NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
77 
seeds before the corn is cut. No amount of human labour and search could have 
collected, on the same ground at that time of year, as much of these seeds as was 
consumed by each of these 500 or 600 wood pigeons daily.” 
Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
Has no error of observation occurred ? The larvae of Euchelia facobaa is 
always instanced as a beautiful example of protection by “ warning colours,” the 
black-and-orange striped caterpillar making itself most conspicuous on the rag- 
wort. Is it not possible that the crows were in search of some other food ( e.g ., 
wireworms) and that the Euchelia larvae were simply migrating to another patch 
of their food plant ? 
Passmore Edwards Museum, W. Cole. 
Stratford , Essex. 
Earwigs. — These insects were originally classed by Linne with the Coleoptera , 
or beetles. He placed them after the Staphylinidce, to which the short tegmina 
give them a superficial resemblance. They are now generally treated either as a 
section of the Orthoptera , or as a small independent order under the names quoted 
by Mr. Daubeny. We have between 500 and 600 species on our lists at present 
from all parts of the world. If Mr. Daubeny will refer to Murray’s “ New English 
Dictionary,” he will find the true derivation of the word “earwig” from Anglo- 
Saxon of the year 1000. The derivation, “earwing,” that Mr. Daubeny asserts 
so confidently is not even alluded to by Murray, and was only invented in the last 
century to explain away the modern English name, and will not, of course, apply 
to the equivalent names of the insect in other European languages, such as 
“ perce-oreille,” “ Ohrwurm,” &c. W. F. Kirby. 
Slugs. — The habits of these not very interesting creatures are generally 
watched in reference to their depredations, as all lovers of a garden know what 
abundant suppers they make off their young flower and vegetable seedlings. But 
they are not wholly vegetable feeders, for I have been informed recently of an 
instance where they made their way into a dining-room night after night in search 
of crumbs under the table. The slimy trail along the carpet told the tale, and 
one night search was made under the table and the unwelcome visitors discovered. 
They had found out a small hole between the floor and skirting board and so had 
obtained entrance to the room which is level with the garden. I have been told 
that slugs can be trapped with bran, but it seems any crumbs will attract them. 
Teignmouth. Caroline E. Farley. 
Eoliths. — I am much obliged to the correspondent who answered my 
queries so clearly and fully. Personally I have never doubted the human work- 
manship of the eoliths ; but I was not clear as to their separation longo intervallo 
from palteoliths. F. G. S. 
Thunderbolts. — Now that there is a discussion in your pages about “ the 
fall of stones from the sky,” will some one enlighten us on thunderbolts? We 
have been told more or less all our lives of these things falling from the heavens 
during thunderstorms, often doing great damage, and the papers announced one 
the other day. What in the world are they ? 
March, 1903. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Council Meeting. — The usual monthly meeting of the Council will be 
held at 20, Hanover Square, W., on Wednesday, April 8, at 5.30 p.m. 
New Members. — Alfred Deed, Esq., Blackhealh ; R. Russell, Esq., 
and Mrs. Russell, Belgrave Road, S. W. ; Cork Nat. Field Club (per 
W. B. Lacy, Esq.); Charles Platt, Esq., Welheral ; Francis L. Jandron, Esq., 
Clapham ; Mrs. A. L. Phillips, Loslwithiel ; Clifton H. Regnart, Esq., New 
Barnet; G. H. Horne, Esq., Streatham ; Mrs. Dougan McDonald, Stirling; 
Edmond Thompson, Esq., Hampstead; Jesse Argyle, Esq., Hampstead; Miss 
Hill, Hampstead ; Mrs. T. Grosvenor Lee, Clent ; Miss Walker and Miss i\ 
