Eeb. 1, 1870.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



37 



We were so struck at this manifestation of affec- 

 tion that we could not find it in our heart to 

 shoot at the poor bird, and as we moved on to pick 

 up his mate, he rose and was soon out of range 

 again. 



It is not improbable that the mildness of the 

 season induced these birds to pair earlier than usual, 

 for at the time of year at which the above incident 

 occurred, Teal and other wildfowl are generally 

 found in flocks. 



Large numbers of these birds pass southwards 

 for the winter, repassing again in the spring on 

 the way back to their breeding-haunts. In Sep- 

 tember and October they collect in large flocks, 

 and, as they fly a good deal lower and closer 

 together than most other ducks, several may be 

 killed at once by a well-directed shot. This is 

 especially the case if the shooter be in ambush close 

 to the water which they frequent ; but as their flight 

 is exceedingly rapid, care should be taken to hold 

 well in front of the leading bird. 



Teal are very sociable in their habits, and during 

 the winter they may often be found in company with 

 the common wild ducks. But although they mingle 

 together when on the water, on being disturbed the 

 species always separate, the Teal going off in one 

 flock, the ducks in another. On rising from the 

 water they do not first swim away from the danger, 

 or flutter over the surface as some fowl do, but 

 jump suddenly into the air without warning, so that 

 if you are approaching them in a punt and do not 

 pull the trigger the moment you find that you are 

 perceived by them, you will in all probability lose 

 your chance of a shot. 



During the winter months this species is fre- 

 quently found on the coast in company with 

 Widgeon, and large numbers are often killed at a 

 single shot with a punt- gun. 



The Teal, however, appears to prefer the neigh- 

 bourhood of fresh water, and is certainly one of the 

 most beautiful ornaments in the winter scenery of 

 our ponds and brooks. J. E. Harting. 



Diatoms. — We have received a rejoinder from 

 Mr. McLeod, in reply to Mr. Kittons letter in our 

 last. It would occupy far too much of our space 

 to permit this and similar controversies on topics 

 which have an evident tendency to become personal. 

 After all, we imagine that Mr. McLeod intended 

 merely to condemn the abuse, which some of us 

 know to exist, of wasting time and money in resolv- 

 ing test-objects with no laudable motive, when so 

 much good service might be done to science by the 

 application of the same time and perseverance in 

 other ways. From this conclusion we are certain 

 that Mr. Kitton would not dissent. Diatoms are 

 as legitimate objects as any other, if legitimately 

 studied. 



ABNORMAL PLANTAIN. 



Fig. 51. Abnormal Plantain, Plantago corunopus. 



The above figure of the curious form of Plantain, 

 noticed in our December issue (p. 280), was unavoid- 

 ably omitted when the [description was inserted. 

 Readers will therefore please to refer to the page 

 indicated for full particulars. It was gathered by 

 Mr. J. C. Melville near Wallasey, in Cheshire, in 

 May, 1868, Though curious and interesting, it is 

 by no means unique, as similar forms have been 

 observed before. 



Siliceo-fibrous Sponges. — An excellent mono- 

 graph on this subject, by Dr. Bowerbank, with 

 nine plates, is published in the Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society of London for 1869. 



