A hornet’s nest in the peak of a house
Dear St. Nicholas: I am sending a picture of a large insect nest. The nest was in the gable of a roof of a house,
A hornet’s nest in the peak of a roof.
so I could not see whether there were hornets or wild bees in it, so I drew the picture. It seemed to be covered with gray folds. Will you please tell me what it is?
Respectfully,
Frank M. Hull.
Hornets are fond of building their nests in the peaks of houses. There is one in the peak of my office, so, as soon as I received your letter, I went out and took a photograph of it. The nests of hornets are built of the weather-beaten fibers from old fences, boards, or other wood.
A snake has poor sight when shedding its skin
Dear St. Nicholas: Is it true that rattlesnakes are partly blind at this time of the year (August)? If so, will you kindly explain why it is? Are other snakes that way too?
Sincerely yours,
M. Coster.
Rattlesnakes are at no time blind or unable to see well enough to strike with accuracy. The only time when a snake’s vision is affected, occurs shortly prior to the shedding of the skin, at which time the eyes are covered with a thin, bluish covering. Even in this condition the snake sees fairly well, although its vision is not so clear as at other times. Snakes usually shed in the early spring, early in July, then late in August.—Raymond L. Ditmars.
Eleven thousand sea-urchins in one pile
Dear St. Nicholas: The accompanying photograph shows eleven thousand sea-urchins. They were gathered along the shores of Monterey Bay by Japanese fishermen, who sold them to a local curio dealer to be made into jewel-boxes, pincushions, and shell jewelry.
The California sea-urchin (Toxoneustes franciscorum) is purplish in color instead of green, like some of the eastern forms. They are found in greater quantities here than in any other place along the coast.
Yours very truly,
Harry Ashland Green, Jr.
From a photograph by Arthur Inkersley.
Eleven thousand sea-urchins drying.
