aan PSs 2 pute *Y > So Pe | jane Saati site wii tt ae * anh we ans A “anne | \g IM nanhashan’ manana Me a ann : rns hit haan aanaa pie pM is cn RAAR ORAAA > Alin 2 ANN Ape an nnn’ ‘ai WAAR F, aN WANA NANA a ~ ian “Pn An, FF ; KOR AR AROS St RANA Oe ee RANTS =. AAA A * i ARs Naty mee AS a Harpine, Groce, jun. Bee-eater near Bristol, 271 Haroine, H. J Creamcoloured courser at Sandwich, 523 Harrison, Hucw Osprey at Rostherne Mere, Jerfalcon at Crosby Ravensworth, Jerfalcons near Biddulph, 30; Great gray shrike near Rochdale, 31 Vii Harting, J. Eomunp, F.LS., F.Z.S. Curious capture of a kestrel by a cat, 31; On the occurrence of the spoon- bill in Middlesex, 35; The birds of Shakespeare, 353, 393, 465 He ts, N. Fenwick Gray phalarope, wood sandpiper and black tern near Aldeburgh, 499 HeEutys, Rev. Jonn Description of the larva of Scoria dealbata, 230 Hessgz, B. Gray phalarope in Hackney Marshes, 499 Honrter, Tuomas Association for reducing the number of wood pigeons, 310 Hourcuinson, Marraew Arrival of migrants, 308 Jrerrery, W. jun. Ornithological notes from West Sussex, 87, 140, 166, 264, 333, 514; Dermestes _lardarius _ attacking birds’ skins, 528 Jepucort, T., jun. Merlin at Erdington, 31; Great crested grebe near Birmingham, 100 Joyce, RicnarD Night heron at Belfast, 457 Kirsy, H.T. M Cuckoo sucking eggs, 310 ; Gray pha- larope at Mayfield, 499 Kwok, E. E. - Black sparrow, 32 Lane, Caries Osprey in Sussex, 497 Last, T. Missel thrush singing in December, 143 Lezoor, G. A., F.R.G.S. Swallow stones, 523 Legee, W. Vincent, R.A. Late nesting of the sparrow, White starling, 32; Ornithological notes from South-East Essex, 89; Moor- hens perching in trees, Sea birds at Malahide, 145; Gulls breaking mussel-shells, 190 LivERsEpGE, WILLIAM Variety of the blackbird, 389 Lowe, JoHNn Temmionck’s stint at King’s Lynn, 457 Lownet, Benyamin T. Notes on a voyage round the world, 114 Macain, WILLIiam, Richard’s pipit obtained in Leadenhall Market, 269 Vill Marnew, Rey. Murray A., M.A. The great auk on Lundy Island, 100; Hen harrier near Barnstaple, 267; An ancient raven, 270; Lesser tern and black tern at Weston-super- Mare, 272; Gray phalarope at Weston-super-Mare and at Budleigh Salterton, 499; Glossy ibis at Budleigh Salterton, 524 May, Witiiam Golden oriole at East Grinstead, Sussex, 268 Monk, T. J. Redwinged starling at Brighton, Serin finch near Brighton, Little ringed plover near Lewes, 229 More, A. G., F.LS. Colias Edusa in Ireland, 151 MuL.er, ALBERT A glance at a few facts connected with alpine Entomology, 273 ; Insects on the snow, 390 Newman, Epwarp, F.LS., Z.S., &c. Description of the larva of Caradrina blanda, 7; Lesser kestrel at Cam- bridge, 96; Ixos obscurus’ in England, 238; Descriptions of Lepidopterous larve, 350; Descrip- . tion of a shrew mouse, Spider or mouse, 386; Late stay of the swift, 523 Newron, Atrrep, M.A., F.LS., F.Z.S. Notes on the Zoology of Spitsbergen, 196 NicHotts, Henry, jun. Rare birds near Kingsbridge, 526 Norcate, Major A list of birds observed at Sealkote, in the Punjaub, 284 Norman, Grorcer Stomach of the cuckoo, 33 Norman, WILLIAM Hoopoe at Royston, White sparrow, &c., 96 OveREND, JOHN Eggs of Baillon’s crake at Great Yar- mouth, 389 Paine, James Food of the wood pigeon, 456 Parritt, Epwarp How long will Carcinas menas remain alive without immersion? Redis- covery of Geophilus maritimus of Leach, Description of Arthrono- malus*crassicornis, Parfitt, 7; De- scription of a Nereis new to Science, 113 Peake, Ricnarp Cuckoo denuded of feathers, 188 Peers, JoHN A climbing rat, 158 Power, F. D. Wood sandpiper at Kingsbury Reser- voir, 407 Power, W. H. Notes on birds observed at Rainham, Kent, during the summer and autumn of 1865, 118; Temminck’s stint at Rainham, Late stay of the snipe, 31h Pratt, JoHN Woodcock shrike and golden oriole at Brighton, 267 Pryor, M. R. Grass parroquet in Surrey, 143 Ranson, J oHN Destructiveness of the wood pigeon, 456 Rerxs, Henry, F.L.S., F.Z.S. Purple waterhen near Southampton, 229 Roserts, GEorcE The meadow or bank vole at Lytham, 206; Destroyers of birds’ eggs, 497 ‘Rocke, Joun Ornithological notes from Shropshire, 76, 161 Ropp, Epwarp HEARLE Third occurrence of the redbreasted flycatcher in Cornwall, 31; Stone curlew or great plover at the Land’s End, 34; The migration of birds, 40; The great northern diver— summer and winter plumage, 99; Forktailed petrel at Penzance, 101; Ornithological notes from Penzance, 227; Golden oriole at St. Just, Nesting of the dipper, 268; Honey buzzard in North Devon, 308; Little bittern at Scilly, 311; The common starling— adoption of Cornwall as a breeding locality, 455 ; Red lobefoot [Rednecked pha- larope] at Scilly, Sabine’s gull in Mount’s Bay, 501; Honey buzzard at Scilly, 522; Glossy ibis at Scilly, 524 Rowtey, Georce Dawson, M.A. F.LS. Nest within nest, 102 SaunpErs, Howarp, F.Z.S., &e. A visit to Walney, the Lakes, and the Farne Islands, 178; Alpine swift and buffbreasted sandpiper in Ire- land, 389 Saxsy, H.L, M.D. Ornithological notes from Shetland, 16, 61, 211, 288, 473 Suonrto, James, jun. Moorhens perching in trees and feed- ing on pears, 33; Food of the wood pigeon, Stone curlew near Dor- chester, 389 Snortt, Joun, M.D., F.L.S. Account of a heronry, and breeding- place of other water-birds in Southern India, 1] Smeg, A. H. Purple sandpiper at Shoreham, Leach’s petrel at Shoreham, 190 Sairu, Rev. ALFRED Cuartes, M.A. Lanius excubitor, Strix passerina and Bombycilla garrula in Wiltshire, 227 ; Great gray shrike in Wiltshire, 308; Bee-eater in Wiltshire, 346 Sith, ArrHur Pye Hard fate of a woodcock, 271 Smira, Ceci Black tern in Somersetshire, 272; List of birds observed during a six week’s summer visit to the Channel Islands, exclusive of Jersey, 447 Situ, C. E A rook at sea, 455 Situ, H. Ecroyp Roughlegged buzzard in South York- shire, 31; Nesting of the little tern, 100 ; Stevenson, Henry, F.LS. Ornithological notes from Norfolk, 84, 260, 441; Golden oriole in Suffolk, ix 268; Effects of cold on the house martin, 269 Stupss, Caartrs E. Crossbills at Henley-on-Thames, 523 TecretmeiEr, W. B. The gular pouch of the bustard, 144 TintyarD, RoBERtT A sagacious dog, 435 Tristram, Rev. H. B., M.A., F.LS. Egyptian geese at Stockton-on-Tees, 525 Tuck, T. G. Dates of the nightingale’s arrival at Woolpit, Suffolk, 269 Varey, JAMES Blackeap in January, 143 Watkins, C. White swallows, 455 Warkxus, Rev. M. G. The sky lark, 498 Wuarton, Cuarues B. On the whinchat nesting in grass meadows, 32; Whimbrel at the Kingsbury Reservoir, 271; Tawny owl’s nest on the ground, 346; Pied flycatcher in Sussex, 497 Wuire, Rev. J. Ginger, M.A. Swift in September, 456; Late stay of swifts, 498 Wittuimotr, WILLIAM Turtle in Cornwall, 102 Wottasrton, T. V., M.A., F.LS. Notes on alpine Entomology, 313 —_ ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS. ‘A Naturalist’s Ramble to the Orcades, 490 Acarus, an, and its agamic reproduction, a short description of, 236 Albinos, 454 Alosa communis, 349 Anastetha raripila, 464 Angel-fish, 509 Ants, white, ravages of, 527 Ardea cinerea, 15 » Nycticorax, zd. » purpurea, id. Argynnis Lathonia in the Isle of Wight, 6 Arthronomalus crassicornis, Parfitt, de- scription of, 7 Articerus Bostockii, 321 » Odewabnii, id. Ausonia Cuvieri captured off Falmouth, 501 Auk, great, on Lundy Island, 100; little, 164, 213; at Liskeard, 101 “ Bacca-box” at Macduff, near Banff, 312 Badger at Melton, 152 Ball, remarkable, found in Ireland, 385 ; of cow’s hair, 436 Barnacle in a composite candle, 458 Bee-eater near Bristol, 271 ; in Wiltshire, 346; in Jersey, 523 Bird, colossal, 97 Birds, water, breeding-place of in South- ern India, 11; migration of, 40, 88; of Australia, 41; a list of, observed in the two adjoining parishes of Dunipace and Larbert, in Stirlingshire, 67; destruc- tion of by telegraph-wires, 94; at sea, 95; oceanic, 114; observed at Rain- ham, Kent, during the summer and autumn of 1865, 118; list of, observed in Pembrokeshire, 132; sea, at Mala- hide, 145; British, varieties of eggs of, 146; food, use and beauty of, 158; mi- gratory and wandering, of the County Dublin, 220, 300; a list of, observed at Sealkote, in the Punjaub, 284; dates of the singing of, for the spring of 1866, 295; purple colour on the breasts of, 299; of Shakespeare, 353, 393, 465; British, Dictionary of, 372, 495; of Arran, 433; list of observed during a six weeks’ summer visit to the Channel Islands, exclusive of Jersey, 447; sea, nesting-place of at Scrabster, 492; rare, near Kingsbridge, 526 ‘ Birds of Middlesex: a Contribution to the Natural History of the County,’ 485 Bittern, 70, 81,442; American, in Kent, 145; little, at Scilly, 311; at Colches- ter, 517 Blackbird, 75, 119, 134, 140, 169, 295, 338, 417, 443; singing in January, 143; nesting at Dalkey, 188; curiou position of nest of, 308; variety of, 3389 Blackcap, 134, 223; in January, 143 Bombycilla garrula in Wiltshire, 227 Borer, 509 Brambling, 65, 69, 166, 263 Bream, Ruay’s, near Liskeard, 349 Bullfinch, 482 Bunting, snow, 65, 76, 88, 90, 94, 214, 293; at Beachy Head, 522; common, 66, 137, 224, 264; yellow, 137; cirl, 170; ortolan, in Kent, 270; black- headed, 299; little, 495 Bustard, gular pouch of, 144, 189; little, 450 Buzzard, roughlegged, 30; in South Yorkshire, 31; in Suffolk, 142; com- mon, 167, 412, 437; in Suffolk, 227; honey, in North Devon, 308; in Suf- folk, 346; at Scilly, 522 Calamary on the coast of Norfolk, 312 Calamobius and Hippopsis, note on, 4 Cantharocnemis Livingstonii, 111 Cantharoctenus Burchellii, 112 Cantharoplatys Felderi, id. Caradrina blanda, description of the larva of, 7 Carcharias glaucus, 509 ‘5 vulpes, id. Carcinas menas, how long will it remain alive without immersion ? 7 Cat, curious capture of a kestrel by a, 31 Cattle, wild white, 242, 512 Chaffinch, 137, 512; in a hen’s nest, 269 ‘Charles Waterton, his Home, Habits and Handiwork, 425 Chiffchaff, 120, 135,219,338; and willow warbler, nests of, 336 Chough, 423, 438; Cornish, at East Love, 32 ‘Coleoptera Atlantidum ; being an Enu- meration of the Coleopterous Insects of the Madeiras, Salvages and Ca- naries, 153 Colias Edusa in Ireland, 151 Colymbi, 167 Coot, 84 Cormorant, 15, 164,172 ; large, 15; green, 164; a natural history of, with an account of all its plumages and trans- formations from the nestling to the adult bird, 243 Courser, creamcoloured, at Sandwich, 523 Cow’s hair, ball of, 436 Crab, common,thabits of, 272 Crabs, rare, at Penzance, 527 Craig, the black, 493 Crake, spotted, 29, 84, 88, 261, 441; corn, 303; Baillon’s, 442; eggs of at Great Yarmouth, 389 Craue, common, in India, 346; demoi- selle, in India, 347 Creeper, common, 77 Crenilabrus rupestris, 506 Crichton, Arthur}W., F.L.S., Z.S., &c., ‘A Naturalist’s.;Ramble to the Or- cedes,’ 490 Crossbill, 442, 444, 449, 515 Crossbills at Henley-on-Thames, 523 Crow, 468; hooded, 74, 121, 474, 477; gray, 90; carrion, 137, 226 Cuckoo, 17, 78, 122, 439, 444, 445, 487; villousxcoating of stomach of, 21, 33, 144; denuded of feathers, 188; sucking eggs, 310, 335 Curlew, 14, 92, 124; stone, 28; at the Land’s End, 34 ; near Dorchester, 389 ; common, 81 Darter, 15 Deer, red, 385 Dermestes lardarius attacking birds’ skins, 528 ‘ Dictionary of British Birds, 372 Dipper, 68, 133; nesting of, 268 Diver, redthroated, 88, 93, 164, 173, 175, 219, 266, 298,476; great northern, 93, 140, 141, 164, 177, 261, 476, 478; suinmer and winter plumage of, 99; chanze of plumage in, id.; near Brid- port, 145; blackthroated, 164, 299, 305; nesting of, 525 = Dodo bones in the Island of Mauritius, 97 Dog, a sagacious, 435 Dog-fish, tope or blue hornless, 509 Dorvillea, 113 ~ : Dotterel, 80, 294, 335; ring, 91, 450 Dove, turtle, 19, 62, 79, 96, 263, 444; stock, 27, 79, 123, 168; breeding in xi Kent, 497; ring, 79, 123; rock, 172, 176, 474 Duck, wild, 19, 65, 128, 162, 291; tufted, 66, 163, 513; scaup, 162; longtailed, 213, 260; eider, 478 Dunlin, 71, 84, 91, 127, 302, 513 Eagle, 355; whitetailed,221,473; golden, 291, 473; in Aberdeenshire, 497 Ectrephes Formicarum, 322 Eel, broadnosed, large specimen of, 510 Eels, fresh-water, in salt water, 348 Egeg-destroyers, 335 Egg of Moa, discovery of at the Kai Koras, 34 Eggs of British birds, varieties of, 146; of longtailed titmonse and goldcrest in one nest, 269; partridge’s, cuckoo sucking, 310, 335; of birds, rats or mice sucking, 385; of Baillon’s crake at Great Yarmouth, 389; birds’, de- stroyers of, 497 Egrets, 16 Entomological Society, proceedings of, 1, 107, 147, 191, 231, 279, 319, 390, 459 Entomology, alpine, a glance at a few facts counected with, 273; notes on, 313 Ermine, 159 Falcon, 396; peregrine, in Suffolk, 96; in Ireland, 221; in Shetland, 292; Ice- land, 288 Farne Islands during the nesting season of 1865, a short account of a visit to the, 483 Fieldfare, 21, 66, 68, 88, 133, 140 Finch, 422; serin, near Brighton, 229; mountain, 259 Fish, tadpole, in Mount’s Bay, 272; of Arran, 434; scald, 508 Flies, starling hawking for, 310 Flycatcher, redbreasted, 375 ; third occur- rence of in Cornwall, 31; spotted, 68, 133; pied, 441; in Sussex, 497 ‘ Food, Use and Beauty of British Birds; an Essay,’ 158 Fowl, wild, scarcity of in North Lincoln- shire, 131 Fox-shark, 509 Gadus luscus, 507 Galeus vulgaris, 509 Gallinule, purple, 495 Gannet, 19, 62, 72, 164, 298 Garganey, 266 Geese, Egyptian, at Stockton-on-Tees, 525 Gevphilus maritimus of Leach, redis- covery of, 7 Godwit, bartailed, 82,216, 264; black- tailed, 82, 260, 477 Goldcrest and longtailed titmouse, eggs of in one nest, 269 Goldeneye, 66, 163, 214 Goldsinny, Jago’s, 506 Gonocerus venator at Box Hill, 106 Goosander, 140, 163 Goose, brent, 17, 66; bernicle, 72, 161 ; bean, 75, 161, 303; graylag, 75, 161; pinkfooted, 161; whitefronted, 161, 304; brent, 161; Canada, 161, 303 ; Egyptian, 161, 304 Gould, John, F.R.S., &e., ‘ Handbook of the Birds of Australia, 41 Graculus, 243 » pygmeus, 15 » siennensis, zd. Grebe, great crested, 163, 263; near Birmingham, 100; eared, 163, 167, 263; rednuecked, 163,517; Sclavonian, 163, 478; little, 164 Grebes, 265 Greenfinch, food and nesting of the young, 481 Greenshank, 29, 82, 94 Grouse, black, 79; sand, 79, 378; red, 80; Pallas’ sand, 378 : Guillemot, 305; black, common, 164; ringed, 299 Gurmard, streaked, at Penzance, 311; Bloch’s, in the Moray Firth, at Banff, 312 Gull, little, 30, 165; at Bridlington Quay, 526; lesser blackbacked, 62, 72, 128, 165, 171, 338, 342, 440, 452; blackheaded, 72, 128, 165, 172, 217; common, 128, 140, 165, 258; herring, 129, 140, 165, 214, 341, 452, 517; kittiwake, 165; glaucous, 165, 213, 296; great blackbacked, 165, 446, 452; brownhooded or blackheaded, a natural history of the, with an account of all its plumages and transformations from the nestling to the adult bird, 361; habits of, ¢d.; food of, 364; its flight, swimming, resting, 365; cry of, id.; nidification of, 366; its plumages, zd.; masked, questions about, 370; Sabine’s, in Mount’s Bay, 501; in Dublin Bay, 520; kitliwake, a natural history of the, with an account of all its phamages and transformations from the nestlin to the adult bird, 518; habits of, id.; food of, 520; its flight, resting, swim- ming, and the uses of the short tarsi and the diver-like feet, id.; cry of, 521; nidification of, zd.; its plumages, 522 164, 475; Xl Gulls, breaking mussel-shells, 190; bar- ren, 370 Hadena suasa, description of the larva of, 351 Hake, trifurcated, at Penzance, 348; great forkbearded, 508; tadpole, 7d. ‘ Handbook of the Birds of Australia,’ 41 Hare, common, 385 Harrier, hen, 132, 141, 214; near Barn- staple, 267; marsh, 221, 441 Harting, J. E., F.LS., ‘ Birds of Mid- dlesex, 485 Hawfinch, 261, 442 Hawk, 407 Hedgehog, 58 Hedgesparrow, 417; variety of, 29 Helix lamellata, description of, 283 Herodias Bubuleus, 16 » Garzetta, zd. 3, intermedia, id. Heron, 62, 80, 92, 124, 293 Heron, gray, 15; purple, id; squacco, 81; night, id; at Belfast, 427 Heronry, account of a, and breeding- place of other water-birds, in Southern India, 11 Herring, 509 Hipparchia Semele, description of the larva of, with notes on its habits, food, &e., 317 Hippocampus brevirostris, 508 Hippopsis and Calamobius, note on, 4 Hirundines, arrival of at Love, Cornwall, 3509 Hobby, 261; Rochester, 497 Hobson, Richard M.D., ‘Charles Waterton, his Home, Habits and Handiwork, 425 Hooper, 161, 293 Hoopoe, 77, 262, 450; at Royston, 96 Ibis, glossy, 14,81; at Scilly, 524; at Budleigh Salterton, id. Ichthyology of the County glances into the, 505 Immigrants, arrival of, 265 Insects, Coleopterous, of the Madeiras, Salvages and Canaries, 153; on the snow, 390 Ixos obscurus in England, 228 food of, 454; near Dublin, _ Jackdaw, 471 Jay, 122, 471 Jerfalcon at Crosby Ravensworth, 30; near Biddulph, id. Kestrel, 19, 67, 119, 132, 173, 436, 447; curious capture of by a cat, 31; lesser, at Cambridge, 96 Kingfisher, 70, 78, 122, 226, 450, 487; siugular death of, 271 Xi Kite, 409 Kittiwake, 174, 338 Knot, 20, 61, 75, 83, 216 Lacerta viridis in Kent, 457 Lanius excubitor, 132; in Wiltshire, 227 Lapwing, 66, 80, 124, 292 Laride, British, 361, 518 Lark, sky, 17, 62, 65, 136, 224, 293, 420, 498; wood, 136 Larks, 120 Larus capistratus, 361 » Tridibundus, zd. s tridactylus, 518 Larva of Caradrina blanda, 7; of Scoria dealbata, 230; of Hipparchia Semele, 317; of Macroglossa Bombyliformis, 350; of M. Fuciformis, 351; of Hadena suasa, id. Larve, Lepidopterous, descriptions of, . 350 Leipoa ocellata, 44 Leptoptilos javanica? 