# The Zoologist/4th series, vol 3 (1899)/Issue 696/Editorial Gleanings

Published in The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3, issue 696, p. 280–288
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
The death is announced, at Melbourne, of Prof. Sir F. McCoy, who had for the last five-and-forty years made his home in Australia. Prof. McCoy was an able geologist and palaeontologist; he was Professor of Natural Science in the University of Melbourne, and to him was due the formation of the Melbourne National Museum, which he directed. The well-known publication, 'Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria, or Figures and Descriptions of the living Species of all Classes of the Victorian Indigenous Animals,' he commenced in 1878. Twenty decades were published up to 1890, when the work ceased.
Prof. Ludwig Büchner died on April 30th last. Biichner's name was once somewhat freely anathematized as that of the author of 'Kraft und Stoff' and 'Natur und Geist,' but he will be best remembered by zoologists in connection with a volume which appeared in an English translation in 1880 under the title of 'Mind in Animals.' He also translated into German Lyell's 'Antiquity of Man,' and published 'Die Darwinsche Theorie.'
The death has been announced, at Hull, of Mr. Henry Bendelack Hewetson, surgeon, of Leeds. In the science of natural history he was quite an enthusiast. In 1885 he was elected President of the Leeds Naturalists' Club and Scientific Association, and during that year he obtained from the Corporation the grant of a room in the Municipal Buildings for the housing of the collections and library and holding of meetings of that body. At the close of the year the rules were altered to permit of the re-election of a President for a second year, and he was accordingly made President for the following year. In 1896 he was again elected President, a position which he once more filled in 1897. As President he constantly advocated the foundation of a Scientific Institute by the joint action of the several scientific societies of Leeds, and in 1896 a decided step was taken in this direction, but unfortunately without success. As an ornithologist, Mr. Hewetson recorded several new visitors to our shores, and, in conjunction with other observers, did much good work, especially in regard to the study of migration. He also assisted in the exploration ​of the famous "kitchen middens" in the Holderness district of East Yorkshire. On his visits to the North Coast of Africa he made valuable collections of the birds and insects of that region. In this department of his recreations his artistic abilities were of great service, for he could depict natural history objects in colours with wonderful fidelity. His incursions into the realm of photography were limited to the use of a hand camera, with which he was fairly successful. 'Thoughts on Ornithology' and 'Nature Cared for and Uncared for' were subjects upon which he wrote with knowledge. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Linnean Society, a Fellow of the Zoological Society, and a member of the British Ornithological Union.
The greatest of animal painters has passed away. Mlle. Rosa Bonheur died at Fontainebleau on May 26th. Although the deceased artist did not rank as a zoologist, still the painter of the "Horse Fair" studied and knew her subjects, and in art reflected nature beyond the capacity, as a rule, of those who paint or those who observe.
At the meeting of the Royal Microscopical Society on May 7th, the Fellows, assisted by many friends of the Quekett Microscopical Club, gave an exhibition of Pond-life. The exhibition was highly successful, the many beautiful objects exciting much admiration. Among them may be mentioned Lophopus crystallinas; Daphnia pulex (this entomostracan was stained with a solution of fuchsin, which a depraved taste had induced it to imbibe, apparently without harm, but which caused its internal economy to be very conspicuous); Hydatina senta was exhibited; and specimens of Melicerta ringens, a tube-dwelling rotifer which is its own brickmaker and bricklayer. Hydra viridis was on view, showing ovary and testes, the ovary in the amœboid stage. From Dundee came Bursaria t., Conochiliis, Mastigocerca bicarinata, Notommata collaris of Ehrenberg, Stephanoceros, &c. There were also exhibited Rivularia and Draparnaldia, a highly attractive exhibition of hundreds of brilliantly illuminated rotifers of various species, careering in all directions on a dark background, and S. serrulatus, an entomostracan hitherto unrecorded in Britain; the water-mite (Hydryphantes dispar), another mite (Limnesia hystrionica), and Notops brachionus, which is one of the most beautiful of the freeswimming rotifers.
