The Zoologist/4th series, vol 3 (1899)/Issue 695/Editorial Gleanings
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
Professor Othniel Charles Marsh, of Yale University, died at New Haven, March 18th, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was born at Lockport, New York, in 1831, and was graduated at Yale in I860. He subsequently studied several years under leading specialists in Europe, returning to New Haven in 1866, where he has since occupied the chair of Palæontology. He has long been recognized throughout the world as one of the leading authorities in vertebrate palæontology. His explorations in various parts of the West for fossil vertebrates began in 1868, and in subsequent years he amassed the immense collections which have been so long famous. The results of his investigations have been published in a long series of papers and memoirs, numbering nearly three hundred titles, covering a period of more than twenty-five years. His unrivalled collections of fossils, as yet only partly worked up, he presented to Yale University, with a considerable endowment for carrying on and publishing the results of further investigation of this great mass of material. Prof. Marsh is well known to ornithologists for his numerous publications on fossil North American birds, including his great quarto memoir 'Odontornithes: a Monograph of the Extinct Toothed Birds of North America,' published in 1880. Probably five-sixths of the known extinct North American birds have been described by Prof. Marsh. His scientific work brought him many honours both at home and abroad. In 1878 he was chosen President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and from 1883 to 1896 he was President of the National Academy of Sciences (The 'Auk').
We regret to announce the death of Joseph Wolf, eulogized by Landseer himself as "without exception the best all-round animal painter that ever lived." Many obituary notices have appeared in our current press, but a particularly full and excellent résumé of his life's work has appeared in the 'Field,' from which we extract the following:—
"Born at Möerz, near Coblenz, in 1820, the son of a farmer, his powers of observation and delineation of animal life were made manifest at an early age, and his talent as a draughtsman soon obtained employment for him.
"The first work which brought the artist's name prominently before the scientific world was Rüppell's 'Systematische Uebersicht der Vögel Nordost Afrikas,' published in 1845, in which some fifty African birds are depicted in attitudes which contrast strongly with the stiff and unnatural positions in which previous artists were wont to portray their subjects. We look upon these illustrations as instituting the renaissance period in ornithological drawing. In 1850 appeared Temminck and Schlegel's quarto volumes on the fauna of Japan, which, with Wolf's coloured plates, still constitute one of the best illustrated works on natural history. Quickly following this came Schlegel's grand 'Traité de Fauconnerie,' in folio, with life-size portraits by Wolf of all the Hawks employed by falconers. Each one of these is a study which deserves attention.
"The late Mr. G.R. Gray's standard work, in three volumes quarto, on the 'Genera of Birds,' a copy of which cannot now be obtained under £30, was partly illustrated by Joseph Wolf, in consequence of the acceptance of a foreign appointment by the late Mr. Mitchell, the former secretary of the Zoological Society, who had been working at it jointly with Gray.
"Those who are familiar with the magnificent folio works of Gould on the 'Birds of Asia' and the 'Birds of Great Britain' will recognize in; many of the life-like coloured plates the handiwork and talent of Joseph Wolf; while the same remark will apply to Elliot's grand volumes, also in folio, on the Pheasants, Birds of Paradise, the Birds of North America, and the Felidæ or Cat family.
"More than half a century ago the Zoological Society of London, recognizing Wolf's extraordinary talent in depicting animal life, secured his services to illustrate their periodical publications, and from that time forward the 'Proceedings' and 'Transactions' of the Society have teemed with the life-like productions of his pencil. Visitors to the picture gallery over the reptile house at the Zoological Gardens can scarcely fail to have been struck with his remarkable 'Zoological Sketches,' which were produced under the auspices of the Society, and there adorn the walls. In the numerous coloured plates which have illustrated the 'Ibis' from the commencement of that quarterly journal of ornithology in 1859, we have another example of the artist's wondrous skill in the delineation of birds.
