^. V 1 v-i- .^ "^ ^ ; ■ ^-^^; t. 5*t^ ^•-^^k Jr '■'•■>*#' ■<-* .«M- ^ ..^ i ./? ";•<* -V '^v vf*^ '^<-- ■■^. -4^5^ '^-'*\^. >. -> 4-'^ -vT > > > ^ '•^f^ T-'^- <:'r^^ ;. ■-*^--s T H E SCOTTISH NATURALIST; S fHatja^me of Natural Pfistorg. EDITED BY F, BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D„ F.LS, I i'i'j-") VOLUME IV. ' ' Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld ; Still mooving, yet unmoved from her sted ; Unseene of any, yet of all beheld." — The Faerie Queen. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. EDINBURGH AND LONDON. 1877-1878. INDEX. page PAGE General Index . • iii New Species — Species specially noticed- - Animals viii Animals — Plants . viii Mammals vi New British Species — Birds vi Animals ix Insects, &c. vi Plants . ix Plants— Flowering vii Reviews X Cryptogamic vii List of Contributors X Galled . vii Illustrations xi Families included IN In- SECTA SCOTICA . viii Errata xi GENERAL INDEX. Abnormal Plants, Notes on . A Botanical Ramble in Glenshee Acherontia atropos .... Acronycta myrica; not a distinct Species Additional localities of Scottish Coleoptera . A deceived Bee .... Alchemilla conjuncta .... Anecdote of the Manx Puffin of the Dardanelles A new British Peziza .... A new Scottish Lichen Animal Psychosis, Further remarks on A supposed undescribed Lepisma Bee, A deceived .... Berteroa incana .... Bird names in Orkney Birds of the South-east of Scotland, The Birds, Prevention of extermination of rare 1x8 75 292 199 248 199 119 198 79 300 I 46 199 170 9 277, 325, 332 47 40154 IV Index. Bog mosses ..... Botanical ramble in Glenshee, A Botany of Glen Tilt, Note on the Zoology and British Species of Oporabia, Some notes on the Bryological notes .... Capture of Catocala fraxini in Berwickshire II Vanessa antiopa . * Catocala nupta Coleoptera, Additional localities of Scottish Coleoptera of Scotland, The . . 35, 80, 129, Colias edusa .... II in Berwickshire M in Dumfriesshire II in Galloway II in Orkney II in Perthshire II in the South-west of Scotland Contributions to the Desmid Flora of Perthshire Convolvulus arvensis as an unintended ornamental climbe Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, The Cynipidoe, Alternation of generations in the . Dead Wood-pigeons .... Descriptions of new Lichens . Desmid Flora of Perthshire, Contributions to the Does alternation of generations or dimorphism occur Cynipidoe? .... Eupithecia togata and Stigmonota perlepidana Exidia repanda .... Exotic Fungi from Glasgow Botanic Garden Fungi, New Scottish .... 11 from Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Rare 11 II II Exotic ti Observations on the recurrence of the rarer II Rare British ... Further notes on the species of Oporabia M remarks on Animal Psychosis Galls, Scottish Glen Tilt; its Fauna and Flora Gold-field and Gold-diggings of Crawford- Lindsay shire), The Gold in Perthshire, Native Guillemots colliding . Gynandromorphism in the Honey-bee Has Melitnea didyma occurred in Scotland ? Hymenoptera, Notes on Scottish . 116, 176, 223, 273, III, 170 75 160 158 59 r . 22, 119, 215, . 117, in the European 12 340, 341 12 248 322, 362 199 117 117 117 160 117 117 68 30 304, 348 152, 292 292 164 68 152 297 79 78 255 30 78 18 79 158 I 13, 168, 203 . 181, 244, 300 (Lanark- 208, 256, 305, 349 268 249 199 48 II hidex. Kites . V lO I^epidoptera of Moncreiffe Hill, The . It Scotland, The Lepisma, A supposed undescribed Lichen, A new Scottish Lichens belonging to the genus Parmelia, On certain II Descriptions of new . II New cwr rare .... 38, 99, 144, 191, 241, 293, 334 31, 120, 173, 216, 269, 319 .46 300 . 200, 252, 298 164 27 Migration of the Starling Migration, On Mustela erminea Mycological notes Native Gold in Perthshire New or rare Lichens . II Scottish Fungi . Note for Mycologists . II on Mnium punctatum van elatum II on the Kestrel . II on the Zoology and Botany of Glen Tilt Notes on Abnormal Plants II on Cryptogams II on Lathroea squamaria . II on Scottish Hymenoptera II Various .... Notice of the Wryneck being found in Scotland 10 85, 133, 229, 283 160 250, 304 268 27 255 30 207 46 160 118 78 119 II 249 333 Observations on the recurrence of the rarer Fungi . . . 18 On certain Lichens belonging to the genus Parmelia . . 200, 252 On Migration . . . . . . 85, 133, 229, 283 On the distribution of Buxbaumia aphylla in the west of Scotland . 78 On the occurrence of Picus major L. in Aberdeenshire, and its habits and food . . . . . . . .10 On Uredo filicum Desm. and Uredo ? pteridum n. sp. . - 26 Oporabia, Some notes on the British species of . . 1 11, 158 Pachnobia hyperborea var. alpina Parthenogenesis in Nematus miliaris . Peziza, A new British Porphyrio smaragdonctus Temm, in Scotland Prevention of the extermination of rare Birds Pufhn of the Dardanelles, Anecdote of the Manx Rare British Fungi .... II Plants from Ben Lomond Rook-literature .... Rosa micrantha in Scotland . 12, 341 157 79 37 47, 116 198 79 119 318 254 VI Index. ^3, i68, 203 249 III 10 199 64 a ray • 342 Scottish Galls . . ' . Short-sighted policy ..... Some notes on the British species of Oporabia Sphinx convolvuli ..... II in Fife .... Structure of the common Mushroom . Supplementary list of Fungi found within the province of Moray Tenthredinida: in Braemar . . . . . .10 The birds of the South-east of Scotland . . . 277, 325, 332 The Coleoptera of Scotland . . 35, 80, 129, 176, 223, 273, 322, 362 The Gold-field and Gold-diggings of Crawford-Lindsay (Lanark- shire) ...... 208, 256, 305, 349 The Lepidoptera of Moncreiffe Hill . 38, 99, 144, 191, 241, 293, 334 M Scotland . . .31, 120, 173, 216, 269, 319 Various notes Waste of life at St Abb's Head Wood-pigeons, Dead 249 116 292 SPECIES SPECIALLY NOTICED. {See also New^ and New British^ Species. ) ANIMALS. Mammals- — Mustela erminea . Red deer . BIRDS. 160 184 Budytes Rayi 283 Caparcaillie . 199 Cross-bill 97 Guillemot 249 House-martin 186, 2S5 Kestrel 46 Kite . 10 Manx Puffin . 198 Picus major . 10 Quail 139 Ruby-crowned Wren 291 Starling 10 Swallow • 98, 134 Syrrhaptis paradoxus 290 Wood-cock . 28S Wood-pigeon 289, 292 Wryneck 333 INSECTS. Acherontia atropos . Acronycta euphorbiae var montivaga II myricos . Anticlea sinuata Catocala fraxini It nupta Choerocampa porcellus Chrysocoris festaliella Coccyx distinctana Colias edusa . 117, Coremia ferrugata Crymodes exulis Deilephela galii Erebia ^thiops Eupithecia togata Hepialus humuli Honey-bee . Hybernia defoliaria Lcptotena ccrvi Mclanippc galiata Melitx'a didyma 160, 292 189, 199 199 189 12 12 45 341 341 199 190 189 44 187 297 100 199 195 185 190 48 Index. Vll Nematus miliaris . 157 Gistrus elaphi . . 185 Oporabia autumnaria 113, 160 It dilutata . 113, 159 II filigrammaria 113, 160 Pachnobia hyperborea 12, 189, 341 Satyrus Hyperanthus . 42 Sphinx convolvuli . 10, 199 Stigmonota perlepidana . 297 Vanessa antiopa . 116,340,341 MOLLUSCA. Bulimus obscurus Helix arbustorum II II var. alpestris ti fusca . II nemoralis var. PLANTS. Flowering. Alchemilla conjuncta Berteroa incana Convolvulus arvensis Daisy Draba inflata Epilobium rosmarinifolium Lathraea squamaria . Polygonatum verticillatum Primrose Rosa micrantha Thlaspi alpestre Veronica saxatilis Vicia orobus Cryptogam ic. Mosses, Anacalypta latifolia . Buxbaumia aphylla . Campylopus Schimperi Dicranella Grevilleana Hypnum giganteum . Leucobryum glaucum in fruit Mnium punctatum var. elatum II spinosum Neckera pennata Tortula Hornschuchiana Zygodon aristatus II rupestris II Stirtoni Hepaticcv. Jungemiannia fragilifolia 247 247 247 247 247 119 170 30 118 77 303 119 301 118 254 77 303 302 77 78 78 60, 78 n 119 207 78 61 76 60 59 59 77 Fungi. Agaricus campestris . II caput-Medusce II carbonarius II cucumis II echinosporus II euchrous . II maritimus . II nummularius II storea Cortinarius claricolor II sebaceus Hypocrea riccioidea . Lentinus scoticus Leotia circinans Lepiota georgina; Merulius himantoides CEcidium orobi, var. phaseoli Pleurotus gadinoides Polyporus cinnabarinus II destructor II pergameus II sanguineus Ptychogaster albus . Puccinia bistortae Sphaeria parallela Stereum lobatum Trichobasis rumicum Uredo filicum . * Xylaria polymorpha . 64 20 18 21 30 19, 22 20 20 19 21 20 304 20 20 30 30 79 30 79 251 79 79 250 76 79 79 79 27 234 Galled Plants. Acer pseudoplatanus Agrostis canina Alnus glutinosa Betula alba , Centaurea nigra Corylus avellana Crataegus oxyacantha Erophila verna Galium aparine II saxatile II verum Heracleum sphondylium Hieracium boreale . II sylvaticum Hypocliceris radicata Lotus major Pimpinella saxifraga Plantago lanceolata . 14 17 205 17, 204 15 17 14 13 15 15, 169 204 15 16 16 16 168 15 16 Vlll Index. Potentilla tormentilla Prunus communis Pyrus aria Quercus robur . SLellaria holostea 14 14 169 16 13 Thlaspi arvense Tilia europea Trifolium repens Veronica serpyllifolia Vicia cracca 168 203 H 170 169 FAMILIES INCLUDED IN IN SECT A SCO TIC A. Lcpidopt era. Elateridae 224 Boarmiidae . 32 Georyssidae . 131 Euboliidae . : • 317 Heteroceridae 131 Fidoniidae 31 Lagriidx 365 Hyberniidse . 34 Lathridiidce . 83 Larentiidae . 321 Limexylonidae 322 Sionidse 321 Lucanidje 176 Coleopte ra. Malacodermidse 228 Buprestidse . 180 Melandryadidae 364 Byrrhidse 130 Mycetophagidae 129 Cissidae 324 Parnidae 131 Cleridae 276 Ptinidae 322 Cryptophagidae 36 Pythidae 363 Cucujidae 35 Scarabaeid^e . 176 Dascillidae . 227 Tenebrionidae 362 Dermestidae . 130 Throscidae . 223 NEW SPECIES AND VARIETIES Described in this volume. ANIMALS, PLANTS. Insects. Hemiptera. Orthezia Signoreti P.. W. {Scotland) . 161 Mosses. Coscinodon Patersoni, F {Scotland) . erg. • 62 Ilymenoptera. Lichens. Tenthredo velox F., var. ni- grolincata Cam. {Scotland) . n Lecidea antiloga Stirton {Scotl.) II contortula n n 164 Lcpidoptcra. endocyanea n M 165 Oporabia addendaria B. W. interpolata n II I6S = autumnaria Dbd. non. mullensis n II 166 Bdv. 160 orphnojilla n II 166 Thcra variata SchilT. var. ob- pissodes n II 166 literata B. W. {Scotland) . 217 polysita n II 28 Index. IX Lecidea soreumidea,Stirton(6'6-^//.) 28 II 166 " 165 M 300 II 29 II 29 II 164 {India) 201 {W. II sporeta n II uliginascens h Lithographa Andrewii n Melaspilea Patersoni h Opegraphaconstrictella n Pannaria lasiella n Parmelia amplectens II coilocarpa Africa) . . 202 II cyathina, Stirton {Queensland) . 252 II erubescens, Stirton {Queensland) . 201 It euneta, Stirton {S. Africa) . . 298 II euflecta, Stirton {Queensland and Bahid) 299 n flaventior, Stirton {Brazil) . . 254 II nigrescens, Stirton {Aleza Zealand) . 253 II nitescens, Stirton {Queensland) . 299 ti permutata, Stirton {Queensland) . 252 II platycarpa, Stirton {Queensland) . 252 It reddenda, Stirton {Scotland) . 298 ti reparata, Stirton {Queensland) . 201 Parmelia resupina, Stirton {S. Africa) II subalbicans, Stirton {Nezu Zealand) . 11 suffixa, Stirton {S. Africa) M testacea, Stirton {New Zealana) II toxodes, Stirton {S. Africa) II xanthotropa, Stir- ton {S. Africa) . Pertusaria reducta, Stirton {Scotland) Fungi. Nezo genus. Milesia B. W. . Ne%i} species. Bactridium acutum B. and B. W. {Scotland) . Dactylium modestum B. and B. W. {Scotland) It spirale B. and B. W. {Scotland) . Milesia polypodii B. W. {Scotland) . Uredo? pteridum B. W. {England) Desmid. Penium rufopellitum, ^ Roy {Scotland) . 298 245 299 203 253 202 28 162 162 162 162 163 27 73 N£IV BRITISH SPECIES Brought forward in this volume. ANIMALS. Birds. Fungi. Porphyrio smaragdonotus Temm. 37 Exidia repanda Fr. . 79 Insects. Leptonia sethiops Scop. . 22 Andricus aestivalis Gir. Ceroptres cerri Mayr Torymus hibemans . PLANTS. II 12 12 Mycena plicosils Fr. Omphalia pictus Fr. Peziza amentacea Balb. Tympanis pinastri . 22 22 79 79 Mosses. Desmid. Bryum cyclophyllum . Hypnum Lorentzianum Molendo 61 62 Cosmarium cyniatopleurun Norst. 71 Index. REVIEWS, Carrington and Pearson's ' British Hepaticte ' . . . 318 * European Butterflies and Moths ' . . . . .361 ' Fauna and Flora of Clydesdale ' . . . . .48 * Hemiptera Gymnocerata Europce' ..... 318 'Proceedings of Nat. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow,' Vol. iii. Pt. i. . 58 It II II II Pt. ii. . 214 * The Fauna of Scotland, with especial reference to Clydesdale and the Western District.' liymenoptera. Part I. . .361 ' The Midland Naturalist ' . . . . . . 249 'Transactions of the Glasgow Society of Field Naturalists,' Pt. iv. . 58 II II II II Pt. V. . 214 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. M., C.M.Z.S Boswell, J. T., LL.D., F.L.S Brotherston, A. Brown, J. A. Harvie, F.Z.S. Buchan Hepburn, A. . Cameron, P. . Christie, A, Craig Drummond-PIay, Colonel H. Fergusson, Rev. J. Flett, W. . Gurney, jun., J. H., F.Z.S. Herd, W. Herdman, Rev. W. . Keith, Rev. J., M.A . Lindsay, W. Lauder, M.D., F M 'Andrew, J. M'Intosh, W.C, M.D.,LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S Moncreiffe, Sir T., Bart. Newton, Professor A., F.R.S Paterson, A., M.D. . Paterson, Professor R. H. Power, J. A. . Robinson-Douglas, W. D., B Roy, J. Service, R. Sharp, D., M.B. vShaw, W. Sim, J. ,[_. R.S.E Z1 , F.L.S. 38, 99, 144, 191, A., F.L.S., F.R.G.S. 35, 80, 129, 199 . 254, 292, 332 47, 249 248 10, II, 152 341 ^5, 133, 229, 283, 333 59, 75, 207 199 116, 198, 249, 292 117 10, 30, 116, 170 • 79, 342 208, 256, 268, 305, 349 160, 199 46 241, 293, 297, 334, 341 318 10 30, 78, 118, 116 340 117, 160 68 117 176, 223, 273, 322, 362 . 12, 117 170 Index. XI Skeete, Horace Smith, W. G., F.L.S. Stevenson, Rev. J. Stilton, J., M.D., F.L.S. Tait, W. Thompson, D'Arcy W. Trail, Professor J. W. H., M.A., M.B., F.L.S. Wardrop, Rev. J. White, F. Buchanan, M.D., F.L.S. 12, 26, 31, 40, 48, 79, in, 116, 117, 120, 158, 160, 173, 181, 199, 216, 244, 255, 269, 300, 319, 341 199 64 18, 30, 250, 304 27, 164, 200, 252, 298, 300 160 277, 325 9, 10, 13, 168, 203 ILL USTRA TIONS. Structure of the Common Mushroom. Fig. I. Section through gill . . . . .65 II 2. Section through spore-bearing surface ... 66 II 3. Development of spores ..... 67 Plate I. Details of structure of species of the genus Oporabia, to face page , . . . . . .116 Fig. A. Oporabia dilutata. II B. 11 autumnaria (addendaria). II C. II filigrammaria. Plate II. To face page ...... 163 Fig. I. Orthezia Signoreti B. W. Dactylium modestum B. and B. W. II spirale B. and B. W. Bactridium acutum B, and B. W. Milesia polypodii B. W. Puccinia pteridum B. W. Uredo filicum Dessn. Diagram of Cyclone in the Bermudas. .... 234 3 4- 5- 6. 1: ERR A TA. Page II, line 10 from top, H II II 27 M II II II 33 II II 12, II 9 II II II II 10 li for "Thompson" nad "Thomson." II " BlenocajHpa " 1 1 " Blennocampa. ' ' II " Mcvcrophya'^ n '' Macropkya.''' II ^^ hiberans^' 1, ^^ hibernans.''^ II ^^ nemolertis''^ h *^ netiroterus.^'' Xll Index II 32, 33. 46, 48, 56, 121, 224, Jor It II 11 II II M phynogaster " read ' ' pyrrhogaster. " Stetiaplu'us " n ^'' Stcnophrus.'" " Sol way " "BORMIA" M " representation" n '"'' Argyniuis'''' n "Moselcy" Page 12, line 14 from top, 15 8 from bottom, I at top, 20 from top, 9 8 14 II ^(^^z^^ " CHEIMATOBIA " mJ/J'," but fasciculate when identified by Mr. Worthington vSmith. Two species mentioned above may also be cited as examples. Ag. eiichTotis has been found at Dinmore only in single specimens. The three specimens which I found at Killin were so attached that the plant might be described as, at least, sub-csespitose. It is characterised by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in his "Outlines of British Fungology," as "crespitose," while, in his " Hymenomycetes Europsei," Fries says — " Equidem semper legi solitarium ; . ex auctoribus ccespitosus. " Ag. caput-Afednscr I have gathered both solitary and, as described by Fries, '*sub-ca:spitose." Ag. scohinacetis was decidedly fasciculate, while Fries describes it as "sub-crespitose;" and the plant, which was exactly inter- mediate between the two, was exceedingly fasciculate. Generally, the descriptions may hold good ; but they are scarcely to be regarded as of much importance in cases of difficulty. — ^John-Stevenson. CEYPTOGAMIO SOCIETY OP SCOTLAND. FROM the great scarcity of Fungi, as well as from other reasons, the Council of this Society determined not to have any public show in 1876, but to meet in some district which seemed likely to repay exploration, and there hold the Second Annual Conference. Killin was accordingly selected as the meeting place, and a very pleasant gathering took place there on September 26 and following days. Fungi were very scarce, but, by diligent searching, specimens enough were found to make the meeting not altogether unprofitable. Oi Hymawniycetcs., 166 species were found and determined, including the rare Omphalia pictus Fr. and Lcptonia cethiops Scop., two species new to Britain, which were sent by the Rev. J. Stevenson to Mr, Berkeley, and My cam plicosns Fr,, an unrecorded British species, which, however, had been found near Perth the previous year. Among other notable Hymcnomycetcs were the beautiful little Mycena pteri- gcnus, not uncommon on dead fern stems, with Pistillaria pubenda ; Lcptonia eiichroiis, of which one or two speci- mens were found on a stump in Glen Lochay; Cortiuarius claricolor. Glen Lochay (and Kippendavie, near Dunblane). Ilygrophorus cifierens, Boletus cyaucscens, Polyporus giganteus, F. tntybaceus, liydnuvi udum, Phlcbia incrismoides, Odontia Ji/nbriata, Clavaria aincthyst'ma, C. pistillaris. The Scottish Naturalist. ^3 Of other Fungi may be mentioned — Ustilago utriculosa, Pucc'mia chrysosplenii, Phyllactinia guttata^ Gcoglossum viride^ Peziza badia, P. Schjunacheri, &c. Several other Cryptogams were noticed, including Hahrodo?i Notarisii, on trees at Finlarig. At the Business Meeting it was resolved to alter the consti- tution of the Society, so far as related to a public show being held every year. In future the public show will take place at intervals of three or four years, and in such places as shall be deemed suitable. By this alteration of the laws, freedom is given to the Society to have its Annual Conference in localities where a pleasant exploration meeting may be held, but in which a public show would be impossible. The following papers were read : — ist, "On the Structure of the Hymenium of the Common Mushroom," by Mr. W. G. Smith, F.L.S. In this paper Mr. Smith pointed out that Professor Sachs is wrong in stating that the basidium of the common mushroom produces two spores only, and not four, as all other agarics do. Four are produced, but usually only two at a time ; and it is only rarely that more than two may be seen i7t situ at the same time. We will publish this paper in full, with illustrations, in our next number. 2nd, " On the Geographical Distribution of Fungi in Scotland," by the Rev. J. Stevenson. In laying his lists on the table, Mr. Stevenson said — At our last annual meeting I laid before you a list of Fungi north of the Tay, and I then promised to supple- ment it by a similar list, embracing the plants which had been recorded for the Flora of the south. When I made this promise, I meant to fulfil it literally. But I find that, with the accumulation of materials, my own ideas of what we might not unprofitably attempt have become somewhat enlarged. And I now contemplate preparing lists which may in some measure form a guide to the Mycology of Scotland. By such a guide I think we may supply a want, and at the same time offer a contribution to the more general subject of the geographical distribution of Fungi. The lists, therefore, which I am now preparing embrace the whole of Scotland. 24 The Scottish Naturalist. I shall not detain you longer than to indicate by a brief analysis what we may aim at in preparing such a guide. In addition to the general arrangement and classification, I propose, after the names of species, to give references to such authorities as may furnish the necessary information regarding their history and identification. I shall then notice their habitats, the seasons of their appearance, and the altitudes of their growth. This will be followed by a record of localities, and of authorities for these localities. Looking to these details, 1 have not been able to accomplish more this year than a record of Hyvienomyceies. Tlie re- maining portion of the lists contain simply the names of species. But I hope by another year to lay these also before you in detail. And I trust that the course of another year may find the entire list greatly enlarged. My lists at present contain 2,316 species — about two thirds of the whole British Flora — and these have been gathered in counties ranging from Inverness in the north to Ayr in the south, and from the east to the west coasts. Taking these counties in two divisions by a line drawn down the centre of Scotland from north to south, or, better perhaps, in three divisions, embracing the west and east coast and the central counties, we have already, I believe, very fair types of the Mycological Flora of Scotland. It remains to be seen what may be developed in the extreme northern and southern divisions. It may be interesting to note, that since the publication of the latest British Work — ''Cooke's Hand-book of British Fungi," Scotland has added to the British Flora no fewer than 168 species. Of these 58 are species new to science, and no new to Britain. Of Hynicnoniycdcs, where doubtless we have the most limited field for the discovery of new species, we have no fewer than 17 new to science, while 76 have been recorded as new to Britain. Of the other families we have to record 41 new species, and 34 new to Britain. And I may add, as showing that we are not likely to prove an useless corporation, that of these 168 species, 154 have been added to the British Flora by those who are at present ofllce-bearers of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland. Turning to the first part of the list, which embraces Hymeiio- viycctes, I have followed the classification and arrangement of The Scottish Naturalist. 25 Fries, in the last edition of the "Epicrisis." This, I conceive, must now be our guide. And in some respects this classifica- tion differs from that which was adopted by Cooke in his Hand- book. Passing over differences which relate merely to the arrange- ment of Synonyms, it may be interesting to notice the following : — In Cooke's Hand-book, Inocybe is included as a section of Hebeloma, in accordance with views previously expressed by Fries. Fries, however, now regards them as distinctly separate. Indeed, although he retains Inocybe as a separate sub-genus of Agaricus, the characteristics appear sufficiently well defined to constitute a separate genus between the Agarici and the Cor- tinarii. Of this he says, " Grex quam maxime naturalis hoc loco intruditur inter species nullo modo affines. Melius igitur Inocybes sine dubio sisterent genus distinctum, inter Cortinarios et Agaricos medium, sed desunt adhuc characteres." The sub-genus Deconica of Smith remains Psilocybeof Fries. The separate genus Lepista of Smith has not been adopted by Fries. In a note to the genus Lepista of Smith, Cooke says, — " The three British species included in this new genus, were formerly classed by Fries with the sub-genus Tricholoma, but removed by him in his latest work to Lepista, as a sub-genus of Paxillus. We have followed Mr. W. G. Smith in his arrange- ment recently proposed in "Seemann's Journal of Botany," but not without some hesitation in separating Lepista from Paxillus, and giving it a generic position." In the last edition of the " Epicrisis," Fries retains the three species of Smith's Lepista (L. nuda, L. cinerascens, and L. personata), in the sub-genus Tricholoma. The genus Hymenochaete, does not appear in the "Epicrisis" of Fries. And the the three species of this genus, which were formerly regarded as Thelophorae, are classed by him under Stereum. Referring to species which appear under different genera, the following may be noted : — Ag. (Clitocybe) maximus of Sowerby, in regard to which there have been differences of opinion, has been removed by Fries to Paxillus, and is now Paxillus giganteus. I have this year found the plant, and an unmistakeable Paxillus it is. Ag. (Galera) reticulatus, as figured in Berkeley's Outlines, 26 The Scottish Natiwalut. appears in the last edition of the "Epicrisis" under a separate sub-genus — Pluteolus. Ag. (Galera) embolus of Berkeley's Outlines is Ag. (Tubaria) embolus of Fries. Ag. (Hypholoma) hydrophilus is Bolbitius hydrophilus of Fries. Cortinarius caperatus of B. and Br. appears as Ag. (Pholiota) caperatus in the " Epicrisis." ; Polyporus cervinus of Berkeley's Outlines is Trametes mollis of Fries. The following also are worthy of note : — In his Hand-book Cooke identifies Gomphidius stillatus of Strauss, with Gomphidius graciHs of Berkeley's Outlines, having G. gracilis as a mere synonym. In the ''Epicrisis" Fries identi- fies G. stillatus with G. maculatus, while he retains Berkeley's G. gracilis as a separate species. Hyphelia rosea, which was lately found by Mr. Fergusson, and recorded by Berkeley and Broome, has been regarded as new to Britain. Fries identifies it with Corticium roseum, which was previously well known as a British plant. In regard to the two following species I simply raise questions : — Ag. (Clitocybe) gilvus of Persoon appears to me from the references to have been gathered by Greville. It is recorded in his "Flora Edinensis," and should have been recorded in Cooke's Hand-book. Ag. (Collybia) clavus of the English Flora is Ag. (Mycena) acicula. But from the references it seems to me that Greville's Ag. clavus, recorded in his " Flora Edinensis," and cited in the English Flora, is the same as Ag. clavus of the last edition of the " Epicrisis " of Fries. m UEEDO FILIOUM DESM. & UREDO? PTEEIDUM N, SP. ByF. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. SOME time ago, I received from the Rev. J. E. Vize, specimens of a fungus parasitic on Scolopcndrium vntgare^ with the name Undo filiciun, Desm. These did not agree in appearance with the fungus parasitic on CystoJ>teris, which I The Scottish Naturalist. 27 had been in the habit of considering U. filicum^ but as I had mislaid my specimens of the latter I was not able till lately to compare the spores. Having done so, I find that they are very different, and that two species have been confounded under the name U. filiaim. Being under some doubt as to which was the original plant of Desmazieres, I wrote to the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, who with his usual kindness replied, " Desmazieres' plant is on Cystopteris. Your new species must be that on Scolopcndrium. It is pro- bably the uredo spores o^ a Fiiccinia, which has hitherto occurred in such small quantities, that it has not been published." The two species may thus be distinguished. Uredo filicum Desm. Sori hypogenous, subrotund, bullate ; epidermis at length rup- tured ; spores subglobose, yellow j epispore smooth. Length of spores .0075 — .01 inch. On fronds of Cystopteris fj'agilis and C. dentata. Probably common. Ascends to 2,700 feet, on Ben Lawers. Uredo? pteridum n.sp. Sori hypogenous, subrotund, bullate; epidermis not rup- tured (?) ; spores oblong oval, yellowish \ epispore distinctly papillose. Length of spores .015 — .0175 inch. On fronds of Scolopendriiun vulgare. Forden, N. Wales (Rev. J. E. Vize). The shape and structure of the spores, as well as their much larger size, at once separate this from U. filicum, which other- wise it rather resembles. Should it prove to be the Uredo state of a Fuccinia, the name will be Puccinia pferidiun In my copy of Dr. M. C. Cooke's " Fungi Britannici," 2nd edition, the specimen (No. 73) with the name Uredo filicum Desm., is UJ pteridum, but the spores figured are apparently those of U. filicum. Perth, Dec, 1876. NEW OE KAKE LICHENS. By J. STIRTON, M.D., F.L.S. THE following new and rare lichens were gathered in 1874 by Mr. R. H. Paterson of Glasgow on or near Ben Brecht, Argyleshire :— 28 The Scottish Naturalist. Physcia chrysophthalma L. Sqiiamaria chrysoleiica Sm. Squainaria lentigera Web. Placodium fulgens Sw. Lecanora alphoplaca Whlmb. var. mclanaspis Acli. Lecanora rubra Ach. Pertusaria velata Turn. Pcrtusarla reducta n. sp. — Tliallus cinerascens vtl ciiiereo- fuscescens tenuis rimuloso-areolatus (K fl. dein intense rubens) ; apothecia sessilia, in verrucis thallinis monocarpis inclusa, fusca vel rufo-fusca, lecanorina (latit. .3-. 5 mm.) caesio-pruinosa ; thecse monosporse, sporse incolores vel vetustge nonnihil fuscescentes, oblongas, .09-. 14 x .03-.04 mm. ; paraphyses confertae, sat distinctce, nonnihil anasto- mosantes. lodo gel. hym. cserulescens, praesertim the- carum. Corticola. The younger spores have a broadish epispore, while the mature have coarsely granular contents. Perhaps this is too closely allied to P. rmiliipuucta (Turn.), but, as the open lecanoroid state described by Nylander (Scand. p. 180) has been referred to a distinct species, under the name P. oph- thalmiza, with reactions of thallus K — C — , the present has been separated from it. Lecidca polysita n. sp. — Thallus cinereus vel pallide cinereo- fuscescens, crassiusculus (K — C — ), squamulosus vel squamuloso-concretus, squamulis crenulatis et interdum concaviusculis ; apothecia sessilia, fusca vel fusco-nigra, planiuscula immarginata, demum convexa et prominula, (latit. .4-1.3 mm.) ; sporai Snce aciculares vel nonnihil bacillares, recta:, 3-ii-septata3, .045-.07x.003-.004 mm.; paraphyses distinctai apicibus incoloribus non clavatis ; hypothecium luteo-rufescens crassum, vel, in lamina crassa, fuscum vel nigro-fuscum, K purpurascens, etiamque pars infera hymenii. lodo gel. hym. intense et persistcnter cajrulescens. Ad corticem yetustum vel emortuum, prope Ben Brecht. Lccidia soreumidia n. sp. — Thallus pallidus vel pallide cinereus, crassiusculus rugosus vel passim verrucoso-congestus, fusco- limitatus (K — C — ); apothecia intus cinerascentia, conferta The Scottish Naturalist. 29 sessilia, parva (latit. .3-. 5 mm.), primum plana rugosa, mar- ginata et caesio-pruinosa, demum convexa, rugosa immar- ginata et saepe connato-congesta ; sporae Snae ellipsoidese, fuscae 3-septatae et fere murali-divisae, .013-.02 x .008- •0095 mm. ; paraphyses non discretas, nonnihil irregulares apicibus fuscis granuloso-inspersis ; hypothecium fiiscum vel fuscescens. lodo gel. hym. intense caerulescens. Ad ligna ccesia. This lichen plays between L.fecunda and L.plicatilis (Leight). Opegrapha constriddla n. sp. — Thallus albidus vel pallidiis • tenuis ; apothecia intus pallide fuscescentia, nigra simplicia interdum aggregata, longit. .4-1.2 mm., latit. circ. .2 mm., epithecio lato concavo vel etiam explanato, perithecio lateral! ; sporae 8nae incolores obovatae, i-septatae, con- strictae, .012-.017 x .0045-.0065 mm.; paraphyses confertae irregulares, non bene distinctas apicibus fuscis (K sordide caerulescentibus) ; hypothecium incolor. lodo gel. hym. non tincta. Ad corticem vetustum. In no instance have fuscous spores been detected, otherwise this species might be referred to the group of which O. lenti- ginosa is the type. Melaspika Patersoni n. sp. — Thallus albidus vel pallidus tenuis vel evanescens; apothecia nigra plana vel convexiuscula pai-va (latit. .15-.3 mm.); sporse 4nae (an semper?) incolores aciculari-cylindraceae, pluriseptatae (circa lo-sep.), .04-. 06 X .0025-.003 mm., fragiles; paraphyses fiHformes, ramo- sulas, apicibus intertextis obscuratis; hypothecium fusces- cens vel pallidum. lodo hypothecium leviter vel obsolete c^rulescens, caeteroquin hymenium non tinctum, proto- plasma thecarum fulvescens. Ad corticem emortuum. With one exception where there were five, only four spores have been detected in each theca, and they lie in a direction parallel to its length. The tendency to break up is very mani- fest when the thecae are ruptured. The spores are then seen in fragments varying in length, either simple or conUwero^ ^ 1-3 septa. X^^^^"^/ \ Decampia Hookerii Borr. f^^^^cP^ ^^y^J^ ,^/^ ^•^ •^\C31 Glasgow, December, 1876. j llfeRAl^Y ^•^\ -%^^ J ^ 3© The Scottish Naturalist. Convolvulus arvensis as an unintended ornamental climber.— This plant is not very common in this parish (Rattray), though a great nuisance to the farmers in the parish of Kinloch, three miles west from this. Early this spring, some shoots of it, whence come I do not know, showed themselves at the side of my front door. At first I thought it was C. sepitan, but after it declared its specific distinction, it exhibited a character for which I was not prepared. Being close to an iron trellis, it quickly twined up the same, and is now there to the height of about eight feet, covering the trellis with a rich thick green mass more than two feet wide. The pale pink blossoms (two on a peduncle) were abundant in summer ; and the leaves seem disposed to be evergreen, and the stems to stand the winter, as they were unaffected by the frost, which a fortnight ago was nine degrees F. below freezing point. Altogether, the plant, which was merely allowed to grow up because it appeared at a vacant place, has unexpectedly proved very ornamental. It has good soil. — W. Herd MAN, Rattray, Nov., 1876. Note for Mycolologists. — In following out the subject of papers which have been read at the meetings of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, I am presently engaged in preparing lists of the Fungi of Scotland ; and am anxious to avail myself of the aid of those who have directed their attention to this branch of Cryptogamic Botany. After the names of species, 1 pur- pose to give such references as may be useful to the student for botanical description, etc., and to note their habitats, seasons of growth, ranges of altitude, and geographical distribution — authorities, of course, will be quoted. In order that such a work may be as complete as possible, I take this opportunity of requesting the assistance of all who are interested in the subject ; and will feel greatly obliged by any communications with which Mycolologists may favour me. — J. Stevenson, Glamis, Forfarshire. Rare Fungi from Glasgow Botanic Gardens.— Having made repeated visits to the various gardens in the neighbourhood of Glasgow for sevei^al years, I have had ample opportunity of observing the several forms of Fungi which appear from time to time in the pots and tanks of the hot- houses. Some of these forms are great pests to the gardener, and are with difficulty kept down; e.g., Agariais cepccstipes and Agaricus cristatus^ which are exceedingly common in the tan-pits of the Botanic Gardens. Among the rarer specimens are several never before observed in the west of Scotland; such as — (i) Lepiota georgiiuv.. Sm. Known at once by its turning to a deep blood red or claret colour when cut or bruised. (2) Pleiirotiis gadinioides vSm. — A beautiful and delicate form, white in colour, growing on stems of Dicksonia in the Botanic Gardens. (3) Agaricus echinosporiis Sm. — Growing on decayed wood in the new range of hot- houses in the Botanic Gardens. (4) Polyponis xanthopus. Fr. — This is a most beautiful form, resembling no other British fungus with which I am acquainted. The pilcus is thin, like paper of a golden yellow colour, and very distinctly zoned. The pores are very minute, running down the stem. It was growing on a piece of wood used for an aerial orchis. (5) Alendiiis himantioides. Fr. — Growing on wood in the Botanical Gardens. Besides these, I have observed several other forms, which I have been unable to determine as yet, — K. H. Patehson, 6 Windsor Place, Glasgow, December, 1876. INSECTA SCOTICA. THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF SCOTLAND. (Continued from Vol. III., p. 367.) Edited by F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. BRUNNEATA. Thnb. {1784) ; pmetaria Hb. (after 1 797). Local. Ericetal. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee Moray §00 West, o o g West-Ross § Lat. 56°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance. — Imago. July, August, Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Vaccinium myrtillus. ASPILATBS Tr. STRIGILL.ARIA Hb. Not common. Amongst broom, or ericetal. Distribution — East. § § Tay § Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde 000 Lat. 55°-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August- May. Food-plant. Broom (and heather?) Scottish specmiens are decidedly different from the only English one I have (which appears to be the usual form), being much more strongly mai-ked, and, contrary to the usual rule, distinctly smaller. The occurrence of A. citraria in Solway and Skye requires corroboration. STERRHA Hubn. SACRARIA L. Very rare. Distribution — East, o o Tay 00000 West, o q o o q 22 The Scottish Naturalist. Lat. 56°4o'. Range in Europe. Southern (Britain, &c.) Type. Meridional. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance. — Imago. July. Larva. August. Food- plant. Dock and Wild Camomile. Three specimens were taken in Rannoch, by Mr, J. Blackburn, in 1867. Lythria purpuraria L. has been reported from Tay, but certainly I think in error. BOARMIID^. PSODOS Tr. CORACINA Esp ; trepidata Dup. {iion trepidaria Hb.) Local. Alpine. From 2000 to over 3400 feet. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay Dee §0^0 West, o o Argyle § o Lat. 56°3o'-57°. Range in Europe. Alps and Pyrenees; Mountains of Scotland, Norway and Lapland, &c. Type. Alpine and septentrional. Type in Britain. Alpine. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. May. Food- plant. Azalm prociimbens? DASYDIA Gn. OBFUSCARIA Hb. Very local. Ericetal. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay Dee §000 West. o Clyde § West-Ross o Lat. 55°-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Alps, Britain, Sweden, Finland, &c. Type. Alpine and septentrional. Type IN Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. September, June. Food-plant. Heather. GNOPHOS Tr. obscuraria Hb. Local. Usually rupestral. Distribution — East. Solway Forth Tay o Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde § West-Ross o Lat. 54''4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, Finland, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance. — Imago. July, August. Larva. September- June. Food-plant, brasses, &c. Very variable in colour in Enghxnd but seems more uniform in vScotland, where the dark form appears to be the only one. The Scottish Naturalist. 33 BORMIA Tr. PUNCTULARIA Hb. Very local. Nemoral. Distribution — East. o o Tay § g o o o West, o o Argyle § o Lat. 56°3o'-56°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance. — Imago. May, June. Larva. July, August. Food-plant. Birch and alder. CREPUSCULARIA Hb. Not uncommon ? Nemoral. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee §00 o West. g Clyde goo Lat. 55°4o'-57°. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. English ? Time of Appearance. — Imago. April, May. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Larch. REPANDATA L. Abundant. Nemoral. Ascends to 1200 feet Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-57°-4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. April, May. FooD-PLANT. Oak, birch, &c. [abietaria Hb. Rare. Nemoral. Distribution — East, o Forth 00000 West, o Clyde 000 « Lat. 56^20'. Range in Europe. Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Britain, East France, &c. Type. Occidento- central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance. — Imago. July. Larva. May, June. Food- plant . Fir. Having seen no specimens, I prefer in the ineantirae to consider this as a rather donbtful inhabitant of Scotland, 34 The Scottish Naturalist. GEMMARIA Brahm. (1791); rhomboidaria Hb. (after 1797). Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay 00000 West. Solway Clyde 00 o Lat. 55°-56°-3o'. Range in Europe. Central and south- ern. .Type Centro-meridional. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Oak, plum, &c. CINCTARIA Schiff. Rare. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. o o Argyle o o Lat. 56°3o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. September. Food-plant. Heather. Amongst alders at Dalmally — Mr. Buxton. CLEORA Curtis. LICHENARIA Hufn. Not uncommon. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde § % ^ Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central (Sweden, &c). Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July. Larva. September-May. Food-plant. Tree lichens. C. glabraria has been reported from Solway and Clyde, and C. angularia Thnb. (vidiiaria S.V. j from Tay, but both seem to me to require corroboration. HYBERNIID^. ANISOPTBRYX Stph. .S3SCULARIA SchifF. Local. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay 00000 West. Solway Clyde 000 Lat. 54''5o'-56°3o'. Range in Europe. Central (Sweden?) Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. February- April. Larva. May, June. Food -plant. Ash, privet &c. { To be continued. ) The Scottish Naturalist. 35 THE OOLEOPTERA OF SCOTLAND. ( Continued from Vol. III., p. yj6.) Edited by D. SHARP, M.B. OPACA Lin. Rather common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Sohvay Clyde 000 QUADRIPUNCTATA Lin. Very rare. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay o Moray Sutherland o o West. 00000 o NIGRITA Creutz. Not common. Distribution — East. 8 8 Tay Dee 0 0 West. Solway 8^0 0 TRiSTis 111. Rare. Distribution — East. 0 Forth 0 0 0 0 West. Solway 0 0 0 0 o [oBSCURA Lin. Doubtful as Scottish. Distribution — ** Not common but generally distributed." Murray Cat. ATRATA Lin. Abundant. Lowland, highland. Distribution — East. 8 Forth Tay Dee Moray 8 o ^ West. Solway 80^0 SPH^RITES Lac. GLABRATUS Fab. Rare. In decaying fungi, and at oozing sap. Distribution — East. Tweed o Tay Dee 0000 West. 0000 o OUOUJID^. DBNDROPHAQUS Thoms. CRENATUS Payk. Highland. Under bark of Scotch fir. Very local. Distribution — East. o o Tay Dee Moray 000 West. 00000 SILVANUS Thoms. SURINAMENSIS Lin. Imported, but sometimes found away from habitations. Distribution — East, o Forth 000000 West, o 8 ^ o o 36 The Scottish Naturalist. BIDENTATUS Fab. Distribution — East. 000 o o 000 West. o Clyde 000 A single individual was found by Mr. Young near Paisley : it was pro- bably an imported specimen. • NAUSIBIUS Thorns. DENTATUS Marsh. An imported species found amongst groceries. Distribution — East, o Forth 000000 West. 00000 CRYPTOPHAGID^. TBLMATOPHILUS Thorns. TYPH^ Fall. Lowland, in marshes. Distribution — East. Tweed 0000000 West. o o CARICIS 01. Lowland, in marshes. Distribution. — East, o Forth 000000 West. Solway o ANTHEROPHAGUS Thoms. NIGRICORNIS Fab. Lowland, in flowers. Rare. Distribution — East, o Forth 00000 o West. § Clyde 000 The Antherophagus silaceus of Murray's Catalogue, is no doubt the above species. FALLENS 01. Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth 00000 West. Solway 0000 CRYPTOPHAGUS Er. SETULOSUS Sturm. Lowland, highland. Common. Distribution — East, g Fortli g Dee goo West. Solway g o o o The C. lycoperdi oi Murray's Catalogue is no doubt tliis species. PILOSUS (]yll. Common. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay % % o o West. Solway g o 0 o (Tq l>( cpnd fined.) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ^o >> ON THE OOOURRENOE OF PORPHYRIO SMARAGDONOTUS TEMM. By col. H. M. DRUMMOND HAY, C.M.Z S. IT may be interesting to record the fact of Forphyrio sniaragdonotus Temm. (P. chloroiiotus Breiim.) having been shot on the Tay last autumn by a young man resident in the village of Errol, who tells me that about the 15th September, while shooting wild-ducks by moonlight on the banks of the Tay, between Errol and Seaside, he was watching at the end of one of the stone dykes which stretch far out into the river, when his dog, which was poking about among the high reeds, started a bird which flew past him, and which he fortunately shot. Some little time afterwards the bird was shown to me, it having then been skinned and mounted. From the description I had previously got of it, I beUeved that the bird would turn out to be Porphyrio hyacinthus (Temm.) (P. veterum GmL), an occasional straggler to this country ; it having been, I believe, noticed more than once in England, while one is recorded by Mr. R. Gray in his "Birds of the West of Scotland" p. 337, as having been shot near Campbeltown, Argyleshire, in September 1876. Porphyrio hyacinthus I am well acquainted with, having so often seen it in Sicily, where it frequents the marshes in the neighbour- hood both of Catania and Syracuse ; but to my great surprise the bird brought to me proved to be Porphyrio smaras^donofus, which I believ.e to be more an eastern species than the former,"^ * Porphyria hyacinthus is mentioned by Temminck and other authors as inhabiting the Ionian Islands, Greece and Turkey. Having been for some years resident in the Ionian Islands, and through most parts of Greece and Turkey, I may state, that though frequently searched for, I have never seen it east of Sicily. 38 The Scottish Naturalist. having seen no notice of its occurrence in northern Africa or any part of western Europe. Professor Newton, however, in a letter to me lately, has drawn my attention to its occasional occur- rence in the south of Europe, one having been shot in Sicily (Ibis 1870, p. 454) and six live examples taken in the south of France, on the authority of Baron J. W. Von Miiller. On comparing the specimen in question with a pair of Sicilian Purple Water Hens, P. hyacinthtcs, in my possession, I find it to be smaller, and much brighter in plumage; un- fortunately no note was taken of the sex, but I believe it to be an adult male in full plumage. Very possibly it may have escaped from confinement, though it had no appearance of having done so, but this of course, after being at large for a certain time would be lost. Dr. Wylie, of Errol, tells me that about thirty years ago he shot (nearly in the same spot as the above) a bird of similar appearance, with deep red legs and frontal plate, but he could not be certain of the species as the bird was not preserved. I may remark that from the great extent of the reed beds on the tidal parts of the Tay, a bird of so shy and retired habits as the PorJ)hyrio, which is most difficult to flush, might easily escape detection, and may even have been of more frequent occurrence. Seggieden, March, 1877. THE LEPIDOPTEKA OF MOITCEEIPPE HILL. By Sir THOMAS MONCREIFFE, Bart. IT has been suggested to me by the editor of this Magazine that, from its central position in Scotland, and from the rather rich and varied nature of its productions, some account of Moncreiffe Hill and its Lepidopterous inhabitants might not be void of interest and instruction. The district of which I purpose giving an account comprises in reality only part of the hill, the greater portion of the northern slopes having been as yet only partially examined. Lying be- tween 56° 21'— 56° 22' N. Lat, and 3° 22'— 3° 25" W. Long., it is in area about one square mile, and varies in altitude from 30 The Scottish Nattiralist. 39 to 725 feet above sea level; the north-east boundary being a ridge of from 200 to 700 feet in height. More or less imme- diately to the southwest of the northern boundary there is an abrupt descent (in many places formed by precipitous rocks) followed by a more gradual but still very steep decline to about 100 feet above sea level, and then a gentler slope to about 30 feet on the southern boundary of the area. The ridge, which varies considerably in width, and the abrupt slopes (except where these are not actually rocky precipices), are more or less thickly wooded, all the various indigenous leaf trees and the usual coniferous trees being represented, with here and there a considerable undergrowth of heather, blaeberry, broom, furze, or bracken. The other plants include all those common to this part of the country, with a sprinkling of more local and rarer species. From 100 feet downwards there are the usual culti- vated fields intermixed with plantations and permanent pasture, and including Moncreiffe gardens and shrubberies. Geologically the hill is eruptive trap of the Old Red-sandstone, the lower grounds being covered with alluvial deposits of the usual nature. I shall now proceed to enumerate the species which inhabit the district, at the same time indicating their distribution therein. DIURNI. The butterflies are not numerously represented in species and call for few remarks. Pieris Brasskce, Rapce, and Napi are all numerous along the base, and flit about in great numbers up to 200 feet, above which BrassiccE is seldom seen, and all become less numerous as one gets further from the gardens, although the two latter are to be met with to the top. Anthocharis Cardaniines is not very common, and I have never observed above half-a-dozen in a season. Fararge Egeria. — I have only taken tw^o or three specimens of this butterfly at Moncreiffe, and cannot discover that it has been a common insect here. F. Megcera I have only observed two or three times since I commenced collecting, but Mr. Herd tells me that it was formerly a common insect about Moncreiffe. Why this should be so I am unable to form any opinion, as the grass parks round about the house where it is said to have abounded are in much the 4© The Scottish Naturalist. same state as they were forty years ago. It is one of tliose un- accountable cases which have been often noticed by entomo- logists, that insects disappear for no visible reason, and, as often happens, may reappear as commonly as formerly at some future time. Satyrus Semele is to be met with along the rocky faces, at an altitude of 400 feet and upwards, from one end of Moncreiffe Hill to the other. It visits the lower part of the hill occasion- ally, but its habitat is among the bare faces towards the summit. I have not observed any variations in size or markings. S. Janira is common everywhere, and although I have taken specimens that vary slightly in the ground colour, I think it is to be attributed more to the eifects of the weather than to any variation in the insect. S, HyperaJithics. — Not an uncommon insect, though local. It is to be met with every season in the same localities in about equal numbers, but it varies considerably in size and in the number of the Ocelli on the wings. I have four specimens now before me, varying as follows : — I St. Two ocelli on the superior wings and two on the posterior — the latter being slightly the largest. 2nd. Three on each of the superior wings, two on the posterior. The centre ones on the superior being con- siderably larger than any of the others, and the lowest one of the three being only a small black dot. 3d. Two distinct very small black dots on the right superior, on the left only one, in the right posterior none, in the left a very minute though perfectly clear ocellus. 4th. No ocelli on the two superior or on the right posterior, but a distinct though minute one on the left. In No. I, three out of four of the ocelli on the front wings have a white central spot, in the 4th it is absent, those on the posterior wings have all distinct white centres. In No. 2, eight of the ocelli have distinct white central spots, in the lower one of the three on each superior wing they are wanting. In Nos. 3 and 4, the white central spots are absent. In each case the outer circle is lighter than the ground colour of the wing, the inner one darker, and the central one pure shining white. Cceiiojiyinpha Davits has been reported from Moncreiffe Hill, but I have not seen specimens, so shall pass it by unclaimed. C. Pamphilus is common in every open space, and requires no comment. The Scottish Naturalist. 41 Vanessa Cardui h scarce in most seasons — indeed since I commenced collecting in 1870, it has never been plentiful. On one occasion Mr Herd disturbed one early in spring out of a rabbit hole, the roof of which he broke down with his foot while clambering along the hill face. V. Atalanta. — Not uncommon in some seasons, but cannot be called plentiful, although its food-plant is more than com- monly so in the woods. As however the farmers do not allow it to exist on the sunny side of the fields, the shady situations where it is most prevalent may not suit this sun-loving insect as a nursery for its offspring. I can corroborate the love of Atalanta for old sugared trees, as I have seen fiv^e or six con- gregated on one which had been sugared two nights previously for noctu^. V. Antiopa. — One of these handsome insects was taken in my garden, which lies at the foot of Moncreiffe Hill, in October 1872. It had frequented the place during the month of Sep- tember, and on one occasion I watched it sunning itself on the wall for five minutes, while a friend ran home for my net. It decamped, however, just as the net arrived, but was subse- quently captured and brought to me. On the same day that that I first saw Antiopa at Moncreiffe, Dr. Buchanan White and Col. Drummond Hay saw one near Dunkeld. I cannot think that this fine insect breeds with us in the north, and I must confess it seems to me probable that the individual specimens which were scattered over Scotland in 1872 were the stragglers of a flight such as those of other butterflies which have been frequently met with in warmer climates, that have been blo\vn across the channel to the south of England. If they bred with us more than single individuals would be seen together, and the larva would be observed. V. Ui'ticce. — Common everywhere in the open places up to the summit. A specimen came in to the light in my study at 12.30 A.M. on August 5th, 1872. I was standing at the open window at the time, and saw it enter. Argynnis Aglaia. — Local and uncertain in its appearance. Fairly common in 1870 and i87i,in one or two localities from 600 feet down to 100 ; since then, however, it has been scarce. The food-plant, Viola sylvatica, is very plentiful, and I cannot account for its absence since 1871, as I have noticed it in the colder climate of Blair Athole in undiminished numbers, though almost entirely absent here. 42 The Scottish Naturalist. Thecla Qiiercus is common on Moncreiffe Hill, and also on plantations at its base, amongst oak trees. It is, however, not easy to obtain in good condition, as it usually frequents the tops of the trees. I have seen it swarming occasionally round the oak tops in fine weather, and have sometimes taken it at the blossoms of the ragwort. On one occasion I took a specimen at rest on the flower of that plant at night, when examining the heads for insects with a lantern. T. Rubi. — In 1871, when I first noticed this pretty little but- terfly, it was confined principally to one spot, amongst Vac- ci7iiuin (bilberry). Since that time, however, it has spread over the whole of the hill wherever that plant grows, flying in the sunshine, and suddenly disappearing when the sky becomes clouded. In wet, cloudy weather, and at night, it rests upon the surrounding trees, and may then be beaten out of the branches, being specially partial to birch as a resting place. What the food-plant of the larva may be I cannot say, as few, if any, papilionaceous plants grow in the locality, and certainly little or no bramble."^ Altitude about 600 feet, more or less. Folyo7nmatus Phlceas. — Common in all open spaces, and requires no comments. Varies slightly in shades of ground colour. Lyccena Alsus. — Not common. I once took a specimen fly- ing, or rather hovering, on the lee side of a sugared tree. L. Icarus {^Alexis). — Common, but more numerous in some seasons than in others. I have seen almost every buttercup in a field occupied by this pretty little insect, and in a few days not one would be left ; probably they migrate according to the weather, or for other causes. Z. Artaxerxes. — Local and uncertain in its appearance. Never common, but usually to be obtained every season. I do not recollect having observed it except in two localities, one of which must be nearly 600 feet above sea level, and the other about 120. I have taken it usually after three o'clock in the afternoon. I have never observed the slightest variation in the markings of this insect. Several other species (e.g., Argyimis Selcjie and Euj^hrosync,) ought to occur here, but I have not yet observed them. Our list of butterflies, as will be seen, must be considered decidedly a * I have always found this insect amongst Vacdtiium myriillns, on which the larva must surely feed. I am not aware, however, that it has been seen to do so. — Ed. Scot. Nat. The Scottish Naturalist. 43 poor one, as it only comprises the following 21, out of 32 Perthshire species : 1. Pieris Brassic?e ; c 12. Vanessa Atalanta ; / 2. „ RapcC ; c 13. „ Antiopa ; v r 3. „ Napi ; c 14. „ Urticse ; c 4. Anthocharis Cardamines; r 15. Argynnis Aglaia ; / 5. Pararge Egeria ; r 16. Thecla Quercus ; c 6. „ Megaera ; r 17. ,, Rubi ; c 7. Satyrus Semele ; c t8. Polyommatus Phlaeas ; c 8. „ Janira ; c 19. Lycsena Icarus; c 9. ,, Hyperanthus ; c 20. ,, Alsus ; / 10. CoenonymphaPamphilus, <: 21. „ Artaxerxes ; / 11. Vanessa Cardui ; r NOCTURNI. None of the Zygcenidce occur at Moncreiffe, nor indeed in Perthshire. I tried to introduce Zys;cena Filipefiditlce, by turn- ing out some of the images reared from the pupae sent by my son, T. G. H., from Winchester, but although they frequented the spot for the rest of the season, I lost sight of them eventually, and they have disappeared. I think they were probably snapped up by the Flycatchers, which were very numerous that season. Smcrinthus Populi. — Common on the lower part of Moncreiffe Hill. I have noticed the larva on young aspens up to about 200 feet. One imago, which I found resting on the grass at the foot of a white poplar, and which had evidently just emerged, was of a peculiarly rich dark tint. Those reared have been of a paler hue and of the common type. I never saw one on the wing that I am aware of. The larvae feed indiscriminately on the different kinds of poplar, and on sallow and common willow. Acheroniia Atropos. — An imago of this insect was taken in my garden on a privet hedge bordering on a plot of potatoes, and is now in my collection, and one was seen by Mr Herd in 1875, hovering for a moment over sweet-william. In sweeping at it with his net he knocked it down with the stick but did not effect its capture. When struck, he states that it squeaked audibly. Sphinx Convolvuli. — I have one specimen which I took * To indicate the abundance, or otherwise, of each species in the district, I append to each name c (common),/" (frequent), r (rare), or z/ r(very rare). 44 The Scottish Naturalist. hovering over verbena blossom in my garden, on the evening of the 2nd of September 1875. This is the only record I know of this fine insect from Moncreiffe, although I have another specimen taken in the immediate neighbourhood. Deilephila Galti. — The only specimen which I know to have been taken within the bounds comprised in this paper, was captured by myself, on the evening of the 25th of June 1876, flying at Rhododendron blossom, at the foot of Moncreiffe Hill. I did not note the exact time, but it had become so dark that I had lighted my lantern. My attention was suddenly attracted by a sound which I at first attributed to the humming sound which a steam engine sometimes makes, and which I thought proceeded from one on a neighbouring railway. I became aware, however, that it was not so far distant, and on turning round my lantern, I beheld a splendid specimen of D. Galii busily employed at the blossoms of a Rhododendron bush, a few yards from me. It took no notice of the light, and I made a careful and deliberate sweep at it with my net, which I turned over and placed on the ground. The sound suddenly ceased, and on first examining my net, nothing was to be seen. My heart beat almost as loudly as my quarry had hummed. I took hold of the tail of the net and turned it over, when, to my de- light, I discovered D. Galii close up to the top of the hoop under the stick, evidently having scuttled up as far as he could in his endeavour to escape. Fortunately I had a pocket cyanide bottle with me, plaster of Paris being run in on the top of the cyanide, so that there were no loose fragments to rattle about inside. I mention this as a hint to entomologists who prefer the cyanide loose, as had I used it in that form this splendid specimen would no doubt have been spoiled. As it was, how- ever, 1 inserted my arm, bottle in hand, under the net, taking care to lift the bag of the net gently towards the lantern which I had placed on the ground, got the mouth of the bottle in front of my captive, into which he wriggled in his attempt to obtain his liberty. As the bottle was long enough to hold him, but not wide enough to allow him to use his wings, he was fairly wedged, and in a very short time ceased to struggle. I took him home, and with a little careful manipulation extracted him from his prison, placed him in a larger Cyanide bottle, and now he graces my cabinet, as perfect a specimen as I could wish to see. I am sorry to say I did not think of this plan when I captured the -S. Convolvtili above-mentioned, but carried The Scottish Naturalist. 45 him home in my net, his struggles causing considerable damage. Ch(E7'ocainpa Porcellus. — Locally common on Moncreiffe Hill and its base. Firstly, in my garden, at about 100 feet of eleva- tion ; Secondly, on the lower face of the hill, on an open space of some hundred square yards, at from 100 to 200 feet of eleva- tion ; Thirdly, on another open space towards the summit, at an altitude of about 500 feet or thereabouts. In the first place — /.. Grevillmna, gathered in Glentilt by Miss Maclnroy, at Helsingfors by Lindberg, on Mount Splugen by Schimper, and neai- Schladming (Styria) by Breidler. These varied very much. The leaves in the Glenshee, Helsingfors and M. Splugen specimens were more or less distinctly serrulate by a few coarse shallow teeth at the apex, and tw^o or three lower down. In the Glentilt and Schladming specimens they were entire. The lid in the Helsingfors specimens was not longer than the capsule. In the Glentilt and Mount Splugen specimens it was rather longer, whilst in those from Schladming it was twice as long. In the Helsingfors, Glentilt, and T^Iount Splugen speci- mens, the capsules were faintly striate and substrumose; in the Schladming and Glenshee specimens they were distinctly so. But however much they varied from each other, there was one point in which they agreed, there was Jiot a svigle case of moftoicoiis inflorescence. Some considerable time ago Mr. Grant of Lossiemouth sent me what he supposed to be a Mniiini, gathered by him in one of his excursions among the Grampians. It seems to me to be Bryiini cyclophylluni, a very rare European species, and new to Great Britain. The specimens were barren, but agree with European ones in the same state. Quite recently Mr. R. H. Paterson of Glasgow has sent specimens of several mosses collected by him, principally in Argyleshire, during the summer of 1875. Among these are Pottia crinita from the sea side near Kilfinan \ Myurella iulacea in fruit, and Hypnuni Halleri from Ben Tigh. A still more important species consisted of two stems of the long lost Neckera pennata, said to have been gathered by Drummond, at Fotheringham, near Forfar, and by Mr. D. Orr, in Colin Glen, near Belfast. Mr. Roy of Aberdeen and myself not long ago searched the former station for it without success, and Mr. Stewart of Belfast has repeatedly huntedfor it in the Irish station with no better result. Its rediscovery by Mr. Paterson in Balimore woods, Argyleshire, is most interesting, as giving us 62 The Scottish Naturalist. a British station in which it may be really gathered at the present moment. Another of Mr. Paterson's mosses was one which he had gathered at the Trossachs last year. The specimen sent was a very small one, but remarkably characteristic in appearance, and quite perfect, having three drooping capsules on exceedingly short fruit-stalks not more than i-4th of an inch in length. I have little or no hesitation in saying that this is a new British species, viz., Hypnu7}i Lorentzianum of Molendo. It agrees well with the description of that species. Neither Molendo nor Schimper appear to have seen the male flowers, though the latter ranks the species in the subgenus Hetero- J)hy/lii?ji, along with H. Haldanea^ium, and If. ncDiorosinn^ which are both monoicous. In Mr. Paterson's specimen there were abundance of male flowers on the same stems as the female flowers. Schimper considers that this species might be made the type of a new subgenus, — a remark with which those who know this very peculiar Hypmun will at once agree. In the few extremely large inflated cells at the base of the leaf, one is instantly reminded of some sections of the South American genus Sejnatophylluju. Hitherto Great Britain has been without a representative of Coscinodon, a genus uniting some of the characters of Griimnia and Ptychoinitrinj?i, and composed of only four species, which are equally divided between Europe and North America, where they are very rare. This deficiency in the Moss-Flora of Great Britain has now been removed by j\Ir. Paterson's discovery in Argyleshire of a very interesting and entirely new Cosci7iodo?2. It is abundantly distinct. I propose to name it Coscifiodon Pater soni^ in honour of its acute discoverer. Coscinodon Patersoni, n. sp. Monoicous. Tufts compact, grey with a yellowish-brown tinge. 8te7ns about }^ inch long, dichotomously branched, branches rather unequal. Leaves slightly plicate at the base strongly plicate along the verve in the upper half without the deep sulci on either side so characteristic of C. pulviuatus. Lower leaves oblong-lanceolate, concave, muticous, obtuse ; up})er leaves obtuse, with densely and shortly toothed hairi:)oints, which are broad, sometimes pale yellow at the base, straight or connivent, and often longer than the leaf; pericha'tial leaves more tender, larger, more evidently pHcate throughout, very concave, subcon volute, with hairpoints very broad at the base The Scottish Naturalist. 63 and concave to i-5th of their length or more ; all the leaves trect or adpressed both in a wet and dry state. Nerve prominent on the back, thin and channelled in the upper part, usually projecting into the hairpoints. Margin broadly revoUde on one side, plain or nearly so on the other, except in the uppermost and perich?etial leaves. Cells at the base near the nerve, long, narrow, subrectangular, becoming shorter and quadrate at the margin, gradually becoming shorter and sinuoso-quadrate in the upper half; all of them somewhat close, thin walled, without the wide intercellular spaces of C. hiimilis. Iiiflorescenu mo7wicoiis. Male flowers abundant, almost always on a separate branch, which is surmounted with shorter hairpoints, large. Antheridia large, stipitate, without paraphyses, 1 2 to 14 in each flower. Calyptra with about 10 plicae, 10 short lobes at the base, reaching to the base of the capsule, naked ? Lid conical at the base, with a slightly inclined obtuse rostrum, fully half the length of the capsule. Aniiulus ? Capsule brown, long-oval, tapering into the apophysis, showing the columella through its thin walls, scarcely striate, wide mouthed when empty, emergent, the lid reaching to the top of the long hairjpoints. Teeth of the peristome lanceolate, cloven at the apex, with several perfora- tions, and from 8 to 10 distinct bars, very papillose, pale above, and of a beautiful deep brownish orange below ; erect tvhen dry. Fruit-stalk about 2 or 3 lines long, straw-coloured. Abundantly distinct from either of the European species ; from C.pidvinatus in the inflorescence, leaves, and longer capsule, (S:c., from C. humilis in the stouter habit, direction of the leaves, revolute margin, very much in the areolation and the long fruit- stalk, which sends the capsule straight up to the top of the hair- points, not peeping out at the side, at or below their base. Un- fortunately the specimens were gathered at a season when the fruit appears to have been over-ripe, and are besides very scanty. Hence I have been unable exactly to determine the exact appearance of the plant when growing. Only one calyptra and perfect capsule have been dissected by me, and I have been unable to be so precise as could be wished in describing these. I have a fancy that the calyptra may prove to have a few hairs at the apex. It is to be hoped that perfect and more abundant specimens may be had soon. The plant, so far as the fruit is concerned, looks to the naked eye very like Grinuma Ungeri. 64 The Scottish Naturalist. STEUOTUEE OF THE COMMON MUSHEOOM. By WORTHINGTON G. SMITH, F.L.S.* THE entire substance of the common Mushroom is made up of excessively small bladder-like cells ; these cells are so small in size and light of weight, that no less than 1,500,000,000,000 (one and a half billions of cells) go to every ounce of the Mushroom's weight. Mushrooms are generally grown by dealers from spawn or mycelium ; this spawn is nothing but living matted cells in a resting condition, needing warmth, moisture, and darkness only for vivification. Mushrooms may, liowever, be grown from the purple-black dust which falls from their lower surface. This black dust again simply consists of nothing but cells, but in this case the cells are called spores. These latter are of a somewhat different nature from the simple cells of the flesh of the Mushroom, and their outer coat in this species is changed in colour from transparent to purple-black, possibly from contact with the air. The cells in the stem of the Mushroom are sausage-shaped, and grow vertically ; on reaching the cap these cells spread over in an umbrella fashion, and descend into the internal substance of each individual gill. This internal mass of cells within the gill is termed the "trama "by botanists, (a. a. Fig. I.) To understand how the Mushroom produces its seeds or spores, a slice should be cut off the side of the cap of a ]\Iush- room from the top downwards. Where the sectional part is now exposed, the gills which are cut through will look like so many small fine teeth of a comb. With a sharp lancet a very small thin transparent fragment must now be sliced off from the top downwards, and placed upon a glass for examination under the microscope. When magnified 250 diameters this fragment will be seen, as in Fig. I., to consist wholly of simple cells. The sausage-shaped cells of the stem which have spread over the cap and descended into each individual gill are seen between the letters a, a. These "trama " cells are of some importance, because certain members of the Mushroom-tribe have no larger cells of this nature. As * Read at the meeting of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, September 1S76. We are indebted to the Editor of the Gardcneis' Chronicle for electrotypes of the figures. The Scottish Naturalist. 65 these latter cells gradually grow towards the exposed surface on each side of the gill, b, b, they get considerably smaller in size, p Fig. I. — THE COMMON' MUSHROOM (aGARICUS CAMPESTRIS, L. Vertical transverse section through gill, showing '* trama," a, a, and the two liymeni 1 or spore-bearing surfaces c, b. X 250 diam. denser, and less and less transparent. The exposed surface of the gill is the fruiting, spore-bearing, or hymenial surface, and 66 The Scottish Naturalist. the cells found in this position it is our present purpose to examine somewhat minutely. For this purpose they are further enlarged in Fig. II. to 1500 diameters. The barren surface cells Fig. II. — THE COMMON MUSHROOM (aGARICUS CAMPESTRIS, L. ction through hynienial or spore-bearing surface ; showing simple cells (c) ; cystidia with granular contents at u, d, — basidia, E, E, E, — and gradual development of spores, G, G, G, upon the spicules, F, K, f : X 1500 diam. are seen at c, c, c. Intermediate with these are larger cells, D, D, termed cystidia, and believed by many botanists to be The Scottish Naturalist. 67 male in their nature, and possessed of fecundative properties, and other cells, e, e, e, named basidia, which carry the spores. The spores are borne on short branches, termed spicules, seen at F, F, F, and the spores in various stages of growth may be seen at g, g, g. The spores in all the Mushroom tribe are produced in clusters of four on each basidium, but on the common Mushroom and all its varieties, as far as I have seen, these four spores are generally produced two at a time, and, as the first two drop off the last two appear, so that it is seldom that more than two are seen iji situ at the same time. The two new spores pushing the two old ones oif their branches is illustrated on the lower part of Fig. II. This phenomenon teaches a valuable lesson, and one which has, as I conceive, been quite erroneously interpreted by Professor Sachs {Handbook, p. 251), who says the common Mushroom only produces two spores on each basidium, and so illustrates the subject in his fig. 174. The diagram Fg. III. (enlarged 1500 diameters), illustrates .'^^ Fig. III. — DEVELOPMENT OF SPORES IN THE MUSHROOM : X 1500 DIAM what I believe to be the true explanation of the development of the spores in the common Mushroom, and potentially in all the Mushroom tribe. The diagram illustrates the development of a single basidium with its spores ; the upper figures of the latter cut show the basidium as seen from the side, the lower figures the basidium as seen from the top. The ceils of the Mushroom increase in number by transverse partitions which divide each cell into two. The last-formed cell repeats the process continuously till the fungus is complete. 68 The Scottish Naturalist. and the special cells (spores) destined for the reproduction of the species are reached. The basidium is first a simple cell, seen in two positions, as at h, h. This simple cell becomes potentially (but often indefinitely) divided by a longitudinal partition, as at j, j ; each of these divided portions produces a branch, as at k, k, and each of these branches bears a spore (l, l), which in its turn is again cut off by cell division, this time transversely. The basidium is now again longitudinally divided at m, m ; these portions in their turn also produce new branches, which give rise to two more spores (o, o), each spore again cut off by a transverse septum. As the two last formed spores increase in size they gradually push the two old ones p, p, off their supports, so that unless the whole process is very carefully watched it might be concluded that the Mushroom produces only two spores (instead of four) on each basidium, as stated by Professor Sachs. The mature spores on germination of course reproduce the species by means of a series of new cells. All experiments prove the life of the spore to be very short, but when the spore once germinates and forms spawn the latter material has great tenacity of life, and this mycelium is commonly, if not always, perennial. OONTKIBUTIONS TO THE DESMID TLOEA Or PEETHSHIRE/ No. I. By JOHN ROY. So far as I knoAV, the following fragment is the first attempt which has been made to give an enumeration of the Desmids of this large and impor- tant county. The list here given, tliough not large, contains nearly as many species, as are given by Ralfs, in 1848, for the whole of Britain. Na doubt it will be greatly increased. The present list is the result of the examination of " gatherings " — from Mcthven Bog, Arnbothie, Durdie Moor, Rannoch, and near Tyndrum, sent me by Dr. Buchanan White — from Glcnshee, by Rev. J. P'ergusson — from Birnam Hill, Fowlis Wester, Tay- mount, and near Scone, by Mr. W. Rutherford, — from Atholeand Glenshee collected by myself. The name of the localities will indicate the collectors, of each species. For a note of one species, Cosmariiim cymatojylcurum, * Communicated to the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, January^ 1877. The Scottish Naturalist. 69 Nordstedt, which is new to Britain, I am indebted to Mr. \Vm. Archer, Dublin, the eminent algologist. Perhaps it may not be thought out of place here to offer a hint or two to intending collectors. Desmids are pretty generally distributed, being found in streams, as well as pools, but the most prolific localities will generally be found to be permanent shallow pools on heaths. In such situations, a handful of bog- moss taken out of the water and squeezed into a wide-mouthed bottle will be sure to yield something. Another method, which is often very effective, is to plunge a bottle, mouth downwards, into the water ; on reaching the mud, turn it over on its side, and move it about, just dipping in the mud, when it will fill rapidly. Stripping the submerged stems of aquatic plants, often yields good results, as does also " squeezings " of mosses or algoe, attached to stones in sti'eams. As a rule lakes give poor results, but little pools, on their margins, are worth trying, if the bottom is muddy. When taken home, the bottles should be placed in the light, with the stoppers removed, and the contents examined as soon as possible. If they have to be kept for some time, the most of the water should be poured off, taking care to preserve the sediment, and the water replaced by a weak solution of Acetate of Potash. I shall be glad to examine any samples sent to my address, 3 Loanhead Place, Aberdeen, with the view of preparing a supplementary list. To those gentlemen, who have kindly assisted me, by sending gatherings, I take this opportunity of tendering my hearty thanks. Hyalotheca Ehr. 1. H. dissiliens Sm. — Athole Forest and east from Falar ; Methven Bog ; Arnbathie, and Durdie Moor ; Glen^hse ; Birnam Hill, and Fowlis Wester. 2. H. mucosa Mert. — Methven Bog, and Durdie Moor. DiDYMOPRIUM Kutz. I. D. Borreri^^lh. — Methven Bog, and Rannoch ; Glenshee ; Fowlis- Wester. Desmidium Ag. I. D. 6'zc'ar/c// Ag.— Methven Bog, Arnbathie, and Durdie Moor; Glen Shee. Sph/EROZosma Corda. 1 . S. vertebratum Breb. — Athole Forest. 2. S. excavatum Ralfs — Athole Forest. Spondylosium Breb. I. S. pulckellnni Avc\\Qv. — Rannoch; Glenshee; Fowlis Wester. Some months since, Mr. Aixher sent me siipitate examples of this species from Ireland. They are also stipitate in the Fowlis Wester gathering. MiCRASTERIAS Ag. 1. M. dentiadata Breb. — East from Falar, and in Glenshee ; Methven Bog, and Rannoch ; Birnam Hill. 2. M. Thoj7iasiana Archer. — Durdie Moor. 3. M. rotata Grev. — Methven Bog, and Durdie Moor ; Birnam Hill. 70 The Scottish Naturalist. 4. M. papillifera Breb. — Methven Bog, and Durdie Moor. 5. M. americana Ehr. — Glensliee. 6. M. truncata Corda. — Durdie Moor, and Rannoch ; Glenshee ; Birnam Hill, and Fowlis Wester. 7. M. Jenneri Ralfs. — Birnam Hill. 8. M. niHcronatiis Dixon. — Glenshee. EuASTRUM Ehr. 1. E. verrucosiim Ehr. — Athole Forest and Glenshee ; Durdie Moor. 2. E. oblonguni Grev. — Athole Forest, east from Falar, and Glen Shee Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, Arnbathie ; Birnam Hill and Fowlis Wester. 3. E. crassum Breb. — Athole Forest, and Glenshee ; Rannoch. 4. E. hiinierosuin Ralfs. — Glenshee. 5. E. affineK^lk. — East from Falar, and Glenshee ; Rannoch. 6. E. ampiiUacenm Ralfs. —Athole Forest, and Glenshee ; Methven Bog, and Rannoch ; Fowlis Wester. 7. E. insigne Hass. — Arnbathie and Rannoch ; Glenshee. 8. E. didelta Turp. — Athole Forest ; Methven Bog, Arnbathie and Rannoch ; Birnam Hill. 9. E. ansatiim Ehr. — Athole Forest ; Durdie Moor, Arnbathie, Methven Bog, and Rannoch ; Birnam Hill. 10. E. pedinatiiin Breb. — Athole Forest, east from Falar, and in Glen- shee ; Methven Bog, and Durdie Moor ; Birnam Hill. 11. E. gemmatu7)i Breb. — Birnam Hill. 12. E. rostratum Ralfs. — Athole Forest ; Rannoch ; Glenshee ; Birnam Hill and Fowlis Wester. 13. E. elegans Breb. — Athole Forest, and Glenshee ; Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, and Arnbathie ; Birnam Hill, and Fowlis Wester. 14. E. binale Turp. — Athole Forest ; Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, Arnbathie, and Rannoch ; Glenshee ; Birnam Hill and Fowlis Wester. Several distinct species are, at present, associated under this name. 15. E. insulare Witt. — Durdie Moor. 16. E. aiigusiatum Witt. — Glenshee. 17. E. cimeatum Jenner. — Rannoch ; Glenshee. CosMARiUM Corda. 1. C. ijiiadratum Ralfs. — Athole Forest. 2. C. cuiiimis Corda. — Arnbathie; Glenshee. 3. C. Kalfsii Breb. — Durdie Moor and Rannoch. 4. C. pyraniidatum Breb. — Athole Forest ; Rannoch. 5. C. pseudo-pyraniidatitvi Lundell. — Rannoch. 6. C. tinduni Ralfs. — Athole Forest and east from Falar ; Durdie Moor. 7. C. bioculatiDii Ikeb. — Athole Forest ; Durdie Moor. 8. C. granatnm Breb. — Athole Forest ; Durdie Moor, and Arnbathie ; Birnam Hill. 9. C. Meneghinii Breb.— Athole Forest ; Durdie Moor, and Arnbathie. 10. C. angulosian \\xq\-). — Athole Forest ; Birnam Hill. 11. C. vennstum Breb. — Rannoch; Fowlis Wester. 12. C./j'^w^rw;;/ Archer. —Athole Forest; Rannoch; Fowlis Wester. 13. C. piisillni/i Brel). — Rannoch. The Scottish Naturalist. 71 14. C. tetragonum^ Nag. (the Swedish form). — Uurdie Moor. 15. C. nymannianum G\-\xno\y. — Athole Forest ; Rannoch ; nearFowlis Wester. 16. C. Hanwien Reinsch, b. minus. — Athole Forest. 17. C. sinuosum Lundell. — Methven Bog. 18. C. tetrachondrum Lundell. — Durdie Moor. 19. C. depressiim Nag. (not of Bailey). — Durdie Moor. This appears to be only a spineless form of Arthrodesmus convergens Ehr. 20. C. circulare Reinsch. Athole Forest. 21. C. crenaiutn Ralfs. — Athole Forest and Glenshee ; Methven Bog, Arnbathie, and Rannoch. Var. bicrenatum Nordstedt. — Durdie Moor. 22. C. undidatum Corda. — Athole Forest and Glenshee. 23. C. cyinatopleiirum Nordst. — Roadside between Killin and Kenmore. 24. C. notabih Breb. — Athole Forest. 25. C. sportella Breb. — Durdie Moor ; near Scone. 26. C. ccclatum Ralfs. — Birnam Hill. 27. C. quadrifariwn Lundell. — Athole Forest. 28. C. i'?^^;/^j/ Reinsch. — Durdie Moor. 29. C. Bredz'sso nil 'Slenegh. Durdie Moor; Birnam HilL 30. C. tetraophthalmutii Breb. — Athole Forest, east from Falar, and Glenshee ; Birnam Hill. 31. C. botrytis Menegh. — Athole Forest, east from Falar, and Glenshee ; Durdie Moor and Arnbathie ; large form near Scone. 32. C. juargaritiferum Menegh. — Methven Bog and Durdie Moor. 33. C. rtiiifortne Ag. — Durdie Moor. 34. C. anmyium Breb. — Fonna major Lundell. — Glenshee. A distinct species. 35. C. Portianiim Archer. — Athole Forest ; Durdie Moor. 36. C. monilifonne Twx^. — Athole Forest ; Ai-nbathie ; Glenshee. 37. C. phaseolus Breb. — Athole Forest and Glenshee ; Durdie Moor ; Fowlis Wester. Var. yS elevatuin Nord. — Rannoch. 38. C. gotlandicum Wittk. — Glenshee. 39. C. cucurbi^aBveh. — Rannoch; Glenshee; Fowlis Wester. 40. C. palangtda Breb. — Athole Forest ; Rannoch. 41. C. Thxvaitesii Ralfs. — Athole Forest ; Birnam Hill. 42. C. cnrtum Breb. — Near Tyndrum. 43. C. obliquiuii Nprdst. — Glenshee. Xanthidium Ehr. 1. X. armatum Breb. — Methven Bog and Rannoch; Glenshee. 2. X. aadeatiim Ehr. —Durdie Moor. 3. X. antUopmini Breb. — Glenshee. 4. X. cristatiun Breb. — Durdie Moor. ^ uncinatuvi Breb. — Arnbathie. Arthrodesmus Ehr. 1. A. convergens Ehr. — Durdie Moor. 2. A . Incus Brth. — Athole Forest ; Rannoch; Glenshee. 3. A. bifidus Breb. —Athole Forest. 4. A. octocornis Ehr. — Athole Forest. /3 viajor Ralfs. — Rannoch ; Glenshee. 72 The Scottish Naturalist. Staurastrum Meyen. 1. S. mucronatuiii Ralfs. — Athole Forest; Durdie Moor and Rannoch ; Glenshee ; Fowlis Wester. 2. S. dejecttuii Breb. — Athole Forest and east from Falar ; Durdie Moor, Arnbathie, and Rannoch ; Glenshee ; Fowlis Wester. Var. y connatum Lundell. — Rannoch. 3. S. Dickiei^'aXk. — Athole Forest. 4. S. cuspidat2tm Breb. — Athole Forest. 5. S. megacanthwn Lundell. — Athole Forest. 6. S. brachiatii7?i Ralfs. — Glenshee; Rannoch. 7. S. margariiaceum Ehr. — Athole Forest ; Durdie Moor and Rannoch ; Glenshee. 8. S. alternans Breb. — Athole Forest ; Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, and Rannoch ; Bimam Hill. 9. S. /7'icome Breb. — Durdie Moor. 10. S. dilatahim Ehr. — Durdie Moor and Arnbathie. 11. *S, p2. P. polyiiiorphuniY&cty. — Athole Forest ; Glenshee. ^ 11. P. Jfooreanu/u Archer. — Athole Forest. 12. P. rufo-pellituvi mihi n. s. — Almost cylindrical, widening very slightly from the middle to the ends, which are perfectly circular ; chloro- phyl plates numerous, close, and parallel ; membrane very dark brick- colour, minutely and closely scrobiculato-punctate ; the colour and puncta are in the outer pellicle, which sometimes comes off, and leaves the inner colourless and smooth ; suture distinct. Length, ^fg in. ; breadth at suture, g^r i"- 5 tlo. near the ends, g^. P. riifescens Cleve, is the nearest ally of this little species, but that species appears to be quite cylindrical, not slightly widening towards the ends, besides this species is of stouter habit, and has more numerous chloro- phyl plates. From P. truncatnni Ralfs, it differs in the round, not trun- cate, ends, and the brown, not green, colour. Distrib. — In Scotland — Aberdeen, Kincardine, Perth. In Ireland — Connemara. Perthsh. Loc. — Glenshee. 13. P. Brebissonii^ient^. — Athole Forest and east from Falar; Methven Bog ; Fowlis Wester. Cylindrocystis Menegh. I. C. crassa de Bary. — Fowlis Wester. DociDiUM Breb. 1. D. clavatwn Klitz. — Athole Forest. 2. D. Ehrenbergii Ralfs. — Athole Forest; Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, and Arnbathie. 3. D. dilatatiim Cleve. — Rannoch. 4. D, baculiim Breb. — Athole Forest. 5. D. viinutuvi Ralfs. Forma major Lundell. — Durdie Moor. GoNATOZYGON de Bary. 1. G. Palfsii do. By. — Arnbathie. 2. G. Brebissonii de By. — Durdie Moor and Arnbathie. 74 The Scottish Naturalist. Spirot.enia Breb. .1. is condensata Breb. — Athole Forest, east from Falar, and Glenshee ; Rannoch. 2. S. ^runcafa Archer. — Birnam Hill. 3. S. ininida Thiiret. — East from Falar. Closteriu-M Nitzsch. 1. C. didymotoct(?ii Corda. — East from Falar ; Durdie Moor ; Birnam Hill. 2. C. striolatiim Ehr. — !Methven Bog, Durdie INIoor, Arnbathie, and Rannoch ; Glenshee ; Birnam Hill, Taymount, and Fowlis Wester. More than one species included under this name. 3. C. interniediniii Ralfs. — Glenshee ; Methven Bog and Durdie Moor. 4. C. costatum Corda. — Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, and Arnbathie. 5. C. angitstaUnn Kiitz. — Durdie Moor, Arnbathie, and Rannoch. 6. C. juncidiini Ralfs. — Athole Forest ; Methven Bog and Arnbathie. 7. C. direcinm Archer. — Rannoch. 8. C. lunula ISIuller. — East from Falar and Glenshee ; Methven Bog and Arnbathie ; Birnam Hill. 9. C. acerosuvi Schrank. — Athole Forest. 10. C. Pritchardiaiaan Archer. — Durdie Moor. 11. C. lineatum Ehr. — Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, and Arnbathie; Birnam Hill. 12. C. attenuatum Ehr. — Athole Forest; Birnam Hill. 13. C. Malinverniamwi de Not. — Athole Forest and east from Falar. 