152 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 554 



hardly shining; color pale red-brown, varying to whitish. 

 Female with very numerous waxy filaments projecting 

 from the surface; gland-orifices minute, circular. An- 

 tennte 8-iointed, the last joint very short, and bearing a 

 few straight hairs, as in P. dendrobii. Third joint varia- 

 ble sometimes rather longer than the second, sometimes 

 decidedly shorter. Legs absent. Anal ring apparently 

 withouthairs, but with a strong chitmous projection on 

 each side. Mouth-parts well developed. 



On boiling the insects in soda, the scale was entirely 

 dissolved, and the insects became colorless and transpar- 



i. T. D. A. COOKERELL. 



Agricultural E.-cperiment Station, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Aug. 29, 1S93. 



A Small Tragedy. 



In contrast to the "snake story," given in Science (Jan. 

 20 '93), the following incident may be of interest: 



Several months ago a small spotted snake was captured 

 and placed in the "snake box;" it is thought to be a com- 

 mon "milk snake," and is, perhaps, twelve or fourteen 

 inches in length. It was somewhat injured when captured ; 

 the boys say its back was broken. It is quite evident 

 that it was hurt, from the depression or deformity at one 

 point and, from this portion to the extremity of the body, 

 it had great difaculty in shedding its skin. For days and 

 days it was, as it were, half dressed, or undressed, as we 

 may choose to consider this condition. 



A few days ago another snake was placed m the same 

 box— what kind it was I am unable to say— but it was a 

 small (not more than eight or ten inches, in length), agile, 

 quite slender little thing, of a plain slate or dove color. 



What was our surprise when it was discovered that the 

 spotted snake was in process of swallowing the smaller 

 one. It was horrible, and yet we could not refrain from 

 observing it. In a very short time the little snake en- 

 tirely disappeared, even to the tip of the tiny tail, and 

 the spotted snake appeared to have enjoyed the meal. The 

 boys claim that it has eaten several small toads; it is now 

 in company with a snake considerably larger than itself. 

 They seem disposed to be "friendly," thus far, and no 

 doubt enjoy each other's society. 



Mrs. W. a. Kellerman. 



Columbus Ohio. 



The Cackle of Hens. 



It is claimed that the cackling of hens "is very liable to 

 attract the attention of any ovivorous bird or beast to the 

 probable presence of an egg." 



It is quite probable that ovivorous birds or beasts may 

 understand that the hen's cackle is the announcement of 

 the presence of an egg, but the hen is wise even in her 

 apparent imprudence. She lets it be known that an egg 

 is somewhere, but she does not tell where. How many, 

 many times she sends the farmer's wife or children on a 

 hunt for eggs they fail to find. Of course, when hens are 

 well cared for, and ample and sufficient nests are j)ro- 

 vided, they lose their cautiousness, but when they arc left 

 to take care of themselves they will "steal" their nests, as 

 the people say; that is, they will go off in the weeds, or 

 seek some sheltered spot, and there make a nest. Y\rben 

 an egg is laid, in a "stolen," nest, the hen makes a quick 

 run, quite a distance from her nest, before she makes a 

 sound, so that her cackle would not discover her eggs to 

 any enemy, for one grojjes, as in the dark, in search of 

 stolen nests, no matter how loud may be the cackle. 



Mrs. W. a. K. 



Columbus, Ohio. 



Throwing Sticks. 

 I HAVE just made a discovery that has given me great 

 pleasure. In the Anthropological Building at the 

 World's Columbian Exposition is a Cliff Dweller's Ex- 

 hibit, exposed by the State of Colorado. Other loan 

 exhibits are in the building from that region, and out- 

 side is an attractive realistic representation of the in- 

 dustrial products of the same people. In looking care- 

 fully through the Colorado State alcove I discovered 

 twro examples of the Mexican atlatl or throwing stick. 

 The shaft is a segment of a sapling of hazel wood. At 

 the distal end is a shallow gutter and a hook to receive 

 the end of a spear shaft. At the proximal end or grip, 

 in the more perfect specimen, about four inches from 

 the extremity is a loop' on either side of the stick, one 

 for the thumb, the other for the fore-finger. The re- 

 maining three fingers would be free to manipulate the 

 spear shaft. These loops were made by splitting a bit 

 of raw hide, sliding it down the proper distance on the 



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