NOTES AND OUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2525, 6 August 1902, Page 43

NOTES AND OUERIES.

Uew Zeai.'.nd Native Birds.— Mr W. Aitclueon, Upper Blackwater. Greymouth, writes. I have read with much interest the notes fiom time to time contributed to your journal by Mr Henry, of Eesolution Island. In your issue of July 9, commenting on the influence of food, climate, habits of life, etc., on colour and the differentiation of species in birds and animals, he refers io the common fautailed flycatcher, and sa\"», "The black »nd the pied ores live together and have the samo voices twnd habits." In <he summer of the year 18G7 a pair of these birds built their nest ur.d?r the overhanging bank of a creak closa to my tamp, t then discovered that the difference of colour is simply » sex distinction of the same species, the darkcoloured biid beirg the female, and the light, with the variegated tail, the male. I also noted that the male bird shared the incuba- . Tory pio^-es3 with the fesnalfr, by taking — in mining parlance— his "shift" on the eggs tor a few hoars daily. Possibly this habit is common in small bird life, the similarity

oi siza and colour of plumage, so often found in male and female of many varieties, render- ' ing its verification less easy \hin in the case " of the iantail, where diversity of sex colour

is so strongly defined. J^ew Zealand Laughing Owl.— Mr G. W. On-stb, Pounawea, Catlins, wnte9 -Seeing i-.i \c\\x Notes and Queries a reply to a question with reference to a statement in a lately published New Zealand School Reader connected with the laughing owl or New Zealand laughing jackoss, I wish to say that 1 have heard the bird referred to on several occasions. In the first place, 18 to 20 sears ago, I heard it at Castle Point, in the North Island, on the coast between Cape Palliser and the Kidnappers- Then I hoard it at the Eliotvale coal-pit, in tho Tokornairiro district. It is a night bird, about the size of a starling, with a face like the English owl. and if your correspondent will spend a week at the coal-pit ho might Ficpi- one every night I have lieird them ou the Barrier Island, off the coast of Auckland, a!<K>, but I cnnnot say if they are to be found inland. li<akgahua Junction.— The second largest river in New Zealand to the Molyneux is the Builcr. The following table will probably answer your rcouireuients.

Duty.— The duty on pianoß is 20 per cent. A. M., Otautau.— ln tanning without the fur put the skins in lime water till the hair conies off readily. Chan the flesh side by scraping thoroughly with a. blunt knife Then take * gallon of 6oft water in a -wooden or earthern vessel, 2oz oil of vitr:ol, half gill salt, and 2oz alum. If the s>ze of a sheepskin stir in the liquor for 30 minutes; smaller skins in proportion. Take out, tack up in tho shade, and when nearly dry pull with the hands. The following is a recipe for tanning deer, sheep, or cal? skins, with oi -without tho i"ir on — Tako Joz powdered alum, jib staroh, $oz sulphuric acid, 2£gaf water, in a large shallow vessel. Put the several ingredients into the water in the order named. Place the hide or pelt on the surface of the mixture thus formed. Allow it to renuuii in for 48 hours, then hang over a pole to drain for half an hour or more, after whioh beat •with light strokes with a smooth, round stick till quite soft and pliable. If it does not become soft place in tho bath again, and repeat the whole process. Do not allow the aim's rays to fall on the hide at any st^ge of the process. Amateur. — An instrument comprising horses jjhall, unless the contrary be expressed therein, be deemed to include not only the horses tjomprifled therein, but all horses the property i)f the grantor of the instrument, branded, or which shall hnve been branded with the brand or marked, or which shall have been marked with' the mark specified in. tho infctrument, or which the grantor shall have covenanted or -agreed by such instrument to go brand or mark, and which, shall, after the execution of such instrument, be depasturing or be at, in, or upon any lands or premises Mentioned in such instrument, or in t&o schedule thereto. A^ H. C— ln May last you asked some questions regarding late plum trees. Your letter Vcviu aeitW «ddre»» jaor «gA»iu.re, »& *A-

