Aug. 1885.] EDITORIAL NOTES. 215 



Editorial Kotes. 



Squirijels and HoKSE-CiiESTNurs. — On June 21st we received 

 some small terminal twigs of horse-chestnuts growing in Little 

 Somborne Park, near Stockbridge, Hants, belonging to Sir Frederick 

 Henry-Bathurst, Bart., representing eight or nine fine chestnuts, 

 which had ten days or so previously assumed a very withered and 

 tattered appearance. Mr. Morley, the agent of the propert}'', sus- 

 pected this to be the work of an insect ; and mindful that we 

 liad stated in January number that all the chestnuts in the 

 neighbourhood of Xantes had died, tliough it was uncertain whether 

 the insect found on them was the cause or result of the disease, 

 the parcel was despatched to j\Iiss Ormerod for her decision. 

 That lady, after the study of fresh specimens, could not find a 

 trace of insect working, but as squirrels are very numerous, 

 attributed this to their work. When first seen, the marks of 

 three teeth in the pith could be detected, resembling squirrels' 

 teeth, though no one had ever seen them gnawing the shoots. 

 " In one case," writes Miss Ormerod, " the length of the woody 

 part of the shoot has been removed, and the cut part at the top 

 is almost as cleanly severed as by a knife, — the bark in this 

 instance having been sufficiently untouched to connect the tip of 

 the shoot with the lower part." Mr. Gibson, naturalist in the Edin- 

 burgh Museum of Science and Art, says that the above branches, 

 which were subsequently submitted to him, still exhibit distinct 

 traces of rodents' (squirrels') teeth. jSTow though Bell long ago noted 

 that the squirrel delights in nuts, acorns, beech, and slender shoots 

 generally, how comes it that it never perceptibly developed this 

 fondness for horse-chestnuts in this locality till June 1885 ? Is 

 this the development of a new taste caused by this year's specially 

 luxuriant foliage ? It may be well to note that the squirrel hides 

 its food in varied reservoirs away from its nest. 



The Scottish Aiiboricultueal Society's Annual Meeting. — 

 We have again to call attention to the date of this meeting, as 

 well as those of the subsequent excursions, with their incidental 

 arrangements as to trains and hotel accommodation. Intending 

 excursionists should at once communicate with Mr. M'Laren, so 

 that the indispensable arrangements for a pleasant " outing " may 

 be made. 



