vinal COMMON MISTAKES IN NATURAL HISTORY 383 



Fossils show that there used to be flying reptiles. There are so 

 called flying fish, flying squirrels, and a flying lemur. Angels are 

 also credited with the art of flying. The latter are the only 

 animals, not birds, represented as having feathers. 



6. The heron is a bird. 26% females to 50% males recognize 

 this. 30% females to 16% males believe it is a fish. This prob- 

 ably comes from a confusion with the herring which is a fish. 



7. The turtle is a reptile. It is a relative of snakes and lizards. 

 28% females to 48% males recognize that it is an animal. Only 

 42% males to 10% females recognize that it is a reptile. 



8. The perch is a fish. 78% females to 94% males say that it 

 is a fish- but only 16% females to 49% males think that it is an 

 animal. 



9. The other examples may be tabulated: 



Plant Animal Insect Fish Amphibian Reptile Bird 



M F M F M F M F M F M F M F 



Tadpole 44 22 32 16 40 38 



Spider 12 2 86 92 26 32 



Katydid 12 22 12 48 40 10 4 26 40 



Coral 10 16 20 12 2 2 18 14 14 14 



Clam 34 22 34 54 6 6 



Sponge 8 14 24 8 12 10 12 8 



Bacteria IS 18 20 8 18 20 



What is Meant by Ugly? 



A study of the idea ughy in literature will give a basis for under- 

 standing the present day feelings. 



1300-1400, Cursus, Mediaeval and Vulgar Latin (Gott), "Fell 

 dragons and tadis bath. . . .ful laithsum on to here and se. . . 



1666, Bunyan, Grace, Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (p. 

 84), "I was more loathsome in my own Eyes than was a Toad." 



1667, Milton, Paradise Lost, (XII, 178), "Frogs, Lice, and Flies, 

 must all his palace fill with loath'd intrusion." 



1600, Shakespeare, As You Like It (ii I. 12-14), 

 "Sweet are the uses of adversity, 

 Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 

 Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." 



The fable of the jewel in the toad's head is probably based on 

 the glistening cartilage which represents an unossified basioccipital. 



1611, The Bible, Exod. 8, 2, "I will smite all thy borders with 

 frogs" Rev. 16, 13. "Frogs (come) out of the mouth of dragons. " 



