The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-04-14

swimming tall. but when it mciahor' phuses into frog or,a toad lt becomes tuilless In fact, the tail does not hrop on. but it is absorbed and disap' pears ln the body, just as a swelling from a bump on the head disappears How often do we hear that frogs and loads have fallen with raln, and almost every July we may read accounts of ,ueh phenomens. These may have for thelr basis the fact that during the month or July toads change from the tadpole stage and aquatic habitat to he adult form and terrestrial habitat and then migrate Andward i'm great numbers. They are active only at night or during hot weather. efectual- ly concealing themselves in the most common places during the daytime However. when a rain falls at such time they appear by thousands, as fl by magic. and give the impression of having fallen with rain.
 There are doubtless more supersti- tlons concerning snakes than any other creatures. This arises In part from the traditions Of the form of the original tempter and in part from the fact that but very few persons are willing Co calmly observe serpents for themselves and learn the truth directly. We have met persons who believe that an snakes are venomous. This doubtless comes from the old Roman rule. 'Ab uno disce omnes." How prevalent s the belief that horse hairs turn to snakes! There is no other foundation for this error than the resemblance Of the so called hairsnake (gordlusi Co a common horse hair. Snakes are often supposed to charm birds, but the fact is that the feathered soncsters are paralyzed by fright when they suddenly sec the rep tiles at close proximity.
 The common erroneous belief that snakes sting or bite by means of their tongues may come from the Scriptural quotation. "lt stlngeth like an adder v The suppOsition that snakes bite them selves and die is doubtless based upon the actions Of certain species. Ike the hog nosed adder. which when leased will act as though dead and thus some times fnd protection. lt is very com monly thought that snakes tails live ] or are active until suudOwn. This arises from the prolonged activity Of the tall, due to the reflex action Of the caudal nerve centers. which may continue for A longer or shorter period owing to tenn perature and other conditions. Many persons believe that there is a glass snake or joint snake, which may be broken Co fragments when struck. but can rejolnt itself and live. This may come from the fact that a certain liA- lrd (Ophiosaurus yentralisl readily losea ts tall. and while the body escapes the caudal member wiggles and attracts the attention Of the purSuer
 The erroneous Idea that turtles breathe under water. as do fishes, is de rived from the observations of thelr having remained submerged for some hOura But this Is made possible by their lung capacity. their limited need of oxygen compared with that of warm blooded animals and their ability to store oxygen m their tissues and use it as needed.
 Both species of American cuckoos (genus coccyzus) build nests, contrary 10 the popular belief. The error comes from the fact that the European cuckoo (cuculusl builds no nests, but is parasitic. laying its eggs in the nests of other birds. as does our cowbird Cmolothrusy. The old idea that "a sight of the oriole cures jaundice' doubtless is connected with the yellow color or the bird and the homeopathic doctrine '-Simllia similibus curantur' like cures llke).
 Most persons believe that owls, cats and other nocturnal animals can see In absolute darkuess. This error arises from the fact that In these animals the pupil or the eye is very large or dilata' ble. and in subdued or very feeble light they can see much better than can man. One can readily demonstrate the fallacy of the supposition by talk ing an owl or other nocturnal animal into a perfectly dark room, as we have done. and touching 1t with the hand It does not move. even though 1t be an untamed animal. Cats and other noe turnal animals are erroneously thought 10 emit light from their eyes because when looking toward the light the crystalline lens Of the eye produces a Rlarlng reflection. The ideas that swans sing when dying and moles open their eyes at the time of death are handed down from the writings Of Pliny and represent ignorance of the facts Of zoology.
 We were once seriously asked by a teacher. "At what age do the little lambs tails drop orY' He had accu- rately observed that the tails of the lambs are long, while those of the old sheep are short, and be had obtained n false Idea. which is however, preva' lent. or course he was shocked to learn that sheep raisers amputate the tails to prevent the soiling of the wool -Forest and Stream.