14 } Letters, two, from the late Charles Waterton, 193 Limenitis Camilla in Ireland, 151 Linnet, common, 266, 337, 449; variety of, 262 ; green, 339 Lizards devouring their own species, 527 ’ Tobefoot, red, at Scilly, 501 Loon, redthroated, 177 Macroglossa Bombyliformis, description of the larva of, 350 = Fuciformis, description of the larva of, 351 Magpie, 122, 138, 177, 471 Mammalia of Norfolk, notes on, 384 Marien, pine, in Lincolnshire, 242 Martin, 78, 92, 123, 171, 172, 339, 342, 443, 445,479; white, 33; sand, 78, 123,480,515; house, effects of cold on, 269 Martins in December, 33; at Christmas, 96; late stay of. 523 Mecynotarsus albellus, 322 Megapode, Australian, 51 Merganser, redbreasted, 19, 163, 291 Merlin, 19, 67, 95, 118, 221; at Erding- ton, 31; killed by flying against a window, 142 Mice sucking eggs, 385 Migrants, sammer, dates of arrival of in North Lincolnshire in April, 259; in the County Dublin, 296; arrival of, 303 Moa’s egg, discovery of at the Kai Koras, 34 Moorhen, 84, 266, 338, 516 Moorhens perching in trees and feeding on pears, 33 ; perching in trees, 145 Motella vulgaris, 507 Mouse, field, note on, 8; shrew, descrip- tion of, 386 Mussel-shells, gulls breaking, 190 Myxine glutinosa, 509 Napier, C. Ottley Groom, ‘Food, Use and Beauty of British Birds, 158 ‘Natural History of the Tineina, 157 Nectris brevicaudus, 208 Nereis new to Science, description of, 113 Nest of the dipper, 268; of hen, chaffinch in, 269; of the blackbird, curious posi- tion of, 808; of tawny owl on the ground, 346; of the siskin, 522; of blackthroated diver, 525 Nest within vest, 102, 311 Nesting-place of sea birds at Scrabster, 492 Nesting season of 1865, visit to the Farne Islands during the, 483 Nests of willow warbler and chiffchaff, 336 New Granada, notes from, 233; agri- culture of, 234 Newman, Edward, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., ‘A Dictionary of British Birds,’ reprinted from Montagu’s ‘ Ornitholo- gical Dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby, Yarrell in all three editions, and in Natural History Journals, 372 Nightingale, 120, 334, 337, 419; dates of arrival of at Woolpit, Suffolk, 269 ; late song of, 454 Nightjar, 78, 340, 515 Nuthatch, 78, 486 Organic watter, preservation of by exclusion of atmospheric air, 435 Oriole, golden, at Brighton, 267; at East Grinstead, 268; at St. Just, id.; in Suffolk, 268, 308; in West Sussex, 334. Ornithological notes from Shetland, 16, 61, 211, 288, 473; from Lanarkshire, 20, 512; from Flamborough, 21; from the Kast Coast of Yorkshire, 27; from North Lincolnshire, 73, 129, 215, 258, 293; from Shropshire, 76, 161; from Norfolk, 84, 260, 441; from West Sussex, 87, 140, 166, 264, 333; from South-East Essex, 89; from the County Dublin, 93, 295, 479; from Beverley, 95; from the Isle of Wight, 169, 217, 337, 443; from Penzance, XIV 227; from Barnard Castle, 347 ; from North Wales, 436 Ornithological scraps from Wexford, 95 Ornithology, letters on, 243, 328, 361, 518 Osprey, 396, 514; at Rostherne Mere, 30; in Aberdeenshire, 497; in Sussex, id. Otter, 10, 384; feeding in gardens, 152; at Witley Park, 242 Otters near Norwich, 152 Ouzel, water, 20, 496; ring, 27, 266 Owl, 412; shorteared, 66, 73, 88, 94, 130, 266; barn, 67, 133; hunting in daylight, 143; variety of, at Epping, 522; longeared, 67, 88, 166; tawny, 67, 133; nest of, on the ground, 346; snowy, 475; hawk, 496 Oystercatcher, 124, 292, 335; flight and food of, 490; pied, 445 Parroquet, zebra or grass, 28; in Surrey, 14: Partridge, 80, 170 Pastor, rosecoloured, 29 Peewit, 74, 80, 87, 129, 141 Pelicanide, British, 243 Perch, variety of the, 510 Petrel, storm, 16, 96, 166; Leach’s, 88 ; at Shoreham, 190; forktailed, 166; near Salisbury, 101; at Penzance, id. ; at Plymouth, 102; at Elmore, 229; shorttailed, habits of, 208 Phalacrocorax, subfamily, 243 Phalarope, gray, 84, 87, 516; near Aldeburgh, 499; rednecked, 478; at Scilly, 501; in Hackney Marshes, id.; at Mayfield, id.; at Eastbourne, id.; at Weston-super-Mare and at Budleigh Salterton, id.; in Devon and Cornwall, 500; in Dublin Bay, id.; at Eastbourne, &c., 525 Pheasant, 79, 139 Phycis furcatus, 508 Pisa Gibbsii at Penzance, 390 Pigeon, wood, 168, 177; food of, 346, 389, 456, 498, 512; destructiveness of, 456 Pigeons, wood, Association for reducing the number of, 310 Pipe fish, equoreal, 508 Pipit, Richard’s, in Ceylon, 32; obtained in Leadenhall Market, 269; rock, 66, 120 ; meadow, 136, 266, 515 ; tree, 136, 515; Pennsylvanian, 496 Pipits, 120 Plotus melanogaster, 15 Plover, golden, 18, 62, 70, 74, 80, 130, 141, 214, 259, 288, 474; great, 34,80; ringed, 70, 123, 291; gray, 74, 124, 259, 340, 450; green, 129; little ringed, near Lewes, 229; Kentish, 450 Polyommatus Hippothoe in Ireland, 151 Ponting, 507 Poffin, 164, 168, 173, 263, 451 Pupa (Vertigo) minutissima at Ventnor, 458 Quadrupeds of Lanarkshire, notes on, 9, 58, 159, 240, 510; of Arran, 433 Quail, 80, 96, 168, 260 Rabbit, 241, 385 Rail, water, 29, 71, 84; land, 71, 84 Raniceps fureatus, 508 Rat, brown, 60 ; climbing, 158 ; common, 385 Rats climbing trees, 207 ; sucking eggs, 385 Raven, 465, 474; nesting in a cucumber- frame, 32; an ancient, 270; in Wales, 438 Razorbill, 17 Redbreast, robin, 222, 418 Redpole, lesser, 87, 225; Dalkey, 188; mealy, 225 Redshank, 71, 82, 91, 125 Redstart, 119, 222, 512; black, 222; in the North of Ireland, 454 Redwing, 65, 88, 134, 222 Regulus, goldencrested, 65, 135, 223 Reptiles of Arran, 434 Rhombus arnoglossus, 508 ee hirtus, 311, 508 - megastoma, 508 Rissa, subfamily, 518 Rockling, threebearded, 507 Roe-deer, female of with horns, 435 Roller, 512 Rook, 138, 173, 177, 215, 219, 263, 297, 340, 470 ; at sea, 455 Rooks building in January, 143 Ruff, 27, 83; near Grangemouth, 524 Salmo salar, 507 Sanderling, 91 Sandpiper, Bartram’s, near Falmouth, 37; common, 71, 82, 127; green, 82, 126; curlew, 83 ; Schinz’s, 84; purple, 87, 94,96, 141; at Eastbourne, 145; at Shorebam, 190; buffbreasted, in Ire- land, 389, 457; wood, at Kingsbury Reservoir, 457 ; near Aldeburgh, 499; in Aberdeenshire, 524 Sandpipers, 440 Scoria dealbata, description of the larva of, 230 Scoter, common, 87; velvet, 174 Sea, curious scene at, 388 Sea-horse, shortnosed, 508 nesting at xXV Seals at home, 491 Serranus, smooth, at Penzance, 348 Shad, allice, on the Aberdeenshire coast, 349 Shag, 30, 172, 213, 298, 451,474; habits of, 244 ; flight and diving of, 249; use of its peculiar tail, the hooked bill and the serrated claw, 250; the food of, and how swallowed, 251; cry of, 252; nidification and plumages of, 253; detailed account of the summer plu- mages of the, 328; its habits in con- finement, 330 Shark, spinous, in Mount’s Bay, Corn- wall, 102, 113; Greenland, on the Dogger Bank, 230; blue, 509 Shearwater, 298 ; at Epping, 526 Shearwater, great, 29; manx, 165 Shieldrake, 27, 162 Shoveller, 27 Shrew, note on the, 327; oared, 510 Shrike, great gray, near Rochdale, 31; in Stirlingshire, 67, 143; at Pevensey, 96; in Wiltshire, 308; great ash- coloured, 132; redbacked, 133, 170; woodchat, at Brighton, 267 Siskin, 66, 88, 166, 212, 298; nest of, 522 : Skua, 16; Buffon’s, 28; Richardson’s, 28, 165; pomarine, 141, 165 Smew, 163 Snipe, 17, 258; late stay of the, 311; solitary, in Suffolk, 40; common, 71, 83, 127, 166, 302; jack, 71, 83, 127, 299, 302; great,83; large, 97; winter, 302; Sabine’s, 302 Snow, insects on, 390 Sorex rusticus? 327 Sparrow, house, 17, 137, 171, 296; late nesting of, 32; black, id.; white, 96; tree, 121 Sparrowhawk, 67, 132, 170, 261, 339 Species, origin of, 235 Spider or mouse? 105, 284, 349, 386, 387, 458 Spoonbill, in Middlesex, 35} in Norfolk, 264; near Yarmouth, 442 Squatina Angelus, 509 Squirrel, 241, 511 Stainton, H. T., Douglas, H. -W., and Professor Frey, ‘The Natural History of the Tineina,’ 157 Starling, 121, 131, 137, 225, 258, 299; hawking for flies, 310; adopting Cornwall as a breeding locality, 455 ; variety of, 28; white, 32 Starling, redwinged, at Brighton, 229; in Scotland, 310 Stickleback, smoothtailed, in Norfolk, 348 Stint, little, 83, 127; Temminck’s, 127; at Rainham, 311; at King’s Lynn, 457 Stoat, 159 Stonechat, 119, 134, 218, 222 Stork, at Cork, 524; small gray and black, 14 Strix passerina in Wiltshire, 227 Sturgeon off the coast of Suffolk, 510 Sturgeons off the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk, 311 Sun-fish at Penzance, 390 Surmullet at Penzance, 348 Swallow, 70, 78, 171, 337, 340, 479 Swallow stones, 523 Swallows, white, 455 Swan, 169, 338, 341; Bewick’s, 161 Swift, 78, 123, 227, 295, 439, 443, 481, 515; in September, 456; late stay of, 523 ; whitebellied, 227 ; in the Western Islands of Ireland, 456, 523; alpine, in Ireland, 389 Swifts, late stay of, 498 Syngnathus equoreus, 508 Talegallus Lathami, 42 Teal, 128, 162 Tern, arctic, 29, 164, 299; black, 29, 87, 128, 165, 266, 482; in Somerset- shire, 272; near Aldeburgh, 499; in Devon and Cornwall, 500; near Aber- deen, 525; lesser, 29, 87, 165; Sand- wich, 30; common, 72, 87, 128, 165; little, nesting of, 100; roseate, 165, 300, 305; lesser and black, at Weston- super-Mare, 272; swift, 382 Terns, 263 Thresher, 509 Throscus dermestoides, 281 » elateroides, zd. » obtusus, zd. Thrush, 119, 416; missel, 119, 133; singing in December, 143; song, 124, 220 Tineina, a Natural History of the, 157 Titmouse, marsh, 120; blue, 135; cole, 135; great, 135; longtailed, 135, 267; and goldcrest, eggs of in one nest, 269 Tits, 215 Topknot, Muller’s, 311, 508 Torpedo nobiliana, 509 Turnstone, 90, 124, 291, 451, 475 Turtle in Cornwall, 102 Twite, 17, 66, 121 Variety of the starling, 28, 32,96; of the hedgesparrow, 29; of the sparrow, 32, 96; of the martin, 33; of the bank vole, 152; of the linnet, 262; of the great spotted woodpecker, 271; of the xvi blackbird, 389 ; of the swallow, 455; of the perch, 510; of the barn owl, 522 Varieties of British birds’ eggs, 146 Visitors, occasional aud accidental, 453 Vole, bank, 9, 159, 240, 511; at Lytham, 206; curious variety of, near Norwich, 152; water, at Earlham, Norfolk, Ue Voyage round the World, notes on, 114 Vulture, 354 Waders, 267, 334, 515 Wagtail, gray, 120, 136, 264, 297, 439; pied, 131, 135, 217, 337; white, 444 Wagtails, 120, 420, 514 Walney, the Lakes, and the Farne Islands, a visit to, 178 Warbler, sedge, 68, 134; garden, 120, 134; wood, 135; willow, 135, 166; and chiffchaff, nests of, 336; blue- throated, 172, 176, 218, 341, 445; blackeap, 299; grasshopper, 334 ; Dartford, 340; marsh, 496; ruby- crested, id.; thrush-like, id. Warblers, migratory, 441, 514 Waterhen, purple, near Southampton, 229; claw on the wing of, 300 Waxwing, 261 Weasel, 159, 384, 511 Wheatear, 65, 119, 134, 219, 223, 447, 477 Whiff, 508 Whimbrel, 71, 82, 125, 264, 293, 476; at the Kingsbury Reservoir, 271 Whinchat nesting in grass meadows, 32 Whitethroat, 134, 340; lesser, late stay of, 522 Whiting taken in mackerel drift-nets, 272 Widgeon, 162, 482 Wollaston, T. Vernon, Atlantidum, 153 Woodcock, 21, 66, 71, 83, 139, 172, 291, 518; hard fate of, 271 Woodpecker, great spotted, 76, 96, 174, 217; green, 76, 131, 443; lesser spotted, 76, 266; great spotted, variety of, 271 ; Wren, 77, 472; willow, 67, 120, 446, 512; wood, 120, 446; yellow wood, 338 Wrens, willow, distinctions of the, 300 Wryneck, 28, 77, 122 Xantho florida in Mounts Bay, 284; at Penzance, 458 e rivulosa, at Penzance, 458 Xema, subfamily, 361 Zoological notes from Arran, 432 Zoology of Spitzbergen, notes on, 196 ‘ Coleoptera n THE ZOOLOGIST FOR 1866. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. November 6, 1865.—F. P. Pascog, Esq., President, in the Chair. Additions to the Library. The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the donors :— ‘ Philichthys Xiphiz, Stp., monographisk fremstillet af V. Bergsoe ;” presented by the Author. ‘Nye Oplysninger om Philichthys Xiphie, Stp., af J. Steenstrup ;’ by the Author. ‘Synopsis of the Bombycide of the United States,’ by A. S. Packard, jun. ; by the Author. ‘ Materials fur a Monograph of the North-American Orthoptera,’ by Samuel H. Scudder; by the Author. ‘ Reports on the noxious, beneficial and other Insects of the State of New York, by Asa Fitch, M.D., Reports 3—9, 1859-65; by the Author. ‘The British Hemiptera, Vol. i. (Hemiptera-Heteroptera), by J. W. Douglas and J. Scott; by J. W. Dunning. ‘Memoires pour servir a l’Histoire Naturelle du Mexique, des Antilles, et des Etats-unis,’ IVe Livraison (Orthopteres, Blattides); by the Author, Mons. H. de Saussure. ‘ Blattarum novarum Species aliquot, conscripsit H. de Saussure’; by the Author. ‘The Zovlogist’ for November ; by the Editor. ‘The Entomologist,’ No. 21 ; by the Editor. The addition, by purchase, of the 129th livr. of Duval, Fairmaire et Migneaux, “Genera dés Coléoptéres d’Europe,’ was also announced. Election of Members. Samuel McCaul, Esq., B.C.L., of the Rectory, House, London Bridge; and Henry Reeks, Esq., of the Manor House, Thruxton, were severally ballotted for, and elected Members. Exhibitions, Sc. Professor Westwood, on behalf of Mr. S. Stone, exhibited a specimen of Acherontia Atropos which had been born with only one antenna, the right-hand organ being elitirely wanting ; also the pupa-skin from which the moth had emerged, and which showed a rudimentary antenna, which, however, was not placed in its normal position along the side of the thorax, but’ projected out from the body and was then curved or thrown backwards, like the horn of a cow or ram. SECOND SERIES—VOL. I. : B 2 THE ZooLoGiIst—JANUARY, 1866. Mr. F. Smith had a new locality to mention for Acherontia Atropos; a living specimen of the moth had been that day caught in the Reading Room at the British Museum. Mr. Dunning mentioned the capture of a specimen of Chaerocampa Celerio on the 29th of September last, at Brantingham, near Brough, Yorkshire. It was taken in the net, shortly after 6 p.m., whilst hovering over a bed of Geraniums. The captor was Mr. R. C. Kingston, the gentleman whose previous capture in 1846 of the same species in the same locality, but on the flower of Physianthus albicans, was recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 1863). Mr. Kingston described the flowers of the Physian- thus as forming an excellent insect-trap ; they were very sweet and attractive, and on the slightest touch to the stamens by the proboscis of an insect entering the nectary, the stamens and anthers closed firmly round and beld the insect fast; he had seen the plant with dozens of insects upon it, amongst which Plusia Gamma was generally most abundant. Mr. Kingston also mentioned the abundance at Brantingham (as elsewhere during the present season) of Macroglossa Stellatarum, and of the larve of Acherontia Atropos; and on the 30th of September he had taken specimens of Cerastis spadicea on ivy-bloom. Mr. M‘Lachlan exhibited a female specimen of Sterrha sacraria captured near Worthing on the 19th of August last, and six specimens which had been reared by the “Rev. J. Hellins from eggs laid by the aforesaid female on that day. Seven eggs were deposited, but one was crushed during transmission to Mr. Hellins; the remaining six all hatched on the 29th of August, the larve were fed on Polygonum aviculare, spun up between the 19th and 23rd of September, and were all in pupa by the 30th. The first moth, a female, emerged on the 15th of October, two more females on the 17th, a fourth female on the 19th, a male on the 25th, and lastly another male on the 28th of October. A full description of the egg, larva and pupa had been published by Mr. Hellins (Ent. Mo. Mag. ii. 134), and a coloured drawing by Mr. Buckler of several varieties of the larva was exhibited. Of the six moths thus bred not one was like its mother or bore any great resemblance to what has hitherto been considered to be the normal Sterrha sacraria ; they differed also considerably from one another. Both the males had the upper wings suffused with an exquisite rosy tint, and the under wings, instead of being pure white, were clouded with fuscous; one female had the upper wings variegated with yellow and rose-colour, and the under wings yellowish ; the remaining three females had the upper wing's of a delicate buff, the oblique trans- verse stripe being blackish, and the cilia in one instance buff, in the others rosy, whilst the under wings were yellowish white. Auy of these specimens, if caught at large, might very pardonably have been described as a new species; and the amount of variation to which it now appeared that Sterrha sacraria was liable seemed to throw doubt upon the specific distinctness of the several continental forms which had been described as species allied to 8. sacraria. In reply to enquiries, Mr. M‘Lachlan stated that Polygonum aviculare was not previously known to be the natural food-plant, but had been given to the larve experimentally and was eaten with avidity. M. Carl Plotz had figured the larva on a species of Chamomile, but as the moth occurred in all parts it must either feed on some plant of very wide distribution or more probally was polyphagous. Mr. Bond exhibited four specimens of Acidalia mancuniata, Knaggs, and for com- parison therewith, a series of its nearest allies, A. subsericeata and A. straminata ; also THE ZooLtocistT—JANvuaRy, 1866. 3 a coloured drawing, by Mr. Buckler, of the larva, which, as well as the imago, differed from those of the other species mentioned. This new insect had been both captured and bred at Manchester and Sheffield ; in this case also the larve fed on Polygonum aviculare, a plant which appeared to be very generally acceptable to the larve of Geo- metre. Mr. Bond also exhibited a number of admirable photographs, by Dr. Maddox, of microscopic objects, e.g., the leaf insect of the sycamore, the Acarus of the fig, para- sites of the field-mouse, the mole, the sparrow, the chaffinch, &c. Mr. M‘Lachlan exhibited a partially andromorphous female of the dragon-fly, Calepteryx splendens ; the left anterior wing was in colour precisely like that of a male, but retained the female form of wing; the right anterior wing had only blotches or dashes of the dark male colouring on the dorsal portion of the wing ; the specimen was captured in France by M. Fallou, of Paris. De Selys Longchamps mentioned the capture, in Prussia, by Dr. Hagen, of a female C. splendens the wings of which were entirely coloured as in the male. Mr. Janson exhibited Myrmedonia plicata, Erich., a species new to Britain: a dozen specimens had been captured at Bournemouth in August last, by Messrs. E. A. and Edgar Smith ; they were found on an open heath, at the roots of grass, amongst which was a nest of the ant, Tapinoma erratica. Mr. Janson remarked that the pre- sence, in all the twelve specimens, of the curious conformation of the dorsal surface of the fourth and fifth abdominal segments rendered it probable that this structure was commun to the two sexes, and was not peculiar to the male of Myrmedonia, as had hitherto been supposed. Mr. G. R. Crotch exhibited Mgialia rufa, Fabr., Erich, a species new to Britain, of which several specimens were taken at Liverpool by Mr. F. Archer, but, with the exception of that exhibited, had been accidentally destroyed ; also Lithocharis castanea, Grav., Erich., which is the Medon Ruddii, Steph., whilst the species from the Isle of Wight which is in many of our collections appears to be the L. maritima, Aubé (Grenier, Cat. Col. Fr.); also Monotoma 4-foveolata, Aubé, of which three or four specimens were formerly taken by Mr. Janson in Hainault Forest, and which was readily distinguished from all the other species by its thoracic fovee ; this name was introduced into the British list by Mr. Waterhouse, but afterwards withdrawn, his insect proving to be M. rufa, Redt. Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited a box of insects of all orders, being a further portion of the collection made by Mr. Andersson in Damara-land. Amongst them were Goliathus Layardi, Eurymorpha Moufleti, F. (cyanipes, Hope), an Atractosomus, &c.; and a new species of Acrea from the Victoria Falls, Zambesi. Mr. 8. Stevens also exhibited a number of oak-spangles, the work of Cynips longipennis, which had recently been found in profusion by Mr. Hewitsun at Oat- lands. Mr. S. Stevens announced the death of Mr. P. Bouchard at Santa Martha, whither he had gone to collect; and read a letter from Mr. Plant, dated Tamatavi, September 2, 1865, in which the writer recounted some of his entomological experiences in Mada- gascar. The President called attention to the account published in that morning’s news- papers of the wreck of the “ Duncan Dunbar” on the reef Las Roccas, in long. 33° 45! W., and lat. 3° 52'S., on the 7th of October. The vessel struck the reef at high water, 4 Tse ZooLrocist—JAanuaRy, 1866. and became fixed upon the rock upon a small spot of which the passengers were landed. “On landing it was found that the little islet or bank of sand was covered with pig- weed, but there were no signs of water. . . . The island seemed quite covered with birds, which from their very wildness took no more notice of men or women than to move a few feet out of our way. The ground swarmed with a large species of earwig, and was in many places honeycombed by the holes of land-crabs.” He was curious to know what pig-weed was, and whether the so-called earwigs were really Forficule: the reef was probably a recently-raised coral reef, and it would be very interesting to learn what were the first insect-forms which effected a settlement upon the newly- formed island. The President read the following :— Note on Calamobius and Hippopsis—When M. James Thomson, in his ‘ Essai, &c.,’ referred Stenidea to Blabinotus, he was immediately followed by Schaum, Grenier and de Marseul in their respective Catalogues. I directly called attention to that mistake, and it is now admitted. In his more recently published ‘ Systema Ceramby- cidarum,’ M. Thomson refers Calamobius (Guérin) to Hippopsis (Serville), and in this IT am surprised to see that he has been followed by M. Léon Fairmaire in the ‘ Genera des Coléoptéres.’ The two genera agree, it is true, in their slender habit, but they are perfectly distinct, and do not belong even to the same sub-family. Calamobius has 12-jointed antennz, with antennary tubers non-approximate and nearly obsolete, small facets to the eyes, and small claw-joints; Hippopsis has 11-jointed antennae, with well-developed tubers contiguous at the base and nearly erect, coarsely granulated eyes, and large claw-joints, as long as the three other joints of the tarsus taken together, whilst in Calamobius they scarcely form more than one-third of its length—a structure indicating different habits of life.” Mr. Hewitson communicated the following note :— “Tt is interesting and worthy of notice that, in the second part of the Annals of the Entomological Society of France for this year, there is a figure of a variety of Chry- sophanus virgauree from Zermatt, upwards of 5000 feet high in the Swiss Alps, which has a row of pale blue spots on the posterior wing, exactly resembling specimens of Chrysophanus Phlwas which we have lately received from the northern highlands of India. This variety of C. Phlwas is figured in Cramer, pl. 186, under the name of Timeus.” The Secretary announced the receipt of a communication from Mr. G. J. Bowles, Sec. Ent. Soc. of Canada, Quebec Branch, dated September 1, 1865, ‘ On the occur- rence of Pieris Rape in Canada.” The principal part of it was an almost verbatim copy of a paper originally published in ‘The Canadian Naturalist, and thence transferred to the Zoologist’ fur 1864 ( Zool. 9371). The following was new matter :— “The species is rapidly extending the limits of its habitat. It is already common on both banks of the St. Lawrence for one hundred miles,{below Quebec; and this summer I saw two specimens in the cabinet of a gentleman in Montreal, captured this season in that city. It is still rare, however, in that locality. In the vicinity of Quebee the species was exceedingly abundant in 1863 and 1864, flying by hundreds over the fields and gardens, and was numerous even in the most crowded parts of the city. This year, however, it has not been quite so abundant, probably owing to THE ZooLocist—JANuARY, 1866. 