The Zoologist/4th series, vol 3 (1899)/Issue 691/Editorial Gleanings
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
The 'Zoological Record' for 1897 appeared last December. This invaluable vade mecum to all working zoologists is again a bulky volume, and bears witness to the vitality of our science. Only the record of Cœlenterata is held over, owing to the Recorder having left England at too early a period to have thoroughly completed his work. Mr. J.A. Thomson's record of "General Subjects" is again—apart from specialization—one of the most valuable annual contributions to Biology. It contains 784 titles, and is a guide to a year's philosophy of animal life. Perhaps the number of contributions gives at least the standard of activity during 1897. In Mammalia, Mr. Lydekker records 343 separate communications; in Aves, Dr. Bowdler Sharpe enumerates 567 distinct titles; Mr. Boulenger gives 242 referring to Reptilia and Batrachia, and 259 for Pisces. Tunicata has a small record; in Mollusca, Mr. Sykes gives 527 references, and in Brachiopoda 41. Passing the smaller work done in Bryozoa, we come to Crustacea, where Mr. A.W. Brown enumerates 208 contributions, 151 in Arachnida, and 65 in Myriopoda and Prototracheata. Insecta again heads the list with 1205 articles, as given by the Editor, Dr. D. Sharp. For Echinoderma (1896 and 1897), Mr. Bather enumerates 358 titles; in Vermes, Miss Buchanan gives 267. Prof. R. von Lendenfeld is able to contribute 42 for Spongiæ, and Mr. Brown 171 for Protozoa. As usual, a formidable list of names proposed for new genera and subgenera complete another volume of a well-thumbed series.
In the Proc. of the United States Nat. Mus. vol. xxi. No. 1163, Mr. Frederick W. True has contributed a paper "On the Nomenclature of the Whalebone Whales of the Tenth Edition of Linnæus's 'Systema Naturæ.'" Seven European species of Whalebone Whales are now currently recognized; Linnæus described four species. Of these, Balæna boops is here considered as a synonym of B. physalus. The complete list of European Whalebone Whales is given as follows:—
- 1. Balæna mysticetus, Linnæus.
The Bowhead, or Arctic Right Whale. - 2. Balæna glacialis, Bonnaterre.
The Black Whale, or Nordcaper.
- 3. Balænoptera physalus (Linnæus).
The Common Finback or Rorqual.
- 4. Balænoptera musculus (Linnæus).
The Blue Whale.
- 5. Balænoptera borealis, Lesson.
Rudolphi's Rorqual.
- 6. Balænoptera acuto-rostrata, Lacépède.
The Little Piked Whale, or Least Rorqual.
- 7. Megaptera longimana (Rudolphi).
The Humpback.
Mr. R. Hedger Wallace has contributed a timely, lengthy, and well illustrated paper on "White Cattle: an Inquiry into their Origin and History," to the last part of the Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow. These modern Park White Cattle are often described as descendants of Bos primigenius, and this opinion appears to be solely due to Prof. Rütimeyer; Mr. Wallace's contention, however, is that "they are simply the descendants of Roman cattle imported into the country during the Roman occupation." The evidence for this view is very amply given, and total agreement is pronounced with the conclusions of Prof. T. McKenny Hughes that we may take it as pretty well established that "the Urus characterizes the Neolithic age, having first appeared in Palæolithic times with the Bison, and having become extinct in Britain long before the Roman occupation. The Celtic Shorthorn appeared with the Urus in Neolithic times, lived down and through the Roman occupation, and thus may be regarded as the characteristic Ox of the Bronze age. The Romans improved the Celtic Shorthorn by crossing it with cattle imported from Italy; the form of the Roman Ox, as inferred from contemporary art, being exactly what was required to produce the modification observed in the latter Romanized breed. The characteristics of the Urus nowhere appear among the Romano-British cattle.
The Kerry Cattle are the most typical examples in the British Isles of the Celtic Shorthorn, while the Chillingham Cattle are the nearest representation of the breed introduced by the Romans.
The Highland and Welsh Cattle are derived largely from the Celtic Shorthorn, with more or less mixture of the Roman breed. All the above are whole-coloured or shaded.
