OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14457, 25 February 1909, Page 2

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS. (Conducted by Hagistf.r. to whom all communications must bo addressed.) [Magister will be jtad to receive Nature notes, marked papers containing educational articles, diagrams, details of experiment.'!, etc., of scholastic interest to teachers and pupiln. Correspondents must use only ok?, aim; of tie paper, and whether using a pen mine or not, must scud both SAME and ABBitBSS.]

LATONA AND THE KUSTICS; OR THE ORIGIN OF FROGS. It'or the present I shall conclude my " Frogolojfieal" _ notes by quoting the mythological origin of frogs from a very interesting school literary reader, called "The Greenwood Tree," published by Edwin Arnold, It is really .a delightful " Book of Nature Myths and Verms."

"The goddess Lafoua, with her twin children, was wandering through the fields cf Lycin. When the heat of the day was greatest she came by good fortune upon a beautiful pond of clear water nestling'in a sheltered valley.

"By Ik side of tlio pond bent some countrymen and women gathering reeds and bulrushes. The goddess drew near to the edge of the water, and. bending her knee, sfooped to fluke her burning thirst; hit the rude reed-gatherers roughly forbade her to tourh it. "'Why do you forbid me to quench my thirst?' asked the goddess gently. ' Neither the bounteous sun. nor the cllsurrounding air, nor the cooling stream is the property of anyone, but each of these blessing- of Heaven is free to all.

_"' It was not my intention to bathe in this spot, weary and t.ravel-stainqd though I may be. I merely wi«lrc<l to* cool my burning throat, for, as you can hear, my mouth is parched so that ] can scarcely speak. A draught of cooling water will be to me as a drink of the ;rods, and in granting to mo ihis boon you will be giving me nodiing less than life ircdf. And if my misery dues not move jou, let. th.cso chifiiron. who hold out their arms to you, stir gentle pity j :i yoiif heart.',' "So spoke ihe goddess: but her humility and gentleness was wasted. For the countryfolk would not permit her to drink, and threatened lo do iiaim to her unless she immediately left the margin of the poiul "Then anger banished thirst and weari-iic.--s from the insulted goddess. Raising her right band, she cried." " May that pool cver.'.v; your dwelling-place!' 'Soon a wondrous change c.une over the gatherers of reeds and rushes. "They now delight to dive beneath tho water and (o swnn to and fro in the clear poal._ Sometimes they sit. on the moist margin, and thence leap nimbly once more into the water. Their offensive voioa turn lo wnrtant ernikiiigs, harsh and mda, and their bodies aro changed in appearance. Their jaws become widely distended, tiieiv necks chsanpear, and their heads a"united to their backs. And so, as frogs, they leap and croak in the water of the pool."

" THE NATURE BOOK." Some weeks ago I referred to "The Nature Bool; " which the Cavils had commeneed to publish in 24 fortnightly parts; aJid the good opinion 1 formed of the first numbers is fortified by every succeeding part, that conies out. Those who have been reading my notes on frogs and who saw in the illustrations 1 gave last week the metamorphose* from egg to maturity will be specially interested in Nos. 15 and 16, just to hand. One article is beautifully illustrated, Jrom photographs, 15 in all; while another article, equally well illustrated, takes Newts as its subject. Last week I_touched upon moths and butterflies, and referred to tile evolution of an insect Irom egg to imago, and promised some notes on the larva and chrysalis stages. Well, a second article in the'last numbers his as its heading "The Wood Wasp and Some Autumn Insects," and if contains among oilier illustrations a line series shownig—(a) the chrysalis, (b) ditto at moment of bursting, (e) ditto live seconds later, (d) again 15 seconds later, and (e) the perfect insect; and iimirlier is ''Conspicuous Insects of Summer Time." which among its wealth of illustrations gives one of the stag beetle, which has such powerful and prominent mandibles. I don't think any of our beetles would care to en;"!' 1 hi' ring with liiui. Botany, geology, and other of th-" many plumes, of Nature are equally weil wriiteii up_and illustrated. Seeing "thai the Kchicatio;i Hoard is suhsidisine libraiv expenditure lo llu. extent cf 10s in ihe pound. stud that booksellers. nii»ht »How a little discount oil' the published price, the whole set could be procured at a local cost of less that 12s. My copy came through SI ark and Co.

