82 



would, if it could speak, probably echo the words of the gipsy girl's 



lament, who when tired of the routine of civilized or cultivated 



life sang : 



Then take me to my greenwood home, 



My heart has long been there, 

 And nothing but the greenwood now 

 Can save me from despair. 



148, -NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



No. 13. — Destruction bt Bees {Trigona sp.) — It has been long a 

 common regret that although flowers are produced in abundance on 

 trees of Amherstia nohilis for several months in each year (in 1895 

 from January to June) it is seldom that good seed is produced. 



Mr. Lunt, my assistant, has now pointed out to me the fact that 

 nearly all the nectaries at the base of the calyx tube have been pierced 

 by bees for the purpose of obtaining the nectar, and the damage done 

 is such as to cut oiF a large portion of the nutriment that should go 

 for the development of the seed. We are aware of many similar 

 instances which are on record, but the observation is here recorded, 

 to point out the possibility of secviring seed of rare plants, 

 by carefully protecting the flowers from such attacks, during the 

 period of aestivation and development of the fruiting parts. It ia 

 possible that in its native country the insect which has here done 

 damage is not present, and that the plant would seed freely in con- 

 sequence. 



No. 14. — The Hunter Ant of Trinidad. — Our gardens are visited 

 annually, generally during the dry season, by armies of the hunter ant. 

 These armies are numerous and when on the march very destructive 

 to animal life. The columns on the march move as a rule in trains 

 some three or four inches in width, but they spread out in skirmishing 

 formation when the ground to be traversed is likely to contain suitable 

 food. These columns will search a ravine, a stable or a house, and 

 occupy it for hours, destroying every living thing not strong enough 

 to resist their numbers ; and even human beings have at times to give 

 way to them. If a dwelling house is entered it is better for the 

 occupants to leave it for a time than to attempt to drive them out. 

 Mice, rats, lizards, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, cockroaches, etc., all 

 kinds of insects and their larvae, fall a prey to these creatures, and in 

 houses where the genera Cimex and Pulex are plentiful, the ants 

 make a clean sweep rendering the dwellings absolutely free from the 

 pests for a considerable time, and hence they are welcomed by people 



