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food! Master Tom has an infinite variety of these tricks; and as we 66 owe him one," for many hours of by-gone entertainment, we now discharge our obligation.

The next question is,-how, when, and where, to procure your birds for the aviary. The best seasons for the hard-billed birds, are April and September. They are then in what is termed "Flight." During these months, they congregate in vast numbers; and are trapped by the bird-catchers, and sold at very low prices by the London dealers. Great St. Andrew-street, Holborn, and the neighborhood of the Seven Dials, are the grand depositories for the feathered choir.

have some more substantial nourishment than the
animalcula contained in the water, I tried if
they would use various kinds of food which I
thought might be suitable for them. Whelks,
Mussels, and Limpets were what I chiefly offered
them. If the object was dropped near the Polype,
conveyed to its mouth.
it was invariably seized with its tentacula, and
I have seen a shell
nearly as large as the animal itself thus swal-
lowed, distending the body all round.

The Polype has the power of locomotion; for, although I never saw any of them in the act of moving, I have frequently found them at a dif ferent side of the basin from that at which I left them. But perhaps the most interesting circumstance connected with them was, that some of them propagated while in my possession. I had The soft-billed birds of passage arrive at one time from twenty to twenty-five young ones about the 10th of April, and may be pur- thrown off in the course of one summer from three alive, and probably twice as many gemmules were chased in the same localities. They should individuals. I never saw the gemmules separate be procured a week or so after they are themselves from the parent, though I frequently trapped, or as soon as they are what is watched for it. Some of the young lived for termed "fed off,"—that is, able to feed them-several weeks, if not months, under my care, and selves in confinement on the change of food provided for them. Many are sulky when caught, refuse every temptation to eat, and die before they can be "fed off.”

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CURIOUS FACTS IN NATURAL HISTORY.
MARINE POLYPES-THE FROG-
THE HOUSE FLY.

THE "NATURALIST" for the new year, again comes before us with fresh claims on our regard, and brings under our observation some very interesting facts.

Many of them, from their length, are not suitable for us to extract. We therefore subjoin three of the shorter communications, by way of confirming our remarks. The first, by Thomas NICHOL, Esq., of Dunbar, refers to Marine Polypes. Mr. N. says:

Great numbers of Marine Polypes are to be found in Dunbar; their habitat being chiefly on rocky ground between high and low-watermark. I kept one of them for nearly two years, and several others for shorter periods, in basins of salt water; of course renewing it at intervals of two or three days. Believing that they must

grew considerably in that time; but most of them died early, which led me to suppose that the side of a basin was not a suitable place for their development.

It is stated in books on Natural History, that and that each part will immediately become a these animals may be cut into a great many parts, had happened to it. To test the correctness of complete animal, and live and act as if nothing this statement, I cut some of mine into several pieces; they seemed to be little affected by the operation, and each part continued to live as a distinct individual. Some of these I kept for a considerable time; but I felt satisfied they did not thrive so well or look so healthy as the Polypes that had not been so divided.

I find I have still in my possession a few notes of observations I made on three varieties of these creatures, the substance of which I shall tran

scribe.

1847, March 6th.. Received three large Polypes this morning, and placed them in basins of salt water.

No. 1, the largest, is covered by a sac or mantle, finely streaked with red stripes; the prevailing color of the sac is dull grey, and it is covered with small transparent pimples about the When placed in clean salt water, the sac is size of pins' heads; probably they contain water. gradually withdrawn, and the animal appears a Hattish circular body, of considerable diameter, having the entire circumference guarded by the outstretched tentacula, as by a forest of tiny spears. Inside of this is a considerable space perfectly smooth, the color beautifully variegated with different shadings of red, and in the centre is the orifice, or mouth. This opening assumes a great variety of forms and appearances, the beauty and delicacy of which can only be properly appreciated when seen in the living animal. Sometimes the lips rise a little above the surface, and curve elegantly over into the cavity. Their inner surface is generally of a white or cream color, and capable of great distension, as indeed the whole Polype is. The body is soft, yields easily to the touch, and exhibits a good deal of

