i 9 4 



SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



/uncus (the burrowing toad), as they burrowed out 

 of sight. 



The larvae of the three British newts, Molge 

 eristata, M. vulgaris, and M. palmata, are all easily 

 reared, and I have now under observation a brood 

 of M. alpestris (the Alpine newt). I regret I was 

 not successful in obtaining any results from the 

 recently described 31. italica, discovered last year 

 by Count M. Peracca in the South of Italy, a few 

 of which I was fortunate enough to obtain through 

 the kindness of my friend Mr. Boulenger. One 

 method of observing these animals is to suddenly 

 turn a light on at night, when very often some of 

 them can be seen taking a nocturnal stroll round 

 the sides. 



An important consideration in striking the 

 balance of the pond life is to have a good repre- 

 sentation of mollusca. The species I have found 

 to thrive best are the three common forms : 

 Paladin avivipara, Linmea stagnalis, and L.pcregra. 

 The several species of Flanorbis do not seem to 

 prosper. 



The freshwater mussel (Anodonta) is handy to 

 keep for dissection, as it is easily kept and will 

 multiply rapidly. On various excursions taken with 

 a Natural History Society I have invariably bottled 



a little aquatic weed or moss and placed it in 

 the pond on returning home. The result is a fine 

 selection of microscopic life, a list of which would 

 cover most of the common forms. The ova of 

 vai-ious beetles and insects develop unexpectedly 

 and furnish hours of serious study. By this means 

 I have just been following with much interest the 

 development of Cheronomons and the pond skater 

 (Gerris), with the aid of Miall's work on the 

 " Natural History of Aqualic Insects." 



With regard to Gerris, by the way, I am able to 

 confirm De Geers's statement that it captures- 

 and devours living prey, which Miall rather dis- 

 credits, as I have actually seen this animal pounce 

 upon and demolish a small fly that had settled on 

 the water. 



The above notes have been given merely as- 

 examples of the advantage of having material 

 always at hand for any spare hour which may 

 thus be pleasantly and profitably spent. I 

 hope on some future occasion to give a more- 

 detailed result of observation and work done in 

 this w T ay. 



Blenheim Villa, 



61 Clova Road, 



Forest Gate, E. 



NATURE NOTES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



By Major H. A. Cummins, C.M.G., E.A.M.C. 



T~\UBING my stay in South Africa I endea- 

 -*-^ voured to make a few notes on the natural 

 history of the district through which I passed, and 

 other matters of interest. 



In winter the air is cold and invigorating, and, 

 when travelling over the extensive veldt, hares 

 frequently bound from the long grass, and some- 

 times herds of brick are to be seen. The veldt 

 cat and ant-eater make the ground dangerous to 

 horses, undermining it by burrows. Large holes 

 are to be seen in the ant-hills by which the veldt 

 is usually dotted. They are dug by the ant-eater 

 in its search for food. 



The undulating country from Bloemfontein to 

 Pretoria is pleasant for travelling. It is inter- 

 sected here and there by rivers, which are crossed 

 by drifts or fords for waggons, not by bridges. 

 I imagine that if the Boers could have procured 

 rolling stock for railways capable of crossing the 

 drifts like ox waggons they would have clone so, 

 as they seem to have an intolerable dislike to 

 bridges. Excepting for the railways, bridges are 

 practically absent for cart traffic. The process of 

 crossing one of these drifts with a heavily laden 

 waggon is by no means easy. The cutting to the 

 river bed is generally a steep gradient, and the 

 brake has to be put on at the right time, otherwise 



the waggon or team, perhaps both, suffer con- 

 siderably by over-running of the waggon. Ascend- 

 ing the other side is usually very difficult, as in 

 wet weather the path is covered by thick mud. 

 which prevents the draught animals taking a foot- 

 hold, and at the same time clogs the wheels. In 

 dry weather thick dust takes the place of the mud 

 and is nearly as obstructive. If the river is at all 

 flooded a waggon is in clanger of upsetting or of 

 being washed away as it bumps from one boulder 

 to another, while several of the oxen may be out 

 of their depth and compelled to swim. 



Oxen are strange animals to manage : they travel 

 best at night, feeding only during the clay. During 

 the forced marches many succumbed to overwork,, 

 as they had to travel nearly all day and during 

 part of the night. When an ox becomes sick or 

 weary he lies down and has to be loosed from the 

 yoke and left behind. If he is not very ill he 

 soon regains his feet, and commences to graze. 

 He will then probably be brought on by a later 

 waggon with a deficient team. If not, he dies or- 

 is shot. Mules travel until they are quite worn 

 out. They sometimes drop dead in harness. A 

 mule would be getting into delicate health if lie 

 could not accumulate sufficient energy to kick a 

 Cape boy when there was opportunity. Thesi 



