HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



J 95 



turn in the direction from which the sound proceeds. 

 Suddenly a portly blue bird, with a red bill and 

 rusty-red head, and long blue tail margined with 

 white, flies across the open glade, and rests on some 

 branch from whence he surveys his position, and is 

 possibly succeeded by three or four more of his own 

 species. After making a few crow-like hops from 

 branch to branch, and giving vent to a variety of 

 strange sounds, our visitor — the Ceylon blue jay 

 (Cissa ornata) — retires with his companions to some 

 more favourable locality, where his movements may 

 not be so narrowly observed. He is no sooner away, 

 than a low, goat-like call indicates the presence 

 of a hornbill {Tockus gingalensis), whose deep, un- 

 dulating flight need only be seen once to be remem- 

 bered. As we move away down the stream, a flash 

 of blue over a deep, dark pool, denotes the movement 

 of the little blue kingfisher, who speeds away at the 

 sight or sound of man. 



In the water below are many crabs, some of large 

 and others of small size ; but there appears to be 

 but little variety among them as to colour. Another 

 look discloses a variety of life in, upon, and above 

 the flowing waters : added to crabs, there are a few 

 fresh-water crayfish, and a few members of the finny 

 world, but nearly all small creatures, and scarcely 

 worth fishing for if intended for food, except in large 

 rivers, where some fair specimens may be obtained. 

 On the water, beetles of various shapes and colours 

 swim about in ever-changing evolutions, while a 

 good-sized water-spider gives a change to the scene. 

 Over all this may be found the powerful web of 

 some spider, on whose body there seems to glisten 



" Full many a gem of purest ray serene." 

 O'er our heads float many a brightly-coloured butterfly 

 or beetle, while the darkest spots flash with the airy 

 dances of the delicate dragon-flies as they flit past. 



But let us close our day's ramble, for we find so 

 many faces crowding upon one page of nature that 

 we want a chapter to describe each, and this could 

 not be done in a brief and rough sketch like that 

 which I have endeavoured to draw, but which I trust 

 may arouse the interest of naturalists who can do 

 so much justice to a still open field. 



F. L. 



THE PARASITE OF THE WATER-BEETLE. 



ONE hot day, at the end of August, last year, I 

 noticed in a stream a large water-beetle 

 (Dytiscus margitialis) being helplessly carried down by 

 the current. Apparently it was dead. Not so, how- 

 ever ; I secured it, and noticed how very weakly it 

 seemed ! And no wonder, for between the elytra 

 and abdomen there were several large pear-shaped 

 bodies, of a blood-red colour, firmly attached by the 

 small end, which was hooked. I killed the insect 

 (a male) for dissection, and detaching these objects, 



placed them in water. After some days their colour 

 changed, and soon they took a greyish hue, when I 

 knew they contained germs of vitality. I was aware 

 that Dytisais margitialis was often infested with a 

 parasitic mite, but I had not met with an account of 

 the creature. In a few weeks, large, curious-looking 

 mites made their appearance, and I kept one alive in 

 a glass of water for some months. It was round, of a 

 blackish colour, with blotches of red ; eight legs, and 

 of course antennas, protected by a hard covering. It 

 was the liveliest little creature of its kind I had seen, 

 and would spin through the water with a peculiar 

 rapid motion. Occasionally it would remain sus- 

 pended in the water for some time, then dart to one 

 side and move in a circle, then perpendicularly, again 

 diagonally, until all seemed combined to make up a 

 most puzzling and untraceable series of motions. 

 Sometimes, when thus engaged— and it used thus to 

 be occupied for considerable periods without ceasing 

 — it would suddenly gather its legs together, and 

 sinking to the bottom, remain motionless as death. 

 Presently one leg and then another would move, until 

 gradually it had resumed as lively as ever its merry 

 gyrations. When I had two, they were accustomed to 

 fight most desperately. 



The above observations are from my note-book, 

 and may interest some readers. I have since, however, 

 found that the parasite is Achlysia dytisca, mentioned 

 in Cuvier's "Animal Kingdom," p. 471. The 

 following is the passage (editorial) : — 



" From the very valuable discoveries lately made 

 by M. Duges, it appears that these water-mites 

 [Hydrachnellce] undergo metamorphoses, accompanied 

 by a complete change of form, the larvae having a 

 very large head and six legs, whilst the pupae are 

 inactive, attaching themselves, by a single pair of legs, 

 to the bodies of other aquatic insects, and consisting, 

 as it were, simply of an oval bag with a narrow neck, 

 the insect in this state having been formed, by M. V. 

 Audouin, into the genus Achlysia, and specifically 

 named A. dytisci, from taking up its residence beneath 

 the elytra of the water-beetle {Dytisais marginalis). 

 They also attach themselves to the slender filaments 

 composing the tails of the water-scorpions (JVepa and 

 Rauatra)." C. F. Y. 



TEN DAYS IN THE NEW FOREST. 



IN company with my two brothers and friend, 

 I started for the Forest on the 14th July, last 

 summer. The rain fell fast, and continued to do so 

 more or less during the whole of our stay, con- 

 sequently we did not meet with that success which 

 we might otherwise have had, had the weather been 

 more propitious ; nevertheless, we captured a few 

 decent insects and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. 



Amongst the butterflies seeu and taken, I may 

 mention ^Egon extremely abundant, Aglaia, Adippe, 

 and Paphia equally so, and one of the beautiful dark 



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