25S 



HARDWICKE'S SCI EN CE- GOSSIP. 



Univebsity of Toronto. — Dr. Alleyne Nichol- 

 son, lately Lecturer on Natural History in the 

 Medical School of Edinburgh, has been appointed 

 to the Chair of Natural History in this University.— 

 Edinburgh Couraut, 19th September. 



Insects and Elowers. — When reading some 

 papers on butterflies, by the Rev. J. Johns, in a 

 monthly serial, I came across a paragraph in which 

 the writer said that Brassica? and other white but- 

 terflies had a predilection for settling on flowers of 

 the same colour as themselves ; and although I was 

 at first inclined to doubt this statement, I resolved 

 to watch for myself. The result was, that not only 

 am I firmly convinced that "Whites have a preference 

 for white flowers, but, going further than this, I have 

 noticed that a small bed of Nemophila has such 

 attractions for the Blues as to prevent their settling 

 on any other flowers. Moreover, we have in the 

 garden a yew-tree which is entirely surrounded by 

 lilacs and other shrubs of a bright foliage, and yet 

 whenever a Red Admiral] deigns to visit our de- 

 mesne, he invariably makes for this yew-tree, where 

 he'is not only safe, but entirely invisible. I should 

 like to hear if any other readers of Science-Gossip 

 can give similar accounts. — E. C. Lefroy, 2, Gran- 

 ville Place, BlacJcheath, S.E. 



Starlings built on St. Edmund's Vicarage, 

 Gateshead -on- Tyne, in 1S70, and, it is believed, 

 raised two broods : they returned in spring this 

 year, and built one or two nests ; one male lost his 

 mate (killed), and was very disconsolate for three 

 days, found another, and raised the brood : they 

 returned again in the summer, but it is not quite 

 clear if a second brood was raised : they returned 

 again in September, and. were noticed on the house, 

 singing and calling, Oct. 4; and this morning, 

 Oct. G, 1871, the young birds (three) were out on the 

 roof sunning themselves and trying their wings. 

 Is it usual to breed so late ? and so far north ? Do 

 they remain all the year ? and how many broods do 

 they usually raise ? I have not seen swallow, mar- 

 tin, or swift this year. — II. 0. S. 



Parasites on Arge Galatiiea (p. 233).— I am 

 glad Mr. Anderson has called attention to the scar- 

 let parasites found on Arge Galathea, for among 

 other good but unfulfilled intentions, which want of 

 time or more pressing business has prevented my 

 carrying out, is the connection or non-connection 

 between Tetranychus lapidus (Stone Mite) and the 

 bright scarlet parasite found on Arge Galathea and 

 other lepidoptera. I say other lepidoptera, because 

 I have found [it on Salyrus Semele (Grayling), S. 

 Megara (Wall Argus), Chortobius pamphilus (Small 

 Heath), Lycama Corydon (Chalk-hill Blue), L.Adonis 

 (Clifden Blue), 'Vanessa Atalanta (Red Admiral) 

 once, V. urticce (small Tortoiseshell) once, Bryo- 

 phylla perla, B. glandifera, Plusia gamma, Mamestra 

 pcrsicaricc, M. brassicce, &c, as well as on A. Gala- 



tkea. It is a noticeable fact that all, or nearly all, 

 the above settle frequently on the ground ; some, 

 in fact, like S. Semele, rest on stones Moreover, I 

 have taken insects on the Downs, Box Hill, the 

 limestone hills of Derbyshire, &c, with the^scar- 

 let parasite on them, and invariably have found a very 

 large proportion of the flints, stones, or pieces of 

 rock lying about, covered or partially covered with 

 the beautiful eggs of T. lapidus. The first time 

 I noticed the parasite was some years ago, on Box 

 Hill, when my attention was attracted by the pecu- 

 liar flight of a male of S. Semele, upon securing 

 which, I found two scarlet parasites at the junction 

 of the head and thorax. Since then I have found 

 them attached to the thorax, abdomen, and the 

 under-side of the wings ; in'fact, I have in my cabinet 

 a slide of the wing of B. perla, on the under-side 

 of which are three of the scarlet parasites. The 

 more common position on the wing is near its 

 junction with the thorax. Now, seeing there is a 

 striking resemblance between T. lapidus and the 

 scarlet parasite, I have thought that they either 

 were the same, or, at least, one of the Tetranychi. 

 Whether they derive nourishment from the insects 

 they infest, I cannot say, but they undoubtedly are 

 a source of annoyance, or, at least, a means of 

 retarding the flight of the insects, which move at 

 a much slower rate. I had almost forgotten that 

 a [house-fly was brought to me about two years 

 since with a similar scarlet parasite upon it. — T. W. 

 Wonfor, Brighton. 



Golden Oriole.— A pair of these birds were 

 observed at Martlesham, near this town, this sum- 

 mer by a gamekeeper, at the time of.the pheasants' 

 sitting; so in all probability they were nesting. 

 The man's attention was called to them by hearing, 

 day after day, in a certain place, what he thought 

 was some one whistling to him ; and at length fol- 

 lowing up the sound, he saw what he called the 

 " yaller gentlemen " on a tree ; of course (!) he fired 

 his gnn at them, killing the hen bird only ; the male 

 escaped, and disappeared from the neighbourhood. 

 I think the above fact worth recording, as there can 

 be no doubt that had these pretty birds been left 

 unmolested, another authenticated instance of their 

 breeding in this country would have been estab- 

 lished. I may add that I have seen the hen bird, 

 which has been preserved by Mr. Podd, naturalist, 

 of this town.—//. Miller, Ipswich. 



A Chicken with four legs was hatched this 

 spring in this neighbourhood. It was to all appear- 

 ance perfectly formed in'other respects, the second 

 pair of legs being behind the ordinary ones, and 

 having three joints. It would have been curious to 

 have examined the little creature's anatomy, but I 

 did not see it till it was shown me by.Mr. Podd, who 

 had preserved it. — H. Miller. . 



