174 
metal cools, the evolution of heat cannot be detected by the 
unaided eye. I may add that I fully share with M. Osmond, 
with whom I have so long worked, his appreciation of the value 
of Prof. Barrett’s investigation. 
Royal Mint, June 9. W. C. RoBERTS-AUSTEN. 
Harvesting Ants. 
IN the spring of 1878 I was much amused with watching the 
apparent want of common sense displayed by the harvesting 
ants in storing the little fruits of the plane-tree (Pla‘anus 
orientalis) in one of the avenues at Mentone. It was with much 
interest, on revisiting the Riviera in May this year, that I 
observed the same clumsy methods still being adopted by these 
ants under the plane-trees, not only at Mentone, but also at 
Hyeres and Alassio. 
Comparing the fruits to an umbrella in which the ribs are 
represented by the parachute of long hairs springing from the 
base or narrower end, while the upper and broader end is fre- 
quently surmounted by the remains of the style forming the 
handle of the umbrella, the ants in bringing the fruits to the 
nest, hold them pointing out in front, carrying them by the 
handle. On reaching the entrance, one would naturally suppose 
they would push them inas one pushes an umbrella into a stand, 
with the hairs pointing upwards. This would be comparatively 
easy, as the hairs in question would close round the fruit and 
offer no obstruction. Instead of doing this, the ants take the 
trouble to turn round and reverse the fruits, and then attempt to 
drag the tiny umbrellas in by the handle, the ribs pointing 
downwards and catching against the sides of the aperture. A 
large amount of time and energy is wasted by the ants in 
tugging and struggling with the fruits in order to make them go 
in, and very often a considerable number of ants are kept wait- 
ing about the entrance laden with similar spoil until their turn 
comes. Occasionally when the aperture is large the fruits go in 
more easily, but this is exceptional. The considerable ‘‘ midden ” 
of hairs outside the nests is evidence that the ants remove and 
reject the hairs after taking all this trouble. 
I have never seen the ants carry a fruit into their nests with 
the hairs pointing upwards, except when I have thrust one well 
into the aperture in this position, and I have known the ants 
to reverse the fruits after I have tried to make matters easier 
for them. The present observations show (1) that after twenty 
years’ experience in the same avenue at Mentone the ants have 
not learnt such a simple lesson as the proper way to get plane- 
tree fruits into their nests; (2) that this apparent lack of in- 
genuity is not restricted to the ants of one particular place, but 
is shared by the harvesting ants all along the Riviera; (3) that 
the ants know one method, and one method only. 
June. G. H. Bryan. 
Bessel’s Functions. 
THE phrases quoted by Prof. Gray furnish additional 
examples of the laxity of style amongst scientific men, to which 
**C. G. K.” has called attention. 
The English language does not readily afford a means of 
converting the name of a person into the corresponding 
adjective ; and the result is that a slovenly practice has grown 
up of using the name itself as an adjective. In certain instances, 
this practice has become sanctioned by usage ; and whenever 
this is the case, the same word must be regarded as doing duty 
for the proper noun and the corresponding adjective. But the 
practice is not to be commended, and ought always to be 
avoided if possible. 
In my former letter, the word conception is a misprint for 
corruption, A. B, BASSET, 
Fledborough Hall, Holyport, Berks, June 16. 
Limnology, 
As introduced by Prof. Forel, and widely accepted by scien- 
tific men in all countries, the term Zzmo/ogy is applied to the 
science of lakes exactly as Oceanography is applied to the science 
of oceans. It is consequently with some surprise, and even a 
little shock, that I find a review in the current issue of 
Nature headed ‘‘Limnology,” and dealing with the small 
organisms of drinking-water. These have been termed Zimno- 
plankton by some writers ; but treated from the practical point 
of view their study is surely not Limnology, and from any point 
NO. 1547, VOL. 60] 
NATURE 
[JUNE 22, 1899 
of view only a very small part of it. When a scientific term 
is new and tender, it runs some risk of unintentional abuse which. 
may impair its future usefulness ; and I would appeal to scien- 
tific writers not to allow Limnology to fall into the confusion. 
which now attends Physzography. Hucu Roserr MIL. 
THERE is, no doubt, some measure of justice in the remarks. 
of your correspondent. More stress might have been laid on the 
fact that the book in question, in spite of its title, is much con- 
cerned, not only with the numbers, distribution, and seasonal: 
abundance of the organisms in lakes—as stated on p. 147 of 
the review—but also with statistics regarding the temperature 
of the water at various depths and seasons, the penetration of 
light, and other physical phenomena coming under the head 
of Limnology in the sense required. THE REVIEWER. 
