OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 85

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COLUMN.

10R SENIORS AND JUNIORS.

(Conducted by Maoisteb, to whom all com-

munications must be addressed.)

PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. Meteorological observations are much more valuable than, many imagine, but to be of their greatest value they must be accompanied by the genera! observations we- are asking for in these columns. Tho importance *>f recording seasonal changes* is seen in the following extract from a section headed " Phenological Observations" in "Hint 3to Meteorological Observers," written by William Marriott, F.R.Met.Soc., and assistant secretary; —

"A careful watch should be kept for noticing the first flowering of uncultivated plants, the arrival and song of birds, the appearance of butterflies and other insects, etc. The Royal Meteorological Society is always glad to receive nich observations. Tho following is the list recommended for observations :— Plants 1, Hazel (Coryius avellana); 2, Coltsfoot (Tuseilago farfaa-a) ; 3, Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) ; 4, Blackthorn (Prunus spincsa) ; 5, Garlic Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium alliaria); 6, Horse Chestnut (iEscuhis hippocastanum) ; 7, Hawbhorn (Oratoegijs oxyacantha) ; 8, White Ox Eye (Chrysanthemum leueanthefflumi; 9, Dog Rose (Rc*sa canina); 10, Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) ; 11, Harebell (Campanula rotuudifolia) ; 12, Greater Bindweed (Convolvulus eepium); 13, Ivy (Hedera helix). " The same individual trees and shrubs should be observed each year, and as regards herbaceous plants, those growing in precisely the same spots — this is of the trreatest importance. In the case of trees and sh übs they must bo of mature growth. The particular plants selected for observation sjjould be situated neither in very sheltered nor, on the other hand, in very exposed positions, and should neither be abnormally early nor late in their flowering for the district. Wh©n from any cause any of the selected plants cease to be available, other specimens of the same variety similarly situated should be obse^ed instead of them.

•' A pknt is to be considered ' in flower ' whan the stamens of the first blossom r:n it first become visible. As soon as the date of ono plant has been secured, watch for the appearance of the next on the list. If, unfortunately, fche first flowering he mis»o<l by a day or two, the estimated data of the first flowering should be given, and an asterisk placed against the entry. Should the plant be estimated to have been in flower mare than four daye, no entry at all should be made.

"Birds.— l 4, Song Thrush (Turdus musicus), first heard; 15, Swallow (Hirundo rustica), first seen; 16, Cuckoo (Cuculus canoa-us), first heard ; 17, Nightingale (Dauliag luscinia), first heard ; 18, Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola), fire; eecn ; 19, Swallow (Hirundo rustica), last seen.

"The date on which the note of the Song Thrush ia first heard after Ist January should be given. It must not be mistaken for th&t of the Missel Thrush. The notes of the Missei Thrush are lees musical and connected, the strain is altogether much shorter, and, being repeated many times in succession, it wants the variety of that of the Song Thrush."

A RAMBLE ON RIVERTON BEACH

Riverton Beach, the level, sandy seashore sti etching between Riverton and the mouth of the New River, or Oreti, is one of the

favourite resorts of <jhe holiday-maker in Southland. Being within easy distance of Inveroargill, riders, drivers, and cyclists, all &nd their way down the Bay road, across the ferry bridge, and over the sandhills to the wide strip of sandy beach where one can ride when the tide is well out, for 20 miles on a track smoother than the best road. But there are other pleasures beside that of spinning along tbe sea front in a carriage or on a wheel. Many trippers visit the beach for a breath of the healthgiving sea breeae and a sight of the whitecapped combers as they rush in to break themselves into hissing foam on the sloping sands. Children paddle in the surf, and sometimes grown-ups, whose hearts are still young, join in, ostensibly to look after the youne paddlere, but. in" reality to renew tht> delights of half-forgotten years and to feel again the joyous pulse of childhood's care-free days. Occasionally may be heard a strain of music; some owner of a gramophone has brought it along, but alas! if 6 best efforts sound poor and thin to the accompaniment of old ocean's deep diapason. The character of the country bordering tho beach is much the same throughout its whole stretch. Low hillocks of sand with intermingling flat, wind-swept spaces margin, the shore. Further back tlw sandhills become bigger, aud patches of bush are to be met with here and there. Near the sea the vegetation is scanty, except where some sheltered spot has been taken advantage of by flax and tussock. Further inland th« variety of plant life increases, and tutu, toitoi, and an occasional cabbage tree lend variety to the scene.

