REPORTS OF SOCIETIES.
Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, Dec. 13th.—Some spores of plants found in the splint coal of Methill, Fifeshire, were exhibited; also some larger spores found in the Derbyshire coalfield. Mr. W. Brookbank read a paper on the "Discovery of the bones of the Mammoth in a fissure of the Carboniferous Limestone at Waterhouses, near Leek." The fissure in which these remains were found occurs in the upper beds, and has been exposed by the working of a quarry. All the bones from the dryer side of the fissure were recovered in good condition. A considerable part of the fissure remains to be explored, which is already in progress.
Microscopical Section, Nov. 21st.—Mr. G. E. Hunt announced his discovery of Potamogeton nitens in Loch Ascog, Rothsay. This plant was first observed as British by Mr. David Moore, Dublin, in a lake near the sea at Castle Gregory, County of Kerry, in July last.
Linnæan, Dec. 15th.—Dr. St. Brady exhibited specimens of Ammi glaucifolium, L., gathered by him on the banks of the Severn, near Gloucester, in September last. A paper was read on "Potamogeton trichoides, Cham., in England," by Dr. R. Caspary, and "Notice of two forms of Eriophorum augustifolium," by Dr. Dickie.
Ethnological, Dec. 27th.—Mr. John Evans, F.R.S., read a paper "On Flint Implements from Salisbury Hill, near Bath." These implements, consisting chiefly of small arrow-heads, and flint cores from which such articles had been flaked, were found on an oolitic hill, to the natural soil of which flint was a foreign material. The author did not attempt to assign these relics to any definite age, though he considered it would be justifiable to refer them to the pre-Roman period, and that for the first occupation of Salisbury Hill a date might be claimed far earlier than those Saxon times to which Collinson (History of Somerset) has ascribed the encampment.
Entomological, Jan. 2nd.—Mr. Bond exhibited Depressaria olerella, a new addition to the list of species of British moths, and some remarkable varieties of the ghost moth, Hepialus humuli, from the Shetlands. Mr. Dunning mentioned the capture, near Huddersfield, of a large number of Dasypolia Templi. Mr. F. Smith communicated a paper on "Wasps and their Parasites in 1864," by Mr. S. Stone.
Amateur Botanists (London), Jan. 4th.—Paper by Mr. Harland Coultas on "Plant Palæontology."
Microscopical, Jan. 11th.—Paper by Mr. Slack on the "Vinegar Plant." A committee was afterwards formed to work in association with Mr. Slack, in order that some important points, still open for elucidation on this subject, may be more thoroughly investigated.
Secretaries of Field Clubs and Natural History Societies are solicited to forward accounts of their ordinary meetings, excursions, and proceedings, throughout the year. A portion of the Science Gossip being devoted to the service of such associations, it is the wish of the promoters that it should be rendered as truly serviceable as possible.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
In the woods, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and, at what period soever of life, is always a child.—Emerson.
Zoological Gardens in India.—It is reported that Zoological Gardens are about being established in Bombay.
Mounting Plants.—Corrosive sublimate mixed with glue will be of little service, as the glue decomposes it.—E. J. S.
Death of Dr. Baikie.—This enterprizing African explorer lately died on board ship on his return homewards from West Africa, after many years' residence on the Upper Niger.
Watering Vegetables with Iron Solution.—It is stated as a new discovery that wonderful effects may be obtained by watering fruit-trees of iron. Under this system beans will grow to nearly double the size, and will acquire a much more savoury taste. The pear seems to be particularly well adapted for this treatment. Old nails thrown into water and left to rust there will impart to it all the necessary qualities for forcing vegetation as described.—Times, Dec. 5, 1864.
Man's Place in Nature.—The fairy in Kingsley's "Water-Babies" tells her pupil, "Folks say, now, that I can make beasts into men, by circumstance, and selection, and competition, and so forth. Well, perhaps they are wrong, and perhaps again they are right. Whatever their ancestors were, men they are, and I advise them to behave as such, and act accordingly. Let them recollect this, that there are two sides to every question, and a downhill as well as an uphill road; and if I can turn beasts into men, I can, by the same laws of circumstance, and selection, and competition, turn men into beasts."
No Knowledge without Work.—Many persons, in a scientific age, would become scientific without the labour of study, and imagine that knowledge may be acquired by some popular but ideal method, requiring no more mental fatigue or patient research than reading a novel or perusing a love ditty. Ladies would fain study chemistry as they sigh over the last new novel; while the "sworn horse-courser" wonders that the marvels of astronomy are not so much adapted to his capacity for knowledge as are the lucubrations of the Racing Calendar, or that the perigee is more intricate than the pedigree of an "Eclipse."—Symonds' Old Bones.
Origin of Proverbs.—The memorable words of history, and the proverbs of nations, consist usually of a natural fact, selected as a picture, or parable, of a moral truth. Thus—a rolling stone gathers no moss; a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; a cripple, in the right way, will beat a racer in the wrong; make hay whilst the sun shines; 'tis hard to carry a full cup even; vinegar is the son of wine; the last ounce broke the camel's back; long-lived trees make roots first—and the like. In their primary sense these are trivial facts, but we repeat them for the value of their analogical import. What is true of proverbs, is true of all fables, parables, and allegories.—Emerson.
