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NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.
All communications for the Editor should be addressed to No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment contributions should be received on or before the 15th of each month. No notice can be taken of anonymous communications. All notes, queries, or articles for insertion, must be guaranteed by the name and address of the writer, which may be withheld from publication if so desired.
Queries.—Having been inundated with questions, we are compelled to announce that we cannot undertake to answer those of which the querist might satisfy himself 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, beside the querist, are likely to take an interest in them.
We cannot undertake to return "rejected addresses."
J. G.—Both specimens marked Dicranella are Dicranum heteromallum.—G. E. H.
J. W. L.—Your plant, resembling a coralline, is a species of seaweed, bleached by exposure, known as Jania rubens.—W. H. H.
W. W. K.—The objects from the Baltic, called "gold shells," are insects; the scientific name is Margarodes formicarum. See paper on them in "Linnæan Transactions," Vol. XVI., p. 115, and plate 12.—J. E. G.
E. B.—The galls on bramble are produced by Cynips aptera.—F. M.
S. A. J. (Brampton).—Will you favour us with name and address that we may comply with a request?
G. R., Jun.—Often observed and described in botanical works.
Hedgehogs.—We have, during the past month, received seventeen communication on this subject, some of considerable length, which collectively would occupy at least twelve pages. We may hereafter utilize one or two, but a "hedgehog number" is not a desideratum. Notwithstanding which, all those correspondents will please to accept our thanks.
W. W. S.—We have not seen any announcement of "Busk's Marine Polyzoa."
M. P. W.—An immature specimen of fresh-water conferva from whence its name cannot be correctly determined. It is in a bad condition.
A. T. L. (Sunbury).—"Rivers's Orchard House," published by Longmans, at half-a-crown, would, perhaps, answer your purpose.
W. E. R.—To all the queries within our province, the answer will be in the negative.
T. P. B. (Newcastle) would exchange Diatomaceæ slide for slide with any one possessing duplicates of other species. Lists can be exchanged through the Editor.
H. G. S.—Study "Westwood's Introduction to Entomology."
S. A.—We think our contributor wrong in his apparent belief that both are the same species. Lemna gibba has been placed in a separate genus, though not commonly recognized as generically distinct. It would be well if you could find it in flower.
British Butterflies.—Is it possible that R. S. has not seen Mr. E. Newman's admirable "Butterfly Number of Young England?" It is a marvel, and the sixpence expended in its purchase will never be regretted.
J. G.—Your supposed Cetraria is Cornicularia aculeata.
B. F.—Your query cannot be clearly answered in a word or two. As soon as possible it shall receive an extended explanation, which will, probably, prove acceptable to many of our readers.
Z. Y. X.—In answer to your query, p. 95, a correspondent writes:—"The phenomenon is owing to the desire of the finny tribe to escape from confinement. They open their mouths to catch the insects which constitute their food." See also "Owen's Comparative Anatomy," p. 105.—L. N.
J. R. (Bognor).—Your supposed discovery certainly requires confirmation.
H. A.—Gardner's "Taxidermy, or Bird-Stuffing made easy."
J. F. C.—The cats have never confided their secrets to us.
Acacia Flowers.—A correspondent has preserved a number of these with their pollen for distribution. A portion mounted as an opaque object is strongly recommended for the microscope. Stamped envelopes may be sent to J. M., Greenfield View, Egremont, Cheshire.
Tussilago Hybrida.—Forwarded to its destination.
Mosses.—We regret that we do not possess the leisure to name specimens. See also p. 97.
British Hepaticæ.—It is contemplated to issue a list, with figures and descriptions of every species, at a very cheap rate.
Webster's Economic Condenser.—Several correspondents having made inquiries of us concerning this condenser, we are permitted to refer them to Mr. John Webster, 9, Adelaide Cottages.
J. W. (Amlwch).—The correct title of the book named in our last is—"Lessons on Elementary Botany by Professor Henslow, edited by Professor Oliver," published by Macmillan & Co.
C. S. B.—See the same query, p. 71, and its answer, p. 119.
Nyssia Zonaria.—A correspondent writes us that during an excursion to the sand-hills at New Brighton, Cheshire, in search of this insect, he was successful in capturing both male and female specimens in good condition; and that he expects to secure the breed. Should any reader be wishful to exchange, he would be glad to communicate with him, several of the females having already deposited ova.—D. Baxendale, Akroydon, Halifax.
Florence Flask-Covers.—A subscriber informs us that he has discovered the material employed for the basket-like covers of Florence oil-flasks to be the sea-wrack (Zostera marina).
J. F. C.—The pegs are most likely bamboo; the leaves are not those of the maize, but possibly of a large-leaved species of bamboo.
H. (Gisburne).—Your query has been sent, and replied to elsewhere.
A Hint for Contributors.—If our contributors will oblige us by always using the common names of plants, animals, insects, &c., wherever there is a common name in use, to be followed by the scientific name in brackets, this will save us a large amount of trouble in sending their manuscript to press. As we do not pretend to address scientific readers alone, vernacular names are indispensable.
Communications Received.—J. B. (Humber).—P. B. St. J.—D. E. G.—E. H. B.—R. H.—P. S.—A. S.—W. W. K.—J. B.—E. B.—B. T.—T. P. B.—W. A. L.—F. W. (already recommended).—A. C. G.—R. K.—J. A.—A. F. L.—D. R. R.—J. M. S.—C. A. J.—C. S. B.—S. A. S,—H. Gisburne.—A. B. F.—Inquirer.—J. E. W.—W. R. T.—A. L. D.—J. R. J.—J. W.—B. T.—A. J. R.—R. H.—R. Bl.—W. H. B.—R. S.—G. S.—W. E. R.—H. G. S.—T. S. (not authenticated by the writer's name and address).—W. A. L.—W.—W. N.—W. Ross.—F. J.—J. F. C.—L. S.—A. L.—L. N.—E. B.—J. W. (Amlwch).—F. J. F.—J. M.—Vigilans.—G. L.—A. X. M.—T. T. C.—A. O.—M. W. B.—E. C. E. (we think so).—D. B.—A. M. B.—H. A.—J. S. W.
Popular Names.—M. H. L.—L.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
"Stammering and Stuttering; their Nature and Treatment." By James Hunt, Ph. D., &c. Sixth edition. (Longmans.)
"The Applications of Geology to the Arts and Manufactures." By Professor Ansted. (Hardwicke.)
"Old Bones; or, Notes for Young Naturalists." By Rev. W. S. Symonds. (Hardwicke.)
"Popular Science Review," No. 15, April, 1865. (Hardwicke.)