sensitiveness. The tentacula have considerable elasticity; they will seize the finger firmly, stretching considerably before they let go their hold; they likewise bend readily round any object placed within their reach, and carry it towards the mouth; in such cases, however, only the tentacula near the object seem to engage themselves; those at a little distance seem no way cognisant of what is going on. That the creature may spread to its full extent, it seems to gorge itself with water; perhaps it manages thus to seize any animalculæ, or other matter, the water may contain suitable for its nourishment. When it folds itself up, it ejects a considerable quantity of water, and it then presents an appearance something like a large orange striped longitudinally, and firmly fixed by one end.

No. 2 is reddish in color, not striped, but other wise of a similar structure and arrangement to

No. 1.

No. 3: the mantle is all but entirely white, which is likewise the prevailing color of the body and tentacula, while they are beautifully tinted with red. The disc within the tentacula is transparent; in other respects, it resembles the two former.

9th.-Changed the water, and gave each of the Polypes a small piece of fish, which has been taken within the mantle, and probably into the stomach.

13th.-Gave each small pieces of fish and Cod liver, and also pieces of the rays or arms of starfishes, which have all been taken into the stomach, and apparently digested. Later in the day, No. 3 disgorged two pieces of fish, which do not seem to have been in any way affected by their residence in its stomach. A little yellow gelatinous matter was also thrown up along with them.

to have been disgorged. I cannot say whether or not the animals have been nourished by them: I rather think not. Nos. 2 and 3 have repeatedly ejected Limpets, which they had previously swallowed, both in the shell and out of it. No. 1 has taken them frequently into its stomach; it throws up the shell clean in a day or two. The animal of the Limpet is also ejected, but it seems to have undergone some change, as it is thrown out in pieces. I offered a dead Limpet in the shell to it the other day, but it showed an immediate disposition to get rid of it, and by lowering its tentacula, allowed it to drop to the bottom of the basin.

27th. For the last week the Polypes have appeared to be much in the same state as formerly, except that No. 1 looks scarcely so healthy. I have given them, occasionally, pieces of fish and Cod liver. The former has generally, if not always, been disgorged; I am not sure if the latter has. No. 3 has been for the most part fully expanded lately, and a singularly beautiful object it is when in this state. On several occasions lately I have found Nos. 2 and 3 firmly attached to the sides of the basin in which they were kept, the means of attachment being small points which are protruded from the skin. As No. 1 appears sickly, I have taken it and put it into a pool between high and low-water-mark, wishing to see whether it will make its habitat there, and recover.

April 1st.-I have repeatedly examined the pool for No. 1, but find it is not there; whether it has floated or been washed away I cannot tell. This morning put No. 2 into the same pool, but on looking for it in the evening, found it was gone. No. 3 continues lively, and frequently displays its tentacula. For several days past it has had no other food than what it may derive from the water in which it is kept.

Nos. 2 and 3 seem shy of displaying their tentacula during the day; but I have frequently found them finely displayed after dark. It is difficult to count the number of tentacula; but they are probably from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty. They seem to seize everything that comes within their reach, and May 4th.-The Polype continues in much the convey it to their mouth; but in doing so they same state as formerly. I have fed it occasionally exhibit no activity; the object is brought slowly with Cod liver, and feel persuaded that it derives forward, and slowly engulfed or rejected. The some nutriment from it, and I have repeatedly mouth opens towards the object, and enlarges noticed that portions of it appear to pass into the itself to the size necessary for its reception.

23rd.-Gave No. 3 a piece of Cod liver yesterday morning; to-day I thought I saw small portions of it in the points of the tentacula, as if it were passing through the animal's system: it is easily recognised by its color being of a deeper red than the animal itself.

I have lately read some numbers of Dr. Johnston's work on Zoophites, and am inclined to think, from the descriptions there given, the species I

possess are referable to Actinia coriacea.