The Longhorns, which appear nowhere with Romano-British or early mediæval remains, are the offspring of the large breeds imported from Holstein and the Low Countries in later mediæval times. All these, and the stock crossed with them, are apt to be parti-coloured or sheeted.
The Mediæval Shorthorn, as found in the ditches, &c, of the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries, is a reversion to the numerically predominant native breed (Celtic Shorthorn) after the legionaries had been withdrawn, and selection and breeding had become impossible."
On Dec. 6th we received the following note from Mr. Rowland Ward:—"A few days ago a male specimen (adult) of the Golden Eagle was sent to me for preservation by Mr. S. Lewis, of Wells, Somerset. The bird had been trapped in the north of Scotland, and yielded the following measurements:—Wing, 25 in. in length; head to tip of tail, 32 in." This was subsequently published in 'The Field,' and the following note has also appeared on the subject:—"The Eagle mentioned by Mr. Tegetmeier in Saturday's 'Field' appears to have continued its peregrinations after its demise. It was sent from Scotland along with a couple of Buzzards to a Yorkshire natural history dealer, was offered to me, then sent down to Wells, in Somersetshire, and now appears to be finally reposing at Mr. Rowland Ward's. I did not see the bird.—Oxley Grabham."
We rejoice to read, in the January number of 'The Annals of Scottish Nat. Hist.,' of a proposed memorial to the late William MacGillivray, M.D., LL.D., who died in Aberdeen in September, 1852, and was buried in New Calton Burying-ground in Edinburgh. "To the present hour his grave is not marked even by an ordinary tombstone. There is nothing to indicate the spot save four low corner-stones, each bearing the letters 'W. M.'"
Some months ago a meeting was called of all who cherish the memory of Dr. Macgillivray, which resulted in the appointment of a Committee charged with the duty of issuing a circular to his surviving students and others likely to be interested in the proposal, collecting subscriptions, and erecting a memorial at his grave, any balance to be spent in commemorating him also in Marischal College.
It is proposed not only to erect a churchyard memorial—"simple if it would be in keeping with the character of the man to be commemorated," but also to found a Macgillivray Gold Medal in the University of Aberdeen, to be given as a prize to the best student in Zoology, Botany, or Geology; or to former students for the best original research work; or for the best series of specimens worthy of being placed in the Natural History Museum, or the Botanical Museum, of the University.
Subscriptions may be forwarded to the Rev. Dr. Farquharson, Selkirk, or to the Editors of the Ann. of Scottish Nat. Hist. Edinburgh.
Owing to the unique and extremely interesting nature of the fauna in Lake Tanganyika, the study of which was recently the object of an expedition, supported by the Royal Society, and led by Mr. J.E.S. Moore, a Committee has been formed, consisting of Sir John Kirk, Dr. P.L. Sclater, Mr. Thiselton-Dyer, Prof. Ray Lankester, and Mr. G.A. Boulenger, for the purpose of organizing another expedition to the same regions, to thoroughly survey the basin not only of Lake Tanganyika, but also the unknown portions of the northern extension of the great series of valleys in which Tanganyika, together with Lakes Kivu and the Albert Nyanza, lie; to collect specimens of the aquatic fauna and flora, and to study the geological history of this part of Africa. The latter object of the investigation should be of especial interest, for it was shown by Mr. Moore that almost without exception the shells of the singular series of whelk-like molluscs, captured by him in Tanganyika, are indistinguishable from those now found fossilized in Europe among the remains of old Jurassic seas. It would thus appear that at some remote period of time the great valley of Tanganyika was in connection with the sea, and that the strangely isolated marine fauna which still inhabits its slightly brackish waters has remained there ever since.—Nature.