At the meeting of the Linnean Society of April 20th the Rev. 0. Pickard-Cambridge communicated a new list of British and Irish spiders. After reviewing the existing literature on the subject, and the materials ​which had come to hand since 1881 for a new and revised list of species, the author pointed out that the present paper was not intended merely for the use of authors or collectors interested in local faunas, but to give (with references to primary authorities) the spiders at present known to belong to Great Britain and Ireland, leaving the question of their distribution, abundance, or scarcity to be dealt with at some future time, when the present scanty number of spider-collectors might have increased. At present large areas of varied natural characters, in some cases whole counties, and many maritime districts, were entirely unexplored, so far as their arachnology was concerned. With respect to nomenclature and systematic arrangement, the author had mainly followed the plan of 'The Spiders of Dorset' (1881); but in dealing with the large groups represented by Mr. Blackwell's Neriene, Linyphia, and Walckenæra, he had to a great extent followed M. Simon's lead in breaking up these genera in order to bring a large heterogeneous mass of material into a fairly workable form.
The Report of the Council and Auditors of the Zoological Society for 1898 is now before us. A continual increase in the number of members is again shown, which has now been going on for the past six years, and the number of Fellows is now in excess of what it has been in any year since 1885. A new Llama-house has been constructed. The reconstruction in an improved form of the Llama-house, one of the oldest buildings in the Gardens, has long been a matter of urgency. It is believed that the new house, which has been built upon the same site from plans drawn up by Mr. C.B. Trollope, is well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended. It is a well-lighted and airy building, and gives excellent accommodation to the Society's stock of these animals. The new Llama-house was built by Messrs. Smith & Co., at a cost of £767 7s. 2d., which has been charged to the extraordinary expenditure of the year 1898. More space being required for the proper accommodation of the Society's fine series of Zebras and Wild Asses, it was determined by the Council, in 1898, to erect a new Zebra-house immediately adjoining the existing Zebra-house, in the further corner of the Middle Garden, upon the site then occupied by the old Ostrich-house, which had become available on the transfer of the Ostriches and Cassowaries into the new Ostrich-house in the South Garden. The new Zebra-house, which was designed by Mr. Charles B. Trollope, and built by Messrs. Smith & Co., will, it is believed, be found to give excellent accommodation to these favourite animals, and at the same time replace an old and ruinous building by an elegant and ornamental structure. The total number of deaths of animals in the gardens during the year 1898 was 1054, showing a decrease of 142 as compared with the previous year. Of these deaths the more important were:—The young Giraffe which was ​purchased on July 6th. This animal only lived for one month in the Gardens; the principal post-mortem appearance was the œdematous condition of many of the internal viscera. Three Chimpanzees and three Orangs have died during the year, and no fewer than twenty-six Kangaroos of various species. Of the latter some five or six appear to have suffered from a contagious fever. Two Ostriches, a Tiger, two Three-toed Sloths, and four Leopards were the principal remaining losses of importance.
