HARDWICKE' S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



23 



two ago, but I do not remember to have seen any 

 notice of this particular story. By accident, I came 

 across it in the " Zoologist ;" previous to this I had 

 never read or heard of it. Was Bewick the first 

 to publish the story ? Is it to be found in any 

 collection of " Vulgar Errors," or " Popular Super- 

 stitions " ? I write this in the hope that some of your 

 readers may be induced to inquire, and if possible to 

 discover the origin and extent of this tradition. — 

 P. M. C, Kermode. 



Climbing powers of the Common Toad. — One 

 day, about the middle of September last, I was 

 witness to an exhibition of the climbing powers of a 

 toad, which interested me greatly at the time and 

 seemed to merit record. Happening to be in an out- 

 building adjoining the house, I perceived a fine toad 

 slowly clambering up the wall, in a corner which 

 offered but scanty foothold for a rat or mouse, much 

 less for a toad, the wall being both plastered and 

 whitewashed, and therefore tolerably smooth. This 

 did not prevent the toad from making a determined 

 effort to ascend, which it slowly but surely did. 

 Flattening its body into the angle of the wall, it 

 grasped with the hind feet any slight projections that 

 came in the way, and having secured a firm hold, 

 raised itself slowly and carefully to the utmost 

 stretch of its body ; then again securing firm hold 

 with first one forefoot and then the other, it drew 

 itself up as far as possible. It was amusing to watch 

 the cautious deliberation the creature used in feeling 

 for fresh hold, whenever another movement was 

 intended — strongly reminding one of the actions of a 

 man ascending a steep and precipitous cliff. At first 

 I was rather puzzled to account for such an un- 

 usual action on the part of the toad, but seeing a 

 hole near the top of the wall, about six feet from the 

 floor, it struck me at once that this was the destina- 

 tion of the little reptile, and so it proved, for after 

 watching the slow and laborious progress of the 

 persevering creature for over an hour, I had at last 

 the satisfaction of seeing it draw itself into the hole 

 and disappear from view, doubtless to enjoy a 

 comfortable and well-earned nap, in safety until 

 genial spring again returns. The ascent to the hole was 

 slow enough, certainly, but how about the descent? 

 for there is the prospect of a not very pleasant tumble 

 before the toad when it desires to quit its winter 

 quarters. I should very much like to be upon the 

 spot when the creature emerges, for I can scarcely 

 credit that it can crawl down the wall without falling. 

 I have a strong conviction that it is not the first time 

 the toad has scaled the wall, and used the same hole 

 for the purpose of hibernation, and if so, a degree 

 of instinct is indicated, one would scarcely expect to 

 find in a creature so lowly placed in the scale of 

 creation, and so generally despised — that "as stupid 

 as a toad " is proverbial. From childhood I have 

 taken great interest in toads, and paid considerable 

 attention to their habits, and as I was early encouraged 

 to bring them carefully home whenever met with 

 during my walks, and place them in the garden, 

 where they do good service in destroying many 

 noxious insects, I have made the acquaintance of not 

 a few, but never before met with one engaged in a 

 feat of climbing, such as I have described. — R. 

 Standen, Goosnargk, Lanes. 



How to prepare a Satin surface for Paint- 

 ing. — I am painting some satin doyleys in water- 

 colours, using a good deal of Chinese white as body 

 colour. Is there any means of preparing the surface 

 of the satin to take the paint more kindly, and is it 



possible to fix the painting when finished, with varnish 

 or other medium, so as to prevent its getting rubbed 

 or washed out ?— S. G. R. 



Noise made by Water-Snails.— I cannot find 

 any notice of a peculiar chirping noise made by a 

 water-snail in an aquarium in my possession. The 

 noise is similar to that of a cricket, but there are no 

 crickets in my house ; and move the tank where 

 I will, that singing at intervals during the gaslight 

 continues ; I should say the noise was produced 

 outside the tank. But on applying the ear to the 

 surface of the water it is more evident. For animal 

 life, in the tank, I only have one large water-snail 

 ? Helix, and numerous minute specimens of leeches, 

 &c, and the developed spawn of the above singing 

 individual. Will some one give me any experience 

 he may have had in this direction ? This is the only 

 specimen that could (if possible) produce such a noise, 

 and it can be heard distinctly, all being quiet, at 

 least twelve feet away. — C. J. P., Weymouth. 



The Urticating Properties of Hairs.— It is 

 rather against the theory thrown out by Mr. Swinton, 

 with regard to the irritating powers of the caterpillars 

 of L. anriflua, that a box in which cocoons have been 

 spun, and which has been left untouched for months, 

 will, on being reopened, produce the urticating effect 

 on a person whose skin is susceptible. There are 

 those, of course, who can happily bid defiance to the 

 hairs of the above, or any British species ; but as I 

 know for a fact, others are so sensitive as to suffer, 

 in passing near a hedge where L. chrysorrhcea was 

 numerous, merely from the floating hairs that were 

 detached from the nests. As an urticator, I think 

 the species just named is worse than its relative L. 

 auriflua. The "tigers" are, most of them, hostile 

 to our race in this respect, and various other larva; 

 of the Bombyces. Yet I have never found any 

 special annoyance from those caterpillars of butterflies 

 that are really armed with spines. — J. R. C. S. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — As we now 

 publish Science-Gossip a week earlier than heretofore, we 

 cannot possibly insert in the following number any communi- 

 cations which reach us later than the 9th of the previous 

 month. 



To Anonvmous Querists.— We receive so many queries 

 which do not bear the writers' names that we are forced to 

 adhere to our rule of not noticing them. 



To Dealers and others. — We are always glad to treat 

 dealers in natural history objects on the same fair and general 

 ground as amateurs, in so far as the " exchanges " offered are fair 

 exchanges. But it is evident that, when their offers are simply 

 disguised advertisements, for the purpose of evading the cost of 

 advertising, an advantage is taken of our gratuitous insertion of 

 "exchanges" which cannot be tolerated. 



W. Downes. — We have compared your correction, and find 

 the note published strictly according to your own MS. 



W. Gregson (Thirsk). — We cannot give the price of many of 

 the "Transactions," &c, we acknowledge under the heading 

 of "Books received," as no price is given. The best plan 

 would be for you to write to the secretary of any of the societies, 

 whose works are thus published, asking price, &c. You will 

 find these secretaries most willing to give you all the information 

 you desire. 



A. S. W. (Maidenhead). — The fern will be Dryopteris pedata, 

 a native of Brazil. 



F. W. B. — It is a honeysuckle, we cannot detect any true 

 malformation. 



F. H. A. (Fishbourne). — The sedge you suppose to be Carex 

 divulsa, has puzzled two or three of our best botanists, to whom 

 we have submitted it ; we do not pronounce with certainty 

 until next month. 



