NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES 
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kinds, of bees 30 kinds, within a radius of a mile. Many of the hornets have 
apterous females. Perhaps some correspondent will kindly tell me (1) What is 
the difference between wasps and hornets ? (2) Is there any work published on 
the classification, names, &c. , of Australian hornets ? 
S. A. W. Barnard. 
Coomooboolaroo , Duaringa, 
Rockhampton , Queensland. 
Scarce Swallow Tail ( Papilio Podalirius). — When looking over the 
cabinet of a neighbour a few days ago I saw a specimen of the above, and 
ascertained that it had “ been given him about the year 1874 by a Mrs. Roden, 
and was said to have been taken in Cheshire at the beginning of the century, 
in the ’twenties, by her great uncle.” This may be of interest to some of your 
readers, for there are several records of the capture of this insect in England 
about that time ; though I believe I am right in saying it has not occurred for 
more than half a century past. 
Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
Market IVeston Rectory, ThetforJ, Norfolk. 
The Transport of Seeds by Seawater.— Seeing that much attention 
has of late been bestowed upon the problem of the transport of seeds and fruits 
by water — a problem of great importance to botanical geography — a trifling 
observation of ours may possibly be accorded notice in Nature Notes. A few 
days since, on a beach between this place and Fowey, where wreckage usually 
comes ashore, we found a number of maize cobs, which had presumably drifted 
across in the Gulf Stream ; whilst — and this is the reason for recording the fact — 
we found one seedling plant of maize established on the beach. It thus appears 
that the maize fruit may survive a long voyage in salt water. We propose to 
keep this beach under observation, in the hope of finding other seedlings similarly 
established.* 
F. H. Perry Coste, 
Polperro, Cornwall. Maud Perry Coste. 
Struggle for Existence.— We have a sycamore tree ( Acer Pseudo- 
platanus) growing on our garden wall. It is now three years old and in a 
flourishing condition, being full of large green leaves, is about three feet in 
height, and more than that in the spread of its branches. So, at present, it 
shows no sign of being dwarfed in any respect. The wall is covered with ivy, 
which no doubt retains moisture to the roots of the young tree. It appears 
doubtful at present which will prove conqueror, whether the wall will cause the 
tree to die or become dwarfed, or the tree, as its roots grow larger and stronger, 
will ruin the wall. 
17, Li stria Park, Stamford Hill. F. E. Martin. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
Croydon and Norwood. — Success has at length crowned the efforts of the 
Society and other local bodies in the matter of Bird Protection in the Croydon 
County area. An order, dated July 6, 1898, has now been issued under the Acts 
of 1894 and 1895, by which the close time for eggs and birds has been extended 
so as to include the whole of the year. Amongst the better-known birds which 
are thus protected are the lark, wren, cuckoo, starling, swift, swallow, martin, 
long-tailed tit, wheatear, wagtail, chaffinch and goldfinch. Amongst the 
omissions are noticeable the blackbird and the blue-tit. 
The Committee of the Branch has appointed Mr. H. S. M. Grover, of 
Croydon, and 15, Coleman Street, E.C., to be Hon. Solicitor to the Branch. 
At the Quarterly Committee held on July 18, it was unanimously resolved to 
oppose the proposed compulsory increase of the tithe of the gross receipts, now 
payable to the Central Council. 
* Though, no doubt, the maize may have been in sea-water, it is at least 
possible that it may have come from the cargo of some ship in the neighbourhood. 
—Ed. N.N. 