"We may pass over the many large works, both in oils and watercolour, which have passed from the easel to the private cabinets of those who know well how to appreciate them, because, although we have had the privilege of seeing many of them, the public have had no opportunity, as with the exhibited works of other artists, to judge of their merits. We may remind our readers, however, that numerous works on sport and natural history have been entirely illustrated by Joseph Wolf. Of these we may name Anderson's 'Lake Ngami,' Livingstone's 'Missionary Travels,' Atkinson's 'Amoor-land,' Emerson Tennent's 'Ceylon,' and the same author's 'Wild Elephant,' Baldwin's 'African Hunting,' Col. Walter Campbell's 'Indian Journal,' Bates's 'Naturalist on the Amazon,' and Wallace's 'Malay Archipelago'; while many beautiful full-page plates from his pencil adorn the works of Lewis Lloyd, A.E. Knox, Henry Stevenson, Philip Gosse, Canon Tristram, Professor Newton, and the Duke of Argyll. Nor should we omit to notice his 'Life and Habits of Wild Animals,' which appeared in 1874, illustrated from his designs, engraved by Whymper, with descriptive letterpress by D.G. Elliot."
Mr. J. Arthur Thomson, Extramural Lecturer on Zoology in Edinburgh, has been appointed to succeed the late Prof. Alleyne Nicholson as Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen.
Our contributor Mr. F. Coburn has recently written, in the 'Birmingham Daily Post,' on the subject of the Public Natural History Collection in Birmingham, which included, or rather consisted of, the collection of specimens formed by the late Dr. Sands Cox. "The loss the city has sustained through not possessing a properly appointed natural history museum, presided over by a competent curator, at the time when this great collection was handed over to the custody of our authorities, is absolutely irreparable, and the fate which has befallen the bulk of that collection forms one of the strongest arguments which could be advanced for the establishment of a museum, for there are still a few gems left in that collection which ought to be saved. This collection must have cost its founder almost a fabulous sum of money, for it was peculiarly rich in forms which were most difficult to procure in those days. The collection of British birds was a very fair one, but its greatest value lay in the African, Indian, Australian, New Zealand, and New Guinea forms, some of which are now totally extinct, while others are on the verge of extermination."
Amongst its present treasures is the Nestor productus, or Phillip Island Parrot. This "is one of the greatest treasures which any museum in the world can hope to possess, as it is now generally admitted to be totally extinct; and, according to Professor Newton ('Dictionary of Birds,' p. 224), only about twelve skins, exclusive of the Birmingham specimen, are known to exist in the world. Thus it becomes a far greater rarity than even the Great Auk, a specimen of which was recently purchased by the Edinburgh Museum for, I think, 350 guineas, this being considered a very low figure. There are over sixty skins of the Great Auk known to exist, against about a dozen of Nestor productus. Its great value, therefore, is apparent at once. I should say that at a very modest estimate the skin is worth at least 600 guineas. There are a good many who, I have no doubt, would put it down at 1000 guineas. Here then is a veritable gem, the possession of which alone ought to act as a powerful lever in inducing the Council to provide a proper museum in which to house it. It is, I believe, now locked up in an iron safe in the possession of Mr. Whitworth Wallis." In this collection there appears to have been a most formidable weeding-out process.
