Page:Hardwicke's Science-Gossip - Volume 1.pdf/184
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."
W. W. K.—Your plants, which is odorous when dried, is the "Sweet Woodruff," or Asperula odorata.
A Constant Reader will find some information on the American Water-weed at page 141.
E. M.—The galls are not uncommon around London on the Ground Ivy.
H. T. K.—If you will send us one of the beetles in question, we will endeavour to answer your query.
E. Capron.—We think the Æcidium on Galium aparine is the same as that on Galium Mollugo, but not the same as that on G. verum; as you observe, the colour of the spores differs.
W. S. K.—Your little reptile is the common Smooth Newt (Lophinus punctatus).
E. T. S.—Our correspondent must exercise a little forbearance with those who may not have acquired so much scientific knowledge. We strive to offer something for all. There are other journals devoting themselves to "dry science;" we only profess to "Gossip."
S. M. T.—Withering's Botany is quite out of date. We cannot give better advice, we think, than that given to "P. C." (page 144). Perhaps Notcutt's "Handbook of British Plants" would suffice for your purpose (see below).
J. R. W.—The small beetle is Phyllobius uniformis. It is tolerably common on low-growing plants.—R. G. K.
C. K.—The caterpillars which are making such havoc of the hawthorn hedges, and stripping them of every green leaf, are those of a little moth known as Hyponomeuta padellus.—F. M.
R. W.—The caterpillars referred to as completely stripping the foliage of oaks, ash, and hazel, according to your specimen, are those of Hybernia defoliaria, a moth which appears in October and November, the larvæ are not particular what they eat.—H. T. S. Those on the Bird-cherry most probably Hyponomeuta Padi.
T. H. H.—A well-known habit with the Grasshopper Warbler, in common with several other birds.
A. S.—Is there not some confusion in your names?
R. A.—You will observe that we have ceased to insert Reports of Societies, they being of little interest, except to the members.
G. D.—A "Fellow" of a society properly means a member of a chartered society who has fulfilled the requirements of the charter in that case provided. An "Associate" is also a member of such a society, fulfilling other requirements, probably less rigid and carrying fewer privileges. The title of Fellow is often assumed by members of societies not constituted by Royal Charter.
Microscopical Amateur Society.—All letters on this subject were forwarded to "W. G."
Nova Scotia Insects.—All letters were forwarded to the correspondent "J. B. F.," upon their arrival at our office.
C. A. J.—You would find your two first queries illustrated in any good work on Vegetable Physiology. The third is not within our province. Correspondents would oblige by adhering to the good old rule of "one question at a time."
L. S. informs us that she has exterminated the Herbarium insect (see page 111) from dried plants by keeping camphor with the specimens.
W. S. K.—The little black insects belong to the Phryganidæ, and are known as Mystacides nigra. It is a very common species.—R. McL.
E. W. wishes to know where vipers about near enough to town to be accessible to a cockney..—Write to Mr. W. R. Tate, 4, Grove Place, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, and he will inform you of several localities.
W. W. K.—An error, by some means, insinuated itself into the reply at page 144. It should have been thus stated:—Margarodes belongs to the Coccidæ, a family of insects placed by Latreille at the end of Homoptera.
E. A. H.—British Orchid-tubers are too succulent to be treated in the manner you suggest. Many foreign species with pseudo-bulbs will succeed: we have seen them grow after having been kept dry in a drawer for twelve months.
P. P.—You really must forgive us, but we cannot make out the names you inquire about. A good eyesight is one of the blessings we enjoy, but to decipher such mystic hieroglyphics presupposes a knowledge of Sanscrit or Coptic. If some of our correspondents would oblige by writing names more distinctly, and confine themselves to one side of the paper, and one query at a time, what a Paradise they would create for us.
British Hepaticæ Number.—The special number, containing descriptions of all the species of British Liverworts, &c., with 200 figures, for four-pence, will be ready in a few days. As only a limited number will be printed, our subscribers are advised to order it without delay.
J. W. will appreciate our disinclination to mention any names of tradesmen. It gives an undue advantage to the parties named to the injury of others. This we desire to avoid.
R. Bl.—We do not observe any deviation in your Lathrea from the normal condition.
Paris Quadrifolia.—Correspondents appear to have fallen into error with respect to the query (page 143). We have received specimens with 3, 5, 6, and 7 leaves. This is nothing uncommon. The query referred to a corresponding variation in other of the floral organs. Has any variation been observed in the number of stamens or carpels?
A. E. L.—Ferns are much given to variation. Such sporting as you speak of has induced some botanists to regard Asplenium trichomanes and A. viride as the same species.
A. M. B.—Your primrose, the lower part of the floral axis being confluent half-way up, and two flowers appearing to surmount a forked peduncle, is scarcely deserving a special illustration. It is curious, but not unique.
A. L.—The caterpillars of two species of moths are very destructive to apple-trees. The one your refer to is probably that of Clissiocampa neustria.—F. M.
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.—T. P. B.—W. S. K.—W. J. B.—H. S.—H. M. W.—G. G.—W. W. K.—Z. Z.—H. M. H. (no address enclosed).—C. A. J.—J. B.—F. P. P.—R. W.—J. H. W.—L. S.—J. R. E.—B. T.—R. B.—W. (Ross).—J. B. Humber.—E. G. W.—A. B. F.—R. K.—A. G. R.—Y. Y.—G. M. R.—H. C. S.—E. P.—J. K.—E. A. E.—C. S. B.—E. C.—G. D.—H. F. H.—J. B. (Leeds).—E. M. (Bath).—A. L.—H. A. S.—H. U.—A. H. L.—B. B. B.—S. C. S.—W. H. A.—J. E. M.—A. P. F.—S. M. T.—H. W.—E. T. S.—A. S.—R. T.—R. C. D.—L. G. M.—A. S. B.—C. A.—W. L. N.—J. W.—H. W. L.—J. J.—E. C. N.—G. H. P.—P. S. B.—C. K.—E. S.—E. C.—W. H. F.—A. E. L.—M. A. L.—E. A. H.—H. A. A.—G. D.—T. A.—R. E. M.—E. G.—W. A. L.—W. B.—J. McV.—H. P. S.—W. L. S.—J. W.—E. W.—W. G. S.
Local Names.—R. W.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
"A List of Certain Plants to be met with in the Neighbourhoods of Barmouth, Dolgelly, and Harlech, &c." By the Rev. T. Salwey, B.D. (Barmouth: D. Jones.)
"Handbook of British Water-weeds, or Algæ." By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., &c. The Diatomaceæ, by W. Carruthers, F.L.S. (London: Hardwicke.)
"Handbook of British Plants." By W. Lowndes Notcutt. 12mo. cloth. 213 pp. (London: Longmans.)