I shall have occasion to refer to some of (lie articles again.

THE STICK INSECT. A Tapaiuii correspondent tent me a stic;; insect last week uud wanted some details concerning it. I don't think 1 can do better than quote tile following from limit-oil's '"Manual of New Zealand liiieomology," prefacing the quotation with the statement that these injects belong to the order Orlhoptera and the famiiv Phasmicke; that Hiey are. remarkable, for their imitation of twigs, and that the largest species, known as Acanthodcrus bovi-idiß, sometimes attains a length of sin. " ft is best taken at night, when it may be readily discovered, feeding on the leaves of shrubs, and suddenly becoming perfectly motionless when the lantern is turned upon it. The favourite plant for this (and indeed most of the species) is the white rata, upon which tiioy are often seen in large numbers when the entomologist is collecting Lepidoplera. in autumn. One of the commonest species found in ihis way is Bacillus (hookeri?), chiefly remarkable for its great sexual disparities, the male resembling a very slender stick about 28 lines long, while the female is nearly half as long again (38 lines), and much more stoutly built, A more systematic investigation of .this family is needed before we can prelend to correctly determine the various species, as there is little daitbt that in other cases the sexes will be found quite as diveigeul. In addition to this the insects are most variable in colour, and their completely apterous character rendering the distinction between larva ami imago a matter of considerable difficulty, it is very probable that some of the emaller species may be only immature specimens of the larger ones. '" Stick insects are. easily kept in captivity, an will not be found devoid of interest. They are great eaters, and grow with considerable rapidity, frequently casting their skin, a. task of no easy accomplishment, which I once bad the pleasure of watching in the case of a specimen of Acanthoderus prasintß which f had imdvf observation for several months. _"Tlio insect lirst suspends itself by its bind pair of legs', keeping the others in the same position as when walking, the head is bent in, and the antenna; are placed along- the breast, the long abdomen hanging over backwiitls. The skin then splits alon'i- the ba.ck of the thorax, and the bead and thorax are gradually pushed out. The front and middle legs are immediately afterwards extracted, the long femora anil tibia; easily passing the sharp angles in the oxuvij. owing to their complete flexibility. When these are finally clear, the insect reaches forwards with its fovc-legs and draws the abdomen and hind-legs out of the old skin, which remains attached to the branch until dislodged by some accident.

" During the spring months great quantities of little stick infects may be noticed on the parasitic ferns covering the tree steins in the forest; they are curious lirlle animals, their antics when simulating inanimate twit's being eften most amusing, and if the reader wishes to investigate a comparatively untouched branch nf entomology he cannot do better than keep a unrulier of these until mature, when he will doubtless contribute much to our scanty knowledge of this curious family."

THE UXIVERSIIT TUTORIAL V SERIES t/F TEXT BOOKS. The new school year has now a full grip upon both teacher and taught, and , many teachers are scilling down to a defined course of reading for the year—in many ctues havng in vcav teachers' examinations. May I reeamnicnd a book cr two? Mr 0. il. Thomson, E.L.S., and'row M.P., some time ago gave a. series of lectures on "Boi-any," and later Mr Tantiock, cmauir of the Botanical Gardens, gave winler series of leotu.fes, in which he untie use of a large number of experiments, and on Saturdays widened his work by practical work on ike economics of plant life. Nature study, the influences of these lectures and the reading required for teechcrs' examinations, have made it i necessary tor twehers atKl ethers to make I ihem^lvi■; fjtmiliav with |the best t«xt i books procurable. Two such, I think, are

"A 'I'ext Hook of liotanv" (J. M. Lowsou. M.A.. B.Kc., F.L.S.), and "Plant Biology" |F. f.-vvers, D.&., A.'R.C. Ss., h'.L.S.!, pulJislied bv the .Cnivonatv: Ltimti Tress (Ltd). K°PC""f ihm.