The effect of approaching storms upon song birds is the subject of an interesting contribution by Mr. C.E. Linney to the 'U.S. Monthly Weather Review.' It appears that during the night of Aug. 15-16th very severe electrical, wind, and rain storms prevailed over the northern district of Illinois. An observer in Henry County, Mr. W.W. Warner, noticed that for forty-eight hours before the storm not a sound was heard from the numerous song birds in the district. This observation was so full of interest that Mr. Linney wrote for additional information, with the result that he received numerous letters, some confirming it, others stating that birds sing louder and more persistently before a great storm, and nearly all agreeing that they are more restless than usual at such a time. Mr. Linney has found the following weather proverbs referring to song birds and storm:—When birds cease to sing, rain and thunder will probably occur. If birds in general pick their feathers, wash themselves, and fly to their nests, expect rain. Parrots and Canaries dress their feathers and are wakeful the evening before a storm. If the Peacock cries when he goes to roost, and indeed much at any time, it is a sign of rain. Long and loud singing of Robins in the morning denotes rain. Robins will perch on the topmost branches of trees and whistle when a storm is approaching. The restlessness of domestic animals and barn-yard fowls before an approaching storm is well known, and many of their peculiarities have been noted; but the actions of song birds do not appear to have previously received particular attention.—Nature.
The Report of the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture for 1898 has come to hand. The excellent work done by this Institution is not confined to botanical subjects. "The Biological Survey is often called upon to determine the value of birds and animals to practical agriculture. It is in effect a court of appeal in which complaints are investigated concerning those species which are considered injurious to crops. A careful study is made of the food of useful and injurious birds and mammals, and thousands of stomachs of birds are examined in the laboratory. Two thousand three hundred and twenty-nine stomachs, mainly of Sparrows, Swallows, and Woodpeckers, were examined during the year. A report has been prepared on the native Cuckoos and Shrikes, and reports on Flycatchers and native Sparrows are in preparation. Several of the latter birds feed largely on weed-seed during the winter, and it is a matter of no little interest to determine how far they can aid the farmer in checking the increase of noxious weeds. The importance of this work is emphasized by the increasing demand made on the Department for information and publications on birds, in consequence of the recent widespread popular interest in ornithology."
There appears to be a considerable loss of avian life at Niagara Falls. The Rev. R. Ashington Bullen has contributed an interesting note on the subject to 'Science Gossip' for last December, from which we extract as follows:—"Through the kindness of Mr. David Boyle, Curator of the Archæological Museum, Toronto, Ontario, I have received the following list of birds which are washed over Niagara Falls. It has been compiled by Mr. Roderick Cameron, who has also added an account of how the birds are caught. The list, so far as I can ascertain, has never before been published:—Whistling Swans (Cygnus americana), Common Brent-geese (Bernicla brenta, Stephens), Canada Goose (B. canadensis, Boie), Mallard Ducks (Anas boschas, Linn.), Pintail Ducks (Dafila acuta, Jenyns), American Wigeon (Mareca americana, Stephens), American Green-winged Teal (Nettion carolinensis, Baird), and other varieties, American Eider-duck (Somateria spectabilis Leach), American Black-scoter or Sea-coot (Velionetta perspicillata, Kaup), American White Pelican (Pelecanus tachyrhynchus), Shoveller, or Spoonbill Duck (Spatula clypeata, Boie), Grey Duck, or Gadwall (Chaulelasmus streperus, Gray), Black Dusky-duck (Anas obscura, Gmelin), Wood-duck (Aix sponsa, Boie), Canvas-back Duck (Aythya vallisneria, Bonaparte), Red-head Duck (A. americana, Bonaparte), Blue-billed Duck, or Scaup (Fulix marila, Baird), Whistle-wing Duck (Bucephala americana, Baird), Golden-eye Duck (B. islandica, Baird), Buffle head or Butter-ball Duck (B. albeola, Baird), Eider or Spectacled Duck (Somateria spectabilis, Leach), Scoter or Surf Duck (Oidemia americana, Swainson), Saw-billed Duck (two), (Fulica americana, Gmelin), and Mud-hens (Rallus crepitans, Gmelin), Sheldrake (Mergus americanus, Cassin), Redbreasted Merganser (M. serrator, Linn.), Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus, Reichart), Common Cormorant (Graculus carbo, Gray), Ruddy Duck (Erismatura rubida, Bonaparte), Summer Duck (two), Coween Duck (three), Great Northern Diver, or Loon (Colymbus torquatus, Brunnich), Muffle-head Diver (C. arcticus). The scientific names are mainly taken from Samuels's 'Birds of New England and Neighbouring States.'"
