FACTS ANN FANCIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 551, 19 March 1913, Page 2

FACTS ANN FANCIES.

Protective Coloration. ' It is not a mere matter of chance that the tiger's coat is marked with its beautiful stripes of black and yellow and that the lion is of a uniform sandy hue. The former iives in the grassy jungles of Asia, where the giant blades of grass, as many feet long as they are inches in this country, and the light and shade of the forest are admirably matched by the skin of the animal in'question. Hence it is able to approach its prey unperceived. Lions, the big cats of Africa, on the other hand, are for the most part dwellers in the wilderness, and roam the outskirts of the desert in search of food. Their color in these surroundings is equallly protective. There are countless examples of this protective coloration among animals. Sometimes, as in the cases just cited, the effect is to enable them the more easily to obtain their food. But it also acts in another way by affording concealment to weak and timid creatures from their carnivorous enemies.

The Painted Britons and Piets. The Romans gave the name ol Picts to the inhabitants of Northern Britain from their habit of painting their bodies with woad. Herodian, writing in A.D. 240, says: "They mark their boclies with various pictures of all manner of animals, and therefore they clothe not themselves lest they hide the painted outside of their bodies." Claudian also refers to the figure's painted on the boclies of the Picts. It is further suggested that the name of this country originated in the ancient use of woad. For Brith, according to Camden, signifies paint, and in the Celtic language Tannia means country. Thus Britannia would mean the country of the painted people. The Irish and the ancient Scots are also said to have given the Britons a name signifying the forms or figures with which they used to paint themselves.

Ancient Olive Trees. There are few trees that bear •edible fruit which are good for more than a half-century, the olive tree standing alone with its long period of usefulness to mankind. Some of these trees are extremely longlived. There are some in Syria which are known to be more than 400 years old; and. not only are they in a flourishing condition, but they bid; fair to bear fruit for another century or two. The Syrians have learnt much about caring for trees from Europeans. Formerly their olive trees were not expected to produce fruit oftener than once in three years, but with improved methods of culture they now bear abundantly each season. In ancient times the olives were thrashed from the trees with sticks, but now the Syrians pick them by hand, thereby preserving their trees and also improving the quality of the fruit.

Millions in Tobacco. Taken at the lowest computation, the world's consumption of tobacco represents annually. The United States makes the greatest exportation of the weed, the value being given at Cuba comes next with ; then India with Brazil follows with ; next comes Holland with Egypt represents £550,000; Algeria 000; and Japan The largest importers are Germany, whose bill amounts to ; the United States, Great Britain, and Austria-Hungary import respectively 000,000, and Then follow Belgium, Holland, Canada, Malacca, China, Egypt, Australia, Philippines, Spain, Argentina, Switzerland, Roumania, Italy, Swedea, Norway, Portugal, and India. Fabulous Fees. The prices paid for the services of singers have markedly increased. In 1862 Titiens received for eight performances at Naples. Mario and Grisi, in 1866, received £3OO the pair. In 1872 Mile. Christine Nilsson received a mere a night. Madame Tetrazzini's pay has advanced from £IOO to or In New York Signor Caruso receives a performance, Mme. Eames and Mme. Sembrich each and Signor Bonci Mme. Patti has put on record the fact that the highest fee she ever received was for each performance, with a halfshare of the receipts after they reached to £2,400; but the voice that earned for its owner in its career was paid for at the rate of £2O a week on the occasion of its operatic debut, attained p£is° a month in jß6i, and shortly after her marriage 200 guineas a night. The highest sum ever given to a vocalist appearing at Covcnt Garden G£6oo) fell to Mme. Patti in 1870. A conductor in 1858 received at Drury Lane £8 a month. In 1875 Sir Marcus Costa received a month. Fifteen thousand pounds sterling were paid in one season to four conductors at the.New York Metropolitan. Herr Strauss's fee for conducting "Elektra" at Covent Garden was £2OO a night, apart from his royalties. The five performances of "Eiektra"- .would cost