Genercd Notes. 43 



is the usual opinion of all the big raisers with whom I con- 

 versed. Yet this does not materially aifect Mr. Darwin's 

 argument, wdiich is that the mere existence of a certain 

 plant causes the hogs of this section to assume a dark color, 

 for if the hoofs are dark the whole animal is usually dark. 

 That the case may be made seemingly stronger I will say, 

 that in some sections of Florida, where the paint root does 

 not grow, white hogs are as numerous as black ones. 



I find that there is another reason why the settlers select 

 hogs which are of a dark color. This is that they stand a 

 better chance of escaping from bears than white ones, as 

 they are less conspicuous, especially in the night. Now I 

 can go a step flirther and show^ that the hogs of themselves 

 assume a protective color. It is noticeable that hogs which 

 have lived for generations in the piny woods are of a red- 

 dish hue, corresponding exactly with the color of the fallen 

 pine leaves, so that it is almost impossible to detect one at 

 a little distance when it is lying upon a bed formed of 

 them. 



This instance, together w^ith the fact that the black hoof 

 is a safeguard against the poisonous effects of the paint 

 root, seems a conclusive argument in favor of the theory 

 that the Florida hogs have made a slight advance towards 

 forming a new variety or species. 



{To be Continued.') 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Occurrence of the Connecticut Warbler {O'poror- 

 nls agilis) in Massachusetts in Spring. — A specimen of 

 this Warbler was taken by Mr. Dwight Blaney at Readville, 

 Mass., May 24, 1883. This is the first record of the occur- 



