66 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



from such like interruption. A circumstance so trifling in itself might 

 likely have passed hy almost unheeded by me, had it not occurred to 

 my mind that I have either heard or read of a very curious instinct 

 being possessed by the Bee tribe, namely, that of alighting on an ant-hill, 

 in order to rid themselves of a parasitic insect, with which they are so 

 greatly infested. Whether such had been the fact in this instance, or 

 whether there had been any mutual arrangement for a journey, on account 

 of such services rendered by the ant I Swill not offer my opinion; I can 

 only assert that the Bee looked very clean and healthy, and carried his 

 ant through the air with due care and steadiness. If on the other hand 

 the ant intended any mischief to the Bee, it certainly had a very great 

 object in view, and a very formidable task to accomplish. — C. Walford, 

 Wikam, November, 1856. 



Winter Work. — As this is the season for relaxing, re-setting, etc., etc. 

 of insects, I beg leave to inform all who it may concern, that they will 

 find chloroform by far the best of all "appliances and means to boot," 

 for cleaning specimens, especially Goleoptera; nay, I will not say for any one 

 order more than others; for all. It is so very pure and volatile that it 

 leaves no stain, and is vastly better than spirits of wine. — F. 0. Morris. 



Weather Wisdom. 

 "A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd's warning; 



A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight." 

 "Evening red and morning grey, 

 Are sure signs of a fine day." 

 "When the glow-worm lights her lamp, 



The air is always damp." 

 "If the cock goes crowing to bed, 



He will certainly rise with a watery head." 

 "When black snails cross your path, 



The air much moisture hath." 

 "When you see gossamer flying, 



Be sure the air is drying." 

 "When the moon shows like a silver shield, 

 Be not afraid to reap your field." 



English Snakes. — When on the subject of English Snakes, we take the 

 opportunity of inserting a paragraph from a note received from a corres- 

 pondent, in reference to the habit of the English Viper swallowing its 

 young — a fact which has been doubted by naturalists, and respecting the 

 acceptance of which some hesitation was felt by the writer of the present 



* I believe that this instinct in the Bee is alluded to in Kirby and Spence; but as 

 some years have elapsed since I read this work, I cannot speak positively upon it. 