The following is a list of the more noticeable additions made to the Menagerie during the year 1898:—
A fine young female Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra), bred in the garden of the Zoological Society of Amsterdam; a young male Leucoryx Antelope from Senegal; a young male Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), from Newfoundland; two examples of Forster's Lung-fish (Ceratodus forsteri), from Queensland, purchased of Mr. D. O'Connor, who has successfully conveyed from Australia to England four fine living specimens of this remarkable Dipnoan Fish, believed to be the first ever brought to Europe alive; a young pair of White-tailed Gnus (Connochætes gnu), presented by Mr. C.D. Rudd, F.Z.S., who kindly brought them from his park at Fernwood, Newlands, near Cape Town, in order to make a change of blood in the small herd of these Gnus in the Society's Gardens; a young male Lesser Koodoo (Strepsiceros imberbis), from Somaliland, being the third example of this rare Antelope received by the Society; an example of an apparently new African Monkey of the genus Cercopithecus (proposed to be called C. lhoesti), received from Congoland by the Zoological Society of Antwerp, and obtained in exchange from that Society; a gigantic Centipede (Scolopendra gigas), from Trinidad; a series of fifty-two large Tortoises from the Galapagos Islands, deposited by the Hon. Walter Rothschild on July 20th. Nineteen of these, from Duncan Island, appear to be referable to Testudo ephippium, and thirty-four, from Albemarle Island, to Testudo vicina; a very fine and large specimen of the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus), which exceeds in size the specimen which lived for twenty years in the Society's Gardens; twelve African Walking-fish (Periophthalmus koelreuteri); an adult male example of the Duke of Bedford's Deer (Cervus xanthopygius), from Northern China; and a young male Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) from the native state of Negri Sembilan, Malay Peninsula, being the first individual of this extremely interesting Anthropoid Ape that has reached the Society in a living state.
The Year Book of the United States Department of Agriculture for 1898 has just reached our hands. As usual, this volume is not one alone for the agriculturist or horticulturist. In a large sense it is distinctly ​zoological. The communication by Mr. T.L. Palmer on "The Danger of introducing Noxious Animals and Birds" is well worth the most careful perusal. Some facts relating to accidental or involuntary migration may be repeated. "In November, 1895, a Central American Mouse of the genus Oryzomys, concealed in a bunch of bananas shipped from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, was captured alive in a commission house in Washington, D.C. A young murine Opossum from Tropical America was discovered in a bunch of bananas at Ames, Iowa, during the summer of 1882, and was kept alive for some time. If such cases were frequent, it can be readily seen how a species might gain a foothold in new regions, provided the conditions were favourable for its increase." Members of the Sparrow cult will not find agreeable reading in the account of "the true character of the bird" as detailed in these pages. The expenditure for its destruction in Illinois (1891-95) and Michigan (1887-95) amounted to about 117,500 dols. The introduction of the Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis) and the Blackbird (Turdus merula) into New Zealand, where the first has become the scourge of the turnip field, eating the seeds soon after planting, and the second is well known as a champion fruit destroyer, induces the remark that both these birds "are noted singers; but the charms of their song hardly compensate for damage to crops."
Mr. J. W. Willis Bund has republished a paper read at the Victoria Institute, Worcester, on "The Life of a Severn Salmon." Much has still to be learned respecting this fish, as we read that no one can give a really satisfactory statement as to the length of time a Salmon will live if it escapes death by the hands of its numerous enemies, nor can tell with accuracy the time it takes to produce a twenty-pound Salmon. We cannot say we know even the outlines of the life-history of a Salmon in fresh water. "A question of some interest arises as to the age to which a Salmon will live. Here again more evidence is wanted; a twenty-pound fish cannot be less than four years old, and is probably older. He would be hatched out, say, in 1890, would descend as a Smolt in 1891 at the earliest, and perhaps not till 1892. If he went down in 1891, he would probably return as a Grilse in 1892, as a Grilling in 1893, as a Salmon in 1894; but he might not go down till 1892, and his return in any of the stages might be prolonged, so that it will be safe to say that a twenty-pound fish is probably seven years old, and very possibly older. One fact seems clear, that the male Salmon grows larger, and so presumably lives longer than the female; it is the exception to get a female Salmon over thirty pounds, while it is common to get males over that weight. Why this is, I cannot explain; I only state the fact. Against this must be set the assertion that at spawning-time the mortality of males is said to be greater than the mortality of females."