16th.-Changed the water to-day, of which each was very full, and when laid on a dry place gave it out very freely; indeed they seemed incapable of retaining, for it spouted forth from the mouth, the tentacula, and even through the pores, which seemed to open in the mantle. No. 1 disgorged with the water some pieces of Star-fish, which had been in its stomach for some days; they did not seem much altered, but a small piece which has since been thrown out, seems to consist of the harder parts only. No. 2 also disgorged a piece of Star-fish to day; it was halfout when observed, and on being touched came very easily away.

19th. The pieces of fish and Star-fish which I have from time to time given the Polypes appear

tentacula.

Our next extract refers to the Frog. C. A. J., the writer, says:—

I was sitting in my drawing-room this very wet morning, when I was called away from my book by the sudden exclamation from one of the children, "Here's a frog crawling up the window!" Strange as was the intelligence, it proved to be true. With arms and legs expanded on the wet glass, and adhering to it with all the under surface of the body, sprawled a half-grown frog, motionless, but with sparkling eyes, and breathing naturally, as the rising and falling cheeks clearly proved. After resting a few minutes, it began to stir, and with remarkable activity as cended several inches, moving its limbs exactly as a sailor does when climbing the shrouds. Again it became stationary, supporting itself, however, without effort, and soon after mounted

a few minutes, exciting some apprehensions at the consequences were it continued. May not this account for the fact, that dead flies are always dry and empty? The fluid, by reflected light, is of a cream-color, viscid and gummy; and occasionally little specks of air and dust are seen in it—but no revolving motion has been observed.

another stage. A third movement, a sidelong out, evidently with great enjoyment. These drops one, brought it to the wooden frame of the glass, of fluid often fall on the place where it stands, and which it partially crossed, clinging to it with one form grey-colored round spots, which soon get hand, and adhering to the glass with the other dark, and constitute a great portion of that termed hand, its throat, and chest, the legs hanging free.fly-dirt. I have seen several of these drops fall in Its hold now was evidently not secure, and in about a minute it fell back upon the window-sill outside. About four feet below the window is an iron grating, placed over a pit, constructed to admit light into a cellar window. In this pit a number of frogs had taken refuge in the scorching weather of August, and here I supposed they were doomed to spend the rest of their lives; but this ambitious traveller must have taken advantage of the wet weather to climb four or five feet of rough masonry, four feet more of smooth painted wall, and about ten inches of polished glass. Is this climbing power of frogs known, and may it not help to account for the strange situations in which the batrachian tribe are sometimes found? Callipers Hall, Rickmansworth, September 18th 1852."

The concluding extract, refers to the House Fly. It is a communication by James Napier, Esq., to the "Natural History Society of Glasgow." He says:

On the day of the last severe thunder storm in August last, I observed, immediately after the storm had passed, my parlor window facing the storm literally studded with dead flies adhering to the glass; beside each fly was a small opaque cloud, composed of a white gummy matter that appeared to have been ejected by the fly, and that very recently, from its being soft. That it had been simultaneous with the death of the insect, I think evident, from the wings and feet in most cases being covered with it in such quantity as to make it impossible for the insect to fly or walk. In all cases the insect was adhering to the glass by this gummy substance; some by the feet, the wings, and the mouth or sucker of the proboscis; in every instance this sucker was at its full expansion, as if blowing out; and in two cases, out of the few examined, the proboscis was ruptured or burst in the side.

Whether the death of these insects took place during the thunder storm, or in consequence of it, I cannot affirm; but they had all died within the space of a few hours, and that insects are affected by sudden or great atmospheric changes can hardly be doubted. I have spoken with several persons who observed the same sudden mortality among the flies about the same time, and also the invariable spot of dirt, as it was commonly called, contiguous to each insect.

