NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 46

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Qutttitnifor rtwly in coming Utu* i* bt rtMived Mt Ifr tk*» MONDAY night.

J. P., Otsgo Peninsula.— We have submitted your question to Professor Park, of the Otago School of Mines, who kindly replies: — Production of Arsenic: Arsenic occurs in nature in many forms. It is found in the free- state as native arsenic, but not abundantly; as the natural sulphides realgar and orpiinent, known rejp*ctively as ruby-sulphur and gc-lden-pain't; aa arsenide of iron ; and in combination with cobalt and other metala. On a large scale arsenic is prepared mostly from arsenide of iron and arsenical cobalt ores. The former is the chief source of the world's supply. _ When heated, arsenide of iron, oi mispickel, as it is termed by mineralogists, yields up arsenic, leaving ferrono sulphide behind. In practice the mineral is heated in long narrow horizontal earthenware retorts, into which are fitted earthenware receivers. The arsenic volatilises and condenses in the receivers as t. compact white solid, which is afterwards purified by redistillation. The artificially prepared sulphides of arsenic are extensively used as paints and as pigments for the production of coloured patterns on numerous articles in daily use. Almost all the known ores of arsenic occur in New Zealand, but up to the present time no arsenic deposit of commercial value has been discovered. Constant Reader.— (l) The public indebtedness of the colony at 31st March, 1905, was f59.912.000. (2) The yearly interest fqr 1904-5 was £ -2,244.296. (3) We have no means of finding replies to these- questions. (4) The total indebtedness of local bodies in 1904-5 was £8 698.910, entailing •n interest charge of £480,924. (5) The valu« of the import trade of the colony for the year 1905 was J12.828.857. (6) The value of the export trade for the year 1905 was £15.665,947. Subscriber.— (l) The best preservative for dressing bird skins is arsenical soap, obtainable a* the chemists.' If you wish to make it yourself tbn following is the recipe: — Araenious acid 4oz, soap 4oz, carbonate of potash 4 drachma, camphor loz, water 3oz ; mix with a gentle heat. . When used form a lather with any spirituous liquor and apply with a btush. (2) Modern taxidermists mount l>irdi<kins with wire and shape with tow or cotton. Inquibeb. — Could anyone give the quantity of wheat or oats a sparrow or linnet eats in on« day or week. It is for the purpose of arriving at what quantity a sparrow or linnet would consume during the sowing season and harvest time. Subscriber, Southland. — We are unable to find a record of any such precedent in the direction you indicate. Hebb.— You can procure distilled water of any chemist, but as you have to boil the herb there is no occasion to do. so. Uae soft water not taken from » tfcnk where it might have been stored fox a time-. W B. — The produot "would undoubtedly be affected by the softer meta-I. Lead is an accumulative poison, and we should say the result would be disastrous in a very short time. IT. G. C, Tinwaltl.— See reply to El.en I AcUir in ladies' page this week. t., Rimu. — Many thanks for specimens of " vegetable caterpillars sent by you. The history of this peculiar organism is, xoughly, as follows:— The caterpillar is the larva of a large, nocturnal, fore3tKaunting moth, which is, I believe, very rarely seen. The larva feeds upon rata and other trees, and, upon attaining its full growth, travels down the trunk and seeks a suitable place in which to change .to the resting, or pupa, stage in the • ' earth" near the lopt of Qic tree. In fpicimj,

its way amongst the humus, etc., it becomes infested with the spores of a fungus which is not known to grow anywhere or upon anything save this caterpillar alone. From the epore the threadlike filament 3of the fungus become rapidly developed, penetrate the akin, and feed upon the fatly tissties of the victim's inferior parts until all is consumed. When that stage is reached the skin of the caterpillar is tight packed with the fungoid filamenis, nothing of the caterpillar being left save the skin Next, the fruiting stem of ill© f<mw« g^o"s^s oiit froiai a. joint and forces iis way to the surface of ths ground. The tip of this structure is clul>3hap^d, and is the a-ctual spoTebearing part. Unfortunately, it is amissing from both filaments of the fine, twohorned specimen forwarded by you. On ripening the minute spores are scattered about the ground to He in wait for succeeding victims. — Dinomis. H. J., Barewood.— Mr H. M. Davey writes: — I have not yet received replies to the two questions submitted to experts in those lm«9, but you are not forgotten, airl I hope to get the answer* soon.