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Volvox Globator.—If Mr. Armstrong and his fellow-observers would satisfy themselves that cilia are really present upon the surface of Volvox Globator, let them try the following method:—Place a volvox upon a slide, cover it with a piece of thin glass, and apply a drop of diluted sulphuric acid, and shortly after a drop of solution of iodine. Then submit the slide to an object glass of ⅛-inch focus, and, if the light be properly managed by means of a Webster's conductor, or otherwise, the cilia may be seen arising in pairs from the point upon the organism and passing beyond the surface, as they are ordinarily represented. It is to be understood that the observation is a matter of some difficulty and delicacy.—J. H.

Wanted a Key to the pronounciation and meaning of such new scientific names as Micrasterias Mahabuleeshwarensis.—A. W.

Objects in Tumuli.—Very often small objects, with holes pierced in them, are found in tumuli, &c., with bones, flints, &c. Are these objects not beads of collars or necklaces? were they not afterwards a medium of exchange—a primitive money? and is there not here a new means of observing the relations of primitive people? The collars of the Egyptians, Celts, &c., are well known; the North-American Indians had Whampums, which were at the same time a necklace and a money; the Phœnicians had pierced coins; the Chinese have them yet.—Bernardin, Melle, Belgium.

Artichoke in Flower.—Your correspondent who inquired some months since respecting the flowering of the Jerusalem Artichoke, might like to know that it is flowering profusely this year in this locality. On a plant with a stem some twelve feet high, in my own garden, I have just counted thirty blossoms and buds.—Henry W. Livett.

[Several correspondents send us similar accounts, and we have also seen it blooming freely.—Ed.]

Butterfly Parasites.—Allow me to state in your pages, in reply to a note by G. W. in your last number on the small Tortoise-shell Butterfly, that I by no means intended to assert that Vanessa Urticæ was exempt from ichneumon enemies, but only that it was comparatively free. There is little doubt that every species of Butterfly or Moth has some ichneumon attached to it; though the Butterfly named—and, I imagine, most others with spiny larvæ—suffer less than others. During the past summer I have myself observed that both V. Urticæ and V. Atalanta were infested with the larva of a large Dipteron; only one individual being usually produced from each butterfly larva.—John R. S. Clifford.

Ants.—These insects are very partial to the Honey Dew, which plant-lice collect in the form of a sap from various trees, and afterwards eject in a state of great purity. Ants will carry off the eggs of Aphides, and hatch them and keep them, as "J. F." would his cows, with the greatest care, milking them, as he describes in Science Gossip, for the sake of the sweet honey dew they afford.—Helen E. Watney.

How to Grow Ferns.—In reply to the query in No. 10, I have found the following plan to answer best for the culture of those beautiful plants. A case of the octagonal shape is, I think, the best, for your get so many "views;" but of course they grow quite as well in the ordinary cases. One of about two feet long may be purchased for something under a sovereign. Break up some light coke into pieces about the size of a walnut, and lay it on the bottom of your fern case; this greatly assists drainage. On this place a mixture of peaty soil and cocoa-nut fibre; the latter may be purchased of almost any florist; the proportion may be two parts of the mould to one of the fibre. In this plant a few ferns, not too thickly; you will soon find they grow fast, and require thinning out. The choice of specimens I leave, as almost all our English ferns will grow in a case of this kind, and many foreign ones. Water but seldom; the door will nearly always be closed, and consequently little evaporation will take place.—W. G.

Wasps and Flies.—Round Melksham, about a fortnight ago, we were visited by immense swarms of flies, they being so thick for a day or two, that whilst I was walking with a friend, we were obliged to tie our handkerchiefs like veils over our faces, in order to prevent the flies—for they are very small—from getting into our eyes, noses, &c., whilst our coats were literally covered with them. It has, at the same time, been noticed that there has been great paucity of wasps. It is not, therefore, probable that as the increased number of flies and the deceased number of wasps has been noticed all the summer, that the one influences the other?—J. Agustus Lloyd.

Gill Fans of Sabella.—On the 19th of August, one of two Sabellas that I had had in my aquarium from the 4th of August dropped its Gill Fans; but the remainder of the annelid retained the power of ascending from and descending into its tube. On the 23rd, the other Sabella also cast its Gill Fans, but seemed as indifferent to their loss as the other had been, both annelids appearing above their tubes from time to time. They seemed to have the power of obtaining food, for in cleaning the sides of my aquarium, I tried to disengage the tube containing the Sabella from some sea-weed in the aquarium, when I found a piece of weed was firmly held into the opening of the tube. I could not get it away without leaving a piece of weed in the mouth of the tube. A few minutes after, the worm protruded itself above the tube. I did not see any part of the Sabella again until the 4th of October, when one of the Sabellas appeared with a new set of Gill Fans, smaller than those it had cast, but quite perfect. I should be glad to know if it is a common occurrence for Sabellas to cast their Gill Fans.—T. L. D.

Guide to Conservatory.—With regard to the query of A. H., as to a book with instructions for keeping a conservatory in the house filled with flowers all the year, I beg to recommend the purchase of Miss Maling's book on "Indoor Plants, and how to grow them for the drawing-room, balcony, and greenhouse; containing clear instructions by which ladies may obtain, at a small expense, a constant supply of flowers." It is published by Smith, Elder, & Co.—J. F. C