# The Zoologist/4th series, vol 5 (1901)/Issue 723/Notes and Queries

Published in The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5, issue 723, p. 351–358
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
Note on the Scaly Ant-Eater (Manis temmincki).—To trace the origin of curious native sayings or superstitions concerning animals is always a matter of interest, and there are few animals in this country which have given rise to more of these than the Scaly Ant-Eater, or "Aka," as the natives call it. Among the Mashonas this weird beast, which looks more like a reptile than a mammal in its general appearance, used formerly to be regarded as a special perquisite of the chiefs, and woe betide any venturesome persons who dared to regale themselves on its much-prized flesh, as the punishment for this was death; and, according to most of my informants, the offender was usually killed while asleep, though I failed to find out whether there was any special reason for this. On the other hand, if the lucky finder of one of these animals fulfilled his duty by bringing it to his chief, he was presented with a cow as a reward. The reason for this munificent payment is probably due to the assertion of the Kaffirs that this animal has gold in its entrails. "Not the white man's gold," as one of my "boys" informed me, "but Portuguese gold"; meaning thereby that I was not to expect to find sovereigns, but raw gold. On inquiring further from this youth, who belongs to Chikwakwa's tribe, I was told that the Pangolins were very scarce about his home, and there were only certain Kaffirs who knew how to find them; that they lived principally near the big rivers, and would come out at night to dig in the ground for the gold on which they feed. I had always regarded this eating of gold as more or less of a myth, but recently a wounded Ant-Eater came into my hands, being only the second specimen which I had seen alive, and I was determined to see whether there was any foundation for this curious belief. After the animal had been skinned, I carefully examined the contents of the stomach. This contained numerous heads of a large-eyed termite (Hodotermes), which is common in many parts of the country, but mixed with these was a good handful of quartz pebbles and sand. On seeing this, not only the origin, but also the probable truth of the natives' assertion became obvious at once; for when digging into the nests of ants and termites, and ​licking up the insects with its sticky tongue, the Pangolin must necessarily swallow a considerable amount of earth and gravel as well. Now, as I myself have seen, it is often possible in the gold-bearing districts to obtain a good show of "colour" by panning a piece of earth broken at random off a termite-heap, and if in such a locality the Pangolin is liable to swallow a certain amount of quartz pebbles as well, its chances of picking up gold would be much increased. Although the amount of the precious metal swallowed at any one time would be small, yet it would probably tend to accumulate, as the gastric juice would not act upon it. Thus that which, at first sight, appears to be an absurd belief, will probably prove to be an actual fact. Unfortunately the animal which I examined had come from a locality right in the granite formation, and far from any known gold-belt; so that when I panned the quartz from its stomach no gold was to be seen, although there was a good "tail" of pyrites. Some Blantyre natives in my employ said that the Pangolin was common in their country, but that they never ate it, nor did they know anything of its auriferous qualities.—Guy A.K. Marshall (Salisbury, Mashonaland).
[I have known this interesting genus on two continents, and the scaly skins of specimens from the Malay Peninsula (Manis javanica), and the South African species on which Mr. Marshall has written, are before me now. The word Pangolin is derived from the Malay Penggoling, signifying the animal which rolls itself up. The contents found in the stomachs of these animals in the east are identical with what Mr. Marshall discovered in his South African species. Cantor found the stomach of a M. javanica extended by the remains (head and legs) of large black ants, and also "five small rounded fragments of granite." In the Ceylon species (M. pentadactyla) Tennant found a quantity of small stones and gravel, "which had been taken to facilitate digestion." Mystical properties are also ascribed to the animals in the east. Diard and Duvaucel, writing from Bencoolen, state that, owing to the wonderful medicinal properties attributed to their scales and nails by the natives, they found it very difficult to procure specimens. In the Indian highlands, Ball relates that the prevalent native idea is that the creature is a land-fish, and that its flesh has ​"aphrodisiac properties." In Sumatra the scales are valued by the natives for their medicinal qualities. In Borneo, according to Bock, their flesh is highly esteemed by the Chinese. Hornaday, of a body "made a delicious stew, rich, sweet, and well-flavoured, and part of it we roasted. " I could always procure living specimens when living at Province Wellesley in the Malay Peninsula, but never succeeded in keeping them alive in captivity.—Ed.]
AVES.
