THE FIELD. 
THE FIE LD NATU RALIST. 
The design of this department of The Field is to encour- 
age a taste for observation of Natural History, animal and 
vegetable, by providing a column to which its readers may 
contribute their observations and experiences, and where 
these may be preserved for future use. Gilbert White has 
shown, in his delightful volume, how much of the most 
curious interest can he gleaned by a dweller in the country, 
and even within the range of a single small parish. Ho w 
much might not be collected, then, with the help of the 
readers of Tiie Field, spread over the whole of the United 
Kingdom, who are continually in contact with Nature, 
and only ’need to keep their eyes open and their pens 
might record, for the advantage of the public, a multitude 
of anecdotes and incidents of animal and vegetable life, 
and other facts in Natural History, which would form not 
the least attractive featuve in The Field. 
We invite the communications of all such observations. 
We also ask The Field Naturalist Clubs, of whom 
there are many now, to send us regular reports of their 
proceedings, to which a place will readily be given in our 
columns. 
The Serpents in Ceylon. — The eye-snake, so called 
from a supposed habit it has of striking cattle in the eye 
when grazing, is without exception the most beautiful and 
least repulsive of all snakes. It is about four feet long, of 
the brightest grass green — the intense green of an English 
meadow in early summer. It is very thin, and graceful iu 
its movements ; and although very rapid when moving, is so 
instantaneously rigid when alarmed, and adapts itself so 
wonderfully to the shape and hue of the grass or reeds 
amongst which it moves, that although watching one intently 
at your very feet, it is most difficult to discriminate between 
it aud the vegetation with which it mingles. One day, 
walking at Kandy, I saw what I thought was a large reed, or 
grass of a most beautiful colour, standing erect on the road 
some two or three feet from the bank, aud it was not till I 
could have touched it with my baud that I saw it was an 
eye-snake coiled up iu the road, its head and neck raised 
about twelve inches from the ground, and as rigid aud im- 
moveable as if formed of malachite . — The Cobru , — Of all the 
snakes the cobra is the most beautiful, and when erect, with 
its hood expanded, gracefully moving in time to the music 
it is certainly a most striking aud fasciuatiug object ; its eve. 
which ism general leaden and heavy, becomes, under the . 
mtiuence of music, intensely bright aud glittering. This 
eflect is heightened by the fact of snakes having no eyelids • 
the eye, although so beautiful, is not stroug. ;unl eonuot bear 
any strong glare ; this was well kuowu to the auciouts, who 
had an idea that the flash of an emerald deprived them of I 
sight. The poison from the fang of a cobra is like one or 
two drops of laudanum. — Sullivan's Bungalow and Tent. 
The Statics of Deaths from Liohtnino in France.— 
1 he h rench Academy of Sciences have received some in- 
teresting observations on the effects of tho liglituiug-stroko 
upon human beings. The following facts arc the result of 
patient observations made by M. Uamliu, chief surgeon of 
the Hopital du Iloule : — The number of people yearly 
struck by lightning in France averages 200. The uumber of 
people killed by lightning betweeu the years 1835 and 1852 
was uo less than 1,308 ; the number struck, but not fatally, was 
about three to ouo of the uumber killed. Of the number 
struck there were nearly three mtu to ouo woman. The 
region where the lightning had been most fatal is tho central 
plateau of France, comprising the compartments of Cautal, 
Puy-de-D6me, and other departments which are mountainous 
or present elevated ground. The months during which 
people are the least exposed to the fatal effects of lightning 
are the coldest months of the year, viz. — November, Decem- 
ber, January , and February. Out of 103 people struck, 1 
were struck in March, 6 in April, 8 in May, 22 iu Juno, 13 
iu July, 19 in August, 14 iu September, and 15 iu October. 
