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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.
We cannot undertake to return "rejected addresses."
The Acquavivarium, Fresh and Marine.—The new Edition of the above work has been somewhat delayed by the desire of the publisher to present it in a more useful shape than any work hitherto published. It will consist of different departments, by various writers, each especially "up" in his own subject; and in addition to the usual information about Fresh-water and Marine Aquaria, there will be separate chapters devoted to the Cultivation of Minute Plants and Animals for Microscopic purposes; and on Out-door Aquaria, Ponds, and Ornamental Waters. As the Editor would like the information to be as complete as possible, he would be glad to receive any bids or suggestions from readers of Science Gossip who possess special knowledge on the latter subjects. Address the Publisher, 192, Piccadilly.
E. M.—The price of "British Reptiles" will be six shillings, coloured plates.
Port St. Julian Earth.—F. W. desires a little of this diatomaceous earth, in exchange for other objects.—Address, No. 1, New Road East, London.
T. S.—We take no note of queries unless the initials of the inquierer are attached. See pp. 43, 144, &c.
W. G.—The Meadow-sweet (Spiræa Ulmaria) is a common wild-flower. The object on Hazel-leaf is also a fungus called Phyllactinia guttata. The parasitic fungi are themselves plants of a low organization.
J. I.—Dr. Baird's Entomostraca, with 36 plates, mostly coloured, 8vo. pp. 364, 21s., is published for the Ray Society, by R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly. It is the best and most recent book.
C. M. D. L.—The Caterpillars which caused such irritation of the skin belonged to the Bombycidæ, but from your description we could not venture to name the species. They are covered with stiff brittle hairs, the sharp points of which breaking into the skin occasion the annoyance you complain of. This was increased by the rubbing.—F. M.
J. S. has unmounted sections of Horn of Rhinocerous, Antelope, Ox, and Whalebone, which he would exchange for sections of Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria excelsa), or Chili Pine (Araucaria imbricata). Address, 103, St. John's Road, London, E.C.
J. R.—The object on Oak-leaf is a gall. It is one of the Oak spangles referred to at p. 240.
A. M. B.—Your shells are Limnæa palustris.—R. T.
P. G. (Wigan) says that immense swarms of spiders have occurred there, so that the ground was quite covered with them.
H. W. J. E.—We have seen the sunflower attain fully twelve feet during favourable seasons, on a rich soil.
British Land Shells.—A. M. B. offers to exchange specimens. For particulars, address, 36, Guildford Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
A. G.—Your fish are attacked by the fish mould (see p. 134). We can only recommend their removal to a constant current of water. If this fails, we know of no remedy.
A. W.—See several communications on mounting Polyzoa, pp. 65, 93, 94.
Plants Named (A. M.).—Three specimens received appear to be—1. Bupleurum tenuissimum; 2. Juncus acutiflorus; and 3. Juncus compressus; but the specimens were too fragmentary to name with certainty.—W. W. N.
Errata.—At p. 260, column 1, 15 lines from bottom, for "crustaceous fish" read "crustacea, fish;" column 2, line 22, for "Gomplex" read "Gonoplax;" line 26, for "Aldheus" read "Altheus;" p. 262, column 1, line 10, for "conductor" read "condenser."—W. A. L.
C. A. J.—The book projected will include both marine and fresh-water aquaria. Covers for Science Gossip will be sold separately.
A. W.—Your sea-side plant is a Salsola; but as the character is gone we cannot state the species.—W. W. N.
J. H. B.—The coccus on Myrtle-leaves is the same as occurs on Orange-leaves viz., Lecanium hesperidium.—J. O. W.
W. D.—See our reply to A. G.
F. H. B.—The larva sent, and which you saw attacking an earthworm, was that of one of the Staphylinidæ (beetles), probably a Philonthus.—J. O. W.
A. C. S.—The best book on British Birds is Yarrell's; but that is more than double the price you name. We should think Macgillivray's would meet your views.
Hair-worm.—F. H. M. reminds us that the figure of the Hair-worm at p. 197 should be "male," and not "female," as stated in error.
C. A. J.—The Brown Rat (M. decumanus) was not known in this country prior to 1730.
H. B.—We cannot afford space. You had better insert an advertisement.
Microscopist.—Please observe our notice, oft repeated, about anonymous communications.
F. J. B.—"Toynbee's Hints for the Formation of Museums, &c.," published by R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, at one shilling.
B. T. offers Diatoms (P. angulatum, Campylodiscus costatus or Epathemia turgida) in exchange for Volvox globator.—Address, 57, Lowther Street, Whitehaven.
J. B. B. affirms that the figs. 3 and 4, on page 83, are representations of the larva and egg of the Bibio, probably B. hortulanus; and that the fly parasite, fig. 1, page 227, is Chilifer cancroides. He recommends the examination of the skin of the latter, as an interesting microscopic object.
E. R.—The plan you propose to follow with your pupæ is the best. Study to render the condition as natural as possible.—F. M.
W. H. H.—Angular aperture has reference to the angle at which oblique rays are admitted by the object-glass. To describe the mode of ascertaining angular aperture would require too much space to be inserted here. See Griffith & Henfrey's Micrographical Dictionary.—W. M. B.
W. J. E.—Focal length of an object-glass is the distance from the object under examination to a point within the object-glass. The actual distance from the bottom of the object-glass to the object varies according to the angle of aperture.—W. M. B.
Crystallized Carbon.—J. B. sends us a small crystal, which he states that he obtained from the fusion of charcoal. This has been examined and found to be glass. All vegetable charcoals contain both silica and alkali in small quantities, and it is suspected that the charcoal was heated so long that all the carbon was driven off, and that the ashes then fused and formed the glass bead received. It certainly is not carbon; therefore our correspondent must not flatter himself that he has discovered the secret of manufacturing diamonds.
Communications Received.—R. T.—J. G.—C. A. J.—C. S.—J. B. A.—J. C. Q.—P. S. B.—J. J.—A. B.—W. B.—E. A.—R. G. C.—A. G.—G. T. A.—E. J. W.—J. S. T.—B. T.—H. D. G.—W. R.—C. D. M. S.—T. J. W.—A. W.—R. T.—A. L.—R. B.—H. E. W.—J. B.—E. C.—T. P. B.—J. G.—S. L.—C. M. D. L.—O. J. T.—A. C. S.—W. J. E.—H. W.—A.—E. M.—J. S.—A. W.—J. A. K.—H. J. B. H.—E. W.—A. G.—W. H. H.—P. P.—A. M. B.—W. A. L.—H. W. J. E.—R. H. J.—P. G.—J. S.—J. R.—J. S.—E. R.—F. G. D. D.—J. S.—C. M. D. L.—G. G.—Bernardin.—J. I.—C. A. J.—F. H. M.—J. B. B.—W. G.—T. S.—F. W.—E. D.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
"Contributions to Blow-pipe Analysis." By E. J. Chapman, Ph. D. Toronto, Canada West, 1865.
"Traité des Champignons, au point de vue Botanique, Alimentaire, et Toxicologique." Par L. F. Morel. (Paris Germer-Baillière, 1865.)
"How to use the Barometer; a Companion to the Weather-glass." By the Rev. R. Tyas, M.A. (London: Bemrose and Sons, 1865.)
"Les Cryptogames classés d'après leurs stations naturelles." Par G. D. Westendorp. (Gand: Van Doosselaere, 1865.)