14. C. vioniliferuni Bory. — East from Falar ; Durdie Moor ; near Scone. 15. C. Ehrenbergii Menegh. — Athole Forest and east from Falar ; Durdie Moor ; near Scone. 16. C. Leibleinii Kiitz. — Athole Forest and east from Falar ; Methven Bog and Durdie Moor ; Birnam Hill and near Scone. 17. C. D'xancv Ehr. — Methven Bog, Durdie Moor, Arnbathie, and Rannoch ; Birnam Hill. 18. C. Vemis Kiitz. — East from Falar ; Rannoch. 19. C. paiTc'uhnii Nag. — Durdie Moor and Arnbathie. 20. C. Jenneri Ralfs. — Durdie Moor ; Birnam Hill. 21. C. rostratuvi Ehr. — Methven Bog; Taymount. 22. C. setaceuvi Ehr. — Durdie Moor; Birnam Hill and Taymount. 23. C. deco7-ujn Breb. — Athole Forest. 24. C. cornu Ehr. — Athole Forest ; Birnam Hill. 25. C. acutuni Lyngb. — Athole Forest and east from Falar ; Methven Bog and Durdie Moor. 26. C. graciJi' Breb. — Durdie Moor and Rannoch ; Birnam Hill. 27. C. linea Perty. — Rannoch ; Glenshee. 28. C, sfrigosjiiH Breb. — Rannoch ; Taymount and near Scone. -<6<^^>e- 7 he Scottis/i Naturalist. 75 A BOTANICAL RAMBLE IN GLENSHEE. In July last year, after having spent some time on the Forfarshire coast and mountains, I passed over the Cairn-o'-Month to vStrachan, where Messrs. Sim and Roy were busily and successfully engaged in investigating the botany of the surrounding district. It was my intention, after having spent a few days with them, to have gone down the Cowie in Kincardineshire, but learning that the banks of this stream had been recently explored, and that Dr. Trail was likely to take charge of a part of the Kincardineshire coast which was not well known, I started alone for Glenshee, the crypto- gamic botany of which had been totally neglected. As mentioned in this Journal (Oct. 1873, April 1875,) I expected that Anacalypta latifolia would yet be found about the Cairnwell. I was anxious to satisfy myself on the point ; accordingly, having taken the first train from Banchory to Ballater and the coach from Ballater to Castleton of Braemar, I started from the latter place for Spittal of Glenshee, which was about 15 miles off. The day, which in the morning was cold, stormy, and rainy, broke up, and became as delightful as a solitary botanist amid " the silence of the glens " could desire, and as I had abundance of time I took the road leisurely ; and greatly blessed by the exhilarating air, came to the decided conviction that most of the human species were ignorant barbarians who knew no bette^- than to live in the roar and dirt of towns. Will there ever come a time when our country-men will desert the old kitchen-middens of their fore- fathers, move more inland, and occupy the higher regions of the island ? Shortly before the time of which I write, I had heard some controversy as- to the geographical distribution of Raphmuis raphanistruni over the N. E. of Scotland. It was maintained that it was very rare or entirely awanting in some quarters, and that many localities assigned to it on examination yielded only Smapis arvensis\ which it so much resembles. There is, no doubt, a good deal of truth in this ; but on Deeside, from Banchory up- wards, both plants occur, and can easily be distinguished at a distance. I found both ascending to the highest cultivated land in Glenclunie. A little beyond the shooting lodge there, and on the left side of the stream,, rises a low ridge of hills, the green short pasture of which, and the conforma- tion of their rocks, indicates the presence of limestone ; so I resolved to give them a hurried visit, hoping that Anacalypta might have honoured them with its presence: but no. Still I was pleased to find about and on thera such flowering plants as Ranunculus bulbosus, Pimpinella saxifraga, To- fieklia, Arenaria serpyllifolia, &c. ; and such cryptogams as Oi'thotric/ium anomalnm, Tortula rtiralis. Hyp. sa7-men(osiim, Hyp. scorpioides, Hyp. 76' The Scottish Naturalist. chrijsopkyliu}?i, and Tjichosiu/nuin neglectum Wils. MS. Much more unexpected than any of these was the fungus Amanita vaginata, var. ritfa, growing in a sheUered corner without a single bush within a mile of it, a discovery which astonished me as much as my finding Rnssula emetica growing with Mulgediutii alpinum^ within a few hundred feet of the summit of Lochnagar ! A rarer fungus got a little lower down was Puccinia bistortcv, a species which had been got shortly before in England. * In Glen- clunie it was very scarce, only a few specimens having been seen. After spending two good hours there, I took the road again, and scarce slackened pace until the top of the Cairnwell was reached. It is the scene of many a thrilling story of Catrins and funerals in the olden time, a weird and lonely place, Avith the appearance of graves and the smell of ghosts about it. Here too one is within a hundred yards or so of that dreadful place *'The Devil's Elbow," and unconsciously finds himself keeping a sharp look out, and hurrying onwards with a creeping, electric sensation about his scalp, and with his hat actually rising an inch or two above its usual place of rest. No botanist has ever had the courage to prosecute his studies there for more than a minute or two at a time. For my part, after *' putting myself outside of something " at the well to sustain my courage, and snatching from the way side a leaf oiAlchemilla covered with Uromyces I sped onwards until the cheerful green hills of Glenshee and the whole of Glenbeg came into full view. Half way down the southern slope of the hill, limestone again becomes conspicuous, and once more an ineffectual search was made for Anacalypta. Quantities of TorUtla io'tuosa in fruit were found here, however, and lower down I found lortida Hornschuchiana^ veiy far above the limits at which I had supposed it stopped. It is quite a rare Scottish species. By this time the sun had gone down behind Cor-hee. The light was beginning to fade away from the sky. Suddenly a tliick summer-evening mist filled the glen to the top of the Glasmhaol and Ben-Ghuilipin. The blackrheaded sea-gulls from Loch-nan-ean, and the white-headed ones from Loch Bainie, had lost their way in it, and, fearing that they could not get home before morning, were flying; about, east and \^'est, up and down north and south, in the wildest distraction, and screaming like mad. As I walked down the glen, I felt that, after all, the man who has beneath his feet a good firm road along which many wayfarers have passed before him is vastly better off than those creatures who seek a pathway in the air or in the sea. At last, in the gi'ey gloaming, I reached the Manse of Glenshee, which a friend of mine had taken for. summer lodgings for a few weeks, and after being made very comfortable, slept the sleep \vhich is too sweet and sound for dreams. * We gathered Puccinia histortoi in Braemar three or four yeai-s ago. — YA). Sc. Nat. The Scottish Naturalist. 77 Next day, the 19th July, the air was full of that ** clear shining after rain," cool and exquisitely delicious. After sauntering about the church and churchyard, I started for Glenbeg. On my way upwards I gathered several very rare fungi, among which were Septoria and Dothidca geraiiii, Trichohasis §;eranii, Puccinia calt/uv, P. Fergussoni, abundance of yEcidiuin parnassice, and Uredo orchidis ; several Pezizce and Ascoboli. Among the mosses there were Alniian snl'globosiiin, M. insigne, Hypnum giganteum, a moss which has often been confounded with H. Breidleri, so that Scottish botanists who think they have gathered this moss had better be sure that there is no mistake about it. Further on Carex capillaris was discovered, descending to about 1400 ft, a low altitude on the Grampians, though I have gathered it at the seaside, on the north coast of Sutherland, associated there with Dryas odopetala and Oxyiropis uralensis. Here in Glenbeg, Orchis incarnata was found very sparingly. It seems usually to indicate the presence of lime in the soil on which it grows. Raniincidus htilbosus and Geran'uDn were traced up to about 1700 feet. On Ben Lawers Dr. Stirton pointed out to me the former of these plants at a much higher altitude ; whereas on the other hand in Forfarshire it is confined almost exclusively to the coast. The highest limit assigned to it in th *' Student's Flora " is 1500 feet. The flowering plants not being veiy interesting were abandoned for the mosses. Tortula tortuosa again show.ed abundance of fruit. This indeed is the only place known to me where it can be had in almost any quantity in this condition. By and by came quantities of Meesia idiginosa^ as well as a few capsules of Catascopion, ever Avelcome because of its rarity and prim, tidy, brunette aspect j'and at last on limestone rocks which on the previous evening I had marked out as worthy of special search, Anacalypta latifolia. Along with it were Seligeria pusilla^ Torhda j-ejlexa, Tortula rtiralis^ T. tmginctdata^ or some other allied species which has puzzled me immensely. There were also several other interesting species found near the same place, but they are too numerous to be men- tioned. The only yiingermania of interest which I noticed was Frullania fragUifolia. It was pointed out to me by Mr. Sim a few days previously, and I found afterwards that I had gathered it at Aberdour in 1873. The early part of next day was devoted to pic-nicing — a most pleasant thing in any place, but above all places in Glenshee, when the year is at its best and the day is the finest in a century perhaps. The afternoon was devoted to botanizing. Draha inflata — a trifle too much made of now a-days — was found growing on a rock along with a much rarer plant which I had only once gathered before, viz., Thlaspi olpestre. Only a few plants of it were got. The fruit on the lower part of the spike was over ripe, but some pods were got, and showed the style to be rather longer than the lobes, sometimes however only as long. Alpine plants seemed to be rare, only Saxifi-aga optiositifolia, Potentilla salisbwgensis, and a few others of no importance 78 - The Scottish Naturalist. were observed. The mosses were moi"e important, but those which were so seemed crowded into about an acre of ground. First, Dicraiiella varia, var. tejmifolia — D. fallax Wilson — far above the limits at which I had previously observed it. Then came in rapid succession Cavipylopiis SchimpeH and Mniuni spinosum, both vei-y rare British species, and confined almost ex- clusively to the Ben Lawers district. Then came a prize — Dicranella Grrc'illeana^ and in abundance, too, but unfortunately the capsules were only just beginning to form at the apex of the abundant fruit-stalks. Old capsules were plentiful enough, but were without lids. Finally came Avi' blyodon dealbattis, Cmclidium, which I don't quite understand, and other things which I have neither time nor space to mention. Next morning I started to survey the upper reaches of Glentatnich, and to collect fresh water algoe. Glentatnich looks well at a distance, especially that grand Corrie at its head on the south side, but the rocks look hard, quartzose in fact. In the afternoon I left Glenshee, resolving to visit it again as soon as I could. J. Fergusson. Fern, by Brechin. Notes on Cryptogams.— On tlie distribution of Buxbaumia ap- bylla in the West of Scotland.— This most singular moss may often be found in places where botanists are not in the habit of looking for it. * Al- though generally found among fir trees, it occurs in places where there are none in the neighbourhood, e.g., in Fin Glen. Owing to its small size it has no doubt often been overlooked, and hence is considered pretty rare. It will be seen, however, from the following, that it is widely distributed in the West of Scotland. It has been found in the following stations, viz., — Fin Glen, on an open space of ground, ten capsules ; Campsie Glen, among fir trees, found by Mr. Lyon ; Bowling, among fir trees near the top of Drumbuck, found by Mr. Lyon ; Helensburgh, I gathered nearly forty capsules in a fir wood near the skating pond ; Rowardennan, Loch Lomond side, occurs here and there in a fir wood at the foot of Ben Lo- mond ; Kilfinan, Loch Fyne, I gathered eighteen capsules in Otter Wood there, while in search for fungi, to which class of plants it bears a strong resemblance. — R. H. Paterson, Glasgow. Exotic Fungri from the Botanic Gardens, Glasgow.— Although the past year was on the whole very unfavourable to the Fungologist, during the months of May, July, and August, several species of Fungi made their ap- pearance on the plants in the new range of hot-houses in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. None of them, however, can be consideied as British Fungi, as they belong in the most part to tropical countries. Among those that have already been determined may be mentioned the following : — * We have twice found it in rather unusual places — once on ledges of rock on a bare hill, and another lime on the top of a turf-coped wall,— E^. Hcot. Nat. The Scottish Naturalist. 79 I. Polyporus sanguineus, which occurs on a large specimen of the bread- fruit tree (banana). 2. Polyporus po'gameus, occurs on plants in the mosseiy ; it is not unlike some of our common species of Polypori. 3. Polyporus chmabarinus, a very large fungus which exudes a blood-red juice when cut or bruised ; it occurs in the old range of houses, among the large tree ferns. 4. Stereu/n lobatwu, a large and beautiful species spread- ing over the decaying species of Dicksonia, in the new range of houses ; the lobes of this fungus are very well developed. Besides these there are a number of species that have not been determined, e.g., ^ species of Lenzitcs of a snow-white colour. It is difficult to account for the appear- ance of so many decidedly exotic species of Fungi in so short a time. During the year there were added a number of tree ferns, &c., which were imported direct from New Zealand ; but whether the fungi or their spores were brought along with the ferns I am not in a position to say. I cer- tainly never before observed any of these fomis in the Botanic Gardens, although I am very often about the hot-houses, and had they been there no doubt I would have observed them. It is a greai^ pity that none of those who are connected with the Botanic Gardens know anything about this class of plants, otherwise I have not the least doubt many more species of fungi would be added to our flora. — Id. Rare British Fungi. -During the autumn of last year I found the following new or rai-e fungi in the west of Scotland : — i. Sphceria paraUela, found in abundance on decayed wood at Innellan, in the month of July. I am not aware of its having been found in Scotland since Di\ Greville's time. 2. Tyvipanis pinastris, nearly all without fruit. It occurs on the leaves of fir trees in Castle Toward plantation. This is new to Britain. 3. Trichohasxs rumicum, on the leaves of Rumex crispus and R. obtusi- folius on the sea shore, Loch Striven. 4. ALcid'ium orob'i var. phaseoli, occurs on rubbish heaps at Innellan. 5. Uredo potentillarum var. alcheniiJl(Vy on the leaves of Alcheinilla vulgaiis in the woods at Innellan, and on Alchemilla alpina near the summit of Ben Lomond. All the fungi in these communications hare been verified by Dr. M. C. Cooke, London. --/(^/. A new British Peziza.— A fungus found by Sir T. Moncreiffe on decay- ing sallow catkins in his garden (where, or in the immediate vicinity of which, several new or rare fungi have occurred), has been identified by Mr W. Phillips — who has made a speciality of the Elvellacei — as Peziza amen- tacea Balb. (P. Julacea P.) It has been also found on cathins of alder. — F. Buchanan White. Exidia repanda.— Among a number of fungi sent me for examination a few weeks ago, by Mr John Sim, Strahan, there occurred an Exidia^ which I took to be Exidia repanda, Fr. , and on submitting a specimen to the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, he confirmed my opinion. This is the first time the species has been found in Britain. It occurred, Mr. Sim writes me, on holly, near Crathie. — ^J. Keith, Forres. INSECTA SCOTICA. THE OOLEOPTEEA OF SCOTLAND. ( Continued from p. '^6.) Edited by D. SHARP, M.B. 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PUNCTiPENNis Bris. Rare. Lowland. Distribution — East, o Forth o o o o o o West, o o o SAGINATUS Sturm. Rare. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay o o o o o West, o o o UMBRATUS Er. Scarce. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay o o o o o West. Sohvay o SCANICUS L. Lowland, highland. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee §000 West. Solway Clyde 000 A pale variety {C. patrttelis Sturm.) occurs rarely with the ordinary form. AFFiNis Sturm. Lowland. Rare. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway CELLARis Scop. Rare. Distribution — East. 000 Tav 0000 West. § Clyde ACUTANGULUS Gyll. Rare. Distribution — East, o Forth 000000 West, o o PARALLELUS Bris. Highland. Rare. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee 0000 West. 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tav 0 0 k 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 re. r Dee 0 0 0 0 The Scottish Naturalist. 8i DENTATUS Hbst. Lowland, highland. Common. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay Dee g o o o West. Sohvay go o o BICOLOR Sturm. Lowland. Rare. Distribution — East. oooooooo West. Sohvay o o o o VINI Panz. Lowland, highland. Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth g g Moray o o o AVest. Sohvay Clyde o o o HBNOTICUS Thoms. SERRATUS Gyll. Highland. Very rare. Distribution — East, o o Tay o o o o o West, o o o o o PARAMBCOSOMA Th. MELANOCEPHALA Hbst. Ill flood refuse on the banks of rivers. Abundant. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth g g Moray o o o West. Solway Clyde o o o • ATOMARIA Er. DILUTA Er. Very rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth o o o o o o West. o o o o o WOLLASTONI Sharp. Very rare. Distribution — East. o Forth o o o o o o AVest. o o o o o 0 0 0 0 0 o o §000 o ELONGATULA Er. Very rare. Distribution — East. o Forth o o o o o o West. o Clyde o o o UMBRINA Gyll. Not common. Distribution — East. Tweed FoVth Tay o o o o o West. Solway Clyde o o o NANA Er. Not common. Distribution — East. g Forth 0 ( West. Solway g 0 ( BADIA Er. Very rare. Highland. Distribution — East. 0 0 g Dee West. O 0 0 o 82 The Scottish Naturalist. LONGICORNIS Th. Very rare. Distribution — East, o o o o West. Solway o o PELTATA Kr. Very rare. Distribution — East. o West. Moray o o o o Clyde o o o o FUSCIPES Gyll. Lowland, highland. Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee West. Solway Clyde o o PUSILLA Payk. Lowland. Not common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth o West. Solway o o ATRICAPILLA Steph, Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 West. Solway g o o o o o o o o o o o BEROLINENSIS Kr. Local. Distribution — East. § Forth o West. Solway Clyde FUSCATA Schon. Common. Forth o West. Solway Clyde MESOMELAS Hbst. Local. Distribution — East. § Forth o Distribution — East, g West, o o o o BASALIS Er. Very rare. Distribution — East, o Forth West, o o APiCALis Er. Rare. Distribution — East. West. ANALis Er. Local. Distribution — East. West. o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Forth Clyde c o o Moray o Dee o o o o o o RUFICORNIS Marsh. Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth West. Solway Clyde o o o o o o o o 0 0 0 o o o 0 0 0 The Scottish Naturalist. 83 HiSLOPi Woll. Highland. Very local. In dung. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee 0000 West, o Clyde o 00^ VERSICOLOR Er. Rare. In dung. - Distribution — East. 0000 0 0 0 West. Sol way Clyde 0 0 0 o EPHISTEMUS Er. GLOBOSUS Waltl. Rare. In dung. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway Clyde 000 GYRINOIDES Marsh. Rather common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth § Dee §000 West. Solway 0000 LATHRIDIID^. MONOTOMA Er. ANGUSTICOLLIS Gyll. In the nests of Formica rufa. Rare. Distribution — East, o o o Dee Moray 000 West. 000 o o PICIPES Hbst. Scarce. Distribution — East. g Forth § § §000 West. Solway g o o o LONGicoLLis Gyll. Rare. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway 0000 M. qiiadricollis is recorded by Murray from near Edinburgh and Glasgow, but I doubt whether the determination would be correct. LATHRIDIUS Redt. LARDARius De Geer. Local. D istribution — East. § Forth 0 0 0 West. 0 0 <^ 0 0 NODIFER West. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth 0 0 0 West, Solway § 0 0 0 000 o RUGOSUS Herbst. Very rare. Highland. Distribution — East. 000 Dee o o West. 000 o o o o o o o 0 0 0 8 I>ee o o de o 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 84 The Scottish Katuralist. TRANSVERSUS 01. Abundant. Distribution — East. g Forth ^ ^ ^ o o o West. Sohvay § MINUTUS L. Abundant. Distribution — East. g Forth g Dee g o o o West. Sohvay Clyde 000 FILIFORMIS Gyll. Ver}^ rare. Distribution — East. oooooooo West. o Clyde This is the Z. clongatits of Murray's Cat. , it was found by Mr M. Young " devouring an old Greek author in Paisley." FILUM Aube. Very rare. Distribution — East. o Forth ' o o o o o o. West, o o o o o Found by Professor M'Nab in the herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. CORTICARIA Redt. PUNCTULATA Marsh. Common amongst hay and straw. Distribution — East. g Forth, g g g o o o West. g g o q o CRENULATA Gyll. Maritime. Local. Distribution — East. Tvv^eed Forth g Dee g o o o West. g g o o o DENTICULATA Gyll. Scarce. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth o o o o o o West. Sohvay g o o o SERRATA Payk. Rare. Distribution — East. o o Tay o o o o o West. Sohvay o o o o CYLINDRICA Mann. Very rare. Distribution — East. o o o Dee o o o o West, o o o o o o Found at Aberdeen by Professor J. W. H. Trail. RUFULA Zett. Rare. Distribution — East. o o o Dee o o o o West. Sohvay 0000 ( To be conthmcd. ) 01^ MiaRATIOlf. + By Colonel H. ^L DRUMMOND HAY, C.M.Z.S. THE following remarks, gathered from different authorities, coupled with observations of my own, made in various parts of the world, have been drawn up more with the view of directing attention to, than with the attempt of throwing any- new light on, a subject of which perhaps there is none more wonderful in natural history, or perhaps in the main less understood, than the phenomenon of migration. Migration, in the strict acceptation of the word, we see to perfection in birds. The case, says Professor Baird, (Am. Jour, of Science, 1866., Ibis. 1867-72,) is quite different with reptiles, and most insects and mammals, of which a few species only change their residence, or leave their place of birth, not in obedience to the instinct of reproduction, but of necessity, caused by overcrowding, the search for suitable food, &c. A true parallel, however, he goes on to say, is seen in the movements of fishes in search of a suitable place to deposit their spawn, which takes place with the same regularity as to date and direction J that we find in birds. This no doubt applies well to America and other parts of the world where great rivers exist, such for instance as the Mississippi, which runs due north and south, and where a fish spawned in the upper waters would have in descending to the sea to pass through many degrees of latitude, and the same on its periodical return to the place of its birth; but in our own rivers and seas, 1 take it that the movement pertains more to partial, or local, than regular migration, that is to say, the entire quitting of our shores for warmer latitudes, and t Read before the Perthshire Society of Natural Science. ^ North, and South. 86 The Scottish Naturalist. periodical return, like the bird from the sunny south, for the reproduction of young. The herring was once believed to migrate frofti the extreme north, and to divide into two columns, one of these advancing towards Iceland, and skirting- the shores of America, the other taking an opposite direction along the shores of Norway, and furnishing a branch to the Baltic, while a large body spreading out was supposed to visit the coasts of France and Great Britain. It is now, however, pretty well understood that these fish merely retire into deeper water, reappearing at the stated period of reproduction, and never entirely leaving our coasts ; and this I believe will apply to the Pilchard, the Mackerel, and many others. The fish which visit our rivers at stated times, such as the Salmon, Salmon-trout, &c., never leave our own shores, but come as it were (if I may so express myself in the case of a fish) inland for the purpose of breeding, much the same as many of our coast birds do in the breeding season, and which may be considered in their case also as merely a local or partial migra- tion. The Eel, which is also a local migrant, has this peculiarity, that instead of the adult fish ascending our rivers, he desce?ids for reproduction, as also to obtain during the winter months a more suitable temperature in the brackish water of the estuary, which is higher in that respect than either pure fresh water or the sea ; it being, as the late Mr. Yarrell remarks in his valuable work on British Fishes, a well-known law in chemistry, that when two fluids of different densities come in contact, the temperature of the mixture is elevated for a time, in proportion to the difference in density of the two fluids, from mutual penetration and condensation. Such a mixture, is constantly taking place at the mouths of rivers that run into the sea, and the mixed water maintains a temperature two degrees warmer than that of the river or of the sea. So strong is the instinct of migration implanted in the eel, that in cases where they have been introduced into ponds not having free egress to the brackish water, they have been known to travel over land in the attempt to reach it. Mr. Yarrell quotes a wonderful instance of this mentioned by Dr. Hastings in his " Illustrations of the Natural History of Worcestershire " (p. 134), wherein he states that " a relation of the late Mr. Perrott was out in his park with the keeper, near a large piece of water, on a very beautiful evening, when the keeper drew his attention to a fine eel The Scottish Naturalist, 87 quietly ascending the bank of the pool, and with an undulating motion making its way through the long grass : on further observation he perceived a considerable number of eels quietly proceeding to a range of stews or small ponds, nearly the dis- tance of a quarter of a mile from the large piece of water from where they started. The stews were supplied by a rapid brook, and in all probability the instinct of the fish led them in that direction, as a means of finding their way to their ultimate destination, the sea." Another extraordinary feature in the oeconomy of the eel, is the spring migration of the young fry, which, soon after their birth, pass to the upper waters in such compact columns that they have the appearance of a gigantic cable, as I have myself seen in the Shannon, packed so close that anything like numbering would almost be impossible, each of these tiny little creatures not being more than three inches in length, and the passage continuing for many days. Mr. Yarrell also mentions an instance at Kingston-on-Thames in the year 1832 when the passage of eels commenced on the 30th of April, and lasted till the the 4th of May, when it was calculated that from 1600 to 1800 passed a given point in the space of one minute ; we may therefore get some notion of the enormous masses assembled during this migration. With regard to regular migration to and from our shores, there is no doubt that southern fish do visit our coast, but there is no proof that these are not more than mere stragglers, many of them probably finding their way to our seas by following ships, drift- wood, &c., as we know to be the case in many instances; but this is a study on w^hich we require much information, and until we have a few more men living on our coasts willing to devote a little of their spare time and give more attention to matters of Natural History, like the Banffshire naturalist, Mr. Edward, who has done so much in ichthyology and other branches of our land and sea fauna, I fear we shall long remain in ignorance of this interest- ing subject. A true parallel with all justice I think may be said also to exist in many of the Cetacea ; one especial instance which I will take, is that of the Greenland whale, (Balcena mysticetiis) which with the same regularity as the swallow comes to Britain, visits the warm seas of the Bermuda Islands, w^here I have noticed them in large numbers arriving regularly, about the last week of February or the beginning of March, 88 The Scottish Naturalist. and remaining till the beginning of June, and sometimes a little later ; those frequenting the shallow water being the cow-whales with their young, the bulls probably keeping in the deeper waters outside the reefs. While sailing from Bermuda to NovaScotia in the month of June, I observed large troops of the blow — or true whale, all heading to the north, no doubt on their way from the Bermudas and the warmer seas. In confirmation of this migration of the whale to Bermuda it may be interesting to quote from Mr. Jones' very entertaining little book, *'The Naturalist in Bermuda," the following extract from a letter written by a Mr. Richard Stafford to the Royal Society, nearly 200 years ago, and dated Bermuda, i6th July, 1688 : ''We have hereabouts very many sorts of fishes. There is amongst them great store of whales, which in March, April, and.May, use our coast. I have myself killed many of them. Their females have abundance of milk, which their young ones suck out of the teats, that grow by their navel. They have no teeth, but feed on moss, growing on the rocks at the bottom during these three months, and at no other season of the year. When that is consumed and gone, the whales go away also." Even some of the Crustacea may be considered in a measure as performing partial or local migration, as for instance those singular creatures the landcrabs of the West Indies and some other places, which by the peculiar formation of their respiratory organs are enabled to live on land as well as water. At certain times of the year they descend from the mountains to the sea, in large bands, for the purpose of depositing their )^oung,*and return again to their former haunts when these duties are accomplished. With regard to land mammalia, though they cannot, as previously stated, be considered true migrants, still we have a very near approach to it in the American Bison, which in large bands traverse nearly the whole lengtli of the North American continent, returning again in their due season ; this movement however is regulated by the supply of food, necessary to mamtain the vast herds which inhabit the Prairies, and not for the reproduction of their young. From their rapid decrease however, and wanton destruction by the hand of man, these animals may in time, from reduced numbers, completely alter their habits. In Lapland we see, on the other hand, the little Lemming, not much bigger than a mouse, at certain times moving, it is said, in such large armies that the whole face The Scottish Naturalist. 89 of the land seems absolutely covered with their vast hordes, not even rivers or lakes checking their onward course, and few, if any, ever returning to their native homes. A wonderful invasion or uTuption appointed to serve some mysterious purpose of nature ! Similar phenomena may be seen in insect life, the locust, the butterfly, cockchafer, and many others, advancing in vast hosts, some in the embryo state, others in that of the fully developed insect, devastating whole districts in which they may chance to appear. I shall not, however, dwell further on this subject, but revert to migration as we see it so truly depicted and forcibly brought before us in the study of ornithology ; not a season, scarcely a month passes by, but what the most superficial of observers may detect some change in the bird-life around him. The anatomy and structure of the bird, so wonderfully adapted to his requirements in the medium through which he travels, enables him to traverse with comparative ease over regions of the globe, with a speed not to be excelled by any other creature. Every part of the frame is formed for lightness and buoyancy. The bones are all hollow, and so formed as to assure the maximum of strength combined with the minimum of weight ; the body clothed with the softest plumage, the wings of the lightest material, and yet endowed with strength to strike with a force sufficient to impel a body of many pounds' weight through the air with astonishing rapidity. The internal structure also is wonderfully adapted for the same purpose ; " the lungs placed close to the back bone and ribs, the air entering in by a communication through the wind-pipe, (which in many cases is elaborately formed) passes through and is conveyed into a number of membraneous cells, which lie upon the sides of the pericardium, and communicate with those of the sternum, these cells continuing down the wings extend even to the pinions, thigh bones, and other parts of the body, which can be filled and distended at pleasure. The feathers even, and especially those of the wings and tail, contain quantities of air."t This wonderful difi"usion of air through the body in birds, is not only essential to buoyancy and floating power, but also to the supply of the extra heat necessary for the high elevations and amount of speed to be attained ; birds being endued, as it is well known, with a larger supply of caloric f Bewick ; Introduction, vol. I. 90 The Scottish Naturalist. than other animals; and it is observed, that in birds enabled to take the highest and longest flights, such as the Condor of South America, Vulture, Eagle, &c., this extention or diffusion of air is carried further than in others, being regulated according to the requirements of the species. This is especially exemplified in the formation of the Man-of-War or Frigate-bird {Tachypetes aquilus) of the tropics, whose prodigious spread of wing, in comparison to the size and lightness of the body, together with the slender forked tail, gives it not only a superiority in speed, but from the large pro- portion of caloric with which it must be supplied, a power of susi_)ension enabling it to attain a height perhaps unequalled by any other bird ; however rapidly the various gulls and terns, or even the Tropic or Boatswain bird [Phaeton cethereus) move on the wing, it is to it a mere matter of sport to overtake and rob them of their prey, with a flight so swift, that it has been said that he might with ease secure his breakfast in Africa and his dinner in America. . It has been computed, says Mr Gould, that our swallow has a speed equal to about 90 miles an hour, and that should this be a just computation, that of the Alpine Swift must be twice as great, but that is nothing compared to the Frigate-bird. A French author,* but I know not with what authority, states that the former bird has been computed to accomplish 80 leagues an hour, equal to 240 miles. Even with the lesser speed of the swallow, which can cover a space of a thousand miles in the course of ten or twelve hours, migration seems trivial, in comparison to those who seemingly have neither strength nor expanse of wing to perform the same, such as the willow-wren, and hosts of others, who yet fearlessly hasten on- wards. "We may well be astonished, if we only consider the resolu- tion, the power, that must impel them to undertake this tremen- dous journey, to be accomplished twice every year, traversing seas, crossing mountains, through every diversity of climate, encoun- tering dangers of every kind, till after reaching the northern shores of Africa, and resting awhile, proceed, some to remain in the vicinity, some to occupy the cooler regions of the Atlas, some to winter in the warmer climate of Southern Morocco, and others venturing even to cross the great Sahara itself, and after resting perhaps for awhile on some friendly oasis, finally reaching the more fertile plains of the black man. A few *Michelet. '' VOiseau:' The Scottish Naturalist. 91 raonths pass, and the whole host returns — again to encounter similar dangers. Season after season, year after year, this wonderful ebb and flow of migration continually rolls on, not in these parts only, but, on both sides of the Equator, and in every portion of the globe does this law prevail ; sufficient to make a man pause, and think of the mighty works of the Creator, and imbue him with a sense of the Supreme Being's great wisdom, power, and be- nificence to the weakest of His creatures, who are enabled without guide, wdthout compass, nevertheless with unerring certainty, to find their way to their distant homes. Even were the route handed down from generation to generation, and the old birds to pilot their young back to the very spot of their birth, it would be wonderful enough ; but when we take into contemplation that the old birds, as soon as the renewal of their primaries after the first moult will admit of it, take their departure and leave their young to follow as best they may, and that the newly fledged nestling, urged by some wonderful instinct, should undertake this journey of hundreds of miles, without the guidance of their parents, on whom one would have supposed the whole responsibility of their safe conduct would have rested, and yet reach in safety their final •destination, it is marvellous indeed. Neither, it is said, do the young return in spring with their parents, nor go so far north as the old birds; but these points I purpose touching on here- after. Not only is it the gift of flight, but the wonderful sense of sight with which a bird is endowed, and the great faculty of memory — call it instinct if we will — which enables him with unerring precision to make the land, the very headland perhaps from which he started months before. While some proceed directly inland to the place of their birth, others will trace their way along the coast from headland to headland, one, perhaps, recognising some stream up which he ascends, and taking a distant hill or some well-known object as a guide, finally wings his way back to the very spot, it may be the very nest, he left the autumn before, and here patiently awaits his mate, who follows him in the course of a week or ten days. The fact of the males preceding the females is well known to take place in most of our summer visitants. In juxtaposition to this, in the case of the woodcock, on the authority of Mr. Selby, the first flights in autumn are composed almost entirely of females. 92 The Scottish Naturalist. That birds do return to their former place of abode has been proved in numerous instances to be a fact beyond doubt, and one author* records that the Swal- low, by means of certain marks, has been known to take possession of the same nests for eighteen summers in succes- sion. The late Mr. Saxby, with reference to the Corn Bunting, a winter visitant in Shetland, affirms "that the same flocks visit the same localities year after year for several winters in succession, and that an individual having a large white mark on the back appeared at Halligrath with the first flocks as regularly as the year came round "t; and Mr. Gould, in his magnificent work on the Birds of Great Britain, so graphically, and so beautifully brings before us the return of the little Spotted Flycatcher to the same spot year after year that I cannot resist the temptation of quoting it : — " As the Wheatear," he says, '' is the earliest of our spring wanderers, so is the Spotted Flycatcher the latest. May is generally far advanced before its upright form may be seen on the railing before our window ; yesterday it was not there, this morning it has made its appearance as suddenly as if it had dropt from the clouds, or descended from the heavens. With the tamest of dispositions this solitary mute may be seen perched on some elevated position from morning to night ; here it watches any passing insect, and when his full black eye detects one he likes, he sallies forth with a graceful flight, captures it with a snap of its broad mandibles, and returns again to its accustomed perch. Supposing it to be as late as the middle of May before the Spotted Flycatcher commences its nesting duties, there will still be time for it to rear one or two broods, which will have acquired sufficient strength before fly-life is extinct, to perform a migration over the sea to the distant land of Africa, in the northern part of which country both adults and young spend the winter, and intuitively retrace their steps in the ensuing spring. The pair which built their nest over the door post, or against the cherry tree of the garden wall, return again, should no accident befall them, to the very spot, to greet and to be greeted once more. Surely it needs but a moment's thought, but a moment's consideration, to regard these little travellers with interest. Let us contemplate for an instant the distance they have travelled, the journeys they have * Pouchct. L'Univers. f Birds of Shetland, p. 95. The Scottish Naturalist. 95 performed ; how from the Scottish Border, they liave passed over England to the coast of Sussex, thence sped their way across the Channel to Spain, and onwards to the shores of the Mediterranean ; where nothing daunted, they have braved the elements, and finally reached the opposite shore ; no bark has wafted them across the Straits, no compass guided them ; instinct alone points out the route they are to pursue." The return of birds annually to the same spot is one ol the numerous inexplicable facts which we see in migration, and which would seem to be due also to other causes than the mere fact of birth ; for Mr. Gray (Birds of West of Scotland, p. 92) mentions that in the belief that migratory songsters return to their native haunts. Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster some years ago attempted the introduction of nightingales into Caithness, by obtaining numbers of nightingale's eggs from the neighbour- hood of London, and placing them in robin's nests. Though all were safely reared, and seen flying about in the vicinity of their birthplace, they, in obedience to their migratory instincts, quitted their northern home in September, and were never afterwards heard of, and perhaps, he adds, they were right. Might not this non-return be owing to a natural weakness ot constitution in the nightingale, and its inability to endure the cooler and more sunless counties of the north, for we know that great numbers of summer visitants to these islands do not cross the Tweed, not even crossing the Tyne, or rarely so, while on the continent birds extend their migrations to latitudes higher than the northern parts of Scotland. Why is this? Certainly not for the want of suitable food, for of that there would be abundance. As the northern parts of the Continent are much colder in winter in comparison to Britain, driving birds many degrees south of what they go in this country, so may it not be that from a larger share of sun in summer, than in these sea girt lands, they go farther north than they do with us; and this is conspicuous in the Nightingale, the Wryneck, red-backed Shrike, and many others, the former not going in these islands higher than five miles north of York, "^ though found in Sweden and Russia, t Does not this seem a proof that the apparent susceptibility of heat and cold in different birds affects in a great measure the extent of their migration. Some naturalists Yarrell, vol. I. 2nd. ed. , 304. f Gould's Birds of Great Britain, vol. II. 94 The Scottish Naturalist. affirm that the failure of food necessary to different kinds of birds is the great stimulant to migration, and upon which it solely depends ; others again, that it is the want of light, and that the sun alone governs their motions. True, but it is the combination of these ; or in other words, the seasonal changes from the earth's position, in relation to the sun, either increas- ing or diminishing the peculiar food on which they subsist, as well as those constitutional causes above alluded to, which compel them, according to the season of the year, to seek the climate most suited to their wants, not only for themselves but for their tender progeny, requiring a temperate climate and the necessary caterpillar food, without which they could not subsist, and which, had the parents remained in their winter quarters, could not have been obtained in sufficient supply, as most grubs and caterpillars would by that time have changed into a perfect state. Besides which, as is the case in many of our waterfowl, the impulse implanted in them of reaching a place of refuge far from the haunts of man, where they can in safety rear their young, urges them on with irresistible power to the extreme wilds of the North, from whence they return in count- less myriads to replenish the earth. Birds are especially affected by the extremes of heat and cold, and any one who has lived in warm countries may have noticed the total absence of bird-life during the great heat of the day; not a note, not a sound is to be heard, but that of the monotonous and never ceasing chirp of the cicada insect, which seems to glory in the heat. The cool of the evening and sun-rise, however, tells a very different story ; the woods and groves then resound with life. On the other hand, many of our summer birds of passage are most susceptible of cold, and Mr. J. H. Gurney gives an instance of this in the case of the Swallow * even so far south as Algeria. "On the 26th and 27th of March," he states, ''we experienced at Laghouat a very cold wind; so benumbed were the poor swallows, that hundreds might have been killed with stones. The poor birds were to be seen sitting about in all directions." And he goes on to say " I am inclined to think they were suffering from cold, rather than from the want of insect food. Insect life seemed to me to be always abundant." This susceptibility of cold, is frec[uently to be noticed in our winter * Ibis. 1 87 1, p. 74. The Scottish Naturalist. 95 migrants, as also among our resident birds. Mr. Gould men- tions a remarkable instance of this in Cornwall, from whence Mr. E. H. Rodd, writing to him from Penzance, under date of Jan. 8th 1867, says " I foresaw that there was hard weather somewhere, although the thermometor never shewed a greater amount of frost than one degree ; for sixty miles to the eastward, the reading was nine degrees above zero, and the next day- only five. The heavy weather to the eastward has driven millions of Linnets, Starlings, Larks, Redwings, Fieldfares, Peewits, and Golden Plovers to this district." And Mr. Gould, who was at the time on a visit to Lord Falmouth at Tregothnan, says that the destruction of these birds was immense ; that he himself saw lying dead on the frozen snow, hundreds of Starl- ings, Song-Thrushes, Missel-Thrushes, Redwings, and Fieldfares, but none of the Common Blackbird. Some of our winter migrants have not the constitutional hardiness of others ; thus the RedAving often quits this neighbourhood during the winter months, proceeding further south ; while its congener, the Fieldfare, generally braves out the severest of our winters. Some birds though hardy enough never to leave us in winter, and thereby becoming residents, are forced on the Continent where the cold is much greater, to become migratory. Thus the Blackbird, the Robin, the little Golden-crested Wren, and many others have to perform a regular migration, even crossing the Mediterranean to the shores of Africa. The late Capt. Sperling, R. N., mentions his having met the Robin crossing the Mediterranean in three or four instances '^ : — one on its northern migration from Africa April nth, at 30 miles distant from the coast of Sardinia, the nearest land ; two on their southern migration on the ist Oct. the nearest land being 105 miles from the Island of Zante, with a north-westerly breeze, which would land them probably in a i^\\ hours on the coast of Tripoli ; and lastly, another on the 12th of September, also on its southern migration, 55 miles from the coast of Sicily. The Rev. Canon Tristram, of whom we may safely say there is not a more observing ornithologist and no better authority, says, in his remarks on the Ornithology of Palestine (Ibis 1865, p. 75.) " It may be observed that those species which have the most ex- tended northerly, have also the most extended southerly range ; and that those which resort to the hiejhest latitude for nidi- ^&' Ibis 1864 — P- 290. 96 The Scottish Naturalist. ficatlon also pass further than others to the southward in winter. Thus the migratory Fieldfare, visiting regions north of the limits of the Thrush and Blackbird, on their southward migration, leave their more sedentary relatives behind. The Brambling, which passes the Chaffinch in Norway, leaves it also in Europe, and crosses the Mediterranean every winter to the Barbary States. The Egyptian and Collared Turtle-doves' remain throughout the year in Syria and north Africa, but the Common Turtle {T. auritis Temm.) so abundant in those countries in summer, never leaves a straggler behind in November, and yet in spring advances a thousand miles nearer to the Pole than they do. Though this is one of those laws of migration so little under- stood, we have a very striking exception to it in the Snow Bunting ( Flectrojyhanes nivalis), bearing on the theory that constitutional causes in some measure influence the extent of migration in birds. The Snow Bunting never much exceeds the limits of the central parts of Europe on its southern migra- tion, there only being three instances of its being found so far south as Malta * (and I have seen no record of its ever having been noticed in Africa) ; and yet the Wheatear, who goes equally far north, nesting almost side by side with it far within the Arctic circle, goes into the interior of Africa, and is never found in Europe in winter. While to the westward, Canon Tristram found it in the Sahara (Ibis, 1859, p. 300); to the eastward, Mr. S. Allen (Ibis, 1864, p. 238) says, it does not even winter so far north as Egypt, but goes into the interior of Nubia, not returning to Egypt till the beginning of March. Mr. Cavendish Taylor and Mr. Shelley mention the same fact (Ibis, 1867, p. 61, and 1871, p. 51). Why is this ? The Wheatear, though insectivorous in its habits, would no doubt get a sufficiency of food suitable to it in the extreme south of Europe, or northern Egypt, during the winter, but being of a more delicate constitution than the Snow Bunting, is compelled to seek a warmer climate. The Snow Bunting, again, is granivorous : but so is the Bram- bling. The former, strong and robust in habit, is enabled to stand our winters with impunity, some few even wintering as far north as Shetland : the latter winters in many parts of this country, but never in Shetland ; and on the continent it Ibis. The Scottish Naturalist. 97 proceeds, as has been above stated, as far south as Africa, leaving the Chaffinch behind it: Though I have said that food is not the sole cause of migration, yet that birds do, in some miraculous way, discover the existence of particular kinds of food suited to them, and make a sudden descent on some particular locality where it is unusually abundant, let it be ever so distant, is an undoubted fact. Thus, in the year 1593, which was said to be a great apple year, immense flights of Crossbills visited the orchards in England, and the following is an extract from a quaint old account mentioned by Bewick : — " In the apple season of this year an immense multitude of unknown birds came into England, and though the fruit was pretty well ripened, they entirely neglected its pulp, swallowing nothing but the pipins. Nobody had seen such birds, or had heard of them from the oldest persons ; and what in them is chiefly to be admired, they were so tame, and gentle, and innocent, that they seemed to have flown hither from some desert wholly uninhabited by man. They suffered themselves patiently to be attacked by slings and cross-bows, never thinking of flying off, till some of them, stricken by stones, or apples, or leaden bullets, fell dead from the trees. Finally, whether they came in quest of the food they lived upon or not, as soon as the apples were gone they all disappeared, but no one knows whither they went." In the year 1838, a most wonderful year for the super- abundance of cones on the spruce trees, we were visited in the Carse of Gowrie by hundreds of Crossbills, and many were seen in the following year, but not in such numbers. I have never seen them in the same locaHty since, or have I ever again noticed the cones to be anything Hke in the same quantities as they were that year. Mr. Cordeaux, in his Birds of the Humber district, mentions two other instances, of the Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) : '* During the winter of 1860-61, when the Beechmast was so plentiful, hundreds of these birds visited the neighbourhood of Swinhope, and that large flocks also arrived in the neighbourhood of Beverley in the autumn of 1864, in which year there was likewise an abun- dance of Beechmasts;" and there are many instances of the same nature regarding other birds on record. The arrival and departure of birds of passage, though some- times almost to a day in the foniier, is not always so regular in the latter, both being much influenced by the weather and 98 The Scottish Naturalist. atmospheric changes. The swallow, especially, has been known to prognosticate in a wonderful manner the coming storm, in anticipation of which they have suddenly taken their departure " en masse " before their appointed time, and I am sorry to say sometimes in doing so leave their unfledged nestlings behind them to starve ; it may sometimes be that, inveigled by a fine autumn, they may attempt the rearing of another brood, which they have not time to do. But be this as it may, this bad trait in their character extends to most of the swallow kind ; the Swift has been known to come back to its old nest the follow- ing year, and coolly chuck out the skeletons of its deserted children to make room for a fresh brood ; some even do not take this trouble, but merely put a few fresh feathers in as a lining, allowing the new generations contentedly to sit on the top of their dead brothers and sisters. M. Micheletf mentions a very remarkable instance of this presentiment of coming danger, and sudden departure : " When living at Nantes, in October 185 1, the season being. still excep- tionally fine, the insects numerous, and the feeding ground of the swallows plentifully provided, it was our happy chance to catch sight of the sage republic convoked in one immense and noisy assembly, deliberating on the roof of the Church of St. Felix. Why was the meeting held on this particular day, at this hour, more than at any other ? We did not know ; but soon after we were able to understand it. Bright was the morn- ing sky, but the wind blew from La Vendee. Gradually the weather grew cloudy. The sky assumed a dull leaden grey, the wind sank, all was death-like. It was then, at about four o'clock, that simultaneously arrived from all points, from the wood, from the Erdre, from the city, from the Loire, from the Score, infinite legions, darkening the day, which settled on the church roof, with a myriad voices, a myriad cries, debates, dis- cussions. Though ignorant of their language, it was not difficult for us to perceive that they differed among themselves. It may be that the youngest, beguiled by the warm breath of autumn, would fain have lingered longer. But the wiser and more experienced travellers insisted upon departure. They prevailed, the black masses moving all at once, like a huge cloud, winged their flight towards the south-east, probably towards Italy. They had scarcely accomplished three hundred t L'Oiseau. ' The Scottish Naturalist. 99 leagues (four or five hours' flight), before all tlie cataracts of heaven were let loose to deluge the earth. Slieltered in our house, which shook with the furious blast, we admired the wis- dom of the winged soothsayers, which had so prudently antici- pated the annual epoch of migration. The morrow would have been too late. The insects, beaten down by the tempests of rain, would have been undiscoverable ; all the life on which they subsisted would have taken refuge in the earth." . (To be continued.) THE LEPIDOPTERA OP MONOEEIFFE HILL. By Sir THOMAS MONCREIFFE, Bart. ( Continued from page 4.6.) Hepicdus hcctus. — This insect is not very common at Mon- creiffe, perhaps easily overlooked. I have beaten the males in the day time out of the lower branches of trees standing in the open meadows, and taken them on the wing in the evening. H, lupulinus. — Not common at Moncreiffe. I have never taken this insect here above 120 feet, but I have taken hectus up to 500. IT. humuli. — Not so common as formerly, probably on account of increased drainage ; usually met with on the moist ground towards the base. I have noticed it, however, up to 175 feet above sea level. One evening my son observed a male settle on the leaf of a horse-chesnut tree fully 20 feet from the ground; by getting on my shoulders he shook it into his net. I am not aware if they usually roost so high. H. velleda. — This is a most puzzling species, and I cannot but think that we include more than one form that we take here under the name of velleda. It is excessively numerous along the base of Moncreiffe Hill, and wherever the bracken grows, up to about 550 feet above the sea level. The ^ ^ vary in size from i" 3"' to i" 6'". The ? ? from 1" 6'" to 2" i"'. The smallest ? I have has the ground colour of a dirty white, and is, in general appearance, not unlike Hubner's Fig. 21, Carna^ but front-wing a little more produced, and not quite so pointed at the tip. This was taken in cop. with a male (size \" 3"'), TOO The Scottish Naturalist. marked somewhat like the male oilupulimis. The fringes of the posterior wings of the $ are interrupted at regular distances by dark spots, as in the usual forms of velleda; those of the ^ are unicolorous. I have another female exactly similar to that above described, and both were taken in the same place, near, but not among bracken, in a damp spot, at rest upon some herbage growing amongst rushes. On 29th June, and several subse- quent days, in 1871, I observed a good many of the largest class of females at rest on the boles of some ash-trees, at an altitude of about 200 feet, on the northern border of a bed of bracken. I only kept three or four specmiens, unfortunately, and I have seen none exactly the same since. They all measured from \" 10'" to 2" i"', and were mostly unicolorous, or very faintly marked, the tracings being, very slightly paler than the ground colour, which approached to Herrich Schaeffer's Fig. 4, var. velleda^ but of not quite so red a tinge. I have one male almost identical with H. S.'s Fig. 4, also scarcely so red. Others again are very rosy-x^di (the legs brightly so), varied with white and yellow, like the common form (see Hubner's Fig. 212), which has nearly the same markings, but ground colour browner. Velleda flies from about June nth into July. H. sylvinus is a fairly common insect at Moncreiffe, but local. I have not observed it above an altitude of 175 feet that I am aware of. It is common on a dry bank, among mixed herbage and bracken at this altitude, and I have seen it taken resting on tansy by the river side. Hubner's Fig. 207, of Hanwia, which Staudinger calls syhinus, is like the males we have here, but is too highly coloured ; the females are more like Hubner's Fig. 211, Flina, which Staudinger calls lupulinus. With reference to the pendulum flight of the male Jiiwiuli, noticed in the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, No. 147, page 62,, it will be seen that Dr. Chapman builds upon it a theory of natural selection in this species, and reasons that it may be an " explanation of its remarkably small antennae, compared with those of the 'sembling' Bombyees, in which the male finds the female by an antennal sense, analogous to smell." Now, I can answer for it, that this is not the case with velleda, which is structurally the same as hiwiuli in regard to the antennae. The female of velleda rests upon some low plant, and keeps up a perpetual vibration of the wings, until one of the males, which are hunting about, discovers and alights upon her, when The Scottish Naturalist. loi copulation instantly takes place ; the male then suspending himself from the female, when the vibration of her wings as instantly ceases. I took a pair and detached them, the male making no signs of life, but rolling about in the box as if he had ceased to exist. And so he remained until I took him home, and placed him in the Cyanide bottle, when he died after a kick or two. I think the hovering of the male of fiwnuli may be more reasonably compared to that of the kestrel hawk when in search of food, and probably he selects some spot in which to watch for the female, which his instinct tells him is likely to be selected by her, though of course other senses than that of sight may be brought into use to effect his object. Harpyia furcula. — I have never taken this insect myself, but Mr. Herd takes both the larva and perfect insect off willow at the south-western base of Moncreiffe Hill, up to an altitude of about 150 feet, where he tells me it is of mode- derately frequent occurrence. H. vinula. — The larva of this insect is common wherever wil- lows and poplars grow, on the sweet-scented tacamahac, as well as on the white poplar and aspen. I have taken the full fed larva wandering across a mown grass lawn, fifty yards from its food plant. Notodonta ziczac. — I only know of one specimen of this insect having been taken at Moncreiffe, and that was an imago found at rest on a rock face by Mr. Herd, at an altitude of about 400 feet. Dryjjionia chaonia. — I am inclined to think that this insect is not uncommon at Moncreiffe, and is probably generally distributed. I found a pupa under moss lying so near the surface, that my attention was attracted to it by seeing it shining in the sun through the moss. It was under a spreading oak, and was from 12 to 15 feet from the trunk. There is no •oak copse on Moncreiffe Hill, and most of the oaks are high- branched trees, so that it is difficult to discover the larva of the oak-feeding species. Mr. Herd took a specimen on May ist; I found one on the 24th April, on an oak trunk, at 10 a. m., .and another I found dead on the branch of a spruce, which was overtopped by an oak. It had apparently died a natural death, and was in splendid condition. These were taken in 1874-1875. Leioca??ipa dictceoides. — Mr. Herd has taken the larva of this 102 The Scottish Naturalist. species at Moncreiffe on birch, and I have reared one fine specimen from a larva found by him. Dictnea also occurs in the immediate neighbourhood, but not within the precincts of which I am treating. Lophopteryx camelina is a common insect on Moncreiffe Hill, from loo feet upwards. It varies considerably in shades. of colour, from light brick to dark red brown. It appears in May and June. Ptridea treptda. — I bred a fine female of this insect from a larva beaten off oak, at an altitude of 300 feet, in 1874, the only time it has been recorded as occurring here, I believe. Pygcera bucephala. — The larva of this moth was common here at one time, I am told, and was very destructive to the foliage of the trees which it attacked. Since I commenced collecting, however, in 1870, it has been scarce, and I have not even been able to obtain a set. I can give no reason for its disappearance. Dasychira lyudibunda. — I reared a specimen of this insect in 1870, but as I did not know the larva by sight, and was rearing other larvae at the time, which my son had brought from England, I cannot be quite certain that I gathered the larva of pudibimda at Moncreiffe. Although it is my firm opinion that I did so, I shall omit it in the meantime. I think it will prove to be resident here yet, as I feel confident I saw one on the wing on another occasion. Porthcsia chrysorrhwa. — When not out collecting at night, I am in the habit of sitting with my study window open, and the gas burning as brightly as I can make it, keeping a good look-out for visitors. The only specimen of P. chrysm^rhma which has been taken anywhere in this locality landed on the middle of my writing-table, on the night of the 28th of June, 1872. I just managed to bang down the window in time to prevent his departure, as he did not seem to like his quarters. Where this specimen can have come from is a mystery to me, as if the insect breeds anywhere in the neighbourhood, Mr. Herd or I would most probably have ferreted it out. It is very curious how instances occur of occasional specimens being taken in a locality where they are not known to occur again. Gnophria ruhricollis. — This is an insect which appears to have departed from among us without good cause. Mr. Herd used to take it on Moncreiffe Hill 10 years ago, and Dr. The Scottish Naturalist. 103 Buchanan White tells me he took larvse there a good many- years ago. It has not been observed, I believe, since. May the change of climate, which has certainly affected the less hardy cultivated plants of late years, have something to do with it ? This change has been chronicled from time to time by some of our most observant gardeners and others, and in- deed within my own memory, large crops of figs used to ripen on the open wall in my garden, and now scarcely one ever comes to maturity. . Nola confusahs is common at Moncreiffe on trunks of trees^ usually oak. Nola cncullatella. — Rare ; has been taken by Mr. Herd. Nemeophila plantaginis. — Locally common, from 600 feet to the summit. I fancy the males during their wild flight in the afternoons are searching for the females before they emerge. At least I have found that the males occasionally settle and hunt about in particular spots among the heather, &c., and after taking a turn over the ground, return again after a certain time to the same spot. Sometimes 1 have marked more than one place that they return to in this way, and by sitting quietly and watching them, observe that they always make a regular round. I cannot say I have proved it to be the case, but their manner is so very much like that of a male insect when he is aware of the presence of an unimpregnated female, that I men- tion my observations in case they might be verified by some other entomologist. Sptloso7na fiiliginosa. — Common, though not so generally distributed as formerly. Burning the furze brakes and wild uncultivated pieces of ground in the neighbourhood, and pasturing them with sheep, has thinned their numbers in this locality, I think. Our Scottish form is darker, and not nearly so bright an insect as the southern. S. vwithastri. — Common on the lower part of the Hill, and comes freely to light in my study. Varies from dark cream colour to almost white in the fore wings, and is curiously variable in the number of spots on the hind wings, ranging from i to 4, — in one specimen there are 8 or 9. There is a per- fectly formed elbowed line of confluent spots across the fore wings of my darkest specimen, as well as a second line formed in the same way, which almost gives it the appearance of having a distinct fascia across the centre of the wings. I04 The Scottish Naturalist. Euchelia Jacobceoi has been taken here, but I believe it was introduced, and I think has now disappeared. Bo?tibyx rubi. — Locally common, at an elevation of about 600 feet. Mr. Herd is very successful in rearing this insect, his plan being to expose the larvae to their natural climate in the open air through the winter. Podcilocampa populi. — Not common. I reared a female last year, and kept her for a night in my study, to allow of her wings being properly dry, as I had not got a specimen for my cabinet. Curiously enough, the only other specimen I have (a male), I found outside the window frame next morning. He surely cannot have discovered that there was a lady inside the room, shut up in a box ! 22. Smerinthus populi; c 23. Acherontia atropos ; v r 24. Sphinx convolvuli ; v r 25. Deilephila galii ; v r 26. Chgerocampa porcellus ; c 27. Macroglossastellatarum; r 28. ,, bombyliformis; r 29. Trochiliumbembeciforme;/ Hepialus hectus ; / lupulinus ; / humuli ; c velleda ; c sylvinus ; c Harpyia furcula ; r „ vinula ; c 37. Notodonta dromedarius ; / 38. „ ziczac; v r 39. Drymonia chaonia ; r 40. Leiocampa dictasoides ; r 30 32 34 35 36 J) )> 5) J) 41. Lophopteryx camelina ; c 42. Diloba caeruleocephala ; c 43. Peridea trepida ; v r 44. Pygaera bucephala \ r 45. Demas coryli ; c 46. Orgyia antiqua ; c 47. Porthesia chrysorrhaea; vr 48. Gnophria rubricollis ; v r 49. Nudaria mundana; c 50. Nola confusalis ; c 51. ,, cucullatella ; r 52. Arctia caja; c 53. Nemeophilaplantaginis; c 54. Spilosoma fuliginosa ; c 55. ,, menthastri ; c 5b. Bombyx rubi ; c 57. Poecilocampa populi ; r 58. Platypteryx falcataria ; c NOCTU^. Thyatira batis. — Fairly common at sugar. 1 have observed more specimens at sugar after midnight than earUer. Cymatophora duplaris. — Not uncommon among birch in certain localities, up to 600 feet. Varies a good deal in the shade and intensity of coloration. In some specimens the light-grey ground colour prevails, in others it is almost com. pletely obscured by the dark-stone colour, of which the central The Scottish Naturalist. 105 shade is usually composed. This insect appears to ascend to the higher branches as speedily as possible after emerging from the pupa. At least on one occasion I intercepted a fine female running up the bole of a birch, the wings being still moist and flaccid, and I have never observed one at rest on the trunk. C. Jtac'icorm's.-— Not uncommon. The earliest record ot this insect being taken at Moncreiffe is March 6, 1872, and I mention the circumstance in order to encourage young collec- tors in their separate districts. Being a beginner myself, as it were, in those days, I was in quest of information, and asked Dr. Buchanan White if he could assist me in my endeavours to obtain specimens of the Lepidoptera of the district, by suggest- ing somethins; to look for. He said C. fiavicoriiis ought to occur here on the birches. I pointed to a spot where the birches were always early, and said will you come and look for it ? He acquiesced, and off we started. We had not examined more than two or three trees, when I found a specimen cHnging to the trunk at a foot from the ground, about 3 p.m., since which time I have observed \\i2Xflavic0rnis usually emerges here after mid-day, as I have examined trees before that time without result, which have afforded newly risen imagos later in the day. This is a more refined looking insect here than in Rannoch, where it abounds. In the Moncreiffe specimens the costal margin for two-thirds of its length, the discoidal spots, and the lines, have a beautiful yellow tint, which is entirely absent in the Rannoch specimens. Bryophila perla. — Common at the park wall, at an altitude of about 50 feet. Dr. Buchanan White and I, when looking for land-shells, found the larvae under loose fragments of a trap rock at an altitude of 500 feet. Comes to light. Acronycta psi. — Common everywhere up to 200 feet. I have not observed it above that altitude. Mr. Herd tells me that he finds the larva of A, tridens feeding commonly along with that of psi. I cannot say that I can distinguish the difference in the imagos. A. ligustri. — Common at sugar in July. I have not observed it over 300 feet. Our specimens are darker than those from the south. Leiicania conigera. — Common at sugar and at ragwort blos- som, and particularly attached to the blossom of woodsage (Teiicrittm scorodonia). io6 The Scottish Naturalist. L. llthargyrh,. — I have taken this species commonly, flying at blossom and also at sugar. It varies in shades of colour, some specimens being of a dark, rich tawny hue, others much paler. Of the Leiicanice, conigera, comma ^ ^xid pat lens, ascend to 600 feet, the other two (impiira and lithargyria) attaining a much lower elevation. They all come to light. Nonagria fulva. — I only know of one locality for this species, at an elevation of a little over 400 feet. The type here is not so dark fulvous as in the south, although specimens occur of a ruddy wainscot. The usual form is pale ochreous. This is one of those insects which had either escaped observation, or has made its appearance in the last two or three years. It is now plentiful in the spot where it occurs. Gortynaflavago. — I have never seen the imago of this insect in the wild state, although the larva is abundant in the stems of thistles, nettles, ragwort, and Angelica sylvestris, a proof that many of the Lepidoptera may be overlooked, and an incentive to the student of entomology, as well as to the collector, to study the life history of the objects of his research. Mr. Herd bred them last year from the young shoots of elder, in which the larvae were burrowing. Hydrcecia nictitans is abundant everywhere, and may be taken both by day and night on the blossoms of the ragwort, which grows in profusion on those parts of Moncrei/fe Hill which are not too thickly wooded. It varies considerably in size and shades of colour, from bright-chesnut to tawny-brown. In some specimens the orbicular, and also the claviform stig- mata are peculiarly distinct. I cannot find that the latter has been noticed in the descriptions of this insect. It comes freely to light. H. petasitis. — Rare. I know of only three specimens having been taken at Moncreiffe, and we have not been able to dis- cover the larva. One of my specimens came to light, another I took on ragwort blossom at night, and Mr. Herd took a third by day on the wall of his house. It probably feeds here on dock, as there is no Petasites near. H. micacea. — The type here is almost identical in colour with petasitis, and I have found it difficult to obtain rosy specimens. It is common and generally distributed, comes freely to light and sugar, and is partial to flowers, especially ragwort. The Scottish Naturalist. 107 Xylophasia polyodon. — Abundant at sugar, at light, and at blossom. Varies considerably in size and colour, many speci- mens approaching to black, some rosy brown, and others pale- mouse colour. Hdiop]iobus popidaris. — Locally common. I have taken it occasionally at ragwort blossom, and it comes commonly to light in my study. The female is less frequent than the male. I have not seen it above 200 feet, and never took it at sugar. Z. ccspitis. — Common, particularly at light in my study ; also partial to ragwort blossom, and occasionally at sugar. Mamestra aticeps. — Rare. I have one specimen found roosting in an old rug, which hung on a fence near my keeper's house. M. fiirva. — Rare. I have one specimen which came to sugar in my garden in 187 1. Apamea gemina. — Some seasons this moth is very common at sugar, but appears to be rather locally distributed. In some specimens the two black dashes from the base, which Mr. Stainton gives as one of the characteristics by which this insect may be distinguished, are totally absent. We have dark, pale, and intermediate varieties. A. unajiimis. — Rare. Mr. Herd has taken this insect. I liave specimens which might be this species, but they are doubtful. I see that in Newman's "Natural History of British Moths," he describes it as larger than the preceding species — A. gemina. Is this ever the case ? Miana strigilis. — Not uncommon, particularly on ragwort, and I have seen no varieties. M. fasciuncida. — Common some seasons, at sugar and rag- wort blossom. We have a variety here which puzzles me much, in which the ground is of a yellow-clay colour. It is curious that this variety is constant, at an altitude of a little over 600 feet, in which locality I seldom, if ever, meet with the red variety, which occurs principally at an altitude of about 200 feet, and is much more scarce. I have always doubted the two varieties being the same species. One of my specimens has a decided indication of a light-coloured line, following the ■shape of the hind margin across the centre of the posterior wings, as in Herrich Schaeffer's Fig. 179, of " Airae." The general appearance of the insect being somewhat the same, io8 The Scottish Naturalist. and which Dr. Staudinger, in his catalogue, refers to arcuosa^ Surely there is some mistake here ? Acosmetia arcuosa. — Not uncommon in one spot, where the food plant grows. Does not appear to vary. Caradrina blanda. — Abundant. Alsines may occur, but al- though I have specimens which might be attributed to that species, I prefer omitting it. Rusina tenebrosa. — Common at sugar, at ragwort blossom^ and comes freely to light ; varies in intensity of shade. Occurs up to 700 feet. Agrotis suffusa. — Rare. Comes to light. A. clavis ( - segetimi). — Abundant some seasons. Varies con- siderably in size and markings, and also in the shade of ground colour. This moth must wander considerably, as I have taken it in the woods at sugar, at an elevation of 600 feet. It is very partial to rhododendron blossom, and I have remarked that this insect, as well as excla7?iatioms, as soon as they alight on the trusses of blossom, crawl inside and feed at the base of the blossom, differing in this respect from others of the noctuse,. which feed in the blossom like bees. It is curious to see the numbers which are whizzing about, and yet become invisible almost as soon as they alight, owing to this habit of crawling about in the heart of the trusses. A. corticea. — Not uncommon. I have taken this insect in the same localities as segetum, up to 600 feet. A. nigricans of late years has been very abundant and ex- cessively variable, both in the shades of ground-colour and in the intensity and colour of the markings. In some specimens the latter vary little from the former in the shade, in others the lines and other markings are of a beautiful glossy-yellow. Some have the subterminal line composed of yellowish-white dots, while in others again it is entirely absent. A. nigricans is particularly partial to ragw^ort blossom. It occurs at all altitudes. A. obelisca. — This insect is abundant on Moncreiffe Hill^ from 100 feet upwards. It also varies in size and in the inten- sity and form of the markings. Here again the subterminal line and wedge-shaped marks accompanying it are sometimes wanting, although the general contour of the insect is unmis- takeable. I have taken it at sugar, but more commonly on heather and rag^vort blossom. I think it has increased con- siderably in the last two years. The Scottish Naturalist. 109 A. porphyrea. — Locally common. It is partial to the blos- soms of heather and woodsage, and also comes to sugar. A. lucernea. — Rare. Have taken it on heather blossom. Triphcena orbona. — Common. Varies considerably in the colour of the fore-wings. I have one specimen as red as interjccta. T. siibsequa has been reported from Moncreiffe Hill, but I have never seen a specimen. Some specimens of orbona have a dark brown blotch on the costa at the com- mencement of the subterminal line, which I think has caused the mistake. Noctua glareosa. — This insect was common in 1870 at sugar and on phlox blossom in my garden, since which it has trans- ferred its attention to ragwort and sugar at a much higher level, indeed nearly to the summit. Probably, owing to the absence of wild flowers, it had come down in search of food, as I have seen few or none in my garden since. It is plentiful where it occurs. Comes to light. K. depuncta. — Not uncommon, but rather local. To be taken most seasons at ragwort, and occasionally at sugar. N. plecta. — Abundant where it occurs. At an elevation of 100 to 150 feet, and extending over about a linear half-mile of ground, I have seen them absolutely swarming at dusk in the opens when the wild hyacinth, ground ivy, &c., are in blossom. Comes also to sugar occasionally. Sometimes, when it has been getting too dark to net them, I have lighted up, but have never been able to see one after the lantern was lighted. Whether they drop to the ground or go up into the trees I have never discovered. I have also taken this species at rhododendron blossom, not in the heart of the truss, like agrotis, but in the flower, like a bee. N. ditrapeziiun. — Common and pretty generally distributed. Particularly partial to ragwort blossom. Varies slightly in size and in bloom, but is otherwise very constant in markings, &c. Its numbers do not seem to depend upon altitude, as it is to be found wherever the ragw^ort blossoms most freely. I have taken it also on the flowers of the woodsage (Teiurium scorodonia), and occasionally at sugar, and at light in my study. N. trianguhun. — Not common. Comes to sugar and light A larva of this moth, which I had in my cage, burrowed into a log of rotten wood to undergo its transformations. N. rhomboidea. — Not so common ; but we take it every no The Scottish Naturalist. season in the same manner and in the same localities as N. ditrapeziuni. It is, however, more difficult to obtain perfect specimens, as it is usually a little rubbed before coming to blossom. I do not understand why this should be, unless it flies more among the trees and bushes than its neighbours, and indeed I have always found it more partial to the ragweeds which grow under the trees than to those which grow in the open. N. brmmea. — Common at sugar and ragwort blossom. I found the larva of this moth in abundance in 1872 on a bed of Scrophularia vernalis, at an elevation of about 400 feet, which, I think, must have been damaged considerably, as it has almost disappeared from the spot since. X. festiva. — Is common, particularly at sugar, at an elevation of 600 feet. It is variable, but not so much so here as in Glen Tilt, where I have taken very rich varieties. I cannot say I have ever taken conflua, although I have small festiva. By the way, why is it called confiiia ? I imagined at one time it was because the discordal spots were confluent, but I see by Herrich Schaeffer's figures that this is not the case. N. dahlii. — Common at all altitudes, and comes freely to sugar and ragwort blossom. N. rubi. — Not uncommon, but local. I find it here in two places at the extremes of altitude. In one near the river, at an altitude of 30 feet or less, the other at an altitude of 600 feet. iV. neglecta. — Rare. Both varieties occur here. I have taken this moth on heather and ragwort blossom and at sugar above 200 feet. I have not seen it in the lower ground. N. xanthographa. — Is most abundant and most variable in every respect. In some specimens the superior wings are almost black, and from this shade they vary down to pale-rosy or cinnamon. I have one specimen very like a pale rubi. The posterior wings in some cases are yellowish-white with a narrowish, dark grey border, and from this they pass through all the shades of grey, till they lose the lighter portion alto- gether and become one uniform dark brownish-grey. It varies also slightly in size. (To be continued.) The Scottish Naturalist. m SOME NOTES ON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF OPORABIA. By F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. HAVING recently had occasion to examine a large ISeries of the moths belonging to the genus Oporabia Stph., I i^urpose giving here a short account of the result of my in- vestigations. In the earliest catalogue of British insects to which at present I have access, viz., Curtis' " Guide," published in 1829, one species only — dilutata — is mentioned, and given as the type of an unnamed new genus. In the next work before me — Humphreys and Westwood's " British Moths," vol. ii., 1845 — a second species is given, but erroneously referred X.o polata Hb. Westwood, in the revised edition of Wood's •' Index Entomo- logicus," gives, in addition to dilutata^ filigravimaria and autiunnaria, to the latter of which he refers the O. polata of his " British Moths." In the list of " New British Species of Lepidoptera since 1835" in the "Entomologist's Annual" for 1855, are the following remarks by Mr. Stainton, the editor, pp. 41, 42 : — " Oporabia autumnaria Boisd., enumerated as British in Doubleday's Catalogue, at p. 18. Its capture is recorded by Mr. Weaver in the 'Zoologist' for 1852, p. 3495. 'It rests on the branches of birch. I captured a few speci- mens in Perthshire in 1851, and found it very sparingly in previous seasons.' Mr. Weaver says — ' This species is readily distinguished from O. negledata and dilutata by the glossy silver and fineness of the wings, and the slenderness of antennae.' For m.y own part, I have never been able to satisfy myself that it was specifically distinct from O. dilutata. Opor- abia negledata^ which is also noticed by Mr. Weaver in the " Zoologist," at p. 3496, and is enumerated as a distinct species in Stephen's " Museum Catalogue," but I am not aware that its claim to be considered a species has yet been satisfactorily established. '' Oporabia filigrammaria Boisd. ; the capture of this species in this country was first recorded by Mr. Edleston, in the *' Entomologist," at p. 356, under the name oi O. polata, under which name it is figured and described in Humphreys and Westwood's " British Moths," vol. ii., p. 56, pi. Ixix., fig. 9. Many specimens have been taken in the north of England and 112 21ie Scottish Natiwalist. Scotland, and the species is in most collections. The Oporabia appi'oxwiaria, and precursaria, mentioned by Mr. Weaver, at p. 3496 of the *^ Zoologist," are probably varieties of this species." We find in Staintons "Manual," vol. ii., 1859, the three species given as distinct, and briefly characterised. In Newman's "British Moths" (1869), diliitata d^wA filigram- maria are described, but autumnaria is not mentioned. In Knaggs' and Stainton's " Cabinet List " (1870), the three species appear, but it is suggested that possibly autumnaria Gn. is a variety of dilutaia. Finally, in Doubleday's Catalogue (with Supplement 1873) diliitata and filigram?naria appear as species, but autumnaria is given as a synonym of Jiligrantaria, thus — " Autumnaria Dbl. Cat. var. ? no?i Bdv." Turning now to Staudinger's " Catalogue " of the European Lepidoptera (1871), we find the species under consideration catalogued thus : — 2642. DiLUTATA (S. V, p. 109 n. Cat.) Bkh. v, 290 ; Hb. 188; Tr. vi, 2.26; Wd. 639; Gn. ii, 262; (aria) Frr. 408.426, 2.3 ; Impluviata Bkh. v, 291 ; Tnscriptata Don. Nat. Hist, xv, T. 517 ; Fimbriata Hw. p. 320. a. ab. Obscurata ; Dilutata Dup. viii, 205 ; (aria) Frr. 426, 4 (al. ant. fere unicolor, nigro-fuscis, al. post, saepius infuscatis). b. v.? (et ab?) Autumnaia Gn. ii. 264, PI. 18.7; ? Bkh. v. 293.565 ; ? Quadrifasciata Bkh. v, 294.564. (al. albi- cantibus, minus pictis.) 