In connection with this gummy matter, I may add a few observations first made some years ago. About the latter end of summer, (the month of August,) flies will often be observed standing perfectly motionless often for a period of fifteen or twenty minutes; examining them during these moods by a lens, it will be observed that they are not entirely idle, but are blowing out from their proboscis a fluid, which they hold at the mouth of their trunk as a globule, often as large as the head of a small pin. This globule the insect sucks in and blows out every few seconds, occasionally drawing in the proboscis and again throwing it

NOTES ON WILD ANIMALS.

THE HARE.

THIS little animal is found throughout Europe, and, indeed, in most of the northern parts of the world. Its generic character consists in its having two front teeth, both above and below; and the upper pair duplicate, two small interior ones standing behind the others; the forefeet have five, and the hinder four toes. Being destitute of weapons of defence, it is endowed by Providence with the passion of fear. It is attentive to every alarm, and is, therefore, furnished with ears very long and tubular, which catch the most remote sounds. The eyes are so prominent, as to enable the animal to see both before and behind.

The hare feeds in the evenings, and sleeps in his form during the day; and as he is generally on the ground, he has the feet protected, both above and below, with a thick covering of hair. In temperate regions they choose in winter a form exposed to the south, to obtain all the possible warmth of that season; and in summer, when they are desirous of shunning the hot rays of the sun, they change this for one with a northernly aspect; but in both cases they have the instinct of generally fixing upon a place where the immediately-surrounding objects are nearly the color of their own bodies. Among naturalists it is a received notion that the hare, espocially the buck, seldom lives beyond seven years, and that when either is killed, another succeeds to occupy its place; whence is derived the proverb,-"The more hares you kill the more you will have to hunt;" for when the buck and doe live undisturbed together a little time, they suffer no stranger to reside within their limits. It is also a well-experienced truth, that some places are remarkable for being seldom without hares, and others, although as likely in all appearance to harbour them, rarely with any. Whether it is any particular excellence in the feed, in the situation for forming advantageously, for warmth, hearing, or seeing, that induces them to prefer certain spots to others, or that on the death of a buck or doe another succeeds, and they possess their usual circle-cannot be ascertained, but the fact is perfectly established.

The first ring a hare takes is generally the foundation of the ensuing pastime, all the doubles she afterwards makes are in a great measure like the first; a hare will go over great part of trailed land, and visit her works of the preceding night and morning; sometimes a buck will take endways over fresh ground without offering to

return; the doe usually runs in a circle, unless with young, or having recently kindled; at such times she often runs forward, and scarcely ever escapes with life, being naturally unfit for fatigue; however, both sexes greatly regulate their conduct according to the season and weather. After a rainy night, in a woody country, neither buck nor doe will keep the cover, owing to the drops of wet hanging on the spray; they therefore run the highways or stony lanes, for as the scent naturally lies strong, they hold the roads which take the least. Not that a hare judges upon what soil the scent lies weakest; it is her ears that chiefly direct her, for the hounds being oftener at fault on the hard paths than the turf, she finds herself not so closely pressed, and is not so much alarmed with the continual cry of the dogs at her heels. The louder the cry, the more she is terrified, and flies the swifter; the certain effect of which is, a heart broken sooner than with a pack equal in number and goodness, but who spend their tongues less free. The same principle directs the hare to run to the covers in autumn, when the ground is dry, and the wind cold, at north or east; she then keeps the paths that are covered with leaves, which are so continually falling and blowing about that the best hounds cannot carry scent; her alarms are consequently short, and she rests contented where

she is least disturbed.

When a hare rises out of form, if she erects her ears, and at first runs slowly, with her scut cast over her back, it is surely old and crafty. When a hare is hunted to his form, along the hard highways, and feeds far away from cover, and the doublings and crossings are wide and large, it is a buck; for the does generally keep close to the side of some cover, and, when going to feed in the corn fields, seldom cross over the furrows but follow the track of them; when

hunted, they turn frequently, use many stratagems, and rarely leave the country round their seat; whilst the buck, after two or three turns about his form, runs straight forward four or five miles, and then probably squats in some place where he has before preserved himself. A buck or jack hare may also be known by his head being shorter, his ears more grey, his shoulders redder, and the body being smaller than the doe; and, at his first starting, by the whiteness of his hinder parts.

