black crest, which he can elevate and depress. Another remarkable feature is the ring of white round the throat, which gives a marked appearance to this bird, so as to make him easily distinguishable; the two outer feathers of the tail are also white, and show in high relief when the tail is extended in flight; the general tone of the bodyfeathers is greyish-brown, with a dash of green about the wing. He is a small, graceful bird, and sways himself about while singing, his throat throbbing as if it would burst; his note is a soft, sweet, guttural trill, which he continues unceasingly all night long. He is much valued as a cage-bird; but it is very hard to get one, it being impossible to keep an old bird in confinement, as they pine away when the season of migration comes round, and it is very difficult to find the nest, as the parent birds will never go near it while any one is in sight. A guinea can be obtained for a nest of healthy young ones, and boys are on the look-out for them all through the breeding season.

The Irish Nightingale is, like the Blackcap, a migratory bird, leaving us about the middle of September, and returning again in April.

LEPRAHAUN.

THE SQUIRREL AS A NEST-ROBBER.

I'

TAKE pleasure in corroborating Mr. Grantley F. Berkeley's statements concerning the habits of squirrels, as to their fondness for eggs. It is well known on this side of the Atlantic, that small birds are scarce just in proportion as the squirrels are numerous. During the present spring, I have been on the look-out for the nests of certain warblers, and twice instances of the Squirrel (Sciurus migratorius) devouring crows' eggs have come to my notice. In each case my attention was attracted by the squirrel overhead, dropping, instead of fragments of nut-shell, small bits of mottled green egg-shell, which could be readily recognized. I patiently waited until the egg was devoured, and then watched the future movements of the thief. After licking his paws a moment, and apparently surveying the neighbourhood, he slipped from one bough to another, with an occasional leap to an adjoining tree, until he reached a large elm overhanging the Crossweek sen Creek. Far up in the top of the tree he clambered, and presently a crow "gave tongue" in a manner that brought her good mate and comrades (Quiscali) ad infinitum. Fortunately, a break in the branches enabled me to see the modus operandi of the squirrel. He scrambled along the under side of the branches, successfully dodging the "dips" of the crows; and when within a foot or more of the nest, leaped in and out, but seizing an egg in his mouth as he did so, like a flash, and dodged the crows and smaller birds as he

descended the tree, keeping, on the retreat, as on the advance, as much as possible on the under side of the branches. If Mr. George Cox, who wrote in SCIENCE-GOSSIP for 1871, p. 237, could have seen the adroitness displayed by our grey squirrel in robbing a crow's nest, he would not wonder why pheasants allowed the robbery of their eggs by the British squirrel. I have never seen your squirrel in his native haunts, but do affirm that our grey chap could "bamfoozle" even your pheasant, provided the nest of the bird was in a tree, and on branches that would give the nimble-footed fellow any chance at all to hold on. The destruction of birds' nests by squirrels became so prevalent in the public squares in Philadelphia, that "the authorities," preferring the birds, were compelled to rid the "city's lungs" of the innumerable squirrels that had been carefully protected for many years. CHARLES C. ABBOTT. Trenton, New Jersey, United States.

IN

THE PRESERVATION OF LARVE.

N the July number of SCIENCE-GOSSIP it was stated that the larvæ in public collections are preserved by professionals, who keep their mode of doing it secret. Seeing this, I am led to think that a few words on the preservation of larvæ would not be unacceptable to some of our entomological readers. It is not unnatural that professionals should be desirous of keeping their knowledge to themselves, and until recently few others knew how to preserve larvæ.

At the commencement of the present year I was favoured with some instruction upon the subject, and I may add that I am now able to preserve almost any of our larvæ, so that they look perfectly life-like.

