52 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



dusted with coloured chalk, and liberated, being afterwards 

 recovered at about fifty observation stations by means of 

 fly-papers and traps. A summary of the results of these 

 experiments shows that house-flies tend to travel either 

 directly against or across the wind, and that their dispersal 

 takes place more readily during the morning, in fine weather, 

 and when the day is warm. Owing to abundance of food 

 and shelter the distance traversed is less in the town than 

 in open country, while the usual maximum flight in localities 

 thickly housed appears to be about a quarter of a mile. 

 The second contribution is in the form of a query, entitled 

 "Do House-flies hibernate?" by the well-known dipterist, 

 Ernest E. Austen, of the British Museum. 1 He states that 

 definite proof of the actual hibernation of the house-fly in 

 the adult state is still wanting. Flies of several species 

 have been found in attics, etc., during winter months, but 

 after careful examination it was ascertained that the true 

 house-fly was not among them. Since exact knowledge on 

 the point is desirable for the more effectual dealing with 

 this pest, Mr Austen requests the assistance of his readers, 

 who are asked to search for specimens and to forward them 

 to him for examination. 



We are glad to note that our scientific societies are now 

 taking an interest in the protection of those native and exotic 

 birds, which have been slaughtered in such vast numbers of 

 late years for purposes of fashion or millinery. At recent 

 meetings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, and 

 the Edinburgh Field Naturalists' Society, resolutions were 

 unanimously passed in support of the Importation of Plumage 

 (Prohibition) Bill, at present before the Houses of Parliament. 

 We learn also with great satisfaction that the passage and 

 enforcement of a similar Bill in the United States has, 

 according to a cable sent from the Zoological Society of 

 New York to that of London, " created a sentiment for wild 

 life protection in many quarters where it did not exist 

 before." 



1 Ent. Mo. Mas;., February 1914, pp. 39-40, and Entomologist, 

 February 1914, pp. 69-70. 



