THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
155 
Errata: — On page 102, “A Theory of the Origin 
of Mountain Ranges by Sedimentary Landing &c” 
for Landing read Loading. 
The tarantula, which is one of the largest but 
by no means the most venemous species of spiders 
found in Europe is common in Spain, Southern 
France, and Italy, and is found in great numbers 
in Apalia, and round the town of Taranto. 
The female tarantula is very prolific and exer- 
cises great maternal care over her young. 
She lays from 900 to 1000 eggs in the season, 
which are divided into two broods, one of which 
she hatches in the Spring, and the other in the 
Autumn. 
Near Brunn, .the capital of Moravia, important 
discoveries of prehistoric remains have been made, 
which are likely to attract 'the attention of palaeon- 
tologists all over the globe. As a canal was being 
dug, four and a half skulls were brought to light 
of dolichocephalous (long-headed) character, and 
of an exceedingly low' stage of development. The 
same place contained bones and teeth of mammoth, 
rhinoceros, and reindeer. Close to the skulls lay 
more than 500 fossil snails, several caleinous stones 
with holes in the middle, and a rude figure cut 
out of a mammoth’s tooth with a hole running 
through the middle. 
In Germany, vegetable fibre is largely used in- 
stead of animal wool for various fabrics for outer 
garments and other purposes. Two establish- 
ments near Breslau convert pine leaves into w r ool 
and flannels. Blankets of these materials are 
exclusively employed in the hospitals, barracks 
and prisons of Vienna and Breslau, and have the 
great advantage of being vermin-proof. Uncler- 
clothing made from vegetable wool keeps the 
body comfortably warm. The shops producing 
these goods are lighted with gas made from the 
waste thrown off in the course of the manufacture. 
It is a remarkable fact that, notwithstanding 
the voluminous literature that has been written 
on Birds and their habits, no writer has noticed 
the preference that certain species of birds give 
to certain trees. 
Jays and rooks are found in the greatest num- 
bers in oak-trees; Finches, in lime-trees; and 
Black-caps among laurels. The Nightingale is 
always found in the greatest numbers in nut gro- 
ves, while the thrush evinces a decided preference 
for the birch and ash. 
The beech is the favourite tree of the Wood- 
pecker; and the numerous families of Tits are 
generally found in the greatest abundance among 
the Black-thorn. 
One of the most extraordinary of the many 
curious natural phenomena with which the Medi- 
terranean abounds in the “Marobia,” which derives 
its name from “ Mare ubbriaco ”, or the “drunken 
sea”. 
It is off the southern coast , of -Sicily where it 
may be viewed to the best advantage. Its approach 
is usually indicated by a lurid over-cast sky, and 
by an ominous stillness of the atmosphere. 
The waters of the sea then heave, and rush up 
on the over-lying shores of the adjacent land, and 
then almost immediately retire again to their 
former level. During its continuance, Admiral 
Smyth tell us, the fish float helplessly on the surface 
and are easily captured. These changes are rapid 
and constant, and continue for periods ranging 
from 30 minutes, to upwards of two hours. 
