THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



231 



Bees. — The hive bee is subject to the 

 attack of certain insects which not only 

 destroy the comb but also the honey itself, 

 thus starving the bees and impoverishing 

 the supply. One of these is called Meliphora 

 alveariella and another Galleria cerella ; both 

 belong to the lepidoptera, and are very des- 

 tructive when once fairly established, mak- 

 ing long galleries among the combs. The 

 first is brown with a yellow head, and the 

 second, which is larger, has the fore wings 

 as if abruptly cut off at the end. 



Remedies. — The wooden frame hives 

 seem to be a means of prevention, as the 

 combs can be taken out and examined. 



Cow. — Three species of parasites at 

 least infest cattle, viz., Trichodectes scalaris, 

 Hamatopinus eurysiernus, and H. vituli. The 

 first eats the hair of the animal, and the 

 others are blood-suckers. 



Dog. — The common dog-tick (Hama- 

 topinus piliferiis) is sometimes very trouble- 

 some, being very difficult to remove when 

 once fairly established. 



Remedies. — The precipitate before men- 

 tioned is recommended as the best means of 

 cure. It must be well rubbed among the 

 fur and washed off again in the course of a 

 few days with soap and water, and the dog 

 must be muzzled in the meantime to prevent 

 it swallowing some of the poison. 



Horse.' — The parasite which infests the 

 horse is Trichodectes equi. It also infests the 

 ass. 



Pigeon. — Lipenrus stellaris and Nirmus 

 clavijormis infest pigeons, sometimes to a very 

 considerable extent. 



Sheep. — The greatest pest to the sheep 

 is a fly which deposits its eggs about the 

 sheep's nostrels, and the larvae penetrate 

 into the interior, sometimes as far as the 

 brain. This animal is also infested by a 

 louse or tick, and we frequently see star- 

 lings perched upon a sheep's back picking 

 them ofi. 



THE LIOKEY HILLS. 



May 6th (Saturday afternoon).— Took 

 train to King's Norton, where we got out to 

 walk to the Lickey Hills, a distance of about 

 six miles The banks on each side of the 

 road were gaily lit up with wild flowers of 

 all colours and forms, the wood violet, dog's 

 mercury, and fine specimens of the wild 

 forget-me-not in some places flourished, and 

 whole fields of cowslips. Afier passing 

 through the hamlet of Northfield we came 

 into more open country with furze-trees. 

 On one of the banks I found the first large 

 ermine moth this season. About an hour's 

 further walking we came to the village at 

 the foot of the Lickey Hills, and in one of 

 the cottages we procured refreshments and 

 rested for a short time. At half-past five 

 o'clock we commenced the ascent. It did 

 not take us long to get up. On our way I 

 found a skylark's nest on the ground con- 

 taining four eggs. When we arrived at the 

 top we saw the Clent Hills plainly, which 

 belong to the same range. They are rather 

 higher than the Lickey. Some of the hills 

 were completely covered with bilberries, 

 which grew to the height of four or five feet. 

 Down the slopes ash-trees were flourishing 

 well, and the ground was all covered over 

 with moss, which took the place of grass. 

 The soil-of the Lickey is much richer than 

 that of Clent, and accordingly richer in 

 vegetation. We saw numerous rabbits run- 

 ning about and heard pheasants and cuckoos 

 in the woods. We also observed several 

 kestrels, bullfinches, bats, shrew mice. 

 Heard the corn crake and noted two large 

 rookeries. Coming down the hills to the 

 south-east we beheld a magnificent sight. 

 In one corner of a vale a mass of broom and 

 gorsc was in llower ; it completely dazzled 

 our eyesight with its lustre. Ilalf-an-hour's 

 walking through pleasant lanes brought us 

 to Burnt Green station, where we caught 

 the 8.39 p.m. train back to Birmingham. — 

 W. Hakcourt Bath. 



