02 



HAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



sion iu the new edition of the " London Catalogue," 

 will doubtless lead to fresh search for this dock this 

 year. Its continued occurrence at Lewes, the only 

 station mentioned by Syme, leads me to ask what. 

 others are known for it in that neighbourhood? 

 May I also inquire whether in any instance it has 

 heen found growing with or near Rumex Hydrolapa- 

 t/ium, which is to be found in some places in West 

 Sussex abundantly ? I have some of the attenuate- 

 based root-leaves of Bydi olapathum now before me 

 ( February 8), and have reason to think that it has 

 been sometimes confounded with maximus in this 

 tlistrict, although I have not met with the latter. 

 Eor any information as to the distinctive characters 

 of Rumex maximus, in addition to those relating to 

 its perianth and root -leaves, or for other facts 

 relating to this species, I should be much obliged. — 

 F. II. J mold, Fls/ibounie. 



Eels out or Water.— The overflow of a pond 

 is allowed to run by a tiled gutter into a tank of 

 about eight feet iu depth. At each end of the 

 gutter is placed a grating to prevent the leaves from 

 following the course of the stream, which had, 

 however, the effect of raising the level of the water 

 somewhat, so that it found its wayby the side of 

 the framework of the tank. Something w r as seen to 

 move, on the left side on a level with the water, and 

 to protrude its nose. Tliiuking it some mouse or 

 mole, it was touched with a stick, which, however, 

 made it retreat instead of advance. A spade was 

 procured, and an eel, of over a pound in weight, 

 dug out, to the no small astonishment and amuse- 

 ment of the lookers-on, and then turned into the 

 tank. The questions naturally suggest themselves 

 as to how long the eel had been living there, its size 

 at iirst, and how the hole was made. — R. T. C. 



The Colorado Potato Beetle. — Notwith- 

 standing the opinion expressed by those in autho- 

 rity, as recorded in last year's volume of Science- 

 Gossip (p. 89), our friends in the Sister Isle have 

 not been able to subdue their fears of an invasion 

 by this "new enemy," Mr. Herbert asking in Par- 

 liament the second day of the present session 

 (Feb. S) what the Government intended doing to 

 prevent the introduction of this beetle iuto Ireland. 

 In reply, Sir M. Beach stated he was holding com- 

 munications on the subject, but he thought the 

 danger had been much exaggerated ; the most 

 careful consideration would be required before 

 taking any action; of European powers only 

 Austria aud Belgium had called the attention of 

 their legislatures to the subject. However much 

 the readers of Science-Gossip may deplore the 

 ravages committed by Doryplwra decemlineata, they 

 will at least feel a certain kind of respect for the 

 beetle that has secured for itself so much notice in 

 high places. — W. R. II. 



How Little Bikds support themselves in 

 Winter. — In the course of a ramble through the 

 fields during the very severe weather which dis- 

 tinguished the closing week of 1874, my attention 

 was arrested by noticing that a little bird seated on 

 the topmost twigs of a pollard willow, at the oppo- 

 site side of a field from where I was passing, did 

 not apparently move from its place. I accordingly 

 crossed to the foot of the tree, and was rewarded 

 by a sight which I shall never forget. Perched, as 

 I have described, was a female of the Marsh Tit 

 (Tarns paiustris), busily engrossed in a search for 

 her dinner. I have repeatedly seen birds of the 

 same family (the Paridic) picking their food from 



the outer bark of trees, crannies of walls, &c. ; but 

 the motions of the individual bird now before me 

 indicated that the materials of her repast lay 

 beneath the surface. Mrs. Tit was vigorously 

 digging into the substance of the twig upon which 

 she was perched, tearing off the bark in shreds, 

 which she kept tossing away with quick, impatient 

 gestures. Eor some time I stood spell-bound in 

 admiration of her dexterity. Clinging to a twig 

 not thicker than a lady's Jittle finger, sometimes in 

 an upright position, but more frequently back 

 downwards, she kept her bill in perpetual action 

 upon the twig. The easy adroitness with which 

 she shifted her feet, especially when seeking to 

 increase or diminish the leverage necessary in 

 enabling her to deal with some shred of bark 

 tougher than ordinary was perfectly marvellous, 

 and her address in disinterring the objects of her 

 quest was not less so. In a little time 1 was joined 

 by a rustic, who, attracted by my motionless atti- 

 tude, had come to ascertain what was the matter. 

 Once I had explained to him what the bird was 

 about, his eagerness in watching was quite equal to 

 my own. At last the tit, startled by the discharge 

 of a fowling-piece in another field, flew off in alarm. 

 I then managed to secure the branch which had 

 been the object of the bird's operations. It pre- 

 sented a curious appearance. Ttie outer bark was 

 much of it torn off, and the inner and tougher rind 

 hung in jags in a very irregular fashion, much 

 reminding one of a brauch that has been gnawed 

 by some playful puppy. With the naked eye we 

 could not make out the object of the bird's inqui- 

 sitive examination. A pocket magnifying-glass 

 brought into requisition revealed to us that the 

 bark was punctured at irregular distances with small 

 holes beautifully drilled. On removing the bark 

 in the neighbourhood of each drill that had been 

 undisturbed by our predecessor in the work, we 

 found a jolly little grub, tinted like healthy salmon 

 ova. The grubs were discovered just underneath 

 the inner bark, and uniformly iu an upward direc- 

 tion from the drilled holes. I inclose a specimen of 

 the tit's workmanship, now of course very much 

 withered, having been in my possession since > the 

 26th December; also a more recent specimen from 

 the same tree for examination, trusting that some 

 of your correspondents versed in entomology will 

 kindly aid me in identifying the insect inhabitant, 

 which I have hitherto been unable to manage for 

 myself. Erom the colour of the bark, and the de- 

 cidedly brittle nature of the branches, lam inclined, 

 in the absence of foliage or catkins, to regard the 

 tree as Salixfragilis. — W. Hodgson. 



Fleur-de-Lis.— In the article under this head iu 

 the last number of Science-Gossip, for " it forms 

 part of our Boyal Arms," read formed; it was 

 omitted when our monarchs ceased to style them- 

 selves Kings of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, 

 after the peace iu 1S15. — T. B. W. 



Parrots ; How to Keep them.— To "J. J. M." 

 Your Parrot's death was probably caused either by 

 cold, or by too much moist or otherwise improper 

 food. The best directions I can give, derived from 

 experience and from books, are as follows : firstly, 

 never keep a parrot in a cold room, and never in a 

 draught, remembering that parrots are natives of 

 the hottest countries in the world, aud are very 

 sensitive to chill, especially when young. Coyer 

 the cage at night, and with a warmer cover during 

 the wiuter ; also, when out of doors, protect the top 



