HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



45 



of skiu that this apparatus is required. When 

 youmr, the larva can throw out a long thread like 

 a filament, of a dark reddish colour, from each of its 

 two caudal appendages. These are probably used 

 to brush away ichneumon flies. The emission of 

 the liquid as a means of defence by the adult larva 

 is a peculiarity I have never observed. The rosy 

 slit has, to me, an additional interest when consi- 

 dered in connection with the very strange appear- 

 ance of a mask about the head of this creature, 

 which may be said to possess black eyes, rosy 

 cheeks, and cherrvlips, or the semblance of them, at 

 all events.— T. W. Wood, F.Z.S. 



Slit Windows.— In the October number of 

 Science-Gossip there appear illustrations of the 

 outside and inside elevations of a slit window. I 

 know little of architecture, and shall most likely 

 make my ignorance apparent, but should like to 

 inquire if this class of window belongs to any 

 particular period ? there having been discovered 

 recently a row of six exactly similar windows in a 

 building (formerly used as infirmary to the great 

 Benedictine monastery of St. Mary, at Worcester), 

 which stands on the eastern bank of the Severn, 

 between the river and the cathedral and monastic 

 buildings. The ground-floor was used as the bakery, 

 the upper story as infirmary. A modern brick 

 mansion had been erected about and over this stone 

 building, completely enveloping the latter. It 

 appears to have been partially taken down and then 

 built over. The pulling down of the dwelling-house 

 some two years ago discovered the massive stone 

 walls and the windows as I describe — six in a row, 

 closely set together. If any one will give informa- 

 tion as to the supposed date of the structure, it may 

 interest many in the immediate locality — if not 

 elsewhere. I forgot to say the ruin is left stand- 

 ing, and appears quite an object of interest beside 

 the noble and lately restored cathedral. — A. E., 

 Worcester. 



Lobsters. — I should be much obliged to any 

 reader of Science-Gossip who would kindly inform 

 me what are the characteristic motions of lobsters, 

 and how their organs are adapted to perform them. 

 —C. 



A Visit to Lynton, N. Devon.— The delight- 

 ful little town of Lynton is situated on the top of a 

 hill (430 ft. above the sea-level), at the foot of 

 which lies the fishing village of Lynmouth, where 

 the united rivers of the East and West Lynn fall 

 into the sea, after twisting and tumbling over rocks, 

 through beautiful glens and valleys, which abound 

 in this romantic part of England, now made noto- 

 rious by Blackmore in his novel, " Loorna Doone." 

 The town of Lynton is built most irregularly, and 

 reminds one of Wales. In the cottage gardens 

 difl'erent varieties of fuchsias are grown, and flower 

 luxuriantly. About a mile from Lynton is the well- 

 known "Valley of Rocks," which is approached 

 either by the carriage-road or the cliff walk overlook- 

 ing the sea, and (on a clear day) the Welsh coast is 

 seen. Following this path, you suddenly come upon 

 the debris of rocks, some still remaining erect on 

 the heights above, others hurled down by wind and 

 storm. Another place worth seeing is the private 

 ground of Mr. Puddell, opened twice a week to 

 the public, who are expected to pay a gratuity at 

 the lodge towards the Lynmouth Hospital. The 

 river West Lynn here flows over boulders, forming 

 miniature waterfalls and cascades. Many flowers 

 and ferns have been brought here by the proprietors 



of Glen Lynn (as this charming spot is called), 

 and thev grow profusely, as if habituated to the 

 soil. The Watersmeet should also be visited, — 

 a lovely valley, where the two rivers, the Brendon 

 and the Lynn, unite : the road to it is very 

 fine. It was here that I found the red Seduni, 

 Orpine telephium, among a heap of stones by the 

 river Lynu. Last, but not least, I must mention 

 the drive to Glenthorne (the property of Mr. 

 Halliday) over the Bren Barrow Moor, which, in 

 September, when the gorse and heather are in full 

 flower, is one mass of purple and gold. There is a 

 British camp on the Moor. Space forbids me to 

 say more; but I must add that any one who wants 

 to see real English scenery should pay a visit to this 

 charming place, situated at an easy distance from 

 Ilfiacombe. — Helena J. Taylor, Folkestone. 



How do Ckickets Produce their Sound ?— 

 I have frequently tried to find out how crickets 

 produce their well-known chirrup; but only on oue 

 occasion did I succeed in inducing a cricket to 

 exercise itself in that direction, they having 

 apparently a great objection to " sing" in captivity. 

 On the occasion I refer to, I put two crickets, — a 

 pair, — under a tumbler, whereupon the male imme- 

 diately raised its elytra, and shuffled them together, 

 producing a noise which would be best represented 

 by the word "shilly." It repeated this several 

 times with its head towards the female, who 

 probably considered herself insulted, for she literally 

 clawed his face with one of her hind feet, supple- 

 menting this action with a sudden and violent kick, 

 and from that time themale took no more notice 

 of her. — J. P. Blackett, jun. 



The Growth op Mistletoe. — Will any of your 

 readers be kind enough to supplement the following 

 list of trees which support mistletoe? The oak, 

 poplar, lime, sycamore, apple, mountain ash, and 

 fir. 1 have seen it growing on all of these but the 

 first, about which, however, there is no doubt. The 

 mountain ash, 1 believe, to be au unusual tree to 

 support the mistletoe, but an example can be seen 

 from the Great terrace of Windsor Castle. Once 

 only have I seen it on a fir-tree ; unfortunately I 

 omitted to notice the kind. The growth was curious ; 

 a large number of very small plants were growing 

 upon the stem of the tree, on the side towards the 

 south. The tree was in the forests of Goisern, in 

 the neighbourhood of Ischl. — R. S. T. 



" Crabs out of Water. — Some years ago I kept 

 a small crab {Carcinus Mcenas) in a bell-glass, with 

 some rock-work for him to come out of the water 

 on. If the glass cover got tilted on one side he 

 managed to get out, and was often found about the 

 room. Towards summer the tank was moved out 

 of doors, under a verandah ; he soon got out and 

 could not be found ; but four or five days after, on 

 moving some flowerpots and plants from a damp 

 corner, the crab was discovered remarkably vig- 

 orous, with a large worm in his claws, which he 

 was very particular in insisting taking with him, on 

 being returned to the tank, from which he soon 

 escaped again, and filially disappeared.—//. F.jioi. 



Dogs Eating Wasps.— I am curious to know 

 whether it is a common thing for dogs to eat wasps, 

 and if they are known to possess some means of 

 nullifying the effect of the sting ? On several occa- 

 sions this summer, I watched with much interest 

 the excitement caused by wasps to a black and tan 

 terrier. The moment one appeared on the window, 



