THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 48

THE NATURALIST.

Hott Animals Change Their Diet.

An impression prevails that insects and other creatureß are so co-related with their food that they can scarcely exist unless the special food seemingly essential to them is zeady to band. This is believed true not only of food, but of their habits in general. The yucca and the yucca moth are so closely connected that it does seem as if each is absolutely dependent on the other; and one might well ask what would the chimney iwallow do without chimneys In which to build its nest, or oherry or peach tree gum with which to build them. But jusfc as the vegetarian would have to abandon his Drin-

ciplea where there was nothing in the icy regions but musk ox and walrus to feed on, so animal nature generally has the instinct of preservation to take to that which first comes to hand when favourite resources fail. The chimney swallow bcilb its nest somewhere before the white man constructed chimneys. The potato beetle had its home on the plains long before it ever knew a potato; and the writer has seen the common elm leaf beetle feeding voraciously in the mountains of North Carolina on a species of Bkull-cap (Scutellaria), touching apparently no ether plant, in localities where tbe elms were absent: In Garmantown gardens halfstarved bees take to grapes and raspberries. In the same locality the common robin has had hard times. In 1895 there was no rain

from July 4 to October 11, and, everything having become parched long before, insects living on green food did not increase. The robins took to green seeds and fruits. The apples on the orchard trees were dug out as if by mice. An American golden pippin with a heavy crop presented a remarkable appeararce with what should have been apples hanging on the trees like empty walnut shells."" In brief, no creature will ignore the promptings of Nature; it will change its habits when necessity demands. — Meehan's Monthly.

Why Animals Favour Women. — Lions are peculiarly susceptible to kindnesß from women. It must be remembered that nearly the whole of the supposedly savage animals exhibited in Europe are nofc animals captured in the wilds, but are creatures born in captivity. From being the smallest creatures thsy have, been used to kindness and petting from women at leaafc, and they never seem to forget this. It is well known throughout the " show " business that a woman can go much further with animals tban a man can — her voice, e^.eps, and movements are less aggressive.

The Triton.— The most wonderful creature in the world is the triton. This spotted, lizard-like reptile, which is found in almost every part of America, has a most wonderful power of reproducing amputated parts. .The triton is cruelly ill-used by experimentalists, but its powers of reproduction are almost unlimited. In one instance an amputated leg was reproduced 12 times in three year?, and in another an eye was reproduced in less than 12 months. The loss of a tail does not appear to discommode these reptilep, except to give them a sort of unbalanced gait. Tails amputated by scientists were invariably reproduced in from five to nine weeks.