ii8 
NATURE NOTES 
Rooks and Young Birds. — With reference to Mr. T. Culhbert’s query, 
page 98 of Nature Notes for May, I may say that when living in Northumber- 
land, I have often seen rooks chasing the blackbirds that came to be fed at the 
window during hard weather, and several times found mangled remains of small 
birds — generally blackbirds — in positions that left no doubt as to their having been 
eaten by the hungry rooks. 
The Gables, IVirksworth. C. E. Meade-Waldo. 
May 3, 1902. 
Toads and Lizards in Ireland. — I have seen both, the former, 
curiously enough (see Benwyan’s notes in the February number), at Caragh 
Lake, co. Kerry : this is on the opposite side of Dingle Bay from Dingle 
Promontory. The lizard I saw frequently, 1870-3, about Caragh Lake. 
T. Hartley. 
Bees (p. 77). — It is interesting to know from his own pen that Mr. Webster 
is a “recognised ” authority on bees, that he has written a book on them, kept 
them for a quarter of a century, and handled them by the million. My preten- 
sions as an old bee-master do not run to this. Writing books proves authorship, 
not authority, and I am not going to write one. There are enough already- 
Many people hold the opinion that bees do a little drone-killing now and then, 
and even ^Ir. Webster allows the possibility of this, for he owns that “bees do 
nothing invariably,” and also he “cannot state that in the course of years a drone 
has never been stung by a worker.” Death by stinging is their “ ultimate” fate, 
as Darwin clearly holds. 
No doubt the majority of drones come to the same kind of end as other short- 
lived insects. If, however, they will not clear out of the hive when ordered to do 
so, but return after being repeatedly hustled out of house and home, stronger 
measures are taken as a last resource. 
Bees often fight bees from other hives, and when robbing takes place kill each 
other wholesale. A neighbour who keeps bees on a large scale says: “I have 
often observed them trying to sting strangers on the alighting board,” and 
“drones are mostly found dead on the ground in front of the hives.” He also 
says “ they are by no means careful how they use their stings.” 
Bees may stab other bees without losing their stings, the skin not being strong 
enough to retain them. Indeed, I find they do not always leave their slings in 
me. I have been stung twice this year and in one case the sting was not left 
behind. 
This may be the solution of the question. 
Market IVeston, Theiford. Edmund Tiios. Daubeny. 
April, 1902. 
Helix asp^sa. — When walking along the seashore at Trouville-sur-Mer, 
Calvados, P'rance, on April 30 last, I was surprised when I noticed several Helix 
aspersa crawling along the sand (there being no shingle at this place) at about 
high water mark. I do not think these common snails could have been acci- 
dentally carried to this position, as I found them at a great distance from each 
other. I should be glad if the Editor, or any reader, of Nature Notes can tell 
me of a similar find to the one just mentioned, or any cause that may be assigned 
for 11. aspensa being so found ? 
Carlton Plonse, Herne Hill, S.E. Raleujh S. Smallman. 
May 6, 1902. 
Variations in Stamens of Crocus. — The length of the stamens in 
Croctis vermes seem to vary with the colour. The yellow blossom variety has 
stamens much longer than the pistil, whilst the white and light purple-coloured 
varieties have shorter stamens than pistils. As these flowers are much visited by 
bees, is this arrangement to ensure cross fertilisation ? 
Cranbrook. A. W. Hudson. 
Height of Trees in England. — Can any of your correspondents say 
what is the height of the tallest tree or trees in England? I know of a tall tree 
not far from Norwich, related, I suppose, to the spruce fir ; it is unfortunately 
dying from the top, and may have lost something. Its height has been calcu- 
lated, trigonometrically, at 104 feel. 