June 17. 
“Index Animalium,” 
WILL you allow me to appeal through your columns for the 
loan of any of the books in the following list? I wish to see 
them in order to complete my manuscript from 1758-1800, now 
rapidly preparing for the press. Parcels may be addressed to 
me, care of Dr. Henry Woodward, F.R.S., British Museum 
(Nat. Hist.), London, S.W., and any books lent will be care- 
fully returned in the course of a few days. No other editions. 
are wanted. 
Bourguet, L. 
Catesby, M. 
Doeveren, G. 
Leipzig, 1776. 
Edwards and Catesby. 
berg, 1768-76. 
Grossinger, J. B. 
1794. ; 
Guidetti, G. ‘‘ Vermi umani,” 4, Firenze, 1783. 3 
Happe, A. F. ‘‘Abb. Schmetterling Afrikas,” fo., Berlin,. 
“© Traité de Petrif.” Svo, Paris, 1778. 
“* Hist. Nat. Carolina,” fo., Nurnberg, 1770. 
‘“‘ Abb. Wiirmer Mensch. Korpers.,” 8vo., 
“*Receuil des Oiseaux,” 8vo, Nurn- 
“Hist. Nat. Hongrie,” Svo, Buda,. 
1783-4. s of ares 
Hiller, J. F. ‘‘ De Papiliones ferali,” 4, Witemb., 1761. 
Houttuyn. ‘*‘ Museum,” 8vo, Amsterdam, 1786. 
Humphrey, G. ‘‘Mus, Humfredianum,’”’ 8vo, London, 
Lancklavel. ‘¢ Zerbst Kunst u. Nat. Kabinet,” 8vo, Leipzig,. 
1777 
‘“* Leipziger Magazin f. Naturkunde,” for 1785-6-7 and 8. 
Le Vaillant, F.  ‘* Naturges. Afrik. Vogel.” (Bechstein’s ed. ), 
4, Nurnberg, 1797-1802. 
Le Vaillant, F.  ‘* Naturges. Afrik. Vogel.” (Forster’s ed.),. 
S8vo, Halle, 1798. a 
Le Vaillant, F. 
1790-97. 
Linneus. ‘‘ Systema Naturae” (Miiller’s ed.), 2 parts, 8vo, 
Nurnberg, 1796 and 1809, 
Linnzus. ‘‘ Systema Naturae” (Vanderstegn van Putte’s. 
ed.), 4 v. 8vo, Bruxelles, 1793 and 1796. ' 
Linneus. ‘Systema Naturae” (Panzer’s ed.), Svo, Berlin, 
1791. 
72 Magazin d. ausland Insekten,” 1 No., 8vo, Erlangen, 1794, 
Meyer, F. A. A. ‘‘ Versuch 4 fiissiger Thiere,”” 8vo, Leipzig, 
1796. 
oe B. S. ‘*Oek. Nat. Fische Mainz,” Svo, Frankfurt, 
1788. 
Nau, B. S. 
1787-8. 
Pezold, C. Pi 
1796. 
Quensel, C. 
“Reise innere Afrikas,” Svo, Frankfurt; 
‘* Beitr. Nat. Mainzelandes,”’ S8vo, Mainz,. 
‘* Lepidopt. anfangsgrunde,” 8vo, Coburg,. 
**Diss. Hist. Nat. ignotis Insect,” 4, Lund,. 
1790. 
Schneider, J. G. ‘* Amphib. Physiol.” (Spec. iii.), 4, Tra- 
jecti, 1797. 
Schaffer, J. C. 
1780-87. 
Theil, M. ‘‘ Abb. wiirm. mensch. Leiber,” 8, Berlin, 1766. 
Turk, C. W. C. ‘* Verz. meiner Insect. Sammlung,” 4, N. 
Strelitz, 1799. d 
Wartel, C. P. 
and ed. 2, 1768. 
Wolff, E. J. 
Wolff and Frauenberg. 
fo., Nurnberg, 1799. 
‘*Element Entom.” (ed. 3), 4 Regensburg, 
‘*Mém. Limagons Artois,” 12, Arras, 1758 ; 
““De Verm. intest.,” 4, Giessen, 1763. 
‘Abb. Beschr. Franken Vogel.,”” 
C. Davies SHERBORN. 
