26o 
NATURE NOTES. 
men killed the birds outright, whereas the sportsmen who make fewer bags 
probably wound and main dozens of poor birds who get back to the bushes to 
die in agony. — Echo. 
Encouragement ! — Until I react your paper on “ Ospreys” in the August 
number, I had no idea of the cruelty connected with them. I thought you might 
like to know I have taken two out of my bonnet and burnt them, and will never 
wear ospreys again. 
L. A. L. 
A Sportsman’s View. — The following extract from a letter by an ardent 
sportsman may interest your readers : — 
“ I quite agree with you about the pleasure of seeing as much wild life as 
possible, and kestrels, I invariably impress upon everyone, do no harm at all to 
game . . . there are a few about now, and I saw one of the finest natural 
stoops I ever saw a short time ago . . . by a kestrel, and he caught his prey. 
Another bird that I am very fond of seeing is a buzzard, and those on ‘ passage ’ 
will be coming in about now ; their food is almost entirely moles whilst they are 
in this part of the country, and they do absolutely no harm to game, but being a 
very large hawk, every gamekeeper thinks he is a great man if he can kill one. 
The little marten I am very fond of seeing, and should never think of killing one ; 
though they may kill a few young grouse, their numbers are so scarce that the 
harm they do is infinitesimal. I am afraid magpies are very destructive. I am 
very much against keepers having a gun ; if they have one they cannot resist 
making use of it.” 
E. G. W. 
The first meeting of the Committee for the Protection of British Lepi- 
doptera in danger of extermination, appointed by the Entomological Society 
of London, was held on October 14, Professor Meldola in the chair. Letters 
from the City of London Entomological and Natural History Society, the 
North London Natural History Society, and the Leicester Literary and Philo- 
sophical Society, expressing warm sympathy with the object of the Committee, 
were read. After discussion of the best methods of securing the objects of the 
Committee, it was resolved to invite information as to species in special danger 
of extermination, with a view to future action. The Hon. Sec. is Mr. Chas. 
W. Barrett, of 39, Linden Grove, Nunhead, .S.E. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Ants (p. 237). — Probably the ants were swarming. Like wasps and bees, 
ants live in communities consisting of males, females and imperfect females or 
workers. Both males and females are winged. The males are only to be found 
in the nest for a certain time, and after depositing the last batch of eggs in the 
autumn the females also disappear, leaving eggs, larva* and pupae to the care of 
the workers, who feed the larvae and carry them, as well as the eggs, from one 
part of the nest to another. Later on the larvce become pupte, many of them 
first enclosing themselves in a silken cocoon (these cocoons are often called “ants’ 
eggs,” and sold as food for soft-billed birds). The pupa* develop, some into 
wingle.ss workers, others into perfect males or females with gauzy wing.s. These 
remain in the nest until a favourable opportunity occurs for swarming. In- 
dividuals from all the ants’ nests in the neighbourhood generally take flight on 
the same day in such numbers that they often produce the effect of dark clouds. 
But after the nuptial flight the males soon die, and the females drop to the 
ground, where they are seized by the w'orkers, who tear off their wings and con- 
duct them to the interior of the nest, where they spend the rest of their lives in 
laying eggs. Several <|ueen-mothers may live amicably together in the same 
nest. 
L. E. UOHERTS. 
