6 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly Feb. 



which seems certain to bring to light many new and 

 interesting facts, is at present being undertaken by Dr 

 George H. F. Nuttall of Cambridge. It has been found 

 that the blood of certain animals, treated in a particular 

 manner, gives a " reaction " different from that obtained 

 with human blood. Starting from this fact, the object of 

 the research is to find out whether every animal blood can 

 thus be differentiated from human blood — a very important 

 question from a medico-legal point of view. Besides this, 

 as Dr Nuttall says, " it seems certain that interesting results, 

 from the point of view of zoological classification, will thus 

 be brought to light." One can very well imagine that the 

 bloods of animals, could they all be treated in such a way as 

 to give a reaction different from that obtained with human 

 blood, would afford some striking evidence of affinities and 

 distinctions at present unknown. Dr Nuttall has set him- 

 self the immense task of obtaining specimens of every verte- 

 brate blood and some invertebrate, and the means adopted 

 are so simple that every field naturalist can be of assistance 

 if he wishes. Blood can be taken from dead animals up 

 to twenty -four hours after death. The blood is simply 

 soaked up on strips of pure filter-paper, one end of which 

 is left clean in order to write the name of the species 

 and collector upon it. The paper quickly dries, or can be 

 placed between sheets of impervious paraffined paper. The 

 whole apparatus can be carried in the pocket in an envelope, 

 and the sportsman or person in the country who encounters 

 dead animals in all sorts of ways can thus render valuable 

 help. We have seen the outfit, and proved by experiment 

 that it is no trouble at all, so would ask those of our readers 

 who perhaps do not often have the opportunity to help in 

 scientific zoological work to apply to Dr Nuttall for speci- 

 mens of the filter-paper. (Address — Dr Nuttall, 3 Cranmer 

 Road, Cambridge.) Those who number gamekeepers 

 among their friends will find abundance of material in the 

 ** larders." 



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The seasonal bird study by our artist, Mr Frank South- 

 gate, in this number, is the first of a series that he is doing 