At the meeting of the Zoological Society, on Nov. 29th, the disputed classificatory position of an interesting animal was considered, when Mr. F.G. Parsons, F.Z.S., read a paper on the anatomy of adult and fœtal specimens of the Cape Jumping Hare (Pedetes caffer). In it the different systems—osseous, muscular, nervous, circulatory, digestive, &c.—were described in some detail, and contrasted with the corresponding parts in two Jerboas (Dipus hirtipes and D. jerboa). The author regarded the muscular system as furnishing the best clue to the position of the animal, and, considering all the evidence in his possession, looked upon Pedetes as being nearly akin to the Jerboas; but thought that, if a sharp line had to be drawn anywhere between the Mouse-like and Porcupine-like rodents, Pedetes should be placed on the hystricomorphine, and the Dipodidæ on the myomorphine side of that line. The radial ossicle in the carpus, described by Bardeleben as a præpollex, was found to answer accurately to that writer's description; but Mr. Parsons failed to find any proof which satisfied him of its digital nature.
At another meeting of the above Society, held on Dec. 13th, a communication was read from Mr. H.H. Brindley, on certain characters of the reproduced appendages in the Arthropoda, particularly in the Blattidæ. It was a continuation of a paper published in the 'Proceedings' of the Society for 1897 (p. 903), and contained observations on the process of regeneration of the legs in the Blattidæ. Some review of our knowledge of the regeneration of appendages in other Arthropods was attempted, from which it appeared that while certain appendages in certain groups when regenerated were always apparently exact replicas of the normal, in other cases, besides the legs of Blattidæ, regenerated appendages invariably differed from the normal in such constant respects that they should be regarded as alternate "normals" rather than as imperfect reproductions of the congenital normal structures. In the case investigated in detail there was evidence that the process of ecdysis involved reconstruction of the soft parts as well as of the cuticle of the appendage.
The 'South Australian Registrar' complains of the wanton destruction of birds there, stating that it is an unforeseen effect of the legislation intended to ensure the destruction of Sparrows and other feathered pests; but it goes on to say that to the ruthless and indiscriminate extermination of birds which is now proceeding in almost every district some material check might be applied if Parliament would only spare an hour or two of its valuable time for the consideration of the Bill promoted by the Society for the Protection of Birds. When that Society was inaugurated four years ago many people described the movement as an evanescent fad which would have no result, but the local branch has now 525 members, and the parent society in the old country numbers 18,200. South Australia is apparently now concerned about the fate of the native birds, and it has good reason to be, not only from a sentimental, but also from a utilitarian point of view. In many ways different species of Australian birds may prove themselves to be the friends of mankind. Kendall, the most essentially Australian of all our poets, mentions not the best of these when he says—
"Welcome as waters unkissed by the summers
Are the voices of Bell-birds to thirsty far-comers."
But if only on the ground of pure sentiment, the agitation undertaken by the Society is fully justified. The days are surely gone by when in any civilized country a large proportion of the people, even in the needful work of extirpating pests, would wantonly prefer the cruel methods of slow torture to those of swift and painless destruction. No doubt one may find here and there wretches who would sit smoking a pipe and watching the struggles of a wounded bird without the slightest impulse to put it out of its misery. Some boys will actually pull the wings and the legs away from a living bird, and impale the suffering little thing against the trunk of a tree, in order to enjoy the spectacle of its agony. The practice of offering bonuses for the heads of Sparrows undoubtedly tended to harden the consciences of many young people, and the amount of wanton cruelty observed in the park-lands around Adelaide is quite disquieting. Unfortunately, the existing demand for wings for the trimming of ladies' hats leads to an immense amount of cruelty, and the boys therefore are not the sole persons responsible for the evil. In the case of those species of birds that are already in danger of extermination, the caprices of fashion are peculiarly unpatriotic and unwise, as well as cruel, for they perpetrate their worst ravages at the breeding season, when the plumage is at its brightest.—Globe.