One-tourth of the people who have b«en struck may trace the 
misfortune to their own imprudence, in hiking shelter uudor 
trees, which attract the electric fluid. The greatest number 
of people killed by a single flash of lightning does not exceed 
eight or nine. M. Boudin called attention to two curious 
facts in connection with this subjeej. The first was, that 
dead men, struck by lightning, had been found iu exactly 
the upright position they held when killed ; the second was, 
that other bodies bore upon them faint impressions of out- 
ward objects, probably somewhat resembling photographic 
shadows. Animals, however, are much more exposed to the 
influences of lightning than man, aud suffer more from its 
destructive properties. More than once a single flash of 
lightning has destroyed an entire flock of sheep, and, accord - 
1119 
mg to M. D Abbadio, flocks of 2,000 in Ethiopia. The fires 
occasioned by lightning have amounted to eight in one week 
T *‘ f L,lMcu “«. Mos *»e. Men, the, and Vosges 
1 “ttlo kingdom of Wurtcmburg suffered by 117 fi rea ; n 
condtSSS r° V U iT!‘- 1110 a PP lication lightniug- 
c uductoi a English ships experienced losses annually by tho 
ouuric fluid estimated at from £1,000 to £1,400, but sinco 
11 r application, such losses are no longer heard of, although 
t0 ^ th ° of8 tho lightning-rod.— 
sauuS“ ? W°TTt TH a ANCIKNT , Mo * STKn - the Meoalo- 
(We tnTaU M \ ft f *\ Ai8c ™ oreA »> this neighbourhood 
y ist ttoatlil)), a fossil portion, not only of tho osseous 
framework of that ancient monster of the Weald the 
egalosurus, but of its almost impregnable covering or skin 
JIT gives to the anima?a a title 
ext r K tho 1>acll >'') on,mU of extinct creations. The 
external surluco consists of what may bo termed scales V arv- 
onho lkiu Tolf ° W mg t0 tU *° d ' ffo ™ nt de 8 lcoa of thickness 
tho skin itself, bomg greater m their area where tho skin 
8 thick, and less where it becomes thinner, or in those imrts 
ZTSr t0 +i? aaU t ', T h * 8 * of coura °. agrees with what is 
obsoi vable in the scaly integuments of existing forms of 
the saurian species. These scales are about the sixteenth- 
part ot an nioli in thickness in their present petrified state, 
hut probably were much thicker when covering the living 
animal, as they must have undergone contraction in the 
metamorphosis, which has throughout so many ages pre- 
served thorn tor our inspection. Tho shape of them is that 
ot tho rhombus, and they vary in their areas from one quar- 
ter ot on inch to an inch square. From the specimen lying 
before mo, l am inclined to believe that tho natural coat of 
in.ul worn by tlus formidable monster, must liavo been, in 
Its most expose! or assailable parts, from ouo to two inches 
thick. Although laminated in its structure, it is spongy or 
porous in its texture, aud, on being rubbed with a file, omit* 
a strongly rancid and offensive odour. Unmistukoablo ovi- 
deuces are in this fossil given that tho creature's death must 
have been in ita character no less violent than sudden, but 
| tins is a feature generally distinguishable as regards the « 
I junction of life among prehuman or preadamito animals, 
i 1 lie portiou of tho integument in my possession serves to 
confirm the correctness of tho restored figure of this gigantic 
reptde secu within the precincts of tlic British Parthenon, at 
Sydenham . — Correspondent of the Brighton Examiner. 
AT THE EXTENSIVE WAREROOMS IN REGENT-STREET AND CORNHILL, 
belonging to 
H. J. and D. NIC0LL, 
MERCHANT TAILORS AND PALETOT PATENTEES. 
T HE best Materials, Talent, and Workmanship are employed, and the principle of 
a combination of economy and excellence maintsined. Here also the Dress Buttons aud Colours 
of every Yacht Club or Hunt are always ready for inspection. 
FOR HUNTING. 
The Scarlet. Brown, Olive, or Mixed Cloths, are both fine and strong, tho dye cannot even be moved 
by acids, and in the course of manufacture they are prepared by a peculiar process to resist a very heavy 
shower of ruiu. 
FOR YACHTING. 
Every description of Pilot and Tea Jackets, with prepared India Rubber and other Waterproofed 
clothing, may also he seen. 
For Shooting, Fishing, Rowing, or Cricketing, all suitable materials aro provided. 
Nicoll’s Dry-seat Coat 
Is useful to all, whether Sportsman or Traveller, as It is well known that rheumatism and colds, with 
the thousand uml one other ills that flesh is heir to, are chiefly caught through damp scats. 
114, 116, 118, 120, Regent-street, and 22, Cornhill. 
TO SPORTSMEN, PEDESTRIANS, 
AND OTHERS. 
MANGER, RACK, AND WATER-TROUGH, AS ONE FIXTURE. 
IMPROVED AND NEWLY PATENTED. 