Sparrow-Canary Hybrid?.—At Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, last June, a bird was shot from among the Sparrows on a farm, of which the following is a description:—General colour yellowish white, dusky on the head and throat, and with a few dark marks on the back. Tail and tail-coverts exactly like those of a yellow Canary; bill and legs like a Sparrow's for shape and size, but pinky white. It appeared to be one of a brood. One or two other Sparrows seen at the same time were described as being nearly or quite white.—H.J. Charbonnier (Redland, Bristol).
Crested Lark, &c., released in England.—Having recently obtained from India a consignment of the Crested Lark (Galerita cristata), I liberated nine specimens—a few having died—in Kent on Aug. 24th, letting them out from the train at various points. Most of them went off strongly, but they are rather rough in feather, though in good condition of flesh. I much hope that some pairs will survive and breed, as this interesting species certainly ought to be acclimatized with us, instead of persecuted. On the same day I let out, in the Zoological Gardens, a pair of Black-headed Buntings (Emberiza melanocephala), which I had procured from a London dealer. The cock was in perfect condition, and could not be recognised as a caged bird; the hen was moulting rather unkindly, but I thought her more likely to recover if turned out now. This beautiful species particularly deserves to be encouraged, as it is far the finest of the Buntings; any number could be purchased at Bombay in the spring. A few, as is well known, have occurred here. On the last day of July I had released in the Gardens a Rosy Pastor bought in London, which soon vanished. It was perfect in feather, but had a slight malformation of the beak, and two or three ​nails missing, which would render it recognisable if met with anywhere. I have a good many of these birds on deposit at the Calcutta Zoological Gardens, and hope to have them forwarded shortly. Should it prove possible to liberate them on arrival, I will of course notify the fact of my having done so.—Frank Finn (c/o Zoological Society, 3, Hanover Square).
Habits of Alcedo ispida.—While fishing on the old river Kennet, at Theale, about five miles from Reading, on Aug. 7th, I had the pleasure of seeing a Kingfisher going in and out of its hole to feed its young; but the point of my writing is to mention that each time it came out it dived immediately into the stream, and then flew away. My only explanation of its conduct is that its plumage was more or less soiled from the dirty state of the passage to the nest, in which there were four young nearly ready to fly.—George W. Bradshaw (Reading).
An unrecorded Kite obtained in Huntingdonshire.—Recently I have been able to examine a Kite (Milvus ictinus) that, I am informed, was killed by a Mr. Ullet, of Higney Grange, near Holme, and given to a relation of his, a Mr. Norman, then living at Blunham Mill, in the adjoining county, Bedfordshire. At the back of the case it states: "Preserved by I. Wright, of Kimbolton." It was most probably stuffed in 1836, as at the back of the case a portion of newspaper is affixed bearing this date.—J. Steele-Elliott (Clent, Worcestershire).
Variety of the Shag.—A curious variety of Phalacrocorax graculus has been shot on Arran Island, Co. Galway, and sent to us for mounting. Instead of the ordinary dark green plumage of the back and wing-coverts, this specimen is pale buff-colour, shading into almost white at the extremity of the wing-coverts; back, tail, throat, and breast, beak, feet, and bare space around eyes ochreous brown; irides pale bluish grey. The bird was a female, and in excellent condition. Williams & Son (2 Dame Street, Dublin).
The Little Bittern in Cornwall.—On June 30th last a Little Bittern (Ardetta minuta), with a broken leg, was taken in a public resort at Lostwithiel, Cornwall, known as "The Parade," after being seen about the same spot for some days. It was in a very weak condition, and efforts to revive it having failed, the bird was preserved by a local taxidermist named Higgs, and very well set up. The sex was not noted by him, but the black crown, nape, and back indicate an adult male. The river Fowey encircles a great part of "The Parade," and is bordered by a good deal of marsh-land. The railway runs close to the river, many water-birds being maimed by flying against ​the telegraph-wires, and it is probable that the injury to this one was caused in the same way. It seems lamentable that the Little Bittern cannot regain its status as a nesting species in England. The specimen I am recording has been acquired for the Devonport Public Museum.—H.M. Evans (Plymouth).
