48 FIELD AND FOREST. 



use. This observer, noticing the movements of flies after alighting, 

 rubbing their hind feet together, their liind feet and wings, and their 

 fore feet, was led to explore into the cause, and he found that the fly's 

 wings and legs, during his gyrations in the air, become coated with ex- 

 tremely minute animalculse, which he subsequently devours. These 

 microscopic creatures are poisonous, and abound in pure air, so that 

 flies perform a useful work in removing the seeds of disea.se. Leanness 

 in a fly is /r/;/2<2y«(rzV evidence of pure air in the house, while corpu- 

 lency indicates foulness and bad ventilation. If these observations are 

 well founded, the housekeeper instead of killing off the flies with poi- 

 sonous preparations, should make her premises as sweet and clean as 

 possible, and then having protected food with wire or other covers, 

 leave the busy flies to act as airy scavengers. — Science-Gossip. 



FIELD RECORD. 



Notice of White Mountain Birds and Insects. — On the White 

 Mountain trip referred to on another page of this journal, the follow- 

 ing species of birds were noticed : "yiinco hvemalis, Black Snow 

 Bird, Zo7iotrichia albicollis, White-throated Sparrow. They were very 

 abundant all around the mountains, and were nesting freely. A nest 

 of the former was found on the side of Mt. Franklin at an elevation of 

 perhaps 4.000 feet; Dendroica maculosa, Black and Yellow Warbler, 

 also nesting ; Bonasa umbelles, Ruffled Grouse, abundant. Cyanu- 

 ra cristata, Blue Jay. Perisoreits Canadensis, Canada Jay. Hawks 

 of two or three species, and likewise Owls. 



Specimens of the following named butterflies were captured : Lim- 

 enetis arthejnis, Chionobas seniidea, Melanippe gothicata, Danais af- 

 chippus, Vanessa antiopa &c. Numbers of Papilio turmts were seen 

 often alighting in the road in groups of twelve or fifteen. — J. J. Chick- 

 ERiNG, Amherst College. 



Earthquake Shock. — At Howard Medical College about 11.40 

 o'clock a few evenings since, a very decided shock of an earthquake 

 was felt by six persons who were in the room at the time, all of whom 

 perceived the vibration of the walls, blackboards &c. To parties out- 

 side the building the wave appeared to pass from N. E. to S. W. The 

 shock was as decidedly noticed in other parts of the city. — Wm. H. Sea- 

 man. 



