Queries. 739 
would seem from the modes of eestivation that the upper surface of 
the leaf is usually protected from radiation by two surfaces being 
brought into approximation with each other. This necessarily 
leaves the under surface, or a portion of it, more or less exposed. 
It must also be remembered that radiation of heat from any 
surface is materially checked, and cooling prevented by any slight 
surface covering, which has the power of reflecting back the heat 
which otherwise would be given off. 
It will thus be seen that the young plant hairs, which so 
frequently form a downy covering to buds and young leaves, act as 
an efficient protection to cold produced by radiation. Vegetation 
is not injured so much by the absolute coolness of the night air, 
as by the loss of heat from the surface of the vegetable itself by 
the radiation with space, and consequent chilling of the delicate 
growing vegetable structure, and it is this species of cooling which 
the plant hairs prevent. To answer this question fully one ought 
also to discuss the uses of stings, prickles, spines, tomentose, hairs, 
etc., which are evidently designed as protective agencies in other 
ways. ps Wales 
Queries. 
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383.—Toads.—How is it toads swallow live bees? Do the 
toads paralyse the bees by gazing at them first, or is the bee so 
astonished at being flipped up by the toad’s tongue that she has 
not time to sting ? S. A. 
384.—Hairs of Urtice.—How is it that the stinging hairs of 
Urticze do not appear to sting the black caterpillars that are found 
in large numbers in some seasons on the nettle, and what is the 
name of this caterpillar visitor ? B.N. 
385.—Fungus Growth.—What is the name of the fungus 
growth that appears in the form of red points, about the size of a 
small pin’s head, on the bark of many trees ? W.. [..S. 
386.—Hens.—John Parkinson says, in his “ Theatrum Botant- 
cum” :—* If _you give hennes some dry nettles, broken small, with 
their meate in winter, it will make them lay egges all the winter 
