MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 369 



The writer we have quoted records also that electricity is said occasionally 



to have a peculiar effect upon the garden Tuberose (Polyanthes tuberosa). A 



plant of this has, he says, been observed, on a sultry evening after thunder 



to send out an abundance of small sparks, coming chiefly from such flowers 



as were fading. In 1843 Mr. Dowden described to the British Association a 



luminous appearance witnessed one August evening on the double variety of 



the common Marigold. This was seen by four persons. During the twilight 



a golden flame appeared to play from petal to petal of some of the heads, 



making a sort of corona round the discs. This emanation grew less vivid as 



the light decreased, then vanished. Most of the scientists considered this was 



a case of visual deception, but several years after Dr. Lankester established 



it as a fact, if one very exceptional. He noticed such a flame in the same species 



and also in the Hairy Red Poppy, the flashes of light occurring at the end 



of a hot dry day. Another gentleman stated that on a June evening about nine 



he saw flashes of light pass along three scarlet Verbenas growing a foot apart in 



his garden. He called the attention of his gardener and several other persons to 



the spot, and the sight lasted quite a quarter of an hour. There was a smoky 



appearance in the air after the flashes, which reminded one of the summer 



lightning in miniature. Subsequently the same phenomenon was noticed 



amongst some red Pelargoniums, and it was repeated many times during July 



and August, when the weather was sultry and electric. Friends are requested 



to watch their Chrysanthemums at dusk, since that flower is reported to be 



now and then luminous, presumably the white and yellow varieties. Other 



luminous plants are the White Lily, the Nasturtium, the Sunflower, the Evening 



Primroses and some wall mosses. 



(Indian Planting and Gardening, 17lh December 1904.) 



No. IX— AN EGG-EATING COBRA. 



With reference to Mr. C. P. George's note on Cobras feeding on eggs, page 174 

 (No. XXII) of this Volume, I enclose a photograph taken by me a short time 

 since of a large-sized cobra killed on a Guinea-fowl's nest; the nest contained 15 

 eggs and the cobra had swallowed six. 



After killing the cobra the six eggs were pressed out and set, three of them 

 eventually hatching out. *The photograph distinctly shows the distention of 

 the snake. 



Bankipur, 1st January, 1905. E. BROOK FOX. 



No. X.— LOCUSTS. 

 The Colouring of Acridium peregrinum. 

 With regard to Mr. Aitken's note on the above subject on page 157 of Vol. 

 XVI., No. 1 of the Journal, it may be of interest to note that a swarm of Locusts 

 which visited this place in June (12th) 1901 consisted of specimens of both 

 colours (red and yellow) in very nearly equal proportions, the red predominating 

 slightly. 



* The photograph referred to Las been placed in the Society's album.— Editors. 

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