The apparatus required for the purpose is very simple-First, a blowpipe; and one suitable to the purpose is best made by melting the end of a piece of glass tubing with an ordinary blowpipe, drawing out the end when pliant, and breaking off the small piece at the point which is solid. Next let two pieces of watch-spring be procured, each about five or six inches in length. These being bent at right angles about 3th of an inch from the end, should be fastened to the glass blowpipe, as shown in fig. 126. A spirit-lamp, and for an oven a small tin box, or, better still, a wide-necked glass bottle with a stand to support it, will be all that is required. Fig. 127 shows these as they should be arranged for use. Having killed the larva by placing it in the cyanide bottle, proceed to divest it of its internal organs; and this should be done by forcing them through the anal orifice with the forefinger and thumb, between two pieces of stoutish blotting-paper. This done, fasten it to the blow

pipe, as shown in fig. 126, the two pieces of spring which press against the point of the blowpipe holding the smallest portion possible of the crea

Fig. 126. Blowpipe attached to Larva. ture's skin: then inflate the larva and hold it in the oven (fig. 127), which should be previously well

Fig. 127. Showing mode of Preserving.

heated. The larva should be kept blown out whilst drying, but not so much so as to give to the animal

an unnatural appearance, to prevent which they are often steeped in a solution of alum for a short time prior to being operated upon. Two or three minutes at the outside will suffice to dry the larva, which may then be removed as finished; but should it be such a larva as that of the Privet Hawk-moth (S. ligustri), it will turn brown after being thus treated, and artificial colouring should be employed. I have seen one of these which had emerald-green puffed into it; and had it been placed beside a living specimen, it would have been difficult to distinguish the one from the other. Only green larvæ such as this will require much pains bestowed upon them, as the majority of the others will retain their natural appearance very well without being artificially coloured. Larvæ such as that of the Goat-moth (C. ligniperda) will be the least difficult to preserve; those of the Puss-moth (C. vinula) preserve well, and from their peculiar shape have a very quaint appearance. The larvæ of the Goldtailed moth (L. auriflua) are perhaps the prettiest; but I strongly advise the inexperienced to use a pair of gloves in handling them, or he may turn rather red about the neck and eyes, as if stung by nettles, and, speaking from experience, I can assure him that the pain is quite as bad, if not worse.

With a little patience the entomologist will find himself able to preserve larvæ well, and thus be enabled to possess the larva, as well as the pupa and ovum, of each imago. H. A. AULD.

NEW BOOKS.*

ALTHOUGH so far distant from the " reading

season," we cannot complain of the scarcity of new books and new editions, and those of a valuable character. The first on our list may seem scarcely in keeping with the scope and character of our magazine, but in it the student will find a mass of anecdotes, traditions, &c., all of which more or less bear on zoological and botanical folk-lore. The science of comparative mythology-that which traces the vague traditions and myths of all nations to a common source-is one of the most modern, and at the same time the most fascinating. To find the fairy and goblin tales of our childhood possessing a mythological significancy is indeed rather startling. Some of the most learned thinkers and scholars of our time are engaged in collecting the disjointed and scattered facts, and combining them into a clear; and incontrovertible story.

* "Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-Lore; their Eastern Origin and Mythical Significance." By Charles Hardwick. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.

"The Scientific and Profitable Culture of Fruit Trees." From the French of M. Du Breuil. London: Lockwood & Co.

"The Insect World." By Louis Figuier, A New Edition. London: Cassell, Petter, & Galpin.

Among them we may name Max Müller, Cox, Baring-Gould, Tylor, Kelly, and others. Mr. Hardwick's book is a contribution to the same general subject, based chiefly on the folk-lore of Lancashire and the northern counties. It displays an intimate knowledge of the author's topic, and a loving acquaintance with English literature. Moreover, it is pleasantly and charmingly written, in most excellent English, and there pervades in every page an earnestness which shows what importance he attaches to it. We have read it through carefully and profitably, and cordially hope all its readers will enjoy the same pleasure as ourselves.

Du Breuil's work on the "Scientific Culture of Fruit Trees" is already well and favourably known, and every horticulturist will be glad to see it translated into English. It has also had the advantage, whilst being prepared for us in our native tongue, of being superintended by two able and practical gardeners. This second edition has been revised, and is prefaced by a short introduction by George Glenny. The illustrations are numerous, and such as will be of advantage to amateur gardeners, and the whole book is got up in a tasteful style.

The work of M. Figuier has been before the world some time, and the opinion of naturalists upon it is generally known. This edition is smaller and more portable than the former, and like it is embellished with a large number of ably-executed woodcuts. As it has come out under the revision and correction of Professor Duncan, it is shorn of a good many of the startling incidents and attempts at the marvellous which characterize Figuier's books. Embracing the general history of insects all over the world, many portions of their description are necessarily very meagre.

