72 THE QUERIST. 



a friend of his, was sitting upon a clutcli of eggs, whether the young were 

 hatched and reared."' I may mention that the Warbling Paraquet of New 

 Holland will breed in confinement. At a dealer's near the London Docks, 

 I saw several nests containing both eggs and young; and I have been told 

 that the bird-dealers in Paris breed them regularly for sale. — J. S. Walker, 

 December 11th., 1855. 



In an old edition of that curious and entertaining work of Bellamy's, 

 ^'Spectacle de la Nature," occurs the following interesting account of a 

 battle between a Spider and a Fly: — The insect generally known by the 

 name of the ratenous caterpillar, whose principal food is the leaves of the 

 elm, sometimes produces a large Fly that will join battle with the Spider. 

 The intrepid Fly in a moment rudely attacks the Spider, who lies in am- 

 buscade in the centre of his web; down falls the Spider alarmed at the 

 shock, but spinning with all his might. The Fly takes the advantage of 

 confusion, gives him no quarter, drags him upon the ground, and breaks 

 his legs. After this, fierce with resentment, he takes a tour round his 

 adversary, with intent either to secure him, without running the hazard 

 of a second engagement, or to testify the joy he conceives on the conquest 

 gained over the implacable enemy of his whole species. When he has 

 thus wheeled three times round his captive, he fastens upon him, and con- 

 veys him into the air. I am curious to know the name of this ravenous 

 Caterpillar, and the heroic Ichneumon Fly which treated the Spider in the 

 same Way Achilles did the unhappy Hector, when, after conquering and 

 disarming his foe, he played the tyrant over him, and conveyed him to 

 his tent.^^SiDNEY Style, Brighton. 



Answer to T. O. Bonney's Query in "The Naturalist" for Decemher. — 

 Honey-dew is the name given to the gummy coating found on the leaves 

 of trees and plants, and is nothing more than the excrement of the insects 

 called Aphides, of which the most familiar examples are Aphis quercus, A. 

 fa})(2^ and A. malt, all of which I have seen at different seasons. If writing 

 paper be placed under the leaves of the plant on which the Aphis is 

 feeding, it will become as thickly covered as the leaves. The fecundity 

 of this species is very great. Reaumur proved by experiment one Aphis 

 to be parent of 5,904-,900 descendants. The Aphides were thought by 

 the old writers on Natural History to be produced from a plastic fluid 

 voided by Ants, from the circumstance of their always being found where 

 Ants were numerous. (See Godart ii,, Exp. 22.) — Charles Fryer, 83, 

 Rumford Street, Manchester, December 5th., 1855. 



'^Hips and Haws." — What are Hips? — F. O. Morris, Nunburnholme 

 Rectory, December 22nd., 1855. 

 * The writer will see thi.s quere noticed by anticipation in ttaf^^haHl ^pabe r . — F.O.M. 