books may be partly seen by the chapters in tba latter—"The Broad Bean. Plant"; "Seeds ami Secdlingn"; "Roots unci Their Work"; "The Grocn Loaf and Its Work": "Stems and Their Work": "Flowers ami Their Work"; ".Fruits ami Seeds"; "Nutrition, Growth. Irritability"; "The Kcoicgv of Plants"; "The Biology of the Soil"; and " Principles and Problems of Plant Bology." Those chapters arc each followed ■by'a.n cxhauslive series of questions. and there are several appendices and an elaborate iml«x at fclio end of the bcok. The Tutorial Scries is specially published for teachers, and the bcoks, written by men in close touch with teachers awl their requioments, are as up-to-date, in matter ami method as it is possible for them to be. As "Plant Biology" is .naturally much more riven over lo experiment? in plant' life than "A Text Bock of Botany," it will probably be a greater favourite with cur teachers. Throe other 'books I should like to refer to, but cannot find spaes for today, are: "Physical Education and Hygiene" (W. P. Wclplon, B.Srj.) "School Hygiene" (Root. A. Lyster. Jj p. Ch. 8., B.Sr), and "Prineinles and Methods of Teaching" (James Welkin, M.A.). The prices of these lxjoks are: "A Text Rook cf Botany," 6s fed; " f Plant. Biclogy." 3s 6d; "Physical Education f/Jiul Hygiene," <ls fxl; "School Hygiene," 3s 6d; and "Principles and Methods of Teaching." 4s 6d. These ought to lay the foundation of a good winter's course of rcadiii" for teachers ami ether educationists. My copies came to me through Stark and Co.", I hough the largest stock of books published in the University Tutorial Saries is carried, I believe, by Mr H. 11. Driver, George street.

NOTES ON CORRESPONDENCE. To commence with, a word 10 correspondents wishing specimens to be identified. Please send, when possible in a metal box, cigarette or match box, jam tin, etc., the tost is only a penny for four ounces; second, send—if possible, oi course—a. large opeciuieu; if ,n flower, sond several, in various stages of development, a few leaves, a piece of the stem, and even the roots carefully lifted; third, do not enclose small notes with tho specimens unless necessary: fourth, if two or three arc -cut at once, kibe! them distinctly and identity by numbers or letters, and keep a corresponding specimen. Some specimens sent lately .have net been satisfactory. Kubinu's specimens were sent to Mr Thomson, E.L.S., who says No. 2 is Thclymitra longifolia. a c:om.!i'.oii and variable orchid, very frequently selffertilised, the flowers not opening properly, but setting good Med capsules. No. 1 was too unsatisfactory a specimen to name. Tho specimens sent in a nib box by another correspondent wero (p.) "a stunted species of Eurcdum or stork's bill, either Krociium cicularium, or Eurodtim liutscraJum"; both are introduced and are common in waste places; (b) YiUadiniu austialis, a. composite. "It is a small genus of 8 or 10 species, found in Australia, Tasmania, New Caledonia, the .Sandwich Islands, ami exfra-trcoieal South America." Says Chir-eman (c) is a gentian, Eryrlmea a bitter herb, and like most plants of the gentian family, m«l in medicine, It is also introduced. The little customer sent, in bv " "Waipahi" is a weevil idiMitified bv Dr Bsuham as Bhyucc.des v.i'cus-the ' long-lai led furry eetle.

Ju my columns for January 14, I acknowledge receipt of a fly from Mr Palmer, and 6=lll it on to Dr Bonham.'who has gone to some trouble tor us. He. writes: —

"Dear 'Magisler,'-A few we Mb back you sent me lor identification a small ily which I promised l 0 get .Mr Miller, who 'is working at the group, to name. The ily is about half an inch in length, with a brown body tipped with black at ils hinder end, wmc'3 yellowish, with a dark grey spot op each. The name is Exairrta apicalis. The specific name rcfore to the apical blackness on the body."

Ihc unknown word "chrystals" crept in hist week somehow, for chrvsalids, or ebrys.-.!id>s. "Jack" (Morninglon) asks me "the best way to preserve insects, such as butterflies, mollis, etc." If "Jack" looks up "Alpha's" notes. December 3, December 2J, and January f,c, he will find what he needs. My coiTK-r.ondenee has been incroa> iii!! to much thai 1 r,n:st at limes ask cor-ies;;i-iiJents io get ba:;k issues.

