Sept. 12, 1872] 



NA TURE 



393 



In conclusion, I will give a list of the arrow-points gathered 

 on Wednesday, July 31, during the course of a three hours' 

 search, and over fields that have yielded hundreds during the 

 ]>nsi and present summers. 



Noi. I — 5, genuine leaf-shaped arrow-heads ; four of black 

 jasper or hornstone ; all symmetrical, perfect. The largest 

 specimen measures five-eighths of an inch in width at widest 

 part, which is near the base, which is a beautifully wrought 

 liilf-circle. The length is one inch and eleven-si.Nteenths. The 

 ctiier four specimens are somewhat smaller ; one a little broader ; 

 and none can be considered as rough or badly-made examples. 



Nos. 6— 8 are what maybe called triangular arrow-points, but 

 rre different from the ordinary examples of that pattern, in tlvat 

 thry have very concave sides and base, and a rounded rather tlian 

 pointed tip. Nothing in any way similar is figured by Mr. 

 Evans, nor was I acquainted with this pattern when I wrote 

 of our arrow-heads in the April No. of the American iVa/iiralis/. 

 1 liese arrow-points vary little in length and width ; being about 

 an inch snd a quaiter to an inch in length, by about one in 

 width. The main portion of the specimen and the projecting 

 barbs are nearly the same length, and have all the same degree 

 of finish. One specimen is of brown jasper, one ,of hornstone, 

 and the third, we suppose, is what Mr. Evans means by "chert." 



Nos. 9 — 14 are triangular arrow-points, with straight or very 

 slightly convex sides, and well-marked concave bases. None 

 me.asure over an inch in length, by three quarters of an inch in 

 width. One specimen is of "chert," three of hornstone, one of 

 green, and one of chocolate jasper. The finish of all is good, 

 and of \\\o in particular very fine. The chocolate-coloured 

 jasper example has a row of uni''ormly shaped notches or serra- 

 tions, throughout the greater part oi one side. 



Nos. 15 and 16 are triangular arrov.'s, both of which have 

 straight bases, and one wi'h straight sides, the other with very 

 convex sides. Both are WcU finished, and the smaller quartz 

 specimen with the convex sides is as smooth, well-edged and 

 pointed, as though it had been " rubbed " down. 



No. 17 is a yellowish "flint-like" stone, chipped into an 

 nrrow-point of the triangular pattern, but with a notch in the 

 base, and also at each side. This Joim I have fii,ured in the 

 AiiuTiinn A'atiiralisl. It is but sparingly met with, and is there 

 called a stemmed arrow-head, or one with a projectmg base, 

 wliich 1 ihmk now is scarcely correct ; the notches at the sides 

 and base give it a "stemmed " appearance only. 



Nos. iS — 20 are three fine specimens, having projecting stems, 

 which are narrower than the body of the specnnens, and are not 

 notched, but taper to a blunt point. Mr. Evans's figures 300 and 

 301 and the base of 302 well represent the specimens now lying 

 before me. 



Nos. 21 — 25 are stemmed arrow-points, with notches, that is, 

 the " base " projects beyond the base of the body of the speci- 

 men, which gives "barbs" to the weapon — a style not given by 

 Mr. Evans ; or the base or " tang " Is narrower than the body 

 cf the specimen, and flaring at its termination, produces the 

 notches, by which the shaft was attached. A poor example of 

 this pattern is Mr. Evans's figure 303. One of these "tanged" 

 arrow-points has a projecting "tip," like that figured by Mr. 

 Evans, as a peculiar feature of his leaf-shaped arrow-head, 

 figure 2S3. 



Nos. 26 — 33 are plain " tanged" arrow-heads, very similar to 

 Mr. Evans s figure 304, which he refers to as "a magnificent 

 specimen. ' The only marked difference in the little series 

 before me and the illustration mentioned is that the tangs are all 

 broader and a little shorter. The specimens themselves are not 

 much smaller. They are of slate, jasper, ^hornstone, and 

 " chtrt." 



No. 34 is a lozenge-shaped arrow-head, very similar to Mr. 

 Evans's figure 277, but is somewhat smaller. It varies from 

 everyihing I have found as yet, and is a reproduction of those 

 lozcnge-'haped specimens, only of h.mdsomer outline, that Mr. 

