126 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW ; [3:4 - APR ., w 



Meadow Mice. A recent pamphlet from the U. S. Dept. of" Agriculture 

 points out their destructiveness to grass, fruit, vegetables, hav in stack, and 

 orchard trees. There is danger that the continued destruction of hawks, 

 owls, snakes, and small carnivora may allow the mice to multiply until exten- 

 sive ravages result. 



Workingmen's Gardens. The Century Magazine for March contains 

 an interesting account of the development of the so-called workingmen's 

 gardens in France. The author is W. H. Tolman. The movement for 

 such gardens was instituted bv certain philanthropists in 1889, the object 

 being to improve the people morally and physically as well as to benefit them 

 financially. The present status of the work is well indicated bv the fact that 

 last year there was held in Paris a "Congress of Workingmen's Gardens" 

 attended bv 700 delegates. In brief the plan followed is for certain 

 individuals or organizations to acquire suitable vacant property in various 

 cities and by aggressive work arouse the workingman's interest so that he will 

 rent a patch which he mav cultivate with such advice and assistance as is 

 necessary to enable him to produce successfully. The average rental charged 

 is $2.50 for a plot containing 478 square yards. In many cities prizes are 

 given for successful results. The competition aroused is often quite keen, and 

 the spread of the idea thus greatly accelerated. 



C. A. M. 



Snake Myths. The following from Surface's "Serpents of Pennsyl- 

 vania," (Published by the State Department of Zoology, Harrisburg) refer 

 to popular beliefs which are entirely erroneous: Snakes do not sting with 

 their tongues. Snakes do not charm birds and people. The green serpents 

 are not venomous. There is no such a creature as a hoop snake, which rolls 

 like a hoop. There is no horn snake, with a venomous horn at the end of its 

 tail. Snakes are not blind once per month, and regularly during "dog 

 days." Snakes do not molt or shed their skin each month. Serpents can 

 not blow out or spit poison. Snakes do not chase and attack people without 

 provocation. Serpents and other reptiles are not slimy. Certain kinds of 

 snakes do not milk or suck cows. When snakes are killed the tails may die 

 before the sun goes down or before it thunders. Kill a snake and turn it 

 over will not bring rain. Snakes do not spring or jump from the ground at 

 their victims. Snakes do not lose their venom by being deprived of water 

 for six days or more. Snakes do not have medicinal properties. 



Field Studies in Botany. No. 4 of this series issued by the Depart- 

 ment of Botany of the University of Michigan is "Bog Studies;" No. 5 

 on "Field Work in Towns and Cities." 