EVEN

THE INSTINCTS OF ANTS.

VEN a mere casual observer must sometimes be struck with the apparent fact that these little insects have the faculty of communicating with each other, and conveying special information concerning their own welfare or requirements, and also the sense of reasoning to a very surprising degree, which enables them to meet certain difficulties as they occur.

If some moistened sugar be placed near the nest of the small black garden ant, a solitary straggler will soon accidentally discover it; he imbibes his own load, and finds his way to the nest with information speedily a number of others emerge, make straight for the sugar, and continue to pass to and fro in the most sedate and business-like manner till the whole of the provender is conveyed to the nest. Their behaviour is very different in the case of live prey. If a small caterpillar is placed in their way,

one or two will at once attack it; but if they find they are not strong enough to master it, one will sometimes run away into the nest and give the alarm. Numbers of them then come rushing out to the rescue in great anger and excitement, which subsides the moment their prey is slaughtered of which the majority take no further heed, but leave only one or two to drag the carcass homewards. I once emptied out a sac of spider's eggs (taken from a neighbouring rose-busb) near to an ants' nest. These were speedily discovered, but were evidently a kind of provision that they had never been accustomed to, for many, in endeavouring to carry them away, grasped them so hard as to break the shell, and they had to stop to devour the contents then and there. This accident frequently happened at first, but they speedily learned to handle them carefully and carry them without breaking them; and many times afterwards I fed this colony with spider's eggs, which were removed without a single case of breakage, as they perfectly well remembered the nature of the provision that they had to deal with.

But the staple food of this species of aut is "honeydew," which is a secretion forcibly ejected from the two tubes on the backs of numerous species of aphides. The ants lick this off the surface of the leaves where it has been cast, but they mostly prefer obtaining it direct from the aphides themselves, which they cherish and protect with the most zealous care, evidently considering them as their flocks and herds. This is a well-known fact. But on one occasion I happened to observe, under the curled-up leaves at the top of the twig of a currant-bush, an immense number of aphides as usual under their charge, and guarded by a dozen or so of ants. Two common "ladybirds" were also there, devouring the aphides in spite of the efforts of the ants to prevent it, who displayed the greatest anger by springing on the backs of the robbers and trying to get hold of their legs on either side. At every attempt the ladybirds coolly tilted their impenetrable elytra from side to side, so as to leave no room beneath for the assault, and, with antennæ drawn in, continued their meal with perfect impunity. While watching this amusing scene, a prowling earwig made its way up the stalk (earwigs are great destroyers of aphides). It thrust half its body under the leaves, and after eating one or two was speedily discovered, but proved no match for the ants, who, attacking its legs and antennæ, soon compelled it to beat an inglorious retreat, hotly pursued by several of the auts. During the night there came a heavy shower of rain, and a day or so afterwards I stepped out of the path to see how the ants and their charge were progressing. Much to my surprise, I found that they had carried up particles of wet loam, and plastered and built up every external opening between the leaves in a most

"MY GARDEN."*

substantial manner, leaving only a small entrance beneath in this manner keeping out all intruders, and inclosing the aphides entirely for their own

from the ground, and, as if the colony retained some recollection of their clever piece of work, exactly the same thing was done on this currant-bush the succeeding year.

It might perhaps be argued that there was no special design or intention in this, considering the building instincts of ants; but this year I observed an incident relating to them that surprised me still more-In an inclosed orchard, at the root of a small plum-tree partly decayed in the trunk, there was a nest or colony of ants, which evidently mostly depended upon the tree for provisions, as there were abundance of aphides amongst the leaves. A string of ants constantly passed up and down, the ascending ones empty, and the descending ones so inflated that their bodies appeared transparent. A few sheep were then turned into the orchard to eat down the grass. These animals sadly disturbed the poor ants by making a rubbing-post of the tree, coating the bark with filaments of wool, which interfered with the passage of the ants, many of which were also probably destroyed, and but few had the courage to venture up. Some time after this I looked again, without seeing a single ant on the stem of the tree. Observing a fissure halfway down, I noticed a large quantity of fine particles of rotten wood, looking like snuff, had been thrown out, and at the bottom of the cavity I perceived a regiment of ants passing up and down. I then found that in the fork of the tree, where a small branch had been sawn off and got rotten at the core, that they had made a passage through, having thrown out more particles of touchwood. They had no visible exit at the bark of the tree, but made their way to the nest through some unseen channel in the root. During the recent rains the former entrance to the nest has become filled up, and they do not seem disposed to open it again: therefore the only entrance to their home is some five feet up in the tree, which they now avail themselves of in perfect security and comfort, passing in and out in great numbers.

