46 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



without smoke (Trans. Ent. Soc, Zond , ii , 

 proc.vii.). Another species ('j5 displosor) 

 makes explosions similar to those of B. 

 crepitans : when irritated it can give ten or 

 twelve good discharges ; but afterwards, 

 instead of smoke, it emits a yellow or brown 

 fluid. By bending the joints of its abdomen 

 it can direct its smoke to any particular 

 point. M. Leon Dufour observes that this 

 smoke has a strong and pungent odour 

 which has a striking analogy with that ex- 

 haled by nitric acid. It is caustic, redden- 

 ning white paper, and producing on the skin 

 the sensation of burning, and forming red 

 spots, which pass into brown and, though 

 washed, remain several days (Ann du Mus. 

 xviii, yo). This burning sensation, M. 

 Lacordaire informs us, when arising from 

 the discharges of the large exotic species, is 

 so painful that he has often been obliged to 

 let those which he had taken escape. The 

 same power of emitting explosions, as a 

 means of defence, is also found in some 

 other coleopterous species, as in those of 

 the genus Panssus, according to M. Payen, 

 who had an opportunity of studying their 

 habits in the isles of Sunda and the 

 Moluccas (Lacordaire, Tiitrod. a VErdom., 

 ii., 56 ) ; in those of Cerapterus, according 

 to Mr. MacLeay ( Westivood, Mod. Classif. 

 of Ins ,i., 151 J ; and in those of Zasna in a 

 slight degree, according to M. Lacordaire." 

 — ^JoHN E. RoBSON, Hartlepool. 



4- 



In all probability the larvae feeding on 

 nettle and having only fourteen legs were 

 those of the snout (Hypena proloscidalis). 

 — L.S. 



5. 



I think the birds must have been bee- 

 eaters ( Merops apiaster ) ; but I do not 

 think they bred, as they usually bred like 

 sand martins in colonies, and in similar 

 places. — F. Bond. 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 



The Advantage of Observations being 



RECORDED AT THE TIME. — "A pretty long 



experience in such matters has convinced 

 me that they act wisely and well who, having 

 used their opportunities to the best of their 

 power, communicate the results of their 

 observations to the world without waiting 

 for a period (never, perhaps, to arrive) when 

 they may themselves have the credit of 

 completing and perfecting them. It is bet- 

 ter, whilst the freshness of recollection is 

 undimmed, and the mind is in a position to 

 draw a correct parallel between older and 

 quite recent observations, and thus to give 

 our descriptions the necessary developement, 

 to throw into them whatever there may be 

 of value in our peculiar experience or habits 

 of investigation, and frankly to invite our 

 fellow-labourers to do in out stead what we 

 would gladly have done but for some in- 

 evitable want of health, leisure, or opportu- 

 nity. Were this course more generally 

 followed in the sciences, both of observation 

 and experiment, I am persuaded that by 

 grasping at less we should attain more — 

 even in personal reputation — and should 

 unquestionably advance the interests of 

 knowledge." — Pofessor I. Forbes in " His- 

 tory of Norway and its Glaciers." 



MAMMALS. 



A Mouse's Winter Stores. — As two 

 men were sawing up an old decayed apple- 

 tree in our garden to-day (November 20th), 

 they came upon a hollow in the trunk, 

 which had evidently been appropriated by 

 some small creature as a magazine for the 

 storing of winter provisions. The hollow 

 was literally packed and crammed with 

 horse-beans, among which were a few broad- 

 beans and a couple of nuts. Altogether 

 there was nearly a quart of beans thus 

 stowed away, and many of them had com- 

 menced to germinate. The mouse or mice 



