NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
119 
More about Midges. — I have long supposed, though I have not been able 
to get conclusive evidence, that the midges, which suddenly appear in parties 
during the winter months, and as quickly vanish, must be hybernators. Mr. 
Rooper’s discovery is conclusive : no doubt they shelter themselves in clumps of 
evergreens, thick hedges, and other convenient places, whence they emerge for an 
aerial excursion, “weather permitting.” But why call them pests? A few of 
them are slightly injurious to the blossoms and foliage of some trees or shrubs, 
the majority are quite harmless. I do not believe they possess the stinging 
power of gnats, though they have been accused of “biting.” Their dances are 
remarkable, because they revolve round, and also at the same moment gradually 
shift their position. As weather prophets I hardly think they are to be trusted, 
but their coming forth after rain probably indicates a temporary improvement. 
j. R. S. Clifford. 
A Scriptural Flower-bed. — We have a round flower-bed in our church- 
yard with a clump of hollies in the centre, which I am hoping to fill by degrees 
with plants bearing Scriptural names. Of course we have Star of Bethlehem, 
Jacob’s ladder, Aaron’s rod (mullein), Solomon’s seal, and St. John’s-wort. Can 
your readers give me any further suggestions ? I think I must admit the hyssop 
and Jerusalem cowslip. If the Rose of Sharon is a cistus it will find our soil 
rather heavy, and the Virgin Mary’s thistle might spread and become a nuisance. 
The Trinity flower (Trillium) is rather difficult to please, the Judas tree is too 
large, and the Calvary clover too small. 
Milton, Lymington. J. E. Kelsall. 
Mirage. — There can be no doubt that the very interesting account given in 
the Daily Mail of April 16, of the city of Bristol being seen in Alaska, is most 
probably correct. I can give a parallel case, though in the opposite direction. 
A few years ago I had been to pay a visit to my farm on the south of Dartmoor. 
It was late summer and there had been much rain. Consequently in the evening 
at about eight or ninerfj’clock the layer of air near the ground was cold, whilst 
the upper layer was hot. As I walked from Lee Mill Bridge to Ivy Bridge I 
had a very clear view of the Aurora Borealis. This simply means that a view of 
the currents of magnetic electricity passing northwards and entering the earth 
above Labrador was projected through hot air over cold, so that I could see them 
at a distance of thousands of miles. Those of your readers who take an interest 
in this subject may refer to Nature Notes for September last year, where they 
will see an illustrated article of mine giving some remarkable effects of mirage, 
with an explanation. We are beginning to understand these things. 
Montreux, April 28, 1901. Giles A. Daubeny. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
At the Council Meeting held on May 21 the following officers were elected 
for the ensuing year : — Chairman of Committee, Mr. George Avenell ; Treasurer, 
Mr. J. L. Otter ; Secretary, Mr. R. Marshman Wattson. 
Council Meetings. — The next meetings of the Council will take place on 
Tuesdays, June 4 and 18, and July 2, at 5.30 p.m., at 20, Hanover Square, W. 
New Members. — The following new members have joined : — Mrs. G. 
Dymond and Miss M. E. Dymond, Langton Matravers ; Geo. E. Alexander, 
Esq., Stockwell ; Miss Helen Wight, Woodberry Down ; Chas. S. Parsons, Esq., 
Highgate. 
Donations and Subscriptions.— The Council begs to acknowledge with 
thanks the receipt of the following donations : — Mrs. Clarkson, 2s. 6d. ; Geo. 
Avenell, Esq., £\ is. ; J. F. H. Gillard, Esq., F.I.C., 2s. 6d. ; and the following 
subscriptions over 5s. : — Mrs. Wolryche-Whitmore, los. ; Mrs. Philip Hensley, 
7s. 6d. ; Dudley Buxton, Esq., M.D., D.Sc., los. ; G. B. Milne-Redhead, Esq., 
M.A., los. ; W. Warde Fowler, Esq., M.A., los. ; F. Alfred Currey, Esq., and 
Mrs. Currey, £1 3s. ; Geo. II. Edwards, Esq., los. 6d. ; Haileybury Natural 
Scien:e Society (Junior Branch), 15s. ; Rev. G. Iluddart, los. 6d. 
• FIELD CLUB RAMBLES. 
Saturday, June i. — Meet at West Drayton Station on the arrival of the train 
leaving Paddington at 2.30, and Ealing Broadway at 2.44. The ramble will be 
