64 



RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



pie, the superior edge of the inner lip not 

 touching the preceding whorl, except in 

 young specimens. Average size one-tenth 

 inch in length by one-fourteenth in breadth. 

 Diameter of aperture one-twenty-fifth inch. 

 Full grown specimens attain a length of 

 three-twentieths inch." 



{To be continued.) 



A Hint to Conchologists. 



The following easy way of removing the 

 smaller species of univalve mollusks from 

 their shells without injuring the latter, may 

 prove of interest to our conchological 

 friends : 



As the old saying goes, ' first get the 

 shells,' then drop them into a pan of wa- 

 ter close to the boiling point, and let them 

 boil from one to two minutes, but no longer. 

 Then, by inserting the point of a pin into 

 the foot and turning the latter toward the 

 inner lip or columella, — revolving the shell 

 at the same time in an opposite direction, — 

 the animal may be extracted without the 

 slightest trouble. As soon as possible 

 thereafter the shells should be carefully 

 brushed, using a soft tooth-brush for the 

 purpose, and those having an outward gloss 

 well rubbed with a fine cloth or chamois 

 skin, while those that are naturally dull, or 

 covered with' an epidermis, should be oiled 

 lightly with the jyurest of olive oil only. 

 Cotton-seed oil will make them offensive to 

 the touch as well as to the sight. Unfor- 

 tunately this boiling process will not an- 

 swer for large specimens, as the amount of 

 time i-equired to sever their muscular at- 

 tachments inevitably destroys the internal 

 nacre, and therefore the value of the shells. 

 It is pleasant to know, however, that the 

 small and more delicate species can be so 

 easily managed, saving, as the operation 

 does, much valuable time to the student, 

 and many a trial of his patience and temper 

 as well. John Ford. 



Philadelphia, Penn., June, 1885. 



Mylacris Packardii. 



The above name has been lately given to 

 an insect of the Carboniferous Age, by the 

 great American authority, Professor Scud- 

 der, editor of Science, Cambridge, Mass. 

 Its locality was Bristol, R. I., on the shores 

 of Narragansett Bay, south of Peck's 

 Rocks. The possessor, the Rev. Edgar F. 

 Clark, gave it the temporary nameof Blatta 

 Americana. The canonical name given by 

 Professor Scudder was in honor of Professor 

 Packard, of Brown University, who also 

 possesses large entomological reputation. 

 The insect belongs to the cockroaches of 

 geologic antiquity, of peculiar form. 



" What nose is more brilliant than a wine 

 bibber's? Volca-nos, to be sure. And the 

 chief glow comes from the ' crater.'" 



Color of Birds Eyes, 



California Barn Owl, nearly black. 



Glossy Ibis, brown. 



White- faced Glossy Ibis, red. 



White Ibis, pearly blue. 



Scarlet Ibis. 



Roseate Spoonbill, carmine. 



Wood Ibis, dark brown. 



Great Blue Heron, pale yellow, straw. 



Great White Heron, pale yellow, straw. 



White Egret, pale yellow, straw. 



Snowy Heron, pale yellow, straw. 



Louisiana Egret, red. 



Reddish Egret, red. 



Little Blue Heron, yellow. 



Green Heron, yellow. 



^;ight Heron, red ; young, brown. 



Yellow-crowned Night Heron, orange. 



American Bittern, light yellow. 



Least Bittern, light yellow^ 



Florida Gallinule, red or brown. 



Mallard Duck, brown, hazel. 



Black Duck, brown. 



Pin-tailed Duck, brown. 



Gadvvall, reddish brown. 



Wigeon, brown. 



Green- winged Teel, brown. 



Blue-winged Teel, brown. 



Cinnamon Teel, orange. 



Shoveller Duck, orange-red. 



Wood Duck, red. 



Greater Scaup Duck, yellow. 



Lesser Scaup Duck, yellow. 



Red-head Duck, orange. 



Canvas-back Duck, red. 



