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171 
thermometer approaching 8o°. It then became cool. Previous to the continued 
hot, dry weather of July and August, and in June, I observed that there was a 
profusion of honey-dewon the sycamore and lime-trees. Some of the sycamores 
that were infested were full of blossom, but the blossom had not then come out 
on any of the lime-trees. In consequence of the backward spring, all trees that 
blossom after leafing were late in blossoming. I also noticed that there was a 
great deal of honey-dew on the poplar, oak and bramble, in some localities. 
I have not seen any honej-dew on plane or acacia trees. In July, many of the 
limes that were infested with honey-dew became loaded with blossom, so the 
lady who suggested that little or no honey-dew’ ever came on trees that blossomed 
freely, I think must have been mistaken, although she had correctly noticed that 
on a certain year all trees flowered freely and all were free from honey-dew. 
Throughout July, honey-dew was very profuse on lime trees. A very hot summer 
without rain, has a tendency to arrest the growth of plants. The cold spring and 
dry summer of this year were particularly calculated to have this tendency. 
Might not honey-dew be caused by the arrested growth of the plant, the sugary 
juices finding a vent on the upper surface of the leaves when acted on by a hot 
sun? Mr. Whiting’s observation that the flow of honey-dew is much more liquid 
at night than in the daytime is worthy of attention. 
Hampstead, August 15, 1906. Peter Hastie. 
406. Lightning and Beech Trees.- The effect of lightning upon 
beech trees was the subject of an interesting statement made by the coroner (Air. 
Dossey Wightman) at an inquest at Hemingfield, near Barnsley, on two miners, 
Mark Kaye and Joseph Beaumont, who were killed by lightning whilst sheltering 
under a beech tree. Six men were under the tree, but none could state what 
occurred beyond the fact that they were suddenly knocked down insensible, after 
being under the tree for five minutes. The coroner said he had been to examine 
the tree, as the accident raised a very peculiar question. For years he had read 
and understood that there was no record of a beech tree being struck by lightning. 
Ninety-nine out of every hundred trees which were struck were oaks. In this 
case the lightning had not injured the tree to the extent of damaging a leaf. 
It appeared to him to be a remarkable circumstance after what he had under- 
stood for so long, and he should record the fact that it was a beech tree in the 
verdict. 
NATURAL HISTORY QUERIES. 
88. Robins “Killing their Parents.” — Can any one tell me what is 
the truth (if any) underlying the popular belief that in the autumn Robins kill 
their parents? I find it is very widely spread. May it not perhaps be explained 
in this way — Cock robins are extremely pugnacious little fellows, and as soon as 
one of them sees another, he at once “goes for him,” irrespective of any fact of 
relationship ? A really old bird would, of course, be weaker than a younger one, 
and would thus be at a disadvantage. Why the autumn should be the chosen 
time for conflict I fail to see. 
Ropley, Hants, August 7, 1906. Marie S. Hagen. 
89. Sex in Swallows. — How do you distinguish the two sexes of the 
swallow and house martin? W. E. Ivery. 
90. Hearing in Insects. — Would Mr. P. Macleod Yearsley kindly tell 
us how it is that snails frequently squeal if you put your heel on them, and 
attempt to kill them, and how it is that lobsters squeal if they are put into boiling 
water ? Would any creature squeal for protection from danger, unless it could 
hear the sound it made ? Peter Hastie. 
91. Ants. — What is the best remedy for getting rid of ants which have 
taken possession of the kitchen and scullery of a house? PI. J. V. 
92. Leaf-cutting Bees. — We have been much interested this summer in 
watching several bees in our garden. These bees have been flying with pieces 
of leaf, rolled up, and carried in their back legs. One bee, we noticed, put its bit 
of leaf, whilst apparently resting, on a garden seat, then picked it up and resumed 
