiments made by English chemists differ toto cælo from this sweeping observation-in fact, they run in an exactly opposite direction. The names of Davey and Raines command at least as much respect as those of Gratiolet and Cloez; and their testimony goes to show that the toad's secretion (though bitter to the taste, and very acrid-even to the extent of causing a smarting sensation when applied to the hand) is nevertheless perfectly innocent of any death-dealing properties. Dr. Davey tried it on a chicken without any injurious effect. Raines went more deeply into the matter. Having soaked pieces of thread in the secretion, he passed them through the ears of mice and kittens, without causing either animal the slightest inconvenience. Mr. Raines adds the valuable remark that "analogy is in favour of the comparative harmlessness of the toad's secretion. It is diffused over a large part of the surface of its body; whereas in all animals provided with a specific venom, and not a mere irritant, the apparatus which produces and supplies it occupies, as is well known, a very confined locality." (The above, with a great deal more information of a similar kind, is to be found in the Transactions of the Microscopical Society. I have not them by me at the moment, and cannot name the volume.) As to the supposed effect of the venom on the mouths of dogs which attack toads, I cannot help thinking that it is greatly exaggerated. That the fresh matter is acrid and unpleasant is certain, and no doubt it was given as a direct means of defence to the much-persecuted animal; but I can hardly believe that " 'on examination it is found that the palate and tongue are swollen, and a viscous mucus is exuded." Nor does the circumstance of "some savages in South America using the acid fluid of the cutaneous glands of the toad, instead of the curara"-(is it certain, by the way, that they do ?)— carry much weight with it. We all know that many reptiles are poisonous: the question is whether the English toad is so. However, as an ounce of fact is worth whole reams of paper argument, perhaps some correspondent may be able to produce instances of positive poisoning by contact with the living toad; for the subject, though not one of deep importance, is still of considerable interest to lovers of natural history.-W. W. Spicer, Clifton.

ANTS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.-A most interesting addition to the attractions of the Crystal Palace has just been made by an ant's nest, found within the last few weeks by Mr. Robert Holt, under the floor of his house at Lower Norwood. Mr. Holt, who is the lessee of the French Court in

the Crystal Palace, has taken care to preserve this nest in its integrity as found, and it is now placed on a marble pedestal in front of the French Court, where it attracts great attention. The nest, which appears to have been formed of masticated wood, is about twelve inches square, and is full of perforations, as the nests of other insects; and the ants who have created it may be seen swarming in and out of the nest, and up and down the pedestal with their proverbial activity. The base of the column is immersed in a shallow tank of water, which effectually prevents the escape of the insects from the nest and column to which they are confined. Food for the thousands of ants now occupying this nest is of course provided. Within the last few days they have reduced the carcase of a sparrow to a skeleton, and nothing can be more interesting than to witness the avidity with which a lump of moistened sugar is sucked so dry by the thirsty insects that they are at last fain to carry off the solid remains, as a provision for the future, to the inmost recesses of the nest. Under the genial warmth of the Crystal Palace, the ants, thus carefully tended, set a daily example of activity and providence, and are likely to prove a permanent attraction.-The Standard, May 13th.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?-A querist, at p. 119, desires the etymology of Poll, as applied to the parrot. This bird, called irráкos by Plutarch, was known to the ancients after the Eastern conquests achieved by Alexander the Great; this name, I fancy, means the "chatterer," from Vilupos, to chatter. With us moderns, the name of parrot is a term of endearment, from Pierre, Peter, hence Pierrot, Perroquet. Premising this, I may remark that there are three plausible explanations of the word Poll, or Polly:-1, it may mean the wellknown diminutive of Mary, as applied to the female bird. 2, it may refer to the poll, or head of this bird, which in some species is distinguished by a prominent crest, or cockade, hence cockatoo : domesticated birds continually protrude this part, to solicit the well-known salutation called "Scratch a poll, Polly!" 3, which I incline to myself, viz., Poll for Paul, which, like Pierrot for Peter, is of apostolic celebrity. Paul, or Paulus, is the diminutive of Pauxillus, "very little;" I should fancy it might very well be a pet name for this favourite bird; and coming to us from the French, would receive their pronunciation of Pól.—A. H.

