Page:Hardwicke's Science-Gossip - Volume 1.pdf/97

1, 1865.] an india-rubber ring, dip a camel-hair brush in asphalte, and by it fasten the ring exactly over the circle of black paper; reverse the slide, so that the ring may dry and adhere evenly. Then take a few more glass slides, and by the aid of the "turn-table" make a circle of asphalte in the centre of each, apply another coat of asphalte when the first is dry, and we shall then have shallow cells for leaves, &c.

Let us now take a moss—say, the commonest species, such as Funaria hygrometrica, or common cord-moss,—select a few of the capsules (they are mature when of a fine golden-brown colour); take out a slide with an india-rubber ring on, the gum, our dissecting microscope, and two glovers' needles. We first gum all over the dead-black paper; place thereon, longitudinally, a capsule bearing calyptra, &c., and a small portion of the seta; another capsule with the calyptra off, showing the operculum side-view; another with the operculum off, presenting a side-view of the peristome. Then add upper half of capsule cut in two transversely, and placed upon end so as to show the peristome in situ. Now take one of the shallow cells made of asphalte, and fill it with glycerine and camphor-water; in this place leaves from the stem, branch, and perichætium; use another cell for the operculum, calyptra, and annulus, and another for the inflorescence. When the slides are finished, put a label on one end like this. The upper figures refer to the family, 58 to the genus, 1 to the species. These slides should then be arranged for ready reference in boxes. I find the shilling boxes holding two dozen most convenient, as they will stand on end, and can be placed like books on a shelf or in a book-case.

I have said nothing about manipulation, as that can be obtained in any work on the microscope; but would point out that the best method of dissecting the peristome is to run the smallest entomological pin you can get through the centre of the capsule; fasten it down to a piece of cork, cut it in two transversely, just below the mouth—nearly all the spores will come out; transfer that portion which has the peristome only to a slide with a little water, and gently brush away the few spores that may adhere; and then place on another slide, arrange, and finish off. If we place the whole capsule on a slide with water at once, we shall never get rid of the clouds of spores, and after fruitless endeavours to obtain a clear view of the peristome, be obliged to give it up as a bad job.

In conclusion, I need only remark that if the mosses are studied in the way I have endeavoured to point out, the student will in time have a most valuable collection; and in its formation will derive an amount of pleasure never to be realized by the person who merely sticks a smashed clump to a sheet of paper, and calls it a specimen. By my method he will find that—

[N.B.—Although send as an original contribution, we are aware that this paper has appeared in the "Liverpool Naturalists' Note Book," but as very few of our readers will have had the opportunity of seeing it, no valid objection can be raised to its appearance here. We may add, by way of request, that our correspondents will not send communications "as original" which have already been published without a statement to that effect. If we should fail to make the discovery, some one of our readers would be sure to find it out.—''Ed. Sc. G.'']

(Erinaceus Europæus.)

As I have formerly found this animal to be a most entertaining pet, I am sorry to know that he is daily becoming less frequent amongst us, as persecution, the result of prejudice, and the trimming up and removal of old fences are tending to make this once common creature somewhat of a rarity.

I have been for years a keen observer of the habits of the hedgehog, and never yet saw a single case for suspicion of any mischief belonging to him. The notion of his sucking the cows, which once prevailed, is now scarcely believed by the "barn-door savage," a race still not uncommon, as testified by a savage desire for killing anything.

As regards the charge of egg-sucking brought against the hedgehog, I could never arrive at a tittle of real evidence in its support.

Seen in the fields, the hedgehog would seem to be a dull, inactive creature; but in domestication I have found them most "larking" individuals. I formerly kept a couple in my geological museum, and though they were comparatively quiet in the dry-time, yet they were ever ready to come and eat bread and milk from my hands. At night, they became as "active as cats," and the rate at which they would run along the corridors of my college, and even get up and down-stairs, was surprising; and here they were not a bad police, for as equally active students would sometimes prowl from room to room on "bolstering dire intent," the chance of stepping upon a hedgehog, or having him run against one's