THE YOU NG NATURALIST. 



93: 



a second time ere it reached the water. ' It is also 

 disputed whether it ever takes other prey than 

 fish, some asserting that it will attack wild ducks, 

 fire, others as stoutly denying it. But it is difficult 

 to prove a negative, and if one trustworthy observer 

 saw it take a wild duck, or other bird, the fact 

 ; could not be disproved by a score of others who 

 had never seen a similar circumstance. It is also 

 said that the Osprey never takes a fish in the act 

 of leaping, nor a flying fish when out of water, 

 but always takes its prey below the surface. If 

 this be so, it appears less probable that it would 

 take a bird on the surface. 



Though the Osprey frequents lakes and sea cliffs, 

 it generally builds its nest in tree^, and like many 

 other of the larger birds, it occupies the same 

 place year after year, adding to the size of the nest 

 until it becomes of enormous dimensions. A strong 

 evidence of its exclusively fish diet may be found 

 in the fact that many small birds often build about 

 an osprey's nest, safe there from the attacks of 

 other birds of prey, and safe from the more harm- 

 less Fishing Hawk. They lay their eggs about 

 the beginning of May, and the female sits almost 

 continuously, the male supplying her with food 

 during the time. The eggs are very round, ground 

 color white or whitish, and much spotted with 

 grey and various shades of brown, the larger spots 

 generally being a rich, light brown. It seldom 

 lays more than two eggs, which hatch in about a 

 month, and they never rear but one brood in a year. 

 It has been observed of the Osprey, as of many 

 | Dther large birds, that when one of a pair is killed 

 ■ he other will leave the locality to return in a day 

 M ox two with a fresh mate. Where they go to obtain 

 P i mate is a mystery, for odd birds are rarely if ever 

 \ ;een during the breeding season. The Osprey is 

 ;aid to be a partial migrant. In America, in suit- 



- ible places, it is so numerous that several hundred 

 i >airs are known to live together, forming a colony 

 :: fke Rooks and Herons. The progress of civiliza- 



ion in this country, and the increasing population 

 vill soon drive it away to more congenial places, 

 nd it may not be long before it becomes but a 



- asual visitant with us. 



t 



d Phosphorescence of Earth Worms. — It 

 3 lay not be generally known to our readers that 

 t le earth worm (Lumbricux terrestris) is sometimes 

 :• ighly phosphorescent. 



LAMBETH FIELD CLUB. 



! The Eighth Annual Soiree and Scientific Exhibi- 

 tion of this flourishing club was held on Monday, 

 the 5thinst., at the St. Philip's Schools, Kenning- 



j ton, S.E. Having received a very elegantly 

 designed and attractive programme, we were in a 

 measure prepared for what greeted us on our 

 arrival. After inwardly commenting upon the 

 large attendance of members and their personal 

 friends, we felt in a fitting mood to enjoy the 

 refreshments provided, ere the deeper tone of 

 our scientific surroundings engaged our atten- 

 tion. We now paused to listen to a choice 

 selection of music, and then proceeded to investi- 



| gate the collection, — silent trophies of many a 



1 summer day's ramble through shady woods, across 

 dry sandy heaths, over steep grassy hills, and 

 down precipitous cliffs by the wild sea shore. 

 We love to linger over the happy memories which 

 always crowd upon us when viewing a naturalist's 

 collection, and we are sure that our own feelings 



I were shared by the gentlemen whose names we 

 give as connected with this scientific exhibition. 

 Mr. Whitlock contributedalarge palreontological 

 and mineralogical collection. Mr. Step's very 

 numerous collection of coleoptera, hemiptera, 

 lepidoptera, &c, and a case illustrating pond-life 

 was well worthy of the interest and admiration 

 it excited. Mr. White also exhibited specimens 

 of lepidoptera ; Mr. Hayes, shells of mollusca ; 

 Mr. BARTLETTj Romanand early Britishantiquities; 

 Mr. Eve, Australian natural products. Some 

 very fine illustrations of the art of wood engraving, 

 &c, were exhibited by Mr. Galloway. Messrs. 

 Reeve, A. L. Corbett, F. D. Usser, C. W. 

 Balls and J. J. Brewer, of the Queckett and 

 South London Microscopical Societies, contributed 

 powerful microscopes and exhibited a series of 

 beautiful objects ; Messrs. Rowe (president) and 

 Step also contributed their quota to this section, 

 theformer causingmuch amusement byhiselectrical 

 experiments. We were gratified by a remark that 

 the Young Naturalist was of assistance in 

 the club work. The arrangements were under 

 the direction of the hon. secretary, Mr. Masters, 

 ably assisted by a lady member of the committee, 

 Miss Shelton. A very enjoyable evening was 

 spent, and from its appearance on this occasion, 

 the Lambeth Field Club is making real progress* 