FAN-TAILED CARP.-I have a very peculiar Golden Carp, which I purchased of a man who hawked them about; it is about four inches long, and has a very peculiar tail, or more proper two tails, which instead of being perpendicular, are horizontal. The man had another like it, and called them fan-tails.-T. R. Clephan.

BOTANY.

LASTREA RIGIDA.-As I believe it to be the general, if not the universal, belief that the fern Lastrea rigida grows truly wild in this country only in Yorkshire, Lancashire,fand Westmoreland, I have the pleasure to send you a plant from North Wales, which district, I think, is now entitled to be added to those above mentioned. During the autumn of last year I met with this fern on the ridge of mountain limestone which occurs to the north of Llangollen. The area occupied by the fern, so far as my observation has gone, is very limited, being comprised perhaps within a circle having a radius of fifty yards; it is, however, very plentiful within this boundary. Some of the plants have extended themselves very much, the unfurled fronds in many cases covering a space of two or three square feet. Soon after I first found the fern (about the identity of which I had some doubt) I had an opportunity of visiting Arnside Kudt (near Silverdale, Westmoreland), a recorded habitat of rigida, and was pleased to find that the plants growing on that hill coincided perfectly, both in habit and structure, as well as in the peculiar and decided odour which. they emitted, with those brought from Llangollen. The outline of the fronds is, with scarcely an exception, elongate-triangular, the lowest pair of pinnæ being longer than-or at least as long as-any of those above them. The specimen sent you differs from the normal form in as great a degree as any I have noticed, the stipes being comparatively, shorter than usual, and several of the lowermost pinnæ being of about equal length. I may state that the other limestone fern, Polypodium calcareum, grows in company with the Lastrea rigida at the Llangollen station.-George R. Jebb, Chester.

THE MELON.-The history of the melon, and its varieties, is one of the most obscure in botany, for we neither know the origin of the species nor the true cause of the appearance of the many wellmarked races, such as the green-fleshed, whitefleshed, netted, cantaloupes, &c., into which it has diverged. As M. Alphonse de Candolle has clearly shown, there is no good reason to suppose that the Romans were acquainted with it, although it has been thought to be the "melo" of Pliny, which, however, was a sort of cucumber. What is very remarkable is, it appears that the more we approach the southern parts of Asia the more modern does the cultivation of the melon appear to be. It is true that Wildenow says that it is wild in the country of the Kalmucks, but without producing his authority. De Steven, a Russian botanist, also relates that he found it far from houses in a barren place on the banks of the Kour, a river of Schirvan. Another German traveller, Hohenacher, also speaks

of it as growing near Elizabethpol. But all these cases are apocryphal-that is to say, there is nothing to show that the plants found by those travellers were really wild, if indeed they really were melons. The question, then, may be naturally asked, How are we to determine their origin? Under these circumstances it would seem that the most probable method of doing so is by cultivating all the varieties that are procurable, marking their variations, observing all tendency to lose the customary characters, and continuing to trace degeneracy till it reaches at length either the point of original departure from some other fruit, or settles down in an unalterable original form.-George Newlyn.

VARIETIES OF THE WOOD VIOLET (Viola sylvatica, Fr.)-In SCIENCE-GOSSIP for 1866 (p. 163), I drew attention to a white-flowered variety of this violet which had been found near Wycombe. I then remarked that, had the form known as V. Reichenbachiana been ascertained to grow in our district, I should have been inclined to refer the specimens mentioned to that sub-species. Recent investigations have convinced me that I should have been quite correct in so doing, as I have now distinguished V. Reichenbachiana in two or three localities, one of which is the very lane from which the aforesaid specimens came. On the 25th of April last, however, a root of V. Riviniana was found near here by Mr. T. Marshall, on which were four large white blossoms, most beautifully veined with purple; and close to this another variety with pink flowers. Another white-flowered specimen was found in a different place a few days later; and a plant with a perfectly double blossom of the usual colour was brought me about the same time.-B.

