232 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



of natural-history subjects than a whole shelf-full 

 of learned treatises. It has one great merit, trust- 

 worthiness, for it is the work of a keen observer 

 and not that of a bookmaker. The author carries 

 us through forest glade and woodland, ever chatty 

 and entertaining with pleasantly-told facts which 

 are sure to create in the reader a fondness for 



ZOOLOGY 



The Rock-Pigeons. 

 From "Forest Birds." 



arboreal birds and their habits. It is such books 

 that start the beginner, who, may-be, becomes the 

 student and develops into the authority. Eight 

 birds only are treated in the volume, each being 

 illustrated by a full-page nesting group of much 



Wood-Pigeons at Westminster. 

 From " Forest Birds." 



correctness and beauty. In addition .are a score 

 of smaller, some being chapter tail-pieces. We 

 give three examples of their quality by favour of 

 the author. There is a final chapter on the 

 " Artistic Grouping of Stuffed Birds." 



Sheldrakes and Domestic Ducks. — I do not 

 know whether it has been recorded that the shel- 

 drake will associate and breed with the common 

 tame duck, but I believe such to be the case. 

 Along the shores of this island tame ducks are 

 often seen at a considerable distance from the ' 

 land, and in such cases it is not at all uncommon 

 to see a sheldrake in their company, though he 

 invariably takes to flight on the approach of a boat. 

 In Orkney, some years ago, I once saw a sheldrake 

 quite domesticated with a number of ducks in a 

 farm yard, and was told that he had come there of 

 his own accord. He had first made his appearance 

 in the spring of the previous year, had remained a 

 few weeks, and then departed to return again a few 

 days before I saw him. He seemed quite at home, 

 and exhibited no more alarm on being approached 

 than did his companions. — W. B.Jones, Laphronig 

 I slay ; June 15th, 1894. 



Hump - backed Whale. — In the November 

 Science-Gossip (ante page 205), there is a note 

 recording the occurrence on our coast of the hump- 

 backed whale, Megaptera longimanna, stated to have 

 only been three times previously noted in the 

 British Seas. In the issue of Science-Gossip for 

 November, i8gi (Old Series 323, page 257), will be 

 found a note concerning the stranding, on the 

 Northumberland coast, of what I there described 

 as Megaptera hoops (on the authority of the 

 Encyclo. Brit.) This must, I think, be only 

 another name for the same species, though 

 Megaptera longimanna is a little tautological. I 

 find it so given in Cassell's Nat. Hist., vol. ii, page 

 265. I think if anyone would take the trouble to 

 compile a complete index to Science-Gossip from 

 its commencement, it would form a very valuable 

 work of reference, as many observations and 

 records are scattered through its pages which are 

 to be found nowhere else.- — Herbert J. Torpey, 120,. 

 Gower Street, London, W.C. ; November 8th, 1894. 



Hibernation of Vanessa urtic<£. — I suppose 

 it may be attributed to the high mean temperature 

 of this island that the interrupted hibernation 

 of the small tortoise-shell butterfly is so common 

 here. During the past winter and the early part 

 of the spring, I met with numerous cases, and this 

 is the more remarkable perhaps as both seasons 

 were exceptionally cold and boisterous. Whenever, 

 however, there was a windless day with a glimpse 

 of sun, I came to anticipate seeing one or more 

 of these beautiful insects on the wing, and was 

 seldom disappointed. One specimen made its 

 appearance in my office from behind a desk I 

 had occasion to move on February 8th, and lived 

 there until March 19th. It would indulge in 

 portentously long naps of a week or more at a 

 time, but a bright day rarely failed to rouse it 

 to a consciousness of existence, and it would then 

 appear to be in the best of health and spirits. 

 It might, perhaps, have lived longer if I had not 

 tried the experiment of feeding it. A little liquid 