I state this as I have witnessed it, an existing fact, without having the boldness to assert, that finding the road outside the tree no longer safe or practicable, they should cause their engineers to make a survey, and who decided that the core of the tree was sufficiently soft and rotten to enable them to work a tunnel through, which, from the quantity of débris thrown out, must have cost a great amount of labour. If so, it is very marvellous that these little insects should be gifted with a degree of sagacity, almost amounting to a reasoning faculty, that many large quadrupeds do not possess. F. H. WENHAM,

appeared in French garb, but it was left to an Englishman to work out the idea perfectly. Shenstone the poet had first constructed a garden in which new scenes of beauty were always meeting the eye, and then had immortalized his attempts in classic verse. But Mr. Smee has shown the world what a treasure of picturesque beauty, of botanical, zoological, geological, and general knowledge, may be obtained in a plot of ground of less than eight acres. In turning over the voluminous work before us, with its one thousand two hundred and fifty woodcuts and plates, one is literally astonished at the faculty which can produce so much out of what appears so little. The estate in question is situate in the hamlet of Wallington, on the banks of the river Wandle, in Surrey. Its owner, and the author of the present work, first introduces us to a brief sketch of the parish in the Celtic, Roman, AngloSaxon, and medieval periods; after which to a period far older than any of these, when "the Geology of my Garden" was commenced. The geological sketch is ably and experientially done; for when Mr. Smee first entered upon the land of his garden, he could not walk across it, on account of its being so boggy. Since then drainage and section-cutting has gone on, and as good a knowledge of geology obtained as pulling about a plot of eight acres could bestow. Situated on the edge of the London basin, all the lower tertiary beds come up in the neighbourhood, although the fossils are chiefly from the chalk. Many of these are

66

a chemist, his conclusions on this point are worth attention. Some organic bodies," he says, "appear to silicify with ease, others with difficulty. A sponge throws down silex readily. He has been able to silicify a blood-corpuscle so perfectly that when incinerated and its animal matter destroyed, it showed its structure. Bones do not appear to throw down silex readily."

The reader will linger with pleasure over the chapter devoted to the "General Plan of my Garden," as he feels that here the greatest labour of the author was bestowed. There he learns of ferneries, alpineries, &c., and is assisted in his comprehension by most charmingly-executed plates of spots that might serve for copies to "Fairies' Dells," or "Wood-Nymphs' Grottos," in the Christmas pantomimes. Mr. Smee's object was (after so laying out his garden as to obtain the greatest amount of picturesque effect) to have such plants, native and foreign, as would be in bloom the whole year round. The greater number of woodcuts is devoted to the illustration of the favourites; and, coming from the pencil of Mr. Worthington Smith, they are gems of wood-cutting art, as the following examples will show.

Fig. 131. Variegated Pink.

Fig. 132. Coreopsis tinctoria.

We cordially agree with the author in denouncing the common practice of gardeners confining all their floral efforts to crowding one particular summer month with flowers, to their exclusion the rest of the year. "At the present time all gardens look alike; the inevitable scarlet geranium

the handle stuck in the ground!" This is termed a "standard," and is about as ugly a form as art can twist nature into. Instead of this, Mr. Smee trains his rose-trees into a pyramidal form, four to six feet high, one far more elegant, and which, when adorned by the "Queen of flowers," is a most charming object. He states: "I think that no one who saw my pyramids would ever think of growing standards again."

We have frequently come across excellent botanists whose horticultural knowledge was ridiculously small. Nay, there are few good English botanists who appear to care about "garden plants." Many of these, however, are of a most curious nature, and well illustrate the flora of other lands and the physical circumstances, extending over long periods of time, which have caused organic forms to be so modified as to assume their often outlandish nature.

V

Fig. 135. Darlingtonia Californica.

Fig. 135 is one of these, one of the fly-catching plants, having hairs in the middle of the tube, so arranged that when the flies get in they cannot escape.