36 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



In times of exceptional cold certain finches hunt 

 in droves, rendered daring by scarcity of food. I 

 have thus met with a score of rich coloured bull- 

 finches, gold-finches, and the mountain-finches, in 

 separate flocks restlessly flitting across open spaces. 

 The great green woodpecker (Gecinus viridis) is a 

 regular denizen of the woods, to be recognised by 

 his peculiar cry even when invisible to the eye. The 

 black woodpecker and small spotted (liens minor) 

 are more rarely seen. "Tap, tap," one hears on 

 the bark often enough, but the birds hide themselves. 



I have a passing acquaintance with a most 

 audacious magpie in this neighbourhood. Each 

 spring during the last four years the same pair have 

 re-occupied the same nest, built at the extreme top 

 of a cypress tree. The one bird I do not know 



beeches. I am not acquainted with the specific 

 name of the insect, which doubtless belongs to the 

 Cynipidse or gall-making tribe. Opening a perfect 

 specimen of gall I found in it a single white maggot — 

 the cherished morsel of the cole-tit. A microscopic 

 section of the shell appears to show that the growth 

 on the leaf retains the cell-structure of the plant. 



Infesting the Austrian pines, and frequently stunt- 

 ing the branches, are found the curiously constructed 

 webs of the processional moth (Cnethocampa pro- 

 cessioned). The oval structure, perhaps five inches 

 across the longest diameter, is cunningly made from 

 a tangled mass of spun glass-like threads, secreted by 

 the caterpillar. It is artistically fitted on at the axil 

 of branch and stem, interwoven with the leaf-spines. 

 A circular opening is left for the egress of the lame 



Fig. 19. — The Crested Tit (Pants cristatus), 



much about ; he always flies off when disturbed. 

 The other is far more sociable, blinks its eyes, talks 

 volubly and hops about at a circumspect distance. In 

 an imperfect manner I have learned its jargon and 

 often keep up a running conversation across the wall. 

 Magpies and jays are very common ; there are no 

 destroying keepers on the watch. The water-ouzel, 

 or dipper, may always be encountered on the shore of 

 the lake below. He dodges among the loose stones, 

 takes freely to the water, diving instantaneously at 

 the approach of giants or uncouth monsters such as 

 men. 



The Pants ater attracted my attention by its 

 diligent search among the beech-trees. Some hard 

 substance was detached to be at once split in half by 

 the sharp bill. Beneath the trees lay the empty 

 cases, the remains of a conical gall growing on the 



in their own peculiar manner, in the forthcoming 

 spring or summer. Great numbers inhabit a single 

 web. At the appointed season they wish to view the 

 world. By means of a suspended thread the whole 

 family reach the ground, at once starting in solemn 

 procession, which nothing short of extermination will 

 arrest. You may meet a regular line on the march 

 and fail in every attempt to interrupt their progress. 

 Sever the thread and a repair is at once effected. 

 Place them on your hat, and the steady course is 

 pursued in an endless circle, apparently in all content. 

 The hairy glands secrete an irritant poison, causing 

 inflammation to human flesh, almost dangerous with 

 regard to children, and to be avoided by all. Al- 

 though the caterpillars are common in Switzerland, 

 it is a mystery what becomes of them all. They 

 meander off and vanish ; few of the pupa;' seem to 



