NATURE NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20422, 12 February 1938, Page 19 (Supplement)

NATURE NOTES

ZIPPER FASTENER IN LAPLAND Tourists who visit the Lapps to-day And them living Just as they did a hundred years ago. ’ Modern civilisation has only one feature that has captivated their Taney—the zipper fastener. But even though the Lapps of to-day may fasten their clothes with zippers, their costume is a traditional one, which they and their ancestors have worn for generations. The men favour a long blue blouse, gathered at the waist with a belt, and slashed with red and yellow; tight blue trousers, and a cap on which they wear a red pompon. Their shoes are moccasins of reindeer hide bound at the ankle with red and yellow woollen bands, and turned up at the toes.

GERMAN TERRIER’S FAITHFULNEBB Tramp, a fox terrier owned by a young married couple In Berlin, has Just com- | pleted a 200-mile journey in order to re- 1 Jcln his owners after being left behind with friends. The young couple recently went on holiday to South Germany, taking Tramp with them. He travelled in the dog’s enclosure In the luggage van, blind to the passing scenery. At the end of their holidays the young couple returned to Berlin, leaving Tramp behind with their friends. Exhausted, but wagging his tail with satisfaction, Tramp trotted In early in the morning some days later, after his 200-mile walk. THE MUSHROOM A pavement in the Yorkshire town of Bridlington has had to be repaired, nut because pedestrians have worn it down, but because mushrooms have pushed it up. Mushrooms are stronger than the roots of trees. They will push up a house and upset its roundatiuns, and in this case they have lifted an asphalt puveHORSES A roadside sign in Normandy, France, reads: “ Pasture' your horse here, sjliurttailed horses sixpence a day; long-tailed horses a shilling a day." A local peasant. asked to explain the distinction answered: “A short-tailed horse is bothered all the time by flies. To shake them utr he has to use his head, and while doing that lie can’t eat. A long-tailed horse can handle the situation with his tail without raising bis head from the grass. The men of Normandy would never pay as much, Tor grazing a shorttailed horse as a long-tailed one.”