Puffin off the Coast of Kerry.—A Puffin (Fratercula arctica), pure white, with the exception of the wings, which are of the ordinary colour, was obtained off the coast of Kerry. The bird presented a very striking appearance after death, the colouring of the beak and legs showing strongly against the snow-white plumage of the back, head, and breast. The bird was a male.—Williams & Son (2, Dame Street, Dublin).
The Origin of the Name "Fulmar."—I am sorry to have delayed my reply to Mr. Meiklejohn, but I did so in the hope of being in town, and having an opportunity of fully ventilating this subject. There can be no doubt that the term "Fowmart" was constantly applied to the Polecat, because we have abundant proof of it in old Scottish documents. But that the term of Fowmart or Foul Mart came to be transferred to the Fulmar is, to my mind, improbable. The great 'Dictionary of the Gaelic Language,' published by the Highland Society in 1828, is the only Gaelic dictionary I happen to possess. It accepts the term Fulmair as a Gaelic term without question. I should have expected this, because Prof. Newton, the late Mr. Robert Gray, and other eminent naturalists have done the same. The actual origin of the Gaelic name Fulmair or Falmair is a question for experts to settle. Maclean supplies the very simple explanation that Fulmair signifies sottish or stupid ('Sketches of the Island Saint Kilda,' p. 8). This would suit the bird appropriately enough, in view of its apparent stupidity in allowing a noose to be dropped over its head. Jamieson suggests that the term Fulmar may bear some analogy to the Danish name hav-hest, i.e. sea-horse; for the Icelandic fula signifies a foal, and mar signifies the sea ('Scottish Dictionary,' vol. ii. p. 319). I hope that some more competent authority may perhaps be induced to clear this matter up. At all events, I think we may dismiss the suggestion that the Gaelic Fulmair is identical with Foulmart or Foumart; unless, indeed, some strong corroborative evidence can be supplied. — H.A. Macpherson (Pitlochry).
REPTILIA.
The Sand-Lizard in the North of England.—In the recent volume of the Cambridge Natural History on "Amphibia and Reptiles," ​Mr. Hans Gadow says that the Sand-Lizard (Lacerta agilis, Linn.) "is absent in Ireland and Scotland, while in England it is restricted to the southern half"; and a similar statement is made by Mr. Boulenger in the Hampshire volume of the Victoria History of the Counties of England. The reputed Sand-Lizards, frequently reported from northern counties, generally prove, on investigation, to be large examples of the Common Lizard (L. vivipara). This, however, is not the case in Lancashire, and, I believe, in Cheshire, for on the coast sand-hills the true Sand-Lizard was formerly common, and may even yet occur in places where the sandhills are unreclaimed. Lancashire naturalists of the old school knew the Sand-Lizard well, but, as questions of geographical distribution did not greatly interest them, there are few records left beyond the bare fact that the species was common. There are, however, specimens in the Warrington Museum, whose identity Mr. Boulenger has confirmed, which were captured at Southport and Formby, on the Lancashire coast. In Mr. Isaac Byerley's 'Fauna of Liverpool,' published in 1856, the Sand-Lizard is described as occurring "on the sand-hills from West Kirby to New Brighton" (in Cheshire). "At Seaforth, Crosby, and elsewhere" (in Lancashire). Mr. W.D. Roebuck states ('Naturalist,' 1884–85, p. 258) that, after examining specimens sent to him from various North of England localities, and finding that they were only "lightly coloured specimens of the Viviparous Lizard," he did not believe in the existence of the true L. agilis so far north, until Mr. G.T. Porritt procured him a couple of specimens from the Southport sand-hills, which he "at once saw were unmistakably referable to that species." He adds:—"Mr. Porritt tells me these Lizards swarm on the sand-hills at Southport, where he has frequently seen them sparkling in the sun with a glistening emerald-green, and sometimes almost golden, brightness." The late Thomas Alcock, in his pamphlet on the 'Natural History of the Coast of Lancashire' (1887), also speaks of the Sand-Lizard at Southport, where he says it was "formerly plentiful on the isolated group of sand-hills at the north end of the town. Hesketh Park, however, now occupies the best part of this locality." In 1862 and 1865 he captured and received a number of examples from this place. Mr. H.O. Forbes, in the 'British Association Handbook' for 