Page:Hardwicke's Science-Gossip - Volume 1.pdf/141

of England. Is very handsome, and easy of cultivation.

Spider Orchis (Ophrys aranifera, Huds.).—Much more rare than the last, but equally handsome, and easily grown.

Fly Orchis (Ophrys muscifera, Huds.).—More common than either of the preceding, is also curious and handsome, but as difficult to cultivate as any species which it has been my fortune to obtain.

Musk Orchis (Horminium monorchis, Br.).—Small, delicate, yellowish-green flowers, very fragrant, but confined to a few spots in the South of England.

Creeping Orchis (Goodyera repens, Br.).—With a one-sided spike of greenish-white flowrs. In Britain, it is confined to the Scotch Highlands.

Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich.).—Flowers white, with an odour of almonds. Abundant on a dry chalky soil in most southern counties of England. Flowers in the autumn.

Tway-blade (Listera ovata, Br.).—Insignificant in appearance, but curious, common, and not difficult to manage.

Helleborine (Epipactis latifolia, All.).—The flowers are drooping, generally greenish, and not particularly attractive. Flowers rather late in the summer.

White Helleborine (Cephalanthera grandiflora, Bab.).—Flowers large and white or cream-coloured. Occurring in dense woods, on a calcareous soil. Flowers in early summer.

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium Calceolus, L.).—Is the most splendid of British species, but nearly extinct in these islands, so that only cultivated specimens can be obtained, and these are difficult of cultivation to the amateur.

With the majority of the species I have noticed, no great failure can be anticipated, under moderate care, and I think that if the instructions I have ventured to give are carried out, success is certain. The study of these plants will, more than any others, repay the labour expended in their cultivation. Any "Flora" will furnish the strictly botanical characters; which I have not attempted to give.

Some years since, I became possessed of a very large and beautiful kestrel hen, which in a short time became very docile and even affectionate, readily coming when whistled to, and perching upon the hand, taking much delight in being fondled; and in return rubbing her head against the hand that caressed her.

During the day she has the run of a large and high-walled garden, being prevented from flying away by the close clipping of the secondary and tertiary feathers of one wing, the primary feathers being left untouched; so that, unless she spread her wings, her beauty was unimpaired. Being thus in a state of half-liberty, her health and courage were not affected, and she kept her plumage and feet most delicately clean.

At night she always roosted in a small building at the end of a hothouse, where the stove was placed, and which was used as a tool-house and for other gardening purposes. Here she was always shut in, till I let her out in the morning.

One day, after myself securing the door overnight as usual, I was surprised to find that she was missing; and a long time was spent in vain attempts to find her. Feeling perfectly sure that I had left her secure, as I thought, I continued my search; and after removing some bean-sticks which were piled up in a corner, where the outside wall formed an acute angle with the inner, discovered a solitary feather sticking up in the ground. Stooping down to pick it up, it proved to be the end of one of the long feathers of the tail; and upon pulling it, up came what remained of the half-eaten body of the poor hawk, the surrounding soil having been carefully replaced after burying it. My first impression was that a cat must have been the culprit; but there was no opening by which so large an animal could have got in or out, excepting the stove-pipe; and as many feet of that were upright, and surmounted by a tin top, it was out of the question.

After thinking the matter well over, I decided upon placing the dead hawk in, as near as possible, the same position as that in which I found it—removing a little of the loose soil, and substituting a small but strong pair of "clams" (an iron trap, made of two semicircular rows of teeth, which close with a spring when pressed upon), just over the body, and very lightly covering it up as before; and so I left it, anxiously waiting for what the following night might bring forth.

The first thing next morning I hurried to the tool-house, and before the door was reached heard the rattling of the chain by which the trap was secured, showing that the murderer was caught. Upon opening the door, what was my surprise at seeing an enormous rat, caught by the loins; and, although his back was broken, still full of fight. However, I soon disposed of him, and, I must own, with no small sense of satisfaction.

The rat measured 22 inches from nose to tip of tail, with enormous teeth to match. He must have stolen upon the hawk while she was asleep; or, in spite of his size, she would have beaten him off.

I have heard of hawks in a state of nature attacking rats, but never before of the rat being the aggressor.