HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



47 



Pear-Tree in Blossom. — We have near us a 

 pear-tree, which has been in blossom since November, 

 and is still in bloom. (Dec. 9th.) Is this a common 

 occurrence ? — A. Ficldwick, jnit. 



Water-Hen simulating Death.— While plant- 

 collecting, in July, 1880, on shore of Lough Neagh, 

 I and my children found a water-hen's nest close 

 to the water, composed entirely of freshly-plucked 

 Lythnim Salkaria, the eggs in which were warm. \ 

 When we had gone some ten yards farther, my son 

 discovered one of the birds lying on its side, partly 

 in water, its head concealed by one of the large loose 

 stones which lay about the spot. Thinking it was 

 dead, he took it by the tip of one wing, and holding 

 it up, showed it to me ; as the limbs were relaxed, 

 I considered it to be decomposed, and was just 

 telling him to drop it, when the supposed dead bird 

 suddenly stiffened its wings, and to our great astonish- 

 ment flew away. I have frequently seen wild ducks, 

 sand-pipers, lapwings, titlarks, and wagtails, exercise 

 their reasoning powers, and endeavour to draw off 

 intruders, by pretending to be wounded as they 

 fluttered before one ; but this case of feigning death 

 was different in its object. The water-hen had 

 doubtless been watching us so intently that we had 

 got too near for it to escape by running or flying, 

 and hoped by simulating death to be passed bv us. — 

 H. W. Lett, M.A. 



Do Mice kill Birds ? — We had a goldfinch 

 which'appeared to have been pecked or injured about 

 the bill, and which, after being removed from the 

 aviary (which is in a room on the top of the house) 

 was taken back and placed in a compartment sepa- 

 rate from the others. It did not perch, but remained 

 on the floor. In the morning we found evidence of 

 a struggle ; the head of the bird crushed, and the 

 brains eaten. The wires are too close for anything 

 but a mouse, or something equally small, Snd nothing 

 else entered the room, or could have done the 

 mischief. Can you explain the matter? We have 

 no rats that I know of, and a rat could not have 

 passed through the wires. — John Giles. 



Lamium album. — During the past few days of 

 exceptionally mild weather, 1 have noticed a consider- 

 able quantity of Lamium albiini in full bloom along 

 the hedges. Having observed this plant among the 

 earliest to bloom, and now finding it thus late, I 

 should 'like to know if it is usual for this one species 

 to be so late — every other species of nettle being 

 dead — and whether this is a second growth this year ? 

 —L. A. 



The Mild Season, &c. — Up to the present time 

 (Dec. 14th), the season has been wonderfully mild 

 here (Andover, Hants). About three weeks ago, 

 I discovered a wren's nest, about half built, in a 

 cowshed.. In February, 1878, a wren (probably the 

 same) built on precisely the same spot (vide Science- 

 Gossip for July, 1880). On Sunday I found a good 

 many primroses [Primula vulgaris) in bloom, in the 

 young underwood. Three kinds of ferns grow about 

 here : (i) The common brake (Pteris aqiiilina) ; 



(2) the common polypody (Polyf odium vulgarc) ; 



(3) the male fern {Lastrca Filix-mas)—i\iQ latter 

 two kinds are still flourishing. Stock doves and 

 wood pigeons {Columba CEiias and Palumbus) have 

 not yet collected in vast flocks, as they generally do 

 in this locality early in November. Rock doves 

 {Columba livia) are also found about here in the 

 winter months, congregating with the stock and 

 ring doves; the country people call them "blue 



rocks." These immense flocks feed on the tender 

 tops of swedes and turnips. Some people fancy 

 that they also feed on the roots ; but I am quite 

 assured that this is incorrect. Later on the ivy- 

 berry affords them food, as it does also starlings, 

 song and missel thrushes (called about here "whine 

 thrush "), greenfinches, sparrows, &c. Jays keep to- 

 gether during the winter in batches of about half a 

 dozen. Carrion crows [Corvits corona) also feed 

 and roost together. I have counted upwards of 

 three dozen of these birds in the evening, searching 

 about for a warm place to roost in. Jesse, in his 

 "Gleanings," says that he once disturbed quite a 

 "bunch" of magpies roosting in a wood. Wrens 

 and various small birds crowd together for warmth 

 in cold weather. I once found thirty huddled 

 together in a thatched barn. Woodcocks alone are 

 stirring in the night in search of their food, the 

 common earthworm [Lumbricus terrestris). Keepers 

 say that they live by the " suction of the ground," 

 and snipes too. They do not live entirely on worms, 

 for I once found quite a large beetle in the crop of 

 a woodcock just shot. Soon after dusk they may 

 be seen flying to their feeding grounds. Rabbits 

 breed at all times ; in the middle of the winter, pro- 

 vided the weather be sufficiently mild. Several 

 "stops" have been found about here lately, con- 

 taining young. — G. Dewar. 



Distribution of Fungi, &c. — During my 

 country walks, I so often come across fungi, both 

 microscopic and other, that I should be glad to make 

 it known, in some way, to microscopic mounters, 

 fungologists, &c., as I would send them a specimen 

 of all I find, postage free (if I knew how to preserve 

 them for the purpose, and the best way of packing 

 them), in return for their names. I saw at least a 

 dozen different sorts this damp day on bark, and 

 growing on the grass, (Sic, in the woods, and though 

 I do not know the names, I know which are common, 

 or rare ; and if I numbered the specimens, and got the 

 names, I should soon know a good deal more about 

 it. But I know that there is often a want of material 

 amongst town mounters, which I should be glad to 

 supply. — W. Garrett, Camerton Court, Bath. 



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 communica- 

 tions which reach us later than the Sth of the previous month. 



To Anonymous Querists. — We leceive 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 al o\xx gratuitous insertion of 

 "exchanges" which cannot be tolerated. 



J. E. R. — Only four kinds of newts are known in England. 

 See Cooke's " British Reptiles." 



W. Penn. — There can be no question as to theleaf being that 

 of the betony. The objects you took to be "spore-cases" on 

 the back were parasitical fungi, called Pticcinia Betonica:. 



Mac. — Your zoophyte is the "lobster's horn coralline" 

 ( Antennula7-i.i antennma). See Taylor's " Half Hours at the 

 Seaside," page 102. 



E. Shaker. — The "Botanischc Zeitung" is a German 

 periodical, resembling Science-Goss:i' in some respects, but 

 devoted to botany. It might be obtained through Mr. W. 

 Wesley, natural history bookseller, Essex Street, Strand. 