(To be continued.)

NOTES ON CORRESPONDENCE. As I said last week, we did not commence early enough to gather records of the first si.g>ns of spring-. Let us do better next year. Tho Wai~palft school children a fortnight ago showed that • they - were observers, and if we had such observations systematised, in a few' years wo should amass ?, great deal of valuable information. " Nataira," in this issue, tells us that nestbuilding is in full swings in North Canterbury Have any nests been built in Dunedtin yet? Oan boys and girls give dates of the appearance of early flowers in, their districts? Never mind whether the date is a usual ona or not; and if you are not sure of th© -daie, put an approximate one and an asterisk in front of it Observations will be referred to again under another . heading.

Will some reader answer "Natura's" query on. the "bandar log" of Kipling? Mr Watts s letter is interesting. . Perhaps some youm-g folk can look up instances of what he names.

" Old Boy's " letters are always acceptable, and he asks in his letter to-day 20 very pertinent questions. Who will answer them? It seems to be pretty generally agreed that the little owls are scaring the sparrows out, of their wite. Are other imported birds similarly affected? Two or three correspondents notioe, tco, that our native birds are not alarmed at the newcomers. Why? Do the sparrows know tfrotn inherited insbii.cts that the owl is an enemy? Have our native birds not yet realised their danger? Are they in danger? " Ornithologist." 1 think, is qf fche opinion that our native birds will not be affected. "Sparkling Brine sends me something, but what? The 6pider, or the two jellylike balls in a long pill-box? -Someone has sent eomGth:ng, but no advice, and "Sparkling Brine's" note is so delightfully indefinite that I cannot say which is which.

The Purakanui meteorological records contain barometrical (aneroid) read-ing-s, but are, they •collected for sea level and for temperature? I should like all correspondents, if they can, lo gnu similar readings. In schools, perhaps, it can be arranged to note what local circumstances attend a rise or fall, fast or slow, of fche barometer.

By-the-bye, from Purakanui I have received the .July cbavfc, on which the records aro graphed. I thought of trying to get it reproduced, hut it would have to be done on a, smaller scale, when the hair lines and some of the figures would be indistinguishable, co I cannot do so. Since I wrote the above other correspondence has come to hand. The spider is sent by " J.", who sa-ys it is the largest he has seen in New Zealand, and that it comes from the West Coast. I'll try to identify it for next issue. The tarantula of Australia mentioned by " J." in his note to mo I used to see pretty often, and more than one I have squashed by hitting it sharply with the back of my fist. It is a big, long-legged, ugly beast. Some months ago a considerable amount of dis-* cuseion on its name was carried on in the Argus, many holding to the name oftengiven .to it of " triantaloop " — I think that is how it is spelt.

The specimen from Wa-iroa North I'll look up for next week. From Watershed Road School, Hunterville, Neil Lambert sends a ease insect flattened out like- a pancake. Next time, Neil, send specimens in a tin box— a cigrar-efcte-box or a match-box will do. I*ll write a note in a week or so, but pressure on space blocks me just now. Fasten one to a board and notice how it extends its thread. Find some by day, and then observe them by night, and you will find that they emerge, but do not sever connection with the silken cord. They feed on the leaves of the plant to which they are attached. Imprison one in a muslin bag fastened to the branch and see what kind of moth emerges in the spring or summer and send specimen to me. Wairoa North meteorological record? are to hand, ako rainfall for last year at W'aitati.

" Ornithologist " compliments two or three observers on their notes. The minah, I think. re3fcs in the cliffs at the Napier Bluff where I saw hundreds, I suppose. I was told that their eggp are very much pointed at one end, evidently to prevent them from rolling far. Seeing that I have several North Island correspondents on my list now, perhaps some one in or around Napier will give us a note upon the miriah. Is R.G.D.'s kowhai blossom a record for earliness? Next jear, as I 6aid last week, wo rnusb comm-e-nce making early records ill good time to catch first signs of spring. Robin puts several queries. I am told that some godwits do remain here. The dotterel is not a bird of passage — at least I think not. I am not by my books as I write, and I am eorry to say my personal knowledge ie nil. Indeed, knowing others were as ignorant as myself was the main reason why I took this column in hand. I wanted younger folk to have a better knowledge of our fauna and flora than I have, and with the assistance of co many gentlemen and ladies who know Nature

in New Zealand I am succeeding to soivp extent — «to what degree, of course, I shall never know. - . " Magistek."