266 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
The fig-tree, of which several varieties are culti- j 
vatied in Malta, is justly prized on account of its 
juicy and abundant fruit. The first fig which is i 
called “ baitra ta San .Tuan " or “ St. John's fig :: j 
ripens towards the end of June on the 24th of j 
Which month is the feast of St. John. To prevent | 
the premature fall of the fruit, and with the idea j 
of hastening its ripening, the process known as 
caprification is employed. A cluster of wild figs 
is suspended amongst the branches of the culti va- ! 
ted variety by means of a plant Ammi majns cal- 
led on this account Dakra the wild-fig tree bearing 
the name of “Dokkara.” Numerous diptera 
( Cynips ) become covered with the pollen and j 
convey it from one fig to the other. 
In his British Association address. Prof. Schuster I 
pointed out that each country has its peculiar 
share in the advancement of science. France 
excels in accurate physical measurement, the 
German universities find their best work in extend- 
ing and verifying theories, while the distinctive j 
feature of British science is the important part i 
played by the amateur. The amateur is defined | 
as one who learns science as he wants it and when j 
he wants it, Faraday being referred to as an illustri- 
ous example. But the modern system of edu- 
cation is making the amateur an impossibility. j 
Under the present examination practice of the I 
old universities, the engine of scientific research 
may be likened to a thermodynamic machine, in 
which the amateur supplies the steam and • he 
universities the cold water ! One great function 
of the scientific associations is to discover and 
encourage the amateur. They have often given i 
important places to deserving amateurs — that is, 
to those who do not follow science professionally, 
and probably lack collegiate training, but who for 
that very reason are apt to approach a given study 
with greater freshness and originality, though 
with less fullness of knowledge. 
An interesting natural formation is, the same 
paper tells us, situated in the southeast of the 
Valley of Mont Dore. 
It is crater — shaped depression about 80 It, wide 
communicating by a central hole with a large 
circular cavern 170 ft. in diameter the bottom of 
which is occupied by a small lake with about 10 ft. 
of water. The shape is like that of two cups with 
bases opposed; the lower one being the larger. 
Carbonic acid gas is very abundant in the lower 
chamber. M. Martel and some friends attempted 
the descent by means of a rope ladder but was 
unable to get within 13 ft, of the water. Candles, 
and lights were extinguished, and progressive suf- 
focation was experienced by the explorers. 
much light upon this hitherto little known subject. 
Most interesting in this respect was the discovery 
made by thermometer s ondings under the ice of 
the Lake of Annecy when frozen — showing that a 
large spring of warm water supplied the lake from 
beneath. The influence of wind in modify ::. : the 
distribution of temperature was also marked in 
several instances. The observations of Dr. J. •!_:>. 
Murray in Lock Ness that lon g, narrow lakes when 
swept by prevailing winds were much warmer in 
the summer time at a certain depth than were 
similar lakes which presented their narrowest 
extremities to the prevailing winds. 
The Bullettino della .Societal Botaniea Ita 7 ora 
for this month contains an interesting n- :e by 
Professor Camel on the cultivation of C>m<- /<•//• Vi 
coccineum and also an article by Mr. T. Pi u hi on 
the Biological relations existing between plants 
and shells, in which the writei mes to the fol- 
lowing conclusions. 
a. That the protective means adopted by plants 
have not an absolute value, as they are > -fu! nly 
when the plant is in a complete state of develop- 
ment. 
li. In winter and in the beginning ot Spring 
land shells especially the omnivorous species. Led 
on plants of which the protective orgai > are but 
still in progress of formation. In summer tlK-.w 
same plants are effectually shielded from then- 
attacks. 
c. The voracity of land-shells varies with the 
climate. 
d. Freshwater shells have habits similar to 
those of the land species. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
To the Editor Mediterranean Naturalist. 
I was much interested in an account in a late 
number of your paper, on the subject of monkey 
language, which subject I have been trying to 
work out during the past year, in six tame mon- 
keys in my possession. Though they all used 
sounds like those mentioned, to express similar 
ideas, yet it is a peculiar fact that three of them 
from India, appear to talk a dialectical variation 
of the same language quite distinct from die other 
three who are bonnet monkeys from 1 believe, 
Africa. Again though all these will answer when 
called to in their own language, yet I quite tailed 
in interesting two Barbary Apes I met some 
days back, though this may have been due to 
•strangness and timidity. They seem to have a 
great many more distinct vocal sounds representing 
distinct phases of thought than the ordinary 
domestic animals. 
During the recent investigations that were made 
by the Survey of the French Government among 
the deep lakes of France some very interesting 
temperature results were obtained which shed 
I am sir 
Yours Yc. 
IV. Louis Hughes 
Surgeon Captain A.M.S. 
