70 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[March 1, 1868. 



Viper, Poison Eatal. — Land and Water of 

 the 1st of February contains an account of a well- 

 authenticated case, where the bite of a viper proved 

 fatal to a youth in the course of a few hours. The 

 instance is kindly cited in reply to a question which 

 I had put in that journal on the subject, and as the 

 gentleman who cites it is a well-known naturalist, 

 and recognized authority on all points connected 

 with zoology, I rest satisfied that such things have 

 been,aud shall, despite your humane correspondent's 

 " plea for vipers," always keep at a very respectful 

 distance from the reptiles. — Helen E. Watneij. 



Helix Carthusian a (Gibbs's Snail). — I have 

 found this snail plentifully on the sand-dunes north 

 of Deal; both the books I have on the subject state 

 that it is confined to the chalk. Is this an excep- 

 tional case ? — //. C. L. 



Alas, poor. Otters ! — What extraordinary pro- 

 pensity is it that impels all gamekeepers, and a 

 good many so-called naturalists, lovers of nature, 

 instantaneously to slaughter any rare animal they 

 may come across ? What strange fate, is it that 

 hangs over certain animals, dooming them to 

 destruction ? After a time, when all are gone, their 

 ruthless destroyers store up and gloat over the poor 

 dead dried remains of them, — lifeless caricatures at 

 the best of what has been. Can any one believe 

 that a true zoologist, a student of things living, 

 would regard the stuffed bodies of the unhappy 

 otters whose untimely death is reported in the last 

 number of Science-Gossip, with any other feelings 

 than those of sorrow and disgust ? Alas, poor otters ! 

 Peace be to their ashes ! — T. G. P. 



"Insects never Grow."— I find it stated, in 

 large type, at p. 70 of Wood's " Common Objects 

 of the Country," that "insects never grow," and 

 that " when an insect has once attained a winged 

 state, it never gets any larger." The statements of 

 writers who write popular science for " the masses " 

 ought always to be received with caution. I should 

 be very glad if any of your correspondents who are 

 learned in these matters would inform me whether 

 the statement that "insects never grow," though 

 undoubtedly true of a great many, is capable of 

 universal application. Erom my own observations, 

 I believe that flies, as well as locusts and grass- 

 hoppers, do grow. — F. M, N. 



New Zealand Laurel— It isthc Corynocarpits 

 lavigatus, and is thus mentioned in the " Treasury 

 of Botany ." The tree, according to Dr. Bennet, is 

 valued in New Zealand for the sake of its fruit and 

 seeds ; the former is of the size of a plum, pulpy in 

 the interior, and sweet. The seeds are used in 

 times of scarcity, and contain a tasteless farinaceous 

 substance. The raw seeds, however, are poisonous, 

 and produce spasmodic pains, giddiness, and partial 

 paralysis ; to obviate which effects, they are steamed 

 for twenty-four hours, and then either buried in the 

 ground, or allowed to soak in water for some days. 

 — George Newlyn. 



New Zealand Greenstone.— There are few 

 people in England who have heard of this singular 

 and valuable stone, and fewer still who know its 

 value in the New Zealand islands. During my 

 stay in Auckland, I was fortunate enough to obtain 

 three or four pieces, one of which, only two inches 

 long, I sold to a friend for twenty-five shillings. 

 Eor another polished bit, I have been offered three 

 pounds, more than once. There are three or four 

 kinds of it : one a dark green opaque stone, 



another lighter and transparent, a third mottled. 

 The Maoris cut and polish these after a fashion, 

 about two or more inches long, sometimes much 

 longer, and bore a hole through at one end, in which 

 they tie a piece of ribbon and thus fasten it to the 

 ear. Generally, nothing Avill induce them to dispose 

 of these. I have often seen five pounds offered for 

 a bit of stone, and always refused. They are often 

 obtained from them when they are intoxicated ; and 

 then it is a dangerous bargain, for when they have 

 come to their senses, they will hunt in every corner 

 till you are found. Our troops, during the late 

 war, have taken a number of these greenstones from 

 the natives. I am told, on good authority, that 

 when a soldier kills or takes a Maori prisoner, the 

 first thing is to rip the stone out of the poor fellow's 

 ear. The stone is so exceedingly hard, that it is 

 used by the Maoris for chisels, hammers, weapous 

 of warfare, &c. I think our jewellers would find it 

 a useful stone for rings, pins, &c. Just before 

 leaving New Zealand, I saw a large block of this, 

 which was supposed to be worth £1,000 or £5,000. 

 —J. E. M. 



A Hybrid Pheasant. — Can any of our readers 

 inform me whether the nature of the bird described 

 under the above title in White's " Selbome," has 

 ever been satisfactorily determined ? Is it, as 

 Markwick suggests, a hen pheasant assuming the 

 male garb after ceasing to breed, or is it really a 

 hybrid ? " The shape, air, and habit of the bird," 

 says White, " and the scarlet ring round the eyes, 

 agreed well with the appearance of the cock phea- 

 sant ; but then the head and neck, and breast and 

 belly, were of a glossy black; and though it weighed 

 three pounds three ounces and a half, the weight 

 of a full-grown cock pheasant (hen pheasants 

 usually weigh two pounds ten ounces), yet there 



were no signs of any spurs on the legs The 



legs and feet were naked of feathers. In the tail 

 were no long bending feathers, such as cock phea- 

 sants usually have. The tail was much shorter 

 than the tail of a hen pheasant, and blunt and square 

 at the end. The back, wing-feathers, and tail were 

 all of a pale russet curiously streaked, somewhat 

 like the upper parts of a hen partridge. It ought 

 to be mentioned that some good judges have 

 imagined this bird to have been a stray grouse or 

 blackcock." The coloured plate which is given 

 has certainly more the appearance of black game, 

 but the legs resemble those of a pheasant. I have 

 little doubt that Markwick's suggestion is the true 

 explanation ; but should be glad to know if any of 

 your readers can throw additional light on the sub- 

 ject. — L. 



Water Cresses. — Has your correspondent, 

 "Mr. Mansel," noticed the colour of the flower 

 borne by the Nasturtium Siifolium ? The water 

 cress {Nasturtium officinalis) has a white flower. 

 1 believe the other three species; natives of this 

 country, bear yellow blossoms, and are very distinct 

 in habit from the N. officinalis. I think we are in- 

 debted to Mr. Mansel for discovering, in Dorset- 

 shire, a rare species of snowflake, which botanists 

 had previously imagined to be foreign. I remember 

 reading or hearing much about it at the time.— Helen 

 E. Watney. 



. November Storms.— Your correspondent (B., 

 Melle) should read Lecture IV. on "The Weather 

 and Weather Prophets," in " Familiar Lectures on 

 Scientific Subjects " (1867), by Sir J. Herschel — 

 11. Hicks. 



