NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
19 
looking out of the window I saw the bird in the garden attacking a full grown 
rat, making furious pecks at it and then dropping it, the rat in its turn standing 
on its hind legs and facing the bird. The raven did not seem strong enough to 
hold on to the rat, so contented himself with darting at it and pecking it violently 
and then letting go : once the rat got quite away, but was quickly caught again 
and subjected to the same treatment till finally it succumbed with feeble squeaks. 
I ought to mention that the raven’s wing was cut, so that it could not fly after the 
rat when it escaped. On looking at the rat afterwards I noticed that its tail was 
broken, so that the blows inflicted by the bird were not confined to any particular 
part of the body. The raven seemed delighted with his achievement, and com- 
menced plucking out the hair, and by the end of the day there were no signs of the rat. 
Dale House, Blamiford. Makel S. C. Daniei.l. 
Birds in St. James’s Park. — It may interest your readers to know that 
during last summer two pairs of magpies have built in St. James’s Park. One of 
the nests is very conspicuous in a thorn tree overhanging the water ; a keeper told 
me the other was on the island. For four or five years there has been a solitary 
“ Pie” frequenting the Park, which apparently he never left, but with these new 
arrivals the Joy of his existence must be much increased, and it is to be hoped 
that the young ones will increase likewise. It would be very Interesting to know 
whether the new birds were “turned down” by private hands, or whether they 
have come there naturally. The little grebes, too, returned this summer, after 
leaving for awhile, owing to the dearth of fish subsequent to the emptying and 
cleaning out of the lake. 
32, Shaftesbury Avenue, IV., November 27, 1900. P. E. Clark. 
Phosphorescent Centipede. — Will you or one of the readers of 
Nature Notes be kind enough to explain the following. When walking last 
night (November 25) in a lane abutting on the Brighton Road close to 
Coulsdon, Surrey, my attention was attracted by a phosphorescence in the grass 
by the road side. Upon inspection this proceeded from a small thread-like 
worm about an inch and a half long, of a dull red colour, which upon being 
disturbed wriggled into the roadway leaving a luminous trail in its path. 
The phosphorescence was not a passing luminosity such as one obtains upon 
disturbing marine animalculae, but a maintained light very similar in colour to 
the glow worm, which on leaving the spot could be seen for some distance. Two 
oak leaves which had been traversed were quite brilliant. Stanley Flint. 
[The phosphorescent animal is not a worm but a centipede, Linotffuia 
crassipes . — Ed. W.W. ] 
Heath Snails in Winter. — At the village of Newark, near Peterborough, 
on December 9, 1900, the weather being wet and warm, I found large numbers 
of the heath snail (Helix ericelorutn) on the bank of a hedgerow. The bank 
faced due south. Some were adhering to dead stalks and grass bents, but most 
of them were apparently feeding on the dead leaves. Surely December 9 was 
unusually late for these snails to be out in such large numbers? 
Broadway, Peterborough. W. II. Bernard Saunders. 
Cydonia japonica. — It may be of interest to your readers generally, and 
to your correspondent, W. Cocksedge, in particular, to know that this Japanese 
quince not only fruits regularly here (the crops varying considerably from year 
to year), but that for many years past we have made a jelly from the fruit far 
surpassing “ red currant jelly.” It is most distinct and very pleasant in flavour, 
and I would strongly recommend all those with whom the Cydonia, or Pyrus 
japonica (as it is more usually called), fruits to follow our example. 
The Holt, Harrow Weald. A. Kings.MILL. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Council Meetings. — The next meetings of Council will be held at 20, 
Hanover Square, W. , on Tuesdays, January 8 and 22, and February 5 and 19, 
at 5.30 p.m. 
The Council has heard with deep regret of the death of John Charles F'loat, 
Esq., Mayor of Maldon, Essex, an active member of the Field Club. Mr. 
bloat died on November 9, aged 65 years. 
