NOTES 



NOTE A 



ESPARVIE (p. 148) 



Since writing my report on the cargo of esparvie (p. 148) and the resulting 

 lawsuit, Mr. WiUiams has told me of an interesting occurrence which appears 

 to be worthy of note. The timber was stacked spread over a considerable 

 area of land at Astoria, near New York, and the first indication of any trouble 

 was the svirprising visit of a great number of swallows, which were seen to be 

 circling over and about the piles, a hitherto unknown occurrence. Attention 

 having thus been drawn to the timber, small heaps of sawdust were dis- 

 covered lying beside the logs and planks, while further examination showed 

 the terrible ravages of the attack of the destructive beetle. 



This curious circumstance suggests the need for further enquiry and 

 points to the value and importance of scientific research, for the ordinary 

 timber man is quite uninformed on such questions. Was this damage done 

 by some kind of flying beetle or by a grub ? Was the wood already destroyed 

 before the swallows arrived, or did their presence in some way affect the 

 beetle ? Investigation might bring to light some method by which timber 

 could be protected and similar damage prevented. 



NOTE B 



Locust (p. 163) 



I think it most probable that my informant who gave the name of " locus " 

 to the produce of Dicorynia Maraensis was confusing it with that of the locust 

 [Hymenoe Courbaril) of St. Vincent ig.v.), which is a totally different timber. 

 There is, however, sufficient similarity between the two woods to account for 

 any confusion which may have arisen. 



432 



