228 Miscellaneous. 



apparent with the same characters in all : it consists in a double 

 ganglion placed before the buccal orifice from which several threads 

 go off. — Comptes Rendus, July 15th, 1844, 



On the Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, considered as a specific 

 remedy against Fleas. By Prof. Cantraine. 



During my residence in the eastern countries of Europe, I was 

 astonished at the small number of fleas which are to be found, in 

 spite of the extraordinary dirtiness of the dwellings. I afterwards 

 learnt at Ragusa, that the Bosnians and Dalmatians had found a 

 remedy against these troublesome blood-suckers in the Chrysan.' 

 themum leucanthemum. They place the plant in the bed of the 

 domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, &c., and the fleas are destroyed 

 in a very short time. If this plant possesses the same virtue in our 

 climate, it might become very useful, not only in the houses of 

 the poor, but even in the mansions of the rich. In order to put this 

 property to the test, it may be well to direct general attention to 

 this very common and well-known plant, the vulgar name of which 

 is the great Gunzebloeme (Goose-flower), known in France as Fleur de 

 St. Jean (doubtless from its flowering near St. John's day), [and in 

 England as the Common Ox-eye]. — Bulletin de I' Acad. Royale de 

 Bruxelles, torn. viii. part 2. p. 234. 



ON THE BIRDS OF LINCOLNSHIRE AND THE FENS. 

 From Drayton's Poly-olbion, S. xxiii., xxv. * 



From Ely all along upon the eastern sea. 

 Then Lincolnshire herself in state at length doth lay : 

 Which, for her fatt'ning fens, her fish, and fowl, may have 

 Pre-eminence : as she that seemeth to outbrave 

 All other southern shires 



She, by the Muses' aid, shall happily reveal 

 Her sundry sorts of fowl, from whose abundance she 

 Above all other tracts may boast herself to be 

 The mistress ; and, indeed, to sit without compare : 



" My various fleets for fowl, O who is he can tell. 

 The species that in me for multitudes excel ! 

 The Duck ' and Mallard > first, the falconer's only sport, 

 (Of river-flights the chief, so that all other sort 

 They only green-fowl term,) in every mere abound. 

 That you would think they sat upon the very ground, 



* We are indebted to Mr. Yarrell for the notes which are subjoined. — 

 Ed. 



1 Anas Boschas, female and male. The Peregrine Falcon was the spe- 

 cies most commonly used for duck-liawking, and our wild-duck, from its 

 conrage as well as its powers of flight, is almost the only duck that will take 

 the air boldly and ' try conclusions ' with him. 1 have been told by falconers, 

 that if it blows hard, the wild-duck can make its way up wind so fast as to 

 get clear off. The Peregrine Falcon is frequently called the Duck-hawk. 

 They breed on high rocks near the coast, and subsist almost exclusively on 

 water-fowl. 