5 the continued rains of August and September, 1864, which must have destroyed myriads of the larve, and the cold and backward spring of this year. Early in March, 1864, the butterflies began to appear in houses, produced from pupe which had been suspended on the walls during the previous autumn. On the 6th of April—a time when the ground is still covered with snow, and the only Lepidoptera to be seen are a very few hybernating individuals of Grapta Comma or Vanessa Antiopa, lured from their winter retreats to enjoy the sunshine—several specimens were taken in the open air at Laval, about fifieen miles from Quebec. From that time the butterflies increased in number, and, continuing through the whole summer, might be seen even in October feebly fluttering over the gardens in the outskirts of the city. From the fact of there being no apparent diminution in their numbers during the season I infer that the insect is at least treble-brooded, or that there is a succession of broods, new individuals constantly emerging from the chrysalis to take the places of those that die off. The caterpillars reared by me last year passed through their stages very rapidly. When first taken, on the 8th of June, they were about a line long ; on the 19th they pupated, and on the 26th of June the perfect insects appeared, making the whole period, almost from the egg to the perfect state, only eighteen days.” In confirmation of his previous observation, that “‘ living winter pupe brought into the warm house from the cold out- side invariably shrivelled and died in a few days,” the author added, “ I have not yet succeeded in procuring a butterfly from a chrysalis gathered on a winter day. It is thus evident that, although the species is increasing in numbers and spreading rapidly over a large extent of country, it is not yet fully acclimated.” Papers read. The Secretary read a communication from Captain J. Mitchell, Superintendent of the Government Museum, Madras, entitled ‘“‘ Remarks on Captain Hutton’s Paper on the Reversion and Restoration of the Silkworm ” (published in the ‘ Transactions’ for 1864). The author disputed the statement, that, in the formation of silk, the two fibres which emerge-from the two small orifices in the lip are twisted together by certain hook-like processes in the mouth, and insisted that the two filaments are laid side by side in the cocoon, without twisting, and adhere together until separated by the solution of the gum in the process of manufacture. It was also pointed out that the Tussah silk, from Antherga Paphia, is flat, and not cylindrical, each filament consisting of a large number of very fine fibres which are extremely difficult to separate ; the finest fibres which the author had obtained from this compound filament measured about the 35-thousandth part of an inch in diameter. The filaments spun by Attacus Atlas and Actias Selene also appeared to be compound. +» Mr. Hewitson communicated ‘ Descriptions of New Hesperide,’ eighteen species of Pyrrhopyga and two of Erycides. _ Mr. Baly read a paper entitled “‘ New Genera and Species of Gallerucide,” in which two new genera, Syphaxia and Chorina, and eleven species of Cerotoma (mostly from the Amazons) were described. Mr. David Sharp communicated a paper “ On the British species of Agathidium,” enumerating eleven species, of which three new ones were described under the names of A. clypeatum, A. convexum and A. Rbinoceras. The Rev. D.C. Timins communicated some “ Notes on collecting European Lepi- doptera.” After an exhortation to British Diurnal-Lepidopterists not to confine > consisting of 6 Tue ZooLtocist—JanvaryY, 1866. themselves to the narrow limits of their island, but to extend their range of study to the European forms, the author gave the results of his own collecting at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pierrefonds in the Forest of Compiégne, in the neighbourhood of Paris, at Neufchatel and Thun; and, finally, expressed his desire to supply information to students of European butterflies, either by indicating localities, recommending useful works, or furnishing specimens of species which he had met with in sufficient plenty. New Part of ‘ Transactions.’ The ‘ Transactions of the Entomological Society, Third Series, vol. v. Part 1, con- taining “ Trichoptera Britannica; a Monograph of the British Species of Caddis- flies,” by Mr. R. M‘Lachlan, and being the fifth Part published during 1865, was announced as ready for distribution. Notice of Subjects for Discussion. The President mentioned that the Council had been considering whether any and what steps were practicable in the way of giving notice beforehand of papers intended to be read or subjects introduced for discussion at the Meetings of the Society. If such notice could be given, members would come better prepared for the consideration of the question, and the interest and scientific value of the Meetings would be increased. A compulsory rule, that notice must be given, would stifle rather than promote discus- sion, if indeed it would not altogether exclude many subjects, which were, according to the present practice, incidentally discussed on the exhibition of some specimen or object of interest, and which exhibition it was that suggested and gave rise to the dis- cussion. These incidental conversations, when confined within proper and reasonable limits, formed one of the most valuable and interesting features of the Meetings, and it was impossible to require previous notice of these, since Members themselves often might not know until the very day of Meeting whether they would be able to attend, or if so what insects they would have to exhibit. All that the Council could hope for, and what he had been desired by the Council to request, was that, in future, when any member intended to read a paper on or otherwise bring forward any subject of general interest at a particular Meeting, he would announce the subject at the previous Meeting, if possible, or subsequently at the earliest period to the Secretary, who would give such publicity or notice as under the circumstances might be practicable. Erratum.—A typographical error oceurs in the Report of the October meeting of the Entomological Society. At Zool. 9281, line 19 from bottom, for * May” read “ many.’—J. W. D. Argynnis Lathonia in the Isle of Wight—In the November number (Zool. 9817) I read that Dr. Wallace had seen a specimen of Argynnis Lathonia near Colchester but that he did not succeed in capturing it. I have been more fortunate, as I took a very fresh one in my garden on the 20th of October, and I have since beard that four others have been taken near Ventnor, after that date. These captures have a peculiar iuterest to us of this island, because in the list of Diurnal Lepidoptera, compiled by that accurate entomologist, Mr. A. G. More, and published by him in that best of all works on every subject of interest connected with the island, edited by the Rev. E. THE ZooLoGistT—JANUARY, 1866. 7 Venables, of Bonchurch, this butterfly is one of five which had not, up to the date of publication, been found here, the other four being Pieris Daplidice, Melita Athalia, Hesperia Comma and H. Paniscus.—W. M. Frost; Belle Vue, Sandown, Isle of Wight, November 25, 1865. Description of the Larva of Caradrina blanda.—F¥eeds on Plantago major, and is full fed by the 26th of May: it does not roll in a ring when disturbed: head porrected, narrower than the 2nd segment; body attenuated anteriorly, and this part frequently stretched out and moved after the manner of a leech: each segment has a transverse but irregular series of warts, and each wart emits a conspicuous hair, the dorsal hairs being directed backwards, the lateral hairs forwards. Colour of the head pale brown, with darker reticulations, slightly shining; of the body dingy brown, without gloss, the dorsal area paler and slightly reticulated: it is bordered on each side by a narrow and indistinct paler stripe: on each side below the spiracles, which are black, is an obscurely indicated broader pale stripe: ventral surface, legs and claspers dingy semitransparent brown. I am indebted to Mr. Doubleday for a supply of this larva——Hdward Newman. How long will Carcinas menas remain alive without Immersion ?—I tried some time ago an experiment with some specimens of Carcinas menas, as to how long they gould remain alive without immersion. I had half-a-dozen put into a basket and kept out of doors; they were consequently exposed to several showers of rain, which might probably have prolonged their lives by keeping up a certain degree of humidity in their branchia; but whether it did so or not, three of them died on the third day, two gave up on the fifth day, and the last at the end of the seventh day. They were in consequence kept without food, and so may not have eutirely died from non- immersion, but by actual starvation: could I have fed them in any way I think it most likely they might have been still alive, and so approach the land-crabs of the West Indies, the Cape of Good Hope, &c., in their habits. —Hdward Purfitt ; Devon and Exeter Institute, Exeter, October 27, 1865. Rediscovery of Geophilus maritimus of Leach —I have much pleasure in making known the rediscovery of this long-lost species. Dr. Leach discovered it some fifty years ago, and from that time to this I am not aware of its having again been seen by any observer: there is no specimen or specimens in the British Museum collections, for I examined them with my friend Mr. Smith when in London in May last. When my friend Mr. Reading called on me since, I was working up the Devon- shire species of this family, and I mentioned it to him; he said he had seen one under ‘stones on a particular part of the shore at Plymouth, and when he went down there he went to the place again, and found four specimens, of which he gave me one, and it proved to be the identical lost species of Dr. Leach. Mr. Newport, when he published his Monograph of the Order, had never seen Leach’s species, and consequently only published the doctor’s description without any comments: it gives me then much pleasure to confirm that accurate observer Dr. Leach.—Zd. Description of Arthronomalus crassicornis, Parfitt Head elongate-ovate, smooth and shining to the naked eye, but, under an inch objective, finely, delicately and thickly punctate, with several irregular impressions; the basilar segment a little nar- tower than the subbasilar, having a deeply impressed quadrate space in each, the 8 THE ZooLocistT—JANvuARY, 1866. beginning of two impressed lines running the whole length of the body. Antenne approximate at the base, very stout, the joints obconic, shining pale luteous, with a ferruginous caste, obtuse, sparsely clothed with pale yellow pubescence, twice the length of the head, and tapering very gradually from the base upwards. Labium emar- ginate, with two black obtuse teeth, the colour of the teeth forming two lines coalescing at about the middle and continuing tu the base. A strong ridge marks the line of junction of the labium and the base of the mandibles; at the apex of this ridge is a black spot on each side. Mandibles strongly curved, the apical half jet-black, the basal ferruginous-yellow, with three strong oblique folds: the mandibles and the labium very finely punctured, with a few coarser impressions. Body compressed, dark ferruginous, gradually tapering toward tbe tail. Legs pale yellow, with ferruginous claws; vary in number in both sexes, from forty-eight to fifty pairs; two impressed lines run the whole length of the body above, very distinct anteriorly, but growing somewhat indistinct posteriorly. Anal styles pale yellow, with a ferruginous cast, slender in the female, but stout in the male, compressed laterally, the three basal ones obconic, the apical one acute. Length of male 11} lines; of female 1} inch. This species appears to be a curious compound of two genera and species, namely, Arthronomalus longicornis of Newport and Geophilus subterraneus of Shaw, it having the elongated head of the former and the antenne (only stouter) of the latter; it also has the anal styles very much like the former; the number of legs agrees very nearly with the former species. Mr. Newport says of his species, of which I have a specimen, “Labia elongato medio inconspicué sulcato levi punctis raris.;” but in mine it is thickly punctured. Mr. Newport also says, “This myriapod varies in having the cephalic segment and the antenne a little shorter and less hairy than others.” Even making allowance for this variation I cannot think it could reach such an extreme as is exhibited here in this species. When in London, in May last, | examined the British Museum Collection with my friend Mr. F. Smith, but could find nothing there like it. Found beneath the bark of an old elm near Exeter, in April, 1865.— Edward Parfitt. Note on the Field Mouse (Mus sylvaticus).—We have heard so much lately about “cave men,” that perhaps you will spare me a corner to say a few words about cave mice. Wandering through the woods here, a few days ago, I came upon a little cave or recess among the rocky precipices which border the southern bank of the Wharfe: the floor presented a singular spectacle, being thickly strewn with the wings of Noctue, belonging to hundreds of individuals. In one corner was a spider’s web, from which large numbers of wings were suspended. At first I thought the moths had taken refuge in the cave, and suffered death at the hands of the owner of the web; buta closer inspection showed that this was not the explanation, as I could not find a single thorax or abdomen either on the floor or in the web, and the wings were invariably disunited, which would not have been the case had the moths voluntarily entered the cave and become entangled in the web. It was also improbable that so large a number of Noctue had sought one place of refuge, and several of the species of which I found remains were not likely to have su concealed themselves at all. How, then, came they into the cave? Not brought in by birds or bats, I think, or I should have found other traces of their presence, which I was unable to do. Mice only being left as the pro- bable agents, I set a trap in the cave, and next morving found my suspicion confirmed THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1866. 9 by the capture of a field mouse, so that it appears these little marauders had, in their own way, been re-enacting the part of Dr. Buckland’s hyenas at Kirkdale,—dragging - their prey from the woods, to be devoured in their den at leisure. I am not aware whether this habit of the field mouse has been observed: it was new to me. I made a careful examination of the wings, and found among them remains of the following twenty species:—Xylophasia polyodon (a few), Charwas Graminis (a few), Luperina testacea (a few), Agrotis suffusa and A. Segetum (abundantly), Triphena orbona (abundantly), Noctua glareosa (abundantly), N. festiva and N. xanthographa (a few), Orthosia macilenta (in profusion), Anchocelis rufina and A. litura (several), Cerastis Vaccinii (abundantly), Xanthia ferruginea (abundantly), Miselia Oxyacanthe (one only), Agriopis aprilina (abundantly), Phlogophora meticulosa (a few), Hadena glauca (one only), Plusia Gamma (in hundreds), Amphipyra tragopogonis (one only). I had sugared for several evenings in the immediate neighbourhood with very little success, Miselia Oxyacanthe, Anchocelis litura and Noctua glareosa being my only visitors, and those very sparingly, and was glad to learn, even from a mouse, what was on the wing; for, alas for human vanity! the schemes of mice and men do not appear to be equally liable to come to naught. I found no remains of Geometre : although Scotosia dubitata is not uncommon on the rocks around, and Cidaria immanata is abundant in the wood in which the cave is situated, both would probably be out of the reach of prowling mice. The wings found in the rocks were no doubt carried there by gusts of wind. The cave is about twelve or fourteen feet in depth, and is situated immediately under the ledge of rock known as the “‘ Panorama Stone,” one mile west of Ilkley, and about six hundred feet above the River Wharfe. I hope to look in occasionally upon these industrious little entomologists, and, by noticing how their collection progresses, perhaps learn something more of the Fauna of the district than I could find out for myself. There were many wings, no doubt, of species which appear earlier in the season, too much decayed tobe identified with certainty. I have only named those about which there was no doubt. Wings of Orthosia macilenta formed fully one half the collection, and that insect must be extremely abundant in the wood, although I have not met with it during my stay here: its mode of life appears, in some way, specially to expose it to the attacks of mice. The number of moths which a colony of field mice will destroy during the sammer must be something prodigious, and in winter I judge they are active pupa-diggers, as I found in the cave several emptied cocoons of Exiogaster lanestris. The only species of Noctua which I have met with here of which there were no remains in the cave is Calocampa exoleta; this species, however, is only just appearing, and will no doubt be found in the mouse’s larder in due time. — Edwin Birchall ; Ilkley, Wharfdale, October 7, 1865. Notes on the Quadrupeds of Lanarkshire. By Epwarp R. Atsron, Esq. (Continued from page 9708). Bank Vole.—I have much pleasure in recording what I believe to be an addition to the Fauna of Scotland, namely, the occurrence of the SECOND SERIES—VOL. I. c 10 THE ZooLocistT—JANvuARY, 1866. bank vole (Arvicola pratensis, Baillon), of which a specimen was taken alive here on the Ist of August in one of the small areas already men- tioned (Zool. 9706). When compared with an example of the common species (A. agrestis, Flem.), the specific characters are well marked ; the ears are larger and more upright, the head narrower and less flattened, the eyes larger, and the tail much longer, being about one half the length of the body. The head and back are shaded with a rich chestnut, the flanks gray, the tail dark above and whitish beneath, while the under surface of the body and the feet are almost pure white. In all these particulars it agrees exactly with M. de Selys-Long- champ’s detailed description, as quoted by Professor Bell (‘ British Quadrupeds,’ p. 331). As my specimen is still alive I cannot give any exact measurements, but it is decidedly smaller than the common field vole. This vole was placed in a box with a glass front (the bottom being covered with a turf), in which it has now lived for nearly three months without becoming at all tame or familiar. It has made a “form” like a hare’s, in which it sleeps during most of the day, coming out occasionally when tempted with fruit, but reserving most of its food for the hours of darkness. It will eat almost any vegetable substance, but appears to prefer roots and fruit to herbage, a raw potato being a special delicacy. Gooseberries are very neatly emptied by a small hole on one side, the skins of all fruit being rejected. It is so timid that it always tries to conceal itself when any one approaches, nor will it eat in presence of a human being, unless very hungry. A common field vole, which I kept for some time, seemed to be even more strictly nocturnal in its habits, and burrowed beneath the turf with which it was supplied instead of making a nest among the moss. It was also bolder than its rarer and much prettier relative. Otter.