~ 
356 NATURE 
[Sepz. 1, 1870 
The ‘‘English Cyclopedia” 
In answer to Nemo’s letter in your issue of August 11, I do 
not wish to prolong the correspondence. An index will be 
added as soon as possible to the Natural History Supplement, 
in which cross references will be given. I am not the editor of 
the “English Cyclopzdia,” but I was 
Epiror NArurRaL HisToRY SUPPLEMENT 
Holly-berries obnoxious to Birds 
ALLOW me to thank Mr. Hart for his remarks on my note, 
with reference to this subject ; and, at the same time endeavour, 
as briefly as possible, to explain my meaning more fully. 
I take it that a holly-tree, standing in a favourable situation 
for the growth of young plants, and bearing its berries until per- 
fectly ripe (and I noticed a tree loaded with berries on August 
Ist), would stand a better chance of propagating and increasing 
that variety than a tree which has been robbed of all its berries 
by birds during the preceding winter. I am quite aware that 
the local distribution of some plants is, in a great measure de- 
pendent on birds; but, with regard to holly-berries so dis- 
seminated by the migratory thrushes, &c., the great majority 
would be deposited on arable or pasture land, where the young 
plants would be speedily eradicated by the plough or scythe, 
and consequently the parent tree would stand a worse chance of 
propagating itself from seed, than the variety from which the 
berries had fallen on ground adapted to their growth. Perhaps 
Mr. Hart will kindly point out where this hypothesis is ‘‘so 
different’? from the theory of Messrs. Darwin and Wallace ; a 
theory with which I, as well as most working zoologists, en- 
tirelyagree. 
East Woodhay, Aug. 8 HENRY REEKS 
Solar Spots 
I ExTrRACT the following from NaTuRE of 28th July, p, 267 :— 
“Mr, T. W. Backhouse, of Sunderland, reports that in May 
there was a remarkable case of a Solar Spot making a revolution 
round another. It occurred with respect to the two largest 
spots of a group which was half way across the northern zone, 
on May 9th. The smaller spot was south of the larger on the 
7th at 35, but preceded it on the 12th at 21, the line joining 
the two spots having rotated through an angle of 80° or go° in 
5§ days.” 
It is interesting to observe that the direction of this rotation, 
from south to east, is the same as that in which cyclones rotate 
in the earth’s northern hemisphere ; in the southern hemisphere 
they rotate in the opposite direction. This coincidence gives 
some support to the theory of the solar spots being produced 
by cyclones. JOSEPH JOHN MURPHY 
Old Forge, Dunmurry, Co. Antrim, Aug. 6 
Noises Caused by Fish 
' ‘Your issues for May 12 and 19, 1870 contain sundry notices 
of noises supposed to be produced at sea by various fish. The 
localities are mostly tropical. But it is not necessary to go so 
far afield for examples of the noises in question. While on board 
a steamer at anchor for two or three days in the Tagus off Lisbon 
in the spring of 1869 (April), I heard noises of the kind referred 
to, which were attributed by the ship’s officers to a fish (whose 
name I now forget), the sound being produced, it was asserted, 
only at particular states of the tide. Disposed to consider the 
explanation a mere sailor’s ‘‘ yarn,” or superstition, I did not give 
to the subject the attention it may have deserved. 
{ Perth W. Lauper Linpsay 
The Kingfisher’s Meal 
RETURNING from my morning’s round ona pleasant summer’s 
day, I observed a kingfisher perched on a hazel bough close to a 
pretty little trout-stream ; my attention was instantly aroused, 
for one does not often see these pretty ‘creatures, even during 
prolonged country excursions, in such a position ; and moreover 
his attitude was peculiar—perfect stillness, with an inclination of 
the head to the left pinion—just the posture in fact that I have 
seen a fatally wounded bird take previous to dropping from its 
resting-place ; indeed so close was the resemblance that I ex- 
pected every moment to see the bird I was watching drop into 
the water, believing it to have been wounded ; guess my astonish- 
ment when the supposed invalid was seen to dart with amazing 
swiftness into the curling stream, rise, and continue its rapid flight 
without apparent interruption, to the rails surrounding a hay-stack 
close by, where I saw it making most energetic movements of 
the head and neck, and first became aware, from observing a 
silvery, glittering, and writhing little fish in its beak, that, instead 
of being ill as 1 supposed, and suddenly determined on trying 
the effects of a bath, he was actually at dinner. After gorg- 
ing this lively mouthful, the active and dexterous little fisher- 
bird returned to his hazel bough looking quite as invalidish as 
before ; but now I was aware of his intentions. ‘‘ Natura est 
dux optima,” PHILALETHEIAN 
Ancient Egyptian Forests 
A NOTE in the Academy for July speaks of ancient forests 
now turned to chalcedony, e.g. at Cairo, thus indicating a pro- 
fuse vegetation in former days. 
Let it not be forgotten that the hieroglyphs represent Egypt as 
the ‘‘land of trees,” Khem having been the god of gardens. 
On the Rosetta stone Egypt is indicated by ‘‘a tree and the sign 
of land” (vide Wilkinson’s Ancient Egyptians, ii, 184-7). It 
seems that the destruction of trees is an unvarying accompani- 
ment of dense population. A. HALL 
=~ Poisoning by CEnanthe crocata 
In your comments on the rapidly fatal poisoning case, recorded 
by me, where a man and cart-horse quickly died after eating a 
small portion of the roots of this plant, you remark ‘‘it seems 
strange that the horse, as well as the man, should not have 
rejected a plant of so acrid and suspicious a flavour.” Now 
the flavour of the zoot of this plant is known to be mild and 
pleasant, and not acrid. I can confirm the truth of its mild 
taste from experience, as I have twice eaten portions of the root 
for experiment: the taste is intermediate between that of a 
turnip and the stalk of celery. The poison did not act as an 
irritant, but the deaths resulted from paralysis of the heart. 
WorTHINGTON G. SMITH 
BARON HUGEL 
HE death is announced of Baron Charles Higel, 
-well known as a scientific explorer and a cultivated 
man of letters. He was born 25th April, 1796, and, after 
completing his education at Heidelberg, was for some 
time engaged in the wars in the early part of this century 
between Prussia and France, and in 1814 he took part in 
the triumphal entry into Paris. In 1824 he relinquished 
military pursuits, and returning to Vienna, entered with 
great earnestness into the study of Natural Science, for 
which he had always shown a decided taste. For many 
years he studied assiduously, preparing himself for an 
expedition he had planned round the world. In 1831, on 
the 2nd of May, he set sail from Toulon, and was away 
six years. His ship was fitted out with every appliance 
for a scientific voyage, and in all the various localities he 
visited in Asia, Africa, and the then unknown field of 
Australia, he amassed large and yaluable collections. 
These were, on his return, purchased by the Austrian 
Government, and to them the Vienna Museum owes its 
great importance, especially in the botanical treasures he 
had so lavishly accumulated. 
The materials he brought back with him, and the abun- 
dant notes he had taken, were utilised in several elaborate 
scientific publications, such as Endlicher’s “ Plants of the 
Swan River District (Australia),” and Heckel’s “ Fishes 
of Cashmere.” 
The baron also delivered two learned and interesting 
addresses to the meeting of German Naturalists in 1838 
and 1843, and besides these he sent many valuable 
scientific papers, especially on botany, to the Vienna 
scientific publications, s 
