148 MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. 



ticularly in the fugue, is the art of concealing art, a certain appear- 

 ance of facility, which, combined with depth of thought, is itself 

 the highest result and aim of study. We hope Mr. Webbe will 

 zealously pursue the course he has so successfully entered upon, and 

 never rest satisfied, whatever excellence he may attain. 



MISCELLANEOUS COIMMUNICATIONS. 



The Faculty of Locai-ity in Pigeons — A Liege journal gives a re- 

 markable instance of the activity of the organ of Locality in the Pigeon. A 

 Pigeon-fancier of Verviers went to Turin in 1832, taking with him a number 

 of these birds, which he let loose. A short time ago one of these winged 

 messengers returned safely to Verviers after five years absence. "Whether 

 the return of this single bird to its old habitation was mere chance or not, is 

 a matter of doubt ; but be this as it may, the JacuUy which enables the pos- 

 sessor to remember places is unquestionably strong in the Pigeon, and espe- 

 cially in the Carrier Pigeon.— Ed. 



Destruction or Insects At the last meeting of the Horticultural So- 

 ciety, a communication was read from Mr. Ingram, of Southampton, on a 

 simple and efficacious method of destroying the Red Spider, Green Fly 

 Thrip, Scale, and other insects obnoxious to vegetation, without any injury 

 to the plant. It consisted merely in placing the plants within a frame firm- 

 ly closed, and putting between the pots Laurel leaves well bruised. After 

 remaining in this state for about an hour it will be found that all the two 

 former insects are destro3'ed, and the plants must then be removed to a warm 

 place; but an exposure to the vapour of the leaves for about eight hours is 

 found necessary for the removal of the Thrip and Scale. For a house 20 feet 

 bv 12, two bushels of leaves are sufficient, which may be bruised inside ; the 

 roof and sides are to be kept close with matting, and the night time is consi- 

 dered best for the purpose. The effects are to be attributed to the hydro- 

 cj'anic [or prussic. — Ed-I acid evolved from the leaves, which agi-ees with a 

 recommendation made by Mr. Waterhouse, at a late meeting of the Entomo- 

 logical Society, for the destruction of insects in the canvass of pictures or 

 wood of the frames (see The Naturalist, vol. ii., p. 92), and in old books, &c., 

 similar to the plan he employs in destroying insects in specimens of Natural 

 History. It consists in introducing a few drops of prussic acid into a box 

 closed as tight as possible, and placing therein the infested article, when the 

 destruction of insect? will be very quick, as will be seen by their falling to 

 the bottom of the box, which has sometimes been quite covered with them, 

 although a small quantity only of the acid has been employed. — Commnnicated 

 Jy Charles Liverpool, M.D., Pli/mouth, August 6,1837. 



Argonauts. — The long-disputed question of whether the animal found in 

 the shell of the Argonaulahe parasitical or not, seems as far from being set- 

 tled as ever, notwithstanding the observatons of Madame Power, and the 

 experiments of Captain Rang, of the Port of Algiers ; the arguments on one 



