HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



277 



then, we come to consider the inestimable and un- 

 appreciated services which this tiny bird renders to 

 mankind, we should not only be devoid of all grati- 

 tude, but likewise of all common sense— which, 

 however, comes to much the same point— were we 

 willingly to destroy our feathered benefactor. — 

 Wood, Homes without Hands. 



The Crimson Speckled Eootmax (Deiopeia 

 pulchella). — It has several times been noticed that 

 in what is called a bad season for insects, some 

 conspicuous rarity will turn up in more or less 

 abundance, just as if it waited for such an opportu- 

 nity to make itself more notable. The very rare and 

 handsome moth above named has occurred this year 

 in various places very diverse from each other. 

 The following may be cited as examples :— Man- 

 chester, Ipswich, Newport (Mon.), Brighton, Dover, 

 and Cornwall. Its capture in Devonshire is recorded 

 in last mouth's Science-Gossip. All the speci- 

 mens were taken between the 4th and ISth of 

 September ; and it is observable that the southern 

 individuals did not appear on the wing markedly 

 sooner than the northern. The reports of these 

 captures do not throw much light upon its habits. 

 On one point, indeed, opinions differ ; for while 

 one correspondent of an entomological periodical 

 thinks it of sluggish habit, like most of the footmen 

 moths, another, who followed one for some distance, 

 believes that it is a brisker species than its brethren. 



— /. b. s. a 



Scarcity of the Common Blue Butterfly 

 {Lycane Alexis). — The ungenial weather which pre- 

 vailed during the spring and early summer of 1S71 

 had a very perceptible effect upon many species of 

 our butterflies, tending to diminish their numbers. 

 Several friends, entomological and non-entomolo- 

 gical, called my attention to the particular scarcity 

 of the common blue, which, as it flutters about the 

 fields and lanes, or fans its wings on the blossoms, 

 pleases the eyes of all lovers of nature. There 

 appear to be usually two flights of this species, 

 though stragglers may be seen almost any fine 

 summer's day in ordinary years. In the vicinity of 

 London, and elsewhere in the south, only a solitary 

 one or two appeared of the first brood, and the 

 second was comparatively few in numbers. 1 

 attribute this (by conjecture only) to an extensive 

 destruction of the larvae feeding up in spring. — 

 /. R. S. C. 



Vampire Bats. — This morning we inspected a 

 coolie's great toe which had been severely bitten 

 by a vampire in the night. And here let me say 

 that the popular disbelief of vampire stories is only 

 owing to English ignorance and disinclination to 

 believe any of the many quaint things which John 

 Bull has not seen because he does not care to see 

 them. If he comes to these parts (Trinidad) he 



must be careful not to leave his feet or hands out 

 of bed without mosquito curtains. If he has good 

 horses, he ought not to leave them exposed at night 

 without wire-gauze round the stable-shed— a plan 

 which, to my surprise, I never saw used in the 

 West Indies,— otherwise he will be but too likely 

 to find in the morning a triangular bit cut out of 

 his own flesh, or, even worse, out of his horse's 

 withers or throat, whose twisting and lashing can- 

 not shake the tormentor off ; and must be content to 

 have himself lamed or his horses weakened to stag- 

 gering, and thrown out of collar-work for a week, as 

 I have seen happen more than once or twice. The 

 only method of keeping the vampire off, yet employed 

 in stables, is light ; and a lamp is usually kept burn- 

 ing there. So numerous and troublesome, indeed, 

 are the vampires, that there are pastures in Trinidad 

 in which— at least until the adjoining woods were 

 cleared— the cattle would not fatten or even thrive, 

 being found morning after morning weak and sick 

 from the bleedings which they had endured at 

 night. — C. Khigsley,"At Last. 



Erratum.— P. 249, 2nd column, Sth line from 

 bottom, for " is spotted on the wings," read " is 

 without spots on the wings." — W. II. //". 



Size of Snake.— In the last (November) num- 

 ber of Science-Gossip mention is made of a 

 snake's 'skin being found which measured 3 feet 

 5^ inches, and it is recorded (as it deserves) for its 

 unusual size. I have, however, in my possession a 

 snake preserved in spirit which was killed within 

 about a mile of this house, in July, 1SCG, and which 

 measured 3 feet 10 inches in length, 4 inches in cir- 



cumference, and weighed 1 lb. 2h oz. This being 

 the actual body of the snake, the measurements are 

 more trustworthy than can be obtained from the 

 mere skin. — George Guyon, Ventnor. 



The Squirrel. — Within the last seven or eight 

 years squirrels have become quite common about 

 here. I well remember the excitement which the 

 first one caused. The poor fellow, like many 

 pioneers among the genus homo, M'as killed during 

 his explorations in a new district. The same fate 

 befell the second, I believe ; the third was captured 

 alive, and I had him in a cage for about three years, 

 when he made his escape through the window. 

 Since that time they have become more and more 

 numerous every year — three, four, and even five or 

 six are sometimes reported as seen together. I 

 myself have never seen more than three. Well, 

 now as to his carnivorous propensities — the subject 

 at present under discussion in Science-Gossip. 

 There is no doubt but that some evidence has 

 been adduced to prove that such propensities exist. 

 First. We have G. H. H., who states that the Rev. 

 J. G. Wood says " that it has been known to eat 

 both eggs and young birds, and even mice, killing 

 its live game in a weasel style, by a bite at the back 