A writer in the 'Westminster Gazette' has called attention to the decrease of Salmon in the Welsh Dee:—"This river is peculiarly fitted by nature for the abode of Salmon. Deep, swirling pools alternate with rapid runs and long sluggish reaches. It possesses a noble estuary, and numerous tributary streams, admirably adapted for breeding purposes, flow into it. From various causes the supply of Salmon has declined of late years, and at the present time the Fishery Board finds its operations seriously hampered. Its income is derived entirely from the licences taken out by rod and net fishers, and so marked is the scarcity of Salmon this year that there has been a great falling-off in the number of net licences, with a corresponding decline in the revenue. It is, of course, possible that an improvement may take place ere the close of the season, but present conditions do not favour the supposition, and there is reason to fear that, in common with many other rivers, the Dee is steadily deteriorating as regards the stock of Salmon. It is evident that as the income of the conservators falls off so does their ability to preserve the river. In the absence of funds they cannot pay watchers to guard it, and nowhere in the kingdom is poaching more rife during the close season than in North Wales. The state of affairs is serious, for when once a certain limit of scarcity is reached on Salmon rivers, matters are likely to go from bad to ​worse unless prompt and energetic action be taken. On various English rivers scarcity has led by gradual degrees to the extinction of the Salmonidæ; the Thames is a notable instance in point, and there are streams on the east coast of England, where Salmon once were numerous, in which nowadays the king of fresh-water fishes is never seen. I am far from suggesting that such misfortune is in store for the Welsh Dee, but the river is in an unsatisfactory condition, and has been for some years. Among the causes which are contributing to its decline the presence of Pike in large numbers, both in the main river and its tributaries, is not the least injurious; these predatory fish destroy enormous quantities of Salmon fry, and are equally harmful to the Trout-fishing. During the spawning season gangs of men raid the tributary streams by night, and it is manifestly impossible for one or two watchers to cope with these lawless intruders. Apart from these causes it is difficult to account for the deterioration of the Dee. It is not seriously polluted. The Fishery Board has been at considerable pains to improve it by putting up fish passes and a Salmon hatchery, and one can only conjecture that over-netting in past years is responsible for the present scarcity. The conservators would perhaps be well-advised to raise the charge for net licences; by seeking the co-operation of the riparian owners they might still make adequate provision for watching the river."
In the 'Transactions' of the South African Philosophical Society (vol. x. part 2) appears a very welcome "Bibliography of Books, Pamphlets, Maps, Magazine Articles, &c, relating to South Africa, with special reference to Geography. From the time of Vasco da Gama to the formation of the British South Africa Company in 1888." The compilation is by Mr. H.C. Schunke Hollway, and comprises 2099 separate entries. Although zoological publications have not been made a specialty in the compilation, the zoologist who wishes to read the observations of early travellers will find this bibliography a guide to much neglected and little-known literature on the subject. The zoologist will, however, find in the same publication (vol. x. part 3) a "Résumé of recent scientific publications bearing on South Africa from January 1st, 1897, to June 30th, 1898," which we hope will be continued.
The Tres Marias Islands are situated off the west coast of Mexico, about sixty-five miles west from the port of San Bias. Their natural history had been very moderately detailed. Grayson, a naturalist, made three trips to the islands in 1865, 1866, and 1867, and, in conjunction with Laurence and Bryant, published several papers thereon. Forrer collected there for the British Museum in 1881, but no detailed account of ​his work has been published. In the spring of 1897 E.W. Nelson and E.A. Goldman made an expedition to the Tres Marias, and the results are embodied in No. 14 of the Memoirs devoted to the North American Fauna published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Washington. Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Crustacea, and Plants are described by Nelson, Steineger, Rathburn, and Rose. The number of species of animals and plants now known for the Tres Marias are 11 Land Mammals, 83 Birds, 18 Reptiles, 2 Fresh-water Fish, 1 Fresh-water Shrimp, and 6 Land Molluscs. The plants enumerated are 136. The surprising result is in the number of species peculiar to these islands, which are clearly continental islands from the absence of a deep separating channel. Thus in species and subspecies, 7 Mammals, 23 Birds, and 1 Reptile appear to be peculiar to the islands. Mr. Nelson also adds a bibliography of the Tres Marias Islands.
