446 



SCIENTIFIC NEAVS. 



[May II, i8 



our heads, until it seems as if every crow in the country 

 was being observed ; but a station in an exactly opposite 

 direction the next day will reveal a like number, and 

 another the next day the same, until every point of the 

 compass necessary has been covered, and as they return 

 every night in the same direction, it is of course evident 

 that the same flocks are not observed twice. 



Having now traced them through their daily wander- 

 ings, it is in order to visit the roost again at nightfall and 

 watch them come in. To secure the best results it is 

 advisable to be there by 4.30 at the latest, and to take a 

 stand in the centre of the place, close beside some tree, in 

 ■order to be the less easily observed. At the hour above- 

 mentioned they begin to arrive, either singly or in flocks, 

 tarrying at times at some near at-hand feeding-grounds, 

 but soon seeking the vicinity of the roost. Strangely 

 enough, instead of repairing at once to their night's 

 resting-place, they gather in immense multitudes on the 

 surrounding hills ; coming as they do from all quarters 

 of the country, the numbers increase, until the fields, the 

 trees, and the fences are covered with them. Long after 

 the sun has set they continue to arrive. The noise is 

 deafening, and when at times they rise and circle about 

 in the air, it seems as if the heavens themselves were 

 about to fall. As darkness begins to settle, first a few 

 of the bolder ones enter the roost. These are followed 

 by small bunches of fifty or so, and these in turn by 

 other companies, interspersed with stragglers. Suddenly, 

 with a noise as of a hurricane, a vast host arises and 

 makes a dive for the roost. These are closely followed 

 by another, and another, and still another, until finally 

 the numbers on the hill-sides begin to show some signs 

 of thinning out. As the darkness deepens, they come in 

 any way; down they come pell-mell, brushing past the 

 face, almost flying against one, alighting on the first 

 branch they strike against (for they are now almost 

 unable to see, and it is amusing to see hundreds flopping 

 about waiting for luck to throw a branch in their way), 

 often within arm's reach. Every tree and branch seems 

 packed with them, and still they continue to pour down, 

 finding a roosting-place somewhere, and adding clamour 

 to the deafening babel already existing. Finally, all 

 appear to have arrived, and are busy settling themselves 

 for the night. Utter now but so much as a syllable, and 

 the entire army, with renewed cries and in the direst 

 confusion, takes wing, and seeks another part of the 

 woods, only to renew the performance should the 

 operation be repeated. I have never as yet remained in 

 a roost long enough to ascertain whether or not the birds 

 become absolutely quiet. I have remained until quite 

 late, and on coming awaj' could hear them for some 

 distance, and doubt exceedingly if there is an hour 

 throughout the night when there is not more or less 

 noise and confusion existing. It might be well to add 

 that these roosts are occupied each succeeding winter, 

 the birds beginning to congregate with the approach of 

 cold weather, and remaining until the milder approaches 

 of spring. — Scientific American. 



Preparation of Peroxide of Hydrogen. — A new pro- 

 cess for preparing peroxide of hydrogen has been patented 

 in Germany by Siegfried Lustig, of Breslau. It is briefly as 

 follows : — Zinc amalgam is shaken with alcoholic solution of 

 sulphuric acid and air. The mercury and the sulphate of 

 zinc which is formed, and is precipitated in the alcohohc 

 liquid, is removed by filtration, and the liquid concentrated in 

 vacuo. It then represents an alcoholic solution of peroxide 

 of hydrogen. 



WORK FOR NATURALISTS' CLUBS.^L 



THE old-fashioned ways of managing Naturalists' 

 Clubs have become tiresome. When it was a new 

 thing to examine, ever so slightly, the animals and 

 plants of an English county, people were naturally well- 

 satisfied to ascertain what species could be found in 

 their own neighbourhood. All that is now done with 

 more detail than is requisite for any scientific investiga- 

 tion that is likely to spring from it. Mere naming of 

 species will not keep up a healthy activity, nor will 

 records of occurrence, nor j'et dates, never so full, of 

 arrival of migrants, or blossoming of flowers. The work 

 that comes handy to a man whose mind is only half- 

 awake is no longer worth doing at all. 



It must be admitted that the quality of biological work 

 has risen so rapidly during the last fifteen or twenty 

 years, that the untrained amateur can hardly spend his 

 time on any sort of work that good judges will look at. 

 There was a time Vi^hen a tolerable herbarium, or 

 collection of butterflies, a microscope, and a cabinet of 

 bought slides, made a decent stock-in-trade for the 

 provincial naturalist, but something more is expected 

 now-a-days from every one who claims to be a worker. 

 What can be done to find profitable occupation for the 

 thousands, who, having no highly special education and 

 little leisure, have, nevertheless, the passion for natural 

 objects, and the wise ambition of spending their spare 

 time upon something that brings a fit reward ? Probably 

 there are among our readers some who put this question 

 with a practical intention of putting any likely suggestion 

 to the proof. We shall be glad to tell them what we 

 have learnt from a rather lengthened experience of 

 Naturalists' Clubs. 



The papers read before these little societies are, as a 

 rule, very disappointing, for, in general, they are either 

 built upon the writer's private fads, or they consist of 

 mere extracts from text-books enlivened by cheap 

 reflections. It is not to be presumed that any 

 club can often command services of a lecturer who is 

 thoroughly well worth listening to. 



Nor is the publication of local lists a resource of any 

 value. This kind of literature is terribly overdone. 

 Who, we wonder, will ever be induced to systematise 

 the interminable records of our publishing societies for the 

 sake of any general results that they may chance to 

 contain ? These records, so copious and so dry, will 

 become obsolete before ever they are turned to scientific 

 account. 



It would seem that by discouraging the ordinary modes 

 in which the activity of a local club shows itself, we are 

 hinting that the clubs themselves are of no use, but this 

 is far from our intention. We believe that excellent 

 work may be done by those who are willing to con- 

 federate themselves, not for display in any form, but for 

 quiet drill under competent instructors. There are few 

 large towns where some one person cannot be found who 

 can give practical help in the management of a micro- 

 scope. A young doctor can be persuaded to show 

 beginners how to handle a scalpel. Or a good amateur 

 photographer may be at hand who has some practice in 

 microscopic work. If such talents as these can be com- 

 manded, a wide field of useful occupation is opened up. 

 Never mind what becomes of the papers, the catalogues, 

 and president's addresses. Set up a convenient room, 

 buy out of the subscription-money the indispensable 

 tools, and learn what biological work means. A weekly 