2643.? FiLiGRAMxMARiA H.S. 1 94-5, HI, p. 160; Weaver Zool. 1852, p. 3495 ; Wd. Suppl. 1728 ; Gn. ii., 265 ; Approxi- //^^?*^a, Weaver Zool., 1852, p. 3495 ab ; PrecursaHa Weaver 1. c. ab ; } AfiniataW^\\. y. 294.564. (praece- dentis varietas an species Darwiniana ?) a. ab. Autumnaria Gn. ii. 265 ; Polata Westw. Br. M. ii., 56. T. 68, 9 {?ion Hb.) (major, dilution) From the foregoing it would appear that British Lepidop- terologists seem at present to incline to the opinion that there are only two British species, while Dr. Staudinger rather doubts whether there be more than one. I may here mention that the late Mr. Doubleday, in a letter to me, shortly before his death^ The Scottish Naturalist. T13 expressed his belief that there was probably a third distinct species. Let us now see on what grounds the three supposed, species were separated. In Stainton's " Manual," where the descriptions, though short, are generally very much to the point, the three are thus described : — O. DiLUTATA. I "4"'- 1 "7"'. F.-w. pale grey or whitish grey, with numerous transverse, wavy, darker lines and bands ; frequendy a central pale band between two dark bands, the outer of which is followed by another pale band; central spot indistinct blackish. September (end), October. O. AUTUMNARiA. i"4"'-i"5'''. F.-W. morc glossy than in Dilutaria, the second line more angulated near the costa ; f.-w. a trifle more pointed than in Dilutaria, and rather smaller. August. O. FiLiGRAMMARiA. i" i"'-i" 2,"' . F.-w. narrower and more pointed than in Dilutaria (especially in the female), pale grey, with numerous transverse, wavy lines, forming a darker central band (or at least the edges of one) ; central spot black ; h.-w whitish, with pale grey hind-margin. August (end), September. Moreover he adds that fiUgrammaria is much smaller and autumnaria much more glossy than dilutata, though all three are " very closely allied." In Newman's " British Moths," fiUgram?7iaria is said con- stantly to differ from dilutata " in being of less size, and in having the fore wings narrower and considerably more pointed." Not having at present access to Guenee's " Phalenites," I cannot refer to his descriptions. My own investigation I began by trying if I could find any structural differences by which the specific distinctness, or the reverse, of the supposed three species could be proved ; and in the male genital armature I have found such differ- ences. On the ventral hind-margin of the last abdominal segment of a male Oporabia are two short spine-like processes. In dilutata (PI. I. A Fig. 2 and 3) these are rather near each other and form short spines, longitudinally striate near the tip. In autumnaria (B Fig. 2 and 3) they are rather farther apart and less distinctly spine-like, while m. fiUgrammaria {fl Fig. 2 and 3) they are much flatter and little more than tooth-like projections of the hind-margin. Again, the lower margin of the harpagones in 114 '^^^^ Scottish Naturalist. dilutata (PL I. A Fig. 4 and 5) is distinctly and sharply toothed, while in the other two species the same part of the harpago is merely angulated. It is evident, therefore, that dilutata is most decidedly a species distinct from the other two. In them there is a great similarity of structure, but the difference in formation, which I have pointed out above, though slight, seems to be constant, and taken along with other differences, appears to show that autwnnaria ^cadi JiUfjrammaria are both good species, and such I have little hesitation in pronouncing them to be. It will be observed, of course, that this structure exists only in the males, and that some other points must be found, not only by which the females may also be separated, but by which all specimens can be determined without dissection. I there- fore give descriptions of each of the species. O. DILUTATA. F.-w. scarccly glossy, greyish-white, more or less distinctly tinged with brown, with numerous transverse, wavy, darker lines and bands ; second line indistinctly and roundly angulated near the costa ; central spot usually very indistinct in the male, more distinct in the female ; h.-w. scarcely glossy, whitish with a brown tinge, and with one or two indistinct lines parallel to the hind margin. Expanse of the wings in the $ 34-41 mm. (16-19 lines), in the $ 34-36 mm. (16-17 lines). A series of measurements resulted as follows : — four specimens 34 mm., four 36, two t^Z, one 40, and one 41. Any variation in colour that I have seen is rather towards a paler form, and a less decided brown tinge. I have seen no infuscated specimens. . O. AUTUMN ARIA. F.-W. distinctly glossy, slightly more pointed than in dilutata, greyish white with a silvery-grey tinge, with numerous transverse, wavy, darker lines and bands ; second line more distinctly and acutely angulated near the costa ; ceijtral spot usually distinct but sometimes rather obscure by the space between it and the second Hne being infuscated ; h.-w. glossy, whitish, with a silvery-grey tinge, hind margin frefjuently with a more or less distinct broad pale grey band. Expanse of the wings in the ^ 34-40 mm. (16-18^ lines), in the ? 35-41 i^fini- (16-19 lines). A series of measurements gives this result : — one specimen 34 mm., one 35, four T^d, five The Scottish Natitralist. 115 37, six 38, three 40, one 41. The average size is rather larger than in dlhitata. Aiitiuntiaria varies sometimes with the ground colour of the front-wings infuscated, the markings remaining however tolerably distinct. O. FiLiGRAMMARiA. — Very like autunutaria, but smaller ; f.-w. with hind margin apparently more concave near anal angle (where it is slightly concave in all the species), and hence the tip more produced ; markings more suffused ; h.-w. with marginal band often more distinct and darker. Expanse of the wings in the $ 32-36 mm. (15-17 lines), in the ? 28-33 mm. (13-15}^ lines). A series of measurements gives two specimens 28 mm., one 30, four 31, one 32, three 33, one 34, two 35, and one 36. F'digraminaria appears thus to to be a smaller species than autu7?maria, with, especially in the 9 , narrower wings. In autmnnaria the sexes are nearly equal in size, in filigrammaria the females are usually much smaller than the males. In variation of colour there is a tendency to a somewhat greater suffusion of the markings. Regarding the lai*vje of these species much remains to be discovered. That of dilutata is well known, but oi filigram- maria scarcely, and of autuj?maria, not at all. I hope there- fore that any one who can obtain eggs will send them to Mr. W. Buckler (Lumley House, Emsworth, Hants), that the larva may be described and figured. Regarding the time of appearance of the moths, it has been said that autuvinaria appears in Aug\i?,i, filigraf?unaria at the end of August and in September, and dilutata at the end of September and in October. In my own experience I have never seen any Oporabia till well on in September, but Sir T., Moncreiffe has shown me specimens oi autumnaria taken at the very beginning of September, so that it is very possible for it to appear in August, and it is probable that it always appears earlier than dilutata, though both fly together. As to the distribution of the species, autumnaria seems to be, in the north at least, almost as common as dilutata, but filigranwiaria appears to be much less widely distributed, and in Scotland, as far as my experience goes, rather a scarce species. When collectors however have learnt to know them better the range of the various species will be more accurately ascertained. Of the figures of the species that I have seen, Hubner's fig. 188, is dilutata, but the central spot too distinct ; Wood's 639 ii6 The Scottish Naturalist. (not 693 as cited by Staudinger) is dilutata and 1727a very fair figure oi axitxunnaria; Humphreys and Westwood's pi. 68, fig. 7, appears to be dilutata ? , fig. 8 a pale variety of dilutata, and fig. 9, though referred by Westwood to autiunnaria, is probably filigrammaria, but not good; Herrich Schaeffer's fig. 194- 1^^, filigram?naria ', and in Newman's British Moths the upper fig. 239 is dilutata, and the lower may be autumnaria, though the angle of the second line is rather too rounded; the figs, of Jiligrammaria (240) are not bad, though scarcely (especially the upper one) showing the concavity of the hind-margin of the front-wing. EXPLANATION OF PLATE L 1. Diagrams of the shape of the wings and of the 2nd line of the front wing in Oporabia. 2. Processes on ventral hind-margin of last abdominal segment. 2* A process more highly magnified. 3 from another individual. 3* A process more highly magnified. 4. Part of lower margin of one of the harpagones. 5> •••••.. ■ from another individual. "Waste of life at St. Abb's Head.— The year before last, lots of Guil- lemots and Razorbills were caught in salmon-nets at or near St. Abb's Head. What a pity this slaughter could not have been prevented. Whether they were drowned or not when the fishermen found them I do not know, but it is true that they were used to manure the land. I hear from a friend that a great many are not unfrequently caught in nets at Plymouth, and brought into harbour alive, and that he sometimes buys them merely for the purpose of letting them go again. What a pity there is not some one equally patriotic at St. Abb's Head. — ^J. H. Gurney, Jun., Northrepps, Norwich. Extermination of Rare Animals. -Mr. Harvie Brown's contribution on the above is valuable, but it goes in some respects too far, and in some not far enough. It goes too far as respects my communication. I certainly communicated to you the fact that F. milvus still habi- tates close to Blair Castle ; but in the same communication I say that it is "a pity, especially as their food is reptiles and mice, that gamekeepers are exterminating them." Regarding their habitat at Blair Athole, as the Duke has plenty of keepers, I don't think there is much chance of any outsiders invading the locality. "Keeper" in Latin is iustos: and the question is : Quis custodcs custodietl The subject concerns many other animals than tlie Kites, e.g., Felis catus, now nearly exterminated by gamekeepers. — W. Hkrdman, Rattray, loth May, 1877. Capture of Vanessa Antiopa.— On the 5th of last April, Mr. John M'Gregor caught a very fair example of Vanessa Antiopa, a few n\iles from Perth, The specimen, which appears to be a ^ is interesting as having pro- bably hibernated in this country. If not captured it might possibly have deposited eggs. — F. Buchanan Wjiite. SCOT. NAT. i V PI i A. s / \ I. y^- 3* C''*V\r>^rv Jl^ B. Au.'tu.*'^''^'^'^^*- 3. J I'VA^*.-^ \ l^(v)ric ■ The Scottish Naturalist. 117 Colias Edusa in Galloway. — To-day I captured here a specimen of 'Coltas Edusa, flying along the shore. It is in excellent fresh condition, considering the time of year ; and was strong on the wing. — W. D. Robinson Douglas, Orchardton, Castle-Douglas, June 7th. Colias Edusa is just now out all round Dumfries (that is in both , Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire). I captured a pair on the 9th inst., and it has been seen singly, and in twos and threes, all over the district. It is very strange we missed it in August and September last, as it would probably be in much larger numbers then. It has not been seen here for the last ten years — the duration of my entomologlical experience, but Mr. Lennon, of the Crichton Royal Institution, informs me, that some thirteen years since it was abundant near Annan, about sixteen miles south from here. I trust this beautiful butterfly will take up a permanent abode with us. — Robert Service, Dumfries, June 1877. Colias Edusa in Berwickshire.— A splendid specimen of Colias Edusa has been taken, and others seen, in Berwickshire in the beginning of June. — W. Shaw, Eyemouth, June 1877. Colias Edusa in Perthshire— 1 saw a specimen of Colias Edusa here a few days ago. Though, unfortunately, I did not succeed in catching it, yet I was so near it as to be able to see the markings very distinctly. — W. Herd, Scoonie Burn, near Perth, June 1877. Alternation of generations in the Cynipidee We take the follow- ing note from the " Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques," (Vol. 2, p. 142, June 15, 1877). M. J. Lichtenstein has communicated to the Entomol- ogical Society of France, the result of very curious observations made by Dr. Adler, of Schleswig, upon Hyinenoptera of the family Cynipida,. The females only, as is well known, of many genera of this family have been found, but from Dr. Adler's observations it would appear that the species of these genera are only transitory forms (fonnes transitoires ) of other species of which both sexes are known. It is by means of a true parthenogenetic alternation of generation that the reproduction of these insects is effected. This discovery presents a new and large field of study for entomologists, and will cause a revolution in the nomenclature of the Cynipidce, The form and structure of the two forms is so different that they have been placed in different genera. As an example of the metamorphosis M. Lichtenstein mentions iSpathegaster baccarum which comes from the well known fleshy " Currant-galls " of the oak, and of which both the male and female are known. The ovipositor is short, and from the pricking of the young leaves by it results a small lentil-shaped gall (one of the spangle-galls) from which comes the Neuroterus lenticularis, a species of which only the female is known, and of which all the individuals are females. In the Neuroterus the ovipositor is long, and the eggs are laid in the buds of the oak, the result being the formation of the Currant-galls, and the consequent production of Spathegaster baccarum. Df. Adler is stated to have proved this metamor- phosis in five other species.— F. Buchanan White. / 'Sj'i^-^-^-r^ /\. /^/> ^o^ v\^ ii8 The Scottish Natiirahst. PHYTOLOGY, Notes on Abnormal Plants. — During a visit to Ardencaple Wood in the early part of May this year, I came across one of the most remarkable forms of the primrose which I have seen. The peculiarity consists in the development of five narrow petaloid segments which alternate with, the lobes of the corolla. These narrow segments are not organs simply adherent to the inner surface of the corolla tube like metamorphoid, stamens, but the bases form a continuous sheet of tissue with the petals. At first sight the abnormality appears to resemble the " doubling " of the primrose often seen in cultivation. In the ordinary double primrose, how- ever, the additional petaloid lobes are metamorphoid stamens, and are op- posite to, not alternate with, the lobes of the corolla. In this abnormality the superadded petaloid pieces are simply interpetaline lobes, analogous to the intersepaline lobes often seen in the' calyx of Co7npannla media. One of the most interesting points connected with this is, that in the order Prii7uilaceoc we have a genus in which interpetaline lobes naturally occur. In this abnormal primrose we have then a deviation which imitates, so to speak, the normal condition of an allied genus. Recently, one of my students brought me two other abnormal specimens of the common primrose. In the one the flower-stalk was elongated, so that we had the- flowers situated upon a stalked umbel, instead of, as is the usual form, hav- ing them sessile. Besides this all the separate flowers had the outer floral envelope or calyx transformed into a yellow body resembling the true corolla. The other variety had two separate corollas upon each flower- stalk, one in the inside of the other, like the different parts of a telescope. In this form, the calyx was of its normal shape and colour, otherwise the flower resembled the first variety, where the calyx was coloured as in the corolla. Besides this peculiarity, in both of the coi'ollas were five well developed stamens ; but on dissecting the flower, I found only one pistil, and this had been transformed into a leafy organ like what is often seen in the double cherry. Two years since I gathered, in the island of Cumbrae, some peculiar varieties of the common daisy {Bcllis) In the one form the large white ray florets, instead of being strap-shaped or ligulate and female, were tubular and neuter. In the ordinary double daisy the flowers are all ligulate and female. The other variety had a number of separate heads all springing from the same stalk, as in the hen and chicken daisy of the garden. In the same place I gathered specimens of the C/irysant/ieviu?n Ieucanther?ium, C. segeiiirn, and Matricaria inodora, in which the ray florets had become large and tubular with a total loss of reproductive organs. I have also plants of Scabiosa sticcisa and Matricaria i7todora, in which the heads of the flowers were enlarged like the hen and chicken daisy. Specimens of the latter of these plants were placed in the Glasgow- Botanic Gardens, and in the summer of the following year the capitula had all their flowers metamorphoid like the hen and chicken daisy. At first sight the plant might have been mistaken for an unbelliferous plant. In the early part part of this year I gathered a specrmen of the marsh marigold ( Callha palustris) in Fossil Marsh, in which the leaf that subtended one of the flowers had been transformed into a petal. The Scottish Naturalist. 119 Examples of this abnormality are often seen in the tulip, where the leaf below the flower is more or less like one of the petals. Since then I have obtained a similar abnormality in the Anemone nemorosa, where one of the bracts below the flower had been transformed into a petal. — R. H. Paterson, 6 Windsor Place, Glasgow. Notes on Lathrsea squamaria — This peculiar plant has made its appearance on the banks of the Clyde below Carmyle, after an absence of nearly 20 years. The plant was first found there by the late Professor Roger Kennedy, in the spring of 1855. It appeared on the same spot for the next three years, when it was lost sight of till this year, when I came across it in one of my class excursions. The plant has been found growing recently in several other places around Glasgow, e.g., in Campsie Glen, on the loots of hazel, and in Ardencaple Wood, on the roots of the dog's mercury. — Id. Rare Plants from Ben Lomond — During an excursion to Ben Lomond this year, I again came across specimens of the moss Lencobryutn glaucu7)i in fruit on the same spot as I found it last year. When near the summit of the hill, I came across several specimens of Draba xncana in flower. This plant has never been reported for the valley of the Clyde.* Last summer on going down one of the steepest parts of Ben Lomond along with a friend, I came across several interesting and rare plants, among which may be mentioned Sesleria cczrulea, Tofiddia palnstris, Alsine verna, Cei'astiujn alptnum, Cherleria sedoides, Potentilla salisburgensis, and Polystichiim lon- chitis. The last five are new to the district. — Id. Alchemilla conjuncta Bab. —As it has been doubted if Mr. A. O. Black found this plant in Scotland, it may be as well to put his exact direction to the place on record. I copy from my Herbarium a note in his hand. " The exact station is about 300 feet from the base of the Glen Doll side of Craig Rennet, Clova, on the left-hand side of the first large ravine which comes down from Craig Rennet on entering Glen Doll. I only saw one patch of it, but that a very large one, about 8 or 10 feet square. Aug. 1853. — A. O. Blach.^^ The specimens are fine and have, as I think, a few minute bits of mica sticking to them, although they have been very carefully washed. Dr. M. Tyacke, M. D. (now of Chichester), gave me specimens from " Glen Sannox, Arran, 1832." They are, I fully believe, the true plant. No other botanist has found it there or at Clova : but it well deserves a careful search in both places. — C. C. Babington, in Jour- nal of Botany, June 1877. CRYPTOGAMIC SOCIETY 0¥ SCOTLAND. The Annual Meeting will be held at Dunkeld on October 9th, and following days. It is purposed to have a small show, more especially of the local fungi. Any botanists, though not members of the Society, desirous of taking part in the proceedings, will be cordially welcomed. Further particulars may be learnt on application to the Secretary, Dr. F. Buchanan White, Perth; or the local Secretary, Mr. John Duff, Banker, Dunkeld. * Vide Sc. Nat. IV. p. 51.— Editor Sc. Nat. INSECTA SCOTICA. THE LEPIDOPTEEA OP SCOTLAND. (Continued from p. 34.) Edited by F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. HYBERNIA Latr. DEFOLIARIA CI. Not very common. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee §000 West. Solway Clyde §80 Lat. 54°4o'-57°. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. October, November. Larva. May, June. Food- PLANT. Trees and shrubs. marginaria Hb. (1794); progemmaria Hb. (1800?). Com- mon. Agrestal and nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § § 000 West. Solway Clyde §00 Lat. 54°4o'-56°3o.' Range in Europe. Central. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. February- April. Larva. June. Food-plant. Hawthorn, beech, and other trees. AURANTTARIA Esp. Not uncommon. Nemoral. Ascends to about 1000 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee §000 West. Solway Clyde 8 o ^ Lat. 54°4o'-57°. Range in Europe. Central; (Sweden?). Type. Central. Type in Btitain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. October-December. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Birch, &c. LEUCOPH^ARIA Schiff. Common. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee §000 West. Solway Clyde 000 The Scottish Naturalist. 121 Lat. 54°4o'-57^ Range in Europe. Central ; (Sweden?). Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. February-April. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Oak. RUPICAPRARIA Hb. Common. Agrestal. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § §000 West. Sol way Clyde 000 Lat. 54°4o'-56°3o'. Range in Europe. Central. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. January - March. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Hawthorn, &c. Many of our specimens agree with the ab. ibkaria H.S., 511, which is simply darker, and occurs in France, &c. CHBIMATOBIA Stph. BRUMATA L. Abundant. Hortensal, agrestal, nemoral. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray g Orkney o West. Solway Clyde § § 8 Lat. 54''4o'-59'' Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Septentriono-central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. October-December. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Trees and shrubs. BOREATA Hb. Common. Nemoral. Ascends to 1700 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde' §80 Lat. 54°4o'-57°5o'. Range in Europe. West central. Type. Occidento-central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. October-December. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Birch. LOBOPHORA Curt. POLYCOMMATA Hb. Rare. Nemoral. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. o Clyde 000 Lat. 56°i5'. Range in Europe. Central; (Finland, &:c.) Type. Central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. April, May. Larva. June, July. Food-plant. Ash and honeysuckle. I have seen no Scottish specimens of this or Z. viretata. 122 The Scottish Naturalist. HALTERATA Hufn. (1769) ; hexapterata Schiff. (1776). Loeal. Nemoral. Ascend to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. § g Tay Dee Moray Sutherland o o West, o o o o o Lat. 56°io'-58°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. July. Food- plant. Aspen, poplar, and sallow. CARPINATA Bkh. (1794); lobulata Hb. (1803). Not uncom- mon. Nemoral. Ascends to 1300 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray o o o West. Solway Clyde § o ^ Lat. 54^4o'-57°5o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. April. Larva. June, July. Food- plant. Sallow, &c. VIRETATA Hb. Rare. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed o o o o o o o West. Solway Clyde o o o Lat. 55°56'-i5°. Range in Europe. Central ; (Finland, &c.) Type. Central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. July, August. Food- plant. Privet, ash. OPORABIA Steph. . DILUTATA Bkh. Common. Nemoral. Ascends to 1800 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross § Lat. 54''4o'-57°5o'. Range in Europe. Northern and central. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time or appearance — Imago, September-November. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Various trees. AUTUMNARIA On. Probably not uncommon. Nemoral. Ascends above 1000 feet. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee % % o q Wfqt O 0000 Lat. 56°-57°. Range in Europe. Britain, France, Gennany. Type. Occidental. Type in Britain. British. The Scottish Naturalist. 123 Time of Appearance — Imago. August-October. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Birch ? For remarks on this species see Sc. A'ai., IV., p. iii. FILIGRAMMARIA HS. Not common. Nemoral, ericetal. Ascends to above 1300 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. g Clyde g [West Ross] o Lat. 55°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain ;? N. Lapland. Type. British. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. September, October. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Sallow, &c. VENUSIA Curt. CAMBRICA Curt. Local. Nemoral Distribution — East. g g Tay g g o o o West. [Sol way] Clyde Argyle g o Lat. 56°-57°. Range in Europe. Britain, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Altai, &c. Type. Occidento-alpine ? Type in Britain. British ? Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Mountain-ash. LARENTIA Tr. DIDYMATA L. Common. Nemoral and ericetal. Ascends to 2500 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Sutherland Orkney g West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross g Lat. 54°4o'-59°. Range in Europe. Central and northern (but not general). Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Many low plants. MULTISTRIGARIA Hw. Common. Agrestal, nemoral. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde g g o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Holland, Central and South France, and Catalonia. Type. Occidento-meridional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. March, April. Larva. May, June. Food-Plant. Low plants. 124 ^^^ Scottish Natiij-alist. C-ESIATA Lang. Common. Ericetal. Ascends to about 3000 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Suther- land Orkney § West. Solway Clyde Argyle West-Ross § Lat. 54°4o'-59''. Range in Europe. Northern, Alps, Britain, Belgium, &c. Type. Septentriono-alpine. Type IN Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June- September. Larva. August- June. Food-plant. Heather and low plants. FLAVICINCTATA Hb., ruficinctata Gn. Local. Alpine and sub-alpine. From 500 to 3000 feet. Distribution — East, o § Tay § § Sutherland o o West, o Clyde ' § West-Ross o Lat. 56°-58°3o'. Range in Europe. Alps ; and mountains of Britain, Norway, and Galicia ; North Lapland. Type. Alpine and northern. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. August- June. Food- PLANT. Saxifraga aizoz'des, Sec. SALICATA Jib. Local. Alpine and sub-alpine. Ascends to 3000 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray § § o West. § Clyde Argyle West-Ross § Lat. 55°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Alps, Britain, Belgium, and Galicia. Type. Occidento-alpine. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June.. Larva. August, September. Food-plant. Low plants. The type (whose European range is given above) is the greenish-grey form not or scarcely marked with yellow. Two varieties of more southern distribution are recorded, which are paler, and either marked with yellow or ashy grey. OLIVATA Bkh. Not uncommon. Nemoral. Ascends to about 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde § West-Ross o Lat. 54''4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Belgium^ Alps, Germany, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. The Scottish Naturalist. 125 Time of Appearance. — Imago. July, August. Larva. September- May. Food-plant. Low plants. VIRIDARIA F. {i'j']^);2:>ectinitariaY^noch. (1731). Common. Ascends to 2100 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Suther- land Orkney § West. Sol way Clyde Argyle West-Ross § Lat. 54°4o'-59°. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June- August. Larva. August, September, Food-plant. Low plants. ASTHBNA Hubn. LUTEATA Schiff. Very local. Nemoral. Distribution — East. § § Tay 00000 West. Solway Clyde 000 Lat. 54°4o'-56°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. June. Larva. August, September. Food-plant. Alder. CANDIDATA Schiff. Very local. Nemoral. Distribution — East. § § Tay o o o' o o West. Solway Clyde § [West-Ross] o Lat. 54°4o'-56°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance— Imago. May, June. Larva. July, August. Food- plant. Hazel. EMMBLESIA Steph. AFFINITATA Stph. Not uncommon. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee 0000 West. Solway Clyde § West-Ross o Lat. 54''4o'-57°3o'- Range in Europe. Britain, Holland, Germany, Lapland, &c. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. June, July. Larva. August. Food-plant. Lychnis, &c. (seeds). 126 The Scottish Naturalist. ALCHEMILLATA L. Not uncommon. Agrestal. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray o o o West. Solvvay Clyde g West-Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and nor- thern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. «• Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Galeopsis tetrahit, Lychnis^ &c. ALBULiATA Schiff. Common. Pascual, nemoral. Ascends to II GO feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee g o o o West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-57°3o'. Range ix Europe. Central and northern. Type Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago, June, July. Larva. August. Food- plant. Rhinanthus crista-galli (seeds). DECOLORATA Hb. Not common. Pascual. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay o o o o o West. Solway Clyde o o o Lat. 54°4o'-56°3o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Briain. English. Time of Appparance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August. Food-plant. Lychnis, &c. (seeds.) coo T^NiATA Stph. Rare. Distribution — East. o o Tay o West, o Clyde o o o Lat. 56''-56°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, &c. Type Centro-septentrional ? Type IN Britain. English ? Time of appearance — Imago. July. Larva. ? Food- plant. ? UNIFASCIATA Hw. Rare. Pascual. Distribution— East. oooooooo West. Solway Clyde coo Lat. 54°4o'-56°. Range in Europe. Britain, France, Ger- many, Switzerland, tVc. Type. Occidento-central. Type IN Britain. English. The Scottish Naturalist. 127 Time of Appfarance — Imago. June-August. Larva. August, September. Food-plant. Silene, &c. (seeds.) MINORATA Tr. (1828); ericetata Stph. (1831). Not uncom- mon. Ericetal. Ascends to 1800 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Sutherland g g West, g Clyde g West Ross g Lat. 55°4o'-58°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Germany, Alps, Lapland, &c. Type. Occidento-alpine. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. • Food-plant. ? ad^quata Bkh. (1794); biandiata Hb. (1800?). Local. Pascual. Distribution — East, o o Tay g Moray 000 West, o Clyde Argyle West-Ross o Lat 56°-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance — Imago. June. Larva. August. Food- plant. Euphrasia (seeds). MBLANTHIA Dup. BICOLORATA Hufn. (1769); r ubigif lata ¥. {i ']?>']). Common. Nemoral. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray goo West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross g Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o' Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. June. Food-plant. Alder. The ab. plumbata Curt, (more or less suffused with black) is not un- common. OCELLATA L. Common. Pascual and nemoral. Ascends to 1900 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray g g g West. Solway Clyde Argyle West-Ross g Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Nearly throughout. Type. European. Type in Britain. British. 128 The Scottish Naturalist. Time of Appearance. — Imago. June, July, August. Larva. August-May. Food-plant. Low plants. ALBiciLLATA L. Rare. Nemoral. Distribution — East. oooooooo West. Solway o o o o Lat 54°5o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Bramble and raspberry. COREMIA Gn. MUNITATA Hb. Not uncommon. Pascual and nemoral. Ascends to 2600 feet or upwards. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray § Orkney § West Solway Clyde Argyle West-Ross g Lat. 54°4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Britain, Alps of central Europe ; Iceland, I^apland, Finland, &c. Type. Northern and alpine. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time OF Appearance — Imago. June-August. Larva. August-June. Food-plant. Low plants. DESIGNATA Rott. (1777); propugnata F. (^1787). Local. Nemoral. Ascends to 1500 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray § Orkney o West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross g Lat. 54''4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Low plants. FERRUGATA CI. Local, nemoral, and ericetal. Ascends to 2700 feet. Distribution— East. Tweed Foith Tay Dee Moray goo West. Solway Clyde g g o Lat. 54''4o'-57''4o'. Range in Europe. Nearly throughout. Type. European. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago, May-June. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Low plants. ( To be continued. ) The Scottish Naturalist. 129 THE OOLEOPTEEA OF SCOTLAND. ( Continued from p, 84.) Edited by D. SHARP, M.B. ELONGATA Gyll. Not common. Distribution — East. § Forth 000000 West. Solway §000 GIBBOSA Payk. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth §§§00 West. Solway §000 FUSCULA Gyll. Common. Distribution — East, Tweed Forth §0 8 ^ o o West. Solway 3^00 MYOETOPHAQID^. MYCETOPHAGUS Redt. QUADRIPUSTULATUS L. Very rare. Distribution — East. 0000000 West. 000 FULVICOLLIS Fab. Very rare. Distribution — East. o o Tay 00000 West. 0000 TYPH^A Redt. FUMATA L. Local. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway Clyde 000 MYCET^A Redt. HIRTA Marsh. Scarce. ^ _^,^, 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JJistribution — i^AST. iwecQ rortr 10 0 0 West. Solway § 0 0 0 TRIPHYLLUS Redt. SUTUBALis Fab. Very rare. Distribution — East. Tweed 0 0 0 0 West. 000 0 0 130 The Scottish Naturalist. DERMESTID^. DBRMBSTES Er. FRISCHI Kug. Very rare. Distribution — East. o Forth 000000 West. 00000 MURINUS L. Very scarce. Distribution — East, o Forth 000000 West. 00000 LARDARIUS L. Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth § Dee 0000 West. g Clyde 000 ATTAGBNUS Er. PELLIO Lin. Rare. Distribution — East. o Forth o o o o o a West. 00000 ANTHRBNUS Er. VARIUS Fab. Very rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth 00 0000 West. 00000 [mus-SJORUM L. Doubtful as Scottish. Distribution — East. Tweed o o o o o o a West. 00000 "Jedburgh, Rev. W. Little," Murray Cat. BYRRHID^. SYNCALYPTA Er. SETIGERA 111. Very rare. Maritime ? Distribution — East. 0000 0000 West. Solway 0000 This species is found at Caerlaverock, near the mouth of the Nith. BYRRHUS Er. PILULA L. Common. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray Sutherland o o West. Solway Clyde 000 The Scottish Naturalist. 131 FASCIATUS Fab. Local. Maritime, and on the summits of lofty hills. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray Sutherland o o West, g o o o ^ DORSALIS Fab. Rare. Distribution— East. g Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West, g g o o o CYTILUS Er. VARIUS Fab. Common. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde 000 MORYCHUS Er. ^NEUS Fab. Local, in sandy barren places on the coasts and banks of streams. Distribution— East, o Forth Tay Dee g o o o West. Solway Clyde Argyle o o SIMPLOCARIA Er. SEMISTRIATA 111. Common. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway g o o o ■ GEORYSSID^. GEORYSSUS Er. PYGM^us Fab. Local. Riparial. Distribution — East, g Forth 000000 West. Solway. g o o o PARNID^. ELMIS Er. ^NEUS Miill. In streams. Common. Distribution— East. Tweed Forth g g Moray o o a West. Solway g o o o VOLKMARi Panz. In streams. Not scarce. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde goo PARALLELOPIPEDUS Miill. In Streams. Not uncommon. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde goo 132 The Scottish Naturalist. o 0 o o o o 0 o o c o o o SUBVIOLACEUS Miill. In streams. Local. Distribution — East. § Forth o West. Solway § CUPREUS Miill. In streams. Local. Distribution. — East. § Forth West. Solway § NITENS Miill. Very rare. Distribution — East, o Forth o o o o o West, o o o o o Inserted on Mr. Hislop's authority, as found at Falkirk. LIMNIUS Er. TUBERCULATUS Miill. In Streams. Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth § 8 8 ^ <^ West. Solway § o o o PARNUS Er. PROLiFERicoRNis Fab. Common. In and near water. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth § § Moray o o West. Solway §00 o AURICULATUS 111. Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray o o West. Solway § §00 NITIDULUS Heer. Very rare. Distribution — East, o Forth 00000 West. 00 000 A single individual found at Aberlady. D. S. HETEROCERID^. HETEROCERUS Er. FEMORALIS Kies. Maritime. Local. Distribution — East. o Forth g g g o o West. Solway g o o o MARGINATUS Fab. Rare. In salt marshes. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth 00000 West. Solway g 000 SERICANS Kies. Very local. In salt marshes. Distribution — East. 0000000 West. Solway 0000 This species is abundant in one spot near the mouth of the Nith. (To be continued. ) ZOOLOGY. ON MIGEATION. By Colonel DRUMMOND HAY, C.M.Z.S. ( Continued from page gg. ) IN this country October would be considered by no means early for the departure of the swallow, whatever it may be in France. Mr. Gray says the Hirundines generally are obliged to leave our inhospitable climate as early as the beginning of September, and further states, that on the last day of August he was witness of a great assemblage of Swallows near Kelvin Bridge on the Partick Road, Glasgow, where their numbers were augmented from the whole surrounding country ; at last, one morning they congregated on the house tops of the village of Partick, and after holding a council which lasted but an hour or two rose before mid-day in a body, and after a few anxious twitterings ascended cloudwards and left our country. This, he adds, is, as is well known, the manner of Swallows when leaving us for warmer climes ; but this case, being so early in the season, leaves room to speculate on the reason so to speak for depriving us of their company. Mr. Gray mentions that the weather had been stormy. These birds probably prognosticating a further inclemency, this hastened their departure. It would seem to indicate that in both these instances the young and old took their departure at the same time ; it is, however, the belief that they do not always do so, but are probably guided by circumstances. An instance at one time occurred to myself when I had the advantage of witnessing one of these wonderful migra- tions actually on their passage. When coming home some years ago from the Mediterranean in a man-of-war, one of the fine old 90 gun-ships, and when in the vicinity of the Straits of Gibraltar, about twenty-five miles or so from land, on the evening of the 2nd of September, the weather being fine at the time with a light breeze, we were about sunset visited by a flight of many hundreds of Swallows, which after flying round 134 '^^^^ Scottish Naturalist, the ship for a time, uttering loud twitterings, finally settled in swarms all along the combings outside the ship, as also on the headings both above and below the stern windows of the captain's cabin, the ward-room, and gun-room, as close as they could possibly pack. These all appeared to be old birds, though of this I could not be certain. One of the officers, however, of the ship, making a sweep with his cap outside one of the windows, captured more than a dozen of them, which on being liberated immediately joined their companions ; these were all adults. In the morning not one was to be seen. Had these birds continued their journey the previous evening, another hour would have landed them in Africa, but, the Swallow being a day flyer, and as it was getting late, and such convenient quarters close at hand, they doubtless held a consultation in their twitterings, 9,nd prudently decided to stick by the ship. Mr. Wallace, in his very able work, on the " Distribution of Animals," says, " almost all the migratory birds of Europe go southward to the Mediterranean, move along its coasts, east or west^ and cross over in three places only; either from the south of Spain, in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, from Sicily over Malta, and to the east by Greece and Cyprus. They are thus always in sight of land. The passage of most small birds (and many of the larger ones too) takes place at night, and they only cross the Mediterranean when the wind is steady from near the east or west, and when there is moonlight : and he further re- marks, " that migrations of this type probably dated back from at least the period when there was a continuous land along the route passed over, and it is a suggestive fact that this land connection is known to have existed in recent geological times. Britain was connected with the continent during or probably before the glacial epoch ; and Gibraltar, as well as Sicily and Malta, were also united with Africa. The submersion of these tracts of land (which were perhaps of considerable extent) would be a slow process. And from year to year the change might be hardly perceptable. It is easy to see (he adds) how the migration that had once taken place over continuous land would be kept up, first over lagoons and marshes, and then over a narrow channel and subsequently over a considerable sea, no one generation of birds ever perceiving any difference in the route."* * Vol. I. page 20. ^ The Scottish Naturalist. 135 It is no doubt an accepted fact that our European migrants from the north to the south, and vice versa, cross the Mediter- ranean to the shores of Africa, but that they do so by moving east and west to three points only, and to those especially men- tioned, and that they are thus always in sight of land, is so entirely opposed to the many years experience which I have had in the Mediterranean, and especially in the subject of migration, in which I have always taken the deepest interest, that without any wish to criticise I cannot avoid making a few observations. That many of our own English birds go south, travelling by France and Spain, crossing at the nearest point in the neigh- bourhood of Gibraltar I think very likely ; also that those about the same meridian as Sicily and Malta go in that direction; and those in the eastern parts travel by the Levant is natural enough, but that all the other birds of Europe between these meridians do so by travelling east and west is an alleged fact which I cannot accept. Were this the case there could be no regular birds of passage but merely accidental stragglers to the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, and other places. So very many instances have come under my own notice, as well as from what has been recorded by others as to the crossing and recross- ing of birds at various parts of the Mediterranean, that I feel pretty confident that European birds going north and south, keep a pretty straight course, with, may be, a very slight divergence either to east or west according to the line of coast which lies before them in a northerly or southerly direction. Thus the birds from Holland, Belgium, north of France, and probably some from our own land that have descended by the valley of the Rhone, would not hesitate to cross the Gulf of Lyons, some going by Minorca -and Majorca, others crossing the Gulf of Valencia to Iviza, others still keeping the coast, would cross at Cape St. Martin, while the greater part of our own birds, which have passed from the Hampshire and Sussex coasts into Normandy, through France to the Pyrenees, or crossed the channel from the Lizard or the Land's End into Brittany over the Bay of Biscay (which I think there is sufficient evidence to show they occasionally do) into northern Spain or Portugal, together with the birds of all those countries would without difficulty effect the remainder of the passage, in no place much exceeding 120 miles, into Africa, anywhere between Cape Cartagena and the Straits of Gibraltar. Those that have come down by the line of the Alps would cross 136 The Scottish Naturalist. with ease the Gulf of Genoa to Corsica and Sardinia, and so to the coast of Tunis. Those to the north and east of that descending by Italy and keeping a southerly course from the Roman States would strike the north part of Sicily \ from thence they would cross over by Pantellaria to Cape Bon, a distance of about 80 miles to the former place (the shortest in the Mediterra- nean with the exception of Gibraltar) without going to Malta at all. Those going by the Straits of Messina and eastern coast of Sicily to Malta, would still have to accomplish over two hundred miles of sea to get to the nearest part of the Tripoli coast in a southwardly direction, and even, if taking a due east or north-east course (which is not likely) to get to the nearest points they would have little short of two hundred miles to go ; and some we know cross over from the Calabrian and Otranto coast in the south of Italy, and from the mouth of the Adriatic, a distance of about 500 miles or more. Those from Scandi- navia, Austria, Western Russia, and Turkey, would naturally descend, some by the shores of the Adriatic, either due south to Benghazi on the Tripoli coast, or through the Ionian Islands and Morea to the most southern of the Ionian group, Cerigo, and so on by Crete to the African shores. To the eastward, by Macedonia, down the Archipelago \ and still further to the east along the shores of the Black Sea, crossing the Bosphorus into Asia Minor, and even from the Crimea across the Black Sea and so continue their journey southward. With the exception of from the coast of Southern Italy and mouth of the Adriatic, in no case would the distance exceed what we know our smallest birds do regularly in crossing the German Ocean. For instance, the little golden-crested wren performs a journey across sea of 400 miles, while the distances in the Mediterranean from any of the places mentioned, with the above exception, would not be half that. Can it be reasonable to suppose, following this rule of eastern and western movements (which of course must equally apply to the southern shores of the Mediterranean as well as the northern) that all birds from Algiers, and to the west of that would travel some hundreds of miles to get opposite Gibraltar on the one hand, and the same distance to the east to get opposite to Malta on the other hand, whereas, by keeping a direct course from Algiers to the nearest of the Balearic Islands, they would only have 150 miles to accomplish, and from the The Scottish Naturalist. 137 north shores of Majorca to S. Sebastien not more than 120 miles, or even taking it from Minorca to the south of France, not much over 200 miles, or about one half the distance that most of our Fieldfares, Redwings, Snow-Buntings, Woodcocks, and Water-rails travel every autumn and spring. The lines birds take, however, either one way or the other, are no doubt influenced to a certain extent by the direction of the wind, sudden change of wind, fogs, and thick weather. Birds as a rule prefer performing the journey with a side wind, or on the quarter, a head wind, if not too strong, or even a calm, but not direct aft (to use a sailor's term) which would compel them to shift their course. A sudden change of wind, especially with thick weather, in many cases has the effect of bewildering the birds, and causing them to fly for refuge to the nearest land, many of them perhaps perishing in the attempt. In reference to the influence of winds, the late Captain Sperling, who paid much attention to the migration of birds in the Mediterranean, he having been a good deal, at sea, and thereby had many opportunities of watching the birds during their passage, says that in spring, when going north, the greater numbers cross when the wind is either westerly or northwesterly ; while in autumn, when going to the south, they appeared to prefer it in an easterly or southeasterly direction, and that he was led to infer from this, that they did not like a fair wind to travel with, but prefer it on one side or the other, and that he had noticed that the preference was generally given to its being on their left side. Not but what he had seen exceptions to this, especially in the larger birds, which generally fly by day, * and cross without any regard to wind. In speaking of the quail passing to the northward^ he says that should there have been a light wind from the west during the night, the island of Malta would probably be covered with them in the morning ; but if the wind was from the eastward, it would be very little use looking for them. But when they are going to the southivard in autumn the right time to look for them is after the wind has been blowing from the eastward, and this is corroborated by Mr Wright, f who says that in spring the quail come during the night, and chiefly to the west and north-west coasts of Malta ; in the autumn, on the contrary, they arrive for the most part during the hours of daylight, and then the east coasts are the *Ibis. 1864, p. 270. flbis. 138 The Scottish Naturalist. parts where they are most abundant. This accords with my own experience. The bewilderment of birds, owing to a sudden change of wind is also very forcibly described by Captain Sperling, who narrates his having seen a flock of Turtle-doves at sea so utterly confounded by a sudden shift of wind that they settled on the ship and continued making endless excursions of about a mile in various directions, but only to return again to make a fresh start. With regard to foggy weather Mr. Cordeaux, (" Birds of the Humber District") says that it is not so much wild stormy weather and high winds that are fatal to our little migratory birds in their long dreary passage (from the Naze in Scandinavia to Flamborough Head or the Spurn), but thick and especially drizzly and foggy weather. To the effect that birds do not confine themselves to the lines laid down by Mr. Wallace, but have a more extended range, I could mention numerous instances, but a few will suffice. Mr. Thomson of Belfast mentions, that when in H.M.S. Beacon with his friend Captain Graves, on a voyage from Malta to Greece, between the 21st and the 27th of April, 1841, they fell in with numerous birds. Black-headed Buntings, Willow- Wrens, Chiffchaffs, Redstarts, Wagtails, Wheatears, Whitethroats, (both kinds) Golden-Orioles, Hoopoes, Nightjars, Quail, Wryneck, and Woodchat. I may state that two years after this I had also the pleasure of sailing with the late Captain Graves (who was a very intimate friend of mine) in H.M.S. Beacon, leaving Malta about a week earlier than the date above mentioned, going direct to Cerigo on our passage to Crete, and between the latter place and Malta we met ^\^th very much the same birds : in addition, however, were several Rollers, and three Landrail, which passed close to the ship along with several Quail. I mention these two voyages of the Beacon the more especially, as that part of the sea, from the south coast of Italy and the mouth of the Adriatic, to the shores of Tripoli, is free of all rocks or islands, and has about the widest stretch of water, namely about 500 miles, and yet along the whole track, or nearly so, from Malta to Cape Matapan on the Greek coast, we were visited every day by birds of passage, and as the old Beacon was not noted for her sailing qualities as to speed, we had many opportunites of observing them. I have only mentioned the shorter-winged birds, but quantities of Swallows, Bee-eaters, and Rcd-lcgged Falcons also visited the ship, many of the latter remaining with us for some time perched about the rig- The Scottish Naturalist. 139 ging. Captain Sperling also gives a few instances of having on the same track noticed the following, the passage being nearly over at the time : Turtle-dove on the 25 th of May, nearest land being 135 miles, and at the same date Sand- martins no miles. Again, on the southern migration, in their flights across the same sea, in the month of October (also a little late) he observed the following : Thrush 105 miles fiom the nearest land, two Robins (already alluded to) at the same distance from land, Short-eared Owl 100 miles, all from the nearest of the Ionian Islands; Turtle-doves (number not re- corded) 240 miles from Malta, nearest land; these distances, on glancing at the map, clearly show that the birds were going direct to and from the Calabrian coast, the mouth of the Adriatic, and the coasts of Tripoli. There are also many instances recorded of birds crossing other parts of the Mediterranean off Sicily, Sardinia, &c., both by the late Captain Sperling and other authorities, and I have myself witnessed birds early in March passing from the African to the Spanish coast in the track between Algiers and Gibraltar, and on the 9th of that month, at about nine o'clock in the morning, rather a rare bird, and in- teresting in the southern part of Europe, namely the Red- throated Blue-breast, {Cya?ieada Suecica Brehm.) flew on board direct from the south, when about 25 miles from Cape de Gata, the nearest land, and about 100 miles from the opposite coast ; this specimen is now in my collection. I say interesting, as there seems to be some doubt, according to Gould and other authorities, as to where this bird winters. Among other birds that I particularly observed during the passage is the Quail, both on their arrival and immediately previous to their departure. On the Island of Fano, at the mouth of the Adriatic, and about 30 miles to the north and west of Corfu, it was my good fortune to see a large flight of Quail make the land. The day previous the island was covered with them, but on the morning of the day I speak of, the 12th of April, 1842, there was not a bird to be seen, they all having left during the night. While sauntering along the rocky slopes of the island, which stretched down to the sea many feet below me, I was suddenly stopped by a precipice which went sheer down; on looking over I saw coming direct from seaward six or seven little birds, which I took to be Starlings, and which settled close to the water's 140 The Scottish Naturalist. edge on the rocks below; this was about 11 o'clock a.m. A minute or two afterwards I saw seven or eight more light a little further up, after which small trips, from three to eight or fourteen birds, kept coming in quite fast, and alighting in every direction. I marked some down close to me, and on going to the spot up got a Quail, then another, then another, in the very spot where five minutes before there was not one to be seen ; the passage lasted about two hours and a-half, and by two o'clock the whole of that part of the island to the westward was swarming with Quail ; the wind was light and from the westward, the weather dull, but not thick. From the direction these birds seemed to come, there is no doubt in my mind that they had left the coast of Tripoli somewhere about the Headland of Benghazi. Computing the distance at 500 miles, and the. rate of flight at 30 miles an hour, (one-third of that of the swallow,) they would have occupied between 16 and 17 hours in the passage, and consequently must have left the African coast between six and seven in the evening, namely at sunset, which is just about the time they would naturally have done. Though many birds fly by night, still it depends very much on the distance they have to go, and the rate of flight (according to circumstances), whether they may be able to make the land before day-light or not. The Quail, however, on its northern passage to Malta, having only little more than 200 miles to travel, would be enabled, at the same rate, and leaving Africa at the same hour, to reach the land about two o'clock in the morning, which is the time we know they generally do. During a visit of some weeks to the Tunisian territory, and while in the vicinity of Carthage, early in April, I had numerous opportunities of observing the flights of Quail, which I have every reason to believe, in the same way as at Fano, reached the coast from the interior, moving in a body of thousands of small trips, bevies, or families, probably the last year's broods, if not that of the season, as there is nothing to show that the Quail may not have two broods in the year, and if they have eggs early in March in Malta, as I have found to be the case, why should they not be a little earlier in the interior of Africa? And supposing they were hatched three weeks sooner than in Malta, say by the middle of February, there would be plenty of time for the young birds to be sufliciently strong to migrate in the middle of April. The Scottish Naturalist. 141 Against this, however, the late Mr. Yarrel has recorded, "That the males are said to arrive before the females, and that advan- tage is taken of this circumstance by bird-catchers in France,' who every year decoy hundreds of dozens of males only into their nets by imitating the call note of the female. These birds are brought by French dealers in Quails to the London markets in large quantities, and on examination of dozens together in the flat cages in which they are carried, it is rare to find a female among them." It not having come sufficiently under my notice to decide whether these great flights which annually visit Europe are entirely composed of males, females, or young respectively, or whether the bevies composing the later flights consist of both females and young in broods, it is a question which I must leave to those who may have the oppor- tunity of solving, but may it not be that the cause of these birds all being males, is that the call of the female only is used, and consequently supposing there were hundreds of females in the same vicinity, it would only be the male bird that by this method would be captured. I invariably noticed that the Quails came in the night, and instead of spreading out along the coast, previous to taking their departure, they were always to be met in lines, or columns, running north and south, that is perpen- dicular to the coast, as if these bevies followed each other and dropped in succession; the lines were from 50 to 100 or 200 yards in width, and extended a couple of miles or more from the coast inland, and were not less than a mile or two miles apart. My belief is, that they rested the whole day, and the weather favouring them, departed for Europe the following night, fresh bevies coming in to supply their place. These lines being generally in a diff"erent spot every day led me to the belief that they were fresh birds. Sardinia being immediately opposite, and only about 150 miles from the shores of Carthage, they would easily make the passage in five or six hours, arriving there about midnight. Should the supposition of the Quail breeding twice a year be a correct one, it would account for the countless thousands which annually invade the whole extent of Southern Europe in spring, with a corresponding reflux in autumn, notwithstanding the enormous quantities which are destroyed and captured, and sent to every market in Europe, and yet the following year reappear in undiminished numbers. So numerous are the Quail in these migrations that, as Mr. 142 The Scottish Naturalist. Gould remarks, " If acorrect statistical account could be obtained of the numbers shot in the British Islands, and of the numbers brought to our markets alive, from Egypt, Italy, and other southern and eastern countries, I imagine we should be truly astonished; and Latham has recorded that twice a year the Island of Capri was visited with Quails in such numbers that the Bishop of the island drew the chief part of his revenue from them, and on the west coast of Naples, within the space of four or five miles, 100,000 had been taken in a day." While on the subject of these wonderful migrations of Quail I '^can scarcely bring it to a close without alluding to the miraculous provision of these birds as food in the wilderness. We read in Ps. Ixxviii. 27. (E.V.) "He .caused the east wind to blow under heaven; and through His power He brought in the south-west wind." How marvellously does this coincide with what we see in nature ; the Quail came up with an east wind, and at the ' right moment, a sudden shift takes place, causing them to fall down exhausted in the heart of the camp of the Israelites. And in Ps. cv. 40, " The people asked, and He brought Quails." and again in Ex. xvi. 1 1 -1 3, "It came to pass that at even the Quails came up and covered the camp." With this before us, is it not strange that some dispute whether the bird with which the Israelites were visited were Quail at all, and others going still further have asserted that they were not even birds, and this in the face of what we are told, Ps. Ixxviii. 27, " He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea." Dr. Tristram, a clergyman not only thoroughly acquainted with the Arabic and Hebrew roots, but one who has explored every inch of Palestine, and at the same time a good ornithologist and close observer of nature, may well be considered competent to give as good and sound an 0]:)inion as most men, and he says in his interesting little work " The Natural History of the Bible," that ingenious commentators have spared no pains in the attempt to prove the Hebrew word " Sclav" was not a quail, but some other creature they imagined more likely to be found in the desert. In spite of all etymology, and of the distinct allu- sion in the Psalms oi feathered {o\n\ some have suggested Locusts, some Flying Fish ; others again have conjectured Sand-Grouse, " Kata," or the desert Sheil-I )rake, ( Casarca rutila), found about the Salt Lakes, a most uneatable bird ; while Dean Stanley has put forward the idea of large red-legged Cranes three feet high, The Scottish Naturalist. 143 with black and white wings measuring seven feet from tip to tip ; by which he undoubtedly means the White Stork, the innumer- able flights of which literally darkened the sky, he states, when camping near the Wady Huderah (Sinai and Palestine, p. 82). And Dr. Tristram goes on to to say what is undoubtedly true that vast flocks of all these three species of birds do visit the Sinaitic desert at the time of migration ; and I have also seen the Black Stork in almost as large numbers in the desert ; while the Dean suggests the possibility of the Stork, on account of its standing three feet high, and thus explaining the statement of their being two cubits from the ground.* But besides the fact that the flesh of these birds is abominable for food, while the Sand-Grouse is very dry and hard, and could scarcely have satisfied the hungry people, we have the clear proof of the identity of the Common Quail with the Hebrew " Selav " in its Arabic name " Salwa " from a root signifying " to be fat " — very descriptive of the round, plump form and fat flesh of the Quail. The expression "as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth " probably refers to the height at which the Quails fly above the ground. At all times its flight is very low, just skimming the surface of the ground, and especially when fatigued it keeps close, never towering like the Partridge or Sand-Grouse. And again we read that the wind brought them up from the sea, and that keeping close to the ground they fell thick as rain about the camp — (in the month of April according to our calculations). Thus the miracle consisted in the supply being brought to the tents of Israel by special guidance, in exact harmony with the known habits of the bird. All birds, especially the short winged ones, are more or less fat during the periods of their migrations ; a wise provision of nature to support these frail creatures, who without sleep, and often without food, are enabled to endure the greatest fatigues ; the fat nourishing the body and becoming gradually absorbed in the system, so that by the time the journey is completed they have been found to be in the poorest condition. This I have particularly noticed in the Woodcock on their first arrival to their winter quarters in Albania and other southern parts of Europe. As to the Quail I have often seen them so fat on their passage that when shot they have burst asunder on falling to the ground, which quite corroborates Canon Tristram's remarks. * Numbers xi. 31, 144 ^^^^ Scottish Naturalist . With regard tc the hereditary custom alluded to by Mr. Wallace, as to birds passing over the same track, from generation to generation, without ever having perceived that whereas their fathers passed over dry land they in the same spot have now to cross a dangerous sea, this theory seems to me to fall to the ground in the very fact, as has been shown, that the young do not migrate with their parents, and therefore never could have had the route handed down to them. Captain Sperling believed that all birds cross the whole breadth of the Mediterranean in one night (unless there happens to be an island in their track) and I am very much of the same opinion. As to the passage being effected always by moonlight (according to Mr. Wallace), though they may occasionally do so, there is evidence to show that they pass in the very darkest of nights, and even when there is not a star to be seen. (To be co?ttt?med. ) THE LEPIDOPTEKA OF MONOREIFFE HILL By Sir THOMAS MONCREIFFE, Bart. (Continued frojn page no.) Trachea piniperda is about the earliest of our noctuoe in this locality. I took one on a Scots fir trunk on the 22 nd of February, 1872. It is however most unpunctual in its habits, as if it appears in February one season it may not show till April the next, and in 1874 we never saw it at all, though we were nightly at the sallows where it is usually found. It was hoAv- ever plentiful in 1875. It does not appear to be more influenced by weather than others of the spring insects, and it cannot suffer from the lack of its food plant, as that is always there one season the same as another ; why then an occasional total absence ? It is commonly distributed over the higher levels, and comes down to my garden occasionally, to feed at the early sallows. TcEniocampa gothica. — Abundant at sallow blossom, at all elevations. Very variable in shade and intensity of colour, as also in the pattern on the wings. I took several of the var. The Scottish Natxiralist. 145 gothicina in 1873, but it does not appear every season. Some of the varieties here are very dark. T. rubricosa. — Common at sallow, particularly at the later blooming ones. I take it more commonly towards * 600 feet than lower down. Comes to light occasionally in my study. T. incerta (instabilis). — Abundant, and excessively variable. Some specimens almost black. To be found wherever the sallows blossom, in equal abundance at all elevations. T. popideti. — Rare. I took one specimen at sallow in April, 1872, at an elevation of 600 feet. This is the only specimen I know of having been taken at Moncreiffe. T. stab ills. — Abundant at sallow. I have taken this insect at sugar some seasons before the sallows were out. This season however it was far behind the sallows, at least it was invisible until March 30th, 24 days after I observed the first sallow blossom on the 7th of March. This was exactly 21 days later than in 1872, when I shook a specimen off a sallow which did not shew a yellow blossom, and 29 days later than two specimens I took on a sugared birch on February 23rd, 1874. One of the prettiest sights I ever saw was on this occasion. It was a fine warm night, and the birch was a large weeping one, on the trunk of which I had placed a small patch of sugar; S. satellitia and C. e^^^aV/// literally swarmed upon it, and as they satisfied their appetites they either crawled up the stem and along the branches, or flew on to the pendant tresses of the birch which hang gracefully to the ground, and there looked like fruit hanging on a leafless tree. I counted 122 hanging in this way on the pendant twigs, and the two stabilis among them. As I remarked above, I saw a yellow blossom on a sallow in my garden this year on the 7th of March, and the tree appeared to be in full bloom on the 23rd. Upon a closer examination I found, however, that, the southern faces of the catkins only were acted upon by the heat of the sun, whilst on the side facing the north they were still dark and scarcely downy. The sun for a fortnight was bright and hot through the day, whilst the thermometer ranged from 16 to 20 Fahrenheit at night. The day-flying insects had certainly the best of it, as the hive bees worked hard for a couple of hours through the day, although, by the way, I did not see a wild bee till the first week of April. T. cruda. — Abundant at sallow blossom, varies slightly in size 146 The Scottish Naturalist. and in shade of colour, and is generally distributed. It is curious how variable the Tcenioca7?ipce are in their behaviour as regards light. I think it depends partly on the brightness or darkness of the night, and partly on the time of night that you visit the sallows. I have generally observed that if you shake them early the moths rise very soon from the sheet, and on rising return immediately to their unfinished supper, whereas if you give them time to have a good feed they remain longer quiet on the sheet, and on rising fly at the light. The last few nights I have gone out (April 5, 6, 7, 8, 1877,) the nights have been dark, and we have started about 9.15. p.m., and the Tceniocaffipce {s tab His ^ instabilis, gothica, and criida) have behaved as if we had covered ourselves with some very attractive bait, swarming all over us, as we knelt on the ground, covering our lamps, clothing, face, hands, and hair, like hiving bees. The difficulty is to get away from them, the only way being to " douse the glim " and bolt through the bushes. Stabilis and cruda are the most persistent, gothica and i?istabilis making a few bold rushes and then off. Orthosia upsilon. — Rare. I have one specimen taken at sugar in my garden in July, 187 1. I have not seen it since. The larva has been found not far beyond the western boundary of the district. O. lota. — Rare. The specimens I have were taken at sugar. O. macilenta. — Not uncommon at sugar, some seasons even plentiful when it does occur. In 1872 I did not see a single specimen. Aiichocelis rufina. — Mr. Herd tells me this insect is common some seasons; but as I am often absent at the time of year that it occurs, I have never seen it in plenty, indeed quite the contrary. A. lunosa. — Rare. At least we have never taken many specimens, pcssibly we have not found out how to look for them. Orrhodia vaccinii. — Abundant in most seasons, although in 1872 it was scarcely to be seen here. We have several varieties, seemingly the three that are mentioned by Dr. Staudinger in his catalogue. I have no doubt that this and others of the hybernating insects find food of some sort in the resinous exudations from the foliage of evergreen trees, such as spruce, Scots fir, and the cupressi. I have noticed several of the lepidoptera in the bright calm frosty moonlight nights after the new year, vaccinii among the number, flying about and settling The Scottish Naturalist. 147 on these plants. I once saw an unfortunate vacdnii, which had been feeding on plum blossom on the garden wall, in the grip of a centipede, which had got him fast with his forceps, and was holding on behind to the wall. Scopelosoma satdlitia. — Swarms at sugar in the autumn, and is still plentiful late on in spring at the sallows. This moth varies in the two usual forms to some extent, — the red-brown ground colour, with the usual white or yellow spot, — or an olive ground with the white or yellow spot, — one specimen I have is almost black with a bright white spot. Xanthia fulvago (cerago). — Common in certain localities in some seasons, in 1876 particularly so on the ragwort blossom. Comes also to sugar. The ya.nety Jtavescens occurs. X. (Ogata (silago). — Common and more generally distributed than the last species. It was, I may say, abundant on ragwort blossom in the autumn of 1876, and particularly richly coloured. X. circellaris (ftrruginea). — Common and generally distributed. I have reared this insect from the seeds of the Scotch (wych) elm, but have not observed gilvago. Cirrhcedia centrago {xera7npelina). — Common some seasons on the trunks of ash trees, usually from 100 to 200 feet. I remem- ber Mr. Herd taking a specimen on heather blossom at an elevation of 600 feet. None were observed in 1872. Tethea retuBa. — Mr. Herd took one specimen on a poplar trunk in 1875. ^^ have not noticed the larva. Euperia paleacea {fulvago). — I have a specimen which was taken by Mr. Herd, but I have heard of no other. Cosmia tr apezina.—Abunddint most seasons, particularly on ragwort blossom, and I think we have every possible variety. Diaiithoecia capsincola. — A common insect flying in great numbers at the flowers of Lychnis vesperti?ia, in the evening. I thought at one time that cucubali also occurred here, but I find I am mistaken. D. carpophaga. — Rare. I took it this year for the first time here. Polia chi. — Abundant. I have been told that the variety olivacea occurs but I have never seen it. Dasypolia templi. — I have never captured this species, but Mr. Herd has been fortunate in obtaining several specimens. On one occasion a cartload of unslaked lime was laid down at the back of my stables, Mr. Herd was turning the lumps over, 148 The Scottish Naturalist. and a male templi crawled out ; when the lime was being made, and after a pail or two of water had been sluiced upon it, out struggled the female. It is curious where some moths conceal themselves, but this must have been a most uncomfortable habitation. Miselia oxyacanthce. — Common along the hedgerows at the base of the hill, and comes freely to sugar. I have not observed the slightest variation in this insect, and for once the dark variety appears to come from the south ; at least although the melanic varieties of many of the lepidoptera are frequent here, I have seen no approach to melanism in oxyacanthce. Euplexia hccipara. — It is curious that this insect, which is now locally common, was not noticed here till 1872, and its numbers appear to increase annually. It may be netted on the wing in the evening rambling about the back of a thorn hedge along the bracken and ground ivy blossom ; may be taken feeding at the campion flowers, or at sugar, and comes also freely to light in my study. Aplecta herbida. — Not uncommon. Varies in depth of shade of the green. Ascends to 600 feet. Comes to sugar. Mr. Herd reared a specimen from a larva we found feeding on sallow blossom at night. A. tinda. — Mr. Herd tells me he has taken this moth, but I have not met with it. Hadena adusta. — Locally common at sugar some seasons. I first met with it in 1874 at sugar in the same locality I had sugared the two previous seasons without seeing it. Mr. Herd had, however, I believe, met with it formerly. H. protea. — This is another moth which was abundant at sugar and at Phlox blossom in my garden in 1870. I only observed one specimen in 1872, and none in 1873, since which time I have met with it each season, but in no abundance. Ascends to 600 feet, and is common at that elevation. Some specimens are very dark. H. glauca I first noticed in 1874, and as I have found it pretty commonly in the same locality, viz., on an old wall, each season since, it had probably been previously overlooked. //. dcntina. — Common some seasons, especially in the same locality as glauca. Comes freely to sugar, and shews considerable variety in intensity of shade and in the size and clearness of the white tooth-mark. H. thalassifia. — Common at all elevations up to 600 feet. I The Scottish Naturalist 149 think those obtained at the higher elevation are more brightly coloured than those taken lower down. This insect comes commonly to sugar, but I usually take the males hunting about quite a week before they come to food. It strikes me that many insects do not feed freely until they have mated. Comes to light. H. rectilinea. — I do not think this insect was observed here till 1873. It is now pretty frequent at sugar some seasons. Chloantha solidaginis. — Rare. The only specimen of this insect which I have seen at rest in the day time, looked very peculiar, as it had buried its head between the interstices of the bark of a rugged birch and was holding on by its fore legs, the body and rolled up wings sticking out perpendicularly from the trunk. I took it at first to be the stump of a broken branchlet, but on touching it found it was soft, and boxed it accordingly. I took another specimen down near my house on a ragwort blossom close to a large bed of Hypericum. I was in hopes I had got perspicillaris, but was disappointed. It is curious that the nearest Vaccinium is three quarters of a mile away on the other face of the hill, with a difference of elevation ot nearly 500 feet. C. exoleta. — Abundant, and may be met with at times during nine months in the year, and indeed it is hard to say whether it might not be met with in every month except July. Comes freely to sugar and blossom, and occasionally to light. Cucullia chamomilloe. — Frequent at campion blossom some seasons. This is an earlier insect here than iimbratka^ and is usually becoming worn when the latter appears. When the white campion comes early into blossom, I have no difficulty in obtaining a few specimens of cha?nomillcB. C. wnbratica. — Common, or I should say " abundant " some seasons, although I scarcely saw one in 1872. It is particularly partial to campion, rhododendron and turncap lily, and is at times quite a pest. It does not appear to be shy of the lantern, as I have turned the light full upon it whilst hovering at the blossoms without disturbing it in the least. It usually appears towards the end of June. Anarta myrtilli. — Not common. Occurs sparingly among the heather and Vacanium, about 600 feet up. Abrostola tirtkce. — Abundant, at all sorts of blossom. I think some of our specimens are darker than those from the south. Plusia chrysitis. — Locally abundant; particularly partial to 150 21ie Scottish Natin^alist. the blossoms of white campion at dusk. It flies also and basks on the fruit walls in the sunshine occasionally. Both this insect and ganwia bask in the same way, and fly through the day, and in this habit appear to be a link between the day-fly- ing and night-loving species. They both appear to feed towards dusk, and are nearly the earliest noctua^ that come to blossom. The extent of the central shade is the only variation I observe, — an almost equal number having it entire or interru^jted in the middle. G. bractea. — Common some seasons, but local and difficult to obtain in first-rate condition. Much more common than the following species, and flies rather later than some of its congeners. I have taken it by the light of the lantern flying at campion blossom long after it was too dark to distinguish any insect without a light. P. festiicce. — Not common. Partial to rhododendron, red valerian and white campion blossom, not forgetting the brown turncap lily, a great favourite with all the Lepidoptera that feed on the wing or partially so. P. gamma. — Abundant from June. Hibernates I think, as I see it occasionally basking on the rocks in early spring. P. inter rogationis. — I have a specimen, unfortunately a good deal spoilt, taken in the garden by one of my sons. Mr. Herd has taken specimens on the higher ground. Stilbia anomala. — Locally common at the blossom of rag^vort and wood sage ; comes also to light or at least may be taken on the wing with a lantern. Euclidia mi. — Mr. Herd used to take this insect on the lower ground at the base of Moncreiffe Hill ; it has not been noticed however of late years. This completes the list of Nocture which have been observed at Moncreifl"e as far as I know, but I have no doubt a few more may occur, as several of the more local species have only been observed within the last three or four years. 59. Thyatira batis; c 66. Leucania conigera ; c 60. Cymatophora duplaris ; / 67. „ Hthargyria;c 61 „ flavicornis;/ 68. ,, comma ;c 62. Bryophila pcrla ; c 69. „ impura; c 63. Acronycta psi ; c 70. ,, pallens ; c 64. „ ligustri; c 71. Nonagria fulva ; c 65. „ rumicis ; c 72. Gortyna flavago ; c The Scottish N'aturalist. 15 73- 74. 75- 76. 77- 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93' 94. 95. 96. 97- 98. 99. 100. lOI. 102. 103. 104. 105, 106. 107. 108. 109. no. III. 112. 113- 114. Hydrsecia nictitans ; c petasitis ; r )j >j micacea; c Axylia putris ; r Xylophasia rurea; c lithoxylea; c polyodon ; c Heliophobus popularis ; / Charaeas graminis ; c Luperina testacea ; c „ cespitis ; c Mamestra anceps ; v r furva; v r brassicse ; c Apamea basilinea ; c 33 33 33 gemma ; c unanimis ; r oculea; c Miana strigilis ; f fasciuncula; c literosa ', f arcuosa ; c Caradrina blanda ; c „ cubicularis j c Rusina tenebrosa ; c Agrotis suffusa; r segetmn; c exclamationis ; c corticea;/ 3) 33 35 33 )) 33 33 nigricans ; c 33 33 35 obelisca ; c porphyrea; c lucernea; r Tripbsena ianthina; c fimbria -, f orbona ; c pronuba ; c Noctua glareosa ; c depuncta ; c plecta ; c c-nigrum ; f ditrapezium ; c 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 115- 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126, 127. 128. 129. 130. 131- 132. 134. 136. 137- 138. 139- 140. 141. 142. 143- 144. 145- 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 152. 153- 154. 155- 156. 