—The otter is a very rare visitor to our small burns; a pair were killed here in May, 1859, the female being shot by one of my brothers in the act of killing arabbit. On the upper part of the Clyde, however, they are plentiful, and boys who set night-lines for trout often find only the head and back-bone of the fish on their hooks, the flesh having been stripped off by the otters. The late Mr. Monteith, of Carstairs, had a tame otter, of which some account has been given by Mr. Macgillivray, and I have learned some further particulars as to its habits from one who was well acquainted with it. “Neptune” was allowed his full liberty, and spent much of his time in the river, but always returned to the gamekeeper, whom he would follow like a dog. He often lay basking in the sun, on a hay-rick near the mill on the THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1866. 11 river, but he got into the bad graces of some of the farmers by killing their “collies” or sheep-dogs. The dogs came to the mill with their owners, and not being used to tame otters, they often attacked Neptune, who always defended himself with great spirit. On more than one occasion he was seen to seize one of his persecutors by the throat, plunge into the mill-dam, and hold the unfortunate colley under water until it was drowned. At last Neptune died, and one of the farmers whose dogs he had thus killed was more than suspected of having administered poison. My informant was not acquainted with Neptune’s early history, but Mr. Macgillivray states that he was taken very young, and was suckled by a pointer bitch. Another tame otter was kept a few years ago by one of the Duke of Athol’s keepers, at Dunkeld; she was called “ Kitty,” and used to answer to her name as well as any dog. Like Neptune she came to an untimely end, being caught accidentally in a trap, and so much injured that she had to be killed. Mr. Gunn observes (Zool. 9644) that otters sometimes carry on their depredations on land; “particularly in vegetable gardens.” May I askif he means that they eat the vegetables or roots? If so, itis ‘surely a new and remarkable trait in the life-history of the animal, and further particulars would be most interesting. All the other Mus- telide are, I believe, exclusively animal-feeders when in a state of nature. Epwarp R. ALSTON. Stockbriggs, Lesmahagow, October 30, 1865. Account of a Heronry, and Breeding-place of other Water-birds, in Southern India. By Joun Suortt, M.D., F.LS. (Read before the Linnean Society, November 3, 1864). VavEN THAUGUL is a small village, fifty miles from Madras and twelve from Chingleput, in a south-easterly direction; here is a large tank covering an area of four acres and a half. From the north-east to the centre of the bed of the tank there are some five hundred or six hundred trees of the Barringtonia racemosa, from ten to fifteen feet in height, with circular regular moderate-sized crowns ; and when the tank fills, which it does during the monsoons, the tops only of the trees are just visible above the level of the water. This place forms the breeding-resort of an immense number of water-fowl; herons, storks, cranes, ibises, water-crows or cormorants, 12 THE ZooLocist—JAanvuary, 1866. darters and paddy-birds, &c., make it their rendezvous on these occasions. From about the middle of October to the middle of November small flocks of twenty or thirty of some of these birds are to be seen, coming from the north to settle here during the breeding-season. By the beginning of December they have all settled down; each tribe knows its appointed time, and arrives year after year, with the utmost regu- larity, within a fortnight, later or earlier, depending partly on the seasons. Some, from the lateness at which they arrive, appear to have come from great distances. They commence immediately by building their nests or repairing the old ones, preparatory to depositing their eggs. When they have fully settled down, the scene becomes one of great interest and animation. During the day the majority are out feeding, and towards evening the various birds begin to arrive in parties of ten, fifteen, or more, and in a short time the trees are literally covered with bird-life; every part of the crown is hidden by its noisy occupants, who fight and struggle with each other for perches: each tree appears to be a moving mass of black, white and gray, the snowy white plumage of the egrets and curlews contrasting with and relieved by the glossy black of the water-crows and darters, and by the gray and black plumage of the storks. The nests lie side by side, touching each other; those of the different species arranged in groups of five or six, or even as many as ten or twenty on each tree. The nests are shallow, and vary in inside diameter from six to eight inches, according to the size of the bird. The curlews do not build separate nests, but raise a large mound of twigs and sticks, shelved into terraces, as it were; and each terrace forms a separate nest: thus eight or ten run into each other. The storks sometimes adopt a similar plan. The whole of the nests are built of twigs and sticks, interwoven to the height of eight to ten inches, with an outside diameter of eighteen to twenty-four inches; the inside is slightly hollowed out, in some more and in others less, and lined with grass; reeds and quantities of leaves are laid on the nests. In January the callow young are to be seen in the nests. During this time the parent birds are constantly moving on the wing, backwards and forwards, in search of food, now returning to their young with the spoil, and again, as soon as they have satisfied their cravings, going off in search of a further supply. About THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1866. 13 the end of January or early in February the young are able to leave their nests and scramble into those of others. They begin to perch about the trees, and by the end of February or the beginning of March those that were hatched first are able to take wing and accompany their parents on preying expeditions; and a week or two later, in conse- quence of the drying up of the tanks in the vicinity, they begin to emigrate towards the north with their parents and friends, except perhaps a few whose young are not yet fledged, and who stay behind some time longer. Thus, in succession, the different birds leave the place, so that it is completely deserted by the middle of April, by which time the tank becomes dry; and the village cattle graze in its bed, or shelter themselves under the trees from the scorching. heat of the mid-day sun, while the cow-boys find amusement in pulling down the deserted nests. The village and tank are completely isolated from the public thoroughfare, and very few seem aware of its existence. The villagers hold an agreement, from the ancient Nabob’s government, which continues in force by a renewal from the British Government, that no one is to shoot over the tank, which is strictly enforced to the present day; and the birds continue in undisturbed possession of this place as a favourite breeding-resort every winter or monsoon. The natives understand the value of the dung of the birds in enriching their rice-fields; and when the tank becomes dry, the silt deposited in its bed is taken up to the depth of a foot, and spread over the rice-fields; consequently they are careful not to disturb the birds. / When I first discovered the locality, I was under the impression that the birds were venerated, from some superstitious motives, but an acquaintance with the villagers undeceived me as to this point. Anxions to examine the nests, I visited the locality at various periods when the tank was full of water, first in January, and subsequently on the 8th of March, 1864. I caused a raft of wood to be constructed for the occasion. On the last excursion I was accompanied by some of the European and native officials of the district; and we were pushed along on the raft by two fishermen swimming one on either side, their heads only visible above water, whilst the tank bund was lined with the villagers, who witnessed our operations with great curiosity. As we approached the trees the birds at first remained quite - unconcerned, but as we got nearer they began to look on with amaze- ment at a scene which was evidently new to them; then they rose 14 THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1866. en masse over our heads, and uttering piercing cries, some, with threatening gestures, rested a moment on the adjoining trees, and theu took to their wings again; although so crowded they performed their evolutions with the greatest nicety and dexterity, never interfering with each other’s movements. Some ascended to a great height, and were hardly perceptible in the air, while others gyrated immediately above our heads ; many crowded on adjoining trees, and Witnessed our intru- sion with dismay. On the first occasion, in January, 1864, I was alone on the raft; most of the young of the water-crows, storks, herons and darters were fully feathered, and were able to scramble to other nests, and some to the tops of trees; a few nests contained eggs, and others callow young. The water-crows and darters, young as they were, immediately took to the water and dived out of sight. On the second occasion, in March last, the young of the ibises were fully feathered, as were also a few gray and purple herons and darters; two or three nests only contained eggs, and some few callow young. The following is a detailed account of the nests, and of the number of eggs, or young, I found in each nest on the different times I visited the place :— 1. The small Gray and Black Stork (Lepioptilos javanica ?); Tamil name, “ Nutha coottee narai,” literally “ Shell-fish- (Ampullaria) picking crane.” These birds were the most numerous ; their nests were two feet in diameter, and contained three eggs or young. The eggs were of a dirty white colour, of the same shape, but not quite so large, as those of the turkey. The young when fully feathered were in prime condition. The flesh is eaten by Mussulmans and Pariahs. I remem- ber on one occasion, when one was shot in the jungles of Orissa, one of the sepoys, a Bengal Brahmin, begged for the dead bird, which was given him; and after eating it he came back to say he had enjoyed his dinner greatly: that he had made a hearty one was evidenced by his protuberant stomach. The bird is common about here, but keeps entirely to marshy fields, edges of tanks, &c; it never approaches towns. Some half dozen or more of these birds may often be seen in the morning, sunning themselves with outstretched wings in the dry fields. They only differ from the adjutant (Leptoptilos Argola) in size and colour. These nest early, and the young are firm on the wing in the month of February. 2. The Ibis or Curlew (Zbis falcinellus); Tamil, “ Arroova mooken,” literally “Sickle-nosed,” which name they take from their long curved beaks. The nest of this bird contained from three to five THE ZooLocist—JAnvuaky, 1866. . 15 eggs, and I found from three to four young ones in each nest. The eggs resemble in shape and size a medium-sized hen’s egg, but are of a dirty white colour. The birds are white, with black head, feet and neck, and have a long curved black bill. The head and neck are naked, and the tail-feathers of rather a rusty brown colour; the lower sides of the wings, from the axillz to the extremities, are naked ; and the skin in the old birds is of a deep scarlet colour ; in the young this is absent, although the part is naked. The young are fully fledged in March, and take to the wing in April. 3. The Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea); Tamil, “ Narai,” sometimes “ Pamboo narai,” or “Snake crane ;” has a similar nest built of twigs, containing sometimes two, sometimes three eggs. I only found two young in the nests; they are fledged from January to April, according to the time of depositing their eggs, which some do earlier than others. The eggs are ofa light green colour; they are not so large in circum- ference as a large-sized hen’s egg, but are longer, with the small end sharp. 4, The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) ; Tamil, “ Cumbly narai,” or “ Blanket crane.” Nest the same; deposits two or three eggs, of same size and colour as last; seems to rear only two young. The young are fully fledged in April. _ 5. Ardea Nycticorax ; Tamil, “ Wukka.” Nests are built after the same fashion, but smaller in size, and contain five eggs; hatches four or five young; eggs the size of a bantam’s, and of the same shape. The young are fledged in April. 6. The Cormorant (Graculus pygmeus) ; Tamil, “‘ Neer cakai,” or “ Water-crow.” Nest the same as the others, built of sticks ; deposits three or four eggs, and rears three or four young, which are fledged and on the wing in January ; eggs like those of a small-sized bantam, rather sharp-poiuted at small end, witha slight greenish tinge. 7. The Large Cormorant (Graculus siennensis); Tamil, “ Peroon neer cakai,” or “ Large water crow.” Builds a very rude nest, chiefly formed of sticks; lays four eggs, and rears two, three or four young. The eggs are the size of a medium-sized domestic hen’s, and have a slight greenish tinge; the young are fledged sometimes in January, sometimes in March, according to the time of their nesting. These birds, as well as G. pygmeus, are to be seen fishing in the tank itself; and the rapidity with which they find their prey, by diving, is wonderful. 8. The Darter (Plotus melanogaster); Tamil, “ Pamboo Thalai 16 Tue ZooLocist—JANvuARY, 1866. neer cakai,” or, “Snake-headed water-crow.” Nest same as last; three, sometimes four eggs of same size and colour; young fledged and on the wing, some in January, others not till April. I succeeded in capturing young of all the birds described here, and sent them to the People’s Park at Madras. I was in great hopes of sending a few of each to the Zoological Society’s Gardens, Regent's Park, London, by Mr. Thompson, the head keeper, of whose intended visit to India in the “ Hydaspes” the Secretary, Dr. Sclater, obligingly apprised me, but unfortunately I lost the opportunity, which I greatly regret. Returning to the subject of Vaden Thaugul, the villagers tell me that the pelican sometimes comes and breeds here, as also the black curlew. Occasionally different kinds of teal, widgeons, &c., are said to nest in the rushes that bound the inner surface of the tank bund. But although I visited this place frequently, L saw no other birds than those described here. The Egrets (or Herodias Garzetta, Bubulcus and intermedia), were congregated in very large numbers, and roosted on the trees at night; but they do not nest, which seems singular. The natives had observed this, and I found it to be the case. Yet I believe, of all the birds that assemble here, these occur in the greatest number. Ardea alba, or Herodius alba, and H. intermedia are also found here; and the natives say that they breed, but I did not find any of their nests in the place during my visits to Vaden Thaugul. Ornithological Notes from Shetland. By H.L. Saxsy, M.D. (Continued from page 9591). AvucusT, 1865. Storm Petrel.—Fresh eggs of the storm petrel were found as late as the middle of the month, although at that time most of the young birds had long left their nests. On the 8th I saw what appeared to be an adult sitting upon the water at Bluemull Sound: the boatmen seemed to consider this an unusual sight, for these birds are seldom observed so near the land, although they are often abundant about forty miles from the coast. Skua.—On the 12th skuas were still in the neighbourhood of Burrafirth. Tae ZooLocist—January, 1866. 17 Razorbill.—I am obliged to Mr. Blake-Knox for his reply (Zool. 9614) to my enquiries respecting the plumage of the razorbill. My uncertainty arose partly from having so very seldom met with the bird in winter, but mainly from the misstatements contained in the few ornithological works to which I was able to refer; some authors asserting that there is a distinct white line from the bill to the eye in winter, and others that there is merely a line of white dots at that season. The error is probably due to the very common practice of taking it for granted that specimens shot late in autumn or early in spring are in winter plumage. Snipe.—Snipe are unusually scarce in the low grounds, this may, I think, be attributed to the dryness of the summer, for although abund- ance of rain has fallen lately, sufficient time has scarcely elapsed for the newly formed pools to become stocked with food. Sky Lark.—Young sky larks are very abundant. When disturbed they often alight for awhile upon a large stone or a wall, and utter a short, irregular kind of song. Brent Goose—On the 12th (wind S.W ), a brent goose suddenly appeared in the peat-bogs near Haroldswick. It was shot at and wounded, but escaped. House Sparrow.—Fresh eggs of the house sparrow were found by me on the 13th. Most of the young broods are fledged, and whole families: roost in the garden, preferring the thick, bushy tops of the elders, which afford better concealment than the other trees. The first ten minutes are usually spent in squatting and fluttering noisily among the leaves, but when once settled for the night they are very unwilling to leave the retreat. The parents seem to occupy the outer branches during the whole of the night, and they always wait until the young ones are quiet before they themselves retire. Cuckoo.—On the 17th (wind blowing strongly from S.E.) a boy killed a cuckoo with a stone, upon the beach, at Haroldswick. Although well feathered it was evidently a young bird of the year. T'wite.—On the 20th, my attention being attracted by the peculiar notes of-a pair of twites, 1 searched among some tall shrubs, and found three newly-fledged young ones, and soon afterwards a nest and one addled egg near the top of an elder, about nine feet from the ground. The nest was very large and clumsily made, and altogether different in appearance from the neat little structures one finds in the walls or upon the hill-sides. Those in the latter situations usually have very little beneath the lining—sometimes nothing at all; but in this one SECOND SERIES—VOL. I. D 18 THE ZooLocist—JAanuary, 1866. there was a mass, about three inches and a half in thickness, of coarse roots, aud pieces of dried, brittle elder-twigs, entirely filling the fork of the branch. The outer portion of the nest itself was composed of coarse roots and stalks of plants, and next to this was a layer of very fine roots; then came a layer of curved, white ducks’ feathers, and lastly a thick layer of wool intermixed with the hair of cows and horses. The straggling appearance of the nest was partly due to the very unusual addition of large quill-feathers about the upper edge, the longest measuring eight inches in length. The inside diameter of the nest was about three inches. Nearly a fortnight ago, a cottager’s boy found a nest of six young twites, among the heather, in a slight hollow which the heavy showers of the previous night had partly filled with water. Seeing that the young birds were nearly dead, he carried them home, and, by the help of a warm fire and plenty of wool, succeeded so far in restoring four of them that they were very soon able to take food. Two days later, observing the parent birds still in the neighbourhood, he replaced the nest and its contents, the ground having now become dry, and almost immediately afterwards he saw them carrying food to the nestlings. Several days after that, fearing that the latter would be discovered by other boys, and thinking that they were sufficiently strong to do without their parents’ care, he once more took them home and fed them as before, but, to his surprise, the old birds, probably attracted by their cries, very soon discovered them, and ever since that time they have been unwearied in their attention, coming through the open window without the smallest sign of fear, although the room is almost constantly occupied by the cottager and his family. Golden Plover—Golden plovers are still in very large flocks. They are now in excellent condition for the table. In the daytime they are very wild, but early in the morning and late in the evening, when they are upon the low grounds, it is comparatively easy to approach them. Newly arrived flocks, although tolerably familiar at first, soon become very wild; but it is with the home-bred birds that the sports- man experiences the greatest difficulty, and with them it is often necessary to resort to various devices in order to get within shot. The most usual of these are, keeping the gun out of sight, crawling upon “all fours,” or walking up beside a pony. In some parts of the hills, which are frequently crossed by peat-women,—seldom by any men except those who carry guns,—I have occasionally resorted to the device of strapping a plaid round my waist, petticoat-fashion (peat- women dispense with crinoline on week-days), and by such means I THE ZooLoGist—JANUARY, 1866. 