308 Notes and Comments. 



which they were present was indicated by the large numbers 

 which were trapped in holes and cavities due to drains having 

 fallen in. In a single hole there must have been many thous- 

 ands of larvae. In the pools of one small stream there were larvae 

 lying in masses from 6 to 9 in. deep. These were decaying 

 and the stench was very noticeable. In fact, all the small 

 streams intersecting the invaded pastures were covered with a 

 green slime due to the decay of large numbers of caterpillars 

 which had been drowned. Mr. Cousins, who visited the Howes 

 district, states that caterpillars found their way into the wool 

 of the sheep when they were lying down, and that consequently 

 the sheep became very restless. The owner of the sheep stated 

 that it had been necessary to move them to other pastures, 

 but it seems probable that the sheep were restless owing to 

 the lack of grass.' We are indebted to the Board of Agri- 

 culture for permission to reproduce the illustration. 



SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



Science Progress for July contains a remarkably good 

 summary of ' Recent Advances in Science,' under various head- 

 ings, by specialists, and among the papers we notice one on 

 the ' Eruption of Sakura-jima on January 12th, 1914,' by Dr. 

 C. Davison ; ' The History of Tools,' by Prof. Flinders Petrie, 

 and the inevitable contribution by Mr. J. Reid Moir, this 

 time dealing with the ' Most Ancient ' Flint Implements. In 

 his admirable and cleverly illustrated paper, Prof. Flinders 

 Petrie points out ' the spread of forms throughout the ancient 

 world illustrates the movements of trade and of warfare, 

 while the isolation of various types at the same time shows 

 how efficient and self-supporting the ancient civilisations were 

 in most requirements. The history of tools has yet to be 

 studied by a far more complete collection of material, above 

 all of specimens dated back from scientific excavations. It 

 will certainly be, in the future, an important aid in tracing the 

 growth and decay of civilisations, the natural history of man.' 

 Mr. Reid Moir calmly begins by informing us that ' if a typical 

 example of these implements be examined, it will be recognised 

 at once that the specimen owes its outline and form to a series 

 of dexterous blows delivered by someone with a very definite 

 idea of the kind of implement he wished to produce.' Most 

 people would have guessed as much. We note that the author 

 is now concerned solely with the form and flaking of the various 

 specimens, and that, with the wisdom acquired by bitter ex- 

 perience, he considers that the ' somewhat complex geological 

 problems involved ' must be left to others for solution. We 

 are getting a little hope for Mr. Reid Moir, inasmuch as he 

 does not now claim infallibility, and no doubt as time goes on, 

 he will deem it advisable to ' read more' and write less. 



Naturalist, 