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 3) 33 33 33 3> 33 33 Noctua triangulum ; r rhomboidea ', c brunnea ; c festiva ; c dahlii ; c rubi;/ umbrosa ; c baia ; c neglecta ; r xantliographa ; c Trachea pinij^erda ; c Tseniocampa gothica ; c nibricosa : c instabilis ; c populeti j V r stabilis j c cruda ; c Orthosia upsilon ; v r ,, lota ; r „ macilenta ; c Anchocelis lunosa ; r rufina ; c litura ; c Orrhodia vaccinii ; c Scopelesoma satellitia ; c Xanthia cerago ; c silago : c ferruginea ; c Cirrhoedia xerampelina 3 c Tethea retusa ; v r Euperia fulvago ; zj r Cosmia trapezina ; c Dianthoecia capsincola ; c carpophaga;27r conspersa ; r Hecatera serena ; r Polia chi ; c Dasypolia templi ; r Epunda nigra ; r Miselia oxyacanthae ; c Agriopis aprilina ; c Phlogophora meticulosa ; / 33 33 ?3 33 33 33 15^ y/z j> protea ; c glauca ; c jj jj >j jj 172. CucLillia umbratica ; c 173. Anarta myrtilli ; r 174. Abrostola urticae ; c 175. Plusia chrysitis ; c 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. dentina ; c oleracea ; c thalassina ; c rectilinea ; c 168. Chloantha solidaginis ; y 169. Calocampa vetusta ;/ 170. ,, exoleta ; c 171. Cucullia chamomillce ; / [To be continued.) J) 55 bractea ; / festucEe ; r iota ; c v-aureum ; c gamma \ c mterrogationis 182. Gonoptera libatrix ; r 183. Mania maura , c 184. Stilbia anomala;/ 185.. Euclidia mi ; r DOES ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS OR DIMORPHISM OCCUR IN EUROPEAN CYNIPIDAE ? By p. CAMERON. IN the present paper I purpose discussing the question raised by Dr. Adler as to the occurence of alternation of genera- tions in certain European Cynipidse, and at the same time making some remarks on parthenogenesis in the Cynipidte and Tenthredinidae. We owe to the labours of Hartig the first proper generic arrangement of the Cynipidae. This author not only distributed the gall-making species into several well defined genera, but, what was equally important, he clearly separated those which were true gall-makers from those forms which lived as inquilines in galls raised by other species, and from others which were pure and simple animal parasites like the ichneumons. By this work he removed many difficulties from the path of the student, and rendered the further study of the group clear and intelli- gible. Hartig divided the gall-making Cynipidce into eleven genera — Cynips, Bior/iiza, Andricus, Teras, Synophrus Trigonaspis, Spat hog asttr, Neurotenis, Diastop/irus, Rhodltcs and The Scottish Naturalist, 153 Aulax, the first eight being exclusively confined to the oak, and the last three to other plants. He furthermore pointed out that among certain genera there were absolutely no males, while with others the two sexes were in nearly equal propor- tions ; Cynips, (or Cynips, Dryophanta, and Aphilothrix, as now restricted by Foerster) Synophrus, Biorhiza, Neuroterus (except some parasitic species of doubtful generic location) being in the former predicament. To a very great degree the evidence proving the unisexual condition of these insects is to a more or less extent of a nega- tive nature, and consists mainly in many thousands of them having been reared from their respective galls, by competent naturalists all over Europe, without a single male having been discovered. But the evidence is not entirely of this negative character. Mr. F. Smith took some galls of Cynips Kollari to a locality where they were previously unknown, and that species was soon located there. I have repeated myself this experiment with single galls of Kollari, and also with Aphilothrix radicis, with entire success. So that, granting that no dimorphism occurs, we are quite justified in concluding that no males exist, or if they do they must appear at long intervals and in very limited numbers. It is to be noted also that the bisexual species are as a whole vernal, the galls appearing with the young leaves and flowers, and the insects pass with great rapidity through their transfor- mations, some of them reaching the perfect state in 3 weeks after the appearance of the galls. The agamic species again are mostly autumnal, and their galls are much harder, larger, and of a more complicated structure than the others. Briefly stated. Dr. Adler's hypothesis is that the bisexual spring- forms oviposit on their exclusion in early summer, and give origin in the autumn, not to galls and insects like themselves, but to totally different galls, which yield agamic forms very dissimilar to the spring ones, and these autumnal insects hibernate, and lay their eggs in early spring, which in due time yield the bisexual flies. Thus, he states that Spaihogaster baccarum, the maker of the common " Currant galls," oviposits in the young leaves, pro- ducing the well known " spangle galls " of Neuroterus lenti- adaris, which in the spring lays its eggs in the buds, giving issue to the "Currant galls." In the same way Alder connects Neuroterus fumipennis with Spaihogaster albipes „ 7iu7?iis7?iatis „ ,, vesicat?ix 154 The Scottish Naturalist. Drvophanta smtellaris with Trigonas}yis megaptera „ longiventris „ Spath. Taschenhcrgi Aphilothrix radicis „ Andricus nodidi Let us see if a consideration of the biology of the species named affords us any reasonable evidence in favour of this rather startling hypothesis. It must be evident for one thing, that if the species are corelated in the way indicated, we ought to find the two forms equally abundant and in close proximity to each other, just as we find the dimorphic forms of Pri7m(la together ; and this must be more especially the case consider- ing the extremely sluggish nature of the Cynipidce. Some of the species no doubt are found in the same vicinity, but with others this certainly does not happen. Trig, megaptera is not uncom- mon in many woods around Glasgow; it is veiy common for instance at Kenmuir Bank, where 'D. scutellaris does not occur at all, nor even within some miles of it ; and it has such a conspicuous gall that it could scarcely be overlooked. Schenck* also states that T. megaptera is very rare, and D. scute- llaris abundant in Nassau, and this I think will be the case generally. S. vesicatrix, again, is a very local species, by no means common, while N. mufiismatis is met with every where. lY. fumipennis is not uncommon, while S. albipes has only been recorded in Britain from the vicinity, of Glasgow. Schenck does not mention j^iw/^(?w«s, while he gives albipes as common. D. lo7igiventris is pretty common, while S. Taschenbergi has not yet been found in this country. A. nodnU and Aph. radicis are undoubtedly found together, yet 1 have no hesitation insayingthat they are by no means related in the way stated by Adler. J^adicis is found developed in the galls from the autumn till early spring, and it then deposits its eggs. This point is clearly shown by our finding the fly about oaks in April ; the galls are found soft, juicy, and white, with a more or less rosy tinge, towards the middle of May, the larvae being found in them till the end of July; all this proving positively that radicis has only one brood in the year. The galls oinoduli, on the other hand, appear in the spring, and the insects quit them in the autumn. In other words, the development of the two species goes on side by side. How then can the one give origin to the other ? But more than that, I have taken a gall oi radicis in the spring and placed it at the root of an oak, where I had satisfied myself the species did ^ * Beitr. z. Kennt. d. Nassauischcn Cynipiden, The Scottish Naturalist, 155 not abound — not .even occurring in the same wood, which was a small one — and in three weeks after in the self same spot I found a fresh gall. It seems to me then clear that Adler's hyjDothesis is erroneous, and not consistent with fact. If no alternation of generations takes place, it is evident that the eggs of the vernal species must lie dormant for 9 or 10 months. That they are laid in June (or probably May in some places) is certain from our never finding the flies before the appearance of the galls in the spring, and by bred specimens only living a day or two after leaving the galls \ and again we find their dead bodies in spiders' webs, &c., in June, while I have observed T. megaptera in copulation at the end of that month. The fact of the eggs lying so long dormant is rendered more extraordinary by the galls in many cases not appearing till the leaves or flowers, as the case may be, are fully grown. But in reality there is nothing more strange in this happening with S. baccaru77i, than that the "^ spangle " galls should appear in the summer, remain flat and dry without a trace of the insect inside during the autumn and winter, then in the spring swell up, become soft and succulent, the larva inside growing rapidly, and in the course of a week or two emerging in a winged state. From the extreme sluggishness of these creatures, as well as from the very short time they live as imagos, observations on their oviposition are very difficult to make. I have only once observed it. This was with Aphilothrix albo-pimdata, on 25th April ] the galls followed early in June, and as this species becomes developed in the autumn it must hibernate in the perfect state. This is also the case with D. divisa and other agamic forms. The gall-making Cynipidse are most sluggish in the perfect state. I have only once observed them fly, that being with some specimens of A. radicisy which were bred in the house, and whenever the box containing them was opened, they flew into the gas. (I put some specimens of radicis into spirits for a week, and they revived when taken out and dried.) From the above remarks it is plain that the " Alternation of Generations " of Adler is nearly the same as the " Dimorphism " of the late B. Walsh. According to Walsh, Cynips spongifica, O.S. raises " oak apple " galls on Qiiercus tmdoria, which become fully grown about the middle of June, and from a small proportion of the galls emerge $ and ? flies ; the remainder 156 The Scottish Naturalist. of the brood do not develope till autumn, when they upheave galls closely allied to, but quite distinct from, the June form, and out of thousands of the autumnal flies bred not one was a ^ . The American entomologist enumerates 9 points of distinction between aciculata (this being the name of the autumnal form) and spojigifica, more than enough indeed for them to be placed in separate genera, according to the way the European species are distributed. The evidence in favour of their connection seems to be by no means clear, and it would be well if the subject were reinvestigated. I have examined a specimen of aciculata, and it undoubtedly belongs to the Cynips- group, but cannot well be placed in Cyfiips S. Str. Dryophaiita or Aphilothrix. Arguing from Walsh's observations, Mr. F. Smith has urged that if the galls of our agamic species be collected early in the season the males may in this way be discovered. This has been done, but so far without success. It seems to me that there is no evidence what ever to show that these species are double brooded. Possibly however some of the bisexual vernal species may have more than one brood. Mr. E. A. Fitch mentions (Ent. No. 159, p. 195) that with A?idriciis curvator 3. small second brood is met with. Mr. J. E. Fletcher of Worces- ter likewise tells me that this year two broods of Spath. tricolor appeared ; one on the nth June, the other on July 23rd. With the bisexual Cynipidae the males are in some species nearly as common as the other sex, in others, as in Rhodites, they are very rare. A curious phenomenon may occasionally be observed with one or two of the polythalamous gall-makers ; it is that from one gall only females will be produced ; from another only males, but oftener both sexes will be found in the same gall. In Synergns the males are tolerably common, and often differ much from the females. In another inquiline genus — Ccroptres — Mayr bred 600 of C. arator, and not one J , and of C. cerri 98 females and only 4 males. Males are as common as the females with some species ot parasitic Cynipidae, while with others they have not yet been found. Even with those species having both sexes the males are in comparison to the females rare. Thus of Sarothrus canalir,u/atus, I have in my collection 23 specimens, of which only 6 are males ; of Eucocla trichopsila 1 1 females and 2 males; of 7 s\)tc\Qsoi Klcdito7na, numbering in all 35 individuals, there arc only 3 males ; of Figites 23 specimens, and not one The Scottish Naturalist. 157 male. In ^gilips and Megapdmus both sexes are equally common. Parthenogenesis has been clearly demonstrated in Neniatus ribesii {ventricosiis) the common gooseberry sawfly, by the re- searches of Thorn, Kessler and more especially by Von Siebold, (see his '' Beitrage zur Parthenogenesis der Arthropoden " pp. 107-130). In this species the result of the parthenogenetic brood is male, as is the case with Apis, Polistis and Vespa. Parthenogenesis also appears to occur with Xematus 7?iiliaris, Pz. {viridis H.), a very common saw-fly, with 2 or 3 broods in a year, and which has the males nearly as numerous as the females. I had 4 larvae of 7?iiliaris in a bottle by themselves. They spun up, and at the end of July 4 females came forth. I supplied them with a fresh willow leaf, and one of the creatures laid 4 or 5 eggs on it, from which in due time larvae issued, but unfortunately they did not reach maturity, having perished during the winter in the cocoons. The number of saw-flies of which no males are known is not inconsiderable. There are some widely known species which have been frequently bred, and hundreds caught, yet no males have been discovered. This is the case with Dineura ver?ia, HcmicJiroa rufa, Phyllotoma nemorata, Bk?inocampa luteiventris, B. albwes, Poeciloso?na pidveratum, P. luteola, Hoploccwipa brevis, Eriocainpa ovata, Fenusa betulce. With others again the males are known, but are extremely rare. Stro?igylogaster ciiigidatus I have taken in hundreds, and have only managed to secure one male, which I bred. N'e?natus gallicola has been extensively bred by Mr. F. Smith, and he only " obtained a single male out of several hundreds of the flies " (Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. part iii. 1876. p. 22). Croesus varus is only known to have a male from the rather doubtful account of its original describer, Villaret ; and that of Blennocainpa epjnphium from a single specimen taken by Brischke (Beitr. zur Parth. a. Arth. p. 228). The $ of Eriocampa adiwibrata is known, but is certainly very rare. The same remark holds good with HeinicJiroa alni, Selandria straj?iinepes, and others. It would be of great interest to prove if species like Plem. rufa would produce females without the aid of the male. I am anxious to investigate this subject, and should be greatly obliged for larvae of the species noted above. « 31 Willowbank Crescent, Glasgow, 19th August, 1877, 158 The Scottish Naturalist. rUKTHEE NOTES OifT THE SPECIES OP OPOEABIA. By F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. SINCE the notes at p. iii were printed, I have seen a copy of M. Guenee's " Phalenites/' and consequently can give a translation of some of his remarks on the species of Oporabia (vol. ii. p. 262-266). 1353. O. dilutata^ 40 mm. Front wings light grey, with a slightly yellowish tint, the lines grey, sinuous, bluntly toothed, arranged in bands and always pretty well marked ; the subterminal double with larger teeth ; the two central sometimes each composed of three lines. The small central spot is contiguous to the second line, and the black apical dash is more or less visible. Hind wings paler, with 2 parallel subterminal lines marked in black at the costa ; on the underside there is a third line, also more distinct on the costa, and a black central spot. The $ is smaller, with more distinct lines, and the 2 central bands clouded with blackish. This species varies excessively. The ^ s vary from pale greyish sulphur with well-marked lines to smoky grey without markings. M. Guen^e then alludes to the various forms which have been considered as species. The only one of these to which we need refer is neglectata Stph. (Brit. Mus. Cat. p. 198), which like many other Scottish insects is larger than more southern individuals. Weaver thought that the antennas were thicker, but M. Guenee could not detect this in the specimens he has seen. 1334. O. atitunuiata Bdv. Does not vary in size so much as dilutata. The four wings are concolorous, silky, dirty white, never greenish ; all the lines are partly obliterated, and show well on the costa only. But the black points and dashes of the nervures are persistent, those on the bifurcation of the 2nd and 3rd nervures drawing attention at the first glance. In very well marked examples it can be seen that the second line is straighter, much less toothed, and that it forms upon the i' almost a right angle that is not to be seen in dilictata. The hind wings and the underside are also only slightly marked. The 9 resembles the ^ in all respects, and is of the same size, whilst in dilutata the $ is smaller and more strongly marked. 1335- O.filigrammaria H. S. Allied to dilutata, and much more so to atitu7n?iaria, but is always smaller. Front wings straigliter and more produced at the tip. Ground colour always slatey-grey (gris-violdtre), with bands darker and more filled up with black ; The Scottish Naturalist, 159 the line which forms the base of the basal patch is straighter and more oblique. The central space is almost always black, and forms a projecting angle in the cellule. The little band which follows that is more oblique. The hind wing has always a dark band above, preceded below by two equidistant and pretty paraljel lines. Var. A. Autwmiaria Dbd. {non Bdv.) Notably larger (39 mm.) Front wings lighter, though always of a slatey-grey tone. Central space lighter in the middle where the nervures are entirely white ; hind margin paler. Hind wings white with a single blackish line, toothed and disappearing behind. 5 '^^'^'^ the whole of the upper wings traversed by fine lines, the central space filled in with black. Autumjiaria looks certainly different from. Ji I igramniaria^ though "I have not found any important character by which to separate them." As regards the time of appearance M. Guenee gives October and November for diluiata^ November for autumnata^ and, on the authority of Mr Doubleday, the beginning of September for filigraviinaria and its variety. He also states that autiimnata occurs in central France, and that the caterpillar, which is velvety- green and unmarked, feeds exclusively upon birch. From the description and figure given by M. Guenee, it seems clear that the atttuimtaria of our lists, and which I have described at p. 114, is not his species 1334, but the one he describes as a variety oi filigratnmaria under the name autuuuiaria Dbd. No. 1334 autumnata Bdv. Gn. appears to be a good species, and may occur in the south of England, but is scarcely likely, perhaps, to be found in Scotland. On the other hand, autiivmaria Dbd. Gn. seems equally a good species, distinct from filigi'avnnaria (as I have attempted to show at pp. 114 and 115), not only in the shape and size of the wings, but in the relative sizes of the sexes and in the armature, &c. As, however, there cannot be in the same genus, without great risk of confusion,"^ two such similar names as " autumnata " and " autumnaria^'' I propose to substitute " addeji- daria " for the latter name. The synonymy of the species as copied on p. 112 from Staudinger's Catalogue should thus be amended as follows : — I. DiLUTATA (S.V. p. 109, n. Cat.) Bkh., &c., &;c. Gn. No. 1333; Staudinger, No. 2642. a. ab. Obscurata Stdgr., I.e. * For example, at p. 265 M. Guenee has used ^^ autumnaria " when he plearly means ^^ autt^mnata.^^ i6o The Scottish Naturalist, 2. AUTUMNATA Bdv. Gn. No. 1334 ; Stdgr. No. 2642. 3. Addendaria B. White. Autiwmaria Dbd. {non Bdv.) ; Gn. No. 1335 A. ; Stdgr. No. 2643 a ; B. White, Sc. Nat,, iv. pp. 114 and 115, pi. I. B. 4. FiLiGRAMMARiA H.S. i94-5j iii. p. 160; &c., &c. Gn. No. 1335 ; Stdgr. No. 2643. Colias Edusa in Orkney.— My neighbour, Mr. Stuart M. Burnett, saw a specimen of Colias Edusa in Harray, Orkney, on the 19th of last month (June), and chased it for some time — unsuccessfully however. He was quite close to it and distinctly recognised the species, having taken it in England. — W. Tait, Broomend, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, July, 9 1877. Colias Edusa in South West of Scotland.— For the last ten days or so I have begun to see the second brood of Edilsa, of which the first brood was not uncommon in June. — W. D. Robinson-Douglas, Orchardton, Castle Douglas, September 3, 1877. Mustela erminea.— When on a visit to a friend in Newton- Stewart lately he showed me a stuffed Ermine, which had been caught in the Wood of Cree, near Newton- Stewart, in the gamekeeper's trap. He told me that several more had been caught in the same way, and that the gamekeepers called them *' white weasels." — James M'andrew, New Galloway. NOTE ON THE ZOOLOaY AND BOTANY OF QLEN TILT. By F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. IT was my intention to have given the readers of the Scottish Naturalist some account of the natural history of Glen Tilt, but this must be relinquished till a future occasion. In the meantime, there are a few species that I wish to take an opportunity of noticing. During a visit to Glen Tilt last July, I was especially struck with the wide range, and abundant occurrence, of a species of Orthezia, an insect belonging to the Cochineal family (or Coccina) of the Hemiptera. Without close examination this insect would very likely be passed over as the common O. iirtica; L., and it is only by a careful study of the admirable descriptions and figures given by M. Signoret, in his essay on this family, in the " Annales de la Soci(5t(? Entomologique de France," and by comparison with specimens of what I take to be the true U7'tica\ that I have come to The Scottish Xat?iraHst. i6i he conclusion that the Glen Tilt Orthezia belongs to an unde- scribed species, which I may characterise as follows : — Orthezia Signoreti Buchanan White, sp. n. O. OrthesicE urticcs L. persimilis ; antennis brevioribus et propor- tionaliter robustioribus ; tarsis tibiis subsequilongis 5 . Very similar in size and general appearance to O. urticce. As in that species the eggs, when laid, are contained in a calcareous bag that projects from the hind body of the 9 , ^.nd in which, after they are hatched, the embryonic larvae remain for some time. The antennae of the embryonic larva is 6-jointed, as in urticcE, but the joints seem to be thicker, and less narrowed at their bases ; the 2nd joint not so much narrowed in comparison with the first, and both with more hairs, the ist having a good many, and the 2nd with 4 on the inner side and at least 2 (near the apex) on the outer ; the last joint has 2 long hairs at the tip, one rather shorter than the other. In length, the 6th joint equals the 4th, 5th, and ^ of the 3rd ; the 2nd equals the 3rd, and the ist equals the 2nd and X of the 3rd. The $ larva has 7 joints to its antennae, of which the last joint is the longest, and the second the next in length ; the 4th, 5th, and 6th joints are nearly equal in length. I have only seen one ^ larva, and that not in good condition ; but as far as I could judge, the antennas resemble in structure that of the ^ larva of urticcB. The adult ^ has 8-jointed antennse, the relative lengths of the joints being much the same as in tirticcB, viz., the 8th longest, the 2nd nearly as long as the 8th, and the 3d next in length ; the whole antenna is, however, shorter and stouter, and more of an equal thickness throughout, the last joint being conspicuously thicker than in ufticcE, in which the antennae gradually taper to the tip. The tarsus is nearly as long as the tibia, instead of being little more than half the length as in tirtica. I have not seen the ^ . Orthezia Sigfioreti lives below mosses, and occurs probably over all the northern half of Scotland. In Glen Tilt it was especially abundant, and not least so at an elevation of upwards of 3000 feet, where it lives in the cushions of Rhaconiitrium lanugUiosum. O. urtica is also a Scottish species, but the only specimens I have are from the south-west. (Plate II. fig. i.) M. Signoret cites 9 other described species, but thinks that, from the 1 62 The Scottish Naturalist. insufficent descriptions, they must be considered merely as synony- mous with urticce L. The antennae of O. Signoreti are frequently deformed, 2 joints often coalescing to form a single joint. The other species that I wish to notice just now are some un- described fungi, which I found in Glen Tilt in July and August last. For the elaboration of these I am very greatly indebted to the Rev. M. J. Berkeley. Daotylium spirale B. and B. White, sp. n. D. candidum e macula tosta oriundum ; floccis simplicibus spiralibus ; sporis magnis uniseptatis medio constrictis utrinque obtusissimis. On living leaves of Polygonum vlvlpannn. Glen Tilt, reaching an altitude of 1800 feet. Flocci .004 inch long ; spores .0009-.0012, half as much wide. (PI. II. fig. 3.) Dactylium modestum B. and B. White, sp. n. D. candidum e macula tosta oriundum ; floccis subrectis vel leviter flexuosis ; sporis magnis uniseptatis elongatis medio constrictis. On the underside of fading leaves Qi Alchcuiilla alpina. Glen Tilt (alt. about 1300 feet) ; Loch Killein, Inverness-shire (alt. about 1000 feet). Closely allied to the last, and distinguished not only by the flexuous threads but by the very different spores. Flocci .004 inch long ; spores much narrower than in D. spirale. (PI. II. fig. 2). Bactridium acutum B. and B. White, sp. n. B. candidum parasiticum ; sporis deorsum attenuatis, apice acutis, 1-3-septatis, articulo penultimo tumido. On the hymenium of Pezi^a cochlcata. Glen Tilt. Distinguished from Bactridium helvclloc by its constantly very acute apex and attenuated base. (PI. II. fig. 4.) Milesia B. White, g. n. Peridium endophyllum reticulatum, basi inter cellulas matricis radicante ; spora; obovata: cchinulatae ex ostiolo minuto dcmum ejecta). Allied to Endophyllum Ldv. Peridium minute, reticulated, im- UUr. l^A U IV. KL.Ii. 'I 4 The Scottish Naturalist. 163 mersed in the substance of the matrix, into which the base sends root-like fibres. Spores distinctly spiny, ejected copiously from a minute ostiolum at the summit of the peridium. It is with very great pleasure that I dedicate this genus to the Rev. Miles Joseph Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S., to whose researches our knowledge of the mycology, not only of Britain, but of every part of the world, is so deeply indebted, and whose kindness to all students of the same branch of botany is as well known as it is un- failing-. '&• Milesia polypodii B. White, sp. n. M. hypogeneum ; peridiis sph^ricis minutis, pallidis, dispersis ; sporis albidis obovatis echinulatis. On the underside of living but fading leaves of Polypodttwi vidgare in June and July. First found in the Den of Reichip ] then in other parts of Perthshire. Spores .0012 — .0017 inch long. (Plate II. fig. 5.) The peridia are scattered in an irregular manner on the underside of the frond of the fern, and looks under a lens like little pallid mammiform pro- jections very slightly elevated. The spores are ejected copiously from the ostiolum, and from their whitish colour and abundance are very perceptible. The spores themselves appear under the microscope to be filled with a granular matter. I take this opportunity of figuring the uredo spores of Uredo (FucciJiia) pteridt(?n, B. White, described at page 26 of this volume. For the sake of comparison the spores of U. Jiiliacni Desm. are also figured on the same scale. EXPLANATION OF PLATE II. Fig. I. OHhezia Signoreti B.W. a. antenna of embryonic larva. /3. antenna of ^ larva, y. antenna of adult ^ . S tibia and tarsus of adult ^ . Fig. 2. Dactyliiim modestum B. and B. W. a. flocci. b. spores. Fig. 3. ,, spxrale B. and B. W. a. flocci. b. spores (side view). c. spores (end view). Fig. 4. Bactndium acutum B, and B. W. Fig. 5. Milesia polypodii B. W. a. peridium. b. peridium burst. c. spore. — -"^^ Fig. 6. Puccinia pfiridujn B. V^ . uredo spores. . -,v-'j£^j^ X Fig. 7. Uredo fillictim Desm. spores. /r^^^o^^ ''jw-^'TS For figures 2, 3 and 5, I am much indebted to Mr C. E. BroQ^^'j^ ^^.#•^1^ ^^\ O^N ?Vr#^ PHYTOLOGY, DESOEIPTIONS OP NEW LICHENS- By JAMES STIRTON. M.D., F.L.S., Pannaria IcLsidla n.s. — Thallus obscure vel nigricanti-virescens, microlepideo-squamulosus vel minute corallideo-granulosus, crassiusculus, hypothallus*^niger crassus (crassit. 1-2 mm.) spongioso-contextus radiculosus (radiculis, latit .004-. 005 5 mm.) ; apothecia nigra lecideina (interdum obscure rufa), rotunda vel flexuosa, innato-sessilia plana, acute marginata (latit. .5-1.7 mm,); sporae incolores simplices, ellipsoide^e vel fusiformi-ellipsoidese, episporio nonnihil crenulato, .014-.018 X .00 7-. 009 mm. ; paraphyses distinctje, articulator, crassae (latit. .0025-.0035 mm.), apicibus nigris congluti- natis ; hypothecium fuscescens vel (in lamina crassiuscula) fuscum vel fusco-nigrum. lodo gel. hym. ccerulescens dein vinose rubens vel vinose fulvescens. Supra Hcpaticas {Frullanias) prope Garve. This lichen plays between P. triptophylla and P. nigra ^ and approaches the former perhaps too much. Lecidea cuitiloga n.s. — Thallus vix ullus visibilis; apothecia intus ob. praesertim supra, adnata nigra minuta (lat..i-.25 mm.) plana marginata, margine nitidiusculo ; sporar Snee incolores simplices sphcericae (latit. .004-.0055 mm.); paraphyses valde indistinctce ; hypothecium incolor. lodo gel. hym. ccerulescens dein obscurata vel obscure violacea. Ad lignum decorticatum prope Aviemore. There are scarcely any paraphyses properly so called, and even liq. potass?e does not render them in any way distinct. The hymenium becomes darker upwards and the epithecium is nigricant or virescenti-nigricant. This lichen can scarcely be an ArUionia. The Scottish Naturalist. 165 Ltcidea tdiginascens n.s. — Similis L. uliginosce. sed apotheciis nigris, majoribus et intus K. violacee tinctis vel violacee dis- solutis. Thecae confert^e, sporae .01-.013 x .006-.007 mm., paraphyses parcae irregulares graciles ; hypothecium fusco- nigrum. lodo gel. hym. leviter vel vix coerulescens dein obscure vinose rubens. Supra teiTam turfosam prope Garve, cum Z. uligijtosa intermixta. Ltcidca cndocyanea n.s. — Thallus cinereus vel cinereo-niger vel etiam niger, squamuloso-diffractus, squamulis planis vel con- vexiusculis adpressis (K — C — ) ; apothecia fusco-nigra pri- mum parva et urceolata, demum expansa plana vel convexa et immarginata, sessilia, intus, fere omnino sed praesertim supra, violacea (latit. .2-. 5 mm.) ; sporae in thecis cylindraceis infra attenuatis, 8nas ellipsoideae vel oblongo- ellipsoideas, incolores simplices, .011-.014 x .006-.007 mm. ; paraphyses distinctse filiformes apicibus intricate contextis ; hypothecium leviter fuscescens vel fere incolor. lodo gel. hym. coerulescens dein passim flavescens et thecae fulvescentes. Saxicola in Mull. The epithecium is composed of the apices of the paraphyses densely and inextricably compacted, and, overlying this, in very many instances if not in all, is another dense granular layer of a still deeper colour. A thin section of an apothecium reveals a beautiful violet colour, which deepens upwards, and is rendered a dirty bluish -green by K. The thecae are composed of thickish and apparently toughish walls, while in the specimens examined, few matured spores have been detected. This lichen is allied to L. tenebrosa (Flot.) but certain char- acteristics seem to indicate affinities to the genus Miiaspilea. Lecideainterpolata n.s. — Thallus fuscus vel nigro-fuscus vel etiam niger, minute squamuloso-areolatus, areolis adpressis con- tiguis, vel dispersis, determinatus, hypothallus niger; apothecia nigra, adnata parva (latit. .2-.3 mm.), plana marginata; sporae 8nae in thecis saccatis, ellipsoideae virescentes vel fuscae, i-septatae, binucleatae, nucleis majusculis plerumque virescentibus et interdum a tubula conjunctis; paraphyses graciles non bene discretae, apicibus fusco-nigris clavatis conglutinatis ; hypo- thecium incolor. lodo gel. hym. coerulescens dein obscure violacea, thecae vinose fulvescentes. 1 66 The Scottish Naturalist. Saxicola prope Garve. Affinis L. aherranti (Krph.). Lecidea sporeta n.s. — Thallus albidus, disperso-squamulosus, squamulis parvis adpressis planis vel convexulis et in- terdum crenulatis (K — C — ) ; apothecia confertissima, fusca vel fusco-nigra, adnata, plana, obtuse marginata nitidiuscula parva (latit. .2-.4 mm.); sporse Snae incolores ellipsoideae simplices, .0117.015 x .005-.006 mm.; para- l^hyses non bene discret?e, fere conglutinatae apicibus fuscescentibus; hypothecium incolor. lodo gel. hym. coerulescens dein fulvescens. Saxicola in insula Mull. Lecidea pissodes n.s. — Thallus fusco-badius vel fusco-niger, squamuloso-diffractus, squamulis parvis concaviusculis vel planis (K — C — ) ; apothecia conferta nigra, innata parva (latit. 1.5-2.5 mm.), plana tenuiter marginata; sporae Snas incolores oblongse simplices, .007-.01 x .0035-. 0045 mm. ; paraphyses non distinctae irregulares graciles, apicibus nigris vel sordide cceruleo-nigris, conglutinatis ; hypothe- cium incolor. lodo gel. hym. coerulescens dein fulvescens. Saxicola in insula Mull. The thallus viewed by the naked eye has a pitch-black appearance owing to the prevalence of the apothecia. Lecidea orphnceilla n.s. — Thallus niger opacus, minute granuloso-furfuraceus, continuus, bene evolutus ; apothe- cia intus pellucida, nigra sessilia, plana vel convexiuscula, opaca marginata, margine nitidiusculo ssepe flexuoso vel lobato-irregulari vel etiam lobato-inciso; sporae Snae incolores oblongse vel fusiformi-oblong^e, simplices, .013- .018 X .003-. 004 mm., paraphyses crassiuscula3 non bene distinctae fere conglutinatce, apicibus nigris vel cceruleo- nigris crasse clavatis conglutinatis; hypothecium incolor. lodo gel. hym. intense coerulescens fere nigra. Saxicola, Mull. The epithecium is thick, black, and rendered sordidly violascent by nitric acid, while K. has no visible reaction on it or on the thalamium throughout. Lecidea Mullensis n.s. — Thallus cinereus vel nigro-cinereus, areolato-verrucosus, diffractus (K supra flavens, intus fl. dein ferrugineo-rufus), quasi a columellis (alt. .6-1.3 mm.), erectis, connatis vel passim segregatis et dispersis com- The Scottish Nattiraiist. 167 paginatus; apothecia nigra subinnata, parva (lat. circ. .3 mm.), plana, acute marginata, margine scepe flexuoso vel undulato ; sporae 8nae incolores ellipsoideae simplices, " .006-.009 X .004-.006 mm., paraphyses valde irregulares et non distinctse, nigro-a,piculatce ; hypothecium fuscum vel fusco-nigrum, crassiusculum. lodo gel. hym. vinose riibens (praecedente coerulescentia obsoleta vel nulla) Saxicola, Mull. K. added to the hymenium developes first a yellow colour, and soon thereafter stellate groups of reddish acicular crystals. The thecce, especially the immature, have, upwards, thick pellucid walls. Only a few detached spores have been seen, and none, it is believed, in a mature state. In August of 1876 I picked up a Lecidea near Salen in Mull, whose characteristics may be given as under, and to which I gave the name L. contortula. Thallus pallide cinerascens vel nonnihil plumbeo-cine- rascens crassiusculus, rugosulus, rimoso-areolatus (K — C — ); apothecia nigra adnata majuscula (latit. 1-2 mm.) plana vel convexiuscula, crasse marginata, umbonata et gyroso-plicata; sporse Sn^e incolores simplices, oblongaevel fusiformi-oblongse, .015-.021 x .006-.0075 mm.; paraphyses mediocres, satis bene distinctas, fusco-apiculatse ; hypothe- cium fusco-nigrum supra fuscum. lodo gel. hym. coerulescens dein vinose rubens praesertim thecse. Saxicola. A comparison of this with the more recently discovered Lecidece reveals a near affinity, if not identity, with L. subuni- bonata i]^y\.) described in "Flora" 1876 p. 236. By the way, the distinction subumhonata had previously been given to another Lecidea also described in Flora 1872, p. 358, and ought, accordingly, to be changed ; but as I have no wish to emulate the rather sharp practice which prevails pretty extensively on the continent, I merely throw this out as a hint to those more immediately concerned in the matter. To be sure the two lichens indicated under the same name are rather closely aUied, but according to modern ideas of specific distinction it is scarcely likely that the two descriptions are meant for the same lichen. The point concerning the Lecidea from Mull to which I wish to draw attention is this : The application to the thalamium of a solution of Iodine of the strength recommended is immediately 1 68 The Scottish Naitiralist. followed by a blue reaction especially in the upper % of the thalamium. In a very short time thereafter the thecae are seen to assume a beautiful and deep vinous red colour. On the application of more of the solution, those parts of the thalamium immediately adjoining the thecse are also seen to assume the same vinous red tint, and on the whole being saturated, a thin section reveals the vinous red tint throughout. Now, as a strong element in specific distinction is being founded on the differ ences between the reactions of the general thalamium and thecae proper, at what stage of the process detailed above ought observation to stop? It is clear, that had a stronger solution of Iodine been used than that commonly recommended the last phase of the reaction would have appeared almost im- mediately after the first. As this is merely the first of a series of observations on the use of chemical re-agents, in the discrimi- nation of species of Hchens, I shall defer to another opportunity what I have to say further on the subject. SCOTTISH GALLS. By JAMES W. H. TRAIL, M.B., F.L.S. DURING th-e past month I have found a few galls not previously known to me, descriptions of which I sub- join. I may add that I should be glad of any help towards adding to our knowledge of galls in Scotland ; from many, in fact from most parts of the country, our information about these productions is very scanty or is entirely wanting. Thlaspi arvense L. — The galls consist of rounded swellings projecting from one side of the root just below the base of the stem ; they usually include more than half the circum- ference of the stem, and may reach ]/^ inch in diameter. Externally they resemble the root ; internally they are found to be composed of rather hard tissue, enclosing a cavity varying in size according to the development of the larva. I have not succeeded in rearing the gall-maker, but I have litttle doubt that it is a species of weevil ( CcuthoHiy fichus). (Called plants were abundant in July in a field near Old Aberdeen. Lotus major L. — The galls on this plant resemble those of Cecido7nyia Loti De Geer on Lotus corniculatus, and are most probably the work of the same insect. One or more The Scottish Naturalist. 169 flower-buds in each cluster become greatly swollen and fleshy, oval, deep red externally on the sides exposed to light, and either do not reach the stage of flowering, or produce only much distorted flowers. All the organs of the flower become thick and fleshy, and shelter between them several larvae. The galls were not rare on a clum.p of L. major at Murcar, in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen, in August. ViciA CRACCA L. — {b) Galls of Apio7i Gyllenhallii, Schk. These gafls are swellings of the stem just above a node, or of the base of a branch, or of a petiole or of a peduncle ; they involve the whole circumference of the part affected which becomes about twice as thick as in the normal state, the gall usually being about j{x}i inch. The surface is like that of the part on which it is borne, and usually shows prominent longitudinal ridges. The walls are thin, enclose- ing a rather large cavity tenanted by one larva. The galls occurred not uncommonly in various localities near Aberdeen during July and August, and at Cluny on Donside in August. The beetles emerged a few days after the galls were gathered. To Dr. Sharp I am indebted for their name. Pyrus Aria L. — Galls of Fhy tortus on the leaves. They are very similar to those on Fyrus Aiiaiparia (Sc. Nat. II, 79), being blister-like spots projecting considerably from the lower surface, but either level with the upper epidermis or somewhat depressed above where a yellow spot appears, becoming browai from the centre outw^ards ; the low^r surface bears atomentum, and resembles the rest of the leaf. Each gall is Yio to Y5 inch in diameter, but very often two or more coalesce more or less perfectly. On section they are found to consist of a loose tissue of elongated cells, among which live scattered mites {Phytoptiis, .0064 X. 0002 inch). Sometimes hundreds of galls occur on a leaf. Common on a small tree at Rubislaw Quarries near Aberdeen, in August. Galium saxatile L. — (c) Galls of Cecidomyia (Galii Winn. V) They are swollen flowerbuds which resemble {b) in appear, ance, reaching a size of about Y12 inch in diameter, without being much altered in appearance otherwise. They seldom open, and on section are found to contain lyo The Scottish Naitiralisi. one or more orange larvae of Cecidomyia, among the swollen fleshy internal organs of the flower. Near Aberdeen, on the Links, in August. Veronica serpyllifolia L. — Galls of Cecidomyia. Like those just described, these consist of dilated and abortive flower- buds, several on each spike, reaching a size of Yio to Y inch in diameter, without other very noticeable change save that the colour is paler green than usual. On sec- tion each bud is found to contain one or two orange- red larvae among the fleshy representatives of stamens and pistil. I found the galls in a shady spot in Rubislaw Den, near Aberdeen, in August. 10 Berteroa incana D.C.— Recently I have found a few specimens of this rare casual growing in a grass field in my glebe. The grass seed was home-grown, and sown wiih oats, also home-grown, so I cannot suggest how the plant can have been introduced. I may mention that Mr. A. Sturrock has recently found Allium oleraceum in this neighbourhood. — W. Herdman, Rattray, September, 1877. BOG-MOSSES. It is with much pleasure that I have spent some time over Dr. Braithwaite's very interesting " iSphagnacecs Britannkce Exsiccata;.^^ The Sphagna or Bog-mosses, which beautify our marshes and moorlands, are a peculiar and interesting class of plants, and though to the utilitarian mind they may be regarded as merely the principal producers of peat banks, which supply fuel to so many households in rural districts, to the microscopist the leaves, cortical cells, and infloresence form objects of great beauty as well as scientific interest. To the common observer, the great variety ofcoloui, from the deepest green or yellow, to the brightest red or purple, and the beauty of form and structure, from the tiniest stem, with its fascicles of drooping branches, to the densest masses spread out like great cushions on the moor, or the fine contorted stems straggling in the little streamlet or filling up the shallow pools, there is very much to attract the eye and interest the mind. The scientific botanist finds in the Sphagna many peculiarities. Unlike most other plants they are not attached to their place of growth by rootlets, nor is their nutriment drawn in by such, but part of each fascicle of branches is disposed in a drooping manner and closely applied to the stem, by which the sap is supposed to be carried upwards through a set of curiously curved The Scottish Naturalist. 171 cortical cells to nourish the plant ; nor is an exact place in the vegetable kingdom easily assigned to them, standing as they are supposed to do between the Hcpaticcc and the true mosses, but generally included among the latter. It seems to me that they might well form a distinct division by themselves, as far separated as the Hcpaticcc from the true mosses. Nor is their division into sections and species by any means easy. Under these circumstances such a work as that now presented to us by Dr. Braithwaite cannot but be welcomed by every one studying the faiflily. The specimens are beautifully dried and pasted on white paper, and in addition are loose specimens enclosed in a little envelope, for miscroscopic use. The collection has been gathered from various places throughout the British Islands, and in a few cases where the species is but sparingly found in Britain, foreign specimens have been used to fill their place. The whole have been collected by men well known as bryologists, and each packet thoroughly examined by Dr. Braithwaite, who has made the iSphagna his special study for many years. "We have thus before us a work which may be relied upon as authoritative, and the value of the work as a collection of British Sphagna will grow with its age. There are seventeen species shown in the work, and thirty-six varieties, besides many forms exhibiting a character which is very ap- parent in the Sphagna, that of eveiy good variety varying from the tiniest form to the densest. I scarcely think it important to say much upon what might be accounted a species or only ranked as a variety, as the term species is simply a convenient one to indicate such forms as are more definable than others, and in the present work there is almost no change in that way but which has not been already adopted by Schimper in his Synopsis of European Mosses. Still I cannot help feeling that S. riibelluin of Wilson, being a dioicGUs species, has the same claim as *S'. sbictn7?i, which arises from S. fimbriahan in the same way as 8. rubellum does from ^S". acutifoliiim, although I am not sure but both might be better simply set down as varieties. And S. papillosuju I must say I do not at all understand and have never seen any reason for its being recognised as a species. Nor is it necessary to refer very much to the nomenclature, although the older names should in all cases be preferred, and certainly that of S. rigidujH, Schimper, as adopted by Dr. Braithwaite, is no improvement on co77ipactum Brid., which is the older, name; nor do I think 8. subsecundum any improvement on contortiwi. But I think the group- ing of them into divisions is a more important matter, and scarcely meets my view in this or any of the other works on Sphagna that I know. The system adopted in the present work is pretty much Dr. Braithwaite's own, being nearly Schimper's system reversed, only in section D.-Cnspidata of this work is included Schimper's three divisions — Acutifolia, Cuspidata, and Squarrosa ; while the Mollia of Schimper's is Trimcata of Braithwaite. But neither system is veiy much to my mind : still I would prefer that of the present work to that of Schimper's Synopsis, Truncata being a better name for a division, including S. molle, 8. Angstromi, and '6". ris^idu??i, than Mollia, that being inconsistent with the character of r\gidtwi and even Cttspidata, fully equal to the three terms used by Schimper. But I think a more natural division than either would be to divide the whole Sphagna into three classes, having reference to the stem leaves alone — the first Fimbriata, having the stem leaf fimbriated ; and the second Acuta, having 172 The Scottish Naturalist. the stem leaf acute and sometimes toothed. The following would be pretty much the order I would propose adopting. * Spirals in cortical cells. Cymbifolia. S. Atistini S. papillosum S. cymbifolium ^ j * * Without spirals in cortical cells. .S I ACUTIFOLIA. ^\ t Stem leaves squarrose. ^ S. squarrosu7?i 1^ ,, var. squatrulosum ,, var. Ures f + Stem leaves imbricated. S. siridiwi S. fimbriatum 1 1 + Stem leaves large drawing to a point. 8. Angstromi S. molle + + + + Stem leaves scarcely toothed, 8. acutifoliu7n and its varieties Crispa. *S'. ijitermedium and its varieties /S. cuspidatum and its varieties S. Wulfii S. Lhidbergii SUBSECUNDA. iS, coiitorta ,, var. subseatndmn. ,, var. obesujn ,, var. auriculatu7n S. Iaricmu77i S. molhiscum ,, var. longifoVxnTn t t + 1 1 Stem leaves very small ovate. S. compactuJJi. By this system the two great divisions refer entirely to the stem leaves, and the minor divisions principally to the branch leaves, by which the botanist in the field with an ordinary pocket lens may easily determine the place of his Sphagna as he collects them. S. co7npactui)i alone is excluded from the two divisions and must take a separate place by itself, and I can not quite see the reason for Dr. Braithwaite and other botanists associating it with 7)iolle which is evidently nearly connected with some of the varities of (S. acutifolhi77i. Yet notwithstanding these differences in opinion regard ing the arrangment and nomenclature of the 8phag7ia Dr Braithwaite's work is one that well deserves a place in every scientific library. — John Sim, Banchory, September, 1877, c3 pi o INSECTA SCOTICA. THE LEPIDOPTEEA OP SCOTLAND. (Continued frojTi p. 128.) Edited by F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. -UNIDENTARIA Hw. Not common. Nemoral. Distribution — East. g g Tay o o o o o West. Solway Clyde o o o Lat. 54°4o'-56°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, North Germany (? Finland, &c.) Type. Occidental. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. July, August. Food- PLANT. Low plants. MELANIPPB Dup. FLUCTUATA L. Common. Hortensal. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray g Orkney g West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross g Lat. 54°4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Throughout. Type. European. Type in Britain. British. Time OF Appearance-Imago. April- August. Larva. June- September. Food -PLANT. Cabbage &c. Scottish specimens have almost invariably the ground colour much suffused with fuscous, and and seem to form a melanochroic race. GALIATA Hb. Not uncommon. Maritime and ericetal. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay [Dee] 0000 West. Solway Clyde 000 Lat. 54°5o'-57°. Range in Europe. Central and Southern. Type. Centro-meridional. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. July, August. Food-plant, Bedstraw. iy4 The Scottish Naturalist. MONTANATA Bkh. Abundant. Nemoral. Ascends to 1650 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray § Orkney § West. Solway Clyde § West-Ross Hebrides. Lat. 54°4o'-59°-io'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance. — Imago. June-August. Larva. August- May. Food-plant. Low-plants. SOCIATA Bhk. (1794); siibtristata Hw. (1803). Common. Nemoral. Ascends to 1800 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 3 ^ ^ West. Solway Clyde g West Ross § Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May-July. Larva. July, August. Food-Plant. Low plants. TRISTATA L. Not uncommon. Nemoral and ericetal. Ascends to about 1700 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Suther- land o o AVest. Solway Clyde Argyle § § Lat. 54°4o'-58°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Bedstraw and other low plants. HASTATA L. Not common. Nemoral and ericetal. Ascends to above 1000 feet. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde Argyle West-Ross § Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and north- ern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. June, July. Larva. August. Food-plant. Birch and Myrica. ANTICLEA Steph. SINUATA Hb. Rare. Ascends to 1000 feet. Distribution — East. o o Tay 00000 West, 00000 The Scottish Naturalist. 175 Lat. 56°2o'-56°35'. Range in Europe. Central ; Finland &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance— Imago. June. Larva. July, August. Food-plant. Bedstraw. BADIATA Hb. Common. Hortensal &c. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde §80 Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range- in Europe. Central; Finland &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. March, April. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Rose. Only single brooded in Scotland ? Further south it appears again in July. NIGROFASCIARIA Gocze. (1781); derivata Bkh. (1794)- Not very common. Hortensal &c. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde 8 0 o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central; Finland &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. April, May. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Honeysuckle, rose. The two other English species ought to occur. THERA Steph. JUNIPERATA L. Var. scotica B.W. Not uncommon. Amongst juniper. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde 8 8 ^ Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, Finland &c. (the type) ; Scotland (the var.) Type. Central. Type in Britain. Scottish (the var.) Time of Appearance — Imago. October. Larva. July, August. Food-plant. Juniper. This species has been reported to occur in Scotland in August, but the next species was mistaken for it. siMULATA Hb. Very local. Amongst juniper. Ascends to above 2000 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. o Clyde 8 8 o Lat. 55°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Belgium, Lapland, Pyrenees, Alps, &c. Type. Occidental. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance. — Imago. July, August. Larva. June. pOOD-PLANT. Juniper. 176 / The Scottish Naturalist, THE OOLEOPTEKA OP SOOTLAND. ( Continued from p. 132.) Edited by D. SHARP, M.B. LUCANID^. SINODENDRON Er. CYLINDRICUM L. In the wood of old trees. Rare. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee Moray 000 West. 00000 SCARAB^ID^. ONTHOPHAGUS Er. NUCHICORNIS L. Very rare. Distribution — East. o 000 0000 West. o Clyde 000 "Ayrshire, Mr. J. P. Duncan." Murray Cat. OVATUS L. In sheep's dung. Very local. Distribution. — East. § Forth 000000 West. 00000 APHODIUS Er. ERRATicus L. Not common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth 000000 West. Sol way §000 [h^morrhoidalis L. Distribution — East, o Forth 000000 West. 00000 " Fields near Colinton and irrigated meadows at Restalrig." Ent. Edin. : probably recorded erroneously. FOSSOR L. Not common. Distribution — East. 880 ^^^ 8^00 West. Solway 8 000 SCYBALARIUS Fab. Not common. Distribution — East. § Forth 8 8 Moray 000 West. % % o o q FCETENS Fab. Very rare. Distribution — East. § Forth o o 0000 West. 8 8 000 I found a colony of this species at North Queensferry, June 30th, 1865. D. S, The Scottish Naturalist. 177 FiMETARius L. Very abundant. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray § 8 0 West. Solway Clyde 800 ATBR De Geer. Abundant. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray 800 West. Solway Clyde 8 8 8 CONSTANS Duft. Very local. Distribution — East. o o Tay 00000 West. 000 00 Common in ox-dung at Rannoch in the first week of May, 1866. D. S. LAPPONUM Gyll. Highland. Common m sheep's dung on moors and hillsides. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 8 8 8 West. Solway Clyde 8 8 8 FCETIDUS Fab. Very local. In sheep's dung. Distribution — East. o Forth Tay 00000 West. o Clyde o 00 PUTRIDUS Cr. Local. In sheep's dung. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee §000 West. § §000 NEMORALis Er. Rare. In sheep's or deer's dung in woods. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee 0000 West. 00000 SORDIDUS F. Rare. Distribution — East, o Forth 000000 West, o 0000 " Not common near Edinburgh ; Fife." Murray Cat. I have never found the species in Scotland. D. S . RUFESCENS Fab. Common in the south. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth o o o o p o West. Solway g o o o INQUINATUS Fab. Local. Distribution — East. Tweed. Forth 0000 o o West. § g o o o CONSPURCATUS L. Very rare. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay 00000 West. 00000 iy8 The Scottish Naturalist. TESSULATUS Ci*. Very local. Distribution — East, o Forth o o o o o o West. o . o o o o o POROUS Fab. Rare. Distribution— East. g Forth o o o o o o West. Solway g o o o PUSILLUS Hbst. Not rare. Distribution— East. g Forth Tay g g o o o West. Solway. g o o o MERDARius Fab. Commoii. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray g g g West. Solway g 8 o o PRODROMUS Brahm. Common. Distribution— East. g Forth g g Moray o o o West. Solway g o o o PUNCTATO-SULCATUS S. Common. Distribution— East. g Forth Tay g g o o West. Solway g o o o CONTAMINATUS Hbst. Common. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay g Moray o o o West. Solway g o o o OBLITERATUS Panz. Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth o o o o o o West. o o o o o RUFIPES L. Abundant. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray o o o West. Solway Clyde o o o LURIDUS Payk. Common. Distribution — East, g Forth g g Moray o o o West. Solway go o o DEPQESSUS Kug. Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray g Orkney o West. Solway Clyde g g g HEPTAULACUS Muls. [sus Hbst. "Taken most abundantly by J . Rawlins, Esq., in a field by Ravelstoii wood, near Edinburgh," Steph. Illust. I think this must be an error. D. S The Scottish Naturalist. 179 ^GIALIA Er. ARENARIA Fr. Maritime. Distribution — East. § Forth § Dee §000 West. § g o o o SABULETi Payk. Riparial. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Sohvay § o o o PSAMMODIUS Er. SULCICOLLIS 111. Extremely local. Distribution — East. o o Tay 00000 West. 00000 This is a maritime species, but occurs in a sandy place on the banks of the Tay above Perth. D. S. GEOTRUPBS Er. STERCORARIUS Har. Distribution — East. §0000000 West. Solway 0000 So much confusion prevails as to Geotnipes stercoraritts and its allies that I have only been able to record two Scottish species on the authority of a few specimens in my own collection. FOVEATUS Har. Distribution — East, g g Tay Dee g g Orkney g West. 00000 00000 SYLVATICUS Panz. Common. Distribution — East. g Forth g Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde g 00 VERNALIS Lin. Rare. Highland. Distribution — East. Tweed g g g Moray Sutherland o o West. g Clyde goo TROX Er. SABULOSUS L. Very rare. Distribution — East, o o Tay 0000 West, o o o SCABBR L. Very rare. Distribution — East. 0000000 West. Solway o *'Jardine Hall." Murray Cat. Tay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 i8o The Scottish Naturalist. SERICA Er. BRUNNEA L. Not scarce. Lowland. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray o o o West. Solway g o o o MELOLONTHA Er. VULGARIS F. Local. Distribution — East. g Forth Tay o o o o o West. Solway Clyde Argyle o o HiPPOCASTANi F. Local. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay g Moray o o o West, g Clyde goo PHYLLOPBRTHA Er. HORTICOLA L. Common. Distribution — East, g Forth g Dee Moray Sutherland o o West. Solway g Argyle o o ANOMALA Er. FRISHCII Fab. Rare. ? Maritime. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay o o o o o West, o Clyde o o o CETONIA Er. AURATA L. Very rare. Lowland. Distribution — East. oooooooo West. Solway Clyde o o o ^NEA Gyll. Local. Highland. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee Moray o o o West, o o o o o TRICHIUS Er. FASCIATUS L. Local. Highland. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee Moray o o o West, o o o o o BUPRESTID.E. AGRILUS Kies. VIRIDIS L. Very rare. ^ Distribution — East. oooooooo West. Solway o Argyle o o ( To he continued. ) ^ ^ RS= ^ 52?! an^p MP «g ^^S9 ^M ■K w^ jrt^ ^^^O ~^ '^^ mf\}/~ ?P^ rjl i h E ^iH W 1 i IK ^ m m sM r &^ Bk ^ -^^^^^ p^^^K B|Ej^ ?^ '>«<> 9 u^^j|p w\' [Mi ^m ^S ^M bO 3m BOB ^^2 ^^^l^^^^^^jUS ij[2fl ii n Bmi ^*M ^^IBi ZOOLOGY. GLEN TILT: ITS FAUNA AND FLORA. By F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. AN alpine stream for the most part dashing wildly amongst water-worn boulders of all shapes and sizes, but here and there resting awhile in deep, still, black pools ; rocky and fern- clad banks rising high on either side, and crowned with a lux- uriant and varied growth of trees and underwood ; beyond, upland meadows and fields girt with dark masses of pine, or the paler green of the larch and the birch ; above all, the brown heather-clad tops of the lower hills : such is the first two or three miles of Glen Tilt. Then the oak and beech, spruce and sycamore, give way before the graceful birch, and the great wood of Blairuachdar fills up the glen for a mile or two. Finally the birches disappear and are seen no more, save when, with a few alders, elms, or willows, they clothe the precipitous sides of some tributary burn. Now the whole aspect of the glen changes. The river, running no longer between high and rocky banks, winds through grassy meadows, which make on either side a haugh of varying width. The sides of the glen sweep upwards in long green slopes almost unbroken, except where the Allt Diridh, the Allt Mhairc, the Allt Cruinnich, or some other stream, dashes through a rocky defile to join the Tilt. Here and there along the top of the slopes a grey rock lifts on high a serrated crest, and, towering above all, the great domes of Ben-a-Ghlo raise sunwards their mist-swathed summits. At length the enclosing hills become less steep, and close to the watershed of the Grampians we come upon Loch Tilt — a small mountain lake with no peculiar features of its own — nestling in the bosom of the hills. The course of the Tilt is about 14^ miles long; but if we 1 82 The Scottish Naturalist. include the Tarff, its chief tributary, which joins it not far from Loch Tilt, we must add another lo miles. The scenery of the Tarff is quite different from that of the Tilt, being, except at its lowest part, desolate and dreary in the extreme. Where it joins the Tilt its course is a series of alternate cascades and pools, but further up it winds through flat moors encircled by rounded mountain-masses. A little higher up than Pool Tarff (the junction of the Tilt and Tarff) the Tilt has another large influent in the Lochain, which flows from Loch Loch on the south of Ben-a-Ghlo. Further down the glen it has many tributaries, but mostly of small size, with the exception of three or four, which, with their glens, join Glen Tilt on its northern side. In altitude above sea-level. Glen Tilt itself varies from 400 to 2000 feet, the surrounding mountains attaining frequently a height of 3000, and in some cases of nearly 3700 feet. Imme- diately to the north of Glen Tilt lies the Forest of Athole ; while the south side of the glen, though frequently invaded by the red deer, affords grazing to many sheep. Mucli has been said and written for and against deer-forests; but as a zoologist and botanist — and it is in that capacity only that the subject can be considered in these pages — I am strongly of opinion that deer- forests have been very beneficial in preserving both animals and plants which would long ago have vanished had the ground been closely grazed by sheep. Glen Tilt affords a good example of this. The northern, or forest side, is most richly clothed with a luxu- riant carpet of wild flowers, and teems with insect life ; on the other hand, the south, or sheep-grazed side, is covered with scarcely any plants but grass and fern, save where steep rocks offer a resting-place beyond the reach of the sheep ; and in har- mony with this lack of variety in the vegetation, scarcely an insect is. to be seen. Glen Bruar, which runs parallel to Glen Tilt, and is grazed by sheep, presents a similar case. No doubt there are other causes at work, but I believe it is chiefly owing to its being deer-forest that one side of Glen Tilt is so much richer than the other. Geologically Glen Tilt is very interesting ground, but it would require a great deal more space than we can aftbrd even to treat very cursorily of its features. For the purposes of this paper it will be enough to say that the formation is the Lower Silurian, and that the rocks are chiefly of a gneissose or quartzose char- acter, and of a kind that do not wcatiicr much, and therefore are The Scottish Naturalist. 183 not so rich botanically as those which decompose more readily. Here and there are great masses of Hmestone, which afford an appropriate habitat for some of the Hme-loving plants. In other places the hills are largely composed of granite and other intrusive rocks — as, for example, the great mountain called Ben Dearg (or the red hill), which derives its name from the red granite of which it is composed. At Marble Lodge, about four miles up the glen, the limestone is of a fine, hard, crystalline character, white beautifully veined with greenish in colour, and as it takes a good polish, has been used, under the name of Glen Tilt marble, for mantelpieces, &c. Still further up the valley, where Dal-an-eas bridge crosses tlie river, this marble limestone again appears, its veins being inter- mingled with granite and other rocks in a very curious and inter- esting manner. The following rambling notes on the zoology and botany of the glen are the combined results of the explorations of several observers, but chiefly of Sir T. Moncreiffe, Mr W. Herd, and myself, though it is by the two first named that most of our know- ledge of the Lepidoptera of the glen — the most interesting portion of its fauna — has been acquired. It may also be as well to state that many of these observations were either made or corroborated during a visit that we paid to Glen Tilt in July last, when, by the kindness of the Duke of Athole, our headquarters were at Forest Lodge, and free permission granted to carry on our explorations. Forest Lodge is a shooting-lodge situated about the middle of the glen, and hence admirably adapted as a centre from which to work. The lodge stands on the north bank of the Tilt, on a long narrow piece of natural meadow, from which the hills rise steeply on either side. On the south of the Tilt the hill rises in a very steep green bank for about 600 feet, where it is surmounted by a high limestone rock — Craig Mhbr — above which, again, is one of the tops of Ben-a-Ghlo. On the opposite side of the valley, also, the hill rises steeply for about 600 feet, but instead of the uniform grassy slope of the south side there is considerable vari- ety of vegetation, amongst which the rock-rose {Helianthenuun vtd- gare) holds a conspicuous place. Above 600 feet the slope is less inclined, and heather and blaeberry clothe the surface. Finally, at about 2000 to 2400 feet the summit of the ridge separating Glen Tilt from Glen Cruinnich is reached, which, being followed, leads upwards to a peak about 3000 feet in height. Round about the lodge there is a young plantation of pines and firs, and a few 184 The ScotiisJi N'atiiralist. other trees of older growth, while on the meadow ground and banks of the river there is a luxuriant carpet of low plants. It must be confessed that at first the scenery near Forest Lodge does not convey the imi3ression that a longer acquaintance with it does. When that has taken place, the quiet pastoral char- acter of the view imperceptibly wins upon the mind, and after a few days have been spent in the silence of the glen, and when, by much hard but well-spent labour, the really large scale on which these apparently low green hills bounding the valley are constructed has been discovered, Glen Tilt will be found to have a charm almost peculiarly its own. VERTEBRATA. Of the mammals of the glen there is not very much to say, as they are numerous rather in specimens than species. At no very distant period it might have been possible, perhaps, had the ' Scottish Naturalist ' been then existent, to have described the habits and appearance of the Wolves that then inhabited Glen Tilt, the pits in which the hunters lay in watch for them being still traceable. Now, the chief mammal of the glen is the Red Deer, which, as being the largest remaining land animal still remaining native to Britain, must always possess some in- terest for a naturalist. Moreover, when one lives in a forest the Deer and their manners and customs are constantly coming to the surface of conversation, and many an interesting fact can be picked up by an attentive listener. In the middle of summer the Deer do not come much into the glen itself, as food is abundant in the higher glens ; but owing to the cold inclement nature of last summer they came frequently into Glen Tilt, close to Forest Lodge, even late in July. It was no unfrequent sight to see, in the gloaming of the evening, many of them on the ridge above the lodge, their graceful forms clearly defined on the sky-line. Deer often come a long way to a favourite feeding-ground ; some of the old harts, which rest on the higher tops during the day, especially when the flies are troublesome, descending to their pastures at nightfall, and returning at daybreak to the hill- tops, perhaps several miles away. The size that Deer and their horns attain is, as might be expected, much influenced by the quantity and quality of their food. Hence it is that many of the stags which inhabit the forests of Central Europe attain a larger size, and have much bigger '-hcad-s," than The Scottish Naturalist. 185 the Deer of the Scottish Highlands. In fact, in winter the Deer have to descend to the low country for food, and if they have the chance, commit depredations upon fields of turnips not intended for them. They have generally an allowance of turnips and hay provided specially for them ; and without this, and if they were entirely dependent upon their natural food, it is very probable that the stock of Deer in this country would rapidly diminish. The late Duke of Athole made some experiments on the horn- producing power of certain kinds of food. x\ young stag was selected and kept in an enclosed field and fed well, powdered deer-horns being mixed with his food. His antlers, as they were shed each year, were carefully preserved, and now form a most interesting and instructive illustration of the progressive annual development of the horns, as well as what judicious feeding can produce. " Tilt," as he was called, at last became too danger- ously playful to keep any longer, and he now, as well as all his horns, is preserved in Blair Castle. The horns that the Red Deer annually shed are general]}^ eaten by themselves or others ; even the hinds, who have no horns' to grow, taking what they can get, and not always waiting for cast horns, as the following fact observed by Sir T. Moncreiffe, shows. I give it in his own words. " I have myself seen a hind nibbling the top of a live stag's horns, whilst he dozed away with closed eyes, apparently quite enjoying the proceeding. I stalked him, and shot him there and then, and found the tops of his antlers eaten down to where they branch from the main horn." In the hot weather the Deer are much troubled by the flies, and to avoid them lie on the highest tops. They are also sub- ject to the attacks of a kind of bot-fly, as James M'Donald, the observant and obliging keeper at Forest Lodge, to whom we were indebted for much interesting information, told us. The maggots of this fly live just below the skin of the Deer, and when full- grown come through the skin, and falling to the ground, then change to pupse. The hide of a Deer that has been thus in- fested retains the marks of the ulcers always. Not having seen the insect, I cannot refer it to its proper species, but suppose that it is CEstrus (or Hypoderma) elaphi., Schrk, which seems to be the same as H. AdcBon., Brauer. The Red Deer has another dipterous parasite, in the shape of Leptotena cervi L., one of that curious parasitic family, the Hip- posbosfidce, which include the spider -flies, and various other sheep, bird, and bee parasites. The one in question does not 1 86 The Scottish Naturalist. confine its attention to the Red Deer, but lives amongst the hair of other species, as the Roe and Fallow Deer. Deer are very cunning, and many stories might be told of their various dodges, either to escape when pursued, or to get at food protected from them. The wood Deer (that is, those which live - in the woods all the year round, and do not take to the bare hills) are much more cunning than the hill Deer, and differ from the latter in several respects. The other wild mammals of Glen Tilt are few and unimport- ant, and need not detain us. I do not know whether the Wild Cat is yet to be found there. Though never abundant, it still remains in a few places, especially to the north of the Grampians. Birds, as might be expected, are not, as a rule, abundant in the upper part of the glen. The Golden Eagle may sometimes be seen soaring over Ben-a-Ghlo, and probably nests in or near the forest. The beautiful Peregrine Falcon breeds in the forest ; and, of course. Grouse and Ptarmigan are not uncommon. The most noteworthy ornithological fact, however, is the occurrence of a large colony of the House Martin on a rock- face not far from Pool Tarft', and miles away from any house. Over a considerable part of the rock the nests are plastered thickly, and to see on a bright morning the feathered multitude flying to and fro in front of their dwellings is a very pretty sight. A considerable number of Rooks and Jackdaws come far up the glen and hunt about the hillsides all day, returning to the lower country about Blair in the evening. At the time we were there in July, they were engaged in picking up caterpillars, I fancy — especially those of the sometimes destructive Charaas graffiinis. Many of these caterpillars had retired under the moss on the top of stones to change into chrysalises, and the Rooks apparently knew this, as the moss was frequently all ploughed up with their beaks. In places where Empctrum nigrum is common, the Rooks resort to the hillsides to feed on the berries, which prob- ably derive their name of Crow-berries from this reason. Wood- pigeons, also, frequently come up Glen Tilt to feed upon the wild berries of various kinds — such as blaeberries. In speaking of the Golden Eagle, I forgot to mention that Sir T. Mon- creiffe pointed out a dead tree on the ridge near Marble Lodge, on which he once saw no less than five eagles all perched togetlier at one time. The other vertebrates of Glen Tilt arc few in number. Of course the common Frog is not rare upon the hills, always appear- The Scottish Naturalist. 187 ing to be going up and never down, while occasionally a Lizard {Zootoca vivipard) may be seen on the hillside. It is rather curious that this Lizard should, in north Scotland, be more fre- quently seen on the mountains than on the lower ground, which, considering that farther south (for example, in the south-west of of Scotland), it is much more abundant, and that from its habits it seems to be a creature that enjoys warmth, would seem a more congenial habitat. It is true that throughout Europe it seems almost confined to hilly countries, ascending to even 10,000 feet on the Alps ; but still there seems something curious in its local distribution in north Scotland. I do not think that this peculi- arity is by any means confined to the Lizard, for there is more than one insect which, though a little farther south common in the low country, in north Scotland is not common, or does not even occur at all, except on or near the hills. To those who have studied insects in England, Lowland Scotland, and the Highlands, instances of this will at once suggest themselves. INSECTS. In noticing the insects of Glen Tilt, I will confine myself, on the present occasion, almost entirely to the Lepidoptera, for the very satisfactory (or rather unsatisfactory) reason, that, of the other orders, I know very little of the species that inhabit the glen. It seems, however, probable, that they are not nearly so well represented as the Lepidoptera. One thing is certain, and that is, that not very much attention has been paid to any of the Glen Tilt insects excej^t the Lepidoptera. There can be no doubt but that the glen is remarkably rich in the last-mentioned order, and this is the more curious, because, except in the lower part, it is almost destitute of trees, and the accompanying sylvan vegetation. One summer it happened that I spent a few days in the neighbouring Glen Bruar, and then crossed the hills to Glen Tilt. In Glen Bruar — a heatheir-clad, sheep-grazed countiy — scarcely an insect was to be seen ; in Glen Tilt w^hat a difterent state of matters was presented ! One day last August I walked down Glen Tilt, and I think that I never saw so many butterflies at once before. They were all of one kind, the dark brown Erehia ^Ethiops (Blandifia), a northern species and rather local. For several miles, turn which way one liked, there was always to be seen a multitude of these butterflies flitting about over the grass. At first I was much interested, soon I loathed the very sight of them. The monotony of seeing iS8 The Scottish Naturalist. these brown butterflies zigzagging to and fro in every direction became, as it were, a dreadful nightmare ; and even yet, by an effort of the imagination, I can recall' the feeling of dizziness that the constant pendulous motion of the insects produced. The other butterflies of the glen are about ten or eleven ; not a large number, but still just what might be expected. The rarest is Erebia epiphron, the only truly mountain butterfly that we have in Britain. This has been found in several places in the glen, ranging from 1500 to 2000 feet; but hitherto only in small num- bers. About 1500 feet seems to be the lowest altitude at which it dwells ; but once in Rannoch I found a specimen as low as 700 feet. As, however, a lot of sheep had been driven off the higher ground the previous day, I imagine that the butterfly had got entangled in the wool on some ' sheep's back and been brought to the lower level involuntarily. The other butterflies that have been noticed in the glen are Comonympha Pamphihis, C. Davits^ Pieris brassicce, a stray specimen from the cultivated ground wandering, as is often the habit of the species, over the moors in search of fresh fields and pastures new ; Argyiinis Aglata, A. selene, Vanessa urticce, which seems to follow its food-plant, the nettle, wherever it goes, and that is wherever man sets up a habitation. Far away up the glen. of the Tarff there is, in the very heart of the hills, a small house known as the Tarff bothy, and inhabited only for a month or so in the deer-stalking season. No proper road leads to it, and I daresay there are few more lonely and desolate habitations anyv/here in Britain. Yet here, at an altitude of 1800 feet, there was, in July last, more than one specimen of Vanessa urticce lying dead in the window, and outside, sure enough, was a patch of nettles. Lyconia Icarus and Z. Artaxerxes — which, as its food-plant, Heliantheninni, \s com- mon, is likewise abundant — complete the list of butterflies. In noticing some of the moths of Glen Tilt I should premise that when " in the woods " is given as the habitat, the lower part of the glen is meant. Most of the species to be mentioned, however, occur close to Forest Lodge, a large majority of them, including even such alpine species as Psodos coracina, halving been taken within very little more than half a mile from the house. That the valley between Blair-Athole and Forest Lodge is tolerably rich in species may be gathered from the fact, that on the 1 8th of last July, not by any means a particularly good day for collecting, upwards of 80 species of Lcpidoptcra were noticed in the ten miles' walk. The Scottish Naturalist. 189 Hcpialus vellcda, with its var. gallicus and intermediate forms, is very common about Forest Lodge, where no bracken grows, so that the larva must feed on other roots. I found a specimen as high up as 1800 feet, near Falar. Not far from Forest Lodge also I found a cocoon of Dicramira vinula upon a stone — rather a curious situation for a larva which almost invariably uses gnawed bark or wood in the construction of its cocoon. In this case lichens had been used in place of bark. The moth emerged in due season, but did not present any peculiar features. On the hills, the mountain form of Nemeophila plantaginis^ in which the yellow colour is replaced by white, occurs, but rarely. A good many Noctuae inhabit the glen, but, with one or two exceptions, most of them are species of wide distribution in the Highlands. Amongst those less common maybe noXia^^Acrofiycta euphorI)ice. var. moiitivaga (see note on another page). The dark half-unicolorous varieties oi Xylophasia rui-ea are commoner here than I have seen elsewhere ; while of the rare and interesting Cryjjwdes exidis^ Sir T. Moncreiffe and Mr Herd have each taken a specimen. Nearly as rare (but in Glen Tilt, as far as captures go, much rarer) is Pachnobia hyperborca, of which the first British specimen was taken on Ben-a-Ghlo by Mr Douglas many years ago. One chief object of our visit to Glen Tilt last summer was to try and find this species ; but the weather was so unpropitious the whole time that we never had a chance of properly looking for it. This moth lives very high up on the top of the hills ; and the only trace we saw of it — if trace it was — was an empty pupa-case which I found in the moss about 3000 feet up. Pliisia i?iterrogatioHis, which occurs here and there, and Anarta co?'digera, which we have only seen in one spot as yet, complete the list of the more interesting Noctuae. Geometrse are also fairly represented, and include rather a curious combination of mountain and northern species with those which, in Britain at least, are usually considered to be southern rather than northern insects. For example, the occurrence of Anticlea sinuata^ Melanippe ga/iata, Fsodos coraciiia, Dasydia obftiscata, Lat'eiitia flavicindata^ within half or three-quarters of a mile, is certainly a noteworthy fact, when it is remembered that the headquarters in Britain of A. sinuata is the low country round Cambridge. In Glen Tilt it would be quite possible to capture it and the northern Corcmia munitata with one swoop of the net. In the woods Vemisia canibrica is not scarce. The two 190 The Scottish Naturalist. northern species of Lai'entia — ccesiata and salicata — abound on the hills ; but flavicindata is scarcer, and more local, though found in the woods as low as 500 or 600 feet. Einmelesia ericdata may fairly be called common, and goes up as high as 2200 feet; while a single specimen (rather peculiar in its markings) of E. blandiata^ which occurs here and there in the glen, was taken by Mr Herd at an altitude of 2400 feet. I think, however, that it does not usually live so high up. Of that interesting genus Eiipithecia, several noteworthy species occur. E. constridata has been taken sparingly at rest on rocks, with the commoner E. pidchellata. The form of E. satyrata known as callunata is of course common. (Mr Harpur Crewe has, I believe, proved that callunata is only a northern form oi satyj-ata.) In the woods near Blair, the larva oi E. iogata has been found in spruce cones. Coremia munitata is very common in the upper part of the glen, where also a curious variety of C. ferrugata was taken in July last by Sir T. Moncreiffe (2 specimens) and Mr Herd (i). This insect puzzled us immensely ; and we at last concluded that it was a new species. Dr Staudinger of Dresden tells us, however, that it is clearly only a form oi ferrugata, and that he has similar forms from the mountains of N. Italy and Sweden. It is certainly very different in appearance both from the usual Scottish form, and from the very different English form of this variable insect. Eidonia carbonaria ought to occur in several places, but as yet we have only found it in one, and, as usual, amongst Ardo- staphylos uva-ursi. Psodos coracina inhabits most of the higher tops, generally where Azalea procumbens grows ; and in the glen Dasydia ohfuscata has been found in several places. Melanippe galiata, though not a rare species in Britain, yet is one whose occurrence in Glen Tilt is rather curious. It is not found, I think, in Lowland Perthshire, and in fact is in Britain commoner on the sea-coast than elsewhere, though not a maritime species. Out of Britain, its distribution is in Central and Southern Europe. In Glen Tilt I have seen it at 1400 feet at rest on the same stone with the northern Larentia ccesiata and Emmelesia ericdata. It also occurs in Rannoch. In the woods the handsome Geometra papilionaria is sometimes met with, and wherever larch has been planted Boarmia crepus- cularia may be found. On the boles of the birches in spring Lobophora lobulata may be frequently seen at rest; and on white poplar Z. hexapterata, but more rarely. {To be continued.) The Scottish Naturalist. 191 THE LEPIDOPTERA OP MONCREIPPE HILL.i By Sir THOMAS MONCREIFFE, Bart. {Contimied from page 152). Geometrina. Vaiilia macularia. — Common, particularly among wood sage, at an elevation of 600 feet. Varies considerably in the distribu- tion of the brown markings. I have one specimen which has an entire brown band across the middle of the fore-wings, and which is only once interrupted in the hind-wings. I fancy that the up- per wings of the male are of a lighter shade of yellow than the under. Ellopia fasciaria. — Frequent on pine-trunks from 500 feet up- wards. Selenia illunaria. — Locally common some seasons. To be taken flying at dusk — and with a lantern, among whitethorn, after dark. Odoiitopera bidentata. — This is a most abundant species, and varies a good deal in intensity of colour, some specimens being excessively dark. I have one bred specimen, a great portion of all four wings of which is quite transparent, looking, at first sight, as if the scales had been rubbed off, but on close examination with a lens it appears to be quite perfect. Comes freely to light. Crocallis elingiiaria. — Not common, but appears to be gener- ally distributed. Himera pennaria. — Local. The males come commonly to light in the house ; the females are less frequent. I have not been able to discover its breeding quarters here, for the same reason, pro- bably, that the larvae of most of the oak feeders are difiicult to obtain — viz., there being no copse or young oakwoods. Phigalia pilosaria. — Common, and generally distributed at all elevations. Varies considerably in size and depth of shade. Comes freely to light. I have taken this insect here soon after the New Year. Some seasons it flies pretty freely about Cii- pressiis in my shrubbery on the bright, still, moonlight nights. Amphidasis betiilai-ia. — Fairly common some seasons, but never plentiful. We have occasional dark varieties, but not so dark as they appear to be in some places. I reared an imperfect female 1 At pages 147 and 151, No. 144, for *' Tethea rettisa" read " Tethea sub- ticsa:'—!!. AL 192 The Scott is II Naturalist. on one occasion, and as I had no time for breeding, I placed her on a tree-trunk near where I had seen the species flying on the previous night. I passed the place in the evening and she was still there. On returning home with my lantern a few hours later, I found her in the embrace of a large slug, which was making a hearty meal. He seemed to be holding on *' astarn " to the lichen on the trunk, clasping the moth in his arms as it were. His horns were drawn in and I could hardly make out where his head had got to, but it appeared to be buried in the thorax between the head and the fore-legs of his prey. I poked him up in all sorts of ways, but he did not take the slightest notice by moving in any way. Cleora lichenai'ia. — Common. Comes freely to light. The larva appears here to prefer the lichen' on the oak to that on any other tree. Boarmia repandata. — Common, and generally distributed ; varies considerably in size and shade, so much so, that some- times one can hardly believe the large, dark, richly-marked insect to be the same as the small, insignificant, hght-coloured one. We have nothing approaching to the banded variety. GnopJiGs obsciirata. — Common on the rocky faces in the higher altitudes ; sometimes wanders down to light in the house. I have never seen a light-coloured specimen. Dasydia obfuscata. — Locally common, and never appears to quit the rocky faces on which it breeds and loves to rest. Varies considerably in intensity of grey, but the males usually appear to be the darkest. I have seen s])ecimens which I believed at the time to be worn, and left undisturbed. I have since come to think, however, that they were perfect, but inclined to albinoism. Geometra papilioiiaria. — This beautiful geometer is fairly com- mon at Moncreiffe, from 30 feet up to 600 in certain localities. The larvae may be obtained on birch, willow, and alder by beat- ing. The imago I have found at rest on the heather under birch-trees ; and in 1872 and 1873 it came frequently to light in my study. Exposure to the light very soon causes the green to fade into yellow ; but I have specimens, taken six years ago, killed in a cyanide botde, dried on the boards in a dark but not very close cupboard, which are as fresh as ever in my cabinet, where they are placed with a moderate amount of camphor. I find it is a good plan to open the drawers occasionally and give insects a little air, and have known instances of moths which were showing grease become cjuite clean in an hour's time, the The Scottish Naturalist. 