19 have been able to obtain several shots before the trick was discovered. Such deception is decidedly mean, but it is wonderful how soon a diet of salt-fish and bad potatoes will convert an ornithologist into a pot- hunter. Riders can nearly always approach a flock within thirty or forty yards before it will take alarm. Once while riding across a moor I could not resist the temptation of firing at a large flock which rose before me. Three birds fell, and I am resolved that they shall be the last I obtain in that manner, unless indeed some means can be devised which will ensure ¢hezr fall only. Gannet.—On the 27th (wind N.W.) I saw the only gannet which has appeared this season. Redbreasted Merganser.—A young bird of this species was shot in a fresh-water loch on the 28th, four others about the same size and one adult being in company with it. The only feathers apparent among the down were those of the scapulars and tail, and a few upon the sides beneath the wings. The bill, although small, resembled that of an adult female in colour and form, and the serrations upon each edge of the upper mandible, about thirty in number, were sharp and horny to the feel; those upon the lower mandible were smaller, more nume- rous, and scarcely so hard. The colours of the down were also similar to those of an adult female ; the legs and feet were large and strong ; the wings were without feathers and extremely small, measuring only one inch and a half from the carpal joint to the tip. The old bird was evidently a female. The whole family dived instantly on being alarmed. Wild Duck.—Young wild ducks are quite strong upon the wing, but they still keep together in families, and are seldom to be met with far distant from their breeding-grounds. I do not remember having seen wild ducks in salt water at this time of the year. Turtie Dove.—On the evening of the 29th (wind N.), a turtle dove came flying northwards across the voe, and alighted abruptly in the garden. Every night it roosts among the sycamores, but I can never find it in the day-time. On taking wing it spreads the tail like a fan, the white tips of the feathers then becoming very conspicuous. Merlin. — Merlins are now becoming more numerous, but they are chiefly young birds of the year. I shot one in the garden on the 30th. Kestrel.—On the 24th a well-fledged young female kestrel was shot among some rocks near the shore, by Mr. Thomas Edmonston, jun. The tarsi were, as usual, feathered as far as their upper third, but 20 THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1866. in addition, the outer side of each remaining two-thirds was also feathered, though more scantily, a peculiarity which I have never observed before, nor can I find it mentioned in any work on Orni- thology. Knot.—I saw the first knots on the morning of the 25th, after a strong N.W. wind. I shot several, and found that all of them bad at least a slight tinge of chestnut upon the under parts. In some it was so deep as to be conspicuous at a considerable distance, and in those specimens in which it was deepest there was a very strong tinge of it upon the edge of many feathers of the upper surface. Henry L. Saxsy. Baltasound, Shetland, August 31, 1865, Ornithological Notes from Lanarkshire. By Epwarp R. Aston, Esq. (Continued from p. 9710.) Water Ouzel—In this neighbourhood these birds make a curious local migration, which is not noticed in any work to which I have access. Soon after the young birds can fly well the whole family leaves the sheltered glens in which they breed, and retire to the smaller burns of the moors and upland pastures. Here they remain until September or October, when they return to the lower valleys. I did not notice this fact in my former notes on the species (Zool. 9432), as I wished to confirm my former observations. This summer I only saw one or two stray dippers on the lower waters until quite lately. Is this habit observed in other places, or is it caused by some local plenty or scarcity of food? As Mr. C. Smith observes (Zool. 9795) the water ouzel is a very early breeder: even in these northern and backward regions the eggs are usually hatched by the end of April. The nest is usually built on a rock, often protected by some projecting ledge, and always artfully concealed. I know of one authentic instance of a pair of water ouzels building in a hole in a wall, which they could only reach by darting between the revolving spokes of a mill-wheel. In their first plumage the young birds want the dark chestnut belly of the adult; all the feathers of the under parts are dull white, tipped with gray, giving the bird a soiled appearance; the flanks are smoke gray ; the under tail-coverts tinged with rufous. At the first moult (in autumn) the bird acquires the brown head and pure THE ZooLocist—JANvuARY, 1866. 21 white breast, but the belly is darker and more mixed with black than in the adult. A strongly marked specimen of this age is probably the type of the Cinclus melanogaster of some authors. Mr. Morris describes both the young and adult dipper as having the irides “ pale brown with a black ring in the middle ” (Brit. Birds, iii. p. 20), but I have looked in vain for this peculiarity. A full investigation of the charges, so often brought against the water ouzel, of feeding on the spawn of salmon and trout, will be found in Mr. F. Buckland’s interesting book on “ Fish-Hatching” (p. 54), where he shows that, so far from eating the eggs, it in fact protects them, by destroying vast numbers of the water insects and larve which prey upon the ova. He gives the result of the dissection of more than forty examples, examined by himself, Mr. Gould, and others, many of which were shot on the spawning-beds in varions rivers. Of all these birds only one contained a single fish’s egg, and that was a diseased one. A meeting of the Zoological Society in February, 1863, after considering these observations, “ fully acquitted the water ouzel of the charges of eating fish-spawn,” a verdict which ought to have stopped all further perse- cution of this interesting and neat little bird. Cuckoo’s Stomach.—Mr. Boulton’s remarks on “The Villous Coating of a Cuckoo’s Stomach” (Zool. 9782) seem to call for a re- investigation of this interesting subject. Might not the real nature of the hairs be easily ascertained by the use of the microscope? The two young cuckoos which I have before mentioned (Zool. 9282 and 9709) contained no remains of hairy larve, and their stomachs have no “ villous ” coating, although they were both fully grown, a fact which seems to be against the idea that these hairs are a natural growth. And yet, if they are of insect origin, it seems difficult to understand how they could become so regularly arranged and firmly attached to the mucous membrane as Mr. Boulton describes. Fieldfare and Woodcock.—Fieldfares were not observed here this season until October 5th. A woodcock was seen on the 25th of the same month. Epwarp R. ALSsTon. Stockbriggs, Lesmahagow, November 6, 1869. Ornithological Notes from Flamborough. By Jon Corpeavx, Esq. October 16, 1865. There are few situations on the eastern coast more favourable for the observation of our autumnal migratories, on 22 THE ZooLoGist—JANUARY, 1866. their first arrival from the cold north to the more genial climate of Britain, than Flamborough Head. Projecting from the Yorkshire coast for many miles directly out into the sea, it offers a first resting-place to many of those thousands of weary wanderers which, at this season, arrive on our eastern shores. It was with the expectation of meeting with some of our well-known winter visitors on their arrival that, in company with a friend, I again visited the neighbourhood; and I now venture to give the results of our observations. October 16, 3.30 p.m. Left our quarters at the Thornwick Hotel, and walked down to the north landing, and from thence to the extreme point of the headland, following the ins and outs of the coast-line, a distance of three miles. The only birds in the bay, called the “north landing-place,” were herring gulls and kittiwakes, old and young birds of both species, the young kittiwakes showing distinctly the black tip to the tail, as well as the dark markings on the back of the head and on the lesser wing-coverts. Very few kittiwake gulls are now to be found, compared with the thousands frequenting the neighbourhood during the spring and summer. Rock pipits were everywhere nume- rous along the coast. From the rocks near the lighthouse five cormorants, disturbed by our conversation, dashed out seaward, almost brushing the tops of the waves in their rapid and awkward flight. The shades of evening were deepening as we left the point and turned our steps homeward. From a storm-twisted bush near the lighthouse a redbreast, the “messenger of calm decay,” was pouring forth its sweet and lonely song, while overhead the bright scarlet and white rays from the highly polished reflectors were projected, like the spread of a gigantic fan, far into the gathering gloom. Various species of migratory birds have from time to time been picked up outside the lantern; attracted by the glare they fly like moths against the glass, and are killed: about the middle of October, last year, a woodcock dashed right through the glass, which is a quarter of an inch in thickness, and was picked up mutilated and dead from amongst the lamps. October 17, wind 8.S.W. A pouring rainy day. Observed large flocks of larks in the stubble-fields opposite our quarters, and a small party of fieldfares and redwings flying over. Walked down to the south landing-place, overlooking Bridlington Bay, disturbing a solitary wheatear from the upper clay cliff near the landing-place. We pro- ceeded some distance along the coast, to the southern termination of the so-called “ Danes’ Dyke,” and then turned up a little wild glen THE ZooLocisT—Janvuary, 1866. 23 ‘forming a natural fosse to that wonderful defensive embankment which from this point runs completely across the promontory. The sides of this valley are clothed with gorse and tall herbaceous plants, venerable hawthorns and a long line of plantation, with an under- growth of broom, gorse and bracken, affording an admirable shelter and retreat for many of our migratory birds on their first arrival, and it is said a famous place for woodcocks. We walked along the top of the embankment to the northern side of the headland, a distance of nearly three miles, observing on our way numerous flocks of redwings and fieldfares feeding in the old hawthorn-fences skirting the entrench- ment; these venerable gnarled and moss-draped hedge-rows were quite scarlet with haws, and will long afford an ample feast to any flocks of Merulide arriving on the promontory. The embankment terminates on the extreme edge of the northern precipices, 330 feet above the sea. From this point we turned along the cliff towards Flamborough, and as we walked homewards watched the rock pigeons returning from the stubbles to their cotes in the sea-caves below. October 18, wind S.E. A calm still morning, but as we perceive, by the “ drum and cone” suspended from the signal-station, not destined to last. Went out in a boat in Bridlington Bay, with the intention of fishing, and at the same time looking after any birds we might come across; pulled away in the direction of the Point, and as near to the coast as possible, for the chance of a shot on the low reef of rocks, uncovered at low water, which skirt the base of the cliffs. An oyster- catcher, the only one seen during our visit, was standing on the extremity of a line of low rocks, as yet barely uncovered by the water, its bright red bill and white under parts contrasting strongly with the dark sea-weed-covered rocks. Wild and difficult of approach as these birds are, it allowed us to get so near that a green cartridge rolled him over into the sea: it was in magnificent plumage and very fat. We next gave chase to a duck, which gave some trouble, as it constantly kept diving under the heavy seas near the shore: at last it took a long dive out to sea, and gave me the chance of a shot as it rose again on the summit of a swell, but dived again instantly as the shot lashed along the wave; when it rose again it was at a considerable distance, but the poor bird was evidently wounded: another shot and we succeeded in getting it. This duck was unlike any I have ever shot; its generic characters were those of the goldeneye, and I thought it might probably prove a young female of that species, although, on comparing it with stuffed specimens of female goldeneyes, it varied considerably 24 THE ZooLtocGist—JaNnvaRry, 1866. in plumage. I had then no good work of reference at hand to decide. On leaving Flamborough I left the duck at the residence of Mr. Bailey, bird-preserver, but without any particular orders respecting it. Mr. Bailey was from home at the time, not returning for some days; he has since written to inform me that he was unable to make out the species, and that he regretted very much the duck had been destroyed. On consulting Yarrell and other authorities I find the duck almost perfectly described as the female harlequin (Anas histri- onica). I will briefly describe it, and leave the readers of the ‘Zoologist’ to judge if I am correct in so calling it. Length about fourteen inches; wings short and pointed; two first primaries the longest, the first slightly exceeding the second. Bill bluish black ; feet and legs the same colour as the bill, but with the webs much darker ; irides brownish orange. The whole of the upper parts sooty brown, approaching to black; neck and breast mottled with two shades of brown; a spot on the forehead, also before and behind the eye, whitish gray ; under parts white. Two scoters, probably velvet, as they showed the white speculum in flight, next took our attention, but were far too wary to allow us to get within range. There were several redthroated divers in the bay, and one which, from its large size and appearance, must have been Colymbus glacialis. This bird led us a long chase, constantly diving, coming up again an immense distance a-head. A stern chase is pro- verbially a long chase, and so it proved in this instance, for the bird, by its wonderful diving powers, rapidly increased its distance, and forced us at last reluctantly to abandon the pursuit. The redthroated divers permitted a much nearer approach, never allowing us, however, to get within shot; just when a few more pulls would have brought them within range they would most provokingly rise and fly rapidly out to sea, neck and head stretched out, the back and tail forming the segment of a circle, their wings rapidly moving, and thus scuttle along scarcely raised above the waves. Observed flocks of ducks near the centre of the bay, but too far away to identify the species. A skua passed in chase of a kittiwake, and cormorants were continually passing and repassing us. When about two miles to the right of the Head, and near the entrance of the Bay, we anchored the boat, and prepared the lines for fishing. 1 was surprised to see at this distance from the land, a lark singing high overhead, blithe and merry as when poised over an inland meadow. A “red admiral” butterfly passed flying towards the coast, THE ZooLoGistT—JANUARY, 1866. 25 and a single tern flew over, but far too high to identify. While at anchor in this position I noticed out to seaward several dark objects approaching, evidently birds; on a nearer approach they turned out a party of hooded crows: slowly and wearily they flew in a long straggling body; we watched them till lost behind the line of cliff. From the direction they came, nearly due east, the nearest land would be the coast of Holland, 230 miles distant. It is quite possible, how- ever, they may have been driven far to the southward by the great storm from the north, which was at that time raging at sea along the north-eastern coast. Up to this time (3 o’clock p.m.) I never remember a more lovely day for this season of the year. It was pleasantly warm, and the perfect stillness was ominous, unbroken save by the lap of the water against our boat, or the far-off cry of some diver; but the calm was delusive, and the weather rapidly changed. The wind suddenly chopped round into the north, and soon a heavy sea was breaking across the reef off the Head, the long lead-coloured swells rolling into the bay, ridge beyond ridge, as yet smoothly rounded and unbroken. The north- eastern horizon was shut in by a lurid haze, from which long torn and ragged streaks of purple and gray vapour streamed upwards over half the heavens. We were tolerably fortunate with our fishing-lines, taking three or four species of fish, my companion capturing a fine shad, its stomach containing a crab, several shrimps and a handful of mussels, about an inch in length and unbroken. We were shown, when at Flamborough, by Mr. Duke, of the Thornwick Hotel, a pair of brass- mounted spectacles, perfectly entire and in good condition, which were lately taken out of the stomach of a large cod-fish caught off the coast. Cormorants have occasionally been captured in the bay, by taking the bait on the fishing-lines: our boatman, Robert Crofton, of Flamborough, stated that he once captured two in one day, at a time when he had five fathoms, or thirty feet of line out. As the wind was rapidly rising, we pulled for the coast, throwing overboard the remains of our bait and the inside of the fish. Although no gulls were in sight at the time, yet in a few minutes we had numbers of them round the boat to pick up the floating offal: the vision of these birds must be wonderfully keen and far-sighted, for I noticed common, herring gulls and kittiwakes, coming from an immense distance, several of the latter flying across from the opposite side of the head- land, probably attracted by perceiving an unusual assembly of their allies. SECOND SERIES—VOL. I. E 26 THE ZooLoGistT—JANUARY, 1866. October 19. A furious gale from the north, driving before it, hori- zontally across the headland, perfect sheets of rain. At the north landing-place the scene was magnificent, as the mighty resistless waves came rolling in, line beyond line, white-crested to the very horizon, while clouds of wool-like masses of foam were driven far up the sides of the rugged cliffs, and, again caught and carried upwards by the wind, drifting far inward across the promontory like gigantic snow-flakes. In the midst of all this turmoil several noble herring gulls were hovering steadily over the bay, eagerly scanning the broken water for any fragments of floating matter, their wings perfectly motionless, and retaining their position seemingly with but little effort. We had a rough walk of seven miles along the cliffs, and it was often with the greatest difficulty that we kept on our legs. In crossing the little valley which leads down to Thornwick Bay, I put up from a patch of rushes close to the shore a shorteared owl, which went sailing up the valley with a buoyant gull-like flight. During our walk we found numbers of fieldfares and redwings crouched under shelter of the turf-wall, which is here carried along the edge of the rocks: these birds seemed incapable of facing the hurricane, which swept and howled over the lofty Speeton Cliffs as if determined to level everything before it: they would permit us to get within a very short distance before rising, and then flutter forward under the walls. Woe to them if they rose ever so little above the friendly shelter, for the wind whirled them away literally like so many dead leaves. Even the rock pigeons, strong as they are on the wing, were often baffled in getting down to their sea cotes below: as they came in from the surrounding country they would fly low, often almost skimming the ground, and taking the shelter-side of any hedge-row in their line of flight to the coast. The sheltered line of the Dane’s Dyke plantations was a much-frequented route. After clearing the edge of the cliffs, they nearly closed their wings and went down head foremost for hundreds of feet, like a cricket-ball falling, till level with the cave, when they would dash suddenly in. Often when rising to the summit, the wind would catch them, and they went drifting about across the face of the great lime- stone-wall, looking exactly like fragments of sea-weed, torn off by the wind, and frequently driven over the top, utterly unable to stem the force of the storm. We saw but few other birds during our walk, and only one cormorant, which was flying rapidly right in the very teeth of the gale, and at the height of about 500 feet above the sea. On our return I nearly succeeded in capturing two pipits, so utterly confused THE ZooLoGisT—JANUARY, 1866. 