NATURE NOTES. 
158 
meier’s dog, that committed suicide through jealousy, would be a somewhat 
parallel case ; but unfortunately Mr. Tegetmeier has himself declared it to be 
fictitious, though reprinted as true. 
F. M. Millard. 
A Rook Query (p. 118). — I have seen one or more rooks tearing off bark 
from an elm in the Mote Park, near Maidstone. There can, I think, be litile 
doubt that the branch was dead or dying, and that there was a loose end or flap 
of bark to lay hold of at first starting. But when a beginning was once made 
the bark was torn away from the upper side of the branch for several feet. I 
supposed it was used in building the nest. I should imagine the “balancing”' 
action to be a different thing ; at any rate, what I saw could not well be mistaken 
for “balancing.” I do not think sound, healthy bark would be taken. 
Olham, Maidstone. F. M. Millard. 
Golden Oriole. — On Whit Sunday last. May 24, in the evening, my brother 
was walking across Plolmbury Hill, near Abinger, Surrey, when there flew out 
from a gorse bush a splendid golden oriole, making its peculiar cry, and rapidly 
disappearing into the neighbouring woods. No nest could be found. As this 
bird is said to be found in the loneliest of spots and near the outskirts of forests,, 
a better situation than Holmbury Hill it could hardly have chosen. 1 thought 
the rarity of this visitor was sufficient apology for recording its appearance, espe- 
cially so near London. 
El DON Pratt. 
Concerning Moles. — From an intelligent man who has followed the 
occupation of mole catcher for many years, I learned the following No creature 
works harder than a mole. It makes its tunnel with a perpendicular shaft at the 
end, up which it comes tail first, throwing up the earth, returning to fetch another 
mass. Seldom more than six young are found in the nest. '1 hey only breed 
once a year. There are differences among them. For example, one mole, after 
being caught, will seize and devour a worm placed near its mouth ; others, more 
timid, will not touch it. Their way of feeding is most interesting. The worm 
is seized by the head, and held between the fore-feet, which are made by a quick 
alternate movement to press the earth out of its body. My friend said it was 
absurd to speak (as the Rev. J. G. Wood had) of a mole skinning a worm before 
eating it. When a mole is at work a blackbird will stand near to pick up the 
startled worms as they come out. When the mole catcher takes a nest of young 
ones, the crows wait to carry them away for food. They never take a dead old 
one. But the most interesting fact given was this, that when a worm is touched 
by the nose of a mole it seems paralysed, and does not try to escape. My friend 
had repeatedly verified this. He showed me as a curiosity one of fawn colour, 
which he had captured and stuffed. 
Hexham. I. E. Page. 
A Remarkable Spider. — On St. Valentine’s day of the present year, 
while walking in my bush garden, I was attracted by the appearance of a young 
peach tree, the foliage of which had contracted a somewhat rusty and pest-stiicken 
look, and seeing a bit of withered curled-up leaf lying upon the surface of one of 
the green leaves, I put out my hand to pick it off, when, to my amazement, it 
ran away. It was a living spider ! But lying curled-up theie on the green peach 
leaf, its legs carefully stowed away underneath, only the rusty brown wrinkled 
upper surface of the body revealed, it had no mote resemblance to a living 
creature than a flint stone had. It wa.s, to all intents and purposes, a bit ol 
withered leaf. On closer examination the back of the creature was seen to 
bear a ghastly resemblance to the human countenance, the nose being repicsemed 
by a curious little yellow cone which rises up in the centre of the abilomen, the 
use of which I should much like to know, if any learned arachr.idist will kindly 
impart the information. A small crab-like spider is found on the sandy plains 
of this district, which forms a beautiful little tent dwelling by tying tiown the 
corner of a peppermint gum leaf (Ejica/ypttis aniygdalina] to the shape of the 
ordinary military tent, and living in the apex thereof riuite secure from observa- 
tion. A slight aperture is left between the Kvel surface of the leaf and the 
Irottom of the tent, as marked by the dotted line, for egress. Presumably the 