In the 'Zambesi Mission Record,' a Catholic publication, we notice an interesting article by Father O'Neil, S.J., on "Some interesting Beetles," as observed in South Africa. "'Tockies' are large heteromerous beetles, generally black or brown in colour. They have been called 'Tockies' in consequence of a habit they have of knocking loudly on the ground to attract their mates. Let us watch one of these insects walking about in search of a partner. It advances a few paces, then stops, and, raising a rather unwieldly body on its long legs, gives four or five rapid knocks in succession. Then there is a pause, a further advance, and the knocking is repeated. After a bit answering knocks are heard, and our Tocky sets to work knocking most vigorously to aid in the determination of his whereabouts. As might be expected, the Tockies have given rise to many a ghost story. Though they walk about a good deal during the daytime, they are especially active at night; and, when doors are left open after dark, will frequently enter the bedrooms. Then in the dead of the night some unfortunate individual is awakened by a loud knock, knock, knock. If he be of a nervous disposition, and unfamiliar with our rapping friends, the result can be imagined. I know a pious gentleman who one night was firmly persuaded that one of the holy souls had come knocking for prayers. Here in Dunbrody the Tockies are often very troublesome, owing to the fact that our ceilings consist of thin laths, which make glorious sounding boards. One particular kind of Tocky will insist upon climbing up the walls of the house, and hammering away overhead at night time. More than one member of the community, myself among the number, have been kept awake during the greater part of the night by an almost uninterrupted tattoo. The noise the beetle makes when exercising itself on these laths is just like a loud knocking at a door. Not long ago one of them started rapping overhead about supper time. 'Come in,' cried the reverend father, whose room adjoins mine. 'Knock, knock, knock,' replied the Tocky. 'Come in,' shouted his reverence this time. My laughter unfortunately put a stop to the fun. I must not dismiss the Tockies without alluding to their omnivorous quality. Though it generally feeds on plants of one kind or another, the beetle seems to be capable of devouring almost anything. It is quite common to see one of them dining off departed brother.'[1]
We have received the Annual Report of the Millport Marine Biological Station for 1898:—"The Committee are now in a position to give an account of the first year of the actual working of the Station. Under these circumstances they consider the Report of 1898 to be of great importance, seeing that it is the first which provides data from actual experience by means of which a forecast of the future success of the Station may with some degree of certainty be drawn. They feel that they have every reason to be satisfied with the results of this crucial year. They can report good progress, not only in regard to the numbers who visited the Robertson Museum, and to the degree in which the facilities afforded by the Laboratory were utilized by scientific workers, but also in regard to the measure of public support accorded to the scheme. From the Curator's Report it will be seen that there were over eight thousand visitors to the Robertson Museum during the past year, and that tables in the Laboratory were utilized for terms varying from a week to a month on thirty-eight different occasions. During the past year many additions have been made to the Station, especially in the Laboratory Department, where good sets of reagents, dissecting-troughs, and vessels have been provided. A dark room for photographic purposes has been constructed. A system of heating the Laboratory and Museum by hot-water pipes has been carried out. Outbuildings for work and store-rooms have been built, and the laying down of a jetty near the Station will be carried out as soon as possible. An apparatus for keeping up continuous motion in a number of vessels has been fitted up, &c. The carrying out of an efficient system of heating was a work of very great importance. During the previous winter, partly owing to the newness of the building and to its situation near the shore, and partly also to the method of heating then in use, a portion of the Robertson Collection, in particular the Foraminifera and Ostracoda, suffered from damp. Mrs. Robertson set herself to the arduous task of cleaning and remounting the whole of these specimens. It is matter for congratulation that no such injury can now happen to the collection, as it was matter for regret that it ever did occur."
Colchester has its Oyster feast, Greenwich its Whitebait dinner, and now Great Yarmouth, on the 10th of last December, held its inaugural "Sprat Banquet." From a "Souvenir" which has been published detailing this function we find some facts relating to Clupea sprattus which are at least interesting. According to Mr. Edward T. Ayers, "Sprat fishing is not followed in Yarmouth, though the fish is found in large shoals off the coasts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent. In summer it is said to inhabit the deep water, and then in roe, and to be in highest perfection as food when the season for fresh Herrings has closed, and it does not visit us until November approaches. Southwold on the Suffolk coast and its neighbourhood have long been celebrated for Sprat catching and curing. Some fine and delicious Sprats were a few years ago taken in the South Ham at the entrance of Yarmouth Harbour, and the Yarmouth Herring curers are also good hands at curing Sprats."
Our contributor, Mr. A. Patterson, has of course some information to afford. "Clupea sprattus runs to about 5½ in. in length. Three are recorded in January, 1882, off Aldeburgh, over 6½ in. long. It spawns locally in the early spring, the time varying a little in different localities. On Feb. 29th, 1896, an unusual catch of Sprats occurred; some were found full of roe. In Scotland it is known as the Garvie; by the German as die Sprott; Dutch, Sprot; Swedish, Skarpsill; French, le Melet and l'Esprot; and Welsh, Coog Bennog. In habits it is gregarious; generally in big shoals; in cold weather it nears the shore—differing from the Herring and Pilchard, which retire to deeper waters. It may be located by the hosts of Gulls and other sea-birds which follow it eagerly, devouring myriads. In turn the Sprat preys on minute crustaceans, the transparent Opossum Shrimp (Mysis chameleon) in particular, which teems in certain localities. A small parasitic entomostracean (Lerneonema monilaris) is often found attached to its eye. This creature, which so anchors itself with its long trailing thread-like ovaries, is of a beautiful green colour, and more interesting to the naturalist than to its unfortunate possessor. Fishermen call them 'Lantern Jacks,' and believe that the bearers of the 'Lantern Jacks' are the pilots of the shoal."