27 and knocked about by the wind as to be scarcely able to struggle out of our path. JoHn CoRDEAUX. Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, October 30, 1865. Ornithological Notes from the East Coast of Yorkshire during the Summer of 1865. By W. W. Bourton, Esq. Ruff—A specimen was shot by Mr. Kemp, of Skerne, near Driffield, on the River Hull, on the 10th of April. It was at the time in company with another of the same species, which escaped. The bird was sent for preservation to Mr. R. Richardson, of Beverley, at whose house [I saw it in the flesh. Shoveller.—On the 14th of April a pair of these ducks, male and female, were shot by Mr. Holt, jun., farmer, of Brigham, uear Beverley, on the West-beck, a tributary of the River Hull. They appeared unusually tame, when disturbed only flying about fifty yards before again alighting. These ducks are at all seasons of the year rare visitants in this locality, and generally occurring at wide intervals of time in midwinter, Ring Ouzel.—This species occurs very sparingly in the sb ba hood of Beverley, a few stragglers being seen occasionally in the company of fieldfares, both on their arrival and departure. On the 25th of April three of these birds were seen by Mr. F. Boyes, of Beverley, near to the town: he succeeded in securing one of them, which I saw in the flesh. Common Shieldrake.—On the Ist of May a mature female of this species was trapped by Matthew Armstrong, of Beverley, on Sunk Island, River Humber. This beautiful duck breeds each year at Spurn and in the neighbourhood. Stock Dove.—A flock of these birds frequented the Carrs around Beverley during the late winter and early spring of the present year. Mr. W. Holmes, farmer, of Arram, near Beverley, shot four of them whilst concealed in a ditch of one of the fields generally frequented by them: he tells me that they were very shy and wary. Other specimens were subsequently shot and came under my observation; so that I could have no doubt as to the species, which is uncommon in this neighbourhood. 28 THE ZooLoGist—JaNnvuary, 1866. Wryneck.—A most perfect female specimen of the wryneck was sent to me by Mr. M. Bailey, of Flamborough, about the middle of May. It had been caught in a garden at Flamborough, by a neigh- bour of Mr. Bailey’s, on the 13th of May: the bird was in the flesh when sent tome. The wryneck is decidedly rare in this portion of East Yorkshire. I have only met with four or five specimens during the past five years, and J hear of most of the rare birds shot in this division of the county. i Stone Curlew.—This fine plover still breeds on some of the wilder and least-cultivated lands of East Yorkshire. On the 28th of July a beautiful immature specimen of the thickknee was sent for preser- vation to R. Richardson, of Beverley: he showed it to me in the flesh, and I have since had it presented to me, most kindly, by Mr. T. Riley, of South Dalton, near Beverley. The bird had been shot near Holme, on Spalding Moor, the same locality from whence I obtained a fine mature female specimen on the 4th of June, 1864, and duly recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 9282). This immature specimen had doubt- Jess been bred where it was shot, for several mature birds were seen but could not be approached within gun-range; moreover, several eggs of the stone curlew were found on this “moor.” Mr. Riley possesses four eggs, found there this year, one of which he has kindly promised me. Variety of the Starling.—On the Ist of August a curious variety of the common starling was brought to me by a boy, who had knocked it down. It was an immature bird of a nearly uniform rusty, or chestnut-brown colour throughout. Richardson's Skua.—On the 15th of August Mr. M. Bailey, of Flamborough, sent me three specimens of this species, in various stages of plumage: on the 2lst of August another, and on the 23rd of Augusi four more of the same species. The group illustrated every change of plumage, from the first feathers to maturity. Mr. Bailey informed me that this skua had been very abundant off Flamborough during the present year up to that date, viz. the 23rd of August. Buffon’s Skua.—Mr. M. Bailey, of Flamborough, also sent me a male specimen of Buffon’s skua on the 23rd of August. It would be in the second year’s plumage, the various measurements agreeing with those given by Yarrell. Zebra or Grass Parroquet.—Mr. Bailey also sent me one of these exquisite little birds, which had been shot in a wild state near to Flamborough, on the 19th of August of the present year. It was THE ZooLoGisT—JANUARY, 1866. 29 doubtless an escaped specimen; but, judging from the lovely emerald- green and general lively tints of its plumage, the bird must have been at large for a considerable time. It was a male, and the stomach contained some half-digested seeds, but in such a state of trituration as to render them impossible of identification. Variely of the Hedgesparrow.—A cream-coloured variety of the common “dunnoch” was sent to me by Mr. Kemp, of Skerne. It had been shot by himself on the 20th of August near to Skerne, the same locality from whence he obtained for me two very similar specimens during the two preceding years. Greenshank.—A very fine male of this species was shot on the River Hull by Mr. Kemp, on the 26th of August. It was sent to me in the flesh, and is the second example only I have met with in this neighbourhood. Rosecoloured Pastor.—I obtained a splendid mature male of this rare bird, in the flesh, on the 30th of August of the present year. It had been shot on the 26th on Cottingham Common, about five miles from Beverley, by Robert Duncum, farmer and publican, of the village of Cottingham. Spotted Crake.—Several of these birds, in various stages of maturity, have been shot on the River Hull during the summer of 1865. The first | saw were shot on the 30th of August, by Mr. F. Boyes, of Beverley, and Mr. T. Buckley. Numbers have been seen by Mr. Boyes, who frequently beats the sedgy margins of our River Hull, but they are so difficult to “flush” that few are brought to bay. Water Rail.—Mr. F. Boyes has also shot several of these birds, which, although comparatively plentiful on the River Hull, appear to be becoming less abundant in many other districts. Arctic and Lesser Tern.—Mr. Joseph Owen, of Beverley, shot several of the arctic tern and also of the lesser tern, at Spurn, during the months of July and August. He also sent me a basket of their eggs, which had been gathered at Spurn, mixed up with those of the ringed plover. Black Tern.—Was seen by Mr. M. Bailey, on the 16th of August. Mr. Bailey informs me that on that day he saw a pair of the black tern, off Flamborough, but he failed in endeavouring to secure them for me. Great Shearwater.—A most perfect specimen of this bird, so very rare on the east coast of Yorkshire, was sent to me in the flesh by Mr. 30 THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1866. Bailey. It had been shot off that coast on the 13th of September, and was in the uniform dark plumage of immaturity. It was a male, and has been added to my collection. Sandwich Tern.—No less than three of these birds, one mature and two birds of the year, had been reported to me up to the 2Ist of September, as having been shof off Bridlington Quay, by Mr. T. Jones, of that town. Shag—An immature female of this species was sent me, in the flesh, on the 23rd of September, by Mr. Bailey. It had been shot on the same day at Flamborough Head. This is the only specimen I have seen of the shag occurring on our portion of the Yorkshire coast ; the cormorant is, on the other hand, frequently met with. Little Gull.—Mv. Bailey sent me, a very fine specimen, in the flesh, of this gull that had been shot off Flamborough, on the 16th of August. It proved to be a female in the plumage of the second year. Roughlegged Buzzard.—I received a beautiful specimen of this fine buzzard the other day, which had been shot by John Clubley, keeper, at Spurn, on the 24th of October. Dissection proved it to be a young male. W. W. Bouton. Beverley, November 7, 1865. Osprey at Rostherne Mere.—About the end of April, a large bird was seen hovering over Rostherne Mere, a sheet of water a mile in length, and about two miles distant in a direct line from here, by the fisherman who was engaged in capturing pike. The peculiar habits of the bird, as well as its size, attracted the man’s attention, and he found in it not only a rival but a very skilful piscator, who each morning, after per- forming many gyrations, suddenly plunged into the water and rose with a fish in his talons, and flew with it to a solitary tree on the margin of the mere to break his fast. This was related to a keeper, who laid in ambush for it the next morning, and shot it in the act of making its repast off a bream weighing two pounds. This rare, and I believe unique, visitor in this locality, was brought to me a few hours afterwards, and proved to be an adult osprey, in very fine and perfect plumage, and it now adorns my collection. Expanse.of wings from tip to tip 5 feet 6 inches.— Hugh Harrison ; Bowdon, Cheshire, December 11, 1865. Jerfaleon at Crosby Ravensworth.—In February a fine specimen of the jerfalcon was shot, in the act of devouring a grouse, at Crosby Ravensworth, near Appleby, Westmoreland. JI made application for it, and found it had already been placed in the collection of Sir George Musgrave, of Eden Hall.—Jd. Jerfalcons near Biddulph.—In my absence on a trip to Appleby, in the middle of October, my friend Mr. R. S. Edleston, his wife and son, saw two large white hawks THE ZooLoGisT—JANUARY, 1866. 31 about a mile from here, sporting with a flock of starlings (redwings ?), and on my return, the day after, he named this to me, and suggested jerfalcons. I was incredu- lous, and said sparrowhawks or kestrels, but his belief was firm; and my incredulity was much shaken some ten days after, on reading a paragraph in the ‘ Manchester Courier, which stated that a fine jerfuleon was shot a few days ago on a farm near Biddulph, Cheshire (eighteen miles from here). I have, therefore, great reason for believing that my friend had the good fortune to see a couple of those rare and beautiful birds — Hugh Harrison. Merlin at Erdington.—On the 11th of November a fine merlin (Falco esalon) was taken alive at Erdington, in the net of a bird-catcher.—S. Jephcott, jun.; Ballsall Heath, Birmingham. Curious Capture of a Kestrel by a Cat.—A curious fact occurred here last week. A cat belonging toa neighbour was lying concealed in a drain in a meadow, watching her opportunity to seize a field mouse, when a kestrel swooped upon a mouse so close to her that with a sudden spring she caught the bird, and eventually killed it, a termi- nation to her hunt as unlvooked for by her as it was unexpected by the kestrel, who had probably been so intent upon the moving mouse as to overlook the motionless cat. This was related to me by the owner of the cat, who took the bird from her a few minutes after the event.—J. Hdmund Harting ; Kingsbury, Middlesex, November, 1865. Roughlegged Buzzard in South Yorkshire.—From the ‘ Doncaster Gazette’ of the 10th of November I quote the following :—* A splendid female specimen of the rough- legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus) was shot a few days ago by Mr. W. M. Darley, of Thorne, at Woagill, near Middlesmore. It measured 4 feet 2 inches in the expansion of the wings, and 2 feet 1 inch from the beak to the tip of the tail."—H. Ecroyd Smith ; Aldbro’ House, Eyremont, Birkenhead. Great Gray Shrike near Rochdale.—I have recently seen a very fine and perfect specimen of the great gray sbrike, in the hands of Mr, Harrop, the taxidermist, Man- chester, shot near Rochdale last month, and it is now in the collection of my friend Mr. Richard Gorton. Hugh Harrison. Third Occurrence of the Redbreasted Flycatcher in Cornwall.—I have much pleasure in recording, in the ‘ Zovlogist,’ a third example of this little flycatcher, which was obtained this week from the Scilly Isles, after having been carefully observed and its predatory habits watched by Mr. Augustus Pechell and the Rev. John Jenkinson, who were on a visit to their friend the Lord Proprieter of the Isles. The specimen is very much like the first specimen which was obtained, and which I have in my museum, with the exception that the secondaries and wing-coverts are rather more deeply bordered with rufous, which I think indicates a bird of the year, as I observe in ‘specimens of the adult birds the upper plumage is quite plain. The present specimen was observed in a tree, flitting about and darting after flies, much in the same way as our common species, returning to the same branch after each capture. The gizzard, on dissection, contained a mass of little black flies. I regret I cannot pronounce on the sex of the bird, as the mutilation from shot prevented the discovery. It appears now probable that the accidental occurrence of this little warbler is inclined to give way to denizen- ship, and I cannot help thinking that the species breeds in our islands. The bird uttered a note much louder than the suppressed “cheet” of the spotted flycatcher, and resembled the “chat” of the Saxicole ;. its supposed alliance to this genus is 32 Tue ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1866. strengthened by its note, and its large eye is also much like the expression of the stonechat.— Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, November 9, 1865. On the Whinchat nesting in Grass Meadows.—Mr. W. Jesse (Zool. 9790) enquires if the above occurrence is not rather unusual. Now, Morris (‘ British Birds,’ vol. iv. p. 58) says of the nest of this bird, “ Where there are no gorse-bushes, it is placed in the rough grass in a pasture field, or in a meadow.” And I have myself twice seen its nest mown over in a grass-field at Willesden Green, viz. on June 24, 1863, when the nest contained six fresh eggs; and then again in almost the same place in the same field on Jnne 20, 1864.—Charles B. Wharton; Willesden, Middlesex, November 3, 1865. Richard's Pipit in Ceylon.—This bird is so uncommon throughout the world that I feel justified in recording a specimen which came into my possession indirectly, from Ceylon. The Rev. G. Swift, of Beverley, kindly presented to me several skins of birds that had been sent to his father by a friend in Ceylon. Amongst these was a fine specimen of Richard’s pipit, which I have had carefully mounted and added to my collection.—W. W. Boulton ; Beverley, November 7, 1865. Black Sparrow.—Yesterday (October 28, 1865), while out walking, I saw a sparrow (Fringilla domestica) quite black; the bill and legs were of a light orange colour. I never saw a sparrow of this colour befure, except once, and that was in Ireland.—Z. E. Knox ; Yorktown, Hants. Late Nesting of the Sparrow.—A heavy pair of sheers were erected here last week for the purpose of dismounting a large gun; as soon as they were up some sparrows took possession of the tackle of the head, and, notwithstanding that it was constantly in motion and forty men working at it, they stuck to it manfully, On taking down the sheers on Tuesday last I was surprised to find a nest finished, fixed between the rope and one of the spars. This is very late in the year for nesting, and is a curious instance of the boldness of the ever-impertinent sparrow.—V. Legge ; South Shoebury, November 9, 1865. White Starling.—A perfectly white variety of the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) was shot near here, in the island of Foulness, on the 31st of July last. It is in the posses- siou of a bird-stuffer here, and, judging from its small size, it is most probably a female. It would seem that such varieties of Sturnus vulgaris are often met with in this veighbourboud, as Morris mentions two that were shot in the island of Sheppy. —Ia. Cornish Chough at East Looe—A Cornish chough was shot here last Friday, being the only one I have seen in this part of the county for upwards of twenty-five years, although I have been told they have bred in the cliffs near Polperro for three consecutive years. I have gone on purpose tv louk for them, but have never succeeded in seeing any. The bird shot was a bird of this year.—Stephen Clogg; East Looe, Cornwall, November 2, 1865. Raven Nesting in a Cucumber-frame.—Last spring a man named William Fowler, residing at Willingdon, near this place, had a raven which built a nest in a cucumber- frame, where, I believe, it is to be seen at the present moment. It was a very large nest, nearly as big as two faggots. Many persons went to see it. In the summer the raven flew away, but came back, sat on Fowlers shoulder, buffeted him and knocked his cap off; after that it again flew away to the downs, and has never returned.—John Dutton; Eastbourne, November, 1865. Tar ZooLtocist—January, 1866. 33 Martins in December.—On the 8th of December I saw a martin at Millandreath, near Looe; on passing the same place on the 10th I observed three hawking about: T sat on my horse for a quarter of an hour or more watching them; they appeared toler- ably strong on the wing. The following day I went again to see if they were there, but could not see them: I supposed they had left or died during the night, which was cold and frosty, but having occasion to pass that way on the following day, to my great sur- prise, there were five near the same spot, very strong on the wing, and apparently enjoying the bright sunshine: they were more shy than on the former day, so that they did not Jong stay for my observation, but speedily took flight over the adjacent hill. On the 13th I had a specimen brought to me which was shot at Millandreath, which I sent you the following day for your inspection; and I also heard from reliable authority that three were seen in Looe on the 14th, being the latest that I have ever heard of being seen in England by many days. A farmer who was working near Millandreath informed me that on the Thursday or Friday of last week he saw a flight of some scores, about a quarter of a mile up the valléy from Millandreath, which is a beach of about half a mile in length Stephen Clogg ; Looe, December 16, 1865. {The martin kindly sent me by Mr. Clogg was in very good condition, but the crop and intestines were entirely empty: I examined them thoroughly, with the view of ascertaining on what these birds could feed so late in the year. In the winter of 1863-4 I happened to be at Hastings at this time of the year, and daily saw martins on the wing.— Edward Newman. ] White Murtin.—A pure white martin was seen here last week, but fortunately escaped witbout being shot.—JZd.; November 2, 1865. Stomach of the Cuckoo.