According to the season of the year, the hare is to be looked for; if it be spring, upon fallows or green corn; during the autumn, in stubbles or turnips; in winter, they will seat themselves near houses, in brambles and tufts of thorn.

Tender feet in dogs, are owing to the softness of that fleshy substance called the ball of the foot; but nature has been singularly liberal to the hare in this part, by supplying her with such feet as are not subject to, and indeed scarcely susceptible of hurt, so as to incommode her in running. The balls of her feet, instead of hard flesh, are covered with strong coarse fur, suited so well to the purpose that she never treads easier, or to more advantage, than on the hardest beaten track, or rugged stony roads; the very surface which cripples a dog, she glides over with pleasure. In a frost she has an evident superiority to most creatures; the horse does not

at that season take his gallops, for fear of foundering; the greyhound or hound would in running start all their claws, and tear themselves to pieces-whilst the hare treads as soft as if she went on wool.

The dear little creature we have here described, is the most harmless of all animals; consequently Man, her master, takes special delight in hunting her to death, or in wounding her with the contents of a gun-barrel! Are we not justified in calling man "a savage? "

THE HERON.

"TIS NOW THAT the cold blasts of the

north, sweep along the ruffled surface of the lake; over whose deep waters frown the rugged crags of rusty gneiss, having their crevices sprinkled with tufts of withered herbage, and their summits crowned with stunted birches and alders. The desolate hills around are partially covered with snow; the pastures are drenched with the rains; the brown torrents seam the heathy slopes; and the little birds have long ceased to enliven those deserted thickets with their gentle songs. Margining the waters extends a long muddy beach, over which are scattered blocks of stone; partially clothed with dusky and olivaceous weeds. Here and there, a gull floats buoyantly in the shallows; some oyster-catchers repose on a gravel bank, their bills buried among their plumage; and there, on that low shelf, is perched a solitary heron, like a monument of listless indolence a bird petrified in its slumber.

At another time, when the tide has retired, you may find it wandering, with slow and careful tread, among the little pools; and by the sides of the rocks, in search of small fishes and crabs. But, unless you are bent on watching it, you will find more amusement in observing the lively tringas and turnstones, ever in rapid motion; for the heron is a dull and lazy bird, or at least he seems to be such; and even if you draw near, he rises in so listless a manner, that you think it a hard task for him to unfold his large wings and heavily beat the air, until he has fairly raised himself. But now he floats away, lightly, though with slow flappings, screams his harsh cry, and hies to some distant place, where he may remain unmolested by the prying natu ralist. Perhaps you may wonder at finding him in so cold and desolate a place as this dull sea creek, on the most northern coast of Scotland; and that, too, in the very midst of winter. But the heron courts not society, and seems to care as little as any one for the cold.

Were you to betake yourself to the other extremity of the island, where the scenery is of a very different character, and the inlets swarm with ducks and gulls, there too you would find the heron, unaltered in manners,

ence.

slow in his movements, careful and patient, ever hungry and ever lean; for even when in best condition, he never attains the plumpness that gives yon the idea of a comfortable exist Far away through the green valley winds the silver Tweed; now rolling its waters over the white pebbles, then gliding placidly between banks covered with fresh herbage and gaudy florets of many hues. The hum of the wild bee draws your eye toward those beautiful tufts of purple trefoil; the weet-weet, ever vibrating its body as if delicately balanced on its slim legs, runs along the sunny beach, spreads out its pointed wings, and skims over the pool.

There, in the water, nearly up to the knees, is the heron, patiently waiting an opportunity of seizing some giddy trout. Those ducklings that swim so beautifully, and dive with such marvellous quickness, he seems to eye with hungry glance; but their watchful protectress is in the midst of them. That wary old water-rat is equally safe, as he nibbles the grass at the mouth of his hole; and at intervals trims his whiskers with his little paws. In short, go where you will, in summer or in winter, to the shores of the sea or the far inland lake, the source or the estuary of the hill-born streams, you may here and there find a solitary heron.- MACGILLIVRAY.