 Evans l.as found on the Yorksliire wolds. The finding of this 

 .'pccimen lessens the number of forms found in Europe, that 

 have not occurred here. 



liesiies these thirty-four specimens, which are all perfect, I 

 gathered innumerable "chips" and bioken specimens, some of 

 them l)eing of patterns not enumerated in my list. I have 

 here b:iefly referred to nine distinct patterns, numbers of v\hic]i, 

 save two, weie found during ore day's- hunting ; and the result 

 in numlxi-s and varitties was nothing more than "a good 

 aveiage. ' I cannot therefore admit any one form (o be a 

 " prevailing " Ij pe, and the idt.i of i-. fciiur f nish and cf gtiit ral 



elegance of appearance, is, v.e respectfully assert, a very great 

 mi.stake. CllAS. C. Ain'.oxT 



Trenton, New Jersey, Aug. 5 



Millions of Millions 



The fact that I have myself slipped into an error by writing 

 eleven noughts instead of ten in setting out a number expressed 

 by a row of sixteen integers, only serves to confirm n.y former 

 remark that millions of millions are awkward numbers 10 i!eol 

 with, and tliat it will be well to avoid tliem by making use of 

 the very simple rule-of-three sum indicated at the end of my 1 st 

 of eirata to I'rofessor Mayer's paper. 



K CoWrER K.VNY.^RD 



Fertilisation by Moths 



It has recently been suggested to me that the following note 

 on the readiness with which moths wander, and their eificiency 

 in feitilising orchids, is worth publication ; I therefore for- 

 ward it to you. 



In the summer of 1S69 I caught here on an island of less 

 than six acres, in the middle of Uerwentwater, twenty specimens 

 of the common 'shark' mo\\\ {Ciictiilia 11 iiibraiiia) ; of ihese, 

 seven had the pollinia of the butterfly orchis (Ilabcnaiia chlomn- 

 l/ia) sticking to their eyes. I know for certain that there were 

 no plants of //. chloyanlha growing on the island, and all the 

 moths must have come from places separated from the islnnd by 

 half a mile of water. W. C. M.\k.sii.\li. 



Derwent Island, Sep. 9 



Origin cf Insects 



Mr. J. J. MuRrilY, in writing "that it is true that the water- 

 beetles are wingless " (N.-\ture, No. 140, p. 373), has surely made 

 a lapsus calami^ since many "waterbeetles are not only winged 

 but use their wings. Other orders funiish examples of an 

 aquatic winged insect fauna. The hemipterous genera Notoiiccta, 

 Corixa, &c., are well-winged, and use their wings (especiallyA'i)- 

 toiiccta). Corixa affords an example of the elytra [i.e. the front 

 wings) assisting in respiration, but probably not in the way that 

 Mr. Murphy means. At the base of the anterior margin of the 

 elytron there is a channel which retains a supply of air. Of 

 course everybody knows the use of the elytra in Dytisciis to catch 

 and retain air. 



The Lepidopterous genus Acciitropus affords another instance. 

 The perfect winged insects frequently descend into the water. 

 The lemales are sometimes winged and sometimes apteri.'Us, and 

 the winged male has been seen entering the water in pursuit cf 

 — it is supposed — the apterous virgin female. 



I think that it is possible that these apterous females exhibit 

 the same kind of " parthenogenesis" as occurs in the Psyi-/:ii/,c. 

 It would be well if those observers who have an opportunity 

 would try toascertain if parthenogenesis ever occurs in Aiiii- 

 iropus. F. Buchanan White 



Solar Spots 



By an observation of the sun this morning at Illi. 25m., I 

 find that several parts of his surface are in a disturbed condition, 

 and that several largish spots {inaciihe), surrounded with pe- 

 numbra:, are visible. In the north-west quadrant of the disc, 

 near the west limb, there was a group seen, in which two rather 

 conspicuous spots were situated, and below these, in the south- 

 ern hemisphere, there were three others of somewhat corisidtr- 

 able dimensions. In the same hemisphere there was an irregular 

 train of spots of various forms and sizes, extending almost 10 the 

 margin of the south-eastern part of the disc. In the north-east 

 quadrant I could disceiir no spots at all. Light clouds were 

 continually passing over the sun during the time of observation. 

 I used a 4-inch metallic mirror reflector, with the apeiture ci n- 

 tracted to three inches. Williaji F. Den'.ning 



Bristol, Sept. S 



Correlation of Colour and Music 

 A very brilliant lainbow, which occurred on the evening ot 

 September 6th, recalled to my mind the note on the correlation 

 of colour ai.d music by Mr. W. F. Ea-rctt, vhich ajipearcd in 



