Naturalist.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 347, 1 January 1903, Page 7

Naturalist.

LITTLE WOEM- JDEVOtffiS SHIPS;^ as it looks, there is no jfeft more dangerouß worm in the 3Hf ' worldthan the worm JwfiicM spends its-life la boring through i wood, consequently does so much injjjraf-to ships.'indeed,it is known as tj^Wup's'worm.'for | The apparatus with winch; itMbores ik located i oddly work kvgether' in perfect The -worm's-wHiy is almost transparent aad exceedingly tender, it begins to bore when it is quite young, ami-thenceforth it lives and work 3 in e;> quietly that it-aever betrays it always "works in a longitudinal direction. It does not abandon this direction even if a nail'or any Other obstacle is in its way, for it simply LOWEST BUFFALO HEED. At 'iweg lower end of the. Flathead Flathead Indian Beseryation, in Montana, there reams the largest ; herd, of vbuffalo in America. The noble aruinalilhWe 1 practically all the freedom .that was theirs hi the days when they were mpnarehs of the plains^; This herd is the property' of a halfbreed of mixed Indian and Mexican blood named Pablo, whose home is on the .reservation and who is reported to. be He does not look [ft in n his suit of .citizens' ciothes, broad-brimmed hat'arid "blankets, but fie is as shrewd a ranchman aa is to be found on the western ?lains, and ha. has., increased- his governlent allotment of cattle and lands until he has amassed a vast fortune. He has two houses*, one on the reservation, near the Catholic school of St. Ignatius, and the others in the dreary little shipping town of Selish, on the Northern Pacific Bailway. -« Pablo owns 100,000 head of cattle, and takes a justifiable pride in the'm, but he especially "glories in his herd of buffalo, which numbers 120. ' _,._.,_.,.

. Pablo's regard for his buffalo is intense. He is not keeping them for profit, and will not sell a single specimen. He loves them because they are a part of the old free life he loved, and loves still. He has a fellow-feelina for bison because, like bis own race, they have been driven from their old ranges. So he has gathered to-gether-"all that he could get aad has placed them on the magnificent range at the outlet of Flathead Lake. They have the freedom of the beautiful valley and the foothills of the mountains. . CAT ON THEPAT :b6LL. J Ten dollars ' for food for the poat office cat' ioi perhaps/ the most curious allowance made-by; Postmaster General Smith. In the post office in St. Paul, Minn., is a cat that has endeared itself to the employes, not alone by its gentle ways, but by its ability, to catch the, rodents which invest the place.' The post office in St. Paul is an old affair, and great caution has to be taken with the mails to prevent their being nibbled by the rats and mice. ■Many efforts hava been made to get a cat that would appreciate its official position and work in the interest of the government, but all failed, until finally a cat came | that evidently meant business. She was, however, enticed to a neighbour-, ing building, where, though the atmoayhere was less aristocratic, the fare was better. \ ..• •"= Finally the present incumbent appeared and has given such general satisfaction that the government has made a special requisition in its favour, and it will be supplied daily with all the delicacies of the season. " This is one of the few instances where a cat has been placed on the pay roll of Uncle Sam.