193 grease having all evaporated. This happened in the case of geo- meters where the grease was spreading through the wings. When the body is fairly attacked, especially in the thick-bodied insects, I always have recourse to benzin and French chalk, which soon cures them, if carefully brushed off with a camel's - hair brush when dry. Ephyi'a pendidaj'ia. — This beautiful and delicate-looking insect is to be met with every season, but not commonly. I have usually taken it at rest on the boles of birch-trees, sometimes on the herbage beneath. Vemisia cavihrica. — Rare. I only know of one specimen of this insect being taken at Moncreiffe. This was at an elevation of nearly 600 feet, and was a perfectly fresh specimen. I hunted the place carefully for some time afterwards but never saw an- other. Acidalia scutulata. — Common locally. These small Acidalice are very liable to be overlooked, as we meet with them usually during the evening flight, when no number of hands and eyes are sufficient for the occasion ; and I have no doubt several of the species are passed over as bisetata, which is a perfect pest. A. incanaria. — Frequent ; and usually if one waits patiently after capturing one specimen, more will follow in the same line of flight. Indeed, this is a good general maxim when watching the evening flight for almost any lepidopterous insect. A. aversata. — Common and generally distributed. This moth varies very much both in size and shades of colour. Those which I take at an elevation of about 600 feet, and which I usually beat out of the birches, being much less tawny than those I capture among the rough stuff on the open bank by the river-side, at an elevation of 30 feet. A. inomata. — Not so common as the preceding, but probably often overlooked. I have usually beat it off birch. Timandra amataria. — Rare. I only know of one specimen occurring at Moncreiffe, which was taken flying in the evening at the back of an old thorn-hedge (bulfinch) in 1872. Cabera exanthemaria. — Frequent, local. I have one specimen in which the first and second lines seem to be amalgamated into one dark smoky band, which is continued as intensely, but more narrowly, across the posterior wings, giving the insect a peculiar appearance. Macaria lituraia. — Frequent among the Scots firs near the top. Phasiane petraria. — This is another curious instance of the 194 The Scottish Naturalist. appearance of an insect. The first woixcQ oi petraria at Mon- creiffe was in May 187 1, when I found it moderately plentiful in o?ie bed of bracken at the foot of the hill. Since that time it has gradually spread over the whole place, high and low, wherever the bracken grows. Had it been here before, it could not well have been overlooked by Mr Herd, who has collected here for many years. The best way to obtain good specimens is to col- lect them at night with a lantern, whilst sitting on the last year's broken-down bracken, or clinging to the grass, &c., as they sit perfectly quiet with their wings spread, and the markings show very distinctly by lamplight. Fidonia atoinaria. — Locally common. I have a pretty variety of the female, in which the first line forms an eye at the base of each fore-wing looking like a pair of spectacles. I am not aware whether this variety is common or not. F. piniaria. — This is a very common insect among Scots firs. The males do not appear to vary, the ground colour, as far as I have observed, being invariably white. The females, however, are excessively variable. Some are orange-brown with more or less of the ordinary brown markings, others are marked like the male, only that the lighter area is yellow instead of white, and the black-brown in the male is in the female brown with a slightly orange tint. In another specimen in my cabinet, the dark markings are almost as dark as in the male, but the remainder and larger area is smoky-grey brown. They vary also in expanse of the fore-wings from i inch 4 lines to i inch 6 lines. Abraxas grossulariata. — I am thankful to say that I have not seen this insect at Moncreiffe for many years, although I re- member seeing it in the garden in plenty when I was a boy. It has, however, occurred since that time in some of the cottage gardens. Hybcrnia rupicapraria. — Common on all thorn-hedges. Ap- pears about the New Year ; indeed in forward seasons it is a question whether it is the last moth of the old year or the first of the new. Mr Herd has taken them on the wing in copula ; and I have no doubt that in tliis way the geometers with small apterous females are distributed about the country, as otherwise they would naturally be confined to the locality in which they were bred, from the absence of the power of locomotion which is given to winged females. H. Icucophcaria. — This is a common insect, and seems particu- larly attached to the sycamore. It varies considerably in mark- TJie Scott is Ji Naturalist. 195 ings. I have one or two pretty varieties. I once took a female on the wall of my house ; a shabby trick of the male probably, as there was no tree near from which she could have been blown, unless she had got a ride on a leaf H. pj'ogemviaria. — This is another insect which is to be met with frequently on moonlight nights in spring, flying about Cupressiis in my shrubbery — indeed the members of the Hybeniia family seem to be a hardy lot, as most of them fly at night during hard frost. H. defoliaria. — Frequent, but local; comes to sugar. A proof of the amount of cold which this insect can endure, once came under my notice. About 11 a.m. on the 6th December 187 1, I was crossing the ice which covered a pretty large pool of water to the depth of three or four inches. The white hoar-frost lay all over, and so heavily had it fallen, that the leaves and small branches which lay on the surface looked half an inch thick. The trees around were covered with it, and the whole scene was one of bitter cold mid-winter. A form on the ice attracted my attention, from its shape looking like a large white butterfly. I removed the hoar-frost and there, with outstretched wings, lay a specimen of H. defoliaria. It appeared to be dead, and although the frost lay thickly upon it, it was not adhering to the ice on which it lay. I took it up and placed it on a shelf in the wooden house where our curling-stones are kept. On entering some hours after, I found my friend on the window quite lively. Now this insect must have been a good many hours in the position in which 1 found it, as the hoar-frost must have fallen at latest about daylight, and most probably some hours earlier. Cheimatobia brumata. — Common in the garden at Moncreiff'e, particularly on gean (wild cherry) trees. I do not observe that it is distributed through the woods as it is in some parts. I do not find it here atttached to the oak and other forest trees in the plantations. C. boreata. — Frequent, and I think more generally distributed here than bnunata, but certainly not so abundant where it does occur. Oporabia dilutata. — I am very much puzzled with this common species. I have taken specimens from the ist of September till the end of November, which by the description may be dilutata, aiitwnnaria, ox filigrammaria. Newman gives dilutata as appear- ing in November, and being of larger size than filigrammaria ; whereas the largest, most glossy specimens which I take here are 196 The Scottish Naturalist. to be met with in September and October. He ignores ai/tiun- nai'ia altogether. Both Mr Stainton and Newman agree in stating that the larva of dilutata is a general feeder on forest- trees, but Mr Stainton gives September and October as the months for taking the imago. He also says the larva oifiligram- maria feeds upon heather. Newman (quoting Mr Hellins) says sallow. Wood's fig. 639 (erroneously quoted 693 by Dr Staud- inger in his Catalogue) is somewhat like the later and less glossy specimens I take here; but his figure in the Supplement — 1727 — which is not quoted by Dr Staudinger at all that I can see, is a fac-simile of some of the early glossy ones. Hubner's figure, 188, is like a specimen I possess, which I took on the 29th of September among glossy bluish-grey ones, and is of the green- grey type. Dr Staudinger places a'? before '"'' filigranwiaria ; ''^ and although Herrich Schafter's figures, 194 and 195, are those of a smaller insect, he himself says, " It is perhaps only a small sharply-marked variety of dilutariar On the whole, until it is pi'oved \.o the contrary, I shall hold to the belief that ^^ dilutata,'^ ''^ aittuimiaria!'' and '■'■ filigrammaria''^ are one and the same species. Since the above was written, Dr Buchanan White's investiga- tions have made it perfectly clear that aiUiunnaria and dilutata are quite distinct, and \)roh^\Ay Jiligramiua7'ia also. Larentia didymata. — A perfect pest. I remember on one occasion boxing a female, and my coat over the pocket was very soon pretty nearly covered with males trying to find out where she had got to. L. imiltisti'iga7'ia. — Common. In certain localities any num- ber may be taken at night with a lantern. L. casiata. — Common in the woods among Vacciniiun iiiyrtillus ; varies considerably in shade, some specimens being very dark indeed, and might almost be taken for a different insect. Emmdcsia alchemillata. — Common in some localities. I am not aware that any species of Galcopsis grows commonly where 1 find this insect in most profusion. R. albulata. — This insect has of late years appeared commonly among the '* natural hay " near my house. It liad not been observed here previous to 1872. E. decolorata was also first observed here in 1872, in one locality only, since which I have seen it i)rctly commonly wherever the campion grows. E. cricdata. — I took one specimen on Moncrciffc Hill in The Scottish Naturalist. 197 August 1872. I am not aware that it has been otherwise observed here. Eupithecia pulchdlata. — Common some seasons near the food- plant. Most of my specimens were taken at rest on, or disturbed from, rocks or stones near beds of foxglove, at an altitude of 600 feet and upwards. Some specimens are dark and very richly marked. E. ceiitaureata. — Not common, but fairly distributed. I have taken it at night on wood-sage blossom ; and Mr Herd tells me he has found it at rest on thistle and ragweed stems in the daytime. E. subfuivata. — Not common. I have one very beautifully- marked specimen, which Mr Guenee considers to be the variety oxydata. The late Mr Doubleday's opinion (see ' Scottish Naturalist,' vol. iii. p. 266) was at variance with Mr Guenee's \ and if two such authorities differ, the less I say the better. E. pygmcEata. — Rare, though not uncommon in close proxi- mity. E. satyrata. — Frequent at all times. Sometimes common. The var. callimaria of Mr Stainton occurs most frequently ; but I have taken specimens which approach very closely to the English type in the same locality. E. castigata. — Common and generally distributed. This genus is so difficult to determine that it is impossible to be always quite certain as to the identity of wild specimens. Casti- gata and lariciata are so closely allied that it is quite possible there may be a third species here mixed up with them. I do not in any way assert this to be the fact, but I confess to a diffi- culty in separating all I take. E. lariciata. — This is a most variable species here, as men- tioned above. Some freshly - emerged imagos have a most beautiful rosy patch in the centre of the fore-wings, making them appear as distinct from '■'■lariciata^'' as that insect is from '■'■ siib- fiilvata!'' But, alas ! after a time it fades away, and in a few months leaves little or no trace behind. Mr Harpur Crewe, however, to whom I submitted most of my specimens for exam- ination, does not appear to have the same difficulty in identify- ing them, so I "cave in." E. indigata. — A very common insect amongst Scots fir. It is disappointing that E. fraxinata has not turned up here, as the food-plant (ash) is a perfect weed. E. iianata. — Fairly common. All the specimens I have seen B 198 The Scottish Naturalist. from here are fine and clearly marked, but I have seen no dark varieties such as occur in Rannoch and Glen Tilt. E. inimitata. — I do not feel quite clear in my own mind about the identity of this Eiipithecia here. I have a specimen taken in Blair-Athole which coincides most distinctly with Hubner's figure 454 of inimitata. What I take here and separate from absy?ithiata as inimitata dift'ers principally in size, whereas in my Blair-Athole specimen there is a most decided difference, to my eye, in the whole insect. E. assimilata. — Frequent among currant-bushes, and appears early in May. I now find no difficulty in distinguishing this in- sect from its congeners ; both the shape of the wing and the sub- terminal markings are quite distinct. E. temiiata. — Common among sallows and willows. Although this is a very backward season (1877), Mr Herd and I saw the larva nearly full fed on the 20th of April, many of the sallows being still only in the white bud. E. dodoneata. — I took a specimen which may be this insect, but I have my doubts. A better man than me, however, said, " dodoneata ? " so I give it the benefit of the doubt, as I do not know dodoneata myself. E. abbreviata. — Common and generally distributed. Varies considerably in every way. There is a difference of two or three lines in the expanse of some of my specimens. In some, also, the ground shade of colour is unicolorous grey-green ; in others there is a light-coloured area sometimes edged with tawny in the centre of the upper wings. The one constant mark, how- ever, is the perpendicular line-like central spot. E. sobrinata. — There were not many junipers here for a number of years; but where they were sobrinata was to be found. I have lately planted out a few, and the insect appears to follow the food-plant. It strikes me, however, that it feeds upon spruce or some other of the fir tribe, as I have taken it far away from juniper in fresh condition and early in the season. ( To be conliniied. ) Anecdote of the Manx Puffin of the Dardanelles.— There has long been in the Norwich Museum a specimen of this vShearwater, which is so com- mon in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean. It is stated on the ticket of the case that it was captured by Lieutenant Coppinger of H.M.S. Malabar, " by two flocks in rapid flight meeting each other with such rapid velocity that two (of the Shearwaters), striking each other, fell dead in his boat." The The ScottisJi Naturalist. 199 bird wliicli was obtained in this curious manner is barely separable from the English species. It was presented to the Museum by Bishop Stanley, the father of the present Dean of Westminster. The next collision in the Black Sea will most likely be, not between " feather-clads," but " iron-clads ;" and as the British fleet is again ordered to Besika Bay, a British lieutenant may stoop to pick up a Turkish Malwioudieh or a Russian Popoff. — J. H. GuR- NEY, junior, Northrepps Cottage, Norwich, 6th July 1S77. Gynandromorphism in the Honey-bee. — Enclosed I beg to send you an abnormal specimen of the Honey-bee {Apis mellifica). You will observe that the two sides of the insect a.re quite different, the right being that of a worker, and the left that of a drone. The difference will be best seen in the eyes, one of which is much larger than the other; and also in the hind-legs, that on the one side having the pollen-basket of the M'orker, that on the other being with- out it. You will also observe the fringe of hairs on the latter segments of the abdomen, as seen on drones. — W. Flett, Dempster Street, Wick, Aug. 4, 1877. [The specimen — which has unfortunately been destroyed by an accident — had all the peculiarities pointed out by our correspondent. — Editor ' Scot. Nat. '] A Deceived Bee. — When standing, one morning last summer, at my dress- ing-room window, which was open, I noticed a bee making directly for the window. I drove it away, but it persistently returned ; so I watched its pro- ceedings. Coming up in " tacks," gradually shortening, it entered the room, and proceeded at once to a cake of strongly-scented soap, which it examined all over; after apparently satisfying itself that it was not a flower though it smelt like one, it flew away. — Horace Skeete, Perth, Dec. 1877. Acronycta Myricse not a distinct species. — The following extract from a letter received from Dr Staudinger will be interesting to British lepidopter- ologists : " Thank you kindly for the two specimens of Acronycta viyncce, Gn. I received before specimens of this species from England, and saw many there, and I find that they are qiiite idetitical with the alpine form of A. euphorbia;, xidimQd montivaga, also by Guenee." — F. Buchanan W^hite. Colias Edusa. — In September last I caught a specimen of Colias Edusa here, twenty miles from the sea. Others were seen. — ^J. M' An DREW, New Galloway, Oct. 1877. Sphinx Convolvuli in Fife.— On August 24 I had a i specimen of Sphinx convolvuli brought to me, which was taken at Balmuto ; and on Sep- tember 18 a 9, captured at Newbigging, Burntisland. — J. T. BosWELL, Balmuto, Fife, 5th Dec. 1877. Caparcaillie. — Mr J. A. Harvie-Brown, Dunipace House, Larbert, is collecting statistics on the increase and spread of the Caparcaillie in Scot- land since its restoration at Taymouth in 1836. Any one interested in the subject, who is willing to impart even a single fact, on application to Mr Harvie-Brown will receive printed forms showing, in a series of queries, the points upon which he specially desires information. He will " be greatly obliijed for the smallest assistance. PHYTOLOGY. ON OEETAIN LICHENS BELONG-ING TO THE GENUS PAEMELIA. Pa' JAMES STIRTON, M.D., F.L.S. CONSIDERABLE attention has lately been bestowed on the spermogonia and spermatia of lichens, mainly as a means of discriminating genera and species. The relationship of these organs to the apothecia is far from being satisfactorily determined, inasmuch as direct experiments bearing on the question are awanting ; and it is only by way of analogy that a presumption is afforded that they play the same role as the antheridia of mosses to the archegonia. The constancy in size and configuration of the spermatia in the same lichen is re- markable considering their minuteness, and warrants their im- portance as a means of diagnosis in critical cases. Since the publication by Dr Nylander in t86o of his *Syn. Meth. Lichenum,' considerable diversity in the form and size of. the spermatia in the Pai'melicE has been discovered. Indeed, with the exception of two Australian species, all the others were then reckoned to have bifusiform spermatia. This is now known to be far from true. In one instance — viz., P. pei'foi'ata., I am still in doubt whether the European and North American forms (which certainly differ, in outward form at least, from specimens received from the southern hemisphere) have bifusiform spermatia or not, inasmuch as the two specimens at hand are destitute of spermogonia. It is rather curious also, that amongst all the magnificent fruiting specimens received from South Africa, not one spermogonium containing spermatia has been detected. However, from Australia and New Zealand, whose lichen floras l^ossess several remarkable points of resemblance to that of South Africa, I possess specimens bearing spermogonia contain- ing spermatia. In these, the spermatia are exactly cylindrical, and longer than usual. Until this question is definitely settled, any conclusions as to the diversity or identit}- of the s])ccimens The Scottish Naturalist. 20 t from the two hemispheres must remain doubtful. Meanwhile, acting under the impression (which Nylander certainly leads one to infer) that the specimens he has seen have bifusiform sper- matia, I have separated the plants of the southern hemisphere from those of the northern. In the estimation of the dimensions of the spermatia, I have been favoured with the improved microscopic appliances in the possession of Mr A. Schulze of Glasgow, including Ross's i/io immersion objective, and Powell & Lealand's new formula 1/8, with B and C eye-pieces. They have also been viewed with oculars up to 2000 diameters. Those spermatia designated cylindrical do not betray the slightest tendency towards a bifusi- form or subiageniform configuration. It should also be stated that the breadth of each spermatium is only given approximately. * Pa7'inelia reparata sp. nov. — Sat similis P. perforatce sed thallo firmiore et minute reticulato-diffracto sporisque late ellip- soideis, .013-.014 x .009-.011 mm. Spermatia recta exacte cylindrica, .011-.014 (interdum .015) x circ. .0007 mm. Apud Cave Mountain prope Brisbane in Queensland, a F. M. Bailey lecta, et prope Wellington, N.Z. (J. Buchanan). In this view of the spermatia of this lichen, F. Owaniana., described in the ' Trans, of the Glasgow Field Nat. Soc.,' pub- lished in September of 1877, approaches closely to it. Pa7-melia eruhescens sp. nov. — Thallus pallide rufescens vel rufes- centi-cervinus, laciniato-lobatus, laciniis rotundatis margine crenatis vel crenato-incisis et nigro-ciliatis, subtus totus fus- cescens vel spadiceus et breviter sed creberriter nigro-rhizin- osus ; medulla pallido-albida (K fl. dein rubens) ; apothecia ignota; spermogonia innata extus nigra spermatiis exacte cylindricis, rectis, .008-.01 x circ. .0005 mm. Prope Brisbane supra ceeteras Parmelias (F. M. Bailey). Although closely allied to P. perforata, the differences as indi- cated above are quite sufficient to warrant a separation. The colour of the thallus seems normal and not induced, as we see occasionally in P. perforata, by extraneous influences. The mar- ginal cilia are much thicker and longer than the rhizinae, which are finer than usual. Parmclia amplectens sp. nov. — Thallus pallidus vel albido- aut 202 The Scottish Naturalist. pallido-glaucescens, laciniato-divisus adpressulus, laciniis plerumque angustis interdum rotundatis et saepe sinuato- divisis, subtus niger, ambitu spadiceus vel pallidior, breviter nigro-rhizinosus ; medulla pallide rufescens vel rarius obso- lete rufescens (K fl. dein intense rubens, I leviter violacea) ; apothecia fusca vel fusco-rufa mediocria (latit. 2-5 mm.), receptaciilo plerumque pallidiore, extus laevigato, margine fere integro et ssepius inflexo; sporse Snse ellipsoideae, .015- .018 X 009-.012 mm,; spermogonia innata vel in verrucis nonnihil prominulis insidentia; spermatia recta cylindrica, circ. .006 X .0007 mm. Ad ramos apud montes Neilgherries in India a Dr G. Watt lecta. The reaction by iodine on the medulla is characteristic and constant, although occasionally slowly developed. Pat'melia coilocarpa sp. nov. — Thallus albus vel albidus, interdum ad rufescentem mergens, Isevigatus laciniato-lobatus, laciniis margine minute sinuato-divisis, breviusculis, subtus niger creberriter et breviter nigro-rhizinosus ; medulla alba (K fl. dein rubens) ; apothecia elevato-sessilia fusco-rufescentia majuscula (latit. 7-12 mm.), receptaculo extus foveolato- impresso, margine fere integro srepius incurvo; sporie 6-8n?e, .024-.034 x .012-.017 mm., paraphyses non dis- tinctae in gel. firma involutae. lodo gel. hym. intense ceeru- lescens. Spermatia cylindrica recta, .005-. 0058 x .00065- .0008 mm. Ad ramulos, prope Fernando Po in Africa occid., a G. Thomson lecta. The spermatia are not so exactly cylindrical as those pre- viously described, but it would be a stretch of imagination to designate them otherwise. Parnielia xanthotropa sp. nov. — Thallus flavescens vel cineras- centi-flavescens, adpressus vel crustoso-adpressus laciniatus, laciniis brevibus ambitu creratis vel sinuato-dissectis, non- nihil irabricatis, rugulosus vel nodulosus (saltem centro) vel passim tuberculoso-isidiatus, subtus niger parce rhizinosus ; medulla alba (K fl. dein intense rubens vel sanguineus) ; apothecia fusco-rufa, mediocria (latit. 3-7 mm.), margine receptaculari fere integro et plerumque incurvo ; sporce ellip- soideae, .018-.026 x .01 i-.oi 5 mm. lodo gel. hym. intense c?erulescens. Spermogonia nigra, peridio toto infuscato et cra.s- siusculo ; spermatia bifusiformia, .006.007 ^ (^i-"^) -ooi wwii- The Scottish Naturalist. 203 Saxicola ? prope Somerset East in Africa australi, a cl. P. MacOwan lecta. The specimen is small, and so far the diagnosis of the thallus is imperfect. So abundant is the colouring matter, that the epithallus moistened with K, shows an after purplish -red reaction. Pannelia testacea sp. nov, — Thallus pallescens vel pallide cinera- cescens vel etiam pallide cervinus, centro squamulosus vel crustoso - squamulosus, radiato - laciniatus, laciniis ssepius oblongis et lobato-divisis, adpressulus (K fl. dein rubens), subtus niger breviter nigro-rhizinosus ; apothecia subcon- , coloria, testacea vel demum hepatica, sessilia, plana majus- cula (latit. 4-20 mm.) rotundata, plerumque lobato-incisa • (praesertim seniora), receptaculo extus rugosulo et margine fere integro ; sporae ellipsoidese, .013-.018x.0085-.01 mm. Spermatia bifusiformia, .006-.007 x .0007-.0008 mm. Ad saxa? prope Wellington, N.Z. (J. Buchanan). ( To be continued. ) SCOTTISH GALLS. By J. W. H. TRAIL, M.A., M.B., F.L.S. {Continued from page 170.) TILIA EuROP^A L. — A few weeks ago I received from Dr Buchanan White leaves of a lime-tree (apparently T. grandifolia, Ehrh.) picked up by him at Dunkeld towards the end of October, on which were numerous nail-galls, the work of a species of gall-mite {Phytoptiis tilice). They are scattered irregularly over the upper surface of the leaf, from which they project at right angles, and are more or less spindle - shaped, tapering slightly towards the base, and considerably towards the apex, which is turned to one side ; they may reach Y3 x Y^^^ inch in size, but are usually rather smaller. The surface is smooth or slightly furrowed, pubescent, and is green, yellowish-brown, or red in colour. On section, the gall is found to contain a central elongated cavity, opening on the lower surface of the leaf by a small hole nearly closed with short yellowish hairs, among which the mites live. These galls are common in many parts of 204 The Scottish Naturalist. England {e.g.^ at Kew, where I have seen them in great abundance), and on the Continent, so we may expect them to occur in other locaHties in Scotland. They are of great historical interest, as being among the earliest described mite -galls. Reaumur describes and figures them in his ' Me'moires pour servir a I'histoire des Insectes' (1737), and tried to discover the maker with the aid of a lens. Turpin, in 1833, ascertained that they were the work of a mite, which he called Sajroptes gallariLin Tilice ; and not long after Duges traced the development of the galls. They have since been noticed by almost all French and German writers on galls, and the galls themselves received the name of Cera- tojieon extensjwi from Bremi. Galium verum L. — {e) Leaf-rolling by a species of gall-mite. It resembles the deformities produced on Galium aparine ( {b) vol. IV., p. 15), and on G. saxatile ((a) 1. c, p. 15); the leaves of the upper whorls have the margins revolute so as to form two tubes, while the leaves become slightly thick- ened and distorted, and assume a yellowish tinge. The mites live in the interior of the tubes, usually only a few in each. Not uncommon near Old Aberdeen, but readily overlooked, as they are very inconspicuous. In the ' Zeits- chrift fiir die gesammten Naturwissenschaften,' vol. xxxiii. pp. 344-47, and vol. xlix. pp. 361-62, Dr Thomas of Ohrd- ruf has described these deformities as occurring on the species of Galijuu mentioned above, and also on G. sylvcstre and on G. inollugo, so that we may expect them to occur on these plants also in Scotland. Betula alba L. — (/) Scattered over the blade of the leaf, pro- jecting on both surfaces as conico-cylindrical warts V35 — V25 inch in diameter ; surface naked, smooth, and green or red at first, becoming wrinkled and brown afterwards ; walls thin in proportion but woody, opening below by a narrow passage filled witli hairs. In the interior live numerous gall-mites {Phytoptus, ,006- .007 X .0012 inch). These galls are most readily detected by the shotty feeling when the leaf is pressed between the finger and thumb. As many as 50 may occur on a single leaf. At Banchory-Ternan, ist September. 'I'hey are well described by Dr Thomas in the ' Nova acta (ler Ksl. Leop.-Carol. Deutschen Akademie der Naturfor- scher,' vol. xxxviii. pp. 266-68, figs. 12-15. The Scottish Naturalist. 205 (^g) The Witch-knots, so familiar to every one on the birch, re- sembling rook's nests from a little distance, have been shown by Miss E. A. Ormerod to be the work of gall-mites ('Entomologist,' vol. x. pp. 83-86, April 1877). Dr Thomas (1. c, pp. 257-59, figs. 1-8) has described very fully and figured the earlier stages of the same deformity. Single buds are ' atacked, and show the effect of the attack by becoming swollen to the size of a pea; the bud-scales become en- larged and covered with a thick coating of silky adpressed hairs; they also stand some distance apart, so that the bud loses the compact form and glossy surface natural to it. On examination with the aid of the microscope, the mites are found in multitudes between the inner scales, chiefly towards the base where the hairs are replaced by spherical papillae. The affected buds may occur singly, but they usually, after a time, form compact masses an inch or more in diameter, composed of abortive twigs beset with buds each attacked by the mites. After a considerable time (some years) the twigs grow to a greater or less length, but swollen and dis- torted in form, and form the Witch-knot, sometimes reaching a diameter of two or three feet. The attacks of the mites seem to stimulate the production of woody tissue at the point affected, and to favour the development (in distorted state certainly) of the young buds in the axils of the bud- scales, while hindering the development of the leaves them- selves. The Phytoptiis is of the usual size and form (.0064 X .0012 inch). These galls are common in most localities, and the various stages of development may be well traced in winter while the branches are bare. Alnus glutinosa L. — {c) Erinemn alneiun, Persoon, is one of the mite-galls formerly looked on as fungi, but now known to be the work of Phytoptiis. It occurs scattered over the lower surface of the leaf in slight depressions (which corre- spond to very low elevations of the upper surface) in scat- tered patches of irregular form, y^- Yz inch across, between the veins. Sometimes the whole lower surface of the leaf may be covered, sometimes the patches are very few and small. At first yellowish-white, a rusty or red tinge begins to appear round the margins, and soon spreads all over the patch. Under the microscope it is found to consist of vesi- cles, each supported on a slender stalk, from the top of which it branches irregularly, each lobe ending in a rounded 2o6 The Scottish Naturalist. dilatation or head. Among these filaments Hve mites of the usual form (.0056 x .0011). Common beside the Dee at Banchory-Ternan ; at Perth, »S^c. All the above galls are the work of mites of the genus Phy- toptus, to which all the true gall-mites yet known belong. In Greville's ' Monograph of the Genus Erineum ' (' Edinburgh Philosophical Journal/ vol. vi. p. 67 ^/ seq.) we find several of the supposed fungi recorded for Scotland, chiefly from Roslin and the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. These are as follows : — 1. Erineum subulatii?n, Grev. {- E. Jugia/idinujn, Pers.) On leaves of walnut (^Juglans regia) ; Braid Hermitage, near Edin- burgh. 2. E. acerimun, D.C. (Hook., Fl. Scot. H., 34) ( = E. pseiido- platani, Kunze). On leaves oi Acer pseudoplata7ius ; near Roslin, and at Braid Hermitage. 3. E. tortuosum, Grev. On leaves of birch {Betula alba) ; Ravelrigg Toll and Bilston Burn, both near Edinburgh. 4. E. betulce, D.C. ( = E. tvseu^n, Schultz), j . ' K. E. betidinum, Schum. ) .^^'\. ^ I IV. 17 (6') ' 6. E. alneum, Pers., on leaves of alder; vide supra. 7. E. oxyacanthcE, Pers., on leaves of hawthorn {Crataegus oxyacautha), at Roslin, &c. Of these I have not met with Nos. i, 2, 3, and 7. In the 'Zoologist,' 1853, pp. 3875-76 (Proceed, of the Berwick- shire Naturalists' Club, x. 3), Mr Hardy has noted the occurrence of the following galls, the work of species of Ehytoptus, in Ber- wickshire : I use the names that have been given to the galls themselves for convenience of reference : — 1. Ceratoneon attenuation^ Bremi, on leaves of Frunus Padus (Scot. Nat., i. 124). 2. Similar galls along the midrib of the leaf of P. spinosa (re- ferred by Dr Thomas to Cephaloneon molle^ Bremi). 3. Galls on upper surface of leaf of Alnus glutinosa, in axils of chief veins ({b) Scot. Nat., i. 194). 4. Erineum alneum, on leaves of Alnus glutinosa. 5. Galls on leaves of Betula alba^ like No. 3. (? Bursifex betula;, Amer.) 6. Bursifex sal ids, Amer., on leaves of Salix aurita {vide Scot. Nat., ii. 301-2, sub (e) S. caprcce and sub S. aurita). The Scottish Natm-alist. 207 7. Calycophthora avella?tcs, Amer., on hazel {Cory Ins avelland). (Scot. Nat, iv. 17.) 8. Flower-bud-galls on Galium verum (Scot. Nat., i. 156, and {c) ii. 80). 9. Leaf-rolling on G. aparinc (Scot. Nat, ip) iv. 15). 10. Calycophthora serpylli, Amer., on Thymus serpyllum (Scot. Nat, i. 158; ii. 252 (a) ). 11. Galls on Polygala vnlgaiis^ the leaves at the tip of the shoot becoming swollen, distorted, and covered with hairs, with the margins rolled in. 12. Similar galls on Lotus corniculatus ; and, 13. On Campanula rotundifolia. I have not myself met with Nos. 2, 5, 11, 12, and 13 of the above list ( To he continued. ) Note on Mnium punctatum var. elatum. — In the Report of the last meethig of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland it is stated that a specimen oi '■'■ Mnitim punctatum var. elat2im,'' z. new British form, recently found by Messrs Rogers and Percival, was exhibited to the members of the Society met at Dunkeld. I have not seen the actual specimen referred to, and con- sequently cannot, from personal examination of it, affirm that it is not what it has been supposed to be, but I very strongly suspect it is not. The grounds of my suspicion are as follows : In September last I received, through the kindness of Mr Whitehead of Dukinfield, a well-known north of England bryologist, a specimen named Mnmm ptcnctatuvi var. elatum^ gathered in June, by Messrs Rogers and Percival, near Southport. This I suppose to be part of the same gathering to which the specimen exhibited at Dunkeld belongs, but on examination I found it to be quite different from Mnium punctatum var. elatum in the general appearance, the form of the leaf, the structure of the areolation, the character of the border, and the occasional presence of rudimentary or well-developed teeth. The specimen in my pos- sion certainly belongs to M. affine, and it is more than probable that those exhibited at Dunkeld are identical. It may also be well to state that Mnium punctatum var. elatum, which has a wide geographical distribution in Europe and America, has been known for a number of years as a British plant, and was gathered in Scotland by the late Mr Hunt. — J. Fergusson, The Manse, Fern, Dec. 1877. [Mr Fergusson is quite right in supposing that the specimen exhibited at the Cryptogamic Society's meeting is part of the same gathering as was sent to him. I have examined the specimen, and find that it exhibits the characters he mentions, — Editor ' Scot. Nat.'] L' ^« " " " " " " " " " " '■ '■ ■i.^ 11 M 11 U 81 H If M '■ ■' .U.JIi, II GEOLOGY. THE GOLD-FIELD AND GOLD-DIGaiNGS OP OEAWFOED- LINDSAY (LANAEKSHIEE). By W. LAUDER LINDSAY, M.D., F.R.S.E., F.L.S. THE auriferous capacity of that portion of the Southern High- lands— that section of the Lowther range of hills — which has frequently been denominated '' God's Treasure-House in Scot- land,"^ has recently created renewed interest on the part of our local mineralogists and geologists — and of all, in short, who are concerned in the development of the mineral wealth of our country — in consequence of the presentation to the National Museum of Science and Art at Edinburgh, in March last, of a lump of auriferous quartz, the alleged produce of the district in question. A duplicate of the printed label attached to it in the said museum, for which I am indebted to Dr Grierson of Thorn- hill, Dumfriesshire, bears the following inscription : " Auriferous quartz found by A. Gemmell, miner, at Wanlockhead, in 1872. This specimen was unfortunately broken up by the finder, and the different pieces came into the possession of his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, Mr Clark of Speddoch, Mr Dudgeon of Cargen, Dr Grierson, Thornhill, and Mr Stewart, Wanlockhead, who have presented the restored mass to the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh." The specimen in question is what I de- scribed nearly three years ago in the 'Scottish Naturalist'^ as the " Gemmell Quartzite." The auriferous district of Crawford-Lindsay stretches from the ^ Four of the chief streams of the district, which are hereinafter mentioned, or their tributaries, were in the olden time compared to the four rivers in "the Garden of the Lord," Pison, Gihon, Iliddekel, and Euphrates, which " compass the land where there is gold." Under the title of " God's Trea- sure-House in Scotland," the district is spoken of both by the Rev, Dr Moir Porteous, in a work afterwards quoted, and by Dr John Brown of Edinburgli, in his pamjililel on "The ICnterkin." - Of April 1875. TJic Scott is Ji Naturalist. 209 Clyde between Abington and Elvanfoot to the Nith between Sanquhar and Enterkinfoot. The old capital of the district — the village of Crawford — is on the Clyde between Abington and Elvanfoot, with (( Aulcl Crawford-Lindsay's towers," the remains of the once large and strong castle of Crawford or Crawford-Lindsay, on the opposite side of the river. This little village and old castle give his title to the present chief of the former holders of, and rulers over, all this district — the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres.^ But what is of more interest in con- nection with our present subject, the said castle — which is also but less appropriately known as Tower-Lindsay — was the scene of the story that was told by Sir Walter Scott,- and has been so often quoted, concerning the presentation to King James V. of the golden " Bonnet Pieces," -^ as the only, or the finest, fruits of the then, and now, barren -looking moorlands of Crawford- Lindsay. The auriferous capital of the district is, however, Leadhills, up among the Lowthers, about midw^ay between the Clyde and Nith ; and the smaller village of .Wanlockhead, which is only a mile distant, may for all practical purposes be regarded as a part of, or offshoot from, Leadhills. These villages are on the watershed between the Clyde and Nith ; and hence some of the auriferous streams that traverse the district flow Clydewards, while others flow Nithwards. The most important of the former are the Conner and Elvan waters or streams — the one emptying itself into the Clyde near Abington, the other at Elvanfoot. Of the Nith tributaries from this part of the Lowthers, the chief are the Mennock and Enterkin ; the one, corresponding to the Conner, opening into the Nith above Sanquhar — the other, corresponding to the Elvan, finding an entrance and exit at Enterkinfoot. Specially in order to survey its auriferous riches, I have care- fully traversed this district twice — in 1863 and again in 1877 — taking notes on the spot, not only of what I saw, but also of 1 In his ' Lives of the Lindsays' (London, 1849, p. 22) this nobleman, who wp.s then Lord Lindsay, described the auriferous, argentiferous, and plum- biferous possessions of the Lindsays in the Barony of Friemuir or Crawford- muir in 1239, when gold was systematically mined, especially in the Elvan valley, as " the Gold Scours " of the present day so far testify. - In his ' Tales of a Landlord.' ■^ For a short description of these coins, see the article entitled "Bonnet Pieces " in Chambei's's Encyclopcedia. 2IO The Scottish Naturalist. what I heard ; for I made a point of seeing all the leading local residents who could give me information concerning gold-finding in the Lovvthers in modern times. Specially are my acknowledg- ments due to the following residents of different parts of the dis- trict for the information which they kindly placed at my disposal, in some cases by writing as well as orally, or by letter instead of by word of mouth : — I. Leadhills — (i.) The late Mr Gill, factor to the Earl of Hopetoun. (2.) The late Mr James Noble, innkeeper. II. Wan LOCK HE AD — (i.) The Rev. Dr Moir Porteous; the author of the most recent topographical account of the district and its products, (2.) Dr Wilson. (3.) Mr Robert Laidlaw ; (4.) Mr William Maccall ; and (5.) Mr Andrew Gemmell, — all three lead-miners. III. Crawick, near Sanquhar — Mr John Laidlaw, formerly lead-miner at "Wanlockhead. IV. Abington — Mr Hope Macqueen, builder and joiner. V. Thornhill — Dr Grierson, founder of tlie locally well-known " Grierson Museum." In the paper that follows, I propose to embody the results of my own inquiries concerning the 7?wder7i history of gold-finding in the Crawford-Lindsay hill district, which extends into Dum- friesshire, though the most important part of it, with its former capital and castle, is in Lanarkshire. The ancient history of these Crawford Moor gold-diggings is perhaps more interesting than that which is modern. But it is also less exact or authentic, while it is more voluminous ; and it naturally, therefore, falls to be treated separately. We may conveniently study the subject of recent gold-finding among the Lowthers under three heads — I. Alluvial or stream-gold : that which occurs in the form of The Scottish Naturalist. 211 small, rough, granular nuggets, generally with more or less adherent quartz. II. Auriferous quartz : gold in quartz veins, these veins being found in situ in the Lower Silurian slates of the district. III. Spurious or dubious specimens of gold or gold-quartz — usually the latter — which, though found in the district, probably do not belong to it. Of alluvial gold, from nuggets big enough to make breast-pin heads down to granular dust, there is no scarcity. It may be col- lected at any time by simple washing from the beds or banks of any of the streams of the district. The Elvan is said to be the richest bed — that which is most prolific — which most profitably rewards the miner's toil. But there is concurrent or unanimous testimony that all parts of the dist7'ict are auriferous. Whenever a supply of gold is wanted for museum specimens, or for presenta- tion jewellery, a sufiiciency is forthcoming ; a few hours' work of a miner, and still more, of course, the conjoint efforts of a band of miners extending over several days, produce the number of grains or ounces required. Mr John Laidlaw once got a nugget of 18 grains in a small burn near the Hole farm (the name of the farmer at the time being Gibson) ; and he told me that some years ago a girl found a nugget of i}^ oz., with a piece of adherent quartz. The whole mass was described as having been of the size of a thumb. It was sold to the late Dr Martin of Leadhills for ^^ or ^6. This Mr Laidlaw regarded as unquestionably a native of the district. Another nugget, the size of a horse-bean, was also found by the late David Helbet, but my informant did not say where. Mr Robert Laidlaw described to me a 30-grain nugget, with adherent quartz, that was found by his father — the above Mr John Laidlaw — at Wanlockhead. On another occasion as much granular or nuggety gold was readily collected as was required to make a finger-ring. Mr Wm. Maccall is the possessor and vendor, like so many other miners, of the minerals of Wanlockhead. But these minerals never include gold, he says, because it is usually purchased as soon as it is collected ; or it is only collected to order and for some special purpose. Various finds — both of gold dust and nuggets — are given by the Rev. Dr Porteous.^ In the case of nuggets, the adherent quartz is sometimes in 1 In his 'God's Treasure-House in wScotland ' (1876), pp. 50, 51. 2 12' The Scottish Nati(7'aUst. sufficient quantity to be visible to the naked eye. In certain other cases the quartz predominates over the gold to such an extent that the specimens represent auriferous quartz instead of quartzy nuggets. Thus, Mr John Laidlaw once found, he told me, a piece of auriferous quartz, of the size of a pea, in a burn that runs into the Mennock. This comparative abundance of auriferous quartz in small, rough, little, water-worn pieces, points to the probable existence of auriferous quartz-reefs in the slates of the district. But there is only one authentic instance known to me of the occurrence of such a reef, — viz., that mentioned by the Rev. Dr Porteous, who says, " a gold-bearing vein of quartz, 4 or 5 inches thick, is to be found on the Broad Law." ^ He also goes on to state that quartz from the Longcleuch was analysed in Glasgow in 1858, with the result that it contained 3 dwt. 8 grains of gold to the ton of quartz.- Mr James Aitchison, Leadhills, whose windows con- tain an exhibit of the minerals of the district, is said to have found auriferous quartz in situ, and to have had it analysed. But not succeeding in seeing himself when I visited Leadhills in July last, I am not in possession of details. Of auriferous quartz found in the district, but probably not belonging to it, the most famous example is the " Gemmell Quartzite," which I now believe to be Australian. In my account of what I then knew of it in 1875, ^ stated explicitly — " There is a flaw in the evidence as to the said Quartzite belong- ing to the rocks of Wanlockhead, in so far as the mass was found loosely by itself on the side of a public road, and it has been found impossible to trace it to any of the quartz, /;/ sitii, in the sub- jacent or surrounding Silurian slates." Not, however, until last summer (July 1877) was I in a position to study on the spot this " flaw in the evidence." But now, as I have shown elsewhere, I think the specimen in question has been satisfactorily traced, not to the rocks of the district, but to a collection oi Australian gold- quartzes to be found in the possession of Mr Robert Laidlaw, within a stone's-cast of the place where the " Gemmell Quartzite " was discovered the day after the said collection was moved to its ^ This vein, however, does not appear to be known to the officers of the Geological Survey : for Professor Geikie, who is of opinion tliat the whole Lead- hills district lias l)ccn carefully surveyed and mapped, informed me, in a letter of date 31st December 1874, that "the gold of that region has not been met with in situ, but only in the alluvium." '^ ' God's Treasurc-I louse,' p. 57. The Scottish Naturalist. 213 present quarters. The Rev. Dr Porteous strongly expresses his opinion of the foreign nativity of Gemmell's specimen.^ A policeman at Leadhills, named Benzie, picked up a piece of gold-quartz there ; but, as in Gemmell's case, there is no proof of its belonging to the rocks of the district. Even in a district in which gold is well known by sight, and in which the miners are shrewd and sagacious, there are individuals, not miners, who are misled by the yellow metallic appearance of certain baser ores into the belief that they are gold. Of this I had an example in the man who drove me, in July last, across the hills from Sanquhar to Abington ; an intelligent man, ac- quainted both with the district, and with the leading miners and their gold-finds. Among the minerals displayed in the windows of Mr James Aitchison, aforesaid, were some iron pyrites, which were pronounced to be gold by the driver in question.^ My general conclusions concerning the Crawford-Lindsay gold- field and its possible auriferous produce are the following : — 1. There is ample evidence — quite as ample as that furnished by Sutherland in 1869, and by New Zealand in 186 1-2, in regard to their respective gold-fields and their richness in gold — that the district in question is a veritable gold-field. 2. The evidence, however, which is perfectly satisfactory as regards surface or alluvial gold, is far from being equally so as concerns auriferous quartz, in situ. 3. But not even as regards stream gold has the capacity of the district been in any way properly tested or proved. In modern times there has been no proper working of the surface deposits, on a large scale and in a systematic way ; none of a kind that is entitled to be considered more than dilettante or amateur. 4. Still less is there any means at present of judging of the extent or richness of the auriferous reefs of the district. 5. I have no doubt that even the same amount and kind of work — by competent gold-finders and diggers — as was expended upon Kildonan, would bring out results quite as favourable as did * 1 In his (i) 'God's Treasure-House,' pp. 54, 55 ; and in the (2) 'Dumfries Herald ' of April 4, 1877. ^ I have given an account of the egregious mistakes that have been made in regarding iron pyrites, mica, or other gold-like minerals, as gold in (i) ' The Transactions of the Geological Societies of Edin., 1870, and Dublin, 1871, under the head of the ' Lomond Diggings of 1852 ;' and in (2) 'The Northern Ensign' of July 1869, in connection with the Sutherland Diggings of that year, C "214 The Scottish Natiii'alist. the short-lived Sutherland diggings of 1869, in regard to that northern gold-field. 6. But, unfortunately, however desirable it is both as a social or economic, and as a mineralogical or scientific question, to institute systematic operations in the Leadhills district, there are the same kinds of difficulties to be encountered as in Suther- land.^ E E V I E W S. Transactions of the Glasgow Society pf Field Naturalists, Part V. Published by the Society. Glasgow : 1877, — This Part of the ' Transactions of the Glasgow Field Naturalists' Society ' is, as usual, well got up, but ought more properly to have been entitled " Proceedings " rather than "Transactions," as, with one or two exceptions, brief abstracts only are given of the papers read. Of the papers given at greater length, one by Mr A. S. Wilson, "On the probable Reasons why certain Plants occur most frequently in the vicinity of Human Dwellings," deserves notice. There is also a paper by Dr Stirton upon "Additions to the Lichen Flora of South Africa," which will commend itself to the attention of lichenologists, but seems to us rather out of place in these Transactions. We would suggest that it would be an improvement if in future parts the use of the terms "rare" and " very rare " was not so frequent, or at least applied only to species which really deserve it. Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, Vol. III. Part II. Glasgow: 1877. Pp. 97-220. — Like the Transactions just men- tioned, this Part is, like former ones, well got up, with good paper and clear type. It includes the proceedings of the Society from September 1876 to April 1877 ; and as twenty-nine papers by thirteen or fourteen authors are given more or less in full, the volume merits the name of "Transactions" as well as " Proceedings." Most of the papers are zoological, and are almost all on vertebrates or insects, though Professor Young and Mr Young notice fossil species of some of the other sub-kingdoms, and Mr David Robertson has a note or two upon Mollusca. The latter gentleman is credited in the table of contents with the discovery of two species of fresh-water mollusca new to Scotland — viz., Plauorbis complanatiis and Pisidmin foiiiinak ; but on turning to his paper, we find that he alludes to the fact of PI. complanatns (under its synonym marginatiis) having already been recorded in the Society's Proceed- ings (i. 247, and ' Sc. Nat.' ii. 207), and that it is the var. Hmslozvianuvi of Pisidinm fontinalc that is meant. Pisidmvi fontinale is of course a well- known Scottish shell, but we believe the var. in question ha? not hitherto ^ These difficulties were described in a paper laid before the British As- sociation in 1869, under the title of ' The Sutherland Gold Diggings as a Scientific and Social Experiment.' TJie Scottish N'aitiralist. ' 215 been recorded. Planorhis coinplanatiis is from the same locality as previously noted — viz., Lochend Loch, Edinburgh, where it has probably now been destroyed, as the loch is used as a receptacle for the town's refuse. **0n Uniformity of Method in recording Natural History Observations, especially as regards Distribution and Migration," by Mr J. A. Harvie-Brown ; *' Observations on the Study of the Phytophagous Hymenoptera," by Mr P. Cameron ; and " Notes on a New Method of fixing Fronds of Carboniferous Polyzoa on a layer of Asphalt, to show the Celluliferous Face, " by Mr J. Young, are the titles of three of the papers, full of practical instruction, and likely to be most useful. Mr Mahoney gives a chatty paper on the " Natural His- tory and Archceology of Donegal ;" and ]\Ir J. Napier, amongst other anecdotes, gives one of a dog which we cannot resist epitomising. A terrier, it seems, was in the habit of taking any rat that he had killed into the house to show to his mistress, who always ordered him out, but followed him with a reward in the shape of a piece of oat-cake, which the dog ate, and then buried the rat in the garden. One day, after he had been playing with his friend, a New- foundland dog, the terrier was seen to go into the garden, dig up the rat that had been last buried, take it into the house, get the usual r&ward, which he shared with his companion, and then re-inter the rat. By the way, we notice that our friends in the west still seem to labour under the illusion that Rannoch forms a part of Clydesdale. The Part is provided with a plate illustrative of Sulcoretepora Robcrtsoni, Y. and Y., anew fossil polyzoan; and other new species described are the Hymenopterous Blennocanipa alchemillce Cameron, and the Dipterous Ceci- domyia cerastii Binnie, C. pilosellce Binnie, and C. quercus Binnie* ORYPTOaAMIO SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND. The Third Annual Conference was held at Dunkeld on October 17th- 19th, and was successful in every way. Fungi were scarce, as they have been everywhere ; but still there were enough to indicate what a rich field Dunkeld would be in a more prolific season. A separate account of the meeting has been already published, so we need .say no more but that the next Con- ference will be held in Edinburgh about the beginning of next October, under the presidency of Professor Balfour, and will no doubt be very successful. The Society is just about to publish a first fasciculus of Scottish Fungi, containing 100 species, including many of the new and rare ones. INSECTA SCOTICA. THE LEPIDOPTEEA OP SCOTLAND. (Continued from page 175.) Edited by F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. VARIATA Schiff. Yar. obeliscata Hb. Common. Pinetal. As- cends to 1300 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde % West Ross Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o.' Range in Europe. thern. Type. Centro - septentrional. British. o o Central and nor- Type in Britain. Time of Appearance — Imago. June-September. Larva. Most months. Food-plant. Scots fir {Finns sylvestris). The typical form is greyish, and is on the whole less boreal in its distribu- tion than the brown or fulvous var. obeliscata. The ab. obliterata B.W. (much suffused with brownish fuscous, and all the markings more or less indistinct) occurs at Paisley, &c. FIRMATA Hb. Local ; probably overlooked. Pinetal to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed § Forth Tay Dee West. Solway Clyde Lat. 54^4o'-57°. Range in Europe Ascends o o c o Germany, Livonia. Type. Occidental. British. o West Ross o Britain, Holland Type in Britain o Time of Appearance — Imago. July. Larva. September - May. FOOD-PT-ANT. Scots fir. YPSIPBTES Steph. RUBERATA Err. Local. Nemoral. Ascends to about 1000 feet. Distrip.ution — East. § § Tay §0000 West. § Clyde goo Lat. 55^4o'-56°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Pyrenees, Switzerland, Lapland, St Petersburg. Type. Occidental. Type IN Britain. English? ' Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larv.\. July, August. Food-Plant. Sallow. The Scottish Naturalist. 217 TRIFASCIATA Bkh. (1794); inipluviata Hb. (after 1797). Com- mon. Amongst alders. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde § § Hebrides Lat. 54°4o'-58°3o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. May, Larva. August, September. Food-plant. Alder. SORDIDATA F. (1794); eliUata Hb. (after 1797). Abundant. Nemoral. Ascends to about 1700 feet. Distribution — East. T\veed Forth Tay Dee Moray Suther- land Orkney § West. Solway Clyde § § § Lat. 54°4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Northern and cen- tral. Type. Septentriono - central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. May, June, Food-plant. Sallow, &c. Many forms occur, but as all pass one into the other it seems undesirable to mention the names that have been applied to some of the more marked. CIDARIA Tr. SITERATA Hufn. (1769); psitticata Schiff. (1776). Common. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde % % o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o.' Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. September- June. Larva. June, August. Food-plant, Various trees. MIATA L. Common. Nemoral. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Suther- land o o West. Solway Clyde § West Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-58°3o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. September - May, Larva. June- August. Food-plant. Various trees. CORYLATA Thiib. Common. Nemoral. Ascends to 1500 feet. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West, g Clyde Argyle West Ross o o 2i8 The Scottish Naturalist. Lat. 55''4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June. Larva. July - September. Food-plant. Birch, &c. The ab. albocrenata Curtis, in which the whole centre of the wing is occu- pied by a more or less broad, pale band, is not uncommon in mountain glens. TRUNCATA Hufn. (1769); russata Bkh. (1794). Common. Nemoral Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray § Orkney o West. Sohvay Clyde g West Ross g Lat. 54°4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Central and northern ; (not in Iceland). Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May- August. Larva. August- April ; May, June. Food-plant. Low plants. IMMANATA Hw. Abundant. Nemoral. Ascends to 1500 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Suther- land Orkney Zetland West. Solway Clyde g . g g Lat. 54°4o'-6o°2o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern ; (occurs in Iceland). Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July. Larva, April -June. Food- plant. Low plants. This and the last are exceedingly similar, but differ in the shape of the front wings, and of the central band, and in the time of appearance. Both species are variable, but inimanata especially; but amidst so many aberra- tions, passing one into the other, it seems undesirable to distinguish any by the names which have been applied to them. SUFFUMATA Hb. Common. Nemoral and ericetal. Ascends to above 2000 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray goo West, g Clyde g g g Lat. 55°3o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Northern and cen- tral. Type. Septentriono - central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. May. Larva. June. Food-plant. Low plants. The ab. piceata Stph. (nearly unicolorous, fuscous brown) occurs in several places. The Scottish Naturalist. 219 SILACEATA Hb. Not common. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth '^'ay Moray 000 West. § Clyde Argyle West Ross o Lat. 55°3o'-57°40-' Range in Europe. Central and north- ern. Type. Centro- septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. May, June. Larva. August, September. Food-plant. Epilobitim, &c. A variable species, of which some varieties have been named. In more southern regions there is a second brood in August. FULVATA Forst. Common. Agrestal and pascual. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde % % o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July. Larva. May, June. Food- plant. Rose. DOTATA L. (1758); pyraliata F. (1787). Not very common. Nemoral. Ascends to 11 00 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee §000 West. Solway Clyde § West Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-57°3o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Bed-straw, &c. This must not be confounded with dofata of British lists, which is associata Bkh., and is reported to occur in Clyde ; but as I have not seen specimens, I prefer to omit it at present. LYGRIS Hb. POPULATA L. Common. Nemoral and ericetal. Ascends to 2500 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Sutherland Orkney § West. Solway Clyde g g g Lat. 54°4o'-59''io'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Blaeberry ( Vacciniwn myrtilliis)^ &c. The ab. imisauaria Frr. (much infuscated and sometimes unicolorou.s fuscous brown) occurs amongst the mountains. ^g-/^ -^•-^ V\iisia. I think that possibly the Clyde and Moray specimens may belong to sicb- fulvata, which at one time was considered to be a variety of this. THE OOLEOPTEEA OF SCOTLAND. ( Co7itimced from p. 180. ) Edited by D. SHARP, M.B. TRACHYS Kies. TROGLODYTES Gyll. Very rare. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway 0000 THROSOID^. THROSCUS Bour. DERMESTOIDES L. Very local. Distribution — East. § Forth 000000 West. Solway Clyde 000 2 24 The Scottish Naturalist. ELATERID^. LACON Kies. MURINUS L. Scarce. Lowland. Distribution — East. § § Tay o o o o o o West. § § o o o ELATER Kies. [lythroptherus Germ. " Raehills in decayed birch-trees during winter. Very rare. Rev. W. Little." Murray Cat. It is probable these specimens were wrongly deter- mined; possibly they might be E. pomoriDn. — D. S. POMORUM Hbst. Very rare. Distribution — East. . o o Tay Dee o o o o West. o o o o o BALTEATUS L. Local. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay § Moray o o West. Solway Clyde o o o TRISTIS L. Very rare. Highland. Distribution — East, o o Tay o o o o o West, o o o o o NIGRINUS Hbst. Local. Highland. Distribution — East. o o Tay Dee Moray o o o West. o o o o o CRYPTOHYPNUS Kies. MARITIMUS Curt. Riparial. Local. Distribution — East, o o Tay § Moray o o o West. Solway §000 RIPARIUS F. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray Sutherland o Zetland. West. Solway Clyde goo SABULICOLA Boh. Riparial. Rare. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway 0000 PULCHELLUS L. Riparial. Very rare. Distribution — East. 0000 Moray 000 West. 00000 DERMESTOIDES Hbst. Riparial. Common. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §§00 The Scottish N^aturalist. 225 CARDIOPHORUS Kies. [rufipes Fourc. A specimen has been recently found by Mr John Dunsmore about six miles from Paisley, but further captures must be made before the species can be considered a native one. MBLANOTUS Kies. RUFIPES Hast. Local Distribution — East. West. § Forth Tay Dee Solway goo o o o o o o LIMONIUS Kies. CYLINDRICUS Payk. Distribution — East. West. MINUTUS L. Rare. Distribution — East. West. Local. Tweed Forth Solway o o o o o Tweed Forth o o o o o o o o o o o o Moray o 0 o o o o o o ATHOUS Kies. NIGER L. Not rare. Distribution — East. West. o o o o o o o o Moray o o Solway Clyde H^MORRHOIDALIS Fab. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Moray o o o o Orkney Zetland West. Solway VITTATUS F. Common. Distribution — East. § § West. Solway SUBFUSCUS Mull. Very rare. Distribution — East. o o West. o o LONGICOLLIS 01. Very rare. Distribution — East, o Forth West. 000 " Dalmeny Park, near Edinburgh." Murray Cat. UNDULATUS de Geer. Very rare. Highland. Distribution — East. o o Tay 000 West. 00 o 00 o o o o o o o o o o o o o 2 26 The Scottish Naiiii'alisi. CORYMBITES Kies. PECTINICORNIS L. Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth o o o o o o West, o o Argyle o o CUPREUS Fab. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Sohvay Clyde §00 TESSELLATUS L. Local. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Sol way Clyde Argyle o o QUERCUS Gyll. Common. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee §000 y West. Sol way §000 A variety with pale elytra is not uncommon. HOLOSERICEUS Fab. Rare. Distribution — East. § Forth 00000 West. §§000 o IMPRESSUS Fab. Highland, On the Scots fir. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee Moray 000 West. 00000 ^NEUS L. Local. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay Dee 0000 West. 00000 AGRIOTES Kies. SPUTATOR L. Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed 0000000 West. Solway 0000 LINEATUS L. Local. Distribution — East. 3 Forth 000000 W^EST. Solway 0000 OBSCURUS L. Abundant. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay § Moray 800 West. Solway §00*^ o Distribution — East. § Forth 000000 PALLIDULUS 111. Common. -East. § West. Solway §000 The Scottish Naturalist. 227 DOLOPIUS. MARGINATUS L. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway §000 SERICOSOMUS Kies. BRUNNEUS L. Local. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway g o o o ADRASTUS Kies. LIMBATUS Fab. Rare. Distribution — East. § 0000000 West. Solway 0000 CAMPYLUS Kies. LINEARIS L. Local. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §000 DASCILLID^. DASCILLUS Kies. CERVINUS L. Local. In old pasture lands. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde 000 HELODES Kies. MINUTA L. Common. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde 000 MARGINATA F. — Common. On herbage near burns. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde g o o o LIVIDA F. Common. Distribution— East. Tweed Forth g Dee Moray 000 West. Solway g g o 0 The variety H. Bohemanni Th. has occurred near Dumfries. 2 28 The Scottish Naturalist. CYPHON Kies. COARCTATUS Payk. Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray o o o Wesj. Solway Clyde goo NITIDULUS Th. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray o o o West. Sohvay Clyde o o o PADI L. Common. Distribution — East. 3 Forth Tay § Moray o o o West. Solway §000 VARIABILIS Thun. Abundant. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway § o ^ ^ PALLIDULUS Boh. Local. Distribution — East. § 3 Tay Dee g o o o West. Sohvay 33^0 PUNCTIPENNIS Sharp. Rare. Distribution — East. o o Tay Dee 0000 West. Solway 0000 HYDROCYPHON Kies. DEFLEXICOLLIS Mull. Common, Near rivers and streams. Distribution — East. Tweed 3 o ^^^ Moray 000 West. Solway 3 o <^ ^ SCIRTES Kies. H.^MISPH^RICUS L. Very rare. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway 0000 M AL AC OD ERMID^. EROS Kies. AURORA Fab. Very local. Highland. Distribution — East. o o Tay Dee 0000 West. 00000 ( 7o he continued. ) ^^ ^ 1^^^^ .M\S^WI\"iL:.,#f'^';Sa^: IMil^W^ ZOOLOGY. ON MIGRATION. By Colonel DRUMMOND HAY, C.M.Z.S. [Continued from page 144). MR WALLACE, in commenting on the dangers of the pas- sage across ocean to Quail and other birds, further says : *' Quails cross in immense flocks, and great numbers are drowned at sea whenever the 7veather is iinfavourable ; some individuals always stay through the winter in the south of Europe, and a few even remain in England and Ireland, and were the sea to become a little wider, the migration would cease, and the Quail, like some other birds, would remain divided between south Europe and Africa." Of the dangers of a long sea-passage to migrants, and the occasional drowning of many when meeting with tempestuous weather, there can be no doubt ; and the same may be said of the ship and its living freight. Hardly are we ever visited with severe gales on our coasts but we have the most heartrending details of shipwreck and the loss of human life ; but as it is with the ship, so I take it to be with the bird — the proportion that cross in safety is infinitely greater by many times than that of the loss sustained. But it is not only to migratory birds on their passage that stormy and tempestuous weather proves perilous, but even to our very water-birds, whose home is the ocean, does this often happen ; and on this subject Mr Gould says, — " Violent and heavy gales frequently lend their aid to the destruction of bird-life, as evidenced by our shores being often found, after their occurrence, literally strewn with Guillemots, Razor-bills, and other sea-birds ;" in proof of which he gives two instances, as recorded in the 'Zoologist' for 1872 — one in the Isle of Wight, the other in Cornwall — in which for miles the shore was covered with the dead bodies of various sea-birds, including even Gannets, which were doubtless drowned at sea. But though this loss of life may occasionally occur, I take it as by no means the rule that, owing D 230 The Scottish Naturalist. to unfavourable weather, or the length of sea to be traversed, birds are of necessity drowned. Thousands upon thousands pass over in safety. Migratory birds in their long journeys en- counter many dangers, and are liable to many casualties : num- bers are often killed by dashing themselves against the light- houses on our coasts ; and it is not only in the storm, but even in the calmest of weather, that accidents may, and do frequently, occur. It may be from some constitutional weakness, that, un- able to fly at the proper height, or incapacitated from going fur- ther, the water is touched, the feathers are wetted, and the bird is lost. But with all this, we may be assured that He who hath said not a sparrow shall fall without His knowledge, has equally ordained that, in nature's proper course, there shall be no undue loss of life, and that everything should fulfil its own special pur- pose and maintain its own proper balance ; and though man may disturb it by the ruthless destruction of many creatures, that in no way sets aside the design of a beneficent Creator. A somewhat affecting incident was witnessed by me when near the mouth of the St Lawrence : one fine afternoon, towards the end of August, the sea being quite calm, and the schooner in which I was about eight or ten miles off the northern shore, a party of six or seven small birds were seen flying towards the vessel, which they passed about fifty yards astern, without any seeming intention of alighting. Suddenly one of their number faltered, and dropped ; the remainder, wheeling round, came to the rescue, evidently in great distress, making every effort to save him by trying to lift him up ; but at last, finding it hopeless, they left their companion to his fate, and sped on their way, some eighty or a hundred miles further on, to the Gaspe shore. A boat was immediately lowered, and as the bird was still fluttering in the water, we were in great hopes of saving it, but when reached life was extinct. On examination, it proved to be an American Redstart [Setophaga ruticil/a), a young bird of the year. Were the width of the sea increased, I will not say a little, but very considerably, the probability is that migration would cease ; but who shall say what the distance should be to effect this ? Much, I surmise, would depend on the prevailing winds on the line of passage during the migratory periods. As to birds tra- versing large extents of ocean, it is well known that they do so. Many of the American birds even find their way to this country, a distance of 2000 miles (a subject on which I shall have occa- sion again to refer); and many instances occur in which they The Scottish Naturalist. - 231 have been encountered on the broad Atlantic hundreds of miles away from any shore. Mr Gray says ^ that, some years ago, his friend, Mr Dewar, when sailing from America to this country, observed great numbers of American White-winged Cross-bills crossing the Atlantic before a stiff westerly breeze, and many of the flocks alighted on the rigging and deck of the steamer, which at the time was about 600 miles east of the Newfound- land coast ; and the late Mr Thompson, in his ' Birds of Ire- land,' has recorded one case, in which from fifty to sixty Snowy Owls "were seen 500 miles from land on their way across ; and Mr Cavendish Taylor, when on a voyage across the North Atlantic during the month of July, and about 350 miles from the coast of Ireland, saw a pair of Curlews (species not stated) which passed the ship, bound to the eastward. When first noticed they were at some distance, but were distinctly seen through a glass : they then flew near the ship, as if to reconnoitre, and went rapidly a-head, flying just above the surface of the water.^ Who can say whence these birds came? It is not likely that a strong-winged bird like the Curlew had been blown off any shore, and that they were now returning to land, or that they had been induced to follow any ship, which occasionally migrants do, when coasting from headland to headland, or island to island, and are thus in- veigled out to long distances from land, and by keeping with the ship eventually cross the ocean. A seeming instance of this once came under my own observation, when, in the month of Novem- ber, on passing through the Azores, and at some little distance to the south and westward of Fayal and Pico, but still in sight of land, a Skylark and a Starling came off to the ship. The former left us either the next morning or the following, veering off to the south-east in the direction of Madeira ; the Starling, however, re- mained about the ship till within two days' sail of the Bermudas, when, as if actuated by some sudden impulse, it darted off in a southerly direction, which, if pursued, would have landed him on some of the West India Islands ; but whether the poor bird ever fell in with another ship or reached the land in safety, it is impos- sible to say. I only mention this to show that this is one way in which birds may be encountered in mid-ocean. A curious case of this sort is recorded by Mr C. E. Smith, on the authority of Captain Gravil, of the whaler Diana -.^ "During one of the re- 1 'Birds of W. Scotland,' p. 156. ^ ' Ibis,' 1869, p. 390. ^ ' Zoologist,' 1866, p. 455. 232 The Scottish Naturalist. turn voyages to England, in the late autumn, a Rook, completely- exhausted, came on board the vessel in the North Sea, 220 miles from the nearest land — namely, the north of Scotland. The bird was caught, and well cared for, and after a few days set at liberty, but did not leave the vessel — remaining on board, hop- ping about the deck among the men, and roosting in the rigging at night. At Shetland, Captain Gravil sent the bird on shore, and sailed the same evening for Hull. The next morning, when more than 40 miles from Lerwick, and out of sight of land, the sailors were astonished at seeing their late comrade winging his way to the vessel, on which he presently alighted, with a great cawing, and every sign of satisfaction. He continued with them till the vessel arrived in Hull, when the poor bird was unfortu- nately killed, much to the regret of the crew, by some mischievous boys." These, however, are all exceptional cases — birds which have been either driven, or accidentally drawn, out of their natural course. The Quail, and many other birds, as I have attempted to show, cross in their direct line of passage an extent of sea, in some parts of the Mediterranean, of more than 500 miles without rest, and without food ; and I think there is quite sufficient proof to show that very considerably longer distances are accomplished in the regular line of passage over the ocean, in other parts of the world, by birds of quite as feeble a flight, and even more so, than the Quail. When in the Bermudas, which are peculiarly adapted for noticing birds during their passage, I had frequent opportuni- ties of so doing, and not only from my own observations and that of others, but especially from the valuable and authentic informa- tion on the subject collected by Mr J. E. Jones, and which is to be found in his very useful little work, ' The Naturalist in Ber- muda,' from which I have already quoted at the beginning of this ])aper, I feel convinced that one, if not the principal, line of migration from the north-eastern parts of North America is by Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy, and State of Maine, in a nearly due southerly course, across the ocean to the West Indian Archi- pelago, and so on to South America. Taking the starting-points to be Cape Sable in Nova Scotia, or Cape Cod in Massachusetts, the distance to be traversed would be more than three times the distance shown in the Mediterranean — the distance from Cape Sable to Bermuda 690 geographical miles, and that from Ber- muda to St Thomas or Porto-Rico, the nearest land in a due southerly direction, 825 miles, making, in all, over 1500 miles The Scottish Naturalist, 233 from land to land. This from the nearest places ; but there is quite sufficient proof to show that the direct line of flight is from much further north — even from the shores of Newfoundland. Taking this direct line of passage to apply to water-birds only, there is no reason why land-birds, coasting down the Bay of Fundy towards Cape Cod, should not take a direct course from thence to Cape Hatteras, and so on to the Bahamas. They would, in the one instance, perform a sea journey of little short of 500 miles, and, in the other, 600 — the greatest distance from the American coast varying from 100 to 200 miles. But I think I can show that these land-birds do infinitely more than this, executing the whole distance in a single flight. The Bermuda group, nearly equi-distant between Nova Scotia, the North Atlantic States, and the West Indies, is annually visited by large numbers of migrants, of various species, especially should strong gales set in. In the autumn months, Plover, and many of the Tringidce, go south in large armies, passing either directly over in the vicinity, or even far to the eastward, of the Islands, but do not, as is the case with many birds, return by the way they went ; and though possibly working their way back to their old haunts through the States, yet, strange to say, their course northwards is still undefined. Should fine and favourable weather set in, this long ocean journey is possibly efl"ected without a single check : on the other hand, should one of the great tropical storms be encountered, which are not uncommon in these seas at this particular season, the migratory hosts would be at once driven for shelter to the nearest land. A very remarkable occurrence of this took place on the night of the 8th and the morning of the 9th of October 1849, when not only enormous quantities of many species of birds lighted on the Islands, but thousands also passed over without doing so. With regard to the state of the weather on the occasion, my friend, Mr Hurdis, long resident on the Islands, sends me the following note and observations : "Bermuda, Oct. 9, 1849. Torrents of rain fell during the whole of last night and this morning, accompanied by a strong wind from the S.W.;" and in allusion to this, as also to the numerous birds that visited the Islands on the occasion, says : " It is very evident from the same, that a tropical gale, moving from south to north, came up on the night of the 8th and 9th October, the right wing of which passed over the Bermudas. Those Isles, being in N.lat. 32", near which these storms attain their extreme westerly range, would be swep by its right wing thus. Letter A represents Bermuda at the com- 234 'The Scottish Naturalist. mencement of the storm, and B its position at the close ; the wind would therefore set in from S.E., veer through S., with heavy rain, and end with S.W. Had the left wing of the gale passed w over the Bermudas, the direction of the wind would have been northerly. Supposing the diagram to represent a tropical storm of 600 geographical miles in diameter, the dotted line intersect- ing the storm diameter, midway between the storm centre and circumference, would be 493 miles in length ; and as the storm moved onwards to the north at 25 miles an hour, Bermuda would appear to move along that line at that pace. We will now im- agine that the flight of land-birds approached the left wing of the storm from the north, entering it at the same time, and at the same distance from the line separating the two wings at the letter D. While Bermuda appeared to be travelling towards the storm diameter, at 25 miles an hour, the birds would be moving at the more rapid rate of 55 miles an hour in the same direction — that is, allowing them to fly at the moderate speed of 30 miles an hour towards the south, and adding 25 miles for the direct pro- gress of the storm, we arrive at a united speed of 55 miles. It results, therefore, that the birds would reach the storm diameter The Scottish Naturalist. 235 in about half the time that Bermuda would take to reach it in the opposite wing. Thus far the wind would have assisted the birds in their flight ; but heavy rain and violent wind would now be encountered, and the latter, shifting more and more from N. to N.W., W., and S.W., the hapless birds would be drifted down wind, into the right wing of the gale, just about the time that Bermuda had advanced somewhat south of the storm diameter v/hich passed through the Bermudas at midnight. Here the storm-driven birds would be enabled to take refuge while the remainder of the storm passed over them. Thus the flight Avould enter the storm at letter Z? in the latitude of Bermuda, four hours and a half before midnight — that is, 7 h. 30 m. p.m. of the 8th October, and at 9 h. 15 m. p.m. they would reach letter C. Three hours later they would cross the storm diameter, and from thence gradually drift with the gale to the eastward, describing a curve. When approaching the storm diameter in the right wing they would fall in with the Bermudas, having travelled over double the distance (so to speak) of these Islands. This would be in the early morning of the 9th October, say i a.m." I will now give my own reminiscences of the night in question as I saw it. The evening of the 8th being stormy and boisterous, with heavy rain, and being certain, from signs I had noticed in the afternoon, that a large passage of birds might be expected, I was in all readiness, and was out by a little after two o'clock in the morning, till long after daylight. It was blowing very fresh from the S.W., and the scene which presented itself will be long impressed on my memory. Under the shelter of some hay on the glacis, behind the barracks, on the Island of St George's, I remained for several hours watching the wonderful flight passing over the Island, in a direction nearly due south. Though dark, and the birds pretty high up, still I could quite trace their course ; and the incessant beat of many thousands of wings, the wild cries and sounds of many voices, told me a mighty host was passing rapidly overhead. Among the various cries, I distinctly recognised Wild- duck, Plovers, Snipe, Curlews, Tattlers, and many other Tringidce. When day broke, and it was sufficiently light to see objects dis- tinctly, I visited the shore, and there I found, to my astonish- ment, every cedar bush crammed with birds, literally in thou- sands, and apparently all of one species — the yellow - billed American Cuckoo {Coccyztis americanus). Nor was this great flight confined only to St George's, but, as I afterwards ascer- tained, extended the whole length and breadth of the Islands, a 236 The Scottish Naturalist. distance of twenty miles. By the following day their numbers were greatly diminished, many having moved on in their course during the night; in two days more there was not one to be seen. With regard to this same flight, Mr Jones has the following : "Thousands — absolutely thousands — of these birds were observed among the cedar-trees on various parts of the south shore, from the Commissioner's house in Ireland Island, to Somerset, Port Royal, Walsingham, St David's, and Cooper's, and as far north as St Catharine's Fort." (I may mention, in passing, that St Catharine's Fort is in St George's, but a great body of the flight was far beyond this, to the very extremity of the Island, extend- ing even into Paget's.) " In the course of two or three days not a straggler remained, and this is corroborated by Colonel Wedder- burn, late of the 42d, a keen sportsman, and a good ornithologist, who contributed to the ' Naturalist in Bermuda ' an extensive list of birds, with much valuable information. It is difiicult to under- stand how such slender birds, with short wings and long tails, which latter I observed were frequently blown over their heads in the gale, giving them the appearance of being nothing but a bunch of feathers, can cross any extent of ocean. But this they certainly do, not only in the autumn, but also in spring \ and Colonel Wedderburn records their arrival in April, when they only remained two or three days." Holding this of Mr Hurdis to be the right solution — and I can see no reason to doubt it — how was it that these land-birds were in this particular spot D^ about 600 miles from Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, and 420 miles off the American coast, a little south of Charleston, if they were not on their di^-ed line of passage from the regions about the Bay of Fundy, to the Bahamas, or other Islands in the West Indies ,? And a glance at the map will show this to be the true course, and it is not very likely that another tropical storm, tending along the American coast at the same time, should have placed them where they were. Another of the shorter and weaker - winged birds, if I may so call them, that were stopped on their passage in enormous quantities on this memorable morning, was the Carolina Crake, or Rail {Otygomet?-a Carolina), which one could scarcely have expected to accompHsh so long a voyage, and yet it visits the Ber- mudas regularly (' Ber. Nat.,' p. 45), arriving about the beginning of September. Weak as this bird would seem to be, not flying further than fifty yards at a flight when in its natural haunts, yet it wings its way across vast extents of ocean ; and though a The Scottish Naturalist. 