1896, says, on the authority of Mr. Linnæus Greening, of Warrington, "Common; Wallasey, Southport, and Formby sand-hills." The Cheshire locality is included on the strength of specimens which were shown to Mr. Greening by the late C.S. Gregson, who stated that he had obtained them at Wallasey. The sand-hills between West Kirby and New Brighton were of the same ​character as those extending along the Lancashire coast from Liverpool to the mouth of the Ribble, and it is a generally accepted theory that the river Mersey, within geologically recent times, used to empty itself into the sea considerably to the west of its present mouth; so that at one time the Wallasey coast-line was north of the river. The spread of the suburban residential districts round Liverpool, the growth of seaside resorts such as Hoylake and West Kirby, and the formation of golf-links all along the coast have destroyed a large portion of these sand-hills; but there are considerable stretches in both counties where the Lizard may still exist. The Sand Lizard is not known in Cumberland or Westmoreland, and, although many miles of the North Wales coast, from the mouth of the Dee westward, are, or were, similar in character to the Cheshire shores, I know of no record of the Sand-Lizard from the Principality. The evidence therefore shows that L. agilis, generally considered to be only an inhabitant of some of the southern counties, occurs in the north, on a strip of sand-hills bordering the Irish Sea, from the mouth of the Ribble to the outskirts of Liverpool, and, unless Byerley's and Gregson's specimens were incorrectly localized, on the Cheshire shore from West Kirby to New Brighton. Possibly some of the readers of 'The Zoologist' may be able to give information about existing specimens, or of recently captured examples of the Sand-Lizard in Cheshire.—T.A. Coward (Bowdon, Cheshire).
INSECTA.
A Dipterous Parasite in the Plumage of Birds.—I enclose herewith some flies which I obtained from among the plumage of a Blackbird caught in a net protecting raspberries on Aug. 5th last at Balcombe, in Sussex. I should be interested to know the name of the fly, and also if its habit of infesting the plumage of Blackbirds and Song-Thrushes is known.—Alfred T. Comber (3, Worcester Terrace, Reigate, Surrey).
[This fly has been identified as Ornithomyia avicularia by Mr. E.E. Austen, who has added the following note.—Ed.]
Ornithomyia avicularia, Linn.—This fly, a near ally of the so-called "Forest Fly" (Hippobosca equina, Linn.), which is exceedingly troublesome to Horses and Cattle in the New Forest, and of the Deer-Fly (Lipoptena cervi, Linn.), a parasite of the Roe- and Red-Deer, appears to occur indiscriminately in the plumage of most wild birds. The series in the collection of the British Museum includes examples from the Thrush, Red-backed Shrike, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Starling, Pheasant, Partridge, Red Grouse, Ryper (in N.W. Norway), Blackcock, ​Snipe, Long-eared Owl, and Green Woodpecker. Stenopteryx hirundinis, Linn., another member of the same group of flies, found only in the nests and upon the young of the House-Martin, is very similar in general appearance, but has lancet-shaped wings; while Oxypterum pallidum, Leach, has somewhat broader wings, and is confined to the Swift. The so-called "Sheep-tick" (Melophagus ovinus, Linn.), which is entirely destitute of wings, also belongs to this group.
The mode of reproduction of these flies is highly remarkable. The female is viviparous, and produces but a single larva at a time, which grows to a large size within the body of the mother before being extruded, being actually nourished by means of a sort of placental connection with the wall of the oviduct. As soon as it is deposited the larva turns into a dark brown shining pupa, whence the group of parasitic flies, to which Ornithomyia belongs, has been termed the Pupipara. Recently, however, a similar mode of reproduction has been stated to occur in the case of the Tsetse Fly (Glossina), which is a true Muscid, and a near relation of our common English Stomoxys; so that, if this is confirmed, the name Pupipara must be abandoned.—E.E. Austen (Brit. Mus. South Kensington).
* ↑ Marsden, 'Sumatra,' p. 118.
* ↑ 'Cat. Mammalia, Malayan Peninsula and Islands,' J.A.S. Beng. vol.xv.
* ↑ 'Nat. Hist. Ceylon,' p. 47.
* ↑ Cf. Miscell. Papers relating to Indo-China and Ind. Archipel. ser. 2, vol. ii. p. 201.
* ↑ 'Jungle Life in India,' p. 335.
* ↑ Marsden, 'Sumatra,' p. 118.
* ↑ 'Head-Hunters of Borneo,' p. 246.
* ↑ 'Two Years in the Jungle,' p. 271.