OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 81

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS. (Conducted by Magistee, to whom all communications must be addressed.) A FEW NOTES ON ANTS—I. A week or two ago I promised to give my readers an outline of the contents on a book on ants, written by an American gentleman who has made the study of ants his hobby for, I think, 40 years. . The. book is written by the Rev. Mr M'Cook, and a copy of it is in the Free Library. I'll assemble my notes under various headings, my first being: Governed and Peotected by Females. There are no suffragettes in ant-land, because here females reign. "Ant Communities " classifies ants as queens (and queenlets), major workers, minor workers, minims (all females), and, last of all, males ! Females not queens are neuters, not that they are sexless, but their duty is work, work, work. They find time to lay eggs only occasionally, and then only to produce a few mere males —poor chaps ! Those who do not believe in women having power should read Mr M'Cook's chapter " Female Glovernment in Ant Communities." The communities of ants, wasps, bees, and hornets, are gynarchies or governments by females. " Our worker ants are veritable amazons. Not only does the entire domestic control and service of the community fall upon them, but also those more virile acts (according to human standards) of war and public discipline and defence. To the fact that the female temperament dominates affairs we may perhaps attribute many of the characteristics of public administration among social insects. That there is a ' female temperament' sharply distinguished from that of the male, is obvious enough to the student of emmet affairs. That its dominance is advantageous to these organisations the natural history of the Hymenoptera attests." After noting this fact the author moralises. Here isva portion of his remarks: "As a speculative theory it is worth discussing, and one could hardly err in thinking that our public and official affairs would be greatly bettered could woman's temperamental view 6*f things have wider influence therein, especially in their relations to the young. Our civil governments and their administration, from the township to the national capital, are almost wholly products of the male element of the race." The position of women falls very much short of the place females occupy in the ant commune. The ant queen is hardly a queen as such, for her attention is almost wholly taken up with egg-laying, at any rate, after .the marriage flight. Perhaps queenmother would suit better. "If she goes solitary [to found a new colony] her larger size and generous nurture have accumalated enough substance to supply food to the initial colony with little or no outside foraging, and this is imparted, after the manner of her kind by regurgitation. All the duties of nurture, nursing, washing, keeping up and keeping clean the premises, are wrought by her within her secluded and protected quarters until a little band of helpers has been reared about her." When the callow little antlings get strength all this domestic work is done by them. In her maternal sovereignty and in her undisputed matriarchate she has a permanent body-guard. " Is she a prisoner ? —a sovereign deprived of queenhood and in the hands of legicides ? Not so bad as that! The offices of the guardian are vt least friendly." "The body-guard of an ant-queen is an elastic ring that expands and contracts with her movements. If she move around her room they move with her. If she seek an adjoining apartment, the ring precedes, accompanies, pursues, but never breaks up. Sometimes the guard conceives that her maternal majesty needs special guidance, a very courtier-like and cabinet-like conception. Then you will see her bulky body gently solicited by a pull upon her sensitive antennee made by a worker minim, or a tug at a leg by a working-minor, or a push or pinch upon the abdomen by a working-major—a sort of volunteer steering committee are these: functionaries apparently needed, or at least present, in all organised governments, but coming as near to the vanishing point in ant "Cities as is conceivable." I wish I could spare time and space to describe the nursery. The nurse 3 are skilled, licking the larva) as a cat licks her kittens, washing them, etc., etc., in a workmanlike; —no, womanlike manner males are nonenities, and are not-trusted. The system of education is free —and secular ? ' Ant Loafers in Ant Land ? Yes, and mo. In this chapter on " The Problem of Communal Dependents," the author says:—"\Surely, this is an ideal republic—no idlers, no tramps, no citizenparasites, no misers, no spendthrifts, no paupers." And yet: The ant nesis contain myriads of flying ants —males, who accompany the queens in the marriage flight, apparently to perish afterwards. These do no work in the hive. " Thev are phenomenally stupid." Rough on the men, isn't it? " They are unable to distinguish friendfrom foe, or to find their way back home when they wander from their nests." They have sharp eyes, and highly developed antennae. But for what? Simply to go courtinigi- "In the domed chambers they huddle, and preen their coats, and sleep," and. make love, perhaps. But they have little or no' brains. "The brain is relatively large in/the worker, the cortical portion extremely rich in cellular elements. It is much smaller in the female (the queens), and is almost vestigial in the male, although in the last the optic and olfactory lobes are large." But much has yet to be found out —let us hope so, especially in favour of the male! Ant Eight-hours Association? Mr M'Cook says that all his observations tend to show that life from imagohood to death is one strenuous round of work. " Work, work, ceaseless work on their endless round of duty, is their lot, varied only by scant periods for eating, for sleep, for personal cleansing, and occasional mutual 'shampooing.'" There is liberty to "knock up" at any time for rest, so the author thinks, but this privilege—or rightis not abused. Queens, however, who have not yet tal«.'ti part in a marriage flight, and who, therefore, have not undertaken the duties of motherhood, aire a bit frisky someftimes, though in a dignified way. After deserib-