237 few remain all winter, as noted by Colonel Wedderburn, they are recruited by fresh arrivals on their passage north in February and the ensuing months of March and April (' Ber. Nat.,' p. 53). Wilson, in his 'American Ornithology,' makes mention of their frequently being met at sea, and instances one occasion, when at more than 100 miles from land, three of these birds dashed against the binnacle of a ship returning from the West Indies, breaking the glass and putting out the light, to the great alarm of the steersman : two were killed on the spot, and one died soon after. In regard to these great flights of birds, Mr Jones has collected many interesting facts, and, among others, relates one in which Captain Edwin Jones of the schooner Bigelow (' Ber. Nat./ p. 75), when at a distance of about 500 or 600 miles to the east of Bermuda, on or about the 12th or 13th of September 185 1, the weather being fine, with a light easterly breeze, fell in with great multitudes of birds, which were taken to be the American Plover ( C/iaradrius 7?iar??iorattis), passing over the vessel in a southerly direction for two days in succession, in flocks, some of many thousands, some considerably less, diminishing to parties of fifty to thirty ; and during the whole of the intervening night these flocks were distinctly heard passing over the ship. A portion of this flight Mr Jones believes to have been driven upon the Island of Barbadoes, shortly afterwards, having been checked on their course by a southerly gale, on which occasion the birds were so numerous that thousands were shot down, and many killed with stones. So many authentic instances are there on record of the enormous arrivals of these birds on different parts of the West Indian Archipelago, direct from the north, with no corresponding notice of their resting on the Bermudas, that it seems quite to corroborate Mr Jones's opinion that the line of passage is chiefly to the eastward of those islands, in which I quite concur as regards the Plover, showing that doubtless the whole distance is often performed in a single flight, without rest and without food ; and my firm belief is, from the course taken, that when these flights are not met by adverse winds, and thereby thrown upon the West India Islands, that they reach some of the northern shores of South America without a halt. So that the fact of birds crossing the Mediterranean, even were they to do so, in a direct line from the south of France to the African shores, without touching on any of the islands, a distance in no place over 500 miles, completely falls into the shade and sinks into insignificance in comparison with these stupendous ocean 238 The Scottish Naturalist. journeys, and is quite sufficient to show that the width of water required to put a stop to migration would be somewhat difficult to define. It is not only in tempestuous weather that the remote islands of the Bermudas are resorted to by migratory birds, but it is the abode in winter of several American species. The Belted Kingfisher {Alcedo alcyon) arrives regularly in September, taking its departure in April ; the American Bittern [Ardea lentigiiwsa) and the green Heron {Ardea virescens) I have noticed every winter in the mangrove swamps about St George's, the latter sometimes in considerable numbers, together with some others. The number of species that may be taken as occasional, accidental, or even pretty regular in their visits, is very large ; and some I have seen arrive in quite moderate weather, and with the show of so little fatigue as to be quite surprising. On one occasion I noticed a flock of some fifty small birds coming in straight from the sea in a north-westerly direction. The nearest land would be Cape Hatteras, a distance of 600 miles ; but from the direction they were flying, their starting-point was probably further north, say Cape Cod, 650 miles. Yet these birds, which had been flying in a long, straggling line, on reaching land moved up into a body, and after wheeling several times round, lighted upon some cedar-trees close to me, without any apparent sign of distress. They proved to be the Pine-creeping Warbler {Sylvicola pi?ius), a bird not bigger than our little Willow Wren. But the powers of flight and endurance in small birds, in travers- ing such vast tracts of ocean, is perhaps nowhere better exempli- fied than in the occasional visit to the Bermudas of the Ruby- throated Humming-bird {Trochilus colubris), 'Ber. Nat.,' p. 35. Before bringing the subject of migration, as noticed at Bermuda, to a close, I must not omit to mention one or two British birds which have found their way there ; one in particu- lar, the common English Landrail or Corn-crake, which was shot by Colonel Wedderburn in Pembroke Marsh, Bermuda, on the eveningof the 25th of October 1874. This specimen, at Colonel Wedderburn's request, I took to London, and pre- sented from him to the late Mr Yarrell ; and some time after- wards, on the sale of Mr Yarrell's effects, this same specimen, which I at once recognised, was purchased by myself, and is now in my collection. I do not pretend to say that this bird crossed the whole width of the Atlantic, but, supposing it to have worked its way to the American continent by Iceland and Greenland,, and so on, from Cape Sable, or even Cape Hatteras, The Scottish Naturalist. 239 it must have had to cross from 600 to 700 miles of ocean before reaching the Bermudas, — and this is not unUkely, the Corn-crake seeming to be a great wanderer, having been found both in Greenland and in the United States. The bird in question, being in the plumage of the year, might have been bred in the latter place ; still, the fact of its being found in Bermuda would not be the less extraordinary. But perhaps as remarkable a sea voyage as any for this weak-winged looking bird to have made, is that to the Azores ; two examples having been got there, as Mr Godman informs us, in his notes on the birds of those Islands (' Ibis,' 1866, p. 102), the stuffed skins of which he had himself seen. Another British bird is the Wheatear, which has been seen on two occasions in Bermuda, if not oftener, — once by myself (' Ber. Nat.,' p. 28) ; and several examples of this bird have since been noticed on the American continent, as well as two instances of the European Woodcock [Scolopax rusticola)', and the whole of these probably found their way by Greenland. That birds, when driven by adverse gales far out of their migratory course, seem to lose all desire of migration, and become sedentary, I can well understand ; but this I take to be the exception, not the rule, as very much would depend on circumstances, whether the spot to which they were wafted afforded a climate, as well as supply of food, sufficient for their wants at all seasons of the year. And this is eminently the case in the Azores ; accounting for Quail, Wheatears, Woodcock, and Snipe, found as, according to Mr Godman, they are (' Ibis,' 1866, p. 108), breeding and resident the whole year. These two remote groups of islands, the Bermudas and the Azores, have much in common, both lying far out in the Atlantic, and both supporting an almost tropical vegetation ; and though each have their occasional stragglers, the one of American, the other of European type, yet there is this differ- ence,— the Azores lie entirely out of the line of all migration. The islands, as a whole, have an aggregate area of 700 square miles, while that of the whole Bermuda group together is not more than about 12,000 acres; besides which, the former contain high moun- tain-ranges of 3000 feet and upwards, surmounted by the snow- capped Pico, rearing its head nearly 8000 feet above the sea-level ; while the orange and myrtle flourish beneath, at once affording a sufficient change of climate and abundance of food at all seasons of the year, especially to birds such as those mentioned, which in the first instance have doubtless reached the islands as mere 240 The Scottish Naturalist. stragglers, but finding themselves, as it were, completely out of their reckoning, and yet in a place suited to their habits, would at once commence breeding, retiring to the higher moun- tains for that purpose, and coming down to the plains in winter, and thus performing a kind of local migration. This is just what I have noticed our common Blackbird do in the south of Greece : not one is to be seen in the plains in summer, where they were abundant all winter, leading the novice to suppose that all had migrated northwards. Go up yonder mountain a few thousand feet, and there you will meet our old friend, nesting and regaling you with his song, as if in some woodland at home. And so with these Azoreans : finding everything suited to their wants, the desire of migration becomes less and less in each suc- ceeding generation, until it is entirely lost. Though this local migration may not appear to apply so readily to the Quail, yet it is a bird that so easily conforms itself to circum- stances, that it would soon become reconciled to sedentary habits ; and Mr Godman tells us they abound in the islands, breeding three times in the year. This would seem to bear out the theory that I have advocated of the Quail breeding in Africa during its winter sojourn in that country. The Quail, though migratory to a very large extent, not only occasionally winters both in the south of England and Ireland, but is also to be found more or less resident in all the milder parts of Europe, — not because the sea is too broad for it to cross, but much more probably because late broods stay behind, where they find sufficient food and suitable climate; and so remaining, their descendants become sedentary. Were this not the case, why should a few remain all the year in Malta, and many parts of Greece, from whence they could easily migrate ? I have shot them in the winter months in Macedonia, at the head of the Archipelago, where they were pretty plentiful. Had these birds wished to migrate, they might easily have done so, almost without ever going out of sight of land. These remarks may equally apply to other summer migrants which have occasionally been noticed to winter in Europe ; these, however, are few : the Blackcap, the Wryneck, and some others. The Blackcap is a great lingerer, — some even remain all the year in England ; and Mr Malloch, bird-stuffer, Pertli, informs me that one was shot near Edinburgh, in full plum- age, the year before last, late in December. Some other birds, such as the Reed Wren {Calamoherpe arundinacea):mA Fan-tailed Warbler {Salican'a dsticola, Gould), winter regularly in Sicily and The Scottish Naturalist. 241 the south of Italy, but I cannot think that the migratory birds which occasionally stay behind and winter in Europe, are in any way influenced by the breadth of sea they have to cross, either in passing over the English Channel or the Mediterranean, but that it arises merely from accidental causes. This is a subject on which I will not take up further time, but proceed to migration as we see it in our own country., ■ ( To he continued. ) ^\C/47 THE LEPIDOPTEKA. OP MONOEEIEFE By Sir THOMAS MONCREIFFE, Bart. (Geometrina — continued fi-om page 198). u,j LIBF^ARY Eupithecia togata. — I have only seen three specimens of this beautiful species on Moncreiffe Hill, but since the discovery of the habits of the larva, traces of its presence have been noticed in the spruce-fir cones in more than one locality. Mr Herd collect- ed some cones last year which contained larvse, and although most of them went down in the autumn, some are still feeding, he tells me, or at least crawling about among the cones (May 12, 1877). Mr Herd found one larva feeding in the pith of a diseased shoot. E. 7'ectangiilata. — Common among the apple-trees in my or- chard. Some specimens are brown, with scarcely a tinge of green. Lol)ophora hexapterata. — Locally common. First noticed in 1873, since which time it has been spreading over the ground. Appears to be attached to white poplar as commonly as to any other variety. L. lobulata. — Common above 300 feet. I have never found it, or heard of its being found, on the birches at a lower altitude. This insect does not appear to vary here ; we find none of the darkly-marked specimens which occur in Rannoch. Thera variata {obeliscata). — Common among Scots fir. We have a dark and a pale variety here, which Mr Herd believes to be different insects. He tells me the larvae are quite distinct, and that from one form he always breeds the dark insect, and from the other the paler. Possibly before this note is published there may be more to say on the subject. 242 The Scottish Naturalist. T. firi7iata. — Frequent; not so common as variata, and does not vary. H. elutata. — Common, and excessively variable ; more inclined to melanism, I think, than any insect we have. Melanthia 7'ubiginata. — Common. The variety pluml?ata oc- curs. M. fluctuata. — Common. Varies excessively in size and shade of colour. Afiticlea siiiuata. — Rare. I know of only one specimen from Moncreiffe. Camptogi-annna tjilineata. — Common. Some specimens have dark bands across the fore-wings. Cidaria psittacata. — Common, It is a pretty sight to see these insects gambolling about the standard thorn-trees on an autumn evening. C. riissata. — Common, and generally distributed. We may have ii?if3ianata, but riissata is so variable that I cannot feel certain. C. testata. — Locally common some seasons. I think there are two insects mixed up under the name of testata. At least those which I take here, and- which come commonly to light in my study, appear to me to be different from those I have taken on the heather hills, far away from wood of any sort. C. populata. — Common at about 600 feet among bilberry. This insect varies very much, some specimens being very dark. We take a smaller, finer-looking insect at a lower elevation, where there is no bilberry — is this the usual form of the sallow-fed specimens ? Eiibolia mensM'aria. — Common. Varies considerably in shades of ground colour, from pale reddish orange to dark olive brown. Chesias spartiata. — Not common. Comes freely to light. C. obliquata. — Not common, although both these latter insects are common just out of bounds. 186. Rumia crata^gata ; c 187. Venilia maculata; c 188. Metrocampamargaritata; (f 189. Ellopia fasciaria ; / 190. Sclenia illunaria; c 191. ,, lunaria ; / 192. Odontopcra bidentata ; c 193. Crocallis elinguaria ; r 194. Ennomos crosaria; r 195. Himcra pennaria; / 196. Phigalia pilosaria; c 197. Amphidasys betularia;/ 198. Cleora lichenaria ; c 199. Boarmia repandata; c 200. Tephrosia crepuscularia ; c 201. Gnophos obscurata ; c 202. Dasydia obfuscata; c 203. Geometra papilionaria ; f The Scottish Naturalist. 243 204. 205. 206. 207. 208. 209. 210. 211. 212. 213. 214. 215. 216. 217. 218. 219. 220. 221. 222. 223. 224. 225. 226. 227. 228. 229. 230. 231. 232. 233- 234- 235- 236. 237- 238. 239- 240. 241. 242. 243- 244. 245- Ephyra punctaria ; / 246. Eupithecia castigata ; c ,, pendularia ; / 247. )> lariciata ; c Venusia cambrica ; r 248. )> indigata ; c Acidalia scutulata ; c 249. j> nanata ; / ,, bisetata ; c 250. )5 vulgata ; c „ incanaria;/ 251. J) absynthiata ; c ,, aversata ; c 252. J? minutata ; / ,, inornata;/" 253- 5> assimilata ; / Timandra amataria ; r 254- ?J tenuiata ; c Cabera pusaria ; c 255. 5> dodonseata ? „ exanthemaria ; / 256. )? abbreviata ; sobrinata ; c Panagra petraria ; lobulata ; / Lomaspilis marginata ; c 263. Thera variata ; c Hybernia rupicapraria ; c 264. „ firmata ; / ,, aurantiaria ; c 265. Ypsipet es elutata; c „ leucopbaearia; c 266. Melanthia rubiginata ; r ., progemmaria ; c 267. J) ocellata ; c ,, defoliaria ; / 268. Melanippe tristata ; c Anisopteryx aescularia ; / 269. jj biriviata ; c Cheimatobia brumata ; c 270. J5 montanata ; c „ boreata ; / 271. 3J fluctuata ; c Oporabia dilutata ; c 272. Anticlea sinuata ; r „ addendaria ; c 273- 5J badiata ; c Larentia didymata ; c 274. 3> derivata ; / „ multistrigaria ; c 2 75- Coremia propugnata ; c J, C36siata ^ c 276. Camptogramma biline- „ olivata ; / ata; ^ ,, pectinitaria ; c 277. Cidaria psitticata : c Emmelesia alchemillata ; c 278. J5 corylata ; c ,, albulata ; c 279. )? russata ; c „ decolorata;/ 280. JJ sufFumata ; c ., ericetata ; r 281. 3) silaceata ; r Eupithecia pulchellata ; / 282. )' prunata ; c ,, centaureata; r 283. >3 testata ; / „ subfulvata;/ 284. 5> populata ; c ,, pygmjeata ; r 285. )> fulvata ; c „ satyrata ; / 286. 3J pyraliata ; r 2 44 ^'^''^ Scottish Naturalist. 287. Pelurga comitata ; r 291. Anaitis plagiata; / 288. Eubolia cervinaria; r 292. Chesias spartiata ; r 289. ,, mensuraria; c 293. ,, obliquaria ; r 290. „ pliimbaria; c GLEN TILT: ITS PAUNA AND PLORA. By F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. ( Contimied from page 1 90. ) C^ LEN TILT is as rich in the smaller moths as it is in the JT larger and more generally collected species. Amongst those more worthy of a special notice are Scopida uliginosalis (the alpinnlis of British lists), which occurs in grassy places on the hills. Much rarer is S. decrepitalis, of which I have only seen a single specimen on the grassy banks of a burn, at about 600 feet altitude. It is possible that we have always been too late in the season for this species, or else do not know how to look for it. Of the genus Scopai'ia several species are common : amongst others, the one known as atomalis, but which I strongly suspect is only a form of the common ambigualis^ which I do not remember seeing in the glen. S. iniira?ia is also common enough; but alpina^ which ought to occur, and probably does, we have not yet found. Several species of Crambus have been noticed : amongst others, the rare uiyelliis is said to have been taken in the glen, but we have not met with it. C. fiwcatelliis occurs on Ben-a-Ghlo, and C. ericelliis in shingly places near Forest Lodge. In this locality ericelltis\\2i% the annoying habit of diving into the crannies amongst the loose stones, where it is impossible to get at it. Further up the glen, a form much smaller than the usual one of this moth occurs. This I was in hopes would prove to be another species ; but I cannot see any points of distinction except in the smaller size. Lower down the glen, the rather local C. dwnetelhis is not uncommon. Of the Tortf'icifia a good many species occur. Tortrix ictera?ia, which is not a common Perthshire species, seems not very rare in one spot in tlie woods. Amphysa gerniiigana is found on heathery banks ; and a few specimens of Pejit/iina inargitiana have been taken. At an altitude of 2300 feet and upwards, P. The Scottish Naturalist. 245 Stai?itonianc. may be found, and is possibly not uncommon, but owing to the comparative rarity of suitable weather at that alti- tude, is not often taken. It occurs always amongst Vaccitiium myrtiiliis, and has clearly no connection with Ardostaphylos uva- nrsi, on which plant the larva was at one time supposed to feed. On Ben Chat the alpine Sericoris irrigiiana has been taken, while the commoner S. cespitana occurs in the glen itself. The hand- some Peronea 77iaccana has been taken by Sir T. Moncreiffe, amongst its favourite Vacciniu7n Vitis-Idcea. On Craig Urrard, near the mouth of the glen, the larvae of Euchromia flanwieana^ and of the rarer Coccyx finitimana, may be found on the bear- berry : the Coccyx also occurs at the back of Ben-a-Ghlo. Cne- phasia lepida7ia is only worth noticing from the fact that, in ap- parently suitable places in the more lowland parts of Perthshire, it does not occur, while abounding in many parts of the High- lands, such as Rannoch and Glen Tilt. The great prize in this family in Glen Tilt is the beautiful silvery-white Ablabia argentaita, which we were fortunate enough to discover (for the first time in Britain) in 1875. Till last season we thought that this moth was entirely confined to one very small spot, where certainly its head- quarters are ; but we have since seen it extending over about a mile of the glen, or more. When flying about the grass it is very conspicuous. Its flight is short, and from its habit of settling on the stems of the grass, it is easily seen and taken — though, from its pure colour, perfect specimens are rather scarce. On the hillside above Forest Lodge, at an altitude of from 1600 to 1900 feet, Phoxopteryx hmdana, which otherwise is, in Perthshire, a not very common lowland species, occurs, along with P. myrtillana^ which ascends still higher. Another scarce Perthshire species, Olindia ulmana^ has been taken near Blair Castle. By far the most com- mon species of this family in the glen is Dicrorampha herbosana, which abounds in grassy places near the Tilt. Of the Tineiiia I cannot say very much, though many interest- ing species occur. The Lapland form of Tinea riisticella, known as var. spilotella, has been taken on Ben Chat, along with the usual form, while Teichobia verhuellella, which is one of the ^qw British Lepidoptera that live upon ferns, was taken by Mr Herd near the Falls of Fender. Incurvaria oehlmanniella we find very rarely amongst Vacci?iiti??i, above 2000 feet — a curious place for rather a rare insect. Another insect not often found so high up is Plutella cruciferaruTn. This I have seen on other hills, and think that some other plants besides Cruciferce must be eaten by E 246 The Scottish Naturalist. it. Gelechia soluteila, populella, galba?iella, &c., occur in various parts of the glen, and CEcophora simidella in the fir woods. Saxi- fraga aizoides being such a common plant, Zelleria saxifragce of course abounds, living not only upon the above-mentioned saxi- frage, but also on S. oppositifolia. From larvae found on the under-side of the leaves of He7\iclewn, I reared some unusually dark specimens of Chaidiodus chcei'ophyllelhis. Of the ''plumes," Aciptihis tetradactylus is excessively abun- dant, and Pterophoriis fiiscus dca^ plagiodactylus occur here and there. Two specimens of the rare brachydactylus have been taken near the mouth of the glen. Of the other orders of the Insecta I will not on the present occasion say anything, but proceed to give a short account of the MoUusca of Glen Tilt. MOLLUSCA. The land-shells are chiefly interesting from the manner in which they are distributed in the glen. In many parts of the glen snail-shells are so rarely met with, that they become con- spicuous by their absence. In other parts they are conspicuous for the very opposite reason, that they are so abundant as to com- pel observation. In no place can this be seen better than in the immediate neighbourhood of Forest Lodge ; for there the river forms a sharp line of demarcation between ground swarming with shell-clad Molluscs and ground where scarcely a specimen can be seen. It would seem as if a devouring army of snails had marched over the hills from the south, till they had been stopped by the river. Though the stream would doubtless serve as an effectual barrier to the snails, if they depended on their own exer- tions to cross it, yet their stay on the south side of the valley at this spot is due to a very different cause. The south side of the glen here is composed of limestone, the north of gneissose or quartzose rocks. The plants of the south side provide the snails with abundance of that calcareous material, out of which their shells are made ; the plants of the north contain little or no lime. And the same cause influences the distribution of the Mollusca in other parts of the glen, but in few places is it so markedly shown as at Forest Lodge. Land Molluscs are notorious for their eccentricities of distri- bution— many species being limited to a single island, valley, or even to a single rock. The rich conchological fauna of the The Scottish Naturalist. 247 Hawaiian Islands affords many notable illustrations of this. In these cases there is no doubt that other causes than the geological formation influence the distribution ; but it is evident that the formation has no little effect upon the range of land Mollusca ; and it is a cause that should not be overlooked, as it possibly is sometimes, in theorising on the subject. In the richly-wooded and damp ravine that forms the lower part of Glen Tilt, Mollusca seem to be abundant. Perhaps the most interesting, as being rather scarce elsewhere, though abundant in this spot, and, moreover, a species whose centre of distribution seems to be, contrary to the usual rule. Western instead of Central or Eastern Europe, is Helix fusca. Opposite Forest Lodge, on the calcareous slopes of Craig Mohr, Mollusca, as remarked above, abound. This was never more noticeable than on one wet afternoon, when, having nothing else to do, I climbed the very steep, nearly precipitous bank, that, to a height of about 600 feet, overhangs the Tilt at this place. I believe I do not overrate the number of snails when I say, that on an average every square foot of this slope had at least one snail upon it, and often two or three. All these snails belonged to two species, of which Helix arbustorum was very much more abundant than the other, H. nemo?^alis. I went over about half-a-mile of the bank, and as the snails were equally abundant everywhere, I am probably very much under the mark when I calculate the total number as about two millions. The slope continues to be of the same character for about a mile and a quarter, and there seems every probability that the snails were equally abundant over the whole of it, which would give a total of five or six millions of those two species. Most of the Helix arbustorum belonged to the variety alpestris, but some, though in size the same, have depressed (or rather, have not ele- vated) spires. Without exception, I think all the Helix 7ie?noralis had yellow, unhanded, white-lipped shells, rather smaller than the usual var. horte?isis, and approaching in size var. minor. In the ravine of one burn I found a few H rotundata, but ex cept in being a little smaller, the specimens do not differ from those found elsewhere. They occurred at an altitude of about 1750 feet, in company with Zonites crystallintis, Z. nitidus, Z. alliarius, Vitri7ia pellucida, Helix concinna, and Limnoea trun- catula. On some of the rocks, ascending to about 1600 feet, Buli- mus obscurus was not uncommon. The shells are rather larger 248 The Scottish Naturalist. than lowland Perthshire examples, and decidedly larger than English ones. On the same rocks Clatisilia perversa was not un- common. The specimens are chiefly remarkable for the ashy grey and weathered appearance most of them have. In size the majority are about that of the var. Everettii, but often more slenderly built. Some, however, are much like the ordinary form. A single specimen of Carychiiuii mininunn was found at about 1750 feet. The slugs of Glen Tilt call for no special remark. Arion ater was, as usual, common in damp places on all the hills, and as- cended to nearly 3000 feet. The next part of this paper will be devoted to a consideration of the botany of the glen. {To be continued. ) Additional Localities of Scotch Coleoptera. — Dromius 77ielanocephalus.^ Dej., . . . , Anchomemis junceus, Scop., . . . . . ,, scitulus, Dej. (new for Scotland. Exact locality of capture unknown, probably Forth district), Pterostichus minor, Gyll. , . . . ' . Agabns striolahis, Gyll., .... Lamprinus saginatus, Gr. {one specimen Dunbar Links, new for the East of Scotland), Philonthus scybalarius, Nord., fijnetariiis y Gr., .... »» »» fulvipes, Fab., .... Xantholinus ockraceus, Gyll. , . ,, glabratics, Gr., .... ,, piinchclatus. Pay!., Sujiius filifo7-mis, Latr. (this is new for Scotland), Stenus pallipes, Gr. (also new for Scotland), cinerascens, Gr., impressus. Gem. (new for Scotland), Trie hopteryx lata, Mots., .... Necrophorus interruptus, Ste,^. (new for Scotland, one speci- men), ...... Melegethes ceneiis. Fab., .... ,, viridescens, Fab., .... Triphyllus sutwalis, Fab., .... A. BucHAN Hepburn, Junior Carlton Pall Mall, London, Jan. 26, 1878, 35 »» District. Forth. Do. ? Clyde. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth and Tweed. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Forth. Club, The Scottish Naturalist. 249 Short-sighted Policy. — I have before me vermin-lists from the following Scotch estates, which show a most extraordinary destruction of Hawks and other creatures believed to be inimical to the game. Glengarry estate, from 1837 /c? 1840. (Knox's 'Game Birds,' 115.) Marquis of Ailsa^s Ayrshire estate, from 1850 to 1854. ('Birds of Sherwood,' 16.) Breadalbane estate, 1869 and 1870. ('Land and Water,' July 22, 1871.) These blood-stained rolls record the slaughter of 2642 individuals of the Hawk tribe, by which the Grouse m.ay or may not have been benefited. That is an argument into which I will not enter. There is one class of feathered beings which undoubt- edly reaped benefit from the slaughter — I mean the Wood-pigeons, which, from their enormous numbers and the harm they do, have become in some parts of Scotland an agricultural evil of no little magnitude. — J. H. Gurney, jun., Noithrepps, Norwich. Guillemots colliding. — Apropos of my friend Mr J. H. Gurney's note on the collision in the Black Sea {artte, p. 198), I may mention that I wit- nessed a somewhat similar catastrophe in Loch Sunart in June 1876. I was on board the Lady Ambrosine, along with my friend Mr J. J. Dalgleish of Ardna- murchan, and we were steaming out of Loch Sunart on our way to Tyree. A flock of Guillemots {Uria troile) rose hurriedly to escape from the bow of the steamer. Two collided in their flight, and one fell head over heels into the water, as if shot, while the others pursued their course. Very much astonished was Uria when he came to his senses ; and I will not easily forget his puzzled appearance as he sat on the water twisting his head about, as if he had a crick in the neck. — J. A. Harvie Brown, Dunipace House, Larbert, Jan. 12, 1878. VARIOUS NOTES. That "union is strength "is self-evident, and consequently a combination of societies with similar objects is more likely to result in the general as well as the individual welfare of the societies than if each was to work, however energetically, alone. On this principle the Natural History Societies of Yorkshire joined themselves some time ago into an association which seems to work well, and combined to publish a monthly journal — * The Naturalist ' — of which we gave a notice at the time. Following their example, the Natural History Societies and Field-Clubs of the midland counties of Eng- land have formed a union which bids fair to be very successful. They, too, have begun a monthly magazine, of which three numbers — printed and pub- lished at Birmingham — have appeared, under the editorship of Messrs E. W. Badger and W. J. Harrison, F.G.S. This magazine, to which the title of ' The Midland Naturalist ' has been given, contains many interesting articles, and is well edited. Such signs of progress are gratifying to naturalists in every part of the country, and we have much pleasure in wishing our brethren of the midland counties all success. PHYTOLOGY. MYOOLOGIOAL NOTES. P T YCHO GA S TER A LB US. By Rev. J. STEVENSON. I cannot permit the following notes to appear without prefacing them by an expression of the deep emotion with which Mycologists would receive the announcement of the death of Professor Elias Fries. The close of his long and honoured life has left a blank M'hich cannot be filled either for science or for memory. His own words, in concluding a letter shortly before his death, will find a response in the hearts of all to whom his name was familiar — " Valeas, et me in amica memoria serves." Ptychogaster albtis is familiar to Mycologists ; but, so far as investigations have extended, it remains a mystery in its origin and development. Fries, as is well known, long ago regarded this fungus as a degeneration of Poly poms destructor., but, till a comparatively recent date, there was no confirmation of this opinion. I have watched the plant year after year (in one locality grow- ing abundantly), and have never been able to observe affinity with the Myxogastres in the earlier stages of its growth. In the earliest stages in which I have observed it, it is soft ; but its threads are never of the peculiar creamy consistence which is so distinctive a characteristic of the early growth of a true Myxogast. Nor, so far as I am aware, has anything similar to the peculiar development of the spores of a Myxogast been observed in Pty- chogaster. In 1874 I gathered specimens which bore unmistakable traces of the polyporoid form. These, however, were scarcely sufficient to warrant a conclusive opinion on the subject. In November 1877 I again gathered, in the same locality, specimens which combined more perfectly the characteristics of Polyporus and of Ptychogaster. Of these I forwarded specimens to the Rev. M. The Scottish N'aturalist. 251 J. Berkeley, whose opinion will be found recorded in the ' Gar- deners' Chronicle' for December 15, 1877, p. 723. I sent speci- mens also to Professor Fries, who fully confirmed the conclusion that they represent Ptychogaster in true polyporoid form. He further informed me that he had gathered specimens of Polyporus borealis, which confirmed his views ; and he pronounced the unqualified judgment — " Est itaque anomalum hoc genus de- lendum." So far as regards the extinction henceforth of the genus Pty- chogaster, the results of these discoveries are satisfactory. But in its origin and development this curious phase of fungoid growth remains an unsolved problem. Fries, in his letter, speaks of Ptychogaster " in transitu ad Poly- poros." His theory, therefore, would regard Ptychogaster as an arrest, so to speak, in the development of a Polyporus. Mr Berkeley says : " It does not seem, however, that it is a degeneration of the Polyporus, but rather the work of a parasite, which modifies the matrix in the same way that Nyctalis and Boletus are affected by their peculiar parasites. The parasite, however, cannot be referred to the Myxogastres, nor do the threads seem to belong to the parasite, but to be derived from the matrix, just as those are which occur in Ustilago oUvacea^ Mr Berkeley observes of the specimens which he received ; " Before making a section, part of the specimen was seen to be in the usual condition of the Ptychogaster, consisting of erect irregular threads and abundant ochraceous spores, the other half exhibiting something like sinuous pores, but so soft and tender that it was difficult to say what their real nature might be. How- ever, on making a section, not only was a white, firm base dis- covered, but pores in the normal condition of those of the Poly- porus in question {Polyporus destructor). ^^ Among the specimens which I gathered there were some which, on the upper side, assumed the condition of Ptychogaster, while the under portion consisted of the normal pores of Polyporus, perfect in form, and pure white, even at the orifices. Some of these, however, after being gathered, soon passed into the condi- tion described by Mr Berkeley when the specimens reached him. The pores in others remain more or less perfect at the orifices, ihough covered with the ochraceous spores. So perfect indeed were some of the specimens, — polyporoid on the under surface, ptychogastric on the upper, — that, at first sight, it might almost seem that a perfect Polyporus was passing into Ptychogaster. 252 The Scottish Naturalist. Careful microscopic examination revealed nothing beyond the structure of normal pores of Folyponis, ptychogastric threads, and ochraceous spores. These questions meanwhile remain for solution : " What is the nature of the structural transformation ? " or, if the result of para- sitic work, " Of what nature is the parasite ? " One point only we may regard as conclusively determined — viz., that Ptychogaster must henceforth be deleted from the list of genera. ON OEETAIN LICHENS BELONGING TO THE GENUS PAEMELIA. {Continued from page 203.) By JAMES STIRTON, M.D., F.L.S. Parmelia permiitata sp. nov. — Thallus pallidus vel pallide glau- cescens, laevigatus, lobato-divisus, subtus niger, ambitu pal- lide spadiceus, parce rhizinosus; medulla (parte supera) alba (C leviter erythrinosa), parte infera leviter flavescente (C flavente). Apothecia ignota. Ad ramulos prope Brisbane (F. M. Bailey). Par77ielia platycarpa sp. nov. — Thallus flavescens vel pallide cervino - flavescens membranaceus, late expansus (K fl.) nonnihil rugulosus vel passim laevigatus, lobato-laciniatus, laciniis margine crenato-incisis vel ssepissime lacerato-dis- sectis, subtus niger, partim nudus partim nigro-rhizinosus, medulla alba (K flavente); apothecia magna (latit. 10-30 mm.) badio-rufa, receptaculo sessili vel soepius subpodicellato, extus ruguloso vel foveolato-impresso : sporas Snae incolores, episporio crasso, .03-.037 x .012-.02 mm.; paraphyses non distinctae in gel. firma involutae. lodo gel. hym. co^rulescens. Spermogonia extus nigra ; spermatia recta cylindrica, circ. .006 X .0006 mm. Corticola prope Brisbane (F. M. Bailey). I consider this lichen distinct from P. latissima (Fee) in all its forms. Parmelia cyathina sp. nov. — Thallus pallidus vel pallide cinera- scens, passim sordide glaucescens, lasvigatus, expansus, lobato-laciniatus, laciniis crenato-incisis vel saspius lacerato The Scottish Naturalist. 253 dissectis vel irregulariter dentatis (K flaventibus), subtus niger et nigro-rhizinosiis ; medulla alba (K — , dein C addito, leviter et sordide erythrinosa, sed C seorsum — ) ; apothecia fusco-rufescentia vel badio-fusca, plerumque magna (latit. 3-20 mm.), receptaculo subpodicellato ruguloso et foveolato- impresso, margine s^epe lobatulo et basi sulcato ; sporae Snoe ellipsoideae, s^pe gibbosae, episporio incrassato, .028- .038 X .016-.02 mm. lodo gel. hym. coerulescens prsesertim thecarum. Spermogonia extus nigra innata; spermatia cy- lindrica, Scepissime curvula, .oo5-,oo6 x .0009-.0011 mm. Corticola prope Brisbane (F. M. Bailey). This lichen seems allied to P, nilgherrensis (Nyl.), or rather to P. viacrocarpa (Pers.), but the descriptions of these are defi- cient, and I have not seen authentic specimens of either. Par77ielia nigrescens sp. nov. — Sat similis P. perttisce. sed apothe- ciis nigris, vel caesio-nigris et sporis (i-2)nis incoloribus demum fuscescentibus, ellipsoideis simplicibus, episporio incrassato, .04-.054x.024-.038 mm. lodo gel. hym. coer- ulescens dein vinose fulvescens. Supra lignum prope Wellington, N.Z. (J. Buchanan). The epithecium in this section shows as a rufo-fuscous almost continuous layer composed of compacted cells. This may be a state of P. pertusa, and, if so, is very characteristic. Even the young apothecia are black. The thallus is pertused, and the white medulla is rendered yellow by K. The thecae and spores seem to be ultimately tinted rufo-fuscous together, &c. The Pa7'vielia mentioned in the ' Trans, of the Glasgow Tield Naturalists' for 1876-77, under the name P. subceqiiaiis (Nyl.), from the Cape of Good Hope, has peculiar spermatia, and is likely to prove distinct. Parmelia toxodes sp. nov. — Sat similis P. stihcequanti (Nyl.) sed thallo subtus toto pallido vel potius pallide lutescente etiam- que rhizinis pallidis. Sporas, .012 -.016 x .007 -.009 mm. Spermatia cylindrica curvula, .0045-.0055 x circ. .0008 mm. Supra muscos prope Boschberg in Africa Australi, a cl. P. Mac- Owan lecta. The spermatia are cylindrical, although when out of focus the extremities appear somewhat thickened. I possess also another Parmelia from N.Z., which is more likely to be identical with snbceqnans ; but as the spermatia in the latter have not been seen, the determination remains doubtful. 254 ^^^ Scottish Naturalist. Farmelia subalbica7is sp. nov. — Similis P. siibcequa7iti sed thallo pallido vel pallida cinerascente et subtus pallido. Apothecia sicut in P. sub(Equante. Sporae, .0T3-.016 x .008-.01 mm. Spermogonia extus nigra iniiata, peridio infra non infuscato ; spermatia recta cylindrica, .007-.009 x circ. 0008. mm. The reactions with C are the same in all these — viz., medulla C red. In the last from N.Z. the sorediiform points are few and scattered. There is still another Parmelia in my herbarium of the type of P. Borreri sent by Mr Weir from the Brazils. Parmelia flaventior sp. nov. — Thallus flavescens vel stramineus (C erythrinosus), subtus niger rugulosus fere nudus, laciniato- lobatus, laciniis rotundatis, margine passim adscendentibus, recurvis et tunc plerumque sorediosis, punctis vel fissuris sorediosis adspersis. Spermatia recta cylindrica, .0065-.008 X circ. .0006 mm. Apothecia ignota. There are present, besides, rufo-fuscescent, generally conglom- erate, cephaloid tubercles. The reaction by C on the white medulla, after the application of K, is intensely red, and the same intense red is immediately produced on the epithallus by the same reagents. From Brisbane another Par7nelia of the same type has been sent by Mr T. M. Bailey, which, as to external appearance, is unique; but inasmuch as both apothecia and spermogonia are awanting, its final determination must lie in abeyance. ( To be continued. ) Rosa micrantha in Scotland.— So far as I am aware, this Rose has not previously been found further north than Bilton, near Alnwick, in Northum- berland, where it was discovered about ten years ago by Mr Chrisp. I in- close examples from three Scottish stations — two in Roxburgh, and one in Ber- wickshire. None of them agrees exactly with any of the southern forms that I have seen ; that from the hedge or roadside near Muirdean, Roxburgh, is the most characteristic. The other two — from " roadside between Kelso and Yctholm, Roxburgh," and "roadside to Nenthorn, Berwickshire" — recede from the type, in the prickles not being uniform, the hairy styles, the more rounded base of the leaves, and in the general habit of the plant, which is more compact, and the branches not so lax and flexuous as in typical micrantha. — Andw. Brotherston, Kelso. Xylaria polymorpha. — This fungus, though rare in Scotland generally, appears to be frequent in Roxburghshire, as — although not searching for fungi The Scottish Naturalist. 255 — I saw it during the past year, in three widely-separated localities, in the same sort of habitat in each case — in woods on the decayed stumps of felled trees. The localities were — Roxburgh Barnes, Riddell, and Harpertoun. — Andw. Brotherston, Kelso. New Scottish Fungi.— In the 'Annals and Magazine of Natural History' for January, Messrs Berkeley & Broome give a new instalment of their "Notices of British Fungi." As Mr Stevenson will, it is to be hoped, be able soon to publish his catalogue of Scottish Fungi, we need not do more than mention the names of the new additions to our Scottish list : some of these, it will be seen, have already been noticed in this Magazine. Mr Stevenson's ad- ditions to the list are as follows : Agariais magnificiis, Fr. ; *A. hcematites, B. and Br.; A. cenmis, P.; A. zephirics, Fr. ; A. a?nictus, Fr. ; A. stricepileus, Fr. ; A. pictiis, Fr. ; A. cethiops, Fr. ; A. didcamarics, P.; A. Trinii, Wein ; A. CHpidaris, Bull; A. scobhiaceus, Fr. ; A. sphinctrinus, Fr.; * Hyg7'ophorus piilveruleiitus, B. and Br. ; H. subradiatiis, Fr. ; H. glazcco-nitens, Fr. ; Rus- sula semic7'ema^ Fr. ; R. xerampelina, Schceff. ; R. consobrina, Fr. ; Maras- mius torqtcescens, Quelet ; * Porothelium Stevensoni, B. and Br. ; * Hydnum li?7ionicolor, B. and Br. ; *II. mtiltiforme, B. and Br. ; H. nodulostwt, Fr. ; Grandinia cmstosa, Fr., var. lignosa ; G. vmcida, Fr. ; *Cladoderris minima, B. and Br.; Corticiujn ciiinamomeum, Fr, ; C. violacea-Hvidum, Fr. ; * Glceosporinm viola;, B. and Br.; Stysanus putredimis, Ca. ; *StilbiLm Steven- S07ti, B. and Br. ; * Dadylitmi cei"ui7iu77i, B. and Br. ; Muco7' stolo7iifer, Ehrb. ; Eutypa aspe7'a, Fr. ; *Sp/iceria Steve7tsoni, B. and Br.; * Ascochyta 77ietuloespora, B. and Br. ; making in all thirty-seven species, of which eleven are new to science, and showing that Mr Stevenson is as indefatigable an investigator as ever. Mr Keith seems to have exhausted the Aga7'ici7ii of his district, as most of his discoveries are in other families, as will be seen from the follow- ing five species, of which three are new to science : Faiins patella7'is, Fr. ; Polyporus leuco)7ielas, Fr. ; * Po7-otheliu)7i Keithii, B. and Br.; *Stilbu7/i orbicula7'e, B. and Br.; *Diat7ype co7-a77iblycola, B. and Br. Since Mr Anderson left Menmuir, he has neglected the Fungi in favour of another order, so that only three species (of which two are new) fall to his share : Aga7'icus a77i77iophilus, Mont, and Dur.; *Cyphella stnppea, B. and Br.; * Proto77iyces co77iari, B. and White. Other species noticed are Agariais Vahlii, Schum., at Dunkeld, by Mr C. M'Intosh; * Po7'otheliu7/i conficsimi, B. and Br. ; Glen Tanner (collector not mentioned); and /s-«;'/^ spJmigiwi, Schw., in Kincardineshire, by Mr Taylor. To my own share, seventeen species (five new) fall : Aga7'i- cus plicosus, Fr. (also found by Mr Stevenson subsequently); A. U77ibilicatiis, Schsefif. ; A. 7-e7iifo7'7}iis, Fr. (also found by Mr Stevenson); A. nigi'ella, P.; A. ihraushis, Kalkb. ; Hygropho7'iis ci7ic7'eus, Fr. ; Ma7'as77iius sco7'tetcs, Fr. ; Cortici7i77i citri7i7i77i, P.; C. Ii77iitahi77i, Mont.; * Typhula graciUi77ia, White; * Bact7'idiu7}i aaitian, B. and White; Cyli7id7-ospo7-iic77i lo7igipes, Preuss. ; * Milesia polypodu,Vsh.\\.Q. (by some lapsus cala77ii this appears in the " Notices " as M. polygo7ii, and the habitat of No. 171 7, Dactyliiwi spi7'ale, is given for it); * Dactyliii77i spi7'ale, B. and White ; *D. 77iodestu77iy B. and White; Helvetia at7'a, Kon. ; Spha:7'ia 77iacula7is, Desm. Ninety-nine new British species in all are given in the "Notices," of which no less than sixty-five are from Scotland. Of the twenty-nine species new to science, twenty-two are Scottish. These are indicated above by having an * affixed. — F. Buchanan White. '* ■« ■! ,1^ J" ii " }} '^ » if " " __'_"_'' ^ '^ "■ '» *' ^' »" ■' " " " "' '^ ^' ^ GEOLOGY, THE GOLD-riELD AND GOLD-DIGGINGS OP OEAWTOED- LmDSAY (LANAKKSHIEE). , By W. LAUDER LINDSAY, M.D., F.R.S.E., F.L.S. ( Continued from page 214.) I THOUGHT it right, in the last number of the ' Scottish Naturahst,' in describing the gold-field and gold-diggings of the Crawford-Lindsay district of Lanarkshire, to confine my- self to their present co7idition and modern history, believing that these would have more of an immediate interest to all students of the natural history of native gold in Scotland than their ancient or medieval history. But I mentioned at the same time that, in many respects, the ancient history of these diggings is much more important, instructive, and suggestive, than that which is modern ; and the correspondence I have had since I committed to paper what I had to say regarding the present condition and prospects of the Crawford-Lindsay gold-field leaves me in no doubt that there are certain circumstances brought out by that ancient his- tory that have the most intimate bearing on current researches — not mineralogical or geological only, but also historical, archaeo- logical, and numismatological. Of these points of interest, the most important I believe to be the evidences that present themselves showing that what have been described since the year 1125 as "gold-mynes" in Scotland refer merely to surface diggings, to the sinking of pits or shafts in superficial drifts, to the washing of the clays, gravels, or sands that form the beds, haughs, or terraces of streams, or that cover the flanks of hills. There are evidences also of mining proper — of the working and crushing o{ auriferous quartz; though these evidences are neutral- ised— to a certain extent, if not altogether — by certain counter- The Scottish Naturalist. 257 assertions that no such auriferous quartz exists, no " vaines," or " seames," or " bedds " of gold or gold quartz — no gold in " solid places." Whatever, however, has been the nature of the " gold-mynes " of, and gold-mining in, the Crawford-Lindsay district in and since the sixteenth century, there are many curious evidences of the qua7ttity of gold found, and of its value in the current coin of the realm. It is impossible to understand or appreciate fully the nature of the evidences as to either the character of the gold-mining, or the amount and value of the produce, without a brief chronology and history of the principal gold-mining operations and operators. In order that those specially interested may consult the various works that contain histories of the discoveries, workings, specula- tions, and speculators of Crawford-Lindsay, showing the nature and amount of public attention they attracted in the reigns, espe- cially, of the three Jameses (IV., V., and VL), I have appended a short Bibliography^ because it would obviously be improper to occupy the space of the ' Scottish Naturalist ' with recapitulations or quotations from accessible published works. My main object at present is to point out how it is that histo- rians and archaeologists, as well as mineralogists and geologists, have allowed themselves to be misled by the incessant use of the term " mynes " (instead of " washings " or " diggings ") in all docu- ments, scientific or general, connected with the development of actual or possible gold-fields in Scotland during the last seven centuries. But a preliminary knowledge of at least the follow- ing dates, names, and facts, is either desirable or indispensable to a consideration of the nature and extent of gold-mining in Scotland in the olden time : — I. Reign of James IV.: years 15 11 to 15 13. — "The business of gold-seeking under the auspices of the Scottish Government seems to have commenced about 151 1." We hear of a gold- " myne at Crawford Moor," first at Leadhills, and then at Wan- lockhead, in 15 12 (Fittis). II. Reign of James V. — In 1524 a medal was struck in Craw- ford Moor gold by the Duke of Albany as Governor of Scotland (Patrick). A Crown lease was granted of the Crawford Moor gold-mines in 1526 to a company qI Dutchmen^ who sent at least a portion of the " ore " procured to Holland " to be refined " (Calvert). " Gold of the mynde " (or mine) was used at the Scot- tish mint in Edinburgh for the coinage of unicorns in 15 17-18 and 258 The Scottish Naturalist. 1524-26 (Patrick) ; and of bonnet-pieces} subsequently known as ducats, in 1539-42. At this period the mines were first worked by a company of German miners, by whom the " ore " was sent to Germany to be ''refined;" and subsequently (1539-42) by a body of French miners. The Crawford gold was now spoken of as " the king's own gold," and the king was very proud of it. He showed this pride in various ways. In the first place, he took his second queen — Mary of Guise — personally to visit the district ; and in the next, it was at his marriage-feast with this queen in France that he caused to be placed before each guest a vessel full of bonnet-pieces, minted in his own Scotch mint of Crawford gold, telling the assembled company " that these were the choice fruits which grew in his country." ^ He also sent a piece of un- molten or ''unwrought gold of the myne " as a present to his father-in-law, the Duke of Guise, in France (Fittis). Moreover, not only were the Queen's crown, a belt, and no doubt other ornaments, made of this " gold of mynd," but the arches of the king's own crown — the present crown of Scotland, as preserved in Edinburgh Castle, which additions were made by the king himself — were manufactured of his " own gold," so that they " may be regarded as composed of genuine Scottish gold of the mine" (Fittis). III. Reign of Janies VI. — In 1567-68, Cornelius de Vols, a Dutch- man^ got a nineteen years' licence to work the Crawford mines. He raised a joint-stock company, with a capital oi jQA^xd^ em- ploying 120 men and women. He was commissioned by London merchants, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to " discover the gold vein or bed" (Calvert), which was supposed to be the source of all the Crawford gold. He was followed by another Dutch- man, Abrahajn Grey, better known as " Greybeard," who is tlie hero of another " tradition," comparable with that of the bonnet- pieces, and which may be quite as veracious, or the reverse. In his case, what figures is a golden basin filled with gold coins [uni- corns), both being made of Crawford gold ; the said cornucopia 1 So called "from the capberet or bonnet wliich James V, wears in his portrait on the obverse of this coin" (Fittis) ; that bonnet probably which the king delighted to wear at Stirling in his capacity of the " Gudeman of Ballan- geich." ^ Various other versions of this story are given, including the "tradition" which assigns the place of the incident to Crawford Castle, and describes the magnates who were astonished by the nature of the dessert presented to them as the French ambassadors, who were hunting with the king as his guests in the said castle (Porteous). Calvert speaks of " covered cups filled with native gold " being presented " as specimens of Scotch fruit." The Scottish Naturalist. 259 being presented to the French king by the Regent Morton (Fittis). Grey was followed, in his turn, by an English adventurer, George Bo7ves, whose operations were most important, in so far as he is the first who is said to have found gold quartz in situ — in a vein — at Wanlockhead. He sunk a shaft, or shafts ; but " when he and his men had filled their purses, then he caused the shaft to be filled up again, swearing his men to secrecy," these men being " both English and Scots workmen " (Fittis). We are told that he erected a stanipi}ig-7nill on the Longcleuch head — a circumstance whose significance will form the subject of special remark further on. He was to have returned next year to Scotland " to seek for a greater vein," but died by an accident in the interval. Another speculator, a foreigner, Hochstetter, '' had certain intelligence of the vein " — that is, no doubt, heard of its discovery, and made search for it, but failed to find it ; and the same unsuccess ap- pears to have attended the many other mining authorities, who afterwards made the most anxious search for Bowes's shaft and vein. And yet Dr Porteous speaks of its locality being known to the Wanlockhead miners of the present day. In 1576 "an unquestionable proof that quantities of gold con- tinued to be gathered in Scotland is furnished by an Edict of the Privy Council,'' which "forbade the gold-seekers in Crawford, Roberton, and Henderland to sell their gold, as they had been doing, to merchants, for exportation, and ordained them to bring in all . . . to the King's Cunzie House " (the Royal Mint at Edinburgh), " there to be sold at the accustomed prices for the use of the State" (Fittis). In 1592 the king appointed a M.r John Lindsay to the new office of " Master of the Metallis " in the Scottish Mint. The new master was one of the Edzell (Forfarshire), not the Crawford (or Lanarkshire) Lindsays, who afterwards became successively one of the Lords of Session, as Lord Menmuir, Lord Privy Seal, and Secretary of State. He was father of the first Lord Lindsay of Balcarres. With his elder brother. Sir David Lindsay of Edzell and Glenesk, he took an active interest in the discovery of gold, in what has been aptly called the " Land of the Lind- says,"^ in Forfarshire, where, too, it is of interest to note, gold mines were successfully worked for a long series of years. In 1593 or 1594, to Thomas Foulis, an Edinburgh goldsmith, was granted by the king a twenty-one years' lease of the gold ^ The title of a book by Andrew Jervise, F.S.A. Scot., published in 1853. 2 6o The Scottish Naturalist. and other mines of " Crawford moor and Glengonar." Foulis became permanently connected with the district, in which he purchased property ; for his granddaughter Annie, heiress to his territorial possessions here, marrying into the Hope family, her grandson was, in course of time, the first Earl of Hopetoun, while the present Earls of Hopetoun are proprietors of the Lan- arkshire portion of what in the sixteenth century acquired the name of the " golden area " of Crawford. Then we come in 1594-97 to the originator and Grand-master of the order of the " Golden Knights," or " Knights of the Golden Mines" — Sir Bevis Bulmer, an Englishman, one of the most famous of the mining engineers, or mineral surveyors, whose duties or whose interests called them to the Crawford district in olden times. In various forms he has made and left his mark permanently on the district, like Foulis, whom he joined in part- nership. He built a fine mansion-house in Glengonar ; and one of the heights above its former site "still bears the name of Bulmer's Hill;" while there is also in the district a " Bulmer moss" (Porteous). The vestiges of old gold - workings in the Longcleuch, at the locality still called the "Gold Scours,"^ are also said to have been those of Sir Bevis (Calvert) ; while " a row of houses in Wanlockhead, termed the ' Gowd Scar Row,' are monu- ments of these enterprising works of the sixteenth century " (Port- eous). Buhner was so high in favour with Queen Elizabeth that he was appointed by her Master of the Mint, presumably of Eng- land. Whether in gratitude, or to gain her favour, he presented to her a gold porri?iger made of the produce of his Crawford work- ings (Calvert).^ Bulmer had a Stamping-mill erected at the head of the Longcleuch Burn — a tributary of the Shortcleuch — for he had found there " the little string or vein powdered with small gold" (Porteous) — that vein apparently which had been first dis- covered by Bowes. What Atkinson tells us, however, is this : " Some say that he also found out the Suspected Vaine of gold which Mr Bowes had discovered." Bulmer wrote an unpub- lished— that is, a MS. — book on his mining experiences, entitled * Bulmer's Skill ; ' and it was it that led the king to propose the creation of a Speculative Company of Golden Knights (Cal- ^ This designation, however, would appear to be borne by more tlian one locality in the district; for Dr Porteous tells us that "mounds of rubbish on the Elvan or Shortcleuch are still called the Gowd Scars." '^ Another version of the story being that he "presented as much gold as made a porringer" (Fittis). The Scottish Naturalist. 261 vert).i Well says Bulmer, after all his vicissitudes of fortune, " Mines are as uncertain as the life of man, which is like a bubble on the waters to-day — to-morrow none." Lavishly liberal — " such as he was most liberal to were readiest to cut his throat" — ....*' When gold lay hid and unto us unknown, Of strife and debate the seed was unsown ; Then lived men well, and held themselves content With food and clothes, and payed then no rent." Such is Atkinson's moralising over the rise and downfall of his friend and master, the once princely Bulmer. Bulmer's reign appears to have been the golden age of the " golden area " of Crawford-Lindsay. During the sovereignty of his patroness. Queen Elizabeth, Scotland Avas considered an El Dorado, and Crawford as the El Dorado of Scotland — in very truth man's, if not also God's, " Treasure-House " there. We come now to Atkinson himself, who was taught mining by Bulmer, by whom he was brought to the Leadhills in search of a "vein" of gold or gold -quartz — in all probability that vein found, or reported to have been found, by Bowes. He tells us himself that his great aim in coming to Crawford was " that great blessing of God, . . . even that hedd or vaine of gold and silver myne." He held a Royal warrant as a gold seeker and worker there of "mynes, seames, and mineralles" of gold and silver, " to searche, seik, worke, dig, try, discouver, and find out " all about them; and he obviously regarded himself as a *'moy- ner and pioner" — in modern parlance, a ''prospector" and *' digger." His operations, of whatever nature they were, do not appear to have been successful. At all events his fame rests on his book, published in 1619, which has been a "digging," "a Treasure-House," for all subsequent writers on the gold fields or mines of Scotland. It was he who introduced the phrase "God's Treasure-House "^ in Scotland as applicable to the Craw- ford district, and who first drew a parallel between its four chief streams and the four rivers of Eden. In his own words : " Pru- dent men . . . compared those Scotts gold-mynes unto God's ^Atkinson speaks of this scheme as a Royal " plott " — a device of the king's ; and in all probability Bulmer himself gave the king the credit of it. But Bulmer himself was nevertheless its probable projector, as he was one of the only two persons who benefited by it. ^ A title adopted by Dr Porteous for a recently-published work mentioned in the Bibliography. F 262 The Scottish Naturalist. Treasur-House, placed by God Himselfe within the centur of the earth. . . . But others . . . will not be perswaded that any goodnes can be produced out of Scotts ground, and are doubt- full whether the sonne and moone and Starrs shine there or not." In 162 1, a Royal warrant or licence was granted to Dr John Hyjidlie^ to work "his Majestie's mines of gold within the bounds of Crawford Moor, Frier Moor, Crawfordjohn, Robert Moor," and other specified localities (Porteous). How long his operations lasted, and what was their nature, does not appear. But since this date, there would seem to have been no systematic working of the Crawford gold-fields or gold-diggings. The grad- ual failure of these diggings was probably coincident with, or dependent upon, and in proportion to, the gradual increase in the value of labour. But between 151 1, when we first hear of the "gold-mynes" of Crawford, and 162 1, when we hear of them for the last time — as being worked, at all events, systemati- cally or on the large scale — the workings, on whatever scale, whether by Dutch, German, French, English, or Scotch miners, and of whatever nature their operations were — whether alluvial- washing or quartz-crushing — were repeatedly suspended and re- sumed ; the reason of these vicissitudes in their history being easily found in the disturbed state of the country, the deaths of kings, and the losses in battle with the English, as well as the failures, temporary or permanent, of lessees, or the local unpro- ductiveness of the mines themselves. In the sei'e?iteenth century, Charles I. had his coronation-medals struck of Crawford gold ; while Sir Hans Sloane, the well-known founder of the British Museum, had a medal made of it (Calvert). In the eighteefith century — about 1740 — Sir John Erskine and others had '' a plan for working the Clydesdale mines again " (Calvert) ; but it does not appear that this " plan " was ever carried into effect. In the reign of " George III., in the present nineteenth century, the working of the Clydesdale gold was at- tempted to be resumed under the superintendence of the man- ager of the lead-mines at Wanlockhead ; but the price of labour was considered too high to induce the continuance of the work- ing." This is "the last account we have of the working of the Clydesdale mines " (Calvert). It is now desirable to arrive at some idea of, or conclusion con- * Or llcndlic, as Calvert calls him. Calvert does not adhere, in his quota- tions from Atkinson or the Cottonian MSS., to the old orthography, as Fittis and Dudgeon very properly do. The Scottish Naturalist. 263 cerning, \kvQ productiveness of gold workings that, in the reign of Queen EHzabeth, had not only an English but a European repu- tation (Calvert). It is, however, impossible to arrive at anything like an estimate that can be depended upon. The evidences of their productiveness are very vague and unsatisfactory. But such as they are, it is necessary to describe them, so that each reader may judge for himself what value is to be attached to them. These evidences, then, include the following : — 1. The production, in the reign of James V., of a new gold coin — the finest of the Scottish coins — the Bomiet piece, from Crawford gold. 2. The gift of platefuls of these coins to his marriage-feast guests by the same king. 3. The use of the same native gold in making additions to the Regalia — the Scottish crown : still by the same king. 4. His employment of it also in making his second queen's crown and other of her ornaments. 5. The presentation of a gold basin full of unicorns — both of Crawford gold — by the Regent Morton to the king of France. 6. The prohibition in 1576 of the export of Crawford gold. 7. The enrichment of Foulis and Bulmer. 8. Bulmer's presentation of a gold porringer of Crawford gold to Queen Elizabeth. 9. The fame that the Crawford region had by this time acquired as a " golden area " and as " God's Treasure-House " in Scotland. 10. The number of miners employed at various times — Dutch, German, French, English, and Scotch — and their prosperity. 11. The statements made by Atkinson, the Cottonian Re- porter, or other writers, as to the value of the gold coined, or otherwise made use of in its molten and wrought condition. So early as the reign of James V., according to the Cottonian Reporter, no less than 300 persons maintained themselves by washing gold ; and he speaks of the annual value of the yield of the district for eighty years having been upwards of ;2^ioo,ooo in money of that time (Calvert). What is the precise equivalent of such a sum at the present day I am not in a position to say. But Mr Patrick tells us, in his standard work on the Scottish Coinage, that in 1503 one pound Scots was only one- third the value of one pound sterling English : in other words, that ;^6ooo Scots equalled at that time only ;^2ooo sterling English. This disproportion subsequently became much greater, however — just four times as great ; for we are told that on the accession of James 264 The Scottish Naturalist. VI. to the English throne, " the relative value of English and Scottish coins was declared to be as 12 to i." ^ The ' Miscellanea Scotica ' states, on the authority of a Bio- graphy of James V., published at Paris in 161 2, that the Crawford gold-mines, while worked by the Germans, "afforded him great S2tf?is" Devois in the reign of James VI. " had six score men at work in valleys and dales. He employed both men and women, lads and lasses, who before begged. He profited by their work, and they lived contented and well. ... In thirty days' time they conveyed [to the mint at Edinburgh] half a stone weight of natural gold, worth ^450 sterling" (Atkinson). The wages of the gold seekers or washers were at this time very low, though remunerative; for Greybeard, we are told, "hired many inhabi- tants zX. four pence per day, which contented them as twelve pence did the English " (Atkinson). In 1 591, no less than ^£38,000 worth of gold from Crawford Moor was ordered to be coined, according to Calvert, quoting Atkinson. But he does not explain whether this large sum repre- sents Scotch or English money of that time, or of the present day. The same dubiety attaches to Calvert's estimate of the aggregate value of the " total produce" in gold of the Crawford mines from times anterior to the reign of James IV. till 1853, the date of his own book, which value he puts in figures at ;^5 15,000. " Early periods," prior to the time of James IV., yielded, accord- ing to him, ;^5o,ooo worth of gold ; but this sum and this yield are obviously more than problematical. Then he assigns ;£"iooo worth to Lesmahagow, which is not in the district, and which probably never yielded gold at all. Next he assumes an annual income of £,z^o from 1580 to 1780, a period of 200 years : while he estimates the produce from 1780 to 1853 — arbitrarily, of course — at ^£4000. It is impossible to accept this or any such esti- mate of the value of the produce of the Crawford diggings. But if we chose to assume the probable greater correctness of the Cottonian Reporter, and take his word for it that ;£" 100,000 worth of gold was turned up and out annually for eighty years, we have at once a grand total of eight millions worth of gold produced during portions of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries — which sum, at the then probable value of Scots money, was equal to more than two and a half millions sterling English.- 1 Chambers's Encyclopaedia, art. "Numismatics." 2 This amount is not, however, great when compared with the gokl-prod- llie Scottish Naturalist. 265 Bibliography: Illustrative of the History of the " Gold-mynes" of, and of Gold-mining in, Crawford-Lindsay, from the sixteenth century downwards. I. Report on the Gold-mynes of Scotland : in MS. in the Cottoniaii Collection of MSS. in the library of the British Museum. The fragment of MS. descriptive of the gold-mines of Craw- ford Moor — the only gold-mines then known in Scotland — is undated and anonymous. But it is obviously referable to the sixteenth century, and it is written by a competent authority who had been specially commissioned to survey or prospect, and report upon the auriferous capacity of, the Crawford-Lindsay district. Up to the present date it remains the most important report that has ever been made on the gold-field and gold- diggings of that "golden area." The MS. has been quoted by Calvert, Dudgeon, and Porteous ; most fully by the first-men- tioned writer, by whom it was for the first time made known to the public. IL The Discouverie and Historie of the Gold-mynes in Scotland. By Stephen Atkinson. Originally published in 1619: best known as edited for the Bannatyne Club by Gilbert L. Meason in 1825. As indicating the value now attached even to this modern edition of Atkinson's work — of which only fifty-two copies were printed — it may be mentioned that at the sale by auction in London, in February 1874, of the library of the late Rob. Nasmyth, F.R.C.S.E., of Edinburgh, as much as ^11, los. was given for a single copy. Atkinson was one of the pupils, and then copartners of, and mining managers for, the noted gold-speculator Sir Bevis Bul- mer ; having previously been — in 1586 — gold and silver refiner in the Mint of the Tower of London. In 16 16 he succeeded, by a Privy Council Act in his favour, to Bulmer's post at Crawford Moor, Bulmer having died in 16 13. The book was written for the purpose of keeping up the interest of the king (James VI.) in the gold-mines belonging to him in the Crawford Moor district ; and hence it is drawn up in uce of other auriferous countries. Thus the ' Statistics of New Zealand ' for 1876 (the latest published) show that since 1857 the "value of gold entered for duty for exportation alone " has been no less than upwards of thirty-two millions in less than twenty years. 2 66 The Scottish Naturalist. the high-flown language of courtiers of the day — his royal patron being compared in it to Kings David and Solomon, while the mining region itself was likened to the Garden of Eden. III. Brief Historical Account of the Mines of Wanlockhead. By the late Dr Watson^ of that village. IV. Caledonia : an Account — historical and topographical — of North Britain. By George Chalmers. 4 vols., 4to. 1807- 1824. V. The Lives of the Lindsays : a Memoir of the Houses of Crawford and Balcarres. By Lord Liiidsay (now the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres). 2d edition, 3 vols. 1858. VI. The Gold - rocks of Great Britain and Ireland. By John Calvert., mining surveyor (from Australia). 1853. It contains chapters on the " History of Gold in Scotland " and on " The Gold-fields of Scotland." I know that this book has long been looked upon with dis- favour both by mineralogists and miners in Scotland — for various reasons, and among others, the alleged fanciful views and inac- curacies of its author. But there is no gainsaying that he has brought together a large amount of information concerning the gold " mynes " of Scotland, and has enabled us to compare them and their produce with gold-workings in other auriferous countries. He cites, moreover, his authorities, who can be consulted at first-hand by those who wish to estimate the authenticity of the statements made by old chroniclers. With all its imperfections — whatever these may be — Calvert's work contains the fullest and best account we yet possess of the Scottish gold-fields and gold-diggings. He gives copious quotations from the Cottonian MS. of the British Museum, as well as from the quaint old work of Atkinson — extracts more copious by far than those given by any other writer either before or since the date of his work. Thus he quotes from Atkinson both in the original and as printed by the Bannatyne Club. And these quotations alone would render Calvert's work the most important that has yet appeared on the gold-fields, gold-mines, and gold-diggings of Scotland. VII. Illustrations of the History and Antiquities of Perthshire. By Rob. S. Fittis, of Perth. 1874. Five of its chapters relate to "The Search for Scottish Gold in Olden Times;" and this account of the ancient gold "mynes" of Scotland is at once the fullest, most accurate, and most mod- ern with which I am acquainted. The Scoiiisli Naturalist. 267 VIII. God's Treasure-House in Scotland : a History of the Times, Mines, and Lands in the Southern Highlands. By the Rev. Dr Forteous, of Wanlockhead. With Geological Map by Knipe, and woodcut illustrations by Dr Porteous himself. 1876. There is a special chapter on " Gold and Gold-finders," em- bodying the results of the author's own inquiries during a resi- dence of nine years in. the very centre of the Crawford- Lindsay gold-field. On the map, Mr Knipe has shown, as he has done in the last edition (1875) c)f his '' Geological Map of the British Isles," the chiQi localities of gold finds and workings in the Crawford- Lindsay district. IX. Historical Notes on the occurrence of Gold in the South of Scotland. By Patrick Dudgeon, F.R.S.E., F.S.A. Scot. A 4to pamphlet, printed in 1875 ^^r private circulation, and for the purposes of a bazaar at Glasgow in aid of Miss Clugston's Home for Incurables. Its most noteworthy feature is the frontispiece, a beautiful coloured lithograph of the Genimell quartzite, bearing the title " Auriferous quartz — actual size — found at Wanlockhead by Andrew Gemmell, miner, in 1872." What appears to be virtually the same pamphlet — minus the plate, and with sundry alterations in the text — was published as a paper, with the same title, in the first number of ' The Mineral- ogical Magazine' for August 1876. X. Paper on the Silurian Rocks of the South of Scotland : and on the Gold Districts of Wanlockhead and Leadhills. By Professor Harkness. In the ' Quarterly Journal of the Geo- logical Society,' vol. viii., p. 396. 1852. XI. History of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire. By G. Vere Irving, F.S.A. Scot., and Alexander Murray. 3 vols. 1865. XII. The following works by R. W. Cochran Patrick, F.S.A. Scot. (i.) Records of the Coinage of Scotland, from the earliest period to the Union. 2 vols. 1877. (2.) Notes on the Annals of the Scottish Coinage. Com- municated to the Numismatic Society of London in 1873- (3.) Records of Mining in Scotland. 1878. 2 68 The Scottish Naturalist. XIII. The following Contributions to the Social and Natural History of the Gold-fields and Gold-diggings of Scotland, by the author. (i.) The Gold and Gold-fields of Scotland. Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society, vol. i. 1868. (2.) The Gold-fields of Scotland : with map and other illus- trations. Journal of the Royal Geological Society of Ireland, vol, ii. (new series). 1869. (3.) The Gold-fields of Scotland. Report of the British Association meeting at Dundee in 1867. (4.) The Gold and Gold-fields of Perthshire. Proceedings of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science for 1870. (5.) Recent Gold Discoveries in Scotland. Reprint from the 'Perthshire Constitutional ' of February 18, 1874. (6.) The Auriferous Quartzites of Scotland. Reprint from ' The Scottish Naturalist ' for April 1875. XIV. Geological Map of the British Isles. Byy! A. Knipe, Ksso- ciate of the Geological Society of Edinburgh. Revised edition of 1875. Distinguished from all other geological maps .of Scotland or Britain by its laying down the localities of gold-diggings, gold- finds, and gold-fields, both in the northern and southern High- lands of Scotland. Native Gold in Perthshire. — The following interesting note on certain limited " diggings," long ago conducted at Lochearnhead, under the auspices of the late enterprising Marquis of Breadalbane, was sent to me by Mr Ritchie, C.E., Perth. The writer of the note itself is Miss Stewart, of Ard- vorlich, on Lochearnside, and what she says is this : — " Some gold was found in the neighbourhood — on the Breadalbane pro- perty— on the hillside near the railway station at Lochearnhead, where an ■excavation was made and -was worked for some time. But as the small quantity of gold found was not likely to be remunerative, the working was given up. It was in the late Marquis's time ; and he spent much money in trying to find minerals of all kinds on his estate, having in his employ an ex- perienced mineralogist." All such accounts of former gold-digging in Scotland are worthy of record, especially in connection with the general interest presently existing on the subject ; and it is in the hope that my example may be followed by others who may be in possession of authentic and unpublished information con- cerning gold-finding or gold-working in any part of Scotland, that the present note on a small experimental Perthshire digging, undertaken by a nobleman who displayed great mineralogical enterprise, has been contributed to the * Scottish Naturalist.' — W. Lauder-Lindsay, Gilgal, Perth. INSECTA SCOTICA. THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF SOOTLAND. {Continued from page 223.) Edited by F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. o o o Type. Rare. Pasciial, 000 SUBFULVATA H\v. Not common. Pascual. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray West. Solway 8080 Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. August, Sep tember. Food-plant. Yarrow {Achillea millefolium). The ab, oxydata L, has occurred in Tay and Solway. SCABIOSATA Bkh. (1794); subumbrata Gn. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East, o o o Dee o West, o o o o o Lat. 57°2o'. Range in Europe. Central; Finland, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. June. Larva. August, September, Food-plant. Flowers of low plants. NANATA Hb. Common. Ericetal. Ascends to 3800 feet. Distribution — East. Forth Tay Dee Moray 8 Orkney West. Solway Clyde 8 West-Ross Lat. 54°4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Central. Type Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June, tember. Food- plant. Heather (flowers). FRAXINATA Crewe. Rare. Nemoral. Distribution^East. 8 Forth [Tay] West. 00000 Lat. 56°. Range in Europe. Britain, W. Central Germany. Type. Occidental. Type in Britain. Enghsh. Time of Appearance— Imago. June, July. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Ash (leaves). o o o o Larva. August, Sep- 0000 O 270 The Scottish Naturalist. PYM^ATA Hb. Rare. Pascual? Distribution — East. § Forth Tay 00000 West. § Clyde 000 Lat. 55°4o'-56°3o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Holland, Belgium, Finland, Lapland, &c. Type. Occidento-septen- trional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. June. Larva. Aug, and Sept. Food- plant. ? Stellaria holosiea (flowers and seeds). TENUIATA Hb. Common. Nemoral. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway 8 0 o ^ Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. July. Larva. April, May. Food- plant. Sallow (catkins). PLUMBEOLATA Hw. Not common. Pascual and ericetal. Distribution — East. Tweed o Tay Dee 000 West. § Clyde 000 Lat. 55°3o'-57°-2o'. Range in Europe. Central. Type. Central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. July, August. Food-plant. Melampy^-um pratetise and ? SATYRATA Hb. Common. Nemoral and ericetal. Ascends to 3000 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray Suther- land. § § West. Solway Clyde g g 8 Lat. 54°4o'-58°3o'. Range in Europe. Central and north- ern. Type. Centre - septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, Larva. August, September. Food-plant. Many plants (the flowers). E. callunaria Dbld. has now been proved by Mr Crewe to be only an ab- beration of satyrata. It is the common form on our heather-clad hills, and has certainly no connection with Eiipatorium. HELVETICARIA B. Local. Amongst juniper. Ascends to 1500 feet. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. 00000 Lat. 55''4o'-57°3o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Germany, The Scottish Naturalist. 271 France, Switzerland, Finland, &c. Type. Occidento-sep- tentrional. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. September. Food-plant. Juniper. CASTIGATA Hb. Not uncommon, Nemoral. Distribution - East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §000 Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant, Many plants. VULGATA Hw. Common. Agrestal and nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde §80 Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. July. Food- plant. Low plants ; hawthorn. ASSIMILATA On, Not uncommon, Hortensal. Ascends to near 1000 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde goo Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Holland, France. Type. Occidental ? Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. August, Sep- tember. Food-plant. Currant {Ribes) and hop {Humtihts). MINUTATA On. Not uncommon. Ericetal. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § Moray § Orkney § West. Solway Clyde 808 Lat. 54°4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Britain, Holland, Germany. Type. Occidental. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June. Larva. August, September. Food-plant. Heather, &c. ABSINTHIATA CI. Common. Pascual, &c. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray 880 West. Solway Clyde 8 8 8 Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and north- 272 The Scottish Naturalist. ern. Type. Centro - septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August-No- vember. Food- PLANT. Ragwort, &c. (flowers). CONSTRICTARIA Gn. Rare. Pascual. Ascends to about 1000 feet. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay 00000 West, o Clyde o West-Ross o Lat. 55°4o'-57°3o'- Range in Europe. Britain. Type. British. Type in Britain. English ? Time of Appearance — Imago. July. Larva. ? Food-plant. Thyme {^Thymus serpylluin). INDIGATA Hb. Not uncommon. Pinetal. Ascends to 1300 feet. Distribution — East, g Forth Tay Dee §000 West. 00000 Lat. 56°-57°2o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Germany, Hol- land, Belgium, Finland, &c. Type. Occidento-septentri- onal. Type in Britain. British? Time of Appearance— Imago. May, June. Larva. July. Food- plant. Scots fir {Pitius sylvestris). LARICIATA Frr. Not uncommon. Pinetal. Ascends to 1800 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee §000 West, g Clyde goo Lat. 55°3o'-57"2o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, &c. Type. Central? Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. July. Food- plant. Larch and spruce. ABBREVIATA Stph. Not uncommon. Nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay g o o o o West. Solway g o o o Lat. 54°4o'-56°3o'. Range in Europe. Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Catalonia, Italy. Type. Occidento- meridional. Type in Britain. English ? Time of Appearance — Imago. April, May. Larva. July. Food- plant. Oak, &c. DODONEATA Gn. Rare. Nemoral. Distribution — East, o o Tay 0000 West. 00000 The Scottish Naturalist. 273 Lat. 56°3o'. Range in Europe. Britain, Holland, France, Catalonia, Corsica. Type. Occidento-central. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance— Imago. May, June. Larva. July. Food- plant. Oak. A moth taken by Sir T. Moncreiffe is referred by Mr Harpur Crewe to this species, with some doubt. EXIGUATA Hb. Not uncommon. Hortensal and nemoral. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § §000 West. Sohvay Clyde 000 Lat. 54°4o'-56°3o'. Range in Europe. Central. Type. Central. Type in Britain. English ? Time of Appearance — Imago. May, June. Larva. September, Octo- ber. Food-plant. Various shrubs and trees. E. lanceata Hb., whose larva is suspected to feed on coniferoe, may occur. THE OOLEOPTEEA OP SCOTLAND. ( Continued front p. 228. ) Edited by D. SHARP, M.B. LAMPYRIS Kies. NOCTILUCA L. Local. Distribution — East. T\veed Forth Tay 00000 West. Solway Clyde 000 TELEPHORUS Oliv. {CANTHARIS Kies.) ALPINUS Payk. Local. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Sohvay Clyde Argyle o o ABDOMINALIS Fab. Rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway §000 RUSTicus Fall. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth § Dee Moray §00 West. Solway % % o o LiviDUS L. Not rare. Distribution — East. § Forth § Dee Moray o o West. Solway § 2 o o o 2 74 '^^^^ Scottish Naturalist. PELLUCIDUS F. Not rare. Distribution — East. §00 ^^^ Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde goo LITURATUS Fall. Scarce. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay 00000 West. § §000 DARWINIANUS Sharp. Local. Maritime. Distribution — East. o Forth 000000 West. Solway 0000 FIGURATUS Mann. Local. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde 000 T. scoticus Sharp, is a variety of this species, with dark thorax, found in Rannoch, &c. NIGRICANS Mull. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §§00 The common form in Scotland is T. discoideus St. OBSCURUS L. Local. Distribution — East. o Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §000 BICOLOR Fab. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway § 0 <^ ^ H^MORRHOIDALIS Fab. Notcommon(?) Distribution — East. §00 oo^oo West. Solway §000 PALUDOSUS Fall. Local. Distribution — East. Tweed g Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde §00 THORACICUS Gyll. Very local. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway 0000 Found in numbers near Dumfries by Mr Lennon. PLAVILABRIS Fall. Local. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § Moray §00 West. Solway §000 UNICOLOR Curtis. Very rare. In woods. Distribution — East. 00000000 West. Solway 0000 The Scottish Naturalist. 275 FULVUS Scop. Abundant. Distribution — East. 000000^^ West. Solway § o ^ ^ TESTACEUS L. Local. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §800 LIMBATUS Th. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway 80^^ PALLIDUS Fab. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway 8 8^*^ ELONGATUS Fall. Local. On Scots fir. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee Moray 000 West. 00000 MALTHINUS Kies. FLAVEOLUS Payk. Not rare. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth g § Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde 000 MALTHODES Kies. MARGINATUS Lat. Common. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway 8 8 ^ ^ MYSTICUS Kies. Rare. Distribution — East, o o Tay o Moray 000 West. Solway 0000 FIBULATUS Kies. Rare. Distribution — East, o Forth o 00 o o o West. 00 o o'^ o PELLUCIDUS Kies. Common. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §§00 DISPAR Germ. Local. Distribution — East. §0000000 West. Solway 0000 FLAVOGUTTATUS Kies. Distribution — East. § § Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway §000 SANGUINOLENTUS Fall. Common. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee §000 West. Solway 80^0 276 The Scottish Natiiralisf. GUTTIFER Kies. Rare. Distribution — East, o o West. Solway Clyde MISELLUS Kies. Rare. Distribution — East, o o West. ATOMUS Th. Local. Distribution — East. West. Solway o o o o Tweed Solway o o o o o o o o o o Moray o o o o o Dee o o o o o o o o o o o o o MALACHIUS Kies. BIPUSTULATUS L. Very rare. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay o West. §000 MARGINELLUS 01. Very rare. Distribution — East, o o o o West. Solway o o DASYTES Kies. PLUMBEO-NIGER Goez. Very rare. Distribution — East, o [Forth] o West. Solway o o HAPLOCNEMUS Kies, IMPRESSUS Marsh. Very rare. Distribution — East, o Forth o o West, o o o o o PHL^OPHILUS Kies. EDWARDSI Steph. Rare. o o o o o o o o o o o o o Distribution — East. o o Forth o o o o o o o o o West. Solway C L. E R I D ^. CLERUS Kies. FORMICARIUS L. Highland. On logs of Scots fir. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay Dee Moray West, o § o o o CORYNETES Kies. RUFICOLLIS Fab. Rare. In carcases. Distribution — East. S Forth o o o o o o West. Solway § o ( To he continued. ) o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ZOOLOGY. THE BIRDS OP THE SOUTH-EAST OP SOOTLAM). By D'ARCY W. THOMPSON. THERE is perhaps no part of the kingdom whose bird-popu- lation is of greater extent or interest than that of the south-eastern district of Scotland. The counties of Berwick and Roxburgh, Fife and the Lothians, besides affording sufficient area and sufficient variety of conditions to accommodate a very large proportion of our native birds, are at the same time most favour- ably situated to receive irregular and straggling visitants. St Abb's Head, the Bass Rock, the Isle of May, along with many of the smaller rocks and islets in the Firth, are the haunts and breeding-places of innumerable sea-fowl: the estuary of the Tyne, and several other similar spots, afford congenial localities for Herons, Sandpipers, and many more " lang-leggit " birds ; while the Cheviots, the Lammermoors, and the Pentlands, the woods and cultivated districts of the Lothians and Fife, are all abun- dantly frequented by their natural occupants ; and, in addition, every stormy winter brings us many rare and interesting strangers from the opposite shores of the North Sea. Moreover, the num- ber of naturalists and collectors, though they work sad havoc among many of our once common birds, serve to keep us fully acquainted with every unlucky rarity that may occasionally visit us. Among the rarest and most important captures that have been made in our district may be mentioned the following : Teng- malm's Owl, Golden Oriole, Bohemian Waxwing, Pennsylvanian Pipit, White-winged Crossbill, Pallas's Sand-grouse, American Bittern, Stork, Spoonbill, Brown Snipe, Blue-winged Teal, Little Gull, Fork-tailed Petrel, &c. ; while among our more frequent or regular visitants are the Mealy Redpoll, Crossbill, Quail, Dotterel, Little Stint, Eider-Duck, Little Auk, Lesser Tern, Solan-Goose, and so on. As in all other parts of the country, the cruel policy of battue- G 278 The Scottish Nat^iralist. loving sportsmen has terribly diminished our hawks and owls, and indeed the larger species of both now only gain admission to our lists as occasional stragglers. In the same manner the disgraceful slaughter of sea-birds proceeds in the summer months, all the more hotly that its period is somewhat limited by an ineffective Act. The number of Solan-Geese, for instance, that are thus destroyed is almost incredible, — two or three hundred birds in a day being often killed at the Bass by a single excursion- party. I have not restricted myself, in the following catalogue, to any very sharply-defined limits ; but I have frequently inserted notices of specially interesting birds from localities slightly without our proper district. In compiling the list, I have availed myself of Mr Gray's classic ' Birds of the West of Scotland,' which con- tains much interesting information anent those of the East Coast also ; Dr Turnbull's useful little book on the ' Birds of East Lothian ; ' the careful record which Messrs Embleton, Tate, and Kelly, and other members of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, have kept of rare captures in that county ; and the similar notes which Dr J. Smith and others have long communicated to the Royal Physical Society. The other sources from which I have occasionally drawn information will be mentioned with the entries to which they refer ; but I take this opportunity of recording my thanks to Mr Scot Skirving, Mr Ivison Macadam, and last, but not least, to Mr Small, the well-known Edinburgh bird-stuffer, for much valuable information. RAPTORES. FALCONID^. 1. Aquila Chrysaetos. Pall. The Golden Eagle. A rare visitant; chiefly young birds in autumn and winter. North Berwick, 1865 ;i Coldingham, March 1866;^ In- nerleithen, Feb. 1876; Roxburgh, 1876, and Jan. 1877 (Berw. Nat. Proc, vol. viii. p. 196); Dunse, Jan. 1877.- Examples have also been seen at East Linton, Hutton Mill, Lauder, &c. 2. HALiAiiTos ALBiciLLA. LcttcJi. The Emc, or White-tailed Eagle. A rare straggler, but probably more frequent than the » Turnbull's ' Birds of East Lothian.' = Proc. of Berw. Nat. Club. The Scottish Naturalist. 279 former species. Tynninghame, Dec. 1858 ;i Kinkell, Fife, Dec. 1866; Cheviots, March 1874; Lammermoors, October 1874 (Berw. Nat. Proc, vol. vii. p. 293-301); Marchmont, Jan. 187 7. ^ Also at Greenlaw, St Abb's Head, &c. 3. Pandion Haliaetos. Cuv. The Osprey. Another irregular visitant. Dunbar, 1852;"^ Lauderdale, 1857;! Berwick, 1867;! Falkirk, Oct. 1868; 2 Burn- mouth, Sept. 1871;! Floors, near Kelso, 1873.^ Several old or unauthenticated instances are mentioned in the Proc. of the Berw. Nat. Club, and elsewhere. [Falco Gyrfalco. Linn. The Gerfalcon. Said to have been found in Forfarshire in 181 2. G. Don. Vide Gray. Aberdeenshire, Pennant, ed. 1772; Argyle- shire, Sept. 1866 and 1868. 2] 4. Falco peregrinus. Gmd. The Peregrine. Not yet extremely rare, but greatly diminished. A pair still breeds regularly on the Bass Rock ; also, until re- cently, at St Abb's Head, and still, perhaps, at Fast Castle. Said also to breed in Lauderdale,^ on the Cheviots, Isle of May, &c. 5. Falco subbuteo. Linn. The Hobby. Rare. Portobello, July 1863; Dumfries, June 1867; Bowmont Forest, 1870;^ Innerleithen, 1872; Dunse, 1872 ;i Berwickshire (two specimens), 1874.^ [Falco rufipes. Tevim. The Red-footed Falcon. A very rare bird. Foveran, Aberdeenshire, 1866;- Hauxley, near Alnwick, 1868.^] 6. Falco ^salon. Gmel. The Merlin. Rather numerous. Common near Edinburgh in the winter-time. Breeds in Peeblesshire and Berwickshire. 7. Falco tinnunculus. Linn. The Kestrel. The commonest of our hawks, but very greatly reduced in numbers. ^ Proc. of Berw. Nat. Club. ^ Gray's ' Birds of the West of Scotland. ' I 28o The Scottish Naturalist. 8. AsTUR PALUMBARius. Bech. The Goshawk. Very rare, but probably more frequent in our district than in the West of Scotland. Tynehead, Dec. 1865 ; Jed- burgh, Nov. 1869 ;i (Aberdeen, 1875 and 1876 ;2) Dal- keith;^ Elie, Jan. 1877;^ Berwickshire, Jan. 1876.^ « [AsTUR ATRiCAPiLLUS. WHs. The American Goshawk. A specimen was shot on Schiehallion in the spring of 1869. Vide Gray, p. 39.] 9. AcciPiTER Nisus. Pall. The Sparrow-hawk. Tolerably common, but less so than the Kestrel. 10. MiLVUS REGALis. Kaiip. The Kite. All but extinct throughout Scotland, and stragglers are of rare occurrence. Gladsmuir Woods (Turnbull) ; two at Blair Athole, Feb. 1876.2 Mr Gray, writing in 187 1, thought that the Kite still bred in Perth and Aberdeen. [MiLVUS NIGER. Bp. The Black Kite. Forfarshire, G. Don. Near Alnwick, May 1866.] 11. BuTEO VULGARIS. Bech. The Common Su^zard. No longer breeds in our district, but specimens are killed every year, principally in autumn and winter. 12. BuTEO LAGOPUS. Lcach. The Rough-legged Buzzard. In some seasons this species is exceedingly abundant along the coast, Tree-pipit. 14. Cuckoo. 15. Landrail. 16. Swift. 17- Spotted l'"Iy-catcher The Scottish Naturalist. 285 Perth. The Grasshopper-warbler has also been noticed in this neighbourhood, but until more information is gained it cannot be classed as a regula?- summer visitant. Among the first of our sum- mer birds to arrive towards the end of March is the Willow-Wren, which, along with the White-throat and the Little Sedge-warbler, is the most abundant in this neighbourhood. The Wheatear, equally early with the first, and as abundant in many parts of the country, confines itself more to the rabbit-warrens on the coasts, and the higher hills in the interior. Though the Wheat- ear may work its way along the shores of England from the south till it reaches our more northern regions, still I am inclined to believe that its true vernal line of passage to Scotland is direct across the German Ocean from Holland or Belgium, a little over 300 miles. In confirmation of this, Mr Gray, in his 'Birds of the West of Scotland,' p. 88, says : " On the Dunbar Links, in the month of March, I have seen them arriving in thousands, and flying before me, in my early morning walks, like bits of sea-foam borne by the breeze ; " and further says, " I have never seen such arrivals on any of the sea-borders of the west of Scotland." In April comes the Swallow, and others follow in rapid succession. Towards the first of May we hear the Cuckoo and the Landrail, while a little later the Swift makes its appearance, and last of all the Spotted Fly-catcher, generally about the 12th or 15th of the month. Last year the first noticed was on the 17th. The less widely spread are the Garden Warbler and the Tree-pipit. Though hundreds of Swallows, House and Bank Martins, chiefly young birds, appear in the autumn, their numbers seem greatly to have diminished both on their arrival and during the breeding season in this part of the country. Few are now to be seen in the summer months in comparison with former years, when I can recollect many an open shed, cottage window, and eave of house, each with its colony of Swallows and House-Martins, and closely-packed nests, where there is not one now. The same may be said of the Sand-Martin : many a bank and gravel-pit, which formerly held its scores, now lie tenantless. This, I am told, has been noticed also in other parts of the country. I may mention, that though I have ceased to notice the House-Martin as plentiful as heretofore in their old quarters, I have lately ob- served them, while ascending Glen Tilt, breeding in large numbers on the lonely cliffs of Ben-y-Gloe, much as I have seen the Rock Martin {Cotyle 7'upestris) do in southern Europe. The Swift, on the other hand, seems to be considerably increased in numbers. 2 86 The Scottish Naturalist. Among our regular winter visitants to the county, we have the Red Wing, Fieldfare, Bramble Finch, Snow-Bunting, Jack Snipe, Water-rail, Wild Geese, and several other species of water-fowl. The two first arrive earlier or later in September and October, according to the state of the weather. The Jack Snipe is gener- ally regular, coming almost to a day, about the 5 th of October. Last year it was somewhat earlier, and so was the Water-rail, the former on the 29th of September, when there was a considerable arrival both of it and the Common Snipe, which, however, must be considered among the accessory migrants. The first Water- rail noticed last year was on the ist of October; it is, however, the middle or the end of the month before they generally arrive. The Wild Geese are also very regular, both as to their arrival and departure, coming the first week of October, and leaving us the third week of April. The less widely spread of those mentioned in the above list of summer birds are the Garden-warbler and Tree-pipit. This list, however, must not be taken as the total of our summer visitants round Perth, for we have the Stone-chat, Meadow-pipit, Pied and Grey Wagtails ; but these are all paiiial or local migrants, re- maining all the year in this country, merely shifting their quarters to other parts, either to the southern counties or to our sea-shores, returning again regularly in spring. Both our Wagtails, however, occasionally stay with us the whole winter, and at other times disappear. This winter I have constantly seen both species up to this present date (7th February). Under this head oi partial or local migration the Song Thrush must be classed, which, though essentially migratory on the Continent, is with us only partially so, betaking itself in autumn to the open fields, especi- ally turnips, when they are joined by many foreigners, which arrive in great numbers from Norway and Sweden, all leaving us in the beginning of October, our native birds returning to us again about the first or second week of February. This very fact is remarked upon by Professor Newton, as observed by him in Norfolk (' Ibis,' i860, p. 84). In Torquay, South Devon, I found the Thrush abundant during the whole of the winter months, and at that season even in full song. Our more local mi- grants consist chiefly of the Waders, such as the Oyster-catcher, Curlew, Redshank, and Ringed Dottrel, — all these arriving regu- larly in the spring on their way to the hills and uplands for breeding purposes. The Oyster-catcher is very regular in its arrival, about the beginning of March, soon after which, in all The Scottish Naturalist, 287 the haughs and lower-lying fields in Athole and other Highland districts, the well-known form of the Sea Piot, with its shrill piping note, may be seen, like the Rook, following the plough, and grubbing for worms. Accessory migration consists of such as reinforce our seden- tary birds, and even some of those that are of pa?'tial migration, arriving every autumn in large numbers from the Continent. Thus we have fresh levies every year of Linnets, Redpoles, Siskins, Goldcrests, Robins, Larks, Blackbirds, and Thrushes, Hawks, Owls, Woodcocks, Snipe, and a host of others, besides wildfowl innumerable. Some of these accessory migrants appear in such wonderful masses as to create profound astonishment ; and Mr Gray mentions an instance in that of the Lark, which appeared some years ago in such prodigious numbers near Gir- van, that on rising into the air they formed a dark cloud of the most singular appearance ; and, on one occasion, in the confusion of their movements, the whole body crossed one of the public roads, by the side of which there were several lines of telegraph wires, but the mass of birds was so compact that none of those in a line with the wires escaped destruction. As soon as the flock was past dozens were picked up dead or mutilated, portions of wings torn from the living bird being even found ad- hering to the wires. Mr Cordeaux also bears witness to extra- ordinary flights of Larks arriving on the coast in the Humber district ; and the late Dr Saxby relates that flocks return in large numbers of several hundreds through Shetland, on their way north, in the month of March. The little Gold Crest also reaches our shores in large flocks every year, about the middle of Octo- ber. Both at the Spurn and Flamborough Head they are fre- quently found dead beneath the lighthouses, having dashed bewildered against the glass lanterns on their migration ; and Mr Cordeaux, who has paid much attention to our migratory birds, is of opinion that these autumn flights again leave our shores in the spring, but that the journey is then performed in little companies, and that they thus escape observation. In this neighbourhood,^ in the large fir and spruce woods about Scone, I have, in the late autumn and early winter, frequently observed immense quantities of Goldcrests, I may say in hundreds, flitting from tree to tree, evidently part of some of these great autumnal flights. The Woodcock, too, which is generally preceded by this little bird, from which on some parts of the coast it bears 1 Perth. 288 The Scottish Natiwalist. the name of the Woodcock Pilot, is now well known to be resi- dent in this country, rearing two, if not three, broods a-year. Though long supposed to be a winter migrant only, it receives large accessions every year from the north, perhaps replacing those that may have moved farther south or west as the case may be, though not actually leaving Great Britain, but only performing a partial or local migration, — many possibly being even sedentary in some parts of the country, and never quitting their native woods ; but whether these seeming residents are really so or not it would be difficult to prove without some distinguishing mark. Sir Thomas Moncreiffe, a keen observer in all matters of natural history, assures me that the woods on Moncreiffe Hill are never, at any time of the year, without Woodcock ; that numbers are bred there annually \ and that it is his firm belief they never leave them. I have never heard it explained how the western parts of the country are so proverbially the home of the Woodcock, while in the eastern parts they are comparatively few. I can quite under- stand the attraction to the west, as a milder and more genial climate ; but from whence come these large flights of western Woodcocks? Do they reach the eastern coast first, and then cross overland from thence? or do they strike the northern parts of Scotland, and then spread down the western shore, and so reach the north of Ireland ? I think not ; as I have never been able to trace them in any great numbers in this direction. The direct line of migration seems to me to be naturally the eastern coast ; and Mr Cordeaux confirms this when he says that, with the prevailing winds off the land from south to west, it is never a great Woodcock season on the east coast ; but strong winds blowing anywhere from the opposite quarters — south-east to north-west — and especially if accompanied with thick foggy or drizzly weather — and the stronger the wind and wilder the weather, the greater number of birds, as a rule, may be found — and that the probability is that, with the prevailing winds from south to west, which are then never good Woodcock seasons on the east coast, that they do not alight, but pass over in the night, and are first heard of in the west of England or Ireland (of course the same stands good for the west of Scodand) ; and this I quite agree in believing to be the true line of flight — re- turning to the east coast, according to Mr Cordeaux, about the first week in March. But, perliaps, of all our accessory migrants, none concerns us TJic Scottish Naturalist. . 289 or the interests of the farmer more than that of the Wood- Pigeon, as there can be no doubt but what these birds reacli us from the Continent in large hordes every year; otherwise, looking to the great increase in the eastern counties of Scot- land, and the destruction of so many thousands annually tak- ing place there, no such increase, says Mr Gray, can reason- ably be traced to the results of a single breeding season ; and in accordance with this opinion, he instances a wonderful invasion, which he himself witnessed, about three miles east of Dunbar. '' I had gone out," he says, " about daybreak, and was astonished to see a prodigious cloud of pigeons, fully a mile seawards, steering for the nearest land. The entire body of birds alighted on the sandy beach at Catcrag Bay, which they completely covered. I am satisfied there must have been in the flock twenty or thirty thousand pigeons, at the lowest com- putation; and from the fact of their alighting immediately on reaching land, without any preliminary survey of the ground, I concluded they had come in from a long journey." The subject under this head {Accessory migratioii) is too ex- tensive to be dealt with here fully. I will, therefore, take up the next head of occasional, accidental, or psezido migrants to Great Britain. The list is large, not only comprising many from the European continent and the more eastern parts of the Old World, but also a large number of pseudo-migrants from the continent of America; and it may be here interesting to record a few from the former, which have been either noticed or obtained round Perth within a radius of ten miles. Gj'cat Shrike. — Several instances have occurred, especially of late years. Rose-coloii7'ed Pastor. — Two or three in former years in the Carse district, at Megginch. Hoopoe. — The same may be said of the Hoopoe ; and one is now in the possession of Sir Thomas Moncreiffe, shot by him at Craigie. JVaxwing. — No record of this bird, though I believe it to have been captured in this vicinity; and a year or two ago a specimen was obtained in the neighbouring shire of Fife. Poller. — This bird was seen by me, many years ago, at Megginch, remaining for some time in the neighbourhood, and was called by the people the German Parrot. Hawfinch. — Two of these birds were shot near Murray's Asylum, 290 The Scottish Naturalist. Perth, in the winter of 1860-61, and came into the possession of Dr M'Intosh, who has kindly presented one of them to the Perthshire Society of Natural Science. Crossbill. — These I have not noticed of late ; but as previously mentioned, they appeared in enormous numbers in all this district in 1838. A??ierica?i White- Winged Crossbill. — About six or seven years ago, what I took to be these birds were seen by me in the Kin- fauns -woods, in a small party of six or seven ; but I was unable to obtain a specimen. Turtle-dove. — These birds I have noticed more than once in the Carse of Gowrie ; and the summer before last three flew past me near Murie. The bird is too well known to me to have mistaken it. Spotted Crake. — Frequent examples of this little Crake have been seen by me on the banks of the Tay in autumn, one of which is now in my possession. Solitary Snipe. — One example of this bird was seen by me on the banks of the Tay on the 3d September 1874 — the only one I have ever seen in Scotland. Purple Waterhen i^Porphyrio s??iaragdo?iotus). — Among other water- birds, one specimen of this Porphyrio was obtained two years ago on the banks of the Tay. See Scot. Nat., vol. iv. p. 87, 1877. I may also add the Quail as an occasional visitant. Formerly it was of 7'egular migration in the Carse of Gowrie, where it bred. The last nest known to me was in the garden-hedge at the Manse of Errol, in the summer of 1832. But of pseudo-migrants, perhaps the most extraordinary on record is the irruption of Pallas's Sand Grouse into Great Britain, from the plains of Tartary, in the year 1863. The first observed in this country were three that were shot in the year 1859, one in Wales and two in Norfolk ; but it was not until the year above- mentioned that the Great Tartar invasion, aptly so called by Pro- fessor Newton in his most interesting paper on the subject (' Ibis,' 1864, p. 185), took place throughout Europe, — "effecting a jour- ney of some 4000 geographical miles, none of them guided to a fixed goal by the traditional instinct of migration accumulated through long generations, but all urged by some, not less forcible, impulse." Many hundreds reached our own shores, stretching from North Unst in Shetland to the P^nglish Channel. In the The Scottish Naturalist. 291 long list of localities visited by these birds, and so carefully drawn up by Professor Newton, I do not find any record of their having been noticed in Perthshire, though in the neigh- bouring county of Forfar several wxre seen, and six shot on the Links of Montrose. Comment on the sad reception of these birds would be here out of place ; I may, however, say that, had they not been everywhere shot down in the shameful way they were, Syr?-haptis paradoxus might, by this time, have become perfectly naturalised, and been added to the British avi- fauna. In addition to birds reaching us from the continent of Europe, and these more eastern parts of the world, we are, as before stated, also visited by many from the continent of Ame- rica, from whence no less than sixty-nine species have been, from time to time, noticed in Europe, and over fifty of these in the British Islands alone. Professor Baird of the Smithsonian Institute, in his most interesting and instructive paper on the Distribution and Migrations of North American Birds, in the 'American Journal of Science,' 1866 ('Ibis,' 1867, p. 72), says, " In nearly all cases these specimens belong to species abun- dant during summer in New England and the eastern provinces of British America, and that the clue to these peculiarities, at- tending the interchange of species of the two Continents, will be found in the study of the laws of the winds of the northern hemi- sphere as developed by Professor Henry and Professor Coffin." It is curious to note, that nearly all of the fifty species that have appeared in Great Britain have been got in England, only one or two in Scotland ; and the same may be said of Ireland. Of Scottish specimens, I will only mention one — the Ruby-crowned Wren — shot on the banks of Loch Lomond by Dr Dewar of Glasgow (Gray, p. 200), in company with a large flock of Gold Crests in the summer of 1852. Another specimen was also got in England, obtained by the Rev. Dr Tristram, it having been got in the flesh, from a Durham pitman, who had killed it in the same year ; and from this circumstance, Mr Gray is in favour of the surmise, that a migratory flock of these diminu- tive birds may have been driven out of their ordinary flight, and have come, probably through prevalent westerly winds, in the direction of Greenland, from the south of which they would travel by stages — namely, Iceland and the Faroe Islands — to our shores. Whether such were the case, or that, caught up by a westerly gale, and furiously driven before it across the 292 The Scottish Naturalist. broad Atlantic, the fact remains the same, creating wonder and surprise that a bird so small and so weak, not bigger than our little Golden-crested Wren, should be enabled to effect so marvellous a journey. I might dwell much longer on this subject, were it not that I fear I have taken up too much space already. In conclusion, therefore, I will only say, that should the remarks which I have made (and which, on my part, I feel may be very defective) in any way create an interest, so as to induce others to pay atten- tion to, and throw further light on, a subject so fraught with wonders as that of migration, I shall feel myself more than repaid. Dead Wood-Pigeons. — It is a very common thing in our Norfolk woods to hear the remark made that a hawk has been kilHng a wood-pigeon here, and to find a number of feathers, of the identity of which there can be no doubt, on the ground. Many other observers, in other parts of Great Britain, would say the same thing has often come under their notice in woods and forests. I have sometimes found it impossible, in places where wood-pigeons were abundant, to ramble a mile without coming on the remains of a dead one or two ; and I have again and again, on finding such remains, heard the crime assigned to a hawk. In my own mind I have always acquitted the hawks, not believing that this was putting the saddle on the right horse. It has always seemed to me more probable that the explanation of the mortality might be found in disease. To what extent birds are subject to it we do not know. Like the age to which birds in a state of nature live, it is one of those questions about which there is still a great deal to be learned. I would merely throw out the suggestion, and we shall see if it meets with any endorsement from Scottish naturalists, that the wood-pigeon is more subject to disease than other birds, and that their liability to this mortality, over and above the ills that other bird-flesh is heir to, is designed by a provident nature to check the too rapid increase of a bird which is becoming a great nuisance in some parts of England, and which, if I mistake not, has had a price set upon its head by the farmers of Scotland. — ^J. H. Gurney, junr., Northrepps Hall, Norwich. Acherontia atropos. — Two very fine specimens' were captured in this neighbourhood lately. One was obtained on the 21st of May, and the other on the 3d of June. From their fresh appearance, they do not seem to have been long out of the pupa state. Is this not early for these specimens to be found in Scotland?— Andrew Brotherston, Kelso. Alternation of Generations in the Cynipidae. — At page 117 I called attention to the reported discovery that dimorphism or alternation of genera- tions occurred in the gall-making Cynipidic. At page 152 Mr P. Cameron endeavoured to show — from negative evidence only — the improbability of such being the case. Direct experiments, made by M. Lichtenstein, Mr Fletcher, and Mr P. Cameron himself, have quite confirmed Dr Adler's statements. The Scottish Naturalist. 293 THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF MONOREIFFE HILL. By Sir THOMAS MONCREIFFE, Bart. ( Continued from page 244). Deltoides. 294. Hypena proboscidalis j c Pyralides. 295. Pyralis farinalis ; / 296. Aglossa pinguinalis ;/" 297. Pyrausta purpuralis; r — I have one specimen of this insect, captm^ed on my window on the morning of August 22, which had probably come into light on the previous night. I have also one specimen of — 298. P. ostrinalis, captured while flying in the sunshine on a rocky face, at an elevation of 550 feet, on June 17, 1872. Surely these are different insects. There is no mint near where the latter was taken. The size, shape, colour, markings, and habitat are totally different. 299. Ennychia cingulata ; c 307. Simaethis fabriciana; c 300. Hydrocampa nymphaeata ; r 308. Scoparia cembrse;/ 301. Botys verticalis ; r 302. ,, fuscalisj/" 303. Pionea forficalis ; c 304. Scopula lutealis ; c 305. „ prunalis ; c 306. Nomophila hybridalis; r 314. Aphomia sociella; c 315. Achroea grisella. — An old hive stowed away, full of comb, in a shed, was attacked by this insect in 1872, from which I obtained a copious supply. 316. Nephopteryx abietella. — Probably not uncommon if bred, but rare in the imago state. 317. Pempelia subornatella. — Common, but local Crambid^. 318. Crambus falsellus;/ 322. Crambus culmellus ; c 319. ,, pratellus ; r 323. ,, inquinatellus ; r 320. „ dumetellus ; r ? 324. „ pinetellus;^ 321. „ hortuellus;^ 325. „ perlellus ; r H 309- ambigualis ; c 310. dubitalis ; c 311- cratsegella ; c 312. mercurella ; c z-^z- murana ; c 294 ^^'^ Scottish Naturalist. Nycteolid^. 326. Hylophila prasinana ;/" TORTRICINA. Sarrothripa revayana. — I took about twenty specimens flying at dusk, between January 30 and April 27, 1872. I presume T hit upon a brood \ they were all flying near Cupressus. I have not taken many specimens in other seasons. They vary con- siderably. Aviphysa ger7iingana. — This is a local species, but is not uncommon in one or two localities .from 500 to 600 feet of an elevation. Frequents heather, Calhma vulgaris. Flies in the afternoon, at the end of July and in August. Eidia ministrana. — Distributed generally over the face of Moncreiffe Hill, and not especially near hazel. Indeed I think it is most common at an elevation of 600 feet, where no hazel is to be met with. This is an early insect, floating about in the fine afternoons in May. Penthina corticajia. — Rather an uncommon insect. I have taken it flying in the evening, and at rest on tree-trunks in June. P. betuletaiia. — More frequent than the former. To be beaten off" birches or resting on the undergrowth beneath them in August. P. prcelongaiia. — A more common insect than either of the former on the lower grounds of Moncreiffe, and also to be met with up to 600 feet. To be beaten out or taken on the tree- trunks in June. P. cynosbatclla. — This is a very common insect in my garden in June. It appears to prefer plum, pear, and apricot trees to any others. I have reared it from Py7-us japonica. Lozotenia 7nuscu/a7ia. — Common, and generally distributed. It is one of the early tortrices that cheer one by their appearance in the beginning of May. Here it is decidedly attached to oak, but I was puzzled once by meeting with it flying in numbers about a wall-side on the open moor near Loch Broom, some distance from any plantation. Z. xylosteana. — Frequent some seasons among the oaks in my shrubbery, but by no means common. Is to be found up to 5 CO feet. Appears in August. Z. rosaua. — Abundant in my garden some seasons, from the The Scottish Naturalist. 295 8th June till the middle of August, If not looked to in the early stages is very destructive to apricot and pear trees. Batodes angustioraua. — I have reared this insect from yew, the leaves of which it spins together ; I have also found the larva comfortably rolled up in the centre of the stone of the last year's yew-berry. Those I reared appeared in May, but I take the perfect insect also in August. Ptycholovia lecheana. — Not common. Appears among oak trees here from June till August. Fai'dia tripwictana. — Abundant among rose-bushes in the garden, and to be met with in the June evenings about hedge- rows in which the dog-rose grows. Lithographia cinerana. — I have collected many of this form from poplar, and I have also collected a large number of the form — L. nisei/a, from sallow. I have also bred the cinera?ia form from poplar, and I must confess I strongly incline to think they are different insects, as I have never taken or bred from poplar the richly marked insect which is attached to sallow. The basal patch is also almost always strongly defined and filled up with colour to the very base of the wing in nisella, whereas in cifie- raiia it seldom if ever is so. Here, also, the manner of the in- sect is quite different. The poplar species, when beat off, almost invariably returns to the trunk of the tree or darts off to some neighbouring trunk. The sallow form flies away, sometimes at some elevation, and requires a sharp net or pursuit to capture. I have, however, submitted a good many specimens to IMr Bar- rett, and he inclines to the opinion that they are identical. L. penkleriaiia. — Common among alder and hazel in July. Varies considerably, some specimens being brightly and de- cidedly marked, others almost unicolorous. Phlceodes teti-aquet7-ana. — Common among birch in INIay, prin- cipally over 400 feet. I have one specimen in which the ground colour is almost white and the darker markings of a pale slate colour. Pcedisca soi'didana. — Not common. My specimens were beat out of alder at a low elevation. P. solandriana. — Common at all altitudes. I^Iy specimens vary from rich red brown to pale ochreous or slate colour, most having a rich white blotch on the inner margin, others with the blotch much the same shade as the ground colour, but I do not remember ever having seen a specimen v>ath the large dark brown blotch on the inner margin as described by Mr Stainton, or like 296 'llie Scottish Naturalist. Wood's figure, 1027, or Hubner's semimaciilana, which Staudinger makes solandriajia. Is this latter a common EngUsh form ? P. ophthalmicana. — Locally common at a low elevation on poi^lar. Catoptria cana and Scopoliana. — If Mr Barrett is right in his division of the species, which I am inclined to think he is, we have here cana and scopoliana. See ' Barrett's Tortrices, E.M.M.,' vol. X., page 4. Mr Barrett has seen my specimens and named them accordingly. They seem both common in certain places in June and July. Halonota bimaculana. — Not uncommon here. I usually take it either on the heather under, or .beaten off, birch-trees in August and September. H. trigeminana. — A very abundant insect on the face of Mon- creiffe Hill in June, especially on the dry faces at and over 500 feet. H. cirsiana. — Locally frequent. Sitting on the herbage or flying in the sunshine in May and June. H. scutulana i^Phhigiana). — Not very common, being local. The average size of the males here is 9 to 10 lines. I see Wil- kinson gives 7|- to 9, as does Mr Stainton. I cannot see any resemblance between our cirsiana and scutulana. H. brunjiichiana. — The food-plant is not very common here ; but, where it grows in my garden and orchard, I find brunnichi- ana in July and August. I have a female taken at Keir which is nearl)'- unicolorous, the dorsal patch being very slightly paler than the ground colour. H. tetragonana. — Not common. I have taken a few specimens in the last two or three years among the rose-bushes in the garden, towards the end of June. Mr Barrett informs me that my specimens are unusually dark. Dicroranipha pctiverclla. — Plentiful, where and when it occurs; but where I find it one season it is sometimes entirely absent the next. The pale dorsal mark is, as Mr Stainton observes, sometimes divided by the ground colour. It appears here in July. D. alpinana. — In the few places where the tansy grows liere, alpinana is commonly to be met with in July. D. pluvibagana. — I have two specimens taken near my liouse in the end of May, wliich Mr Barrett has identified for me as this insect : as the members of this family are so much alike, it may be more common tlian I suppose. The Scottish Naturalist. 297 D. pliimbana. — Very abundant among old pasture near my house, and among rough herbage by the river side. Varies slightly in size and considerably in shade. Of some pale speci- mens I sent to Mr Barrett, he writes: "Your specimens agree well with my two Dicrorampha saturnana, but I had no idea that it would be found in Scotland. It is very doubtful still whether it is really distinct from pluvibana.^'' They certainly are very puzzling here,, as I find them all flying together, although the plumhaiia form is rather later than what appear to be satur- 7iana, the latter commencing to fly in May, the former principally in June. D. herbosa7ia. — An abundant insect here, and certainly ap- pears to be quite distinct from any of the genus we have here. This, as well as others of the family, has a tendency to albinoism in some specimens. D. coiisortaiia, — This insect is so small and so easily overlooked that I have not obtained many specimens ; and as the river bank where I have noticed it is much exposed, I could not find a day sufliciently calm last year to make it possible to see or follow up the smaller tortrices. I have no doubt, however, that in that spot it may be fairly common in July. Coccyx hyrciniana. — Abundant of course among spruce in May and June. Some specimens are of a rich golden brown, and almost unicolorous. Capua ochraceana. — Common at an altitude of 500 feet where no hornbeam grows, although there is some stunted beach. At the further end of my hill, where there is a fair quantity of hornbeam, I have never seen a specimen. ( To be continued.) Eupithecia togata and Stigmonota perlepidana. — I have to-day reared a specimen of Eupithecia togata from spruce fir-cones, gathered in Moncreiffe shrubbery. I have often gathered these cones before, and have reared Asthenia strobilella in numbers, but have never collected them in so fresh a state before. I have no doubt togata is here in plenty, but owing to the size and age of the trees, it probably frequents the higher branches in the imago state, as the cones grow more profusely near the tops. It only shows how insects may be overlooked, as I or my boys seldom miss a day in hunting for insects in these grounds. It proves also that the cones must be gathered when newly fallen, if not off the tree, as probably the larva leaves the cone soon after it falls to the ground. I have also found Stigmonota perlepidana among Lathy rus pratensis^ a second proof that this is a food-plant, as you may remember we thought last year at Kinfauns. — Thos. Moncretffe. PHYTOLOGY. ON OEETAIN LICHENS BELONGIM TO THE GENUS PAEMELIA. By JAMES STIRTON, M.D., F.L.S. ( Continued fro7n page 254. ) Parmelia reddenda sp. nov. — Similis P. ^^rrm sed medulla (C — vel K — C — ). Thallus subtus niger ambitu spadiceus ru- gosulus rhizinosiis, rhizinis nigris, nigricantibus vel etiam interdum pallidis. Sterilis. Prope New Galloway Scotiae, a J. M'Andrew lecta. This lichen resembles exactly specimens of P. Borreri (also gathered from the same locality) both in colour and soredioid points. It preserves the same characteristics whatever the stage of growth. It must be closesly allied to P. ncgata (Nyl.), the only recorded description of which is however very imperfect. Parmelia eimda sp. nov. — Thallus pallide glaucescens laciniato- dissectus, laciniis inciso-divisis, plerumque margine recurvis et hinc inde nigro-ciliatis, subtus niger, nudus, rugosulus ambitu spadiceus vel fuscescens et saepe dealbatus ; medulla alba (K — C bene erythrinosa sed C seorsum, erythrinosa saltem leviter) ; apothecia mediocria vel majuscula recepta- culo subpedicellato vel elevato ; sporje Snae, .02-.028 x .011-.016 mm. lodo gel. hym. vix tincta, thecce coerule- scentes, dein sa^pe fulvescentes. Spermatia cylindrica recta, .01 -.014 X circ. .0006 mm. Corticola ? prope Victoriam, in Africa merid., a eel. G. Thom- son lecta. Parmelia resupiiia sp. nov. — Similis P. siihriigafa. (Nyl.) a ccl. Krempelhiiber in ' Exot. Flecht.,' p. 320 descripta, sed minor et thallus subtus niger rugosulus, raro nigro-rhizinosus et ambitu saepe dealbatus ; apothecia mediocria receptaculo The Scottish Nattiralist 299 pedicellatoettubuloso-protracto; sporse, .025-.035 x .013-.021 mm. ; paraphyses graciles, filiformes, in gelatina firma in- volutoe apicibus fuscescentibus conglutinatis. loclo thecae coerulescentes cseteroquin gel. hym. non vel vix tincta. Spermatia curvula vel arcuata cylindrica, .006-. 00 7 5 x .007-.009 mm. Medulla alba (K — C — ) Ad ramulos prope Knysna in Africa Austral., a D*"^ J. B. Knobel lecta. Pan7ielia siiffixa sp. nov. — Thallus parvus prostratus pallidus vel pallide glaucescens vel pallide plumbeo-tinctus laevigatus, fere totus laciniato-divisus, laciniis planis radiantibus angustis (latit. circ. .5-1 mm.), sinuato-lobatis, subtus niger ambitu spadiceus, creberriter nigro-rhizinosus, rhizinis ssepe divari- cato-divisis ; medulla alba (K — C bene erythrinosa, sed C seorsum, leviter vel obsolete erythrinosa). Ad cortices prope Knysna in Africa Austral., a D^^ J. B. Knobel lecta. The colour resembles that of P. niolyhdiza (Nyl.), which has also been sent from S. Africa by Prof P. MacOwan. Parnielia etiplecta sp. nov. — Thallus pallidus vel pallide virescens adpressulus, interdum sorediiferus, lobato-divisus, subtus niger parce rhizinosus, ambitu fuscescens ; medullse stratum superius, album (K flavescens), inferius, tenue, flavescens vel pallide flavescens (K rubens vel aurantiaco-rubens). Sterilis. Ad ramulos prope Brisbane (F. M. Bailey) etiam in Bahia (Moseley). The specimen from Bahia has a paler thallus and is not so- red iiferous, but it is very small and not in good condition. Parmelia nitescens sp. nov. — Thallus pallescens vel etiam pal- lide cervino-fuscescens, nitidiusculus, laciniatus, laciniis im- bricato-depressis sinuato-lobatis, margine planis vel recurvis et tunc sorediosis, punctis albidis minutis (latit. circ. .1 mm.) vel sulcis sorediosis parce adspersis, subtus niger, ambitu spadiceus nudus (quantum video) nonnihil rugulosus ; med- ulla alba (C erythrinosa vel cinnabarina) ; apothecia et spermogonia ignota. Supra cortices prope Brisbane (F. T^I. Bailey). 300 The Scottish Naturalist, A NEW SCOTTISH LICHEN. By J. STIRTON, M.D., F.L.S. Litho^rapha Andretvii sp. nov. — Thallus albiis vel albidus vel detritus cinerascens (K — C — ), crassiusculus (crassit. circiter .5 mm.) ; apothecia parva, primum albo-velata demum erum- pentia, nigra, conferta, sessilia vel innato-sessilia, rotundata, oblonga simplicia vel rarius divisa (longit. .2-. 5 mm.), epithecio rimiformi demum explanato, margine proprio, prominulo ssepe inflexo ; sporae in thecis oblongo-pyrifor- mibus infra attenuatis, 8nae ssepissime uniseriatae incolores simplices, breviter ellipsoideae vel interdum fere globosae, uni-nucleatae (nucleo amplo et persistente), .0065-.011 x .005 -.007 mm. ; paraphyses distinctae filiformes mediocres apici- bus incoloribus et non vel vix clavatis ; epithecium fulves- cens; hypothecium incolor. lodo gel. hym. non tincta nisi lutescens, protoplasma thecarum fulvescens vel leviter fulves- cens. Gonidia flavo-virescentia majuscula (diam. .008-.016 mm.) Ad saxa granitica prope New Galloway Scotise, a J. M'Andrew lecta. The white veil which covers, at first, the apothecia, seems to correspond to what may be termed the epithallus. GLEN TILT: ITS FAUNA AND PLOKA. By F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. {Contiwied from page 248.) THE flora of Glen Tilt is, as may be imagined, tolerably rich. Tlie thick woods and damp rocks that overshadow the lower course of the Tilt have a very luxuriant sylvan vegeta- tion, quite different in its character from that of the upper and woodless part of the Glen. It will, therefore, be well to consider these apart, and to trace the changes in the flora as we ascend from the junction of the Tilt and Garry to the summits of the mountains. . The Scottish Naturalist. 301 THE FLOWERING PLANTS. At the mouth of the Tilt the flood gravels have formed flat haughs or terraces covered with a short springy turf and adorned with numerous wild-flowers. Here are to be found various plants which are not usually met with so far inland in the High- lands, such as the Maiden Pink {Diaiithiis deltoides) with its lovely pink blossoms, the soft woolly heads of the Hare's-foot Trefoil {Trifolium arvefisc), the purple flowers of the little Milk- vetch [Astragalus hypoglottis), &c. A little further down the Garry, and just outside of our district, Saxifraga tridactylites, a very rare plant in Perthshire, occurs along with the alpine Poten- tilla maculata. On ascending the Tilt as far as Blair Castle, the character of the vegetation will be found to have altogether changed. Here many of the most conspicuous plants have no pretension to be considered as natives, as they have either been purposely planted, or, what is as likely, escaped from cultivation. One of the most striking of these is Valeriana pyre?iaica, which occurs in great beds on the banks of the Bannavie ; and amongst others are Ca7npanula persicifolia, C. rapuuculoides^ ^ Linaria cymbalaria, Convallaria majalis, &c. Soon, however, the naturalised plants disappear and a rich native flora reigns undisturbed. The rarest of all the plants of this, or, indeed, of any part of the Glen, is Polygonatum verticil latum, which, though not abundant, still keeps its ground, and is not likely to be exterminated. Few people, I imagine, know the exact places where it grows, and as it has no conspicuous flower it is likely to escape the notice of any one save an enthusiastic botanist, who will probably treat it with due respect. In the drier parts of the woods Melampyrum sylvaticum grows in large beds, the pale-flowered form which I described in this magazine some years ago being nearly as common as the usual darker-flowered form. In the depth of the wood the curious Herb Paris {Paris quadrifolia) makes large beds, as does the pretty-flowered but strong-smelling Wild Garlic {Allium ursinum) on the banks of the river. In this part of the Glen ferns of course abound, but only in- clude the common species. On one spot on the banks of the Bannavie is the largest bed of the Oak Fern {Polypodium dry- opteris) that I ever saw. A steep precipitous bank, 25 or 30 feet high (if not higher), is completely clothed for some distance 302 The Scottish Naturalist. with this fern. Then the various wood grasses take their part in ornamenting the banks and rocks. The elegant MeUc Grasses [Melica unifiora and nutans') and the taller Bi'omus asper are among these ; while over the Wild Raspberries, St John's-worts, Geraniums, and other plants that form the mass of the vegeta- tion, the Wood Vetch ( Vicia sylvatica), with its pale and purple- pencilled flowers, twines in an entangled mass. As we ascend the stream the woods become more open and drier, except in the ravines, and the flora gradually alters. Here occurs a plant that seems otherwise to love the western rather than the eastern side of Scotland — namely, the rare and local Vicia orobus. In Glen Tilt it is by no means common, though in one place in the neighbouring district of Rannoch it abounds. Leaving now the wooded part of the Glen, we enter on the meadows and grassy slopes of the hills — dry and stony in some places, wet and marshy in others. In the marshy and grassy places Orchids abound, and form quite a feature in the scene. All the Hahe?iarias {albida, virida, chlorantha, and bifolid) occur, while the deliciously-scented Gymnadenia conopsea abounds, and the rather rare Orchis ijicarnata is to be found here and there. Along with the latter another rather local plant, Eriophoriun latifoliwn, may be found. The alpine plants now begin to make their appearance. Saxi- fraga aizoides descends, as is its habit, along the river banks, quite to the low country, and is accompanied by Oxyria re7ii- fortnis and Alchemilla alpi?ia; but as we get near Forest Lodge these plants get far more abundant, and, except the Oxyria, leave the river and grow in every suitable place. The Saxifrage indeed forms large beds in every stony marshy place, where its yellow flowers form in their season conspicuous masses. In marshy places, too, the local Tofieldia raises its white flowers; and in drier places Thalictrum alpinum and Carex capillaris may be found, and in chinks of the rocks beside the river the purple-flowered Saxifraga oppositifolia. All these plants, it must be remembered, grow alongside the road at no greater altitude than 900 feet, and are surrounded by a profusion of common lowland wild-flowers — Rock-rose, Centaurca nigra, Polygahx, &c. Apropos of Folygala, we find here, in addition to the common deprcssa, the true vul- garis — a much rarer plant, with more numerous, larger, and more brilliant flowers. On the slopes of the hill to the north of Forest Lodge wild flowers of many kinds abound, and in many instances attain a The Scottish Naturalist. 303 higher altitude above the sea-level than has been recorded for them. As these altitudes will be duly recorded in the Flora of Perthshire, I will say nothing about them here, but pass on to the alpine plants proper. Glen Tilt and the Athole mountains generally are, it must be admitted, decidedly poor in alpine plants. Comparing the list of Athole plants with those of the Breadalbane mountains to the west, and of Glen Isla and Clova to the east, one cannot but be struck by the absence of many species. The reason of this is, I imagine, the want of suitable places on the hills ; but above all, by the absence of those moist rocks and slopes which so many alpine plants delight in. In a word, the geological conformation of the hills is not favourable. Of the alpine plants which do occur, one of the rarest and most beautiful is Veronica saxatilis, which descends as low as 1600 feet on the high rock overlooking Forest Lodge. Here it abounds in company with D?yas octopefala, which descends to nearly 1000 feet, at which height Foa alpina occurs. A curious companion of Veronica saxatilis in this place is Che7iopodiMn honiis-he7iricus which must have been probably brought in the form of seeds attached to the wool of the sheep which frequent the place, or perhaps blown thither by the wind. The Cheno- podium can have no pretensions to be considered a native. Another alpine plant, which forms in some places a conspicuous object, is Cornus suecica, generally growing along with Vaccinium tiliginosum. All four species of Vaccinium grow in the glen, but as usual oxycoccos is rare, and grows in that straggling manner which is so different from its habit in lowland bogs. A plant reported long ago from Glen Tilt I have repeatedly searched for in vain. This is Epilobiiun rosmarinifoliiwi^ which is said to have been found near Pool Tarff, as well as on the banks of the Tilt and of the Tay. That it grew on the latter I quite believe, but only in a garden. The richest part of Glen Tilt for alpine plants is Ben Chat, and its distinguishing feature is the variety of forms of Hieracium. On this hill also Gnaphalium Jto?'vegicum has been found, though I have not succeeded in discovering it. The rather rare and local Pyrola secunda is not unfrequent in the district, growing almost invariably upon the summit of the steep rocky banks of burns. Pyrola media is much commoner, but we do not meet with P. minor till we get into the woods near Blair. Another rather local plant which is common, is Equisetiun 304 TJie Scottish Naturalist. prate?tse, which grows here and there on the banks of many of the burns, including the Tilt itself. The mountain lochs have of course their own plants. In the boggy ground surrounding them Bctula nana grows, and in the water Isoetes lacustris, &c., as well as the curious Utriciilaria, which, as I have seen no flowers, I can only suppose to be vul- garis. Of the great genus Carex, few of the rarer species have been found, the rarest being vaginata, which grows on Ben Ghlo. Carex pauciflora is exceedingly abundant on many of the hills. As for the ferns, nothing very rare occurs, the less common alpine species, such as Polystichum lonchitis and Pseudathyrium alpestre, being far from abundant. All the species of Lycopodium except inundatuni may be found; and inundatum has been said to occur near Blair Athole. The total number of flowering-plants and ferns occurring in Glen Tilt amounts to nearly 350, which, all things considered, is a very respectable allowance. In the concluding part of this paper the other cryptogamic plants will be briefly noticed. Mycological Notes — Hypocrea riccioidea, B. — A most interesting discovery has recently been made of the recurrence of a long-lost fmigus. The plant, which was growing on dead willow, was forwarded to me in April last by Mr James M 'Andrew of Nev/ Galloway, and proved to be Sph(xria riccioidea. Bolt., or Hypocrea riccioidea. Berk. It appears that the species has not been found in this country since February 1790. Mr Berkeley has written a note on the subject to the 'Gardeners' Chronicle,' in which he says — " Both the figure and description of Bolton are, as far as they go, excellent, even to the greenish matter on the older portions of the fungus. It was found, in the autumn of the same year (1790), by Tode, who gives a figure of it, under the name of Ac7-osperma lic/ienoides, in his 'Fungi of Mecklenburg.' Mons. L'Amy found it near Limoges, and a figure was given from his speci- mens by Dr Montague, in ' Annales des Sciences Naturelles' for 1836, who did not, however, identify it with the plant of Bolton. These, we believe, are the only occasions on which this rare and interesting species has been found." To find a plant after so long a period, and thus to confirm previous obser- vation, is a source of more genuine satisfaction to the Mycologist than even the discovery of new species. Mr M 'Andrew has fortunately been able to send me a sufficient number of specimens to admit of its being included in the first fasciculus which will be issued by the Cryptogamic Society of Scot- land.— John Stevenson, Glamis, May i^j^. Cryptogamic Society of Scotland.— The next Annual Conference will behelil in lC(iinl)urgli aljout the beginning of October. Those interested may learn further particulars from the local secretary, Mr J. Sadler, Royal Botanic Garden or from the Editor of the * Scottish Naturalist.' GEOLOGY. THE GOLD-FIELD AND GOLD-DIGaiMS OP OEAWFOKD- LINDSAY (LAl^AEKSHIEE). ; By W. LAUDER LINDSAY, M.D., F.R.S.E., F.L.S. {Cojitinued from page 268. ) FROM the beginning of the twelfth century down to the present day, feu-charters and other legal documents affect- ing landed property in Scotland have made frequent reference to — contain clauses regarding — possible ^^ gold my7ies^^ in or under the lands which they describe. The earliest official or documentary notice extant of the gold-mines of Scotland is a grant, of date 1 125, by David I. of a gold-mine in Fifeshire. This is an illus- tration of the fact that allusions to gold-mines are frequently made in the charters of lands that do not contain gold, — never did contain it. Fifeshire is not an aurifeous area, though it was in 1852 the scene of a veritable gold-digging and gold mania — known as the Lomond diggings} on the eastern bank of Loch Leven — the precious metal being represented on that occasion by a grosser, commoner ore that has often deceived the unwary — Iron pyrites. - On the other hand, the latest allusion I have seen made to the gold-mines of Scotland has been the case of " the Breadalba?ie gold and silver mines," which have been more than once before the Court of Session during the last few years. Their ownership was the subject of dispute between the present Earl of Breadal- bane, pursuer, and the judicial factor on the trust-estate of thQ late Marquis, defender ; an " action of declarator and reduction" 1 Described in the ' Transactions ' of the Geological Societies of Edinburgh for 1870, and of Dublin for 1871. 2 Calvert gravely informs us, however (p. 164), that, "on the statement of mineralogists, gold is now found in the Fifeshire mountains." 3o6 The Scottish Naturalist. having been raised relative to a Crown charter of 1742.^ This is a very different case from the Fifeshire one, for Breadalbane is unquestionably an auriferous area ; and how valuable its gold- mines are or may yet become may be gathered from what I stated concerning the gold-field of Breadalbane in a paper on " The Gold and Gold-Fields oi Perthshire;' printed in the ' Pro- ceedings of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science' for 1870. In 1867 the Geological Society of Edinburgh took much interest in the subject of the gold-mines of Scotland, and the nature of these mines in relation to Crown or other grants of gold-mines, or to the references to such gold-mines in legal, historical, or archaeo- logical works. It so happened th9,t the then secretary of the Society was a lawyer, the late Thomas Wallace, S.S.C., while another of its most energetic and accomplished members belonged to the same profession, the late James Haswell, W.S. In Decem- ber 1867 Mr Wallace thus wrote to me : " In the course of the discussion on your paper on ' The Gold-Fields of Scotland,' ^ Mr James Haswell mentioned that, in examining an entail, dated in 1693, he had found a reference to gold-mines, I asked him to give me an excerpt from the deed, which he has now done, and which I have the pleasure to enclose." The said excerpt, which follows, is interesting as illustrating — i. The common practice of lawyers, from the twelfth century downwards, of inserting what may be described as gold clauses in deeds affecting land in Scot- land; and 2, The doing so in cases where there was neither proof nor likelihood that gold actually existed or had ever been found. Extract from Deed of Entail executed by William 3d Duke, and Anne, Duchess, of Hamilton, dated 3d October 1693. Recorded in the Register of TailHes 4th July 1694 : — " Together with all and sundiy mynes of gold and silver lieing within the bounds and Barrony of Lesniahag(nv, or any part thereof, with full power, privilege, and liberty, to dig doun and win shanks and vaults in any part or parts of the said Lands and Barrony forsaid, sinks, passages and all other Meins and Instruments to use for working and wining of the said Mines and Mineralls. . . . " All and haill the lands of Kinglass with manor place, houses, biggings, yards, orchyards, doves, dowcoats, coalls, coallheughs, coall parts, pendicles ^ The evidence in the case was fully reported in the * Daily Review ' of February 16 and June 16, 1S75. 2 Published in the ' Transactions ' of the Society for 1S6S, and in those of the Irish Geological Society for 1869. The Scottish Naturalist. 307 and pertinents thereof wliatsomever lying within the Lordship and Barronie of Jedburgh and Sheriffdome of Linlithgozo, with all and sundry ?nynes of gold and silver, tinn, lead, copper, and other metalls whatsoniever within the said bounds of the said lands of Kinglass, with power to dig and sett doun shanks and vaults within any part thereof, with sinks, passages, and all other Meins and Instruments to use for working the said mynes and mineralls, And to use and dispone thereupon. And with liberty of fineing and refineing and transport- ing the same over seas {except the gold and silver)." Neither Lesmahagow (Lanarkshire) nor Linlithgow is an auri- ferous area, geologically speaking, though various unconfirmed or unproven statements have been made concerning the finding of gold in both areas. Thus Calvert tells us (p. 160) that "in 1620 the gold and silver mines of Lesmahagow were bestowed on the Marquess of Hamilton, and in thirty days afterwards eight pounds of native gold were brought to the mint, besides what the workmen got." A much more extraordinary statement, however, is that which he makes concerning Z/;//////^^7£/j-/«>^ (p. 164). " This county," he affirms, " is one of the chief gold regions of Scotland. ... As early as the reign of Queen Mary I. of Scotland, in the sixteenth century, the mines were worked here — said to be near Linlith- gow, but which is not certain : and one of the partners of these mines gave to the Regent, Earl of Morton, a bowl made of gold, capable of containing a gallon, and which was filled with coins, hkewise of gold, the produce of the mine." The same story, however, has already been told on the authority of Mr Fittis in connection with the native gold of Crawford Moor — that is, Lanarkshire.! Calvert further states (p. 164) that "a gold locality, lately identified in Linlithgowshire, is in the Bathgate Hills on the borders of Edinburghshire. "^ In 1424, James I. passed an act at Perth relating to gold-mines in Scotland — an important one, in so far as its influence extends to the present day. Our latest standard Encyclopaedia — the * Globe Encyclopaedia' — during the present year (1878) tells us that ''in Scotland, by the statute of 1424, gold-mines are declared 1 Vide p. 258 of present series of papers in the '' Scottish Naturalist.' - In a prospectus of the Hilderston Hill Silver Mining Company, issued in i873> we are told that "the leases include gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, nickel, arsenic, sulphur," &c. But my friend Andrew Taylor, F.C.S., mineral surveyor and lecturer on mineralogy, Edinburgh, who is both a native of Bathgate and familiar with the geology and mineralogy of his native county and their literature, informs me (in a letter of date April 187S) that he knows, of no proper evidence of the existence of gold in Linlithgowshire at a]]^ith4iP Z^ V now or at any previous time. A ^^"^ — ^*- /^ 3o8 The Scottish Naturalist. to belong to the O'0W7i without limitation." Hence the common exception of gold-mines in the conveyance of landed estates ; and hence also the vexatious 7-oyalty or tax that proved so great an obstacle to the development of the Sutherland diggings of 1869. But the term gold-mine would appear to be oi p7-ehistoric origin in some parts at least of Scotland. It is, at all events, not con- fined to old Crown-grants or feu-charters — to historical or anti- quarian works. It is incorporated with the very soil or skeleton of the land itself. Thus one of our foremost Gaelic scholars, who is, moreover, a geologist, and a describer of the Sutherland gold- field — J. F. Campbell of Islay — as well known for his ' Frost and Fire ' as for his ' Tales of the West Highlands ' — tells us that one of the hills in Sutherland — from which the auriferous Helmsdale water takes its rise — is called Ben-ormen, or, more properly, Beinn- orm-mein — that is, the Hill of the GoId-ini?ie} Let us see now what grounds exist for speaking of or writing about go\d-?nines in Scotland. We have to consider, in the first place, the evidence presented by medieval records, showing apparently that veritable gold mines and gold-mining existed at one time in the Crawford dis- trict of Lanarkshire. It has already been stated (p. 259) that Bowes erected a stamping-mill on the Longcleuch Burn ; and it now falls to be considered what this implies. Atkinson (as quoted by Calvert, p. 146) declares it to be "most true that Mr Boiues discerned a small vein of gold, which had much small gold in it, upon Wanlockhead. . . . Mr Bowes swore all his workmen to keep it secret and never discover it to the Scotch King or his Council ; for so he had promised to do to the Queen of England, on whose letter he had a warrant from the Scotch Lords to dig and delve where he would. . . . Mr Bowes digged several shafts in solid places in the mountains, in Robertsmoor, and in Wanlockhead. . . . He returned and told the Queen of England that he had performed and concealed his trust : that he had found a small vein of gold." Oi Bulmer, Atkinson says : '* From Shortcleuch he removed up the great hill to Longcleuch Head, to seek gold in solid places, whereof he discovered a small spring ; but there he wanted a water-course to help him. This vein had the sappar-stone " plentifully in it, which some- 1 * Something from the Gold-Diggings in Sutherland,' 1869, p. 17. ^ Which he describes as "brown spar, somewhat like sugar-candy " (Cal- vert, p. 149). I'robably this was simply a brown-coloured or ferruginous quartz — not the brown spar of modern mineralogists. The Scottish Naturalist, 309 times held natural gold. But the salmoneer-stones ^ in that vein at Longcleuch Head held much silver. ... It is said that vein was poivdered with gold. ... It was a vein, and not a bed." But though he says it was " not a bed," he goes on to speak of two nuggets at Longcleuch Head, of 6 oz. and 5 oz. weight respec- tively, which were " thought to descend from the gold-bed." ^ The working of his stamping-mill at the same place must have been successful, as we are told that, by its means, Bulmer " used to get much small mealy gold" — in the condition, that is, in which he must have got it from crushed or powdered quartz, when the process of mercurial amalgamation was unknown. The brown spar of Longcleuch Head is also described as auriferous — a lump of 2 lb. troy containing "an ounce of pure gold." ^ The expression, a vein of gold, so far from being conclusive that auriferous quartz was meant thereby, is one that is sometimes used even at the present day — loosely and incautiously, no doubt — in reference to drift-deposits of nuggety or granular gold on the bed rock. But the reference to a stamping-mill is much more conclusive, seeing that stamping or crushing in the gold-mining of the present day is required only where there are auriferous rocks to crush or reduce to powder. The sinking of " shafts in solid places " — that is, in the solid rock — also points to genuine mining of the Silurian slates of the district for auriferous quartz. Atkinson (Calvert, p, 149) says, that "at Longcleuch Head Mr Bulmer made a stamping-mill called abroad Anacanago. Such are used in the West Indies and in Cornwall, where it is sometimes called a plash-mill, to dress tin out of stones, in which the eye can discern little or nothing." This mill was prob- ably connected with what Atkinson speaks of as a "buddle" (Calvert, p. 148) — a term still applied to a similar machine used in the reduction to powder of Cornish tin.'^ The parallelism between gold and tin is one of such interest that it deserves a special notice.^ Like gold, tin occurs in nature — in Cornwall, for instance — in two conditions : (i) as mi^ie-tin, disseminated through veins, lodes, or gangues of quartz or other ^ From his allusion to their being argentiferous, he may here refer to Galena. 2 Calvert, p. 148. ^ Ibid., p. 149. * Two figures of this dttdd/e are given in the article "Tin " in Chambers's Encyclopaedia. "> Calvert, moreover, tells us (p. 190) that gold is associated with tin-stone at Leadhills. 3IO The Scottish Naturalist. rocks or minerals, and requiring to be separated, first by being " stamped to a very fine powder," by some species of stamping- mill or rock-crushing apparatus, and then washed or dressed by the buddle ; and (2) as stream-Xvci — the result of the disintegra- tion of stanniferous granite or other rocks — requiring only to be washed out of alluvium or drift. It would appear, however, that the stamping-mill and the bud- dle have no necessary connection ; so that, in Cornwall, the one is sometimes used without the other — the buddle without the stamping-mill — and that, while the stamping-mill implies rock to be crushed, the buddle may imply only alluvial deposits to be washed. This was, no doubt, the case also in the gold-diggings of Crawford in the sixteenth century — so that, when a stamp- ing-mill is spoken of, our legitimate inference is that there was auriferous quartz to be crushed ; while the buddle may have been used to wash the drift, or the powdered auriferous quartz, or both. According to Calvert (p. 136), the Cottonian Reporter affirms that '' gold may \be see?{\ dispersed in certain black rocks of chiver" — that is, in all probability, in Silurian slates.^ But what the very same Reporter really says — according to Mr Cochran Patrick — is this : " Gold inaye lye or grow e dispersed in certeyne blacke rocke of chevere."^ By what would appear to be an in- terpolation of Calvert of the words '' be seen," the Cottonian Reporter is represented as making an assertion concerning auri- ferous quartz or slates as actually existent ; whereas the Re- porter's own words, as given by Mr Patrick — " maye lye or growe " — point only to the possible existence of such quartz or slates. And this is a suggestion illustrative of the way in which errors are apt to arise, from the quotation by different writers, of varying competency for the deciphering and interpretation of ancient manuscripts, of the same old chronicles. Where the wish is father to the thought, what are represented originally as 1 While it is possible, with considerable Confidence, to give the modem synonyms of some of the minerals mentioned by old chronicles as being asso- ciated with gold [e.g., keele), there are others whose modern synonymy can- not probably be determined. Thus we cannot say what is the "bright-black saxcer-stone, reddish, which in Scotland engendereth gold " (Calvert, p. 155). Nor do we know exactly what is meant by " Brimstone " (Calvert, p. 136). ^ Introduction to Mr Cochran Patrick's * Records of Mining in Scotland,' p. xxii. — not yet published. I am here indebted to that author for the use of a proof of this description of the Crawford mines by the Cottonian Reporter The Scottish Naturalist. 311 iwexe possibilities, are apt to be quoted, by one author after an- other, as actual facts ; and the natural consequence is, that all inferences based upon these supposed facts are simply worthless. I cannot doubt that there has been not a little of this loose or erroneous quotation from ancient records ^ concerning the gold- fields of other parts of Scotland, as well as of Lanarkshire and Dumfriesshire. One other illustration of the variety of quotations of the same text, and of the effects of this variety, must here be given, because it is intimately connected with certain calculations as to the value of the gold-produce of Crawford, already given (at p. 264). Ac- cording to Mr Dudgeon, the Cottonian Reporter states that certain " valleis have (yielded) therein of greater value than one hundred thousand pounds y\early)r ^ Dr Porteous repeats this, /;/ ipsissimis verbis^ — no doubt copying from Mr Dudgeon's pamphlet of 1875. But Calvert's version runs thus (p. 135) : " Valleys have (yielded gold) therein of greater value than one hundred thousand pounds ; (yet by the) people working for gold," and so forth. The correctness of his version is shown by the original text as given by Mr Cochran Patrick/ which is as fol- lows : " Valleyes have byne washed and gold gotten thearein of greater valine then one hondred thousand pound es, yet in so many yeares, and so many people wotkynge for goulde no vaynes of gold have byne knowne to be founde." In other words, ac- cording to Dudgeon and Porteous, the animal yield of gold was ;^ioo,ooo worth; while, according to Calvert and Patrick, this amount of gold was yielded only in eighty years. At the time when I made the calculations already given (at p. 264), I had before me only three of the foregoing versions of the Cottonian Re- port— the original text of Mr Cochran Patrick not having reached me till April (1878). Finding Mr Dudgeon and Dr Porteous to agree in representing the yield as an anjitial one, and believing their version — given in 1875 and 1876 — likely to be more correct than Calvert's — given in 1852 — I based my cal- culations on the supposition that there was, for eighty years, an annual yield of ;^i 00,000 worth of gold. It proves now, however, ^ Comparing, for instance, the various versions given by Calvert, Porteous, Dudgeon, and Patrick, of the narratives of the same old chroniclers — the Cottonian Reporter and Atkinson — I find the most surprising discrepancies. ^ Paper in the ' Mineralogical Magazine,' p. 24. ^ ' God's Treasure-House, ' p. 35. ■* Introduction to his ' Records of Mining,' p. xxi. 31 2 The Scottish Naturalist. that Calvert's is, in this instance at least, the more correct ver- sion ; and it follows that the calculation given must be divided by- eighty, which will give a mere bagatelle of a gold-yield : for even in current coin ;2^ 100,000 worth of gold in eighty years — or an annual average of ^1550 — would be an insignificant yield, con- sidering that the produce of the Sutherland diggings in 1869, in a few months, from the surface-soil merely, was variously estimated at p^i 2,000 to ;2^25,ooo, or that the gold export of our single col- ony of New Zealand, in the year 1877, was i^ millions worth; and considering, further, that neither in the case of Sutherland nor New Zealand does the quantity reported to the authorities, as exported or collected, represent more than a varying proportion of the total actual yield. There is, on gold-fields of whatever size and wherever situate, always much gold that gets into private hands, much that is exported surreptitiously or illegally, without payment of duty, or entry in the books of the Customs authorities or of other public statisticians. The stamping-mills of Bowes and Bulmer appear to have been facts ; and it is a legitimate inference tha.t they were used for crush- ing auriferous quartz, and that this quartz was found in veins or lodes in the Silurian slates. Unfortunately, however, the writings of the Cottonian Reporter and of Atkinson contain what are apparently very positive assertions, that no such veins have ever been found in the Crawford district. In the first place, the Cottonian Reporter, according to Calvert (p. 135), states that, though sometimes as many as 300 gold gatherers were at work, and though the works had gone on in the reigns of James IV. and James V. continuously for eighty years, " yet by the people working for gold no veins of gold have been found." Again, though adits of 120 fathoms in length or depth were occasionally driven, " yet not any veins of gold have been known to be found." Notwithstanding that veins of copper and lead were come upon, " the workmen have not found a?iy known veins of gold '^ Nevertheless he is perfectly sanguine as to the existence of veins of gold in the district, and he gives at full length six reasons or grounds for his belief. Were this series of papers in the ' Scottish Naturalist ' of a historical or archaeological character, it would be interesting, and even amusing, to discuss these reasons of the Cottonian Reporter, illustrating, as they do, the curious mining lore of the day with all its fables, and now to us unintelligible jargon. But our object is to get at facts showing the nature of the gold -mining of thQ The Scottish Natu7'alist. 313 sixteenth century, — at facts showing whether, at that time, gold- quartz — as well as alluvial gold — was found and worked. The Cottonian Reporter complains both of the ignorance and apathy of the miners in not looking for this auriferous quartz where it was likely to occur : and the justness of his complaint is sup- ported by Atkinson, who tells us, for instance, that the miners of Cornelius De Vois "never sought gold in solid places^ . . . never sought on high hills or solid places for a ded or vein of gold " ^ But Atkinson, too, had his own strong conviction that gold-quartz was to be found if properly searched for. " These brows or braes," he says, '' are likely to turn rich if diligently sought, and the vein or bed is not far from the gold gotten in the valleys.^ There is," he affirms, " much natural gold com- monly found near the river sides, washed from the veins or bed in mountains." The Cottonian Reporter has the same idea, that the nuggets found in the valleys were washed or worn out of veins of gold occurring high up on the hills.^ Atkinson says of Bulmer, " By help of a water-course he got much straggling gold on the skirts of the hills and in the valleys, but no7ie in solid places ^ * Nuggets are " supposed to descend from the bedd of gold : but no bedd as yett thereof was found thereat."^ The word " ore " is sometimes used by the old chroniclers ; and we are told of its having been sent abroad to be '' fined " or " refined." The term may have been applied equally to nuggets or gold-quartz, or both — or even to auriferous brown or other spars, rocks, or minerals.^ But in all probability it was applied usually, if not always, to nuggets. Thus Queen Mary of Guise "was presented with a piece of ore weighing 3 oz." (Fittis). This is not likely to have been other than a nugget. The term " shaft " is another that, like so many, is equally appli- cable to the excavation of loose and solid material — of clay or of rock. Up to the present day the sinking of shafts is spoken of in the surface soil. Thus Dr Porteous tells us (p. 50) that in 1863 the Leadhill miners sank a " shaft" — probably in the till — at the head of the Longcleuch Burn, where "the debris is above ^ Calvert, pp. 144, 145. ^ Ibid., p. 154. '^ Ibid., p. 138. * Ibid., p. 148. 5 Porteous, p. 42. ^ There may be in the Crawford district, as there are in other auriferous countries, auriferous metallic sulphurets, especially tlie pyrites or blendes of iron, lead, copper, or zinc. 314 The Scottish Naturalist. 15 feet deep, the whole of which produces more or less gold — on an average 5 grains per cubic yard of earth." In the accounts given both by the anonymous Cottonian English ^ Reporter and by Atkinson of the operations of the Craw- ford gold-mines in the sixteenth century, constant reference is made to zvashing, scouring, water, water-courses, dams, sluices — all pointing, apparently, to the separation of mere alluvial gold from the clays, sands, or gravels in which it is imbedded, though the use of such expressions is quite compatible also with the separa- tion of gold grains from powdered quartz, slate, or other rocks. Atkinson says that " their usual manner is, when they seek for gold in combes and valleys, to frame or make a long sough or scouring-place, into which they bring the stream-water to scour away the light earth from the heavy sandy earth, and to cull away the great stones from the heavy sand ; which sand or heavy earth they scrape into their troughs or trays, and by strain- ing it, and by washing the same often, there is found both rain gold, flat gold, pale gold, and black gold." 2 " Bulmer," he says, " brought home a water-course there to wash and scower the natural gold from the earth that had before been descended from the mountains ever since Noah's flood." ^ This is just the principle and practice of gold-washing in its simplest form, as adopted on the alluvial diggings of all auriferous countries in all ages. Amid the conflict or cloudiness of the evidence adduced, it cannot be held ox proven by ancient records that gold-quartz was ever worked in the Crawford district, though the probability is that it was. Unquestionably there is not one tittle of evidence to show that gold-quartz was found containing gold in quantity visible to the naked eye — gold-quartz comparable to the Gemmell specimen now in the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh. Nor, it must be added, has modern research brought to light any such auriferous quartz as constitutes the staple of imiseiim examples of Wanlockhead gold-quartz. In other words, no piece of gold-quartz so streaked with gold as is represented ' His English origin would be obvious from his phraseology alone : for instance, his frequent use of the term "gylle" (gill) as a synonym for a small mountain stream — such as in Scotland is known as a burn ; just as Atkinson's nationality is also pointed out by his use of such terms as ' ' combes " for glens. * If by "black" be simply meant dark-coloured, his term is intelligible ; otherwise I do not know what he means by " black gold." 3 Porteous, p. 41. The Scottish Naturalist. 315 in the lithograph published by Mr Dudgeon in 1876, has ever been found in situ — or in such circumstances as admitted of no doubt as to its local nativity. This is not, however, tantamount to saying that auriferous quartz does not exist in the Crawford district. On the contrary, I have deliberately expressed my opinion that it probably does ; ^ and I have done so in spite of the cautions and jokes — if not sneers and sarcasm — of those who, not many years ago, pinned their faith to the deliverance of Messrs Greg and Lettsom,^ and who went so far as to deny the existence in Scotland at all of native gold in any form, even in that of grains or nuggets. But an opinion is not a fact, though facts of a certain kind are not wanting to show that gold-quartz occurs nowadays about Wan- lockhead, and may be had for the looking. Unfortunately, though represented as being abundant, I have never seen a specimen of it either in any public museum or in any private collection, and this, though the Wanlockhead lead-miners are perfectly aware, and have long been, of the demand there is in mineralogical cabinets for the gold produce of their district in all its forms. The mere assertion that it occurs, especially when the assertion is intemperate and intolerant — to characterise it very mildly — will certainly not carry conviction to those familiar with gold-fields and gold-miners. The Rev. Thos. Anderson, minister of the parish of Crawford, writing in 1845 the account of his parish for the 'New Statistical Account of Scotland/^ stated that at Leadhills gold is "dissemi- nated in minute particles through the till or clay more immedi- ately covering the rocks, and also occasionally ijiterspersed in quartz y Professor Harkness of Cork — a native of Dumfries, and well 1 Vide what I said of "The Auriferous Quartzites of Scotland" in the 'Scottish Naturalist,' vol. iii., 1876. 2 I refer to the following statement made at p. 238 of their ' Manual of the Minerals of Great Britain and Ireland ' (1858) : — ** It is a ivell-knaiun fact that much of the gold said to be now found at the Leadhills, and which commands a patriotically high price, is conveyed thither from Glasgow to be rediscovered at a home locality. " I recently wrote to Mr Greg, asking the grounds on which he made so strong a statement. His reply, of date March 1878, was, "I cannot now recollect my authority for the statement that the above locality was salted — as they say in America — from Glasgow." Whether well founded or not, however, the imputation herein contained does not apparently or necessarily affect the veracity or integrity of the miners of Leadhills and Wanlockhead. 3 Vol. vi., p. 336. 3i6 The Scottish Naturalist. acquainted with the geology and mineralogy of his native county — discoursing in 1852 on "The Gold Districts of Wanlockhead and the Leadhills," thus described the mode of " occurrence of gold in the lower Silurian rocks. It is found disseminated in small foliaceous particles or in round grains in the quartz veins which traverse the Greywacke sandstone and shale in a direction generally at right angles to their strike, and also in the detritus of the same rock. A specimen weighing 240 grains was lately found. The district furnishing the gold lies to the north of the zone of black slate which runs from Stobo through the summit- cutting of the Caledonian Railway and Glenochar in the direc- tion of Cairn Ryan. It is greatly disturbed, not only by the quartz veins, but by dykes of felspar and greenstone, and the dip is the reverse of that which usually prevails. Mr Harkness be- lieves that the occurrence of gold is not connected with any particular portion of the Silurian series, but rather with the presence of the quartz-veins and the influence of the plutonic rocks." ^ Were not this quotation taken direct by myself from the pages of a scientific quarterly containing the published pro- ceedings of a scientific society, I should have great doubts as to its correctly representing the Professor's opinions. There is here, at all events, a decided representation of the existence of aurifer- ous quartz in situ as a familiar fact. Unfortunately he does not tell us whether the ''particles'*' or "grains" referred to are ever visible to the naked eye, and whether the " specimen " spoken of was a nugget. The Rev. Dr Porteous of Wanlockhead, in his topographical work published in 1876, gives various instances of gold-quartz in situ (p. 53). Nevertheless, he says incautiously (p. 61) that "a gold-quartz vein in Britain, except in North Wales, has not as yet been foufid^ though eagerly sought for." And quite recently in one of the Glasgow newspapers, Dr Wilson of the same village alludes to, but does not describe, his own discoveries. He says : " I am prepared to prove that much of the quartz in this district is auriferous, and I have a specimen in my possession with both gold and quartz visible to the naked eye. . . . That quartz is to be found in the locality with gold running through it is now established. I and two other men found it. ... I have settled, beyond dispute I believe, that gold-quartz is found /// situ. . . . This stone also contained gold visible to the naked eye, and seen by six people. . . . Gold in quartz, ^ 'Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society,' vol. viii., 1852, p. 396. The Scottish Naturalist. 317 visible to the eye, is, and has been, frequently found both here and at Leadhills, and a small nugget intimately mixed is in the possession of Mr Noble, I^eadhills. ... It is beyond doubt that auriferous quartz has been found in Wanlockhead by myself and others." ^ On the other hand, Mr Dudgeon of Cargen, who is a resident proprietor in the county of Dumfries, and has written specially " On the Occurrence of Gold in the South of Scotland," tells us that " it is only very rarely that gold has been found in this dis- trict in the matrix — i.e., in vei7i-qiia7'tz ; and then it has only been obtained in detached pieces, and never in situ. The auriferous vein of quartz mentioned in Atkinson's ' Discouverie and Historic' has never been refound, though doubtless auriferous veins must exist somewhere in the locality."^ As I have already shown, the Director of the Geological Survey of Scotland, who is also Professor of Geology and Min- eralogy in the University of Edinburgh, up to 1874 either ignored or denied the existence of auriferous quartz at Wanlockhead or Leadhills.^ But his opinion, must recently have undergone a complete revolution, in so far as we find him stating at the Royal Society of Edinburgh in March (1878), in reference to the Gemmell specimen of gold-quartz in the Museum of Science and Art there, that it represents or belongs to the rocks of the district in which it was found. " Professor Geikie had no diffi- culty whatever in saying that the quartz in question was native to Wanlockhead, despite the coincidence that it was discovered immediately after the famous flitting of the Laidlaws;"^ and again, " Professor Geikie expressed agreement with those who believed that the specimen was Wanlockhead quartz."