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NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.
All communications for the Editor should be addressed to No. 192, Piccadilly, W. To avoid disappointment, questions 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."
Suppressed Names.—Our correspondent Mr. Ralph Tate regrets that writers should suppress their names, because publication would authenticate the facts narrated, and suppression could scarcely be justified when the interests of science are regarded. Other correspondents have communicated similar views. We do not insert any communications unless guaranteed by the name and address of the writer; and wherever facts are recorded, would always prefer publishing the names of the respective contributors, but we cannot make it imperative. In "Notes and Queries" we think that querists are entitled to employ initials only.
Infusorial Earth.—A correspondent has a little from Algeria, which he is willing to exchange for deposits from other localities. Address F. White, 1, New Road East, London.
Carbonile.—T. B. T. is referred to page 96.
J. M. McV.—No good can accrue from re-opening the Snake-stone controversy; it has been widely discussed, and, in default of fresh facts, would only occupy space which might be better filled.
E. R.—We can only afford space to record facts, and must leave the deductions therefrom to our readers.
J. A. N.—The siskin was not included in our list of migratory birds, because a few remain with us through the year.
W. A.—It is an occasional occurrence.
W. G. S.—It is clear that the entire paragraph alluded to at page 88 was erroneous. See also note on page 114.
P. H. B.—We gave a list of works on shells at page 48.
W. B. D.—There are many places and many prices at which land tortoises may be purchased in London. You had better commission some friend in town to procure you one.
H. G. S.—See our reply to H. G. at page 96. Newman's Butterfly number of "Young England" may be had either of the author, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, London; or of the publisher, Tweedie, Strand, London.
A. E. L.—(1.) At present we cannot. (2.) Because cinders, having been burnt, contain no spores or mycelium of fungi.
W. A. L.—Aquarium article declined with thanks. The fragment on "Zoology at the Exhibition" we scarcely think advisable to publish.
G. L. and R. B.—So many methods are recommended, and all but partially successful. Beetle wafers, phosphor paste, crickets, tortoises, hedgehogs, traps, cucumber parings, &c., all have their advocates. None, we believe, so effectual as the hedgehog.
E. M. E.—The Society of Amateur Botanists meets at 192, Piccadilly. Ladies are eligible. Write to the Secretary for a prospectus at the above address.
R. D. B.—A continuation of growth, for a limited period, of such aquatic plants, when separated from their roots and placed in water, is by no means extraordinary.
T. P. B.—Your suggestion might be entertained, but for the regulation at pp. 24 and 96, whence you will observe that lists are inadmissible, and we have no desire to depart from this feature in our plan.
H. F.—It is a common circumstance, unfortunately, for fish in aquaria to be thus attacked. See our present and previous numbers.
Salamanders.—Mr. G. H. King, of 190, Great Portland Street, informs us that he has plenty of these reptiles to dispose of.
P. H. B.—Some fungi are very difficult to preserve. The methods employed are detailed in Cooke's "British Fungi," published by Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly. Price 6s. Yours is probably a morell, and, if suspended by a string, will dry in a current of air, but shrivel a little in the process.
W. W. K.—Your nut is called "Coquillo," and is the fruit of a palm known to botanists as Attalea funifera. The insects Margarodes formicarum belong to the Coccidæ, a family of beetles.—J. O. W.
P. C.—We know of no means of acquiring the names of plants without application. There is no "royal road to knowledge." We should think Bentham's "Handbook of British Flora," published at 12s., the easiest and best for your purpose.
E. M. W.—The book you refer to is E. W. Janson's "Beetles," 29 plates, 4to., with many figures on each. It could be obtained through any respectable bookseller. The "rose linnet" is the "common linnet" in its nuptial dress.
G. Day.—The Entomological Society of London consists of members (who pay an admission-fee of two guineas and an annual contribution of one guinea) and subscribers (who pay the same annual contribution, but are exempt from any admission-fee). For further particulars apply to the Secretary, 12, Bedford-row, London, W.C.
Watford.—The poison of wasps and their allies is only injurious when it enters the blood. In the case referred to the child must have been stung internally. The stings of wasps and bees are active for ten or twelve hours after the death of the insect.
R. S. S.—Your iridescent green beetles are called Chrysomela fastuosa, Linn. Their family is Chrysomelidæ. We are not aware that they have any economic application.—F. M.
A. L. D.—It is difficult, from so brief and general a description, to say what bird it was. It might possibly be a "siskin."
J. C.—Eggs of the chaffinch are occasionally found of a uniform dull blue colour.
C. Capron.—Your specimen, sent some time since, on ash-bark, is one of the incomplete or transitionary Con(illegible text)omycetal fungi, possibly only spermogones, and, in that state at least has not been named or described. The asci, of course, are wanting; spores free, fusiform, quadrilocular, hyaline. If you are very desirous of a name, call it Septoria fraxinicola.
H. S.—There is no doubt about this microscope being still to be had. We desire to give no opinion concerning any particular instrument or maker.
E. S.—Your moss appears to be a variety of Bryum cæspiticium, but will be worthy of a re-examination when the capsules are more mature. It is, at any rate, an interesting variety.—J. E. W.
E. F. M.—Ozone test-papers may be had on application to Haselden & Co., 18, Conduit-street, London.
W. (Ross).—Your name and address is lost. Please to replace it.
Amateur Microscopical Society.—Gentlemen willing to join such a society, should it be instituted, are solicited to contribute their names to W. G., care of Editor of Science-Gossip, 192, Piccadilly.
Communications Received.—S. A. J.—R.—W. W. K.—J. C. H.—R. T.—W. G.—M. J. C.—M. McV.—H. L.—W. A. L.—F. W. M.—W. H. G.—G. R. B.—R. S. S.—L. W. G.—R. B.—A. L.—R. Bl.—W. W. S.—P. H. B.—A. E. L.—R. A.—E. M. E.—E. M. W.—G. L.—J. B. F.—F. K.—S. W.—E. R.—J. H. B.—T. S.—H. F.—A. G.—Watford.—G. H. G.—W. E. W.—J. S.—H. W.—W. G. S.—T. P. B.—W. J. B.—H. B.—J. H.—R. H.—W. W. K.—J. C.—A. M. B.—J. B. A.—H. E. A.—J. F.—B.—E. M.—E. F. M.—W. B. D.—R. D. B.—W. M.—T. B. T.—W. A.—D. R.—R. S.—W. R. T.—E. H.—A. J. R.—A. D.—R. T. S.—E. G.—A. R., Jun.—J. G.—M. A. B.—J. J. S.—S. O.—B. J.—W. W. C.—G. G. L.—M. P.—H. Janson.—R. H. M.—McI.—J. A.—G. H. K.—E. M.—B. B. S.—A. H.—W. H. R.—J. E. W.
Local Names.—Richard Tyrer.—B.
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