HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP, 



263 



me he had only seen two during this summer. I may 

 remark the weather for the past six weeks is much 

 colder than last year. — R. I. JlayJen, WaUrford, 

 Ireland. 



The Domestic arrangements of Swallows. — 

 This year a pair of swallows built their nest in the 

 wash and brewhouse at Mr. Ford's farm, Blackmore, 

 Hants (about four miles from the home of Gilbert 

 "White). The nest was only about six feet from the 

 ground, and was built on the plate just over the 

 entrance. Other doors communicated with the 

 dwelling-house and dairy, so that the inmates were 

 continually passing near the nest. When the brew- 

 ing and washing were going on the birds took no 

 notice of the people, nor were they at all alarmed at 

 the steam. They regarded the dog as a friendly 

 individual, but the appearance of the cat always 

 caused consternation. The young birds would crouch 

 down in the nest, and the old ones set up a chatter of 

 alarm which continued as long as pussy was visible. 

 Mrs. Lemmon, the house-keeper, was on the best of 

 terms with the birds. She used to open a door 

 opposite the nest and the birds would at once perch 

 on the top of it, while she would stand close to the 

 door and talk to them. Two broods were reared, five 

 in the first and three in the second. When the young 

 of the first brood were on the wing they came every 

 night to the nest to sleep until the first egg was laid 

 for the second brood, when they had to find other 

 lodgings. The whole family, however, always 

 assembled at their old home on wet days, or during 

 heavy showers. The nest was kept clean by the old 

 birds, who carried away the dung in their beaks, 

 until the young ones were strong enough to keep the 

 nest clean themselves. — J. Boggiisf, Jiin. 



Do Parrots require Water ? — One would think 

 that there could be no difference of opinion among 

 ornithologists or bird-fanciers on such a question as 

 this. Yet J. R. C. S. in your September number 

 says— " Water they do not require" — a statement 

 which Dr. Greene in October marks with a (!) and 

 then says : "To say that parrots do not drink is an 

 absurdity, and to deprive them of water the height 

 of cruelty : why, parrots are nearly always captured 

 by the professional bird-catchers at their drinking- 

 places, to which it is their nature to resort night and 

 morning." Now I myself know nothing about this 

 question, but beg to submit the following paragraph 

 from the London Figaro of November 6th, 1880, 

 which I thought very curious at the time. Perhaps 

 some other correspondent can say whether Mr. 

 Bartlett, of the Zoological Gardens, is right or wrong : 

 "Do parrots require water? Mr. Bartlett, of the 

 Zoological Gardens, ought to be a judge, and he 

 says : ' Having during the last thirty years kept 

 many hundreds of parrots under my charge, I can say 

 most positively that parrots do not require water. 

 The valuable collection of birds in the Zoological 

 Gardens, London, the finest in the world, are kept 

 without water altogether.' Yet, Mr. Cross, the 

 well-known naturalist, of Liverpool, has been 

 summoned by the officials of the Society for the 

 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for sending six 

 parrots from Liverpool to London without water. 

 The magistrates decided against Mr. Cross, though 

 only inflicting a nominal penalty, and we are glad to 

 learn that the case is to be taken by Mr. Cross to a 

 higher court. Our conviction, which is based upon 

 practical experience, is the same as Mr. Bartlett's. 

 But Mr. Bartlett's testimony is in itself sufficient con- 

 demnation of the action of the Society for the Preven- 

 tion of Cruelty to Animals. The supposition that Mr. 



Cross would not (if only in his own interests) have 

 supplied the birds with water had he considered it 

 necessary, is simply absurd ; it is strange that any one 

 but a jealous rival of Mr. Cross should have gravely 

 put it forward." — James Hooper, 3 Claude Villas,. 

 Denmark Hill, S.E. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



To Correspondents and Exchangers. — As we now 

 publibh Science-Gossip earlier than heretofore, we cannot 

 possibly insert in the following number any communications 

 which reach us later than the 8th of the previous month. 



To Anonymous 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 owx gratuitous insertion of 

 "exchanges" which cannot be tolerated. 



To Members of the Botanical Exchange Club. — It 

 has been decided to wind up the affairs of this club, as the 

 number of members this year is too small to make the exchange 

 of any value. All members who have paid their subscriptions 

 will have them returned (together with their parcels, &c.) on 

 application to our office. 



"Muckross." — The gelatinous substance sent is a fine speci- 

 men of Nostoc conimutie. 



R. Leigh. — " The Scientific Roll " is published (price u.) by 

 Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., 10 Bouverie Street, London, E.G. 



Muckross. — The specimen marked No. i 'm Athyrmm Filix- 

 fx^nina, latifoliutn, a variety but seldom found. No. 2,. 

 Lastrea dilatcita, not unlike L. diLitata, collina ; it would, 

 however, be better to take it as the type, or simply L. dilatata, 

 for it is very variable. No. 3 is also Lastrea dilitata. No. 4 

 is Lastrea fanisecii, or the hay-scented fern. It is always 

 better to gather a selection of the different forms, as you have 

 done. 



A. E. L. (Birkenhead). — Your species is one of the Onagrarieae. 

 Could you send a specimen in flower? It would be unwise to 

 name it solely from the leaves. 



D. W. (Bury). — The leaves belong to the service-tree. The 

 one large, ovate, is Pyrus Aria, L., the other, lobed and cut, 

 or pinnatifid, is the P. intermedia, Johr. (P. Scandica, Bab.j 

 We did not observe the fruit mentioned. 



Nemo (Malvern). — It is probably Allimn Schixiioprasum, L. ; 

 but it is impossible to name any plant with certainty, except in 

 flower or fruit. Have you a perfect specimen? If it is the 

 true plant, it is a good find. 



F. M. R. (Charmouth). — The species is T.hybridum (Alsike). 

 The other is a very interesting example, from its umbellate 

 inflorescence, of floral prolification. 



A. E. Lomax. — Vour specimens and lists have not reached us. 



J. B. Mayor. — The " Insecta Britannica " would answer 

 your purpose as well as any work we know, otherwise you 

 would have to go to great expense. 



W. G. W. — You will find the fine collection of cretaceous 

 fossils in the Brighton Museum very handy in assisting you to< 

 name your specimens. The new edition of Dixon's " Geology 

 of Sussex" contains numerous plates of chalk fossils. Dana's 

 " Manual of Mineralogy " is the best for your other purpose. 



" Winnie" neglected to pack up the larva carefully. It was 

 quite unrecognisable when it reached us. 



T. S. King. — No specimen of wasp has yet reached us. 



A. Waller. — Your plant is Linum ati^tcstifolitim. 



E. M. H. — Your specimen is the first stage in the construc- 

 tion of the nest of the tree wasp [Vespa Britannica). 



EXCHANGES. 



Scirpus carinatus offered in exchange for 1388, 1391, 1403, 

 1404, 1407, 1410, 1411, 1415, 1417, 1432. '435. 1437. 1444. 1453. 

 1456, 1457, 1471, 1474, 147s. L. "C, 7th ed. — H. Jones. 

 45 Doughty Street, London, W.C. 



Wanted, to exchange a vasculum suitable for long excursions 

 (size, 20 X 9 X si for a smaller one, or useful botanical article-, 

 of similar value.— George T. Harris, High Street, Steyning, 

 Sussex. I 



British marine, land, and freshwater shells for exchange. 

 Lists sent. — R. Ley, St. Leonard's Lawn, Exeter. 