^ Lastly, Calvert says (p. 169), ''I found ... a small speci- men in quartz in Wanlockhead mine " — meaning the lead mine, no doubt. 1 'North British Daily Mail ' of March 13 and 19, 1878. 2 Paper in the ' Mineralogical Magazine,' vol. i., 1876, p. 27. 3 Vide footnote to p. 212 ; as well as p. 53 of paper on "The Aurifer- ous Quartzites of Scotland," 'Scottish Naturalist,' vol. iii., 1876. In a letter, of date December 1874, he informed me that "the Geological Survey has not yet met with any of the auriferous quartzites of Scotland." " 'Daily Review' of March 5, 1878. ^ ' Scotsman ' of same date. 3i8 The Scottish Naturalist. NEW BOOKS. The Rev. J. Stevenson, of Glamis, so well knovi^n for his investigations amongst fungi, announces a work on the ' Fungi of Scotland,' to be published by subscription, if he meets with sufficient encouragement, Mr Stevenson purposes giving a complete list of the Scottish fungi, with their distribution, &c., as far as known, and descriptions of the species new to science which have recently been discovered. The distribution will be illustrated by a descriptive map, and as the price is only 7s. 6d., we hope that the author will get support enough to enable him to carry out his intention. Names may be sent to the Rev. J. Stevenson, Glamis, Forfarshire. Dr B. Carrington (assisted by Mr W. II.. Pearson) has recently published a first fasciculus of dried specimens of British Hepaticse, including about sixty species, many of them Scottish. The name of Dr Carrington is sufficient to indicate the value of the collection \ and many botanists will, no doubt, be glad to avail themselves of this opportunity of obtaining authentic specimens of an interesting though rather neglected class of plants. Hemipterologists will gladly welcome the appearance of the first volume of Dr O. M. Renter's ' Hemiptera Gymnocerata Europse.' Europe, in a wider sense than the merely geographical, forms the field of Dr Renter's labours, and the species are described with the care and , perspicuity which are emi- nently characteristic of the author. The work is printed at Helsingfors by the Societe Finlandaise de Literature, and is illustrated with eight plates (seven of them coloured), whose execution leaves nothing to be desired. The present volume is devoted to the division Plagiognatharia of the sub- family Capsina, and its issue will mark an era in the study of the European Hemiptera. The succeeding volumes will be anxiously looked for. Rook-literature. — Mr Yarrell, in his account of the Rook, first published in 1839, says that the experiment of extirpating the species "was made a few years ago in a northern county," but that "the farmers were obliged to reinstate the Rooks to save their crops. The subject was facetiously com- mented upon in a pamphlet by James Stuart Menteath, Esq. of Closeburn. " I have tried in vain to see this pamphlet, and I shall be extremely obliged to any readers of ' The Scottish Naturalist ' who will lend me a copy, or at least inform me where I can find one. — Alfred Newton. Magdalene College, Cambridge. INSECTA SCOTICA. THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF SOOTLAHD. {Continued from page 273.) Edited by F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.L.S. SOBRINATA Hb. Common. Amongst juniper. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde § West-Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and northern. Type. Centro-septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. August, September. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Juniper. PXJMILATA Hb. Local. Ericetal. Ascends to 1700 feet. Distribution — East, g § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde Argyle § West-Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Southern and western; central and northern, in part. Type. Meridiono-occidento- central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. August, Septem- ber. Food-plant. Flowers of many low plants. EUBOLIID^, ANAITIS Dup. PLAGIATA L. Common. Pascual and ericetal. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray % Orkney § West. Solway Clyde g West-Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-59°io'. Range in Europe. Nearly throughout. Type. European. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. June-August. Larva. September- May. Food-plant. Hypencum. 320 The Scottish Naturalist, CARSIA Hubn. PALUDATA Thnb. j var. imbutata Hb. Local. Ericetal. As- cends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray § Orkney o West. Solway Clyde § West-Ross o Lat. 55°-59°io'. Range in Europe. Lapland and Finland (the type), Alps, Scotland, N. Germany, Norwegian Mts., &c. (the variety). Type. Septentrional. Type in Britain. Scottish. Time of Appearance — Imago. July, August. Larva. June. Food- plant. Vaccinitwi vitis-idcea and oxycoccos., BUBOLIA Dup. LIMITATA Sc. (1763); mensuraria Schiff. (1776). Common. Pascual. Ascends to 1200 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee § Suther- land o o West. Solway Clyde § West-Ross o Lat. 54°4o'-58°3o'. Range in Europe. Nearly throughout. Type. European. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June- August. Larva. May. Food- plant. Grasses. CERVINATA Schiff. Local. Hortensal. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay 00000 West. Solway Clyde 000 Lat. 54°4o'-56°3o'. Range in Europe. Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Finland, &c. Type. Occidento-cen- tral. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. September, October. Larva. June, July. Food-plant. Mallow and hollyhock. PLUMBARIA F. Common. Pascual and ericetal. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray §00 West. Solway Clyde 880 Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. June, July. Larva. April, May. Food-plant. Heather, &c. The Scottish Naturalist. 321 MESOTYPE Hb. VIRGATA Rott (1777); litieolata Hb. (1787). Rare. Distribution — East, o o Tay 0000 West. 00000 Lat. 56°3o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Cen- tral. Type in Britain. English. Time of Appearance — Imago. May-July. Larva. September-May. Food-plant. Bedstraw. CHESIAS Tr. SPARTIATA Fiiesl. Common. Amongst broom. Ascends to 1 100 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde §00 Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. West-central, &c. Type. Occidento-central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance— Imago. September, October. Larva. June. Food-plant. Broom. RUFATA F. (1775); obliquaria Bkh. (1794). Locally common. Amongst broom. Ascends to 11 00 feet. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway Clyde §00 Lat. 54°4o'-47°4o'. Range in Europe. Central, &c. Type. Central. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. May-July. Larva. August. Food- plant. Broom. S I O N I D^. ODBZIA Boisd. ATRATA L. (1758) ; <:/^^r^//^J^'//(1r/^ L. (1767). Common. Pas- cual and nemoral. Ascends to 1400 feet. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray goo West. Solway Clyde Argyle g o Lat. 54°4o'-57°4o'. Range in Europe. Central and north- ern. Type. Centro - septentrional. Type in Britain. British. Time of Appearance — Imago. June, July. Larva. May, June. Food-plant. Buniicyn and other U7iibellifer(z. Notice. — The list of the Macro-lepidoptera having been now completed, it is my intention to notice, before proceeding with the Micro-lepidoptera, any addi- tion, either in species or localities, to the list just finished, and with that object shall be very glad to receive i^tforfnation, however little, from any one who can give it.— Y. B. W. W. 322 The Scottish Naturalist. THE OOLEOPTEEA OP SCOTLAND. ( Continued f7'om p. 2'j6.) Edited by D. SHARP, M.B. RUFIPES Fab. Local. In carcases. Distribution — East. Tweed § o o o o o o West. Solway §0000 VIOLACEUS L. Local. In carcases. Distribution — East. § § Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §000 LYMEXYLONID^. HYLECCBTUS Kies. DERMESTOIDES Fab. Highland. Rare. In stumps of Scots fir. Distribution — East, o o Tay 00000 West. 00000 P T I N I D ^. PTINUS Kies. FUR L. Lowland. In outhouses. ■; Distribution — East. § Forth § Dee §000 West. Solway §000 j LICHENUM Marsh. Very rare. ( Distribution — East. 00000000 j West. Solway 0000 ''Raehills." Murray Cat. NIPTUS Kies. HOLOLEUCUS Fald. In old houses and warehouses. Distribution — East. § Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. Solway §000 CRENATUS Fab. In old houses. Distribution— East, g Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West, Solway §000 The Scottish Naturalist. 323 GIBBIUM Kies. SCOTIAS Fab. Not indigenous. Distribution — " Arlary in Kinross-shire, among dried plants from India." Murray Cat. . MEZIUM Kies. SULCATUM Fab. Not indigenous. Distribution — " Edinburgh, among a consignment of Decapods from AustraUa." Murray Cat. PRIOBIUM Kies. CASTANEUM Fab. Rare. On trunks of trees. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay § Moray 000 West. § §000 ANOBIUM Kies. DOMESTICUM Four. Common in furniture and wood in houses. Distribution — East. 3 Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. Solway §000 PANICEUM L. Rare. In stores : probably only occasionally introduced. Distribution — East, o Forth 000000 West. 00000 XESTOBIUM Kies. TESSELATUM F. Very rare. Distribution — East. § Forth 000000 West. Solway 0000 " Raehills." Rev. W. Little. ERNOBIUS Kies. o NIGRINUS Sturm. Highland. On Scots fir. Distribution — East, o o Tay Dee Moray o o West. 00000 MOLLIS L. Local. In palings and under bark. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. 00000 324 The Scottish N'aturalist. OCHINA Kies. HEDER^ Muller. Very rare. Distribution — East, o o o Dee o o o o West, o o o o o Found near Arbroath by Mr Hislop. PTILINUS Kies. PECTINICORNIS L. Very rare. In old trees. Distribution — East, g Forth o o o o o o West. Solway o o o o C I S S I p ^. CIS Lat. BOLETI Scop. Highland and Lowland. Abundant in Polypori. Distribution — East. Tweed Forth Tay Dee §000 West. Solway §000 BIDENTATUS 01. Local. In Polypoi'i. Distribution — East, g g Tay g Moray 000 West, g Clyde 000 FESTIVUS Panz. Not common. In Polypori. Distribution — East. Tweed § Tay Dee 0000 West, g g o o o ALNI Gyll. Very rare. Distribution — East. 000 Dee 0000 West. 00000 PUNCTULATUS Gyll. Rare. In Polyporus abietinus on Scots fir. Distribution — East, o Forth Tay Dee Moray 000 West. 00000 LINEATOCRIBRATUS Mell. Local. In Polyporus nigri?ius on birch. Distribution — East, o o Tay g Moray 000 West. 00000 NITIDUS Hbst. In Polypori. Distribution — East, g g Tay 00000 AVest. g g o o o JACQUEMARTI Mell. In Polypori. Distribution — East, g g Tay Dee g o o o West, g g o o o ( To be contiyiut'd. ) 1 B9^^^^^^^^^^^— ^^^9^^B S ^^^^S Mi^»«M>.< Berwickshire, 1874^. /w^- ^/""N. 1 Gray's ' Birds of the West of Scotland.' f^/^ ' ^\'/ 2 Proc. of Berw. Nat. Field Club. f^f '^•^*^ >\^ juj(L»8RAR YJ: 332 The Scottish Naturalist. 90. Pyrrhula vulgaris. Flem. The Bullfinch. Nowhere common. Probably most numerous in Had- dingtonshire and Linlithgowshire. [Pyrrhula enucleator. Linn. The Pine Grosbeak. A very rare straggler from the north. Edinburgh, 1808.] 91. LoxiA CURVIROSTRA. Liji7i. The Common Crossbill. Rare. Seen now and then in small flocks. One of 40 or 50 occurred in Berwickshire in 1870. I have reason to believe the Crossbill breeds in Linlithgowshire. [LoxiA BiFASCiATA. WHsoii. The European White-winged Crossbill. A rare straggler. Roxburgh, 1845 (Yarrell).] [LoxiA leucoptera. Gineln. The American White-winged Crossbill. Of equally rare and exceptional occurrence. Jedburgh, 1841.1] {To be continued. ) Birds of tlie South-east of Scotland. — I should like to see the above list made as full and accurate as possible, especially as, so fax- as I am aware, there is no complete list for the district, but a large amount of mate- vial scattered through various publications. I was disappointed at the very outset, when looking over it, to find several inaccuracies. There were also some doubtful cases inserted— birds seen only from a distance ; while others, which had been actually captured and recorded in the same work, were omitted. Most of the records of rare species will doubtless be correct, but the following, concerning the Golden Eagle, I believe are incorrect : "Rox- burgh, 1876, and Jan. 1877 ('Berw. Nat. Proc.,' vol viii. p. 196); Dunse, Jan. 1877 "(see 'Scot. Nat.,' July 1878, p. 278). The only Golden Eagle that I am aware of having been obtained in the above district about that time was a young female, which was shot on the Cheviots by one of the Duke of Roxburghe's gamekeepers on the \yh of Feb maty 1877. The eagle shot at Marchmont (Dunse), February 7, 1877, and which went the round of the newspapers as a Golden Eagle, was an Erne ! as also another which was cap- tured a few years ago on the neighbouring estate of Chcsters. Under " llie Osprey," after mentioning a few instances, we find ''several old or unauthenticated instances are mentioned in the ' Proc. of the Berw. Nat. Club,' and elsewhere." Besides several old specimens that I have seen which A ^ .Gray's * Birds of the West of Scotland.' The Scottish Naturalist, t^-^t^ were shot on the Tweed in this neighbourhood, I may mention an additional recent example, — a female which was shot on Sept. 25, 1876, by Mr J. Kerss, on the Tweed, about two miles below Kelso, and which is now in Mr A. Steel's collection (' Proc. Berw. Nat. Club,' viii. 182). This seems to be considered one of the "unauthenticated instances," as it was recorded in the same publication which is quoted, but inaccurately, for the incorrect records of the Golden Eagle. Under "Goshawk" we have "Berwickshire, Jan. 1876," and under " Marsh Harrier," " Tweedside, Oct, 1875." Are these not also errors? If not, I should be obliged for the localities. — Andw. Brotherston, Kelso. Notice of tlie "Wryneck (Yunx torquilla) being found in Pertlisliire. — Mr Thomas Marshall, of Stanley, in a letter to me, mentions the capture of the Wryneck at Stanley on the 6th inst. The bird was brought to him by a lad, who found it on the bank of the Caledonian Railway. It was alive at the time, but could not fly, being apparently injured by a shot- wound,' there being a small hole in the back. Having Jong been of opinion that the Wry- neck was an inhabitant of the woods on the banks of the Tay, about Bal- lathy, not very far from Stanley, its capture there is to me highly interesting ; for while fishing in that neighbourhood some years ago, and for several seasons in succession, I repeatedly, in the spring months, heard its unmistakable tee, tee, tee, in more directions than one, proceeding from the boles of some of the old standard oak-trees in the recently- cut coppice- woods near the banks of the river ; but not having had the good fortune of catching a sight of the bird, I never felt justified in giving it a place in the list of our summer visitants, notwithstanding that the call-note was so well known to me, that I could hardly be mistaken in its identity. Now, however, I think it may safely be included in the fauna of Perthshire as a regular, though perhaps only a local, visitant to the county. If memory serves me right, I have heard the same call-note in the Fascally woods in Athole, — a note so well known to the country people in Middlesex and other southern counties of England, that the bird, which is there common, goes by the name of Cuckoo's-mate, being considered like that bird a harbinger of summer, and is accordingly every- where welcomed. The Wryneck, though common in the southern counties, like the Nightingale, seems partial in its visits, restricting itself more par- ticularly to the eastern counties, rarely ever being seen in Cornwall and the west, and never in Ireland. It is rare in the north, and perhaps Perthshii-e may be considered its extreme breeding limits. It has been once or twice noticed in Orkney and Shetland ; but these may only be taken as casual cases, probably Continental birds driven out of their line of passage. — H. M. Drum- MOND Hay, Seggieden, Sept. 12, 1878. 334 ^^^ Scottish Naturalist. THE LEPIDOPTEEA OP MONOEEIFPE HILL. By Sir THOMAS MONCREIFFE, Bart. ( Continued from page 297. ) Cartella hilunana. — Rare, I have only one specimen taken here, which is curious, as there is plenty of birch. Hedya paykulliana. — Common among birch in July and August. H. lariciaiia. — We take this tortrix in July, at an elevation ot 500 feet and upwards, among larch, where it appears to be fairly common, though not easy to obtain, as it flies late and pretty high. H. trimacidana. — Common. Beaten out of Scotch elm in July and August. Varies a good deal in shade of colour and markings. Stega7ioptycha ncEvana. — Abundant in July and August among apple and nut trees in my orchard. The orchard is bounded by holly hedges. S. geminana. — Frequent among Vacciiiium (bilberry) in July and August, at 550 feet of an elevation. Anchylopera mitterbacheriaiia. — Not common. Occurs among oak and thorn trees in June. Apparently varies very little. A. myrtillana. — Common among Vacciniwn at an elevation of 500 feet and upwards, and varies in the shape of the dorsal blotch. Some specimens approach very closely to limdana, whilst in others the upper angle of the dorsal blotch has a round hump, which is in some cases divided into a separate spot. A. limdana. — Not common. Have taken a few specimens among rough herbage at a low elevation in July. A. imguicclla. — Very local, but always to be met with on a bare rocky face in May. Varies much in size and brilliancy of markings. Bactra lanceolana. — Abundant in certain localities. Varies considerably in size. Flies in June. Argyrotoza co?iwayajia. — A common and variable insect, both in size, shade of colour, and intensity of markings. Among asli- trees in May and June. Dictyoptcryx coiitamiiiaiia. — Beaten commonly out of oak in May and August. Some specimens nearly black. The Scottish Naturalist. 335 D. loifflingia7ia. — Also common in July among oak, varying much in intensity of shade. D. bergmanniana. — Plentiful amongst rose-bushes in July. Cheimatophila mixtana. — Frequent among heather, at an eleva- tion of 550 feet, in the month of October. Oxygrapha literana. — A fairly common insect ; more so after hibernation in the perfect state. Three out of four of Wood's varieties occur. His tricolorana probably loses the reddish tinge, as I have seen an approach to it, although the red seemed to haive faded away. O. scotana occurs in the immediate neighbour- hood, but scarcely within the prescribed limit of the boundary to which I confine myself. July to March. O. scabrana. — I have one specimen in my cabinet, as taken here, but I have no note of the whereabouts. Feronea schalleriana. — Common in certain localities. Several beautiful varieties occur; among others, var. latifasciana of Haworth, in August. I take it in company with coniparana, lodging among Spiroea zil/naria, and also among the apple-trees in my orchard. It appears to me to be rather difficult to separate the dark varieties of this insect and the following : — F. comparana^ which I take also by beating in the thorn hedgerows where no willow grows. In numbers in August and September. P. favillaceana {sponsana). — Also a common insect in my shrubbery, but I cannot find out that it is particularly attached to beech, as it appears to occur more in the immediate neigh- bourhood of sallow. August and September. F. variegaiia, — Plentiful on the apricot-trees. Several varieties occur. August and September. F. aspersana. — Not so common as some of the genus. Varies excessively in size. Flies in August. F. ferrugana. — Common everywhere. F. caledonia7ia. — Locally common among heather and Vaccin- ticin, at an altitude of 500 feet and upwards. In August and July. Teras caudaiia. — Common, in August and September, on pop- lar and willow. All Wood's varieties occur, and a darker variety also, which he does not depict. F(zcilochro7na corticana. — Common and variable. Some varieties both small and dark. July and August. F. ratzburghiana. — Frequent amongst spruce fir in July. Roxa?ta arcuana. Rare, which is curious, as ferns abound. I have taken it flying in beech-woods in May and June. 336 The Scottish Naturalist. Semasia woeheriana. — Locally frequent on apple-trees in my garden in June. S. 7zanana. — Not very common, and local. July. Ephippiphora regiaiia. — Frequent on the bark of sycamore- trees in June. Between 9 and 10 a.m. is the best time to look for them. E. argyrana. — Common in June. To be found on the trunks of oak-trees, or beaten off the branches. Stigmo?iota compositella. — Flies freely in June of an afternoon among the natural hay in front of my house. S. perkpidana. — Frequent, but lo.cal. Attached to Lathyrus prate?isis, the meadow vetchling, among which it may be found in the end of May and in June. Asthenia conifera?ia. — Abundant on the trunks of old Scots fir in August, at an altitude of 500 feet. A. strobilella. — Easily reared from spruce- fir cones, if gathered when fallen and thrown into a box. The perfect insect appears in March. A. spleiididula7ia. — Not uncommon on Moncreiffe Hill. Have beat it off oak in May, and taken it at rest on pine-trunks in June. Reiifiia pinivorana. — Rare, or is probably more or less con- fined to the tops of the pine-trees. I have one specimen, taken at rest on a Scots fir trunk in July 1874. R. occulta?ia. — Plentiful in August among larch, at all altitudes, especially about 500 feet. Pa7nplusia 7no7iticolaiia. — Frequent among heather in August. To be taken flying over the plants or at rest on the foliage. Heusemine fimbria7ia. — Not uncommon, but local, and difficult to capture. I have taken it at all altitudes, beaten off oak in April. I have also a specimen taken by lamplight from sallow- blossom when shaken over a sheet for Tce7iioca77ip(B. E7idopisa satur/ia7ia. — This is one of those insects which is rather puzzling to determine. I have one or two specimens (named by Mr Barrett), which I have taken here, some, at an altitude of 500 feet, among wood-sage, others among rough her- bage by the river-side. They fly in the daytime in the month of May. E. 7iehrita7ia (pisa7ia). — Common among rough herbage and natural hay in July. This is not the 7iig7-ica/ia of Herricli Scha:ffer, which is found only in Germany and Greece. Ncbritana Treitschke is the prior name, according to Staudinger. The Scottish Naturalist. 337 Grapholita siiccedana {iilicetana). — Abundant among furze- bushes. Varies in size and shade of colour. Sciaphila suhjedana. — Abundant some seasons, but not as regularly as virgaureaiia, which is a perfect pest, and feeds on everything. I have reared it from the flowers of valerian and the leaves of the primrose, and many other trees and plants. 6*. ociomaculana. — Common but local. Comes to sugar at night freely, and may be disturbed from rough herbage in the daytime, at the end of July and in August. Differs much in the intensity of the markings, the female being usually, I think, the darker of the sexes. S. penziana. — Local, though frequent, but not to be called common. We take it sitting on the rock faces, from midsummer onwards for some weeks, where the bell-heather and wood-sage grow. Ablahia prata7ia. — A perfect pest in some localities, principally at the higher altitudes. Eiuhromia ericetana. — Abundant in 1876 in a bean-field near the river ; and Mr Herd took it at a slightly higher altitude in a grass-field the same season. He tells me he has taken it this season (1878). I have not had time to look for it. Flies in July and August. Orthotcenia aittiqiiana. — Not common, at least I have taken very few specimens. Sericoris lacimana. — Plentiful everywhere through the summer up to October. S. tirticana. — More local than the last species, but occurs plen- tifully on Moncreiffe Hill at an altitude of 500 and 600 feet. It certainly cannot feed on nettles, raspberry, or Epilobium here, which I see Wilkinson gives as the principal food-plants. It is most plentiful among the wood-sage. S. micana. — Mr Herd tells me he has specimens taken here ; but I think there must be some mistake, as I have never been able to find it. S. cespitana. — Abundant, and most variable both in size and shades of colour. Some specimens are large and greenish, others small and reddish or rust colour. We take it in the garden among the rose-bushes, and up to 600 feet among wood-sage and heather, the former of which appears to be a great favourite. The different forms have puzzled Dr White and me much. It flies all through the summer ; the smaller form is most plentiful in August. 338 The Scottish Natiwalist. Mixodia schulziana. — Common but local. June and July among heather and Vacciniimt at the higher altitudes. M. palustrana. — Frequent, but local in the same ground where schulziana is found. I see Wilkinson says among fir-trees, but it it is not necessarily so here ; I should say more among bell- heather. Argyrolepia badiana. — Local and not very common. May be easily overlooked, however, as it appears to fly late, and is not long on the wing, resting through the daytime among the bur- docks and dropping among the herbage when disturbed. I have only taken it from the 12th to the 29th of July. . E^ipoecilia atjicapitana. — I have only seen half-a-dozen of this species since 1870 till this year, when Dr White and I took about twenty specimens among wood-sage on a stony face of a few yards square, on Moncreiffe Hill, on the 14th, 15 th, and 1 6th of August. We found it always resting on the leaves of the wood-sage. Lord Walsingham tells me that he takes it on the flowers of the ragweed at Merton. Here I have never seen it on that plant, but always on or among wood-sage, and in stony places. Curiously enough, I see that Herrich Schseffer mentions one of the genus, poster ana, as being partial to stone quarries. Some of my specimens are of a beautiful rose-colour. E. nana. — Not common. I have one or two specimens taken in different localities ; but I have not hit upon its headquarters. E. augustaiia. — Frequent, but not common. I have always seen this insect most plentiful on the heather hills. It swarms in Glen Tilt. Cochylis straminea. — Extremely local. I know of one place only where it occurs here ; but there it is, I may say, plentiful in July, on a rough bank of mixed herbage and wild flowers. May be disturbed in the daytime, and flies in the evening. Xanthosetia hamana. — Occurs commonly at the same time and in the same place as C. straminea. Several varieties occur, some pale straw-colour without markings ; others with ferruginous mark- ings, variable in number and position. X. zoegana. — In the same place and about the same time as the former. Does not vary. Tortricodes tortricella. — Plentiful in the woods in early spring. Varies considerably in intensity of shade. The Scottish Naturalist. 339 Addenda. Hypermccia augustaiia. — Mr Herd has, I find, taken this tortrix on Moncreiffe Hill, so it must be added to the list. Halonota turbidana. — Mr Herd has also two specimens taken at Moncreiffe, near the river-side. Coccyx distinctana.—\ have taken what I believe to be this tortrix on silver fir and Pinus nordmamiiana. Lord Walsingham was kind enough to send me some specimens to compare, which he had taken on Finns cephalonica at Merton, and as mine are identical with his, and with Herrich Schseffer's figure oi proxi- mana, which Staudinger makes the same insect as our distinctatta, I have ng doubt I am correct in giving it a place in this list. TORTRICINA. 327- 328. 329- ?>?>^' 331- 332. 334. 335- 336. 337- 338. 339- 340- 341- 342. 343- 344- 345- 346. 347- 348. 349- 350- 351- 352. 353. )) )j f) )j 5) Sarrothripa revayana. 354. Amphysa gerningana. 355. Hypermecia augustana. 356. Eulia ministrana. 357. Penthina corticana. 358. betuletana. 359. prselongana. 360. cynosbatella. 361. Clepsis rusticana. 362. Tortrix viridana. 363. heparana. 364. ribeana. 365. „ corylana. 366. Lozotaenia musculana. 367. „ xylosteana. 368. „ rosana. 369. Batodes angustiorana. 370. Ptycholoma lecheana. 371. Pardia tripunctana. 372. Spilonota trimaculana. 373. Lithographia campoliliana. 374. cinerana. 375. nisella. 376. penkleriana. 377. Phlaeodes tetraquetana. 378. Psedisca sordidana. 379. solandriana. Psedisca ophthalmicana. Catoptria cana. ,, scopoliana. Halonota bimaculana. 5) )J ?) J) J) )> trigemmana. cirsiana. scutulana. brunnichiana. tetragonana. 5) » ?) turbidana. Dicrorampha petiverella. alpinana. plumbagana. plumbana. herbosana. consortana. Coccyx distinctana. „ hyrciniana. Capua ochraceana. Cartella bilunana. Hedya paykulliana. ,, lariciana. „ trimaculana. Steganoptycha n^vana. „ geminana. Anchylopera mitterbache- j) nana. 340 38o. 381. 382. 383. 384. 385. 386. 387. 388. 389. 390- 391- 392- 393- 394. 395- 396. 397- 398. 399- 400. 401. 402. 403. 404. 405- 406. 407. 408. 409. The Scottish Naturalist. Anchylopera myrtillana. „ lundana. „ unguicella. Bactra lanceolana. Argyrotoza conwayana. Dictyopteryx contaminana. „ loefflingiana. Oxygrapha literana. „ niveana. „ scabrana. Peronea scballeriana. comparana. mixtana. favillaceana. bergmanniana. j> 5) 55 55 55 variegana. 55 55 aspersana. ferrugana. caledoniana. Teras caudana. Poecilochroma corticana. ,, ratzburghiana. Olindia ulmana. Roxana arcuana. Semasia woeberiana. „ nanana. Ephippiphora regiana. „ afgyrana. Stigmonota composana. „ perlepidana. 410. 411. 412. 413- 414. 415- 416. 417. 418. 419. 42a 421. 422. 423- 424. 425. 426. 427. 428. 429. 430- 431- 432. 433- 434. 435- 436. 437- 438. 439- 55 55 Asthenia coniferana. strobilella. splendidulana. Retinia pinivorana. „ occultana. Pamplusia monticolana. Heusemine fimbriana. Endopisa saturnana. ,, nebritana. Grapholita succedana. Sciaphila subjectana. 55 55 virgaureana. 55 octomaoulana. penziana. Ablabia pratana. Euchromia ericetana. Orthotsenia antiquana. Sericoris lacunana. „ urticana. „ cespitana. Mixodia schulziana. „ palustrana. Argyrolepia badiana. Eupoecilia atricapitana. nana, an gu Stan a. Cochylis straminea. Xanthosetia hamana. 55 55 55 zoegana. Tortricodes hyemana. Vanessa antiopa in Fife.— On Augurt iStli, I was hunting about in one of the fields close to the house at Balmuto when my attention was drawn to a large butterfly which was "sailing about" at some distance, and on going to- wards it I saw a fine specimen of Vanessa antiopa sitting upon a head of rag- wort flower. I had nothing with me but a heavy sweeping net ; but on my approach it did not give me time to use it, but sailed over my head to the opposite side of the field. Two or three times I thought I should get within reach, but it never settled down, and at last flew over a long belt of wood and vanished. I followed round to a flowery field where I thought it might stop, but could see no more of it. Dr Boswcll came out with me afterwards, and we explored the neighbourhood well, but it never put. in another appear- ance. We have searched for more but without success. — ^JOHN A. Power, Balmuto, by Kirkcaldy, Sept. 4, 1878^ The Scottish Naturalist. 341 Vanessa antiopa on Ben Lawers. — I had the good fortune to capture Vanessa antiopa on the west side of Ben Lawers, on the 26th of August. The altitude was, I think, between 1500 and 1600 feet. — A. Craig Christie, Millmore, Killin, August 29, 1878. Capture of Paclinobia liyperborea. — When collecting on a mountain near Glen Tilt last July, I had the pleasure of putting my net over a specimen of Pachnobia hypcrlm'ea which Mr W. Herd saw flying in the daytime over some rough stony ground. This species has not, I think, been taken in Athole since Mr Douglas discovered it (as a British species) on Ben Ghlo many years ago. A good many specimens have, I understand, been taken in Rannoch this year. — F. Buchanan White. Capture of Coccyx distinctana. — On the 27th of June 1877, I took a tortrix from silver fir in my shrubbery which struck me as differing from C. hyrciniana. On the 14th of June of this year, I took several specimens of the same tortrix on Pmns nordmanniana. As it appeared to me to answer the description of C. distinctana of Wilkinson and Stainton, and the Focdisca (?) pyoximana of Staudinger and Herrich Schaeffer, I communicated with Mr Hodgkinson of Preston and Lord Walsingham, who were both said to have taken C. distinctana. They both kindly forwarded me specimens for com- parison, and I find that my insect is identical with that taken by Lord Wal- singham at Merton. Mr Hodgkinson's insect is the same as our hyrciniana ; and I think he must have made some mistake in the types he sent to me, as they do not agree with the description which he himself gives me of the original distinctana as captured by him and described by Wilkinson, who says, " It is easily separated from hyrciniana, 1st, by the anterior wing being less streaky ; 2d, by the streaks themselves being more defined ; 3d, by the first two costal streaks beyond the middle uniting, and being produced unin- terruptedly to the anal angle." I am doubtful as to the absence of the white spot on the cilice being a distinctive character as held by Doubleday, as in Herrich Schteffer's figure it is distinctly visible; and in my specimens, as well as in Lord Walsingham's, some are without it, though some have it, though not so markedly as in hyrciniana. Lord Walsingham tells me he takes it on Finns cephalonica, and that Dr Wood has bred if from silver fir. — Thos. MONCREIFFE, Moncreiffe House, August 13, 1878. Curious habit of Chrysocoris festaliella. — I noticed a curious habit in a specimen of this insect that I captured near Birnam this year, which Mr Stainton tells me has not been hitherto observed. It reminded me very much of a sculler in his skiff, hoisting its hindmost legs very much as the above- mentioned individual would rest his oars in the rowlocks when desisting from his labours. Making occasionally, as Mr Stainton aptly observes, " a demi- pirouette," by dropping one leg, and propelling itself to left or right as the case might be ; then dropping both legs at once, as a sculler might dip his oars in the water when he wished to make a forward movement. Not know- ing the habits of the insect, and as I captured it by a pond-side, I almost wondered whether it was semi-aquatic, and occasionally disported itself on the surface, or on the floating leaves of " potamogeton," or other plants which lie on the surface of the water. So much for imagination, as I am told the larva mines the leaves of raspberry plants. — Thos. Moncreiffe, Moncreiffe House, A2ig. 1878. L PHYTOLOGY. SUPPLEMENTARY^ LIST OF FUNGI FOUND WITHIN THE PEOVINOE OF MOEAY. By the Rev. JAMES KEITH, A.M. 703. 704. 705. 706. 7o7« 708. 709. 710. 711. 712. 713- 714. 715- 716. 717. 718. AGARICUS, L. LEPIOTA. Clypeolarius, Bull. Altyre. Oct. Cepcestipes, Sow. Var. A. on wood in stove at Dalvey. Var. B. on leaf-bed in stove at Gordon Castle. J. Webster. Sistratus, Fr. Forres. B. & Br. Ann. Nat. Hist., No. 11S5. TRICHOLOMA. , Ustalis, Fr. Altyre woods, &c. Sept. -Oct. Acerbus, Bull. Sanquhar. Sept. Rare. CLITOCYBE. Opacus, With. Altyre woods. Oct. PLEUROTUS. Tremulus, Schcefif. On moss. Aviemore. Sept. Applicatus, Batsch. Greeshop wood. May and Oct. COLLYBIA. Esculentus, Jacq. Pastures. Aviemore. Inolens, Weinm. Cothall. Nov. MYCENA. Peltatus, Fr. Altyre woods. Aug.-Sept. Vitreus, Fr. Altyre woods and Kinrara. Sept. Hiemalis, Osbeck. On oak-trees, Whiterow. Se[)L OMPHALIA. Pyxidatus, Bull, Aviemore. Sept. Griseus, Fr. Aviemore. Sept. VOLVARIA. Gloioccphalus, Fr. Manse garden. Forres. June. The first list will be found in Scot. Nat., vol. ii. The Scottish Naturalist. 343 ENTOLOMA. 719. rrunuloides, Fr. Alvie and Rothiemurchus. Aug. 720. Bloxami, B. and Br, Rothiemurchus. Sept. Rare. 721. Griseo-cyaneus, Fr. Alvie and Kinrara. Aug. -Sept. LEPTONIA. 722. Asprellus, Fr. Pastures. Alvie. Aug. Frequent. NOLANEA. 723. Rufo-carneus, B. and Br. Heaths. Aviemore. Aug. -Sept. Frequent. PHOLIOTA. 724. Caperatus, Fr. Birch-vi^ood, above Grantovi^n. 4th Aug. Rare. 725. Erebius, Fr. Altyre vs^ood, beyond Manachie. Sept. 726. Togularis, Bull. Rafford. May. HEBELOMA. 727. Versipellis, Fr. Rothiemurchus. Kinrara. Aug. Rather rare. Veri- fied by Berkeley. 728. Euthelus, B. and Br. Forres House grounds and Sanquhar. Sept. 729. Hiulcus, Fr. Cluny Hill. Sept. CREPIDOTUS. 730. Rubi, Berk. On a beech stick. Banks of Findhorn, opposite Cot- hall. 26th Aug. 1874. NAUCORIA. 731. Erinaceus, Fr. Repeatedly on Salix aurita, and once on Rosa canina, Kinrara. Aug. GALERA. 732. Sphagnorum, Pers. Bog at Manachie, &c. Oct. STROPHARIA. 733. Jerdoni, Berk. On fir-stumps. Rothiemurchus. Sept. Rare. HYPHOLOMA. 734. Capnoides, Fr. On fir-stumps. Sanquhar. Sept. -Oct. CORTINARIUS, Fr. 735. Bolaris, Fr. Birch - wood. Aviemore. Sept. Rare. Verified by Berkeley. 736. Orellanus, Fr. Altyre woods. Sept. -Oct. Verified by Berkeley. HYGROPHORUS, Fr. 737. Nitratus, P. Pastures at foot of Craigellachie Rock, Aviemore. Aug. Rare. MARASMIUS, Fr. 738. Ramealis, Fr. Altyre and Greeshop woods, and in great masses on juniper at Aviemore. Aug, -Nov. 738rt!. Hudsoni, Fr. On holly-leaves at Sluie, 22d June 1878. 344 ^^^ Scottish Naturalist. PANUS, Fr. 739. Patellaris, Fr. On cherry. Dunphail. 5th March 1877. Very rare. Verified by Berkeley. TROGIA, Fr. 740. Crispa, Fr. On oak-stick, Sanquhar ; and most abundantly on hazel- branches, Dunphail. Winter. POLYPORUS, Fr. 741. Leucomelas, Fr. In fir-wood, near the Free Church of Rothiemur- chus. Sept. Very rare. Only two specimens found. Verified by Berkeley. 742. Melanopus, Sw. On roots of trees in the ground. Kinrara, and Aviemore, beside Loch Baladren. Aug. -Sept. Rare. Verified by Berkeley. 743. Lacteus, Fr. Plentiful on birch in Darnaway woods, opposite Sluie. Sept. and Oct. Verified by Berkeley. 744. Keithii, B. and Br. On a fallen stick. Dunphail. Rare. (Ann. Nat. Hist., 1875.) 745. Micans, Ehrenb. On ash. Altyre. Nov. Rare. Verified by Berkeley. 746. Nitidus, Fr. On sticks. Darnaway and Dunphail. Winter. Fre- quent. 747. Vulgaris, Fr. On a paling-bar at Aviemore, and a stick in Darnaway forest. Autumn and winter. Verified by Berkeley. TRAMETES, Fr. 748. Mollis, Fr. On birch at Cothall, and luxuriantly on cherry, Dun- phail. Winter. MERULIUS, Fr. 749. Rufus, Pers. On oak-sticks at Sanquhar, Dunphail, and Darnaway. Winter. Verified by Berkeley. POROTHELIUM, Fr. 750. Keithii, B. and Br. Sanquhar and Dunphail. On fir-posts. 751. Confusum, B. and Br. On fir-sticks lying on the ground on Ilill of Pitoulish. Sept. Frequent. HYDNUM, L. 752. Ferrugineum, Fr. Fir- wood at Dell of Rothiemurchus. Aug. -Oct. Verified by Berkeley. 753. Scrobiculatum, Fr. Fir-woods at Grantown and Rothiemurchus. Aug. -Oct. Verified by Berkeley. 754. Zonatum, Batsch. Fir-woods at Grantown and Rothiemurchus. Aug.- Oct. Verified by Berkeley. 755. Cyalhiforme, Schxff. Fir-wood at Rothiemurchus ; only in one spot. Sept. -Oct. Verified by Berkeley. SISTOTREMA, Fr. 756. Confluens, Pers. On the ground beside the Altyre avenue from Man- achic. Sept. Rare. The Scottish Naturalist. 345 RADULUM, Fr. 757. Deglubens, B. and Br. On ash-sticks at Sanquhar, Altyre, and Dun- phail. Nov. Dec. Jan. Not rare. PHLEBIA, Fr. 75S. Radiata, Fr. On birch-branches. Darnaway wood, &c. Nov. -Jan. GRANDINIA, Fr. 759. Granulosa, Fr. On fallen branches in various localities. Winter. KNEIFFIA, Fr. 760. Setigera, Fr. On a stick, Darnaway. Verified by Berkeley. CRATERELLUS, Fr. 761. Sinuosus, Fr. Craigellachie, Aviemore. Aug. Rare. STEREUM, Fr. 762. Pini, Fr. On fir-branches lying on the ground. Aviemore. CORTICIUM, Fr. 763. Salicinum, Fr. On Salix aurita. Kinrara. Aug. -Sept. Verified by Berkeley, Very Rare. 764. Laeve, Fr. Cothall and Sanquhar. Winter. Verified by Berkeley. 765. Puteanum, Schum. On the under side of an elm-tmnk lying on the ground. Sanquhar. Winter. Verified by Berkeley. 766. Byssoideum, P. On the ground among fir-leaves and under heaps of fir-branches, about Forres and Grantown. Winter. Common. 767. Aridum, Fr. On fir-deals at the moss-house beside Blair Chapel, &c. Winter. 768. Ferrugineum, Fr. On branches lying in a heap in Altyre woods. Oct. Verified by Berkeley. 769. Anthochroum, P. On birch-sticks. Altyre. Feb. Verified by Ber- keley. CLAVARIA, L. 770. Amethystina, Bull. In mossy meadows near Loch Alvie. Aug, Rather rare. 771. Vermicularis, Scop. Lawn at Altyre, &c. July, Aug. 772. Uncialis, Grev. On Heracleum stems in Greeshop wood. May. TYPHULA, Fr. 773. Phacorrhiza, Fr. Among leaves near Cothall Cottage. Oct. TREMELLA, Fr. 774. Viscosa, P. On sticks. Dunphail, &c. Winter and spring. 775. Torta, Willd. On oak-sticks. Altyre. May. EXIDIA, Fr. 776. Saccharina, Fr. On fir-sticks at Forres and Kinrara. 346 TJie Scottish Naturalist. RETICULARIA, Bull. 777. Atra, Fr. On fir-paling at Dalraddy, Alvie. Aug, Rare. DIDYMIUM, Schrad. 778. Hemisphericum, Fr. On twigs. Common. 779. Farinaceum, Schrad. On decayed wood, leaves, &c. Common. 780. Cinereum, Fr. On wood. Dunphail. Feb. PHYSARUM, P. 781. Nutans, P., van aureum. On mossy stick, Sanquhar. 782. Rubiginosum, Chev. On Hypnum. Verified by Cooke. STEMONITIS, Gled. 783. Ferniginea, Ehrb. On a plant in a stove at Gordon Castle. J. Web- ster. 784. Obtusata, Fr. On a stick. Banks of Findhorn. Verified by Berkeley. TRICHIA, Hall. 785. Nigripes, P. On rotten wood. Greeshop. 786. Turbinata, With. On rotten wood. Common. Verified by Berkeley. 787. Serpula, P. On fallen leaves. Cluny Hill. LINDBLADIA, Fr. 787a. Effusa, Ehb. On sawdust, Rothiemurchus and Dallas. Aug.-Sept. PHELONITIS, Chev. 788. vStrobilina, P. On cones of spruce. Altyre, &c. LEPTOSTROMA, Fr. 789. Spiraea, Fr. On dead stems of Spiraea. Common. SPH^ROPSIS, Lev. 790. Malorum, Berk. On apples. ACROSPERMUM, Tode. 791. Compressum, Tode. On nettle-stems. Sanquhar and Greeshop. DIPLODIA, Fr. 792. Vulgaris, Lev. On Prunus padus twigs. HENDERSONIA, Berk. 793. Arundinacea, Desm. On dead Arundo stems, Kinrara. Verified by Plowright. 794. Rosa:, West. ; Bull, de Brux. On rose-stems. DARLUCA, Cast. 795. Filum, Cast. On Uredo fallens on Anthyllis vulneraria, at Findhorn and at Rothiemurchus. The Scottish Naturalist. 347 SEPTORIA, Fr. 796. Ulmi, Kze. On elm-leaves. 797. Castancccola, Desm. On chestnut-leaves. 798. Graminum, Desm. On grass. EXCIPULA, Fr. 799. Macrotriclia, B. and Br. On dead broom-branches. DINEMASPORIUM, Lev. 800. Graminum, Lev. On leaves of grass. ASTEROMA, D.O. 801. Ulmi, Kl. On elm-leaves. Sanquhar. Sept. 802. Rosce, D.C. On rose-leaves. Oct. STEGANOSPORIUM, Cda. 803. Cellulosum, Cda. On stick. Sanquhar. TORULA, Pers. 804. Herbarum, Lk. On stems of Umbelliferse. 805. Ulmicola, Rbh. On elm-bark. Verified by Plowright. 806. Splendens, Cooke. See Grevillea, vol. iii. p. 178. On oak -bark. Drumduan. SPORENDONEMA, B. 807. Casei, B. and Br. On cheese. SEPTONEMA, Oda. 808. Elongatispora, Preus. On nettle-stems. Greeshop. SPORIDESMIUM, Link. 809. Alternarias, Cooke. On wall-paper in Manse of P^orres. PUCCINIA, Pers. 810. Luzulse, Lib. On Luzula campestris. Aviemore. Aug. -Sept. 811. Bistortse, D. C. On Polygonum viviparum. Aviemore. Aug. 812. Polygonorum, Link. On Polygonum amphibium. Invererne. 813. Scorodonise, Link. On Teucrium scorodonia. Kinrara. 814. Andersoni, B. and Br. On leaves of Cnicus heterophyllus. Greeshop and Rothiemurchus. 815. Cirsii, Fckl. On leaves of Cnicus heterophyllus. Greeshop. 816. Umbelliferarum, D. C. On Bunium flexuosum. Greeshop. May, 817. Lychnidearum, Lk. (Uredo spores.) On Lychnis. Edgefield. 818. Saxifragarum, Schl. On Adoxa moschatellina. Sanquhar. May. 819. Fallens, Cooke (Uredo spores). OnAnthyllis. Findhorn and Avie- more. GYMNOSPORANGIUM, D.C. 820. Juniperi, Lk, On juniper. Sanquhar. June. 348 The Scottish Naturalist. UROMYCES Lev. 821. Appendiculata, Lev. On Orobus. Rothiemurchus. Aug, 822. Concentrica, Lev. On Hyacinth. Darnaway. June. 823. Polygon!, Fckl. On stems of Polygonum aviculare. Edgefield. Sept. PROTOMYCES, Unger. 824. Chrysosplenii, B. and Br. On Chrysosplenium. Banks of Findhorn. 825. Microsporus Ung. On Ranunculus ficaria. Sanquhar. COLEOSPORIUM, Lev. 826. Petasitis, Lev. On Petasites vulgaris. Inverenie. Sept. UREDO, Lev. 827. Confluens, D.C. On Mercurialis perennis. Banks of Findhorn, &c. June. ^CIDIUM, Pars. 828. Orobi, D.C. On Orobus tuberosus. Grantown. Aug. 829. Saniculas, Carm. On Sanicula Europsea. Grantown. Aug. 830. Menthre, D. C. On mint in a garden. Forres. May. ORYPTOGAMIO SOCIETY OP SCOTLAND. The Fourth Annual Conference will take place, under the presidency of Professor Balfour, in the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, on October 9, 10, and II. The Business Meeting will be held on the 9th, at 1.30 p.m., in the Lecture Hall. On the loth an Excursion will be made, and on the nth an Exhibition of Cryptogamic Plants in the Herbarium Hall. The meeting promises to ])e successful. Any information desired may be obtained from l)r Buchanan White, Perth, Secretary of the Society. J a I »',"..».». JA_. ''_'.' " " " " *' " 11 il 11 n M II li ■■ ii—ry GEOLOGY. THE GOLD-riELD AND GOLD-DIGGINaS OP ORAWTOED- LiroSAY (LANAEKSHIRE). By W. LAUDER LINDSAY, M.D., F.R.S.E., F.L.S. {^Contimted from page 317.) SINCE the last instalment of these contributions to the Civil and Natural History of the Crawford-Lindsay gold- diggings and district was written/ there has been published in Edinburgh a work which is sure to take its place at once as a standard one on the subject of which it treats. I refer to Mr Cochran-Patrick's 'Records of Mining in Scotland.' ^ Before discussing further the subject of the present series of papers, it is obviously desirable to pause for the purpose of in- quiring whether the important work in question throws any new light, or light at all, on the puzzles that have engaged our atten- tion : for instance, on the determination of the question whether auriferous quartz exists, and was mined in the olden time, in any part of the Crawford-Lindsay district. It may be stated at once that these ' Early Records ' do not furnish us with any new fact of importance, though they may assist in the new interpretation of old facts, by furnishing what will probably henceforth be regarded as the correct or official reading of certain interesting old chronicles. Mr Cochran-Patrick's 'Records ' are valuable^ chiefly for — I. The early history of the Scotch gold-mines given in the " Introduction." ^ 'Scottish Naturalist,' vol. iv. p. 305. ^ ' Early Records relating to Mining in Scotland : ' collected by R. W. Cochran-Patrick of Woodside, LL.B. Cantab., F.S.A. Scot. Edinburgh: David Douglas. 1878. 3 In a letter of date Feb, 1878, he says : "In dealing with the ' Records,' I have given them as they stand — verbatim ; leaving to those who have, like yourself, specially studied the subject from a geological point of view, to say whether the conclusions arrived at by the old searchei'S are true or not." 350 The Scottish Naturalist. 2. The Report on the Gold-Mmes of Crawford Moor contained in MS. in the British Museum Library (Harleian MSS.), and which I have described in these papers as the " Cottonian MSS., "^ and their anonymous author as the *' Cottonian Re- porter." ^ According to Mr Cochran-Patrick, these valuable frag- ments of MS. " were written apparently either by Bowes or one of his party," which would make their date about the beginning of the seventeenth century.^ 3. The Reports of his gold-digging operations about Wanlock- head by Bowes himself, of date 1604. 4. The Act of Parliament in favour of Stevin Atkinson, of date June 1616. This Act refers to the " extraction " of gold : a phrase which might refer equally to surface soil or drift as to rock ifi situ. The King's'* object in granting the Act was obviously the discovery of a " vaine " of gold or gold-quartz (' Records,' p. 168) ; and this was the object equally of the operations of Bowes, Buhner, and the other mining engineers or gold prospectors whose names have been already specified.^ 5. The Royal Lease to Dr Hendlie in 162 1, which specifies ('Records,' p. 170), " minerall gold or gold vre lyand within the seames or vaynes, or dispersit in the earth." 6. The Royal Contract with Cornelius de Vols, of date March ^567. 7. The Act of Parliament in favour of Thomas Foullis, Gold- smith, Edinburgh, dated January 1593. 8. The Act of Parliament of 1424, claiming all gold-mines for the King. The only evidence contained in Mr Cochran-Patrick's ' Early Records ' of the occurrence of auriferous quartz in the Wanlock- head district is the following : He says that by Buhner " a piece of Sapper-stone^ — probably quartz — was found at Longcleuch- head, weighing 2 lb., from which, when it was broken, i oz. of gold was taken " (Introduction, p. xix). An anonymous letter, 1 In a letter of same date Mr Cochran-Patrick tells me that this MS. is often quoted, **but it is only a fragment, having been much injured in the fire of 1726. I have, however, printed the cot)ipletc text from another copy taken before the MS. vv^as injured, or perhaps from the original from which the other was a copy," 2 Vide * Scottish Naturalist,' p. 265. ^ Ibid., p. 259. 4 James VI. ^ Ibid., pp. 25S-262. ^ Vide 'Scottish Naturalist,' p. 308, footnote. The Scott is J i Naturalist. 351 contained in the Public Record Office, London, of date January 1604, says of Buhner's finds : '' There be some peeces of stone or spar also w^^ gold in them, as it weare y^ utmost sprigges of greater branches and y? body of a mine w?^ they seeke for" (' Records,' p. 116). Bowes " discovered a vein of ore from which some small amount of good-like gold was obtained ; but it is doubtful, from his description, whether the metal had not been washed in by the water-courses made for the purpose of tearing up the ground " (Introduction, p. xx). The Cottonian Reporter tells us that '' Theis Reasones persuade me that theare are vaines of gold in sundry partes of Crawforde Llore " (Introduction, p. xxx). But the same Reporter makes a prior and counter statement entitled : " Theis Reasones make me doubtefull that the gold is not in vaynes, bet rather lyenge dispersed in chevore rockes, neare the topes and heighte of the mountaynes " (Introduction, p. xxix). Whatever may have been the ground for the belief, it is noto- rious that a belief existed in the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- turies as to the occurrence of " vaines " of gold or gold-quartz in the Crawford- Lindsay district; and this belief was quite as strong and as striking on the part of successive kings of Scotland — at least of James V. and VI., and of their Parliaments, English and Scotch — as on that of the various gold prospectors, mining engineers, and miners, who were then engaged in the develop- ment of the auriferous resources of ' God's Treasure-House in Scotland.' Bowes repeatedly confesses that his object at Crawford Moor was the " discoverie of a vaine of golde." " If any vaine there (God willinge), I shall finde it," says he (' Records,' pp. 107 and 105). His " travill onelye tending for discouverie of a vaine of gold," he explains ('Record?,' p. 108). It is evident that Bowes bestowed much pains on his search for the said " vaine," — that is, for gold-quartz i7i situ ; and he de- tails, in his various letters or reports to the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Elie, Lord Essenden, and other members of the English Parlia- ment, his many efforts to find it. But in a multitude of ways he confesses the failure of his efforts and the disappointment of his hopes. Thus he says he has found sundry " strange myneralls stones, but not any gold fixed or growing in those leaders or 352 The Scottish Naturalist, mothers " — that is, in veins containing " fixed lead ore, and some marquesitt, accompanied wt^ keele, sparr, and brimstone " ('Records,' p. 114). He disclaims distinctly having '' found a vaine of gold," and complains of having been credited, or discredited, with such a discovery; for he felt keenly that, had the discovery been a reality, he would have been culpable for making no return, or no adequate return, in produce to the anxiously expectant, probably impatient and suspicious King. Hence he specially reports to Lord Essenden, on behalf of the King and Parliament, dating from " Codrus Cottage, High Winlocke Water," the real nature of his operations and their unsatisfactory results (' Records,' p. 112). He refers to a " supposed vaine " (' Records,' p. 109), and he gives it as his opinion that the character of the nuggety gold which he found, like so many " diggers " both before and since his day, proved that it was not of strictly local origin. This, at least, is what he appears to mean when he says, " w* (in my con- ceivinge) doth approve this gold grewe not in y*; place where I found it" (' Records,' p. 104). He thus refers further to the distant nativity, the travelled char- acter, of the Wanlockhead gold nuggets : " Upon better triall I am satisfyed that they have not their natural growing in that place, but are accidentallye brought thether." He is both sanguine, courageous, and persevering enough to promise " eyther to per- vaile in fyndinge whether it grew in a vaine, or, if not in vaines, to fynd the beds wherein it doth growe or lye " (' Records,' p. 109). But neither Bowes nor any of his equally hopeful, brave, and hard-working predecessors or successors, appear to have really discovered atirifei'ous quartz-veins or gangues. Before we leave Bowes, with his hopes and disappointments, and his instructive descriptions of gold-searching or mining ope- rations, it is of interest to note that even in his time — about the end of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth centuries — the nefarious operation of "salting" with foreign gold or gold-quartz the Crawford-Lindsay district — as this operation has been described by Messrs Greg and Lettsom^ — would appear to ^ Vide 'Scottish Naturalist,' p. 315, footnote. Scottish mineralogists would appear to be subject to imposition l)y other nefarious practices on the part of dealers in minerals ; for Professor Ileddlc denounces " the purchase, at fabulous prices, of loose specimens from too {xQ,(\\\s.Xi\\y falsified localities.'^ ["County Geognosy and Mineralogy of Scotland," ' Mineralogical Magazine,* April 1878.] The Scottish Naturalist. 353 have been known. For he tells us that he disdains to "bye gold and make show thereof as gotten in these workes " (' Re- cords,' p. 108). Since the last of the present series of papers was written (for the July No. of the * Scottish Naturalist '), an important meeting has been held in London — important in so far as concerns our present subject, the Crawford- Lindsay gold-field, and its auriferous produce, actual and possible. I allude to the annual meeting of the Directors and Shareholders of the " Leadhills Silver-Lead Mining and Smelting Company " in June. The chairman stated : *' With respect to the presence of gold in the property, it was said that old workers, with their rude tools, had taken ;!^5oo,ooo worth of gold out of the mine ; and surely a company, with im- proved modern appliances, ought to develop this part of their property." 1 This ^500,000 has a suspicious resemblance to the valuation of the Crawford - Lindsay gold produce by Calvert, which was ^£"51 5,000.^ Such a mining company as that above mentioned has it in its power to determine two points of great interest, socially or eco- nomically, as well as mineralogically or geologically, viz. : — 1. Whether it will "pay" nowadays to conjoin the extraction of alluvial gold from the soil, or of disseminated gold from aurif- erous quartz, with the desilverisation of lead and the smelting of the lead itself? 2. Whether such disseminated gold and gold-quartz really exist — that is, auriferous quartz in situ, and forming veins in the lower Silurian rocks of the Wanlockhead district ? If the Leadhills Silver-Lead Company will undertake the solu- tion of these problems by any kind of systematic operations on a large scale, its directors will deserve well of their countrymen, whatever be the result of the experiment.^ From the data set before the reader in the present and three foregoing papers,* it would appear impossible to determine that gold-quartz in situ was ever really found at Wanlockhead or Leadhills ; or if it was so found, what was its mineralogical or petrological character. Statements concerning stamping mills, " vaines of gold," and gold-bearing rocks, stones, or minerals, are flatly contradicted by other allegations of an entirely opposite 1 ' North British Daily Mail,' June 7, 1878. 2 * Vide his ' Gold Rocks,' p. 165, and the ' Scottish Naturalist,' p. 264. 3 Vide 'Scottish Naturahst,' pp. 213, 214. 4 In the January, April, and July Nos. of the ' Scottish Naturalist.' 354 ^'^^^ Scottish Naturalist. character, involving denial that the most painstaking search ever succeeded in demonstrating the occurrence of gold in *' solid places," "beds," " seames," or " vaines " — that is, in any kind of rock ifi situ. Nor is it surprising, considering the mixture of fiction with fact; the infusion of narrative with superstition, credulity, pre- judice, ignorance; the use of a technical, partly local, partly foreign jargon, long since obsolete, and now scarcely intelli- gible, that characterised the quaint old chronicles of the six- teenth and seventeenth centuries, that difficulty should exist — and of an insuperable kind, apparently — in reconciling the con- flicting evidence, or of collecting evidence at all of a satisfactory kind. But it is not a little surprising that such a difficulty — and quite as great, apparently — should exist at the present day, or should have existed in quite recent times. That it does exist, evi- dence was furnished in the last instalment of these contribu- tions,^ in the discrepant evidence of Professor Harkness, Profes- sor Geikie, Dr Wilson, Mr Dudgeon, and the Rev. Dr Porteous, regarding the auriferous quartz of the Wanlockhead district. The amazing difficulty of obtaining, in the first place, simple evidence as to \ki^ facts of a find; the impossibility sometimes of so sifting a superabundant mass of evidence as to ascertain what is trustworthy ; the niceties involved in striking the balance of probability when evidence is conflicting and bewildering; the discrepancies in opinion between experts themselves, and the greater and radical diff"erences between scientific and practical men ; the frequent errors of the former, the savants^ and the equally common correctness of the views of the latter, the mere miners or diggers, — all become more prominent, more fully illustrated in connection not only with a special subject, but with a special object ; not only with the determination of what appears to be a very simple matter — viz., whether auriferous quartz exists in a given district, but with the even simpler matter at first sight — viz., whether a given piece of gold-quartz is or is not the pro- duce of — native to — a certain locality. * Hence it is that all these or other difficulties, dubieties, or per- plexities have arisen in connection with three now well-known museum specimens of gold-quartz — all of them labelled or described as having been not only found at, but as being indubitable natives of, Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire, or Leadhills, Lanarkshire. The ^ Vide ' Scottish Naturalist,' pp. 315-317. The Scottish Naturalist. 355 three museum exhibits in question are — in the order of the dates of their discovery or of presentation — the following : — 1. In the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh : a small piece of auriferous quartz labelled as of date 1837. For the sake of brevity and convenience, and for the reasons that will appear in the sequel, I shall henceforth speak of this exhibit as \kiQ, Jameson specimeti. 2. In the British Museum, London : a larger piece, not, how- ever, richly auriferous, bought in the district by Mr Bryce Wright of Great Russell Street, London, and sold by him to the said Museum in 1864. I shall hereafter refer to this exhibit as the Wright specimen. 3. In the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh, another large piece containing a considerable amount of gold, labelled as having been found by A?idreu> Gemmell,i miner, in 1872, and presented in 1877. I have, in various publications on the gold-fields of Scotland, spoken of this exhibit as the Gemmell quartzite, and shall hereafter, for the sake of uniformity of nomenclature, refer to it as the Gemmell specimen. By far the most important of these exhibits, from all points of view, is the last-named. But I do not propose describing or discussing it in the present paper, for the following reasons, inter alia : — 1. It has already this year formed the subject of debate before the Royal Society of Edinburgh ^ and the Geological Society of Glasgow,^ as well as more publicly in the leading newspapers of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dumfries.'* 2. Some of the debaters introduced the irrelevant and mis- chievous element of personalities : in other words, finding their position unprovable and untenable, they substituted for fact or legitimate argument vilification of those whose position was too obviously that of common-sense. And it is extremely difficult, if not impossible at present, to criticise or analyse the singular his- tory of the Gemmell specimen without still further rousing the 1 It was not, however, found, as represented, by Andreiv Gemmell, but by his son George, as is pointed out in an excellent resume of the history of the Gemmell find given in an anonymous letter in the * North British Daily Mail ' (Glasgow) of May 16, 1878, by " A Native" of the district, probably a lead- miner, who shows, whatever he is, an intimate acquaintance with Wanlock- head and its doings. 2 On March 4, 1878. 3 Qn March 7 and 21, 1878. * Especially the 'Scotsman,' 'North British Daily Mail,' and 'Dumfries Herald.' 356 The Scottish Naturalist. passions of some of those who believe it to be native, seeing that such a criticism or analysis would have the effect of exposing the pitiable want of proof, or anything thereto approaching, that has as yet characterised the advocacy of its Scotch nativity. 3. A good deal remains to be said concerning the supposed nativity of the Gemmell specimen, including a good deal that is new; for there can be little doubt that the public discussions re- garding it that have been above adverted to have already led to careful gold-prospecting of theWanlockhead district, and will direct attention to the possible occurrence of aurifei-ous quartz in other parts of Scotland. The Gemmell specimen, indeed, raises ques- tions of such importance, not only to the mineralogist or geolo- gist, but to the historian, archaeologist, and jurist, and to all who are interested in the development of the industrial resources of Scotland, that these questions will require at some future date a special paper, or perhaps a series of papers, for their due discussion.^ At a meeting of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in March last (1878), much stress was laid on the value and significance of the Jameson specimeju Mr Dudgeon of Cargen mentioned " the fact that there had been for many years, in the Museum of Science and Art, a specimen (of auriferous quartz) labelled Wanlockhead. This quartz was in the collection at the time of Professor Jame- son \ and it was perfectly certain that, had there been doubt as to its real character, it would not have been admitted to the Museum by so eminent a mineralogist." Professor Archer, Director of the Museum, remarked in confirmation : " It was scarcely necessary ... to say that Professor Jameson was not likely in his time to admit an Australian specimen ; and he (Pro- fessor Archer) did not hesitate to say that any one who looked at the two specimens (the Jameson and Gemmell ones) would be convinced that they were got at the same place "^ — viz., Wan- lockhead. No doubt it is true that " Professor Jameson was not likely, in his time., to admit an Aiistralian specimen " of gold- quartz into the Natural History Museum of the University of Edinburgh, because the Australian gold-diggings did not begin till 185 1 ;^ while in 1847, when I attended what should have been (( ^ Mr Cochran-Patrick's judicial verdict on the Gemmell specimen is this : Mr Dudgeon of Cargen , . . figures a mass of quartz and gold, which was supposed to have been found near Wanlockhead, though some doubt has been thrown on its native origin." — 'Early^Rccords,' Introduction, p. xx, footnote. 2 ' Scotsman,' March 5, 1S78. » Vide Calvert's 'Gold Rocks,' p. 18. The Scottish Naturalist. 357 Professor Jameson's class at the said university, he was certainly not in a condition to decide upon the nativity of a piece of gold- quartz, and could not have been for some years previously to 1847. I examined alP the specimens of Scotch gold in the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh, in July 1877, under the auspices of Professor Archer himself, taking notes at the time of their characters. Among others, I found an angular lump of aurif- erous quartz labelled as " from Leadhills, Scotland," 1837. It was duly enumerated among other " Museum Specimens of Native Scottish Gold," in a paper bearing that title submitted to the Geological Society of Edinburgh in December 1877, "^y com- ment upon it being that it has more appearance of weathering than the Gemmell specimen, but contains a small quantity (in specks) of apparently the same sort of gold. AVhen on a former occasion, some years previously, I inspected all the Scotch gold exhibits in the same Museum, I found what I described at the time^ as " two small nuggets labelled Native Gold in Quartz: Leadhills, 1837 (Traill). Here the quartz is still adherent, just as it is in nuggets from the Waipori diggings of Otago, N.Z." 3 The specimen I saw in 1877 labelled " Leadhills, 1837," may or may not be the Jameson specimen referred to by Mr Dud- geon. The introduction of Professor Traill's name only adds to the puzzle. When I attended the Natural History Class of the University of Edinburgh in 1847, Professor Traill was the substi- 1 Nevertheless, I am told that there is one specimen which I did not see, and which, if so, must be exhibited in a different part of the Museum — viz., what it will be convenient to speak of as the Martin nugget, from the name of the gentleman, the late Dr Martin of Leadhills, by whose son it has been lent to the Museum. [ Vide Dr Porteous's ' Treasure-House,' p. 51, and letter on the gold of Wanlockhead and Leadhills in the ' Scotsman ' of January 4, 1878. On application to Mr Galletly, Sub-Curator of the Museum, I found my surmise correct : for he was good enough to explain, in a memorandum of date July 1878, that "the specimen of Native Gold which belonged to the late Dr Martin of Leadhills, and was lent to us by his son, is shown in a case containing models of large nuggets, auriferous quartz, &c., in what is called the Metallurgical Hall of the main Jloor of the building here ; " while the other specimens of Scotch gold are to be found in the galleiy above. 2 Vide paper on "The Gold-Fields of Scotland," in the 'Journal of the Royal Geological Society of Ireland,' vol. ii., 1869, p. 180, footnote. 3 Or as has been described in Wanlockhead Nuggets in the * Scottish Nat- uralist,' p. 211. M 358 The Scottish Naturalist. tute of Professor Jameson as lecturer. Among the many ques- tions in natural history in which Professor Traill took an interest was that of native gold; and he is credited with having, in 1802 or 1803,^ "found gold in a vein of quartz i7i situ at Wanlock- head."^ But I have never met with anything like proof or evidence that he did so. Mr Dudgeon assures us^ that " several specimens Qi auriferous quartz have been found besides the Gemmell specimen. One is now in the Museum of Science and Art in Edinburgh ;* another was obtained in the district by the late Professor Traill ; a third was got a good many years ago in a very singular manner by Professor Heddle, who was fishing in the Glengonar water. His hook became entangled, and, on pulling up his line, he brought up a stone, which proved to be a piece of quartz containing gold. This also got into Dr Traill's hands, and both these last specimens, on his (Professor Traill's) death, were sold, with the rest of his collection, in Liverpool, and all trace of them is lost." In many museums, especially private ones, it is common to have a catalogue, written or printed, containing a history of the individual exhibits ; and, in the case of such an exhibit as the Jameson specimen of gold-quartz, a proper catalogue would de- tail the circumstances under which it was found — those that would prove it to be a native of the Leadhills district. But I am not aware that, as concerns the Jameson specimen, any such history or proof is forthcoming ; and in its absence it is obviously impos- sible to found anything upon such a specimen, and on such a label ^ as it possesses. Of the Wright specimen in the British Museum, on the other hand, a good deal is known ; but the information at command is not sufficient to enable the unbiassed student of his country's mineralogy to decide whether the specimen is native or foreign. ^ Greg and Lettsom's 'Manual,' p. 236, speaks of Professor Traill's speci- men of 1802 as the only specimen of gold found (up to 1858) in the matrix in Scotland. 2 Vide paper already quoted in the 'Journal of the Royal Geological Society of Ireland,' p. 180. ^ In a letter published in the * Dumfries Herald' of March 28, 1S77. ^ Alluding, apparently, to the Jameson specimen. ^ Descriptive printed labels are also common in museums, and are extremely useful where their information is accurate. The Gemmell specimen has a short descriptive printed label, of which I have a duplicate. But it fur- nishes no evidence that the specimeit is a native of the district in which it was found. The Scottish Naturalist. 359 Mr Wright's own account of the find has been very recently made public/ and is as follows : — " Whilst at that locality [Leadhills] many years ago, a miner brought me the specimen in quartz, saying he had just dis- covered ^ it between Elvanfoot and Leadhills. I immediately put a series of questions to him, and was convinced in my own mind that he was speaking strictly the truth. I obtained the specimen, and within the same hour walked to Wanlockhead to compare it with some specimens from California which I knew to be in the possession of the postmaster, a Mr Laidlaw. My comparison convinced me that it was a genuine Leadhills speci- men. I do not remember now the name of the miner; but on my first visit to the Leadhills I will doubtless be able to ascertain. " Allow me ... to state that, having passed my whole life in the study of mineralogy, and that, being conversant with gold in every known form, and perhaps from every locality — including Aus- tralia, Siberia, Siam, Africa, Brazil, Bolivia, Transylvania, as well as the United Kingdom (Wales, and Wicklow, Ireland) — I am not likely to have been deceived by an Aiistralia^i specimen being passed off to me as a genuine Leadhills one." But obviously the mineralogical authorities of the British Museum do not regard the Wright specimen as an indubitable native. Desirous of having, in the event of the specimen being regarded native by the Museum authorities, a coloured drawing made of it, in order to its publication as an illustration of some of my future papers on the gold and gold-fields of Scotland, I applied, in April last, to the Keeper of the Department of Mineralogy in the said Museum, who happens also to be Professor of Miner- alogy in the University of Oxford — viz.. Professor Maskelyne. He was good enough to write me (of date April 1878) : " There would be no difficulty in your having any of the gold specimens from Scotland drawn. . . . The specimen you allude to has only the late Mr Bryce Wright for its godfather. It might be Austra- 1 In a letter by him to the ' North British Daily Mail ' of March 25. 2 Such discoveries would appear to be by no means unfrequent. A corre- spondent at Wanlockhead, writing in July last (1878), tells me: "Another piece of gold-bearing quartz has been found in the Wanlock glen, a little below the village. It is about the size of a pigeon's egg, with richer gold than the Gemmell find. ... I have not seen it ; but I am told that it does not appear to have been broken from any solid body for a very long time." It is said to be in the possession of Dr Wilson of Wanlockhead. 360 7 he Scottish Naturalist. lian ; ^ and it has always been doubtful whether it was not. . . . The so-called Wanlockhead bit of quartz, apart from the doubt as to its origin, has but a speck of gold on it, and would be hardly worth figuring." The opinion of the assistant-keeper of the same department — Thos. Davies, F.G.S. — as to the probably Australian origin of the Wright specimen, is quoted by the Rev. Dr Porteous,^ and is as follows : — " The specimen in massive quartz-rock in our collection I suspect to be Australian. We had only the dealer's assurance that it was purchased out of an old collection made in the Wan- lockhead district. The specimen is about 5 inches x 2 x 2, and contains but little gold in one or two places. It consists of massive quartz, without any other rock whatever, and may have been part of a vein, judging from the appearance of one of its sides. . . . The specimens of gold from Wanlockhead were pur- chased of Mr Wright, a London dealer in minerals, in i864."2 Desirous of knowing the grounds of his suspicion as to its Australian nativity, I applied to Mr Davies himself in March last ; and the following was his prompt and courteous explana- tion (of date March 1878) :— "I was only led by the great similarity of the quartz to that from Australia, and that we had but the word of Mr Bryce Wright, senr., that it was from that locality (Wanlockhead), the label accompanying the two specimens appearing to refer only to that in grains. The gold is plainly visible upon one corner of the specimen." ■^ The liability of Australian to take the place of native gold-quartz in our pul)lic museums was specially pointed out in an article on " Australian (lokl- Quartz in Scotland. By our Gold Commissioner on the Sutherland Gold- Field in 1869," ' Northern Ensign ' (Wick), April 25, 1S78. 2 'God's Treasure-House,' p. 53. ^ In a memorandum from Mr Davies, of date July 1878, he says the specimen "was sold here by the late Bryce Wright, se?!):, in June 1864. He said that it was out of an old collection ; and the label accompanying the specimen was not in his handwriting, nor in that of any member of his fam- ily." It is not a little singular, then, that t/ic present Mr Bryce M. Wright, junior, describes himself — as we have seen — as first the purchaser, and next the vendor, of the Wright specimen. The Scottish Naturalist. 361 E E Y I E W S. European Butterflies and Moths. Parts I.-VI. By W. F. Kirby. Cas- sell, Petter, & Galpin. 4to. 187S. — The British collector of Lepidoptera as a rule cares little, and knows perhaps less, about any species that does not occur within the limits of the United Kingdom. In fact he carries his love of native productions so far as to gladly give as many shillings for a specimen "guaranteed British" as an example from the other side of the Straits of Dover would bring pence. A canny Scot, who combines insect-collecting with his other avocations, has recently tried to cultivate this peculiar trait of the British collector's character by offering specimens of a certain moth at prices ranging from £6 to ;i^20 — excellent but foreign specimens of the same insect being obtainable for two or three shillings. We do not blame our 'cute countryman, but we strongly deprecate the narrow-mindedness of collectors. It is true that hitherto there was no work in the English language (if we except Mr Kirby's ' Manual of European Butterflies ') which treated of the European Lepidoptera ; but that excuse can no longer be pleaded, since the enterprise of Messrs Cassell & Co. has placed within the reach of every collector, in a popular (yet scientifically true) form, an illustrated handbook of the European species. The work is based upon Berge's ' Schmetterlings-Buch,' and the coloured plates, which are wonderful for the price, are reproduced from that work. The publishers have been fortunate in securing the services of Mr W. F. Kirby, whose name alone is guarantee that the text will be good. In the plates the more notable species are figured, as well as, in many cases, the caterpillars and pupoe, and the plants on which the former feed. The distribution of the various species is also noticed, though we think that Mr Kirby is perhaps a little too anxious to include as many species as possible in the British fauna ; for he says (p. 15) of the very doubtfully British Melitcea didynia that a specimen " was recently taken in Scotland " — a statement which has, in our opinion, too slight a foundation. Either to the young collector who wishes to make acquaintance with the Lepidoptera of his own country, or to the older one who desires to extend his information beyond the limits of the British species, we can heartily recom- mend this work. The Fauna of Scotland, with especial reference to Clydesdale and the Western District. Hymenoptera. Part I. By Peter Cameron. Published by the Natural History Society of Glasgow. 8vo. Pp. 52. 1878. — Hold- ing, as we do very strongly, that the proper work of local societies is the compilation of local Floras and Faunas, we hail the appearance of this work as a step in the right direction. The Society contemplates publishing a series of catalogues of the Fauna of Scotland, and has secured for many of the groups the services of zoologists especially interested in them. The part now published is much more than a mere catalogue, as it contains numerous valu- able remarks and notes upon particular species (with descriptions of some new ones), distribution, &c., of the Sawflies, to Avhich group this part is restricted. We cannot do less than wish the Society all success in its very laudable umiei?^ IP "ir*>>. taking. /lates, exhibiting several hundred figures, ad carefully c^'mirpil, 2 large thick volumes, folio, a larj;e paper copy, half bound calf, uncut, rare, Ivomse, 1773-82, £2 23. Bosg-Oed (D. M.) Bibliotheca Ichthyologica et Piscatoria Catalogue de livres et d'Ecrits sur Histoire Naturelle des Poissons et des Cctaces, la Pisciculture, les Pcches, la Legislation des Pecbes, etc, redige par D. Mulder BosgO'^d, 8vo, seived, 1874, 10s 6d. IVosman (W.) 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B. — Th': vclume.s coniMei^ce with the June nuiuber in crch ycnr, Sub- scriptions (6s per vol . i„. f free), sli- uM be for\Aan!cd to tlic T^';'' r<, nt tl:c above addrcb'-. No. XXVII. JULY, 1877. '"'• Time's glory is XV '"' To unmask falsehood and bring truth io li;:'''' " TH E SCOTTISH NATURALW Edited by F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S. C O N T E N T S. Zoolog-y— I'age On Migration, — Colonel Drummond Hay, CM. Z.S., - - - - 85 I The Lepidoptera of Moncreiffe Hill ( Continued ),—^n- T. Moncreiffe, Bart., - - - 99 Some Notes on the British Species of Oporabia ( lllnstratcd), — F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S., 11 r Waste of Life at vSt. Abb's Head,— J. H. Gurney, jun., F.Z. S., - - 116 The Exteniiination of Rare Birds, — Rev. W. Herdman, - - - 116 Capture of Vanessa Antiopa,— Dr. Buchanan White, - - - 116 Colias Edusa in Galloway,— W. D. Robinson-Douglas, B.A., F.L.S., F.R.G.S., - - - 117 Dumfriesshire, — R. Service, 117 Berwickshire, — W.Shaw, - 117 Perthshire, — W. 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Les.abonnements pour r Angletevre doivent etre adresse a Mr. Boucard, 55 Great Russell Street, W.C., London; pour 1^ auties pays, chez r)eyrolle fils, 23 rue de la Monnaie, Paris. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST: A Monthly Publication on Insects, issued by the Entomological Society ov Canada. Subscription: Five Shillings stg. for volume of 12 numbers, free of postage. Address— Key. (\ J. S. BETH UNE, Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontari(\ Canada. On i/'ii !.■: r '" ■lion//!, J'l-lce Si,xpencc, 24 pp. .Sv*},^ THE ENTOWIOLOGISTS MONTHLY MAGAZINE, Conducted by y. W, DOUGLAi>; K. Aj'LACHLAA, KR.S., F./.S.; F. C. RYi:. ami H. T. STAL\TOh\ F.K. ' Th:r> Magazine Avas commenced in 1SO4, and its pages are princii>ally devoted to information respecting British Entomology. London : JoHN Van Voorst, I Paternoster R(nv, E.C. bi.Vt. — The vclumefi ccmraence with the June number in .each year, Sub- scriptions (6s per vol , ■■ ' ^- •), should be forwan' ' ' t'- F 'i^ :-. at the P No. XXVIII. OCTOBER, 1877. Vol. 'IV ' ' Timers glory is To unmask falsehood and bring truth to h TH E SCOTTISH NATURALIST Edited by P. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S. CONTENTS. ZoolOgry— Page Q\\^\\gc'x'i\o\\( Continued), — Colonel Drummond Hay, C.M.Z. S., - 133 The Lepidoptera of Moncreiffe Hill (Continued), — Sir T. Moncreiffe, Bart., 144 Does Alternation of Generations or Dimorphism occur in the European Cynipidze? — P. Camekon, 152 Further Notes on the Species of Oporabia, — Dr. F. BUCHANAN White, M.D., F.L.S., 158 Colias Edusa in Orkney — W. Tait, 160 ,, ,, South- West of Scotland, — W. D. RoBiNSON-DouGLAS, B.A., F.L.S., F.R.G.S., 160 Mustek Erminea, — ^James M 'Andrew, i6o Note on the Zoology and Botany of Glen Tilt, — Editor, - - - 160 Phytology— Descriptions of New Lichens, — ^James Stirton, M.D., P\L.S., - - 164 Scottish Galls,— Professor Trail, M. A., M.B., F.L.S. , - - - 168 Berteroa incana, — Rev. W. Herdman, 170 Bog-Mosses, — John Sim, - - - - 170 Insecta Scotica— The Lepidoptera of Scotland, — F. Buchanan White, M.D,, F.L.S., 173 The Coleoptera of Scotland, — D. Sharp, M.B,, - - - - - 176 PERTH: Perthshire Society of Natural Science. Edinburgh : MacLachlan & Stewart, South Bridge. London : E. W. Janson, 28 Museum Street, W.C. Paris : E. Deyrolle, 23 Rue de la Monnaie. SAMUEL cowan AND CO., STRATHMORE PRINTING WORKS, PERTH. BOOKS FOR SALE. Newman's Zoologist, i 843-1 876, in 33 Volumes. Price, ;^.i5. Entomologists' Monthly Magazine, 12 Vols., 1864-76. Price, £\, I OS. Entomologists' Annuals, 21 Volumes (all published), 1855-75. Price, £2. Apply to X. Y., care of Editor oi Sc. Nat, NOTICE. Subscriptions to the "Scottish Naturalist" 4s. per annum, post free, payable in advance. Single numbers, Is. 2d. Annual Subscription not paid in advance, not including postage, 4s. 6d. Stamps cannot be received in payment, nor are receipts sent unless a Post Card or stamped Knvelope is forwarded. Subscriptions to be paid to Mr, John Young, G.E., Tay Street, Perth. Communications intended for the January number must be sent to the Editor (Dr, Buchanan ^White, Perth), not later than 1st December. The Subscription for 1877 having now expired, that for 1878 should be paid before January 31, that Subscribers may receive their copies without any delay. FHce Fotirpence per Month, or Four Shillings per Annum, post Jree. THE NATURALIST: Journal of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' Society, AND GENERAL FIELD CLUB RECORD. NEW SERIES. Edited by CHAS. P. HOBKIRK «& GEO. T. PORRITT, F.L.S. Containing Original Articles, Notes, Reports of Societies, Correspondence, Exchange, &c. HUDDERSFIELD : B. BROWN. On the ist of evety Month, 32 pp. 8vo. , roith at least one Plate, THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY— British and Foreign. Edited by Henry Trimen, M.B., F.L. S., British Museum, assisted by S. Le M. Moore, F.L. S., Royal Herbarium, Kew. Subscriptions for 1876 (12s, post free, in the United Kingdom) payable in advance to the Publishers, Messrs. Ranken & Co., Drury House, St. :Mary-le- Strand, London, W.C, of whom may be obtained the volume for 1875 (pnce i6s 6d, bound in cloth) ; also covers for the volume (price is) and back numbers. On the ist of every month. Price Sixpence, 24. pp. 8vo., THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, Conducted by J. W. DOUGLAS; K. M'LACHLAX, F.R.S., F.L.S : F. C. RYF, and H. T. STAIATON, F.R.S., d-v. This Magazine was commenced in 1864, and its pages are principally devoted to information respecting British Entomology. London : John Van Voorst, i Paternoster Row, E.C. TST.B. — The volumes com.raence with the June number in each year. Sub- scriptions (6s pel vol , iDort free), should be forwarded to the Editors, at the above address. CRYPTOGAMIO SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND, THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE, DUISTKELD, OCT. leth to 19th. Oct. 1 6. Meeting of Council and Excursion in Afternoon. Oct. 17. Excursion — Business Meeting and Conversazione. Oct. 18. Excursion — Conversazione in Evening. Oct 19. Fungus Show. For further information apply to the Secretary, Dr. Buchanan White, F.L.S., Perth. THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF OONOHOLOGY. This Journal circulates widely amongst Conchologists throughout the world, and contains every quarter articles dealing with all departments of the Science. Price IS. per number, or 4s. 4d. per Annum, Post-free. Edited by JOHN "W. TATLOE, St. Ann's Printing Works, Leeds, To whom all Post Office Oi^ders should be made payable, and all communications addressed. London: Hardwicke & Bogue, 192 Piccadilly. REVUE ET MAGASIN DE ZOOLOGIE PARAIT UNE LIVRAISON CHAQUE MOIS. et forme chaqiie annee tin foH volume in 8vo. de ^00 pages el 30 planches environ^ 23 francs par an (^o i8s 6d, post free). Ce recueil fonde en 183 1 par M. Guerin Meneville est toujours sous la direction scientifique de ce celebre auteur. II contient un grand nombre de travaux inedits sur toutes les branches de la zoologie, et des comi^tes-rendus des ouvrages nouveaux ayant trait a cette science. Les abonnements pour 1' Angleterre doivent etre adresse a Mr. Boucard, 55 Great Russell Street, W.C., London; pour lee autres pays, chez Deyrolle fils, 23 rue de la Monnaie, Paris. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST: A MoNTHL^' Publication on Insects, issued v\ the Entomological Society of Canada. Subscription: Five Shillings stg. for volume of 12 numbers, free of postage. Address -Rev. C. J. S. BETH UNE, Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario, Canadii. m i MBL WHOI LIBRARY H lflTc3 R m ■, 4^~ .y<^-^^ -vv*r > -i^ r t- •^€^ /"^^ "':' -^ ^ ■\. *^^ ^K... l-K. 4^ X -^ ;■ ->r!^ =--.>.*v^ » .-it* - -^^ -■ •7»HP^ -^ ^.^ M .. J. •■-.; -T'"'^ ^ .. r^