NATURE NOTES 39 



of Science, Professor Penhallow, of Montreal, describes a blazing beach 

 seen in Maine last September. He concludes after careful examination that 

 it was due to the spontaneous combustion of gases liberated by decomposing 

 sea-weeds in the sands. A similar explanation has long been given for the 

 " will-o-the-wisp " or "Jack-o'-lantern" seen in marshes. Professor Pen- 

 hallow suggests that such decomposition of organic matter in forests may 

 account for the origin of many forest fires. 



Mosses On North Sides Of Trees. A foreign journal calls attention 

 to the evidence indicating that most mosses grow where they get most 

 moisture, hence most frequently on the north sides, near the ground, and on 

 horizontal branches. Sunlight also may influence the growth directly and 

 apart from its effect on evaporation. 



Okra. This rather uncommon edible garden plant is the subject of 

 Farmers' Bulletin 232 (free upon application to Dept. of Agriculture). It 

 has no great food vaiue and is used because it imparts to soup a pleasant flavor 

 and mucilaginous consistency. It is a close relative of the cotton, the 

 abutilons and hibiscus. 



Forestry. An interesting account of the United States Forest Service, 

 what it is and how it deals with forest problems, is given in Circular No. 36 

 of ehe Forest Service. A classified list of available publications and guide to 

 their contents adds greatly to the value of the pamphlet. 



Butterfly Destroyers. In the 1905 Trans. Entomol. Soc, London, 

 Mr. J. Kershaw records his observations on the elimination of butterflies in 

 China. The chief foes are spiders, flies, ants, bugs, centipedes, lizards and 

 birds. His notes suggest that the greatest elimination is in the egg. larva and 

 pupa stages ; and that the adults are collectively comparatively safe from 

 enemies. 



Centipedes and Cherries. In a recent book on popular botany the 

 long stem of cherries is cited as an example of protective adaptation. The 

 centipedes have been observed eating cherries on the ground, and i r is 

 assumed that the animals could not climb down the slender ^ttm holding the 

 fruit. Do the cherry fruits need special protection and is it true the centi- 

 pedes climb out on the branches and then retreat when they reach the slen- 

 der fruit stem ? We wonder if this is another case of a lively imagination 

 engaged in the mad quest for adaptations which are supposed to be needed 

 in order to lend charm and poetry and romance to nature-study. 