ing one of these times of airing and playing, the attendants keeping watch and saluting-, the author says: Their whole demea,nour was that of a party of romping youths playing ' tag ? or ' holding the fort' on a big took." A "WORD OR TWO ON MOLLUSCS.— IV. In my three previous notes my references have bean to univalves or bivalves, but there is one I might just as well mention which has eight shells or valves, and you can find it almost a.ny where on our beaches. It is the chiton. It has its back armed with light coat-of-mail shells, or plates, " which overlap one another like tiles, and like woodlice, the chiton has the power of rolling' itself into a ball. These plates are embedded at the sides into the fleshy mantle, beneath which, on each side of tih© foot, . are arranged the gills. . . . They live chiefly on rocks and under s-tones at low-water or at moderate depth." See if you can recognise them. The oyster has no head. He doesnt' want any brains, because Providence sends his food his way. The chiton has a head, but with no eyes in it! Instead, some of them have eyes galore all over the coat-of-mail —sometimes 11,000 or 12,000 being found on one individual.

CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES. By some means a sheet of my notes went astray last week. The " Sphinx convolvuli" moth, which interested me so much on account of its long proboscis, and because by its proboscis this large moth had been so effectually oaptured by the flower, came from Waotu, in tho Auckland province, but what part of the province it is in I must admit I cannot eay until I ocaisult some source other than a Post Office Directory. The letter is given here: Dear Magister,—l am sending you a large moth which has been trapped by a physianthus flower. I would like very much if you would tell me the name of the moth. It is the second of its kind I have seen during three years' residence in the North Island. I imay also say, by way of information, that our physianthus flower catches hundreds of moths of various kinds. I am enclosing 7d in stamps, and would be very much obliged if you would send me a copy of the Witness which contains your reply. You are very welcome to the specimen if you desire it.—l am, etc., J. M. Millar.

In my note I quoted from Hudson's work, and he says there that this moth is seldom found in the South Island, and only then in Nelson, though Mr Philpott may have caught a very imperfect specimen in Southland.

My notes have called forth the following from "Natura," at present in Dunedin, but until recently living in North Canterbury:— "Dear 'Magister,' —It may interest you and some of your readers to know that I caught a specimen of tho ' Sphinx convolvuli' at Tauherinakau camp in the end of February. It (a female) flew into the tent, attracted no doubt by the candle, and I at once pounced on it. The under side of all wings was of a decided salmon or rose-pink, blending with the general abdominal colour. I have never seen one in this island. I also obtained a small soarab, which I am endeavouring to place. Stick insects were very plentiful in the bush, as well as many native birds."

"Country House" (Palmerston South) describes a specimen which i& most probably a Scutum ambiguum, a description of which, taken from "The Beautiful Shells of New Zealand" (Is 6d), I'll give next week. The beetle mentioned in a previous paragraph is called Rhynchodes ursus, and belongs to the class I have mentioned.

" Maungat'iri" sends along two beetles. They belong to the group Rhyncophora, the first part of their name being given on account of their long snout or proboscis. It is one of the weevils or snout beetles. In the larval stage they are very destructive to vegetation. I think all beetles " fox " shamming death when touched at all roughly. The coloration of the specimens sent is a good mimicry of Nature, for when still among their surroundings these beetles would be difficult to discover.

