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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 tite replies, provided some of our readers, beside the querist, are likely to take an interest in them.
We cannot undertake to return "rejected addresses."
Departure of Swifts.—J. M. G. observed one as late as the 30th of August. Gilbert White gives the 21st as the date of departure; the Rev. L. Jenyns, the 23rd. Therefore there is no doubt that their departure is later than usual this year.
Aquaria.—Mr. Hardwicke promises a Handbook to the Aquarium, to be published shortly.
T. J. B.—Your suggestion is a good one, and shall be borne in mind. Although we dare not make rash promises, we hope ere the year closes to see it carried out.
Errata.—See page 197, col. 1, line 8, for "natural" read "mutual." Page 211, col. 1, line 5, for Caryophyllua Quicthii read Caryophyllia Smithii.
J. H. A.—The following are some of the works which have been published on the microscope:—
- "The Microscope." By Professor Quekett. Published by Baillière.
- "Text-book of the Microscope." By Dr. Griffith. Van Voorst.
- "The Microscope and its Revelations." By Dr. Carpenter. Churchill.
- "How to Work with the Microscope." By Dr. Beale. Harrison.
- "The Microscope." By Jabez Hogg.
- "Half-hours with the Microscope." By Dr. Lankester. Hardwicke.
All possess their peculiar style of treatment of the subject; therefore, not knowing J. H. A.'s special desideratum, we could not recommend any one. We have already stated our reasons for declining to give preference to any maker of microscopes.
J. E. T.—We have also met with the white variety of Centaurea nigra, and do not think it very rare.
G. N.—Address your query to the British Journal of Photography.
Book on Fungi.—Mrs. Hussey's "Illustrations of Mycology," in two vols., 4to. Rev. M. J. Berkeley's "Outlines of British Fungology." Mrs. Price's "Illustrations of Fungi," two series, 4to. These works were all published by Lovell Reeve, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.
"Microscopic Fungi" and "British Fungi." By M. C. Cooke. Both published by Mr. R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly.
Sowerby's "English Fungi" is now a rare and expensive book.
Greville's "Scottish Cryptogamic Flora" contains many Fungi.
Bolton's "Funguses" has nearly two hundred good figures, and may sometimes be met with.
Mycophilus and Medicus should read our oft-repeated caution about assumed names.
H. Vokes.—The bract and fruit of the Lime-tree.
E. H. R.—Forbes's "British Star-fishes," published by Van Voorst.
E. G. V. is thanked for his specimen of Lyngbya.
J. C. S. confirms that the viper swallows its young. We have already given several instances, and could scarcely afford space for more.
J. J. R.—(1.) Oak spangles—a kind of gall produced on oak leaves by a species of Cynips. (2.) Button galls; also produced by a species of Cynips, called by the French naturalists Diplolepis lenticularis. For further information see Gardener's Chronicle for 1843, p. 52.
Vallisneria.—E. G., Post-office, Roundhay, near Leeds, has plants for disposal.
H. W.—Feed your snake with young frogs (alive, of course). It will hybernate during the winter.
P. W.—Your insects must be damp. You must place the drawers before the fire occasionally. Mould will appear with the least dampness.
H. B.—(1.) Catching insects. (2.) It was probably injured in capture. It is not always easy to account for such things.
E. B.—See article on Death-watch, in Science Gossip, No. 3, p. 60.
G. N.—See remarks on Flowering of Artichoke in Science Gossip, No. 6, p. 142.
E. B.—We know of no one so capable of naming you foreign mosses as Mr. W. Mitten, of Hurstpierpoint, but whether he will undertake it we cannot affirm.
E. T.—Your insects appear to be the larvæ of a fresh-water beetle. There is no work specially devoted to fresh-water insects, but an Introduction to the Study of British Beetles is announced by Mr. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, at a very reasonable price.
B. W.—For accounts of bats flying during the day, see Zoologist, pp. 6 and 35, and Jenyne's "Observations in Natural History," p. 60. This correspondent observed a bat catching flies in the middle of the day, under a hot sun.
W. S.—Bring them home in sea-water or spirit.
E. Ragonol.—Groser's "British Beetles" is announced to be ready shortly.
Aquarium.—Mrs. D. may obtain such an aquarium of Mr. Lloyd's successor, Mr. King, Portland Road, London.
A. S.—Your monstrosity of rose is not uncommon.
E. S. Our correspondent F. C. did not boil his vermicelli for feeding fish, only breaking it into small pieces. He is now using beef, and does not recommend vermicelli, but considers meat preferable.
Scales of Fresh-water Fish.—A correspondent offers these in exchange for other objects. Address—E. Marks, 5, Millman Street, Bedford Row, W.C.
Erratum.—In T. P. B.'s answer to E. T. S., last month, the word "generation" was printed by error, instead of "gemmation."
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.—G. B.—J. B. Hay.—T. S.—W. A. L.—E. C.—A. G. R.—H. W.—W. B. M.—W. H. B.—T. D. R.—J. S.—G. N.—J. B.—F. C.—Wood Robert.—B.—E. M.—E. Y. S.—B. T. S.—W. R. T.—M. D.—M. H. L.—F. B.—T. P. B.—P. P.—G. N.—H. B.—H. W.—E. H. R.—E. R.—M. G. W.—W. W. H.—W. E. S. W.—Mycophylos (no name and address).—F. W.—S. S.—W. G.—J. C. M.—H. G. G.—V. A. S.—W. H. P.—E. T. S.—J. J. R.—L. C. B.—J. M. G.—T. A.—H. V.—R. H.—E. M.—S. J. McI.—W. G.—J. H. A.—F. W. H.—W. W. S.—H. B. P.—C. A. J.—T. J. B.—R. B. N.—J. B. L.—H. U.—E. G.—G. N.—A. H.—E. B.
Correspondents will please to append their own names, or initials, to their communications, which may be withheld from publication if desired; but no notice whatever can be taken of anonymous contributions.