swer was given in this column. Before advising, you were asked about soil, exposure, and locality. No reply having been given, only generally the' following sorts can be named : Monarch, diamond, magnum bomun, or gage. Your note bearing a black border possibly accounts for tfie omission to supply further particulars. The quantity of bones you refer to can certainly be utilised, but such manure is not suitable for the hardier class of plums. — I. M. I. Weka. — "Dmornis" replies to your question- — I have looked through all the natural history books within my reach, but find no allusion to otters eating birds' eggs in any of them. Buffoii says that for want of fish, frogs, water rats, or other nourishment, it (the otter) will eat the young branches and the bark of trees , and that in spring it will eat new grass. If that is so, the otter must be a very stupid animal if it does not gobble up all the birds' eggs it may happen upon. C. J. H.— Thank you for drawing attention to

the matter. One in Trouble.— (l) A husband cannot dispose of his wife's property without her consent. (2) A wife can dispose of her own property as ifshe were a single woman. If the husband is destitute ard the wife has separate pioperty, the former can compel tKe latter to maintain him. (3) She can will her own property to whom she pleases, but, under "The Testator's Family Maintenance Act, 1900." if she die, leaving a will, without making therein adequate provision for the maintenance and support of her husband or children, the Supreme Court can order provision to be made out of deceased's estate for the husband and children. Parasite. — For further information on tree pests, Bee the article in the Garden Column headed "The Weather." In your case the greenish fungoid or moss is undoubtedly caused by the wet ground in which your aoples «rp planted. You should at once lift them and plant again on higher land or mounds. There is ample time yet to do so. and you might experiment with some of fchem as well as trying the Montauk. — I. M. I. S. M — You cannot do better than collect young native plants, which grow plentifully along the sea coast in your locality. They will succeed where all others fa*]. The trial has been made here with great success. Pittosporum. olearia, senechio, etc., grow lapidly, and, planted close, will soon form a screen. Of other trees, Pinu^ maritima are most suitable. Nimmo and Blair supply them at 20s per 100, three-yeai transplants. — I. M. I. W. J. H.— Notwithstanding what you say, the proposition is simply a catch to induce people with plenty of time on their hands to puzzle their brains over an impossibility — i.e., half a hen laying half au egg. If you want to find out what two-thirds of seven is there is no need to complicate it with hens- and eggs. CaJvD-player —So far as can be ascertained the holes m the centre of the cribbage board are intended to mark the games won. The warne is a development of one called ' noddy," hut as counters were used to keep the record m " l.oddy " the holes are evidently not retained as a survivor of some phase of that game. Inquirer —The City of Glasgow Bank closed

its doors on October 2, 1878. Fraser River. — Mr H. 31. Davey, engineer. Moray place, kindly replies If such a low head would lift dirt or stores at all, winch is very doubtful, it could only lift from 2ft to 2ift. When, however, such a supply as you montjon is available, with the fall you slate, it is suitable to work a hydraulic ram. One ra.m, however, will not give you the amount that you would be likely to want, aa about ha-lf a head appears to be the largest quentiLy delivered by the largest rani made, and fr<~m the construction it is unsafe to make them in veiy largo sizes (or at am'rate that is the usual impression; ; but of course you could have several working, or possibly pumps could be worked that would give you enough to work with. Subscriber.— ilr H. M. Davey replies You do uot utate whether the water is standing or if it is moving, and at about what rate, flowl\ oi full bore. If standing, the perpendicular height gives tho same pressure and the half mile does not count, neither does it begin to count much, if at all, til' considerable eflux is going on. It counts most with pipes running full ; thus a 7in pipe running full under the first conditions would dischnrge about three and a-quarter heads, and nr.de r the second about one and threequrtrtei heads onfy.

Name of River | Avez ! Drained in Squtre Wiles, j IDJsch'rge per Minute in Cubic I Fett. Authority. Hississippi jbnge* ... 'raw»dy . . . rthine .. klolyneux do Suller .: Waikato... rh*me». E 31yde ... 1,228,610 43^488 88353 SiO^OO 7JEO, 8,248, 2.541 4.7R8' 5.0C01 9451 T2.420.00ft 4 506,0iW 3 «6O,0U0) 1.385.D00; , l,6 r ro,ooo| , 1.088.73« 990879 • 830.168 i 103,0-0 I 48,000 .] S t even ao n a ; ! "Canal and '■ Hiver Enji- | ! iieerinK." ! Balftur. VSir Jamti Hector. |-Slevenßon.