Mr Palmer (Kaikcura) sends a note in which he interpolates a paragraph about one of his young hopefuls who is developing a taste for Naturb study, and promises a continuation. I should prefer the complete sketch to appear all at once. The moth referred' to brings to mi,nd Mr Palmer's last letter in which he made some observations, but' attributed to a moth what should have been attributed to a beetle. Perhaps my correspondent can send me a few of the ants with " black sail-like right-angular shaped wings."

From China I have received the following note: —" To ' Magister,' Otago Witness. Dear Sir, —While revisiting Dunedin some time ago I read with much interest your natural history columns. I wars informed that specimens from China would be acceptable to you. It would give me much pleasure if, you will accept' specimens of butterflies, moths, beetles, etc. There is a wealth of insects in China, and one collects with very little trouble. This summer I intend spending the three hottest months at the hills near Hangchow, and would be very pleased to forward specimens by post if you will send me your address." I shall be glad indeed to get specimens from China, and send my address with pleasure. I wonder if my correspondent can get any young Briton to send me a letter or two on the Chinese and their ways, and perhaps my correspondent can favour us with one on the unrest in China or on the rivalry amonsr outside nations for .trad© and 1 commerce with the Celestial Empire. Some readers might remember that last Juno Mr Barker, of Pool Forest, sent me a pretty symmetrical fungus growth f or identification. Mr G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., had previously told me that one of the leading authorities in the world on fungus was Mr C G. Lloyd, who, in his investigations, oscillates between the United Spates and Europe Well, I sent the fungus to Mr Lloyd at Cincinnati, who in an interesting letter replies:—" The fungus is Geaster triplex I am sending you herewith a pamrlhlet on the genus Geaster, which seemed to impress Mr Barker as something so curious. I have taken the liberty of writing Mr Barker direct, as he seems to be a lover of Nature, and I hope to interest him in picking up the fungi that he notes. I resrret, very much the delay in my last 'oscillation' to Paris, which has retarded a reply to your letter of last July." In his research, Mr Lloyd makes visits to the museums of Paris, Kew, Berlin. Upsala, Now York, etc., so his time is fully occupio.l. and as between 5000 and 6000 speeimens have been worked out and named, it ran be seen that the field of inquiry is a largo one. One part of his' letter says:—"Just at present I am working on the group known as the 'pore fungi,' or Polyporcs. There are a great many of

them in New Zealand and they are but little known, and I would be very grateful if you could bring the request to send me specimens to your readers. I Bend you two pamphlets herewith (Hexagona and Polystictus), which will enable you at once to recognise the general chair-actor of these plants. They can be most easily collected, readily dried, and sent as " samples" by sample poist for a few pennies." With the letter comes a packet of bulletins and letters, and I find that Mr Lloyd has correspondents in all parts of the world, and among recent ones are a Mr Geo>rge Brown and Mr H. W. Laing (is this R. M. Laing-. B.Sc, one of the authors of "Plants of Now Zealand l "?) of Now Zealand If any reader- would care to look through some of these, I shall be willing to send a parcel if postage is forwarded and a promise is given to return the bulletins in a reasonable time. The bulletin on the Goa.strae contains 44 pages and 80 illustrations from photographs. If students would like to communicate direct with the author, his headquarters address is C. G. Lloyd, 63 rue Buffon, Paris, France.

Mr E. G. B. Moss, barrister, Auckland, the author of " Beautiful Shells of New Zealand," in a letter to one says: — "By an oversight, when writing the book, I omitted a description of the "Carrier" shell. I would also point out that in the hurry of printing, plate 4 was reversed. The carrier shell so fa>r has only been found in" the vicinity of Cape Colville, and at the time I wrote the book, although I had seen several specimens, I had not been able to get one, and in the hurry overlooked' it. I believe it is the only material omission, but if you notice any other kindly let me know." I shall be glad if readers notify me any errors of fact. Schools on or near the seaside are recommended to take up shells or seaweeds in connection with Nature study, and such a book as " The Beautiful Shells of New Zealand '' will make a good basis to work upon; but being a pioneer of its kind, it probably contains errors—indeed, one gentleman says he has noted three.