A speaker at the banquet gave a very dispiriting account of last year's Herring fishing. "Unfortunately 1898 had proved one of the worst of seasons for the Herring fishing. The catch was 4000 lasts less than last year, which meant a loss of some £30,000 to the catchers and boat-owners, and of from £8000 to £10,000, to the workpeople, all of which would have been spent in Yarmouth and the district. Moreover, this year the Herrings had been of, very poor description, the worst for many years in point of size and quality. Yarmouth had never failed of its Herring fishing except in bad weather. The Herrings were always here. Some people thought trawlers did the Herring harm. He did not think it, because smacks trawled up not only flat fish, but Haddock and Dog-fish, which were the greatest enemies of the Herring, consuming immense quantities of spawn."
The London School Board have now the subject of Natural History Collections before them. The following extracts are from the 'Daily Mail':—"Tempting as may seem the offer of the entire contents of a museum for £51, some members of the London School Board (March 2nd) seemed disinclined to purchase on the principle that it was too cheap to be good. [We are entirely of that opinion.—Ed. Zool.] The collection in question is at present in the possession of the Shoreditch Public Libraries Committee, and consists inter alia of:—Twenty-four cases of birds intact; 9 cases of birds broken, the whole being somewhat dirty; 223 birds unmounted, badly preserved, and probably not worth the trouble of mounting; 15 Emu and 20 Guillemot eggs; 291 eggs and 14 nests; 14 boxes of eggs; 68 jars of reptiles; 57 boxes of shells; cabinet of Lepidoptera (cabinet in bad condition, and the specimens attacked by mites); 43 boxes of Lepidoptera, 32 of Coleoptera, 8 of Hymenoptera, and other Lepidopteral rubbish; 26-drawer cabinet of minerals, fossils, and shells (cabinet very bad); 28 boxes of minerals, very dirty and unclassified; 2 cases and 2 cabinets of minerals; a collection of polished pebbles, garnets, &c, about 1½ tons in weight; groups of coral, coins in cases, cases of medals, bones, tiles, glass jars, boxes, &c. One member was very sceptical as to the worth of the museum. He asked if the word 'mite' was not a misprint for 'mice,' but was informed, amid laughter, that 'mite is right.' In the end the Board resolved to purchase mites and all, provided one and a half tons of loose fossils were thrown in. The whole collection, it was stated, cost about £1000."
The Rev. J. Conway Walter has contributed some interesting notes on "Fox and Dog Hybrids near Horncastle," to the April issue of 'The Naturalist.' Mr. Walter exhibited, at the meeting of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union in 1897, a case containing two stuffed specimens of a cross between a Fox and a Dog, the sire being a male Fox (Vulpes vulpes), and the mother a half-bred bitch between Shepherd Dog and Whippet. The mother was bought by M. Suchetet with a view to further experiments. Since then several similar hybrids have been produced in the same neighbourhood. In one case, at Ashby Puerorum, a farm-bailiff, named Cross, tied his Shepherd bitch near a Fox-earth, and the one pup reared is now in the possession of Mr. Frank Dymoke, of Scrivelsby Park. In another case a gamekeeper near Louth tied a bitch in a wood, in the nutting season, to give warning of trespassers, and subsequently the bitch had pups, evidently a cross with a Fox. One of these is now in the possession of Mr. Waltham, dealer in china, High Street, Horncastle. Another is in the possession of Mr. E. Walter, farmer, of Hatton, a cousin of Mr. Stafford Walter, who bred the original hybrids, which were exhibited in 1897.
- ↑ "Beetle" is evidently here alluded to.—Ed.