254 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Nov. 1, 1S66. 



extremity of the foot, around which it is] also 

 attached to the support of the animal. 



The expanded arms with their setae form a kind 

 of cup of network, contracted at the mouth. " Both 

 arms and setae are commonly held motionless," 

 writes Mr. Gosse; "yet there is a manifest vortex 

 in the inclosed area, for small Infusoria approaching 

 are presently drawn in and are driven about in the 

 space. They can enter readily at all parts between 

 the arms, but cannot get out ; for if one approaches 

 the arms from within, it is seen instantly to be shot 

 back towards the centre. I perceived, after some 

 careful watching, that the motion was caused by the 

 setae; a minute, tremulous, and, as it were, spasmodic 

 wave, being seen to run along the nearest pencils at 

 the instant. It is clear, then, that the setae crossing 

 each other, serve as a living net, which admits the 

 prey to enter without resistance, but, if touched from 

 within, vibrates in such a way as to jerk the touching 

 body with considerable force towards the centre 

 of the contained area. When once the prey passes 

 down below the area into the mouth-funnel, which 

 is formed by very contractile walls, a slight con- 

 striction takes place in the neck, which has the 

 effect of forcing the monad down to the mouth of a 

 capacious crop, which lies all across the upper part 

 of the body. Here a sort of swallowing motion is 

 seen, and the prey passes with a gulp down into the 

 cavity." 



The Stephanoceros is a voracious feeder. Mr. 

 Gosse mentions having seen it capture and devour 

 scores of Infusoria in quick succession ; and on one 

 occasion he observed one feeding on the young of 

 Floscularia, which were being hatched in consider- 

 able numbers in the same water. M. 



Pare Eish. — Two specimens of the Anchovy 

 (Engraulis encrasicolus) were caught here [at Brid- 

 lington] on Oct. 17, and brought to me as a rarity. 

 As neither Mr. Couch nor Yarrell mentions its having 

 been found on this coast, perhaps some of your 

 readers who, like myself, take an interest in Ichthyo- 

 logy, might care for the fact being recorded. Both 

 the above-named gentlemen speak of the Atherine 

 {Atherina presbyter) as also very rarely, if ever, found 

 on the east coast. I have obtained many specimens, 

 especially out of a dam erected for the new pier 

 works. During the last week in August live Sun- 

 fish {Orthagoriscus Mold) were caught in this bay, 

 three of which were brought to me. They were 

 mostly of small size.— II. H. Knocker, Commander 

 R.N. 



We are very sheep in our gregariousness in 

 error. When one bold or stupid mutton takes a 

 leap, all leap after him. It is rare to find men 

 doubting facts, still rarer to find them doubting 

 whether the facts be correctly co-ordinated.— G. II. 

 Lewes. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Horse-Head Grasshopper. — Mr. Tate, in the 

 October number of Science Gossip, mentions 

 having kept one of these insects alive for a few 

 days; he may therefore be interested in knowing that 

 I kept one for more than a week in a glass globe, and 

 gave it its liberty at last, having satisfactorily 

 proved that when in confinement these insects are 

 carnivorous, for it devoured raw beef with great 

 relish. — H. E. Watney. 



Want of Instinct in the Robin.— In my 

 garden I have two Sparrow-hawks (male and 

 female) in a large wire cage, and for some days 

 past I have noticed a Robin hopping about on the 

 outside. On Eriday, September 28th, poor bobby 

 ventured inside the cage, and was instantly caught 

 and devoured by the Hawks. It is the more 

 singular because the Hawks (although well fed) 

 have made repeated efforts to catch it when perched 

 on the outside. Yesterday I observed that another 

 Robin was hopping about risking his life in a 

 similar manner to the other. — H. Tasker. 



Large Snares.— In the last number of Science 

 Gossip, snakes a yard in length are spoken of as 

 fine specimens, and Professor Bell is quoted as 

 giving four feet as the maximum. I do not know 

 whether it is worth mentioning that on the 14th of 

 July one was brought to me just 3 feet 10 inches 

 long, or two inches short of four feet; it was four 

 inches in girth at the thickest part, and weighed 

 1 lb. 2 1 oz., but appeared much heavier. The body 

 was thickest about ten inches from the tail, which 

 had a slender, rat-like aspect. The Snake was 

 killed while crossing the high road about half a 

 mile from my house at Veutnor, Isle of Wight. 

 I may add that this species is less common in 

 the district than the Viper and Slow-worm. — 

 George Guy on. 



Death-watch.— Since reading Mr. Noble's re- 

 marks in the April number of this Journal, on what 

 was said by Mr. Smith at p. 31 in the February 

 number about the Death-watch, I have been taking- 

 notice of the insect, of which there are numbers in 

 my house. I have heard the ticking for some years, 

 but never could make out the insect that made it, 

 and always supposed it must be some kind of beetle 

 or spider in the old walls. I am now convinced 

 that the souud is caused by the little Atropus 

 (Science Gossip, vol. I., p. Ill, fig. 82), aud for the 

 following reasons : — One night I heard the ticking 

 noise proceed from a picture, and, after examining 

 it, I found one of these little insects running about 

 on the frame. I had placed my ear to the place, and 

 heard the noise quite close to me ; and I found, on 

 placing my finger near the insect, the ticking ceased 