"Verbena an:l Zinnia" could not have followed my notes very closely about a month ago. [or 1 i;uv<j -;omc 'particulars (lien of the dragon ily. However. J'li rfightiy supplement what I th?n wrote. 1-IncVoii. ia his ".New Zealand Kntomolost".'' says thar the order Olhoptera is divided, for convenience, into three group? —the Aquatic, the 'ferrcsfial, and ihe lutplcxoptora, and that the dragon ily !:e----longs to the first group. The specimen "Verbena" and Co. saw was almost certainly the TTropotala earovei. In mv noi..-s 1 referred to the mask of the British dragon _ fly larva. but Hudson says the "imi.:k" of the larva of our dragon Ily is oven larger. " The female may "he raiognissd by the absence of tin' two peculiar leaf-like appendages at I hi; a.;:al extremity. • • . Her a Women is also much stouter. My experience leads nto to believe either that she is very retired in her habits, or else i hat I here aret least six males to one female." The rod one, are commoner, and are willed CoivJulia Smithii. The female of litis family |w«ases a pair of sickleshaped hooks attached to the oixl of ils body.

Now another word. When describing an insect I said that its thorax was composed of three segments—the pro-, tnesn-, and nicta-tborax. Take a dragon fly, and notice how these segments arc tilted back on the upper, or dorsal, side, and tilted forward on the under, or ventral, surface. Compare this with other insect.;—the Prionus reticularis, for instance. 1 have not these by me as 1 write, hut I think a close examination will show that this tilting is reversed, liy tilling the dorsal portions back and the ventral surface forwiu-d. the legs, which come in so handy for seizing prey, are brought well forward. Again, notice tho comparative insignificance of the antenna! of the dragen ily when compared with the antennas of the prionus reticularis beetle. Then compare size and position of hind logs in the wota. the beetle, and the dragon fly. But I must slop. By-tlie-bye, " Zinnia" wants some information about spiders. That will come in lime. I,ikn many another thing p ro . mised or projected. "ii ; s hemp; l;ept steadily in view."

Can any North Wand reader oblige ine, with a. few North Island ma. ; on bees, and some good specimens of their galleries?

CORRESPONDENCE. Mosgiel. February 18. Dear "Magisfer,"—Re Frogs: In answer to your inquiry—Can a tadpole change into a frog? I cannot, say from experience from the egg stage, but the tadpoles I mentioned in my last letter were about the size or rather age of No. 8 in tho illustrations you give to-day, and they certainly turned into frogs, in more ways than one; but then I had some big stones in the water, on which Ihe frogs used to sit, but not. of course, the tadpoles, which, as far as I could observe, never came out of the water. Perhaps if "Ornithologist" will look over the recent papers you have given on the subject he will iind a suitable answer. Jf I recollect correctly, it distinctly States that the tadpole changes to the frog for fear of tho pond getting dry, and, of course, the frog is just as much tit home in water as out; but tho tadpole will die Very soon without water.—Yours truly, ~L\ P. It.

Glonomarit, February 16. Daar '" Magisler,"—Since we last wrote w'c have seen a good deal (if Nature. One day last week while at our lessons we heard a buzzing noise, :uul, looking up, wo saw !i dragon lly on Ihe window. We caught it. and gave it, to our teacher, who told its to draw it. It was a dark blue inky colour, with yellow stripes and many mixed colours. It had two very large eyes six legs, two antenna;, aud two pairs of double gauzy wings. Wo have also seen some red dragon ilies. Would you please tell its if dragon iiy is the scientific name of this insect? As we were going along the other day wo saw a dump of thick web, and out of mere curiosity we bad to go and burst the web with a piece of stick and in the inside we found a great number of small black spiders too numerous to count; and besides the spiders there was a chimp of woollen substance, which we suspected lo be the little spiders' nest. Wo also saw a large diamond-shaped spider eating a blowiiy. Would you or some of your correspondents please give us information about spiders and their ways?.. Last weok wo ?au- what we thought was a ;nas.-n lee.—We are, etc., Vkubkxa axd Zixxia.