AN INVITATION TO NATURE STUDENTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 252, 21 July 1934, Page 6

AN INVITATION TO NATURE STUDENTS

Notes of Observations Will Be Published-. WEEKLY PRIZE OFFERED “The Dominion” invites readers to contribute short accounts —not more than 200 words—of specially interesting observations made from Nature in any of her fields. Although the detailed " study of plants and flowers, of animal life, birds and fishes, is a * specialised part of scientific knowledge, everyone who is ordinarily observant, and certainly everyone who finds joy in watching the world around him, builds up a store of Nature lore that continually adds to the interest and educative value of his further observations. To facilitate the of notes and', opinions/among, these amateur'naturalists, arid if possible to encourage others to take a more active interest in the Wild life aborit them, “The Dojninion” will publish a selection of the more iriformative contributions, and until further notice will, pay a prize'/of. five shillings to the sender of that, adjudged the best received each week. • The r only conditions are that the contributions must be based on current observation; thaf senders shall,, vouch for. the .accuracy of their facts and send their fuft-names and addresses; and that the'decision of the Editor of “The Dominion”' is to be accepted as final in the making of awards. Except in the case of the weekly 'prize-wihriers, names and addresses of the senders of contributions ’ will 1 not be published when a contrary •,desire has been expressed; otherwise .they will be, ‘since names will add authority to the’ observations ' recorded? ... Address .contributions: Nature Note, "The Wellington; THE ■ FIRST AWARD'' ——:/<■( The first prize of five, shillings is awarded to Alexander Hamilton, 16 Rimu Road, Kelburn, Wellington. The winning contribntion, with others of. near merit, is printed below:— */, 1 < ■ t \ /■: ■' Curious Marine Worms .. _ ; ‘ ' '*l At Point Jerningham, near - Oriental Bay, Wellington, those interested will find a pool in the rock which remains uncovered after half tide. Anyone look: ing into this may see against the dark rock numbers of whitp cases irregularly shaped and from one’ to two inches in length. -? . At the mouth’ of many of these gases a black head tpil be, seen; projecting, and if a quick movement is made, these, littleheads instantly, vanish, but aftet about half a minute they eloWly reappear. These belong to a species of marine worm, marvellously beautiful and wonderfully equipped for its life. work. The black point under a moderate, hand lens is a purple mass <jf branching tentacles, and under a microscope of even .low, power . 1 these tentacles resemble. fronds of delicate maidenhair fern, the whole’covered .by, vigorously, vibraiting hairs., This organ ensures rapid-circulation of the surrounding water for the purpose of renewing the. creature’s oxygen supply to -its gills—in other words, its breathing apparatus—and also to'bring in its food. Examined- in sunlight. under the microscope, this worm’s. colouration' and perfection of' organic form is exqiiisitely f : beautiful. ’ and — wonderful,— Alexander Hamilton-• (Wellington)- ' . .. ■ - Our' Siberian Visitors j \ -. ' ; ' .- ' -x,; The 'beautiful black and white sea swallows, the terns, arrive here from Siberia ' every year. ■ On January 23,’ 1926,“1 watched a flock settle for the night on a rock at Karaka Bay, Wellington. Before sunrise next morning, the tide being low,\ I was able, with binoculars and camera, to make a close investigation. At least one hundred birds Were visible’ from my side of the rock, • every bird ■ faced the wind, and when the sun arose they commenced to preen themselves, after/their, long flight. ./ Certain, birds appeared to act as scouts, the rank and file answering their calls., > ■’ S '■ When the ferry steamer arrived at the Heads, one bird flew aloft, and sudden-ly-gave a shrill call, at which the entire flock took wing and set about catching breakfast by darting into the. sea after ' their finny prey. Since that date I have observed these birds each year, but this year (1934) they Changed their’quarters to a larger group of rocks at Scorching Bay. - ■ ■ • ■< .. >. /• ■ In February, when the young birds were nearly ready for departure, I. obtained some good snaps, from a fisherman’s boat, just as the sun arose. A few days later the birds disappeared from their nesting place.-—John Castle (Wellington). •’ .’ /, .''/ New' Zealand Ghost Moth ’ While staying near Lake Waikaremoana I saw the Ghost Moth, which is the largest moth in New Zealand, It-was* attracted by the bright lights in the power, station and settled, on the shoulder of one of the men on duty. I was told that quite frequently*this happened as the bush is close round about the power station and at.'night the moths fly in when the lights appear. This beautiful moth was a' bright let-tuce-green, and measured at least.3)in. from tip to tip across the upper wings. I have studied specimens in the Christchurch Museum arid’ read about this moth in l “The New.- Zealand Nature Book,” written by W. Martin, B.Sc., F.R.G.S. The male is green and the fe? male is a brownish-green. 'The life history ■is shown in the,- museum. A tree trunk split open shows the burrow made bv the caterpillar. It lives on‘the wood Of black maire, manuka, titoki; and roaiiy other frees, natives or Otherwise. A silk flap conceals the entrance to the bur-row,.-which is vertical and about 3m. from the bark. It -is thought that it takes several, years for this moth to complete itslife circle,--.' , For the pupa stage, more complicated burrows lead to the -centre of the tree trunk, where the phpa will lie’concealed by a trap-door, . When ready to emerge, the moth pushes the trap-door aside and finds its way to the light. This moth is only found in the North Island. N. Alloway (Levin). / ' '