BOUGAINVILLEA SPECTABILIS.-This is one of the handsomest climbers in the world when it will condescend to blossom. It has been in flower for the last two years at Lady Dorothy Nevill's, at Dangstein; and although the plant is some few years old, this is the first time of its blooming. It is grown in a span-roofed pit, which is treated like a stove, and the climber is trained along a trellis immediately under the south side of the roof, at from nine to twelve inches from the glass. For a long time it continued to grow rapidly, throwing out strong sideshoots, and was frequently potted, but did not show any signs of flowering. At last an experiment was suggested by Mr. Vair, the very able and experienced gardener there, which ultimately proved a perfect success, and twelve months ago this beautiful plant was literally covered with bloom. The flowers were produced on the previous year's shoots. Bougainvillea speciosa is equally obstinate to flower, but in the gardens at Dangstein both have yielded to the treatment of their careful cultivator.-George Newlyn.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

MICROSCOPY.

THE LEAD TREE.-A common amusement of boyhood is the pleasing experiment of the lead-tree. As a microscopic object, it may possibly be new to some of your readers. The apparatus which I have used for its exhibition is very simple. I take one of the square rings that are made for forming cells, break off one of the four sides, and cement a piece of thin glass on each side, to form a deep narrow cell,-in fact, it is a zoophyte trough; then cut a thin strip of zinc, and bend it so as to drop into the cell. Put as much acetate of lead, powdered, as will lie on the point of a penknife into the cell, and fill it up with water by means of a dipping tube. Insert the strip of zinc, and view it immediately with an inch or half-inch object-glass. As soon as the zinc is immersed in the lead solution, beautiful fern-like branches begin to open out from it on all sides. The object may be viewed by either transmitted or reflected light; the latter perhaps is the best. The theory of the action is thus stated in Fownes' Manual of Chemistry :-" When a piece of zinc is suspended in a solution of acetate of lead, the first effect is the decomposition of a portion of the latter, and the deposition of metallic lead upon the surface of the zinc; it is simply a displacement of the metal by a more oxidable one. The change does not, however, stop here. Metallic lead is still deposited in large and beautiful plates upon that first thrown down, until the solution becomes exhausted, or the zinc entirely disappears. first portions of lead form with the zinc a voltaic arrangement of sufficient power to decompose the salt; under the peculiar circumstances in which the latter is placed, the metal is precipitated upon the negative portion—that is, the lead-while the oxygen and acid are taken up by the zinc." The effect may also be witnessed by putting a drop of the solution of lead upon a hollowed glass slip, and dropping in a few zinc filings.-R. H. N. B.

The

MYRIAPOD.-Sir John Lubbock has found a curious Myriapod, common in company with Springtails amongst old leaves &c., which has hitherto been overlooked. He calls it Pauropus Huxleyi; and another species, less common, he names Pauropus pedunculatus. The first of these is only of an inch in length, and is therefore quite a microscopic object.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN GALLS.-The lamented death of Mr. W. Armistead, who was pursuing this study in the prospect of publishing a work on the subject, is in some measure compensated by bringing another worker into the field. Any correspondent willing to assist with specimens are requested to communicate with Mr. Albert Müller, 2 Camden Villas, Penge.

CLAYTONIA PERFOLIATA (p. 115).—I am not aware how long this plant has been introduced into England, but I can bear testimony to the fact of its having "escaped" as long as five-and-twenty years ago, the late Mr. W. Borrer having pointed it out to me in the year 1843 on Henfield Common, where it was growing in an apparently wild condition near a small stream. I think, but am not quite certain, that Mr. Borrer spoke of it as having been there many years. In the new edition of "English Botany” it is mentioned as being thoroughly naturalized in many places in England-Henfield, Sussex, &c.-W. W. Spicer, Clifton.

CLAYTONIA PERFOLIATA grows in large quantities in a wood in Chatsworth Park. This plant is not mentioned in "Sowerby” (2nd edition), but it will be found in "Baxter," and in "Sowerby" (3rd edition).-F. R. W.

SPRINGTAILS.-In the last part of the Transactions of the Linnean Society Sir John Lubbock contributes a third paper on the Thysanura, in which is included descriptions of seventeen species of British Podura, and allied genera.