America is still the head-quarters for Economic Entomology. We have just received a lengthy and well-illustrated memoir published by the University of Kansas, and forming the sixty-fifth contribution from the Entomological Laboratory. It is entitled "Alfalfa, Grasshoppers, Bees; their relationships," by S.J. Hunter. Melanoplus differentialis is the destructive locust which is particularly referred to, and its anatomy is well illustrated. "In alfalfa culture, if the Grasshopper proves an incentive to proper cultivation, the insect is a blessing in disguise. Disking alfalfa fields in the early spring, after the frost has left the ground, and before vegetation has well started, increases the yield of the first crop one-third; matures the second crop earlier, and brings from it an equally increased yield; destroys the native Grasshopper eggs placed therein, and kills the native grasses which frequently threaten to reclaim the field."
The Royal Mail steamer 'Stola,' according to the 'Aberdeen Journal,' has just had the not unique experience of running down a Whale. The steamer was on her passage on Wednesday, April 26th, between Stromness and Scapa, in the Orkney Isles, when a violent shock was felt abreast of Swanbister. Immediately afterwards a large Whale rose under her quarter with a fearful gash in its body, and throwing up blood and water from its blowhole to a height of fifteen feet. The 'Stola' was steaming twelve knots, and must have nearly cut the Whale in two. As the captain had the mails on board he could not stop, but as long as the Whale was visible it was seen to be lashing the water furiously.
The 'Daily Chronicle's' Liverpool Correspondent says:—"A gem of French colonial protectionist policy reaches me from Loango. The ​authorities of the French Congo, being rather short of money, have issued a decree placing a tax of fifty centimes on every Parrot exported from that colony to Europe."
We are glad to notice the growing recognition of "Zoology" as an applied science. In the 'Pharmaceutical Journal' a course of "Zoological Notes for Pharmacists" is now in course of publication.
On Thursday afternoon, Oct. 6th, 1898, Mr. J. Passmore Edwards laid the first stone of the Essex Local and Educational Museum of Natural History. The Museum, designed by Messrs. Gibson and Russell, will ultimately be a very handsome structure, adjoining, but distinct from, the Technical Institute of the West Ham Corporation in the (Main) Romford Road, Stratford. The cost of the building and ground will be about £6000, towards which Mr. Passmore Edwards munificently contributes £2500, on condition that the Museum shall contain the Essex Field Club's County Collections of Natural History. The balance of the cost, and the up-keep of the building, will be defrayed by the Corporation of West Ham, acting through their Technical Instruction Committee. In accordance with the scheme of the Agreement made between the Corporation of West Ham and the Essex Field Club, dated 25th July, 1898, the Museum will be carried on as a Permanent Institution under that Agreement as follows:—
(a) The Corporation agree to dedicate the main portion of the building to the purposes of a Museum of Local (Essex) Natural History, Prehistoric Archaeology and Anthropology, and of educational series relating to the same; to warm, light, and provide for the caretaking of the building; that the Club shall have the sole scientific control of the collections, and the appointment of the Curator, and be allowed to keep its Library in the building; the Corporation also agreeing to make a grant of not less than £100 per annum towards the curatorial expenses.
(b) The Club agree to place their county collections, cases, and cabinets in the Museum (excepting the Epping Forest collections, which are to be retained in the Forest Museum at Chingford); to do their best to increase and improve the same; to undertake the selection and scientific control of the collections; to raise a certain capital sum for the further equipment of the Museum; to appoint a Curator, and to devote a sum of £50 per annum towards the curatorial expenses.
As at least £1000 will be required for the wall-cases, table-cases, cabinets, and other equipments necessary to a Natural History Museum, donations are invited, which may be paid to Lloyds' Bank (Essex Field Club Account—Town Side), 72, Lombard Street, E.C.; or to the Treasurer, W. C. Waller, Esq., Loughton, Essex.