Some interesting facts are to be found in 'Angling Notes' contributed to the 'Westminster Gazette' of Dec. 30th. In connection with the details of a plan to increase the stock of Salmon in the Tweed and Teviot, we read:—A hundred years ago, we are told, lands were not so well cultivated and drained as they are to-day. Then, when the rains came, the mosses soaked up the water, which formed itself into shallow lochs and pools. These gave out their contents slowly and gradually, and when the rivers were flooded they ran full for a long time. Now all this is changed. The hills are well drained, as well as all lands available for cultivation; and when the rain falls heavily the water rushes off at once to the rivers, which rise with wonderful rapidity, and then rush off with tremendous violence to the sea, tearing up the gravel, often altering its channel, and damaging the banks. The subsidence of the flood is as rapid as its rise. The damage which is done to the ova of Salmon when a flood of this nature occurs during or immediately following upon the spawning season, will be apparent to anyone. We have often seen whole banks of gravel washed away during such times, and of course, where these have been used for spawning-beds by the Salmon, the chances are that the greater proportion of the ova or undeveloped fry will be silted over and destroyed. The establishment of sufficiently large hatcheries where the ova and fry would be protected until the latter had reached a suitable age for returning into the river would counteract to a great extent these many adverse influences.
According to a note in a late issue of the 'Daily Chronicle,' the recent practice of feeding the Lion in the Lincoln Park Zoo, in Chicago, with live Dogs has created something of a disturbance, the President of the Humane Society denouncing the practice, even though this method of feeding has been undertaken from a medical point of view. The Lion which has been thus fed is a big African specimen, which is afflicted with rickets, due, it is believed, to improper diet. During the past ten years twenty-seven African Lions, representing a loss of more than £2000, have died in this way, although hitherto the disease has been diagnosed as paralysis, and it is in the hope of preventing further loss that the Dogs, which were taken from the pound, were given to the Lion for food.
The death of Mr. Christopher Sykes took place on Dec. 15th. This gentleman will not alone be remembered as the "grave young man of 'Lothair,'" and the friend of Princes, but, by British ornithologists, as one to whose untiring exertions we owe the Sea Birds' Protection Act.
After a successful career of over thirty years, 'Science Gossip,' the favourite journal for amateurs devoted to Natural, Physical, and Applied Sciences, has just entered upon independent offices at 110, Strand. The editorial management is still under the control of Mr. John T. Carrington, assisted by Miss F. Winstone.
A very good set of the first five editions of Walton's 'Compleat Angler' came up for sale on December 1st at Messrs. Sotherby's, among the choice library of books on angling formed by the late Mr. Edward Snow, of Boston, Mass., U.S.A. These five editions were those which appeared during the lifetime of Izaak Walton, and the Snow copies are uniformly bound in olive morocco extra by F. Bedford. The set was knocked down to Messrs. Pickering and Chatto for £235. The Ashburnham set, unique as regards size and condition, realized £800 in May last, and some of the volumes possessed the further sentimental advantage of having the author's autograph notes written in them. The Snow copies were slightly "shaved" in some places, and some of the leaves in the first issue were defective, and the entire set was sold "not subject to return." A second copy of the second edition of the same work, with many of the headlines cut into, brought £19 15s., and three other copies of the third edition respectively sold for £12 10s., £35, and £11. Other angling books included an imperfect copy of 'The Secrets of Angling,' by John Dennys, 1652, £36. The total of the sale of 669 lots amounted to £1280.
Mr. F.T. Mott, of Crescent House, Leicester, has reprinted in pamphlet form two papers expressing his theories on the "Origin of Organic Colour," which were respectively contributed to 'Science,' and read at the Nottingham Meeting of the British Association in 1893. Mr. Mott predicates a "great concentrating wave of organic life in its progress towards an unknown climateric," as a result of which "the beauty of summer as we know it now, though it has never been paralleled in the past, will be as nothing to the blaze of brilliance which shall mark the summers of the future." "In the animal world brilliant colour is still comparatively rare, this branch of the organic wave being perhaps less advanced than that which rules the department of vegetation."