during the spring months is apt to lower the temperature, and thus compel the bees to cluster together in order to raise the necessary warmth. As at this season they are by no means so active as in the heat of summer, it sometimes happens that the larvae perish before the warm weather sets in. This is termed chilled brood; for although the bees very often succeed in clearing out the dead larvae, yet the spores having been deposited at the bottom of the cells get scattered through the hive, cause decomposition to set in, and the foundation for future unhealthy colonies is thereby laid.

Third: From infection.-I find this by far the most frequent cause of disease, as an infected hive soon becomes an easy prey to robber bees. They in turn, while stealing the honey, take with them the seeds of infection, and thus innoculate their own hives. Many beekeepers say that foul brood is not infectious, because sometimes a natural swarm from an infected hive does not carry it with them when put into a clean hive; but it is well known that bees, when leaving, carry two or three days' consumption with them, and when a swarm is housed in a clean empty hive, by far the greatest amount of the honey they bring with them goes to the production of wax for the new combs. By the time the queen lays eggs and the larvae require to be fed, there can be no doubt that they are supplied by fresh stores brought from the fields. But as a proof of infection, it may be stated that foul brood has been known to rage for years in certain districts, and while some beekeepers used every means to get rid of it, they found that, so long as their neighbours' hives were infected, it was almost impossible. The deduction from this seems clearly to be, that strong stocks should be kept; and that the only safe cure for all infected comb is to cut out, bury, or destroy it, but on no account to allow the bees to get the honey from infected stocks; also to avoid importing any bees from a distance, as through excitement and confinement the germs of disease are

sown.

Many beekeepers may take a different view of this subject from that I have stated, but if my remarks lead to investigation being thoroughly and honestly made, and turn the train of thought to an unoccupied field, it may in course of time bring forth an abundant harvest of practical knowledge.

over.

IV.-Miscellaneous Notes in Natural History. By

Mr JAMES NAPIER.

SPIDERS.

A few years ago I found that at the corner of our veranda a garden spider, Epëira diadema, had spread out its net, and was posted in the centre of it earnestly watching for prey. I took a fragment of a leaf and dropped it upon the lower edge of the web, when the insect made a sudden rush to it, but when half-way stopped and fled to a dark corner out of sight. After a few minutes it approached cautiously, and having gone round the leaf several times, carefully lifted it by passing under and getting the leaf on its back, and having travelled with it to the top, pitched it This operation was repeated several times with the same result. I then treated it to a fly, which was killed and consumed on the spot in a few minutes. I next put an ant, to which the spider ran with great force till within an inch, when it suddenly stopped, and then made several circles round; the ant wriggled round so as to face the spider, with its mandibles open and snapping, but the spider refused to go nearer, and retired to its watch-tower. On examination, I found that the ant was tied to the web by threads thrown over it. A Bluebottle fly was next given, which the spider attacked without fear, and consumed. A wasp was then entangled in the web, on seeing which it set off to its dark corner with great speed, and nearly half-an-hour elapsed before it ventured out, and then cautiously making two or three circuits. I found that the wasp was also tied down. I supplied more flies, which were killed but not eaten. Next morning the web was clean and mended, and the spider in the centre. On examining the den, I found the wasp, ant, and flies carefully bagged and laid up, possibly for future use.

It appeared, however, that all spiders are not so cautious, for I tried another sometime afterwards with a wasp. The spider rushed at it without a pause, but evidently got a sting, for it fled with great precipitation to its den, then swung itself to the ground and disappeared, and the web stood for days without a tenant.

To show the strength of the thread of the spider's web, I may state that one morning in August a spider's thread, made visible by vapour condensed upon it, might have been seen stretching from the corner of Union Street to the corner of Jamaica Street,

thus crossing Argyll Street. The weight of the condensed dew upon this line must have been considerable.

DOGS.

Fraud.-In a public work west of Glasgow, two dogs, a Newfoundland and a Terrier, were kept. The latter was a famed ratter, and when he killed a rat, he carried it into the house to show his mistress, who ordered him out, but always followed with a large piece of oat-cake, which Tartar first ate, then taking the rat and burying it in the garden. One day he and the Newfoundland were playing together in a field, when Tartar was observed to proceed into the garden accompanied by his friend, unearth the last rat he had buried, and carry it into the house. When the usual reward was given to him, he shared it with his companion, and then took away the rat and reburied it.

Conspiracy.-A dog in the village, near the works in question, was a nuisance to the inhabitants, and with it Tartar had often fought, but had always been driven off by the dog's master. One day the Newfoundland, Tartar, and another little dog were playing together, when Tartar's enemy appeared in the distance. The three at once separated. Tartar lay down on one side of the road, and the Newfoundland at the root of a tree on the other side, while the small dog ran to meet the enemy, and sportingly led him on to the place where the two others were in waiting. Whenever they came up, Tartar and the Newfoundland sprang out, the three fastened upon the one, and before aid arrived the poor dog was killed.