Entomology.

OBSERVATIONS ON LARVÆ.

Ar this bleak and barren season of the year, although there is still much to attract the general admirer of nature, yet as regards those who follow that particular branch relating to insects, there is little now to draw them abroad, while the insect world lies almost entirely in a state of sleep. At this season, the entomologist recalls the pursuits of the previous year; and the following observations, made by the writer, can perhaps claim little merit save their originality. I purpose to offer a few points noticed in rearing various larvæ of Moths.

The first caterpillar which I had during last year, was one of the Goat Moth (cossus), which was cut by a laborer from an old willow. When I received it, it was apparently about three parts grown. It was in a rather languid state, and if disturbed would immediately raise its head, and open its formidable jaws. The peculiar odor which it emitted was so powerful, that a box in which it was placed smells as strong as at first, after the lapse of ten months. Though it was supplied with food, it died after a few weeks; having made some attempts to form a nest which it was apparently too weak to do.

In the beginning of April, I obtained a number of caterpillars of the great Tiger (Arctia Caja), in the vicinity of Chelsea, feeding on the dead nettle. Of these, some arrived at perfection in May, and others in June. A remarkable circumstance is, the great irritation produced by

even a minute particle of the hairs which create a kind of nettle-rash on the skin.

In June, I obtained from Hertfordshire the eggs of some unknown Sphinx, nearly all of which hatched; but none of them would eat, although they were laid. They were about five lines in supplied with the leaves of the tree on which length, of a pale green color, with a long horn tapering gradually, and without any appearance of stripes on the sides.

I had next the eggs and young larvæ of the Puss Moth (Cerura Vinula), of which nine arrived at maturity. This caterpillar is very remarkable both in appearance and habits. The usual period of growth was from six to seven weeks, and in this time it changes its skin four times. Having closely observed the habits of these, I can find books, of their ejecting an acrid fluid if irritated. no foundation for the fact (?), noticed in some The peculiar horns, with which the tail is supplied, are certainly protruded when it is touched, but are not used to strike with. The cocoon generally is perfected in about two days from its commencement; and when dry, resembles a swelling on the trunk of a tree.

In the beginning of July, I obtained from the vicinity of Chelsea some caterpillars of the Eyed Hawk (Smerinthus Ocillatus), but unfortunately all but two were killed by parasites. This insect Some of them will live for days after the grubs seems peculiarly infested by these ichneumons. have forced their way out; but they never eat, and ultimately die. Scarcely any kind of caterpillar seems exempt from attack by these insects, which no doubt serve some useful purpose in the economy of nature.

In September, after having examined a large quantity of privet, I discovered a nearly fullgrown caterpillar of the Privet Hawk (S. Ligustri), which was an insect I had never before obtained. This beautiful caterpillar after a short time entered the earth; but to my surprise, after a few days he came out again, and remained on the surface, where he died in about a week; and did not change into a chrysalis, much to my disappointment. I afterwards attributed his death to the earth in the flower-pot not being of sufficient depth.

During last season, I reared from the Larvæ, also the Nettle Tortoise, and the Peacock, and the Feathered Prominent Moth. There is a remarkable difference in growth often observed amongst caterpillars of the same species, and hatched at the same time. Some will enter the chrysalis state a week earlier than others. There is also a difference in the time occupied in changing their skin. With some, it takes three days or more; others perform it in two. I have watched many larvæ closely, but could never observe any consciousness, or any perception of the times at which they were usually supplied with fresh leaves. CERURA.

THE FIDGETS.-A fidgetty man, or a fidgetty woman, ought to be kept under lock and key, They frighten themselves till they get ill; and they drive all who come near them to the very verge of madness. They should have a ward to themselves.

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