SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



315 



shows it is only the steep bit of road that is 

 known as Cleat Hill. The other side of the road 

 is Mowsbury Hill, where, I believe, there was once 

 a castle. — A. C. G. Cameron, H.M. Geological Survey, 

 158, Foster Hill Road, Bedford ; February, 1897. 



Reproduction of Lost Limbs in Birds. — In 

 connection with a query as to the above, appearing 

 in Science-Gossip (ante p. 225), the following 

 curious circumstance has come under my notice : 

 Mrs. Newcomb, of the Holly Bush Inn, Loughton, 

 Essex, had, early in 1895, ^ tame magpie, and also 

 kept, amongst other pets, several canaries. One 

 day this magpie seized one of the canaries by the 

 leg, through the bars of its cage, and succeeded in 

 wrenching the leg off by breaking it between the 

 tibia and canon-bone. At this moment the canary 

 was rescued, and, although very much exhausted, 

 survived, perching on one leg. It was noticed, 

 however, some little time afterwards that the stump 

 of the damaged leg was apparently growing a sort 

 of pear-shaped bag or bladder, and this continued 

 for about six or seven months, when one morning 

 it split open, and disclosed two claws at first ; the 

 next day, however, the complete leg appeared, and 

 the bird picked off the now dried-up skin cover. It 

 was a week or two longer before the leg was used 

 constantly, the bird only using it for a few moments 

 at a time until then, and drawing it up under its 

 wing in the intervals. Afterwards the new leg 

 became to all intents and purposes the same in 

 appearance, and quite as strong as the uninjured 

 member. I understand the canary was a young 

 bird, and there are plenty of reliable witnesses 

 resident in Loughton who can confirm the par- 

 ticulars supplied to me by the lady who kept the 

 bird. — F. W . Halfpenny, 125, Godivin Road, Forest 

 Gate. 



Lepidoptera in New Forest. — -A fortnight's 

 stay in the New Forest, in the neighbourhood of 

 Lyndhurst, last August, resulted in various ad- 

 ditions to our insect collection, though the weather, 

 on the whole, wns unfavourable. We were a little 

 late iov Argynnis paphia (silver-washed fritillaries), 

 specimens of which, though still abundant and 

 looking lovely on the wing, were as a rule very 

 damaged. We also took the variety valesina, though 

 not in very good condition. On the heaths fine 

 specimens of Satyrus seinele (grayling butterfly) were 

 exceedingly common, their short, rapid flights and 

 frequent settling giving a characteristic effect. We 

 took a variety of the female in which black spots 

 on the fore- wing were not white-pupilled and the 

 black spot on the hind-wing was absent. The 

 specimens of Pieris napi (green-veined white butter- 

 fly) in this neighbourhood were well marked, but 

 unusually small. A P. rapa (small white butterfly) 

 was obtained, with the usual dull yellow of the 

 underwings a brilliant brimstone tint. Heaths, 

 arguses, brimstones, blues and other butterflies 

 were abundant, and we several times saw Apatura 

 iris (purple emperor butterfly) circling round the 

 tops of the trees. The moths which came most 

 freely to sugar were Amphipyra pyramidea (copper 

 underwing), Catocala promissa and C. sponsa (dark 

 and light crimson underwings). The copper under- 

 wings were a perfect nuisance, while the yellow 

 underwings were of tolerably rare occurrence. 

 HydrcEcia niciitans (ear-moth) was the only other 

 species that was at all abundant. Our remaining 

 captures were nearly all of single specimens, in- 

 cluding Agroiis puta, Thyatira batis, Cerigo cytherea, 

 Noctua rhomboidea, etc. — Catherine A. Winch-worth, 

 II, Old Steine, Brighton ; March 15th, 1897. 



Royal Meteorological Society. — At the 

 Meeting held on February 17th, Mr. Edward 

 Mawley, F.R.H.S., President, read a Report on 

 the Phenological Observations during the past 

 year. He showed that throughout the flowering 

 season wild plants came into bloom much in 

 advance of their usual time, and were, as a rule, 

 earlier than in any recent year since 1893. The 

 wealth of blossom on nearly all kinds of trees and 

 shrubs was a noteworthy feature of the spring and 

 early summer, while the abundance of wild fruits in 

 the autumn was even more exceptional. From an 

 agricultural and horticultural point of view the one 

 great drawback of the year, which must other- 

 wise have proved one of the most bountiful on 

 record, was a drought that lasted almost without 

 break — at all events as far as vegetation is con- 

 cerned — from March to September. The wheat crop 

 proved the largest and best for many years, while 

 there was a good yield of barley and potatoes. The 

 small fruits were also good. With these exceptions 

 all the farm and garden crops were more or less 

 indifferent, the crop of hay being especially scanty. 

 The Hon. Rollo Russell gave the results of sorne 

 observations on " Haze and Transparency," which 

 he had made at Haslemere, in Surrey. From these 

 it appears that the clearest hours at a good distance 

 from towns are from about noon to 3 p.m. The 

 clearest winds are those from south to north-west 

 inclusive, and especially west-south-west, west and 

 west-north-west ; the haziest are those between 

 north and east. On bright mornings with a 

 gentle breeze or calm, from autumn to spring, the 

 haze or fog which has lain on the low ground, 

 frequently covers the hills in the course of its 

 ascent a few hours after sunrise. At any distance 

 within a hundred miles of London or of the Black 

 Country observations requiring clear views are 

 likely to be interfered with when the wind blo\vs 

 from their direction, and should betaken early. In 

 connection with the Society's special exhibition 

 of instruments (vide ante p. 307), which was 

 arranged at the Institution of Civil Engineers, 

 in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of 

 H.M. the Queen, a lecture was delivered on 

 March 17th, by Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., 

 on " Meteorological Observations in 1S37 and 

 1897." After describing some of the instruments 

 in use at the commencement of the Queen's 

 reign, the lecturer stated that he had collected all 

 the known records of rainfall for the year 1S37, 

 and that he was able to give the total rainfall for 

 that year from 161 stations. An account was then 

 given of the meteorological instruments in use at 

 the present day, reference being made to the 

 barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, rain gauges, 

 anemometers, self-recording instruments, etc. The 

 methods adopted for registering the duration of 

 sunshine and the amount of evaporation were next 

 described. Allusion was also made to the help 

 which photography has rendered to meteorology, 

 especially in relation to the forms and movement 

 of clouds, etc. Mr. Symons concluded his lecture 

 by exhibiting a map showing the state of the 



