NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 171 
about the farm-buildings, and even entered the house. Toads 
are their natural enemies, eagerly devouring them. But on this 
farm the hens were never seen eating them. 
On the farm above mentioned, the bugs disappeared suddenly 
in the early part of September. 
It may be added that they seem to prefer Chenango potatoes 
to the Early Rose; and that they would hardly touch the Early 
Goodrich, though growing side by side with the Chenango, which 
they eagerly devoured. I would also add that these insects do 
not confine themselves to the vines, but enter the hills and attack 
the potatoes themselves. — Sansorn Tenney, Williams College, 
February, 1871. 
DEsTRUCTIVENESS OF THE Warre Ants.* — Having to repair and 
paint my office a year ago, my boy put my stationery for a few 
days on the floor, when, to my surprise, I found it all eaten 
through by the white ants, which are destructive of everything 
upon this Island. Nothing but teak, and not always that, escapes 
their fangs. Numbers of houses in Jamestown are fairly gutted 
by them — doors, window sashes, floors and roofs are all eaten 
up—so that nothing but the bare walls are now standing, their 
owners being too poor to rebuild with iron and teak. 
I send a volume of Allison’s History of Europe, to show you 
the destructive powers of this extraordinary insect. — THomas 
Fernam, United States Consul at St. Helena. 
Sixers Micr.— A communication in the NarturaList some 
time ago in regard to musical mice, prepared me for a phenomenon 
which recently came under my observation,*which otherwise would 
have astonished me beyond conception. I was sitting a few even- 
ings since, not far from a half-open closet door, when I was star- 
tled by a sound issuing from the closet, of such marvellous beauty 
that I at once asked my wife how Bobbie Burns (our canary) had 
found his way into the closet, and what could start him to singing 
such a queer and sweet song in the dark. I procured a light and 
found it to be a mouse! He had filled an over-shoe from a basket 
of pop-corn which had been popped and placed in the closet in the 
morning. Whether this rare collection of food inspired him with 
song I know not, but I had not the heart to disturb his corn, 
* Communicated by the Smithsonian Institution. ~ 