( UJTTAM and II ALLEN, the 
original Inventor#, obtained the Great 
Kxhtbitlon Prize Medal for this arrange- 
. meat, to which all tho latest improvements 
[!l arc adapted, secured by Fatent, including a 
method entirely new of attaching (lie linltcr- 
welglit and rein from the back of the manger 
to tho under front of the plate, allowing tho 
.■j horse greater freedom, and boing noiseless 
I in operation, add much to Its comfort whilst 
jl feeding and convenience when at rest, as 
,1 I,!'",,'* 0 ’ from Hieir position, avoiding (lie 
liability of the most restive horse getting 
\i : cast. No well-munugcd stable should be 
\ \V ll llllllt I IliWK 111 t lii.ru 
Estimates and Catalogues on application to COTTAM and HALLEN, 
2, WINSLEY-STREET, OXFORD-STREET. 
SLACKS’ NICKEL SILVER 
Is the hardest and most perfect white metal ever invented, 
mid equals Silver in durability and colour. Made Into 
every urticlo for tho Table, as Tea and Coflee-pots, Cruot- 
frnmes, Candle-sticks, Waiters, See. 
A Samplo Tea-spoon will be sent Free on receipt o 
Ten Postage Stamps. 
Flddlo Siren* Thrctd Kln**i 
1’aL Fiddle F.L l-.L 
Tuble-*poons aud Forks, 
per dozen 12s, fc 15s. 19a. 29s. 
Dessert ditto IOs & 13s. lCs. 21s. 
Tea-spoons fis. k (.s. 8s. 1 is. 
30s. 
25s. 
12s. 
NICKEL 
SLACK'S 
ELECTRO-PLATED. 
R. and J. S. cnli attention lo thoir NICKEL SILVER 
ELECTRO-PLATED, which cannot bo distinguishe 1 from 
Sterling Silver. 
Slid quality, lit quality. 
Table-spoon* and Forks, per dozen .... 30s. 80s. 
Dessert ditto ditto .... 208. 30*. 
Tea-spoons, per dozen 12 s. 18s. 
Also, every article for the Tublo, as in Silver. 
SLACKS’ TABLE CUTLERY AND FURNISHING 
WAREHOUSE 
Has been celebrated for 50 years for quality and cheapness ; and contains all the newest patterns In 
Fenders, Fire irons, Tea-trays, Dish covers, and every article in Furnishing Ironmongery. Iron 
Fenders, from 3s. Cd. ; Bronzed ditto, from 5s. ; Fire-irons, 2s 6d ; email set of Kitchen Furniture, £3; 
and every requisite in Furnishing Ironmongery, which, from their simple but satisfactory plun of 
marking each article in plain figures, at the Lowest Possible Prices consistent with quality, will at 
once prove the advantage of purchasing ut their Establishment. Orders above £2 delivered curriago 
free, per rail. Tlieir Book, containing upwards of 200 Engravings, may be had grutis, or sent to any 
part, post free. 
RICHARD and JOHN SLACK, 336, STRAND (opposite Somerset House'). 
A GREAT VARIETY OF NEW AND SECOND-HAND 
SANDWICH BOXES, HUNTING FLASKS, DRAM BOTTLES, 
IN SIZES, AND BEAKERS IN NESTS, IN ELECTRO-FLATE OR SILVER, 
At THOMAS’S, Silversmiths and Platers, 153, New Bond-street, London. 
ALLEN’S 
ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, 
CONTAINING SIZE. PRICK, AND DESCRIPTION 
OF UPWARDS OF too ARTICLES. 
C CONSISTING of PORTMANTEAUS, TRAVELLING 
J BAGS, LADIES' PORTMANTEAUS. DESPA TCH BOXES. 
WRITING DESKS. DRESSING CASES, and other I ravelling l.e- 
quUites, forwarded on receipt of two stamps. 
ALLEN'S Travelling Bag (patented) has the opening as lurge as 
the Bug itself, and therefore pwsewes an immense advantage over all 
° l ALLEN’S Registered Despatch Box and Writing Desk, and their 
New (puidruplc portmanteau tcontuiiilDg four compartments,. are the 
best articles of the kind ever produced. 
J. W. Sc T. ALLEN, 
MANUFACTURERS OF PORTABLE BARRACK ROOM FURNITURE, AND 
MILITARY OUTFITTERS (seo separate Catalogue), 
18 & 22, WEST STRAND. 
