Scientific and General Memoranda. 383 



frequently — an amusing application of zoological knowledge, for 

 the purpose of prognosticating the weather. Two frogs, of the 

 species rana arborea, are kept in a glass jar, about 18 inches in 

 height, and six inches in diameter, with the depth of three or 

 four inches of water at the bottom, and a small ladder reaching 

 to the top of the jar. On the approach of dry weather, the frogs 

 mount the ladder ; but when wet weather is expected, they de- 

 scend into the water. These animals are of a bright green, and in 

 their wild state, climb the trees in search of insects, and make a 

 peculiar singing noise before rain. In the jar, they get no other 

 food than now and then a fly, one of which, we were assured, 

 would serve a frog for a week, though it will eat from six to 

 twelve in a day if it can get them. In catching the flies put alive 

 into the jars, the frogs display great adroitness." — Mr. Loudon, 



Attachments between Animals. — Mrs. Bowditch relates, in the 

 Mag. of Nat. History, that when., she was in Paris, there were 

 two remarkable fine ostriches, male and female, at the Jardin 

 du Roi, and that one of them died in great agony, after swallow- 

 ing a broken piece of glass. From the moment his companion 

 was taken from him, the male bird had no rest ; he appeared to 

 be incessanlly searching for something, and daily wasted away. 

 He was moved from the spot, in the hope he would forget his 

 grief ; he was even allowed more liberty, but nought availed ; 

 and he literally pined himself to death. Upon another occasion, 

 she states, that a curious expedient was resorted to, to prevent 

 a similar catastrophe. A gentleman had, for some years, possessed 

 two cranes, (ardea pavonina ;) one of them died, and the sur- 

 vivor became disconsolate. He was apparently following his 

 companion, when his owner introduced a large looking glass into 

 the aviary. The bird no sooner beheld his reflected image, than 

 he fancied she for whom he mourned had been restored to him ; he 

 placed himself close to the mirror, plumed his feathers, and showed 

 every sign of happiness. The scheme answered completely ; the 

 crane recovered his health and spirits, passed almost all his time 

 before the looking glass, and lived many years after. These are 

 curious instances of the strength of the social principle in birds. 



Presentiment in a Goose. — The following anecdote is from the 

 Mag. of Nat. History. " An old goose, that had been sitting upon 



