OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN. FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 88

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN. FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS.

(Conducted by Magisteb, to whom all com-, znunications must be addressed.) [Magisteb, will be glad to receive Nature notes, marked papers containing educational articles, diagrams, details of experiments, •tc., of scholastic interest to teachers and • pupils. Correspondents using a pen name '< muat also send name and address.] GLOW-WORMS AND FIREFLIES. (From Country Life.) Two or three months ago a reader sent me the article headed as above and I put it by for future use; and about a month ago a schoolboy asked me for information on New Zealand glow-worms. I did intend i trying to ferret out information for his ; benefit and mine, but have not yet done so. In the meantime, I am giving today the first portion of the article sent in: — In the darkness of a warm, summer's night the pale green fairj lamps of the gJow-woTBi add a feeling of undefinable mystery to the scene, and furnish problems to Vhe lover of Nature which are still far from being solved. Anyone who traces the gleam of phosphorescent light to its source for the first time cannot fail to feel surprise at finding that it proceeds from the tail of a black, creeping insect. It is still more astonishing to learn that | this oreature is not a kind of caterpillar, ! as at first sight it might appear to be, j but that it is in reality a female beetle ! which, like many other female insects, , has never developed wings. While a glow-worm may be quite safely picked up and examined in the palm of the hand, its , evident trepidation seems only to intensify the beauty of its fluctuating greenish white light. It is-, however, not only perfectly harmless, but is one of the few beetles which should be encouraged and made welcome by all garden-lovers, for during the earlier stages of its existence it is sworn foe to snails. j The striking luminosity of the glow-worm ' is usually alleged to be a signal of attraction on the part of the wingless female to the actice, flying male, which is an un- '. mistakable beetle in appearance. This form of attraction seems to have been experimentally proved in some instances, yet it can hardly be the primary object of the light, for not only the male, but also the immature stages of larva and pupa and even the eggs emit a similar light, although all in a less degree than the female glowworm. Now, it is a well-ascertained fact that all the members of this family of beetles are highly distasteful to birds or insect-eating animals.-. A young bird may snap at one of these insects for the first time, but it leaves so unpleasant a. taste in the mouth that it will be rejected with every sign of disgust, and in future the bird will leave it severely alone. Since v the habits of glow-worms are strictly nocturnal, it would obviously be futile if ; they were decked out in gaudy colours of red, black, or yellow in the manner ,in j which many unsavoury insects can in day- • light warn off their enemies from needless attack. For this pujspose nothing 1 cculd be more effective at night than the pale greenish signal-lamps of the glow-worm. To soft-bodied grubs the slightest peck or bruise is dangerous, and, even if not immediately fatal, such an injury is liable to arrest or stunt their complete development into tlie perfect insect. Hence a d(anger-sign» is more often acquired' by insect at this immature stage than when they are adult and have developed hard bodies or can escape by flight. A warning light of a peculiarly complicated nature is produced by a related insect in Paraguay. It is a remarkable luminous larva of a kind of glow-worm which is locally known by the name of the railway beetle, for it not only emits a strong Ted light both - from ite head and tail, but also a green light from successive points along each side of its body. The female glowworm, being destitute of wings, stands in even greater need of special protection than the grub whioh she so much resembles, and on this account possesses a more brilliant illumination. In Australia and New Zealand glow-worms also occur which are in no way Telated to our glowworms or fireflies, for they are the maggots of small gnats, not of beetles. They feed ' on fungi and form tracks or webs of mucus, somewhat similar to "the slime tracks of slugs. A considerable amount of light issues from the tail end of the maggot, and the ily into which it develops is also strongly luminous. In this case, also, the light is ijrobably of a warning charater; but no experiments appear to have been made on these insects with this object in view. Since phosphorescence is so frequently concomitant with decay and putrescence, as in the case of putrid fish, rotten wood and certain fun#i, it is not improbable that insect-eating animals •mrtild form a mental association between __ J*ie two phenomena and avoid any. obji-'ft which emitted this mysterious light. Even, in the sea phosphorescence appears, in many cases, to afford a similar protection, especially with retard to luminous iellv-fish and their near relatives, all of which are possessed of more or less virulent stinging organs. It has, indeed, been definitely asserted by fishermen that fish will uurposelj avoid nets in which phosphorescent jelly-fish/ have become entanjrjed. The warning character of the glow-worm's light appears to be utilised in a remarkable manner by the Indian toddy bird, or Baya sparrow, when building its nest. After the birds have finished plaiting their hanging nest _of grass they are in the habit of plastering the entrance with wet lumps of clay into which they - embed _ glow-worms. On the death of the unfortunate victims fresh insects are thrust into the clay so •as to pnsure a continuous source of illumination. This curious habit, which is rather hard on the glow-worms, recalls to mind Haris Andersen's fanciful tale of the elfin princess who, in the course of her domestic education, which comprised cooking, was I taught how to laard' the elfin dumplings f with glow-worms. It is difficult under- \ stanc 1 the significance of the illumination ! of tho Baya sparrows' nests with the lamps J of living insects, unless it is for tho, I strictly utilitarian motive of protecting !' the eggs and young from the attacks of snakes, rats, or, more probably, nocturnal bh-ds of prey, and bats. In support oi'- [ • this assertion tie testimony is brought for1 ward of a glow-worm being observed to 2 stop near tiirea rats on a beam in an out-

house, apparently causing them to decamp' hastily in alarm.

