Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-17
odd Discoveries
About Animals Ewes

Professor Hess experimental on various fishes and
the larvae OF mosquitoes. He found that they were
affected only by the intensity and direction of tho
light rays and did not recognize colors
Professor Pessner found that the "ocelli eyes
OF the star fish serve only to distinguish variations in
the intensity OF light They do enable starfsh
to see images nor to detect movement. but by their
toward streak OF light or toward dark objects
When the ocelli were removed the starfsh was TN.
able. to find Its way to light and dark regions.
Some spider crabs have the curious ha bit of deck.
ing themselves with various foreign growths. Con.
trary to general belief it has been found that there
is no tendency On the part Of the crabs to select
materials that correspond to the prevailing color of
their surroundings This would indicate that they
decorate themselves for the pleasure 1t gives them
just as woman might wear wreath OF roses round
her neck
These crabs. when blinded. decorate themselves,
which had previously been exposed to white yellow
blue green or red light showed a manifest tendency
20 90 toward the same Kind of light when they
Tree 10 move toward any one Of these colors. This
suggests that they have kind Of ability to distn.
guish colors and is opposed to the conclusion OF
another scientist referred to that the lower animals
do not distinguish colors
There is much OF interest to be learned about
snails. but 1t is slow work watching them Dnrinc
the period of mating activity, snas showed much
nerve sensitiveness to light intelligence II the
Term can be used OF such creature They progressed
Win greater rapidly and in straighter path toward
their food This curious observation was made by
Professor j. S. Szymanski. of Germany.
Another investigator, Professor E. Yunc has
found that the socaed eyes of snals have no power
OF perceivng light. Other parts of the body how
ever, possess tnlS power. or what then are tho
eyes? They may. perhaps be useful in some way to
perceive temperature food.
Certain species of mosquitoes turn toward the
light and others away from it. Fortunately among
nose that turn away from it is anopheles maculi
penns the Kind that carries malaria which therefore
flies only at night This mosquito however turns
toward certain low intensity Of light while flying
from strong light. Hence light in window at
night will usually attract 1t.
New observations Of intelligence or at least re.
markedly useful habits have been found in manv
families OF insects The potter bee mostens O clod
OF earth win huid from her mouth then cuts out
a piece with which to construct her water bottle
SNAPPED nest on sphere OF Bermuda grass All OF
tne WORK OF piastering, modelling and smoothing Is
performed by the mandibes the first pair of legs
An observer describes the interesting mining bee
ouliong a nest The soil Is moistened with water
orougnt IN the bees mouth from pond seventyaye
YARDS away is loosened by the mandbles and is cast
aside oy the second and third pair of legs AS the
ourFoW increases in depth portion of the removed
son 1s used Use to form rim OF mostened earth
around us mouth When the nest has been
stored with pollen and the egg laid this rim "a
removed and used to fill partly the burrow. Less
the nest. p'eo