Fen - teachers who have noti seen the book I may say that the first chapter deals with " Shells and Their Inmates," the second is on " Collecting and Cleaning Shells," and the third on " Description of the Plates." From, the first I take the following extracts: —• The shell of an oyster takes the place of the bones of a dog; and although it may seem strange for an animal to have its bones on the- outside of its body, it is really no more strange than for a fruit, such as the strawberry or raspberry, to have its seeds on the outside. Lime is the principal ingredient of all bones; and the bones of vertebrate animals contain a large proportion of phosphate of lime, while the shells oif molluscs, or shellfish (as they are popularly called), consist almost entirely of carbonate of lime. The supposed original form of a shell was that of a volute univaive, such as the Triton (now Lotorium), or Struthiolaria. To properly enclose the animal, and make it safe from enemies, an operculum, or lid, was so formed that when the animal retired into the shell this filled up the opening. The operculum is usually like a piece of thin, rough brown horn, and where no reference is made to an operculum in this work, it must be understood that the operculum is horny. Some shells, such as the Australian sulcatum (Plate VI., Fig. 18), and the Turbo helicinus (Pate VI, Fig. 17), have a shelly operculum, that of the latter being the well-known cat's eye.

In many shells, such as the Triton, or Lotorium as it is now called (Plata III), every increase in growth can bs traced in the thick lip formed by the animal when it has increased the size of its _ shell. Others, again, such as the Struthiolaria(Plate IV, Fig. 4), only form a lip when their full size has been attained, and by this the difference between an old and young Stiruthiolaria can at a glance be seen. Others form a lip at each growth, and then dissolve the lip before starting again. Vertebrate fish are supposed to grow, and increase in eiize, till the day oif their death, but shellfish do not do this. The - shell becomes stronger and thicker with age, the animal having the ability to add layer _ after layer of nacreous, or pearly deposit, on the inside of the shell; and as the animals shrivels and lessens in size the thickness of the shell increases. And some, when they become too large, have power to dissolve the partitions of the shell, and deposit the material on the outside of the shell. The young of most shellfish are active little things, and are usually so different from their'parents as to be unrecognisable. Some swim or frisk about, and travel even long distances in search of suita.blo quarters to settle in. Others float on the surface, and are driven where the winds and currents list. Some, like mussels, raredistributed all over the world; others again are found, perhaps, on one rock, or on one small sandbank in a large district. Many shells arc rare, because we do not know where to look for them; but if we know and can find their food, we will find the shellfish not far away. Some change their shape so much that, as they age, they have to dissolve all the partitions made in their youth in the shell. The eggs of some are scattp-ccl on the surface of the water, while tho eggs of others are hatched by the mother before being turned adrift. Kaikoura, Saturday. (March 4.

Dear Magister,—Twice during January I saw the large spider wasp in the bush under Kaitoa (food of or for the warrior is it?), and was much taken with his vivid colour, especially the bright brassy spots at the base of his forelegs, and his slender, animate, quivering horns. Is it these horns that have given him. or some of his genus, the name hornet? Often, in the past summers I have seen numbers of small round holes in dry clay banks, and have vaguely known that they were dug by waspssmaller than the ones I have lately seen, but it never struck me to dig, investigate. Next chance .1 will eagerly take. In re the "moth" the word should be "beetle." The nippers are retained all through the life of the grub and beetle. The same with which the grub tears his path through the solid heart of hard matai wood are the nippers with which the beetle inflicts a nasty and painful pinch. I have waited honing to secure a specimen, but have so far not succeeded. However, by mistakes we learn, and I am thankful to yourself and "Alpha." for correction. The beetle is profuse of small, silvery eggs, ova, what you will, and possibly deposits thorn under the bark of decaying pine trees. The grubs may live in the logs more than a year before they evolve into the beetle. I have seen, from the shoulders forward complete beetle—the body part clumsy grub. Almost

every stone we turn up at the back of our place here shelters a colony a small, black ants. Every colony has its number of small white grubs, and, what puzzles me, a large number of ants with black, sail-like, rightangula.r shaped wings. These wings, though well developed, seem altogether out of proportion to the size of the insect's body, and I have never seen them used. W T hat consternation when a colony is disturbed. San Francisco earthquake was tame to it. The myriad labourers doing their utmost to save the household goods—goods and chattels. —I am, etc., Chahles Oscae Palmes.