In the Italian firefly, which shines with a bluish, light, both male and female are luminous, and both possess wings, but in this case it is the male which possesses the stronger light, although the illuminating organs are similar both in structure and Bosition to those of the glow-worm. The light is also of a fluctuating character, and shows a certain rhythm. The flashes in the male, however, occur more frequently and for briefer periods than in the female. The American fireflies, on account of their stronger light, have exercised a much greater fascination for human beings, and they formed the subject of nnjoh comment by Spanish writers even 400 years ago. Both sexes are winged and luminous, and the larvse also possess this power. In the West Indies at the time of the Spanish Conquest, tlie natives used to attach flies to tiheir feet to light up their 'path through the forest by night, and in South America the dusky belles make free use of tihese brilliant insects for adorning their hair or their dress. These beetles are closely allied to our click-beetles, the larvas of which are so troublesome to garden-ars and farmers, under the names of " wire- worms."

The senpnd part, contrasting glow-worms with fireflies, and treating of fireflies alone, will probably appear next week. — MagisTER.]

THE AVERAGE MAN AND WOMAN,

OR THE NON-PRIZE-TAKERS OF LIFE.

We have now commenced a new year, and many of us have resolved to turn over a new leaf, though a friend of mine facetiously remarked that he had turned over , so many leaves in attempting better things that he hadn't any left to continue the process. Many boys and girls have loft school to find new schoolmasters arid schoolmistresses, and to take lessons in the school of life. These, I wish all possible success. There is a saying that there is always room on the top, and this is held out as an incentive to work at top speed. Now, we all know that only one can g-et on top, just as we also know that there are many on the bottom rungs who ought to be higher up. There is a large proportion, however, occupying 1 neither position, but the middle distance, and them we have a great respect for. In schools, w© all know there is a large percentage of good, honest, plodding 1 workers, who know that they have very little dhance of winning a prize, yet these peg away steadily. Are not these tihe ones we should' admire? And for the -encouragement of these — boys ox girls, men or women — I append the following four selections : —

The Aveeage Man. (M-ary Saugster.) When it comes to a question of trusting Yourself to the risks of the road, When the thing is the- sharing of burdens, The lifting the heft of a load, In the hour of peril or trial, In the hour you meet as you can, You miay safely depend on the wisdom And' skill of the average man. 'Tis the average man and no other Who doss his plain duty each day, The small thing his wage is for doing, On the commonplace bit of the way, < 'Tia the average man — may God bless him, Who pilots us, still in the van, Over land, over sea, as we travel, Just the plain, hardy average man. So on through the days of existence, AH mingling in shadow and shine, We may count on the every-day hero, Whom haply the gods- may divine, But who wears the swarth grime of his calling, And labours and earns a-s he can, And stands at the last with the noblest, The commonplace, average man. What if the little rain should say, "So small,' a drop as I Can ne'er refresh those thirsty fields — I'll tarry in the sky!" What if a shining beam of noon Should in its fountain stay, Because its feeble light clone Cannot create a day! Doth not each rain-drop help to forrtf The cool, refreshing shower? And every ray of light to warm And beautiful the flower?

The Hymn of the Conquered. , (By W. W. Story.) I sing the hymn of the conquered who fell in the battle of life, The hymn of the wounded, the beaten, who died overwhelmed in ' the strife ; Not the jubilant song of the victors, for whom the resounding acclaim Of the nations lifted in chorus, whose brows wore the chaplet of fame — But the hymn of the low and the humble, the weary, "the broken in heait, Who strove and who failed, acting bravely a silent and desperate part; Wohse youth bore no floweT on its branches, whose hopes burned in ashes away; From whose hands slipped the prize they had grasped at, who stood at the dying of day With the work of their life all around them, unpitied. unheeded, alone; With death swooping down o'er their failure and all but their faith overthrown.

' A commonplace life," we say, and we sigh; But why should we sigh as we say? The commonplace sun in the commonplace sky Makes, up ihe commonp'ace day. The moon and, the stars are commonplace things,^ ' And the flower that blooms and the bird that sings, But dark were the world, and sad our lot, If the flower failed, and the sun shone not; And God, who studies each separate soul. Out of commonplace lives makes lives' His beautiful whole.

Susan Coolidge.

Inteefttsed. (By Susan Coolidge ) " Seek your life's nourishment in your life's •woTk." — Philip Brooks. W« cannot lie every morning and repent the lie at night; We cannot blacken our souls all day and each day wash them white ; Though th© paidoning blood availeth to cleajise the mortal stain, For the sin that goes on sinning that blood was shed in vain. We must buy and sell in the market. We must earn our daily bread, But -just in the doing these usual acts may the soul be helped and fed. It is not in keeping the day's work and the day's prayer separate sc, But by mixing the prayer with the labour that the soul is taught to grow.