"A SHOWER OF FROGS."

At the end of August, a few years ago, after a long drought, a copious shower fell during the night. On going out about seven next morning the road was literally swarming with young frogs; also in a neighbouring field, so numerous were they that only with great care could I walk without treading upon them. Nothing could better account for this swarm than a "shower" of them. My house and garden were surrounded by a high wall; I thought that, if the frogs had fallen from the clouds, they would be in the garden as well as outside, but upon examination, not one was there to be seen. A large pond in a clayfield at about 200 yards distance, was undoubtedly the place whence came the socalled "shower of frogs."

APRIL 24TH, 1877.

Mr Thomas Chapman, Vice-President, in the chair.

Mr James Thomson, I.A., was elected a life member; and Messrs. John Buchanan, Walter Burns, Scipio M. Kennedy, and Robert Smith, ordinary members.

Mr Peter Cameron submitted a report from the Committee appointed last Session to prepare Catalogues of the Fauna of the West of Scotland, and more particularly the Fauna of the Clyde Valley. The report stated that arrangements had been made with several Zoologists, who had undertaken to frame lists of species in various departments of Natural History, so that the first part might appear during this year. The Catalogues would be paged separately from the Proceedings, so that when completed they would form a separate volume. The report was approved of, and the Committee instructed to proceed with the issue of the lists.

SPECIMENS EXHIBITED.

The Chairman exhibited specimens of several species of Cetoniae, including examples, in both sexes, of Goliathus polyphemus, from the west coast of Africa, and remarked that this family of lanıellicorn beetles forms an extensive and brilliant group of insects. In a perfect state they frequent flowers, upon the juices of which they feed, the structure of the maxillary lobes enabling them to lap up the sweets. Some species are found on the trunks of trees, where they feed on the sap, especially of such as are wounded. Dr Savage, who has collected these large Cetonias at the Gold Coast, states that they are roasted and eaten by the natives, who find them to be fat and sweet. G. polyphemus, he says, feeds upon a vine climbing up very lofty trees, and full of a fluid as tasteless and limpid as water, and so plentiful that the natives, in travelling through the woods, tap it and drink the juice, when water cannot be easily found. The Rosechafer, Cetonia aurata, is common in the south of England on roses, and on the flowers of the privet. In the larval state they are found in rotten timber. The larvae and pupae are often found in ants' nests, where it is probable the larvae feed on the fragments of wood of which the nests are often largely formed.

Mr James Lumsden, F.Z.S., exhibited a specimen of the Spotted Crake, Crex porzana, which was shot at Aird's Moss, Cronberry Farm, in the parish of Auchinleck, Ayrshire, on 3d November,

1875. He stated that this species is one of our least observed migrants, and is seldom met with in Scotland. Like many other marsh birds, it is decreasing, as its haunts-the fenny and marshy lands are being gradually drained. At one time it bred regularly in some parts of England, in considerable numbers, but now rarely, and in Scotland its nest has been taken only on one or two occasions. According to Jerdon, in his "Birds of India," it is found over all India in the cold season, frequenting marshes, rice fields, and moist meadows, near rivers and tanks. It is also found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, breeding in temperate regions. Jerdon also states that it is said to make a floating nest of rushes; but this seems to be very doubtful, and is not mentiond by some of the other authorities.

Mr John M. Campbell exhibited a specimen of the Biscacha, (Lagostomus trichodactylus, Brookes), from South America, and made some remarks on its distribution in the Argentine Provinces, which it has overrun to a large extent, penetrating to a considerable distance southwards. It has not, however, been found in the Banda Oriental or in Paraguay, although, being a good swimmer and taking readily to the water, the Parana need not have been an obstacle to its progress. In a paper read before the Society at the December meeting, a full account was given of the habits and depredations of this rodent, which has become a thorough pest in the countries where it prevails. Mr Campbell mentioned that its skin is now imported as an article of commerce, and is taking the place of more expensive furs.

Mr D. C. Glen, F.G.S., exhibited a number of specimens from Brazil, recently brought to this country by Mr A. Smith, C.E., Glasgow. In the collection were-the carapace of an Armadillo; the bony palate of a species of Cat-fish, the mouth of which is paved, in a sort of tesselated manner, with a series of roundish-shaped crushing teeth; the legs and wings of the Horned Screamer, Palamedea cornuta, a bird about the size of a goose, whose wings are each armed with a pair of strong bony spurs, which it uses for defensive purposes; a Blue Crow, Corvus azureus, and a Red-breasted Roller, Coracias scutata; a specimen of one of the Lace Lizards, about four feet in length; also several other objects of interest. On these he made a few verbal remarks, concluding by presenting the Blue Crow and Red-breasted Roller to the Hunterian Museum.