For if sweeping » room by God'e law i« » ' service he designs to bless, And mending a kettle worthily is working for

him no less Than steering steady the ship of the State, or wielding tlie sword in war, Or lifting the soul of man by songs to the heights where the angels arc, — Then none may deem it wasted time, who

stsmds in a htimble spot And digs and wateTS a little space which th© hurrying world heeds not, For -the Cord of the harvest equally sends his

blessed sun and rain On the large worfc and the little work, and none of it is in vain.

FOR BUSINESS" BOYS AND GIRI^S.

In my peregrinations about town I have occasional ohats with business men, and only the other day I wa« speaking to one employer who controls a large establishment, and h© quietly pointed ojat two men who ac boys entered his employment many years ago. One is an ordinary workman, while the other has risen, and is left in. charge when his employer is absents Front what t found' it, the difference is not one of brain oapacity, but of a capacity to take the necessary pains to master his employer's business and to forget himself in advanoing his master's interest. He forgets the money side of the bargain existing" between the employer and himself and works as if the business were his own. Now, for boys and girls who have commenced to fight the battle of life beyond the school walls, I give the following five selections which appear to me to be full of shrewd common sense. They are not intended to make slaves of you, but to ask you to do for your employers what you will expect as employers that employees will do for you when, the time conies: —

The Employer's Claims on You.

When the inexperienced youth enters the business field the first thing he runs up against is th other man's point of view. He starts out full of himself and 1 of what he can do, and of how well he can do it. AfteT a time he begins to wonder why he doesn't get on; if he is an inferior man he never find's out. for the inferior man goes through life fighting his employer all the time.

If you are eager to rise in the world, consider yourself in relation to your employer's business from his standpoint. Try to get at his aims and difficulties, and consider your work in relation to those aims and difficulties. Ask yourself whether your work is furthering his aims, if you want to know whether you are making progress toward ultimate success.

Try to think out your employer's method of dealing with his problem and with his employees. Not till you have gained some insight into these things are you in a position to take the first step towards the- realisation of your ambition.

Consider the fact that the head of every business concern has definite methods by which he hopes to accomplish those aims.

He requires employees who will consent to become the comparatively insignificant wheels in a more or less complicated machine, of which he furnishes the motive power. As the employee is/ obliged in any case to come up to his employer's requirements if he is to please a.nd succeed with him, he will profit by meeting those requirements' as fully agQ with as good grace as possible.

Fob tee Business Boy.

Here axe some 'Srules which appear in a circular issued by one of the largest establishments in Chicago. They are- full of stimulating suggestiveness to the young man who is determined to push along on the highway of life, and to maJoe a success of his journey: — Be courteous. Be- an example. Eliminate errors. Develop resources. Master circumstances. Anticipate requirements. Recognise no impediments. Work for the love of the work. Know both sides of the question. Aot from reason rather than rule. Be satisfied with nothing short of perfection.

Do some things better than they were ever done before. / Do the right thing, at the Tight time, in the right way.

A Wobd to the Boys.

If you have anything to do, do it a-t once. Don't sit down in the rocking chair and lose three-quarters of an hour in dreading the job. Be sure that it will seem ten times harder than it did at first. Keep this motto,' Be on time in small things as well as great. The boy who is behind time at breakfast and school will be sure to get " left " in the important things of life. If you have a chronic habit of dreading and putting off things, make a great effort to cure yourself. Bra«© up! Make up yoiir mind that you will have some backbqne. Don't be a limp, jelly-fish kind of a person. Depend upon it, that life is very much as you make it. The first thing to decide is, what are you going to make it. The next thing is to take off your coat and go to work. Mak« yourself necessary somewhere. There are thousa<nds of boys and young men who wouldn't be missed if they would drop out of it to-morrow. Don't be- ore of this sort. Be a power in your own little world, and then, depend upon it, the big world will hear from you. — Standard.

Four I>oy3 of Bellefontaine, Ohio, about six years ago organised 1 themselves into a " string quartet." Two of the boys were each 12 years old, and the other two 13. So well did they play together with guitar and mandolin that with gome little practice they found themselves in demand at one dollar each for an evening's reception or entertainment. A little later they raised their price until- they were receiving four dollar* each for an entertainment. Their combination of instruments came finally to be violin, 'cello, flute, and harp. During their junior a.n<J senior years in high school they were constantly engaged for social affairs, and during their summer vacation took hotel engagements in northern Michigan, receiving each nine dollars a week and all experres. The result was that during the pa?t winteT they have all been in college and are now looking forward to another summer in their pleasant summer resort hotel, where they hops to make enough to carry them well through another college year. Such boys deserveand will have success. — " The American Boy."

CORRESPONDENCE.

As I am going away for a holiday the specimen from Kyeburn and the fern_ are put by until I come back, also the mistletoe, which I want to describe more accurately. I have Archie Smail's list of books, and if Archie doesn't mind I'll let that stand over too, for it will take me an hour or two to make th© guinea go as far as possible. The other pnze-winne'r hasn't

sent in a list yet. I have arranged fcajany pressing correspondence to be answered; ather correspondence will be held over.