—lI have just read with surprise the strange announcement of your indefatigable correspondent, Dr. Boulton, on the hairy structures found in the stomach of a cuckoo. At once the idea struck me that these hairs were merely adven- titious, and in all probability the hairs of the “tiger moth,” which Dr. Boulton also noticed in the stomach. To entomologists it is a well-known fact that the hairs from the larve of many Lepidoptera have considerable penetrating power, and in the case recorded by Dr. Boulton I would suggest that the apparently fixed structures were merely such hairs partly embedded in the lining membrane of the stomach. To my cost have I often experienced the great pain resulting from the penetration of such hairs into my fingers during my collecting days; and once, I recollect, my late brother had incautiously handled some larve of the “fox moth” (Bombyx Rubi), and in afterwards rubbing his face a very troublesome sore, near the eye, was the consequence. I would suggest to Dr. Boulton a careful examination of the two sets of hairs with the microscope.— George Norman; Hull, October 11, 1865. Moorhens perching in Trees and feeding on Pears.—Mr. Armistead (Zool. 9540) expresses surprise at seeing a moorhen perch in a tree: this is not at all unusual here, especially when the bird is flushed by a dog as described. I have on two or three occasions observed moorhens in trees, fifteen or twenty feet from the ground, feeding on the berries of the hawthorn or ivy, and very recently I saw, in a gentleman’s garden near here, more than twenty moorhens in some large old standard pear trees on the borders of a piece of water they inhabited. The birds were very tame, and were perched about at different heights, busily engaged in devouring the pears, which (although it was in November) had not yet been gathered. I was told that the birds SECOND SERIES—VOL. I. : F 34 THE ZooLoGistT—Janvuary, 1866. had been feeding in this manner every day for some weeks.—James Shorto; Dor- chester, December 9, 1865. Discovery of a Moa's Egg at the Kai Koras.—There is at the present time being exhibited at Messrs. Bethune and Humter’s stores, for the benefit of the curious, 2n object of no less interest than the egg of a moa, another relic of the rara avis of New Zealand. The egg is of itself an object of no common interest to ordinary people, but it must be still more so to those who watch narrowly the development of natural history in its relations to this colony, and the circumstances connected with the finding are calculated to lend a still greater, not to say a romantic, interest to it. It appears, from what we learn from Captain Davidson, of the schooner “ Ruby,” which trades between this port and the Kai Koras, that a man in Mr. Fyffe’s employment at the latter place was digging the foundation of a house, and when on the side of a small mound he suddenly came upon the egg in question, and the skeleton of a man, supposed, of course, to be a Maori. The body had evidently been buried in a sitting posture, and the egg must have been placed in the hands, as when found the arms were extended in such a manner as to bring it immediately opposite the mouth of the deceased. This, it is assumed, was in accordance with the Maori custom, and was done for the purpose of giving the individual who was buried an opportunity of sustaining himself if he required sustenance. Between the legs of the skeleton were found numerous tools, cut from green stone, including a spear, axe, and several implements, which would lead to the belief that the man to whom the bones belonged must have been, in some way or other, connected with the wood trade—that is to say, if carpenters, cabinet-makers, &c., flourished in his time. All the bones were in excellent preservation, one arm and hand being entirely without blemish. The skull bore evidence of the proprietor having, at J some time or the other, received some hard knocks, probably in the battle-field while taking his part in some of those terrific encounters which are supposed to have taken place in ancient times. Unfortunately, before the man who was digging discovered the natural treasure, the implement he was using came in contact with the shell and broke a small piece out of the side of it, but the fragments have been carefully pre- served, and might readily be fitted into the aperture. The egg itself is about ten inches in length and seven inches in breadth, the shell being of a dirty brownish colour, and rather better than the thickness of a shilling coin. The inside is perfectly clear and free from all traces of decayed matter. From what Captain Davidson tells us, we should suppose that the ground where this relic was discovered must have been used as a cemetery at some distant period of the past, as Mr. Fyffe had previously found some interesting Maori emblems about the same place, but none of the natives about there —and some of them we are informed have arrived at very mature ages—have the slightest recollection of even having heard, as a matter of history, that any of their ancestors had found a fival resting-place in that particular locality— Wellington Paper. [This egg was sold by Mr. J. C. Stevens on the 24th of November for £120. —H. Newman). Occurrence of the Stone Curlew or Great Plover at the Land’s End.—It is singular but quite true that this species has never, to my knowledge, occurred in Cornwall in the summer season: at that time the bird is entirely unknown to us, being neither heard nor seen, although year after year specimens are procured in the depth of winter. I had a specimen, in high condition, sent in from the Land’s End yesterday. The migratorial movement of this species is no doubt similar to other species that come THe ZooLocist—JANuaRY, 1866. 35 north in the breeding season, retiring again in the autumn and towards winter to the southern countries of Europe and the north of Africa. The only way to account for the regular hyemal visits of the great plover to this district is that the extreme southern latitude of the British Isles, which may be included between the Lizard Point and the Land’s End, is the exact northern boundary of the space occupied by the species in its winter quarters.— Edward Hearle Rodd. On the Occurrence of the Spoonbill in Middlesex. By J. Epmunp Harrtine, Esq. F.L.S. UnrTI1 the present year I was not aware that the spoonbill (Plaéalea leucorodia) has ever been obtained in Middlesex, nor have I been able to find any record of its appearance in this county. On the 24th of October last I was informed that a pair of spoonbills had been shot at Kingsbury Reservoir on the previous day. Believing such an occurrence very improbable, I required some evidence to confirm the statement, more especially as on several former occasions I had been led to believe in the capture of a rare species, which proved on examination to be quite a different bird to that described. On one occasion a so-called spoonbill, which I took the trouble of tracing, turned out to be a shoveller duck, and at another time a pair of “longtailed ducks with white heads,” instead of being Anas gla- cialis as I had been led to suppose, proved to be merely a couple of male widgeons. I therefore received the intelligence of the spoonbills last month with a certain amount of doubt; but ascertaining that the birds had been sent to London for preservation, I traced them the following morning to the bird-stuffer with whom they had been left, and luckily arrived in time to find them still in the flesh and perfectly fresh. To my agreeable surprise I found that they were veritable spoonbills. I at once set to work to examine them carefully, and note down the description and measurements of each; and the same evening I saw them skinned, and ascertained the sexes by dissection. Before stating these details, however, it will perhaps be as well to give first the particulars of their capture, which I subsequently ascer- tained. The birds were first observed at Kingsbury Reservoir, close to the edge of the water, and, on being disturbed and ineffectually shot at, flew to some little distance, and alighted near a flock of geese in a field adjoining a farm-yard. Thither they were pursued by two gunners, who finding, however, that the birds were very shy and 36 THE ZooLocist—January, 1866. could not be approached directly, employed a third person to go round through the farm-yard and drive them, while they concealed themselves under a bank where some overhanging bushes formed a good screen. ‘This plan had the desired effect, for the birds came right over them, and were both killed. I was informed by one of the gunners, and by some labourers who saw these spoonbills on the wing, that they flew like herons, but a good deal faster and with the neck stretched out at full length like a duck, instead of being thrown back heron-like between the shoulders. They were not heard to utter any note. I found on examination that they were male and female birds of the year. The bill, of a brownish flesh-colour, darker towards the tip, was in both very soft and weak, that of the male bird being the darker of the two. The chin and lore completely bare; the former of a yellow, and the latter of a grayish colour. A remarkable feature was the wonderfully small tongue in comparison with the length of bill, the one being not more than an eighth part of the length of the other. There was no appearance of a crest in either bird, nor was there any trace of buff-colour on the breast. I was scarcely able to determine the true colour of the eye, since the bird had been dead more than forty-eight hours, but, as far as one could judge by appearances, the irides were hazel with black pupils. The upper portions of the plumage were of a dirty white colour, darker on the back and scapulars, the under parts of a purer white. All the quill-feathers white, with black shafts, presenting a very curious and pretty appearance when expanded. ‘The first four quill-feathers white, with dark brown tips; the first with a dark brown stripe on outer web; the second, first half of outer web brown, second half white; the third and fourth with outer webs nearly all white. The first quill shortest, the second longest in the wing. The tail square and white; the legs black. The feet much webbed, and with the under surface very perceptibly concave. The respective measurements of each were as follows:— Male. Female. Total length : ; , 2 feet 74 inches. 2 feet 6} inches. Lengivor i st elas 68 3 wing from carpus . es ae ee a 2 “ gf gain fos ity bis by mp cin 4 4, 5 tarsus . * 3 5k 4, 534g, * tail F n ‘ 5 a 5 *4 Extent of wings . : : Mere Nea: 4 Tue ZooLoGist—JANUARY, 1866. 37 Both birds were in tolerably good condition, the male being the plumper and heavier of the two. With a view of ascertaining what food they had recently obtained, I carefully examined the stomach of each. That of the fenfale was almost empty, but I could recognize a few small fish-bones (probably, from the size, roach), a small mass of vegetable fibre, together with the fruit of a Sparganium and a single carpal of a Potamogeton, probably P. pectinatus. That of the male was distended with a larger quantity of small bones and remains of fish. The bones presented the appear- ance of having been ground up small, being all very much of one size, although the inner coating of the stomach was by no means hard or rough, and I could find no traces of gravel or quartz, nor indeed of any substance which might tend to produce such an effect. I may add, in conclusion, that I examined these birds very carefully, with a view of ascertaining whether they had escaped from confine- ment; but as the wings were quite perfect, the tail feathers not in the least worn, and the entire plumage, although immature, yet in good order, while the bodies were healthy and in good condition, I have no doubt that the birds were really wild. Moving southwards at the approach of winter, and tempted, no doubt, by the broad expanse of the Reservoir above named, which would be perceived by a bird in flight at a very considerable distance, they had unfortunately alighted, and, as it would seem, had barely time to snatch a hasty meal, when they met a cruel and unexpected death. J. EpMunpD HartTING. Kingsbury, Middlesex, November, 1865. On the Occurrence of Bartram’s Sandpiper near Falmouth. By Dr. BULLMORE. From the numerous enquiries I have received concerning the speci- men of Bartram’s sandpiper, of which I am the fortunate possessor (a notice of which appeared in the ‘ Times’ of the 14th of November), I am led to infer that a description of this strange visitor to our shores would be anything but unacceptable to many of the readers of the ‘Zoologist. From enquiries instituted by me | find that this bird was flushed by a farmer’s son near Mullion from a piece of pasture turnips, where he had just previously risen some six or eight snipes. _ It rose singly, uttering a short shrill scream, flew over the hedge and dropped 38 THE ZooLogist—Janvuary, 1866. into a ditch by the side pf a contiguous road. On the approach of its pursuer it again rose and alighted in the middle of a hay-field, where it was shot, whilst busily occupied in running about on the ground.® It was sent, in company with some woodcocks and snipes, to the game-shop of Mr. J. Webber, of this town, from which place I was fortunate enough to obtain it. From the general appearance of the bird I was at once satisfied that it was a stranger, being principally led to this inference by its pecu- liarly shaped bill and the great length and shape of its tail, which latter peculiarity I since find has obtained for it the synonym of “ Le chevalier a longue quene.” The bird in my possession is a faithful representative of the figure depicted in the Supplement to Mr. Yarrell’s work on British Birds. This sandpiper may be at once distinguished from any others of its kind by its two primaries (the first in either wing), its long wedge-shaped beautifully variegated tail, and legs, breast-markings and bill. In its anatomical structure there was nothing peculiarly striking, save the great depth of its keel, the strength of its clavicles, and its firmly adherent vascular lungs, all of which characteristics serve to assign it a place amongst those creatures endowed with great power of endurance and capability for protracted flight. Its measurements, markings, &c., are as follows :— Whole length 12 inches. Weight 6 ounces 2 drachms. Bill slender and slightly curved at the point, more particularly the upper mandible; from the top to gape, 1} inch; from top to commencement of forehead, 1} inch; upper mandible blackish brown in colour, except at the margin of the middle third, which is yellow; lower mandible yellow throughout; nostril elongated }th of an inch in length. Irides dusky; forehead and occiput ferruginous, marked with small broad dark brown streaks; side of face and ear-coverts pale ferru- ginous, finely streaked with brown. Chin, throat and lore pure white. Front of neck and breast pale ferruginous, marked with narrow streaks, which on the breast assume the appearance of perfectly marked and well-defined arrow-heads. Belly, vent, and thigh-coverts white. Back of neck ferruginous, faintly streaked with brown. Back dull brownish black, the feathers narrowly bordered with pale ferrnginous. Scapulars black, edged with very pale ferruginous; greater wing-coverts dusky brown, edged with ferruginous and irregularly spotted with black; lesser wing- THE ZooLocist—JaNnvuary, 1866. 39 coverts light brown, tipped with white, having one or more semicircles of black. Expanse of wings 22 inches; length of fore arm 23 inches: arm 2 inches; from carpo-digital joint to tip of first primary 6 inches 7 lines. Primaries brownish black; first quill-feather the longest, its shaft pure white; outer web very narrow, dark brown, faintly touched at points with white; inner web white, barred with fourteen rich dark brown bands, which gradually merge into one broad patch, involving the end of the feather for the last inch of its length; second, third, fourth and fifth primaries dark brown, having a few white bars, and being also tipped with white. Secondaries pale brown; both webs wide, blotted with black, faintly tipped and splashed at the edges with white. Tertials black, edged with white, considerably longer than secondaries, the last feather but one being as long as the third primary and reaching to within half an inch of the base of the tail. Tail-feathers twelve in number, wedge-shaped when closed; four central feathers, the longest 3} inches in length, dark brown in colour, edges and tips orange-white, transversely barred on both vanes with black. Three contiguous feathers on either side rich orange, beauti- fully barred and blotted with black, the last blot assuming somewhat the appearance of an arrow-head; two outer feathers 23 inches long, white, with five black bands on outer web; inner web dashed with orange close to the shaft, and irregularly barred with black ; ramp and tail-coverts black, faintly margined with white. Length of tibia 23 inches, feathered to within three-fourths of an inch of the tibia tarsal-joint. Tarsus 2 inches, of a yellow colour, with a slight tinge of green. Toes the same colour as tarsus and tibia; middle toe Linch in length; outer 4 inch; inner $inch; hinder g inch; with a slight attempt at webbing between the outer and middle toe; nails dark brown, triangular, curved and excavated. Under surface of wings beautifully streaked and barred with silver- gray and white. The whole surface of the body was loaded with fat. The tongue long, narrow and sharp-pointed, being hastate in shape ; trachea narrow and cylindrical, except at about an inch before its junction with the lungs, where it is slightly dilated. Lungs mode- rately large, firmly adherent and very vascular; heart normal in size. The stomach was comparatively large, and contained the two elytra and head of the common black beetle, four or five small earth-worms, and a little slimy green herbage. The cecal appendages, I regret to 40 Tue ZooLtocist—January, 1866. say, I was unable to examine, as the intestines had already advanced into a state of decomposition. The breast-bone measured, to hori- zontal plates, two inches in length, half an inch in width; depth of keel 13 inch; clavicles 1 inch, and very stout; scapula 2 inches; furculum 1} inch, much arched and strong. Some little discrepancy has unfortunately crept into Mr. Wilson’s description of this bird, as quoted by Mr. Yarrell, who states, “This bird frequently reaches three-quarters of a pound.” My specimen, though loaded with fat, in capital condition, and weighed when fresh, only just brought down the beam at six ounces two drachms, and it appears to me that had it obtained anything like Mr. Wilson’s weight it must have been a perfect monstrosity, consequently | am therefore disposed to regard this statement as an entire misprint. W. K. BULLMORE. Falmouth, November 17, 1865. Solitary Snipe in Suffolk.—About the 5th of October, 1865, a fine adult bird, a female, of the solitary snipe was killed in the vicinity of Worlington Hall, near Beccles, in Suffolk. It measured 114 inches from tip of beak to tip of tail; 5} inches in the wing from carpal joint; bill 2} inches. It was in good plumage, and exceedingly fat; it weighed 7% ounces in full: its gizzard contained only a little fibrous matter.—T. £. Gunn ; Norwich, October, 1865 The Migration of Birds.—In a paper which I communicated to you some twelve months since upon this subject (Zool. 9364), I referred to an anomaly which presented itself at this season of the year, as to the autumnal or equatorial migration, or what perhaps will be better understood as the great movement from the north towards the south, which takes place at this season of the year, popularly exemplified by the well- known and palatable migration of woodcocks and snipes from the northern countries to Great Britain and the southern countries of Europe, and to the Mediterranean Isles and the North of Africa. In that notice I mentioned that at the Wolf Rock, about nine miles from the Land’s End, in a south-westerly direction, a flight of small birds, comprising some of our delicate warblers, the common wren and several other species, came sud- denly from the direction of Scilly, alighted on the rock, and, after resting, pursued their flight toward the main land. On Monday last, when the Scilly packet was on her passage from Scilly to Penzance, greenfinches, chaflinches, &c., passed the vessel, going at eight knots an hour, and appeared to be in a rapid migtatory course facing a direct east wind. Amongst these, but keeping separate from the main flight, were observed some tree sparrows, a species of rare occurrence in Cornwall. I mention this little incident to show that we are all aé sea ourselves about the true migratorial law. We should easily comprebend the anomaly if the birds of passage in their southerly course were suddenly opposed by a strong southerly gale, but nothing of the sort was the case ; the wind had been for days favourable for a southern movement, and at the time mentioned the birds were flying against a strong east breeze—Hdward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, November 10, 1865. Tue ZooLoGist—FEBRuARY, 1866. 4] NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. *‘ Handbook of the Birds of Australia.’ By Joun Goutp, F.R.S., &c. In Two Volumes. Royal 8vo, Published by the Author, at No. 26, Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury. (Second and concluding notice.) In my first notice of this valuable work I took occasion to mention the great disadvantage under which both author and reviewer labour in a review of an incomplete work: in the present instance that dis- advantage exists no longer, for Mr. Gould, with the most praiseworthy industry and promptitude, has completed a work which may hence- forward rank as a most serviceable contribution to our knowledge of antipodean Zoology. _ Of Mr. Gould’s more expensive works it may truly be said that they are treasures only to be obtained by the affluent; into such hands as mine and those of thousands of naturalists who, like myself, are thirsting for information, they can never fall; and thus, while they adorn the rich man’s table, and are duly admired, they do not impart that instruction to the masses which ought to result from Mr. Gould’s never-ending labours. This ‘ Handbook of the Birds of Australia, now complete in two volumes, supplies this desideratum as far as Australia itself is concerned, and is by far the most exhaustive account of the known Avifauna of any country that has yet issued from the press. The qualification “known” is advisedly introduced, because our knowledge of the interior is still most imperfect, and there is yet unexplored territory in which even the largest Struthi- onide may rove undetected and undreamed of by civilized man. And if Struthionide, how much more the various passerine families, of which our entire knowledge is restricted to the observations of some dozen travellers who have now and then touched the shores of this sea-girt continent. Dr. Jerdon, as I have already shown, has ably performed this task for a large portion of continental India, leaving, however, his great work somewhat incomplete, by restricting his labour to rather capricious geographical limits; and the Avifauna of North America has found most able exponents in the illustrious Wilson, in Nuttall, Audubon and Baird; still, however, allowing abundant room for such a handbook as Mr. Gould’s. SECOND SERIES—VOL. I. G A2 THE ZooLocist—FEBrRuARY, 1866. Nothing can be more gratifying to the working ornithologist than to have those various portions of the earth’s surface thus physically sur- veyed, and how delightful will it prove in the hereafter, when Nestor, Dromaius, Apteryx and other genera have followed in the track of “pyornis, Palapteryx, Dinornis and Didus, as they assuredly will follow, to have their portraits and their characters faithfully preserved in a manner as defiant of time as the pyramids of Egypt themselves. In my former notice I confined my extracts to the general ob- servations in Mr. Gould’s Introduction, but now it seems desirable to enter more fully into detail, and to select certain species with a view to exhibit clearly the comprehensive plan on which Mr. Gould has conducted and completed his investigations: the examples I select are the wattled Talegallus, the ocellated Leipoa, and the Australian Megapodius, and although there is no great novelty in the details of economy now reprinted, | think it is the first instance in which they have been brought together side by side, so that the differences may be readily noticed and contrasted. Wattled Talegallus (Talegallus Lathami).—“It has often been asserted that Australia abounds in anomalies, and in no instance is the truth of this assertion more fully exemplified than in the history of this very singular bird, respecting the situation of which in the natural system much diversity of opinion, as above noticed, has hitherto prevailed. It was consequently one of the birds which de- manded my utmost attention during my-visit to Australia; and, im- mediately upon its remarkable habits becoming known to me, I published an account of them in the first volume of the ‘ Tasmanian Journal’ for 1840. The remarks therein contained, and which are recapitulated below, comprise all that is known respecting them, nothing of importance having since been discovered. “The most remarkable circumstance connected with the economy of this species is the fact of its eggs not being incubated in the manner of birds. At the commencement of the spring the wattled Talegallus scratches together an immense heap of decaying vegetable matter as a depository for the eggs, and trusts to the heat engendered by the process of fermentation for the development of the young. The heap employed for this purpose is collected by the birds during several weeks previous to the period of laying; it varies in size from two to many cart-loads, and in most instances is of a pyramidal form. The construction of the mound is either the work of one pair of birds, or, THE ZooLOGIST—FEBRUARY, 1866. 43 as some suppose, the united labours of several; the same site appears to be resorted to for several years in succession, the birds adding a fresh supply of materials each succeeding season. “The materials composing these mounds are accumulated by the bird grasping a quantity in its foot and throwing it backwards to one common centre, the surface of the ground for a considerable distance being so completely scratched over that scarcely a leaf or a blade of grass is left. The mound being completed, and time allowed for a sufficient heat to be engendered, the eggs are deposited in a circle at the distance of nine or twelve inches from each other, and buried more than an arm’s depth, with the large end upwards; they are covered up as they are laid, and allowed to remain until hatched. I have been credibly informed, both by natives and settlers living near their haunts, that it is not an unusual event to obtain half a bushel of eggs at one time from a single mound; and I have myself seen a native woman bring to the encampment in her net half as many as the spoils of a foraging excursion to the neighbouring scrub. Some of the natives state that the females are constantly in the neighbourhood of the mound about the time the young are likely to be hatched, and frequently uncover and cover them up again, apparently for the pur- pose of assisting those that may have appeared; while others have informed me that the eggs are merely deposited, and the young allowed to force their way unassisted. One point has been clearly ascertained, namely, that the young from the hour they are hatched are clothed with feathers, and have their wings sufficiently developed to enable them to fly on to the branches of trees, should they need to do so to escape from danger; they are equally nimble on their legs; in fact, as a moth emerges from a chrysalis, dries its wings and flies away, so the youthful Talegallus, when it leaves the egg, is sufficiently perfect to be able to act independently and procure its own food. This we know from personal observation of the bird in a state of captivity; several old birds having constructed mounds, in which their eggs have been deposited and their young developed, in the Gardens of the Zoological Society in the Regent’s Park. I shall always look back with pleasure to the fact of my being the first to make known these singular habits. Although, unfortunately, I was almost too late for the breeding-season, I nevertheless saw several of these hatching mounds, both in the interior of New South Wales and at Illawarra: in every instance they were placed in the most retired and shady glens, and on the slope of a hill, the part above the mound 44 THE ZooLocist—FEBRuARY, 1866. being scratched clean, while all below remained untouched, as if the birds had found it more easy to convey the materials down than to throw them up. The eggs are perfectly white, of a long oval form, three inches and three quarters long by two inches and a half in diameter. When disturbed, the wattled Talegallus readily eludes pursuit by the facility with which it runs through the tangled brush. If hard pressed, or when rushed upon by its great enemy, the native dog, it springs upon the lowermost bough of some neighbouring tree, and by a succession of leaps from branch to branch ascends to the top, and either perches there or flies off to another part of the brush. It is also in the habit of resorting to the branches of trees.as a shelter from the mid-day sun—a peculiarity that greatly tends to their destruction ; for, like the ruffed grouse of America, when assembled in small companies, they will allow a succession of shots to be fired until they are all brought.down. Unless some measures be adopted for their preservation, this circumstance must lead to an early extinc- tion of this singular species—an event much to be regretted, since, independently of its being an interesting object for the aviary, it is an excellent bird for the table. “While stalking about the woods, the Talegallus frequently utters a rather loud clucking noise ; but whether this sound is uttered by the female only [ could not ascertain; still I think such is the case, and that the spiteful male, who appears to delight in expanding his richly- coloured fleshy wattles and unmercifully thrashing his help-mate, is generally mute. “Tn various parts of the brush I observed depressions in the earth, which the natives informed me were made by the birds in dusting themselves.”—Vol. ii. p. 151. Equally interesting and not very dissimilar is the economy of Leipoa ocellata; I prefer calling it by the technical name, feeling a very great repugnance to the greco-latin English names which authors are now pleased to confer on exotic species. The fashion was invented by the French: would it were confined to that busy nation. Ocellated Leipoa (Leipoa ocellata).—“ This morning I had the good . fortune to penetrate into the dense thicket I had been so long anxious to visit, in search of the Leipoa’s eggs, and had not proceeded far before the native who was with me told me to keep a good look-out, as we were among the Ngou-oo’s hillocks; and in half an hour after we found one, around which the brush was so thick that we were THE ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1866. - 43 almost running over it before seeing it. So anxious was I to see the hidden treasures within, that in my haste I threw aside the black fellow and began scraping off the upper part of the mound; this did not at all please him, and he became very indignant, at the same time making me understand that as I had never seen this nest before I had better trust to him to get out the eggs, or I should, in my haste and im- patience, certainly break them. I therefore let him have his own way, and he began scraping off the earth very carefully from the centre, throwing it over the side, so that the mound very soon presented the appearance of a huge basin; about two feet in depth of earth was in this way thrown off, when the large ends of two eggs met my anxious gaze; both these eggs were resting on their smaller apex, and the earth round them had to be very carefully removed to avoid breaking the shell, which is extremely fragile when first exposed to the atmo- sphere. About a hundred yards from this first mound we came upon a second, rather larger, of the same external form and appearance; _ it contained three eggs. Although we saw seven or eight more mounds, only these two contained eggs: we were too early; a week later, and we should doubtless have found many more. To give you an idea of the place these birds choose for their remarkable mode of rearing their young, [ will describe it as nearly as 1 can:—The Wonga Hills are about thirteen hundred feet above the level of the sea, in a north-north- east direction from Drummond’s House in the Toodyay: their sides are thickly clothed with a dense forest of Eucalypti, and at their base is a thicket, extending for several miles, of upright-growing and thick bushy plants, so high in most parts that we could not see over their tops, and so dense that, if we separated only for a few yards, we were obliged to cooey, to prevent our straying from each other; this thicket is again shadowed by a very curious species of dwarf Eucalyptus bearing yellow blossoms, and growing from fifteen to thirty feet in height, known to the natives as the spear-wood, and of which they make their spears, digging-sticks, dowaks, &c.; the whole formation is a fine reddish ironstone-gravel, and this the Leipoa scratches up from several yards around, and thus forms its mound, to be afterwards con- verted into a hot-bed for the reproducticn of its offspring. The inte- rior of the mound is composed of the finer particles of the gravel, mixed with vegetable matter, the fermentation of which produces a warmth sufficient for the purpose of hatching. Mr. Drummond, who had been for years accustomed to hot-beds in England, gave it as his opinion that the heat around the eggs was about 89°. In both the 46 THE ZooLocisT—FEBRUARY, 1866. nests with eggs the white ant was very numerous, making its little covered galleries of earth around and attached to the shell, thus showing a beautiful provision of Nature in preparing the necessary tender food for the young bird on its emergence: one of the eggs I have preserved shows the white ants’ tracks most beautifully: the largest mound I saw, and which appeared as if in a state of prepara- tion for eggs, measured forty-five feet in circumference, and if rounded in proportion on the top, would have been full five feet in height. I remarked in all the mounds not ready for the reception of eggs, the inside or vegetable portion was always wet and cold, and I imagine, from the state of others, that the bird turns out the whole of the materials to dry before depositing its eggs and covering them up with the soil; in both cases where I found eggs the upper part of the mound was perfectly and smoothly rounded over, so that any one passing it without knowing the singular habit of the bird might very readily suppose it to be an ant-hill : mounds in this state always con- tain eggs within, while those without eggs are not only not rounded over, but have the centres so scooped out that they form a hollow. The eggs are deposited in a very different manner from those of the Megapodius ; instead of each being placed in a separate excavation in different parts of the mound, they are laid directly in the centre, all at the same depth, separated only by about three inches of earth, and so placed as to form a circle. I regret we were so early; had we been a week later the probability is I should have found the circle of eggs complete. Is it not singular that all the eggs were equally fresh, as if their development was arrested until the full number was deposited, so that the young might all appear about the same time? No one, considering the immense size of the egg, can for a moment suppose the bird capable of laying more than one without at least the inter- mission of a day, and perhaps even more. * Like those of the Megapodius, they are covered with an epidermis- like coating, and are certainly as large, being three inches and three- quarters in length by two and a half in breadth; they vary in colour from a very light brown to a light salmon. During the whole day we did not succeed in obtaining sight of the bird, although we saw nume- rous tracks of its feet and many places where it had been scratching ; we also saw its tracks on the sand when crossing the dried beds of the swamps, at least two miles from the breeding-thicket, which proves that the bird, in procuring its food, does not confine itself to the brushes around its nest, but merely resorts to them for the purpose of THE ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1866. 47 incubating. The native informed us that the only chance of procuring the bird was by stationing ourselves in sight of the mound, at a little distance, and remaining quiet and immovable till it made its appearance at sun-down; this I attempted, and, with the native, encamped within about twenty yards of the mound about an hour before sun-set, taking the precaution to conceal ourselves well with bushes from the quick eye of the bird, but leaving just a sufficient opening to get a fair sight with my gun; in a half-sitting, half-crouching position, I thus re- mained in breathless anxiety for the approach of the bird I had so long wished to see, not daring to move a muscle for fear of moving a branch or making a noise by crushing a dead leaf, till I was so cramped I could scarcely bear the pain in my limbs; the bird did not, however, make its appearance, and the native, with the fear of wading through the thicket in darkness (for there was no moon), became so impatient that he started up and began to talk so loud, and make so much noise, that I was compelled to give up all hopes of seeing the bird that night ; however, just as we were passing the mound, we started the bird from the opposite side, but, from the denseness of the thicket and the dark- ness closing around us, I had no chance of getting a shot at it. Mr. Roe, the Surveyor-General, who examined several mounds during his expedition to the interior in the year 1836, found the eggs nearly ready to hatch in the month of November, and invariably seven or eight in number; while another authority has informed me of an instance of fourteen being taken from one mound.”—Vol. ii. p. 155, I will here insert an extract from a letter addressed to Mr. Gould on the subject of the same bird. “The mounds they construct are from twelve to thirteen yards in circumference at the base, and from two to three feet in height; the general form being that of a dome. The sand and grass are some- times scraped up for a distance of from fifteen to sixteen feet from its outer edge. ‘ ““The mound appears to be constructed as follows :—A nearly cir- cular hole, of about eighteen inches in diameter, is scratched in the ground to the depth of seven or eight inches, and filled with dead leaves, dead grass and similar materials; and a large mass of the same substances is placed all round it upon the ground. Over this first layer a large mound of sand, mixed with dried grass, &c., is _ thrown, and finally the whole assumes the form of a dome, as I have before stated. 48 Tue Zoo_ocist—FEBRuARY, 1866. “When an egg is to be deposited, the top is laid open and a hole scraped in its centre to within two or three inches of the bottom of the layer of dead leaves. The egg is placed in the sand just at the edge of the hole, in a vertical position, with the smaller end downwards. The sand is then thrown in again, and the mound left in its original form. The egg which has been thus deposited is therefore completely surrounded and enveloped in soft sand, having from four to six inches of sand between the lower end of the egg and the layer of dead leaves. When a second egg is laid it is deposited in precisely the same plane as the first, but at the opposite side of the hole before alluded to. When a third egg is laid it is placed in the same plane as the others, but, as it were, at the third corner of the square. When the- fourth egg is laid it is still placed in the same plane, but in the fourth corner of the square, or rather of the lozenge, the figure being of this ° : : : ; form— O50 5 the next four eggs in succession are placed in the inter- stices, but always in the same plane, so that at last there is a circle of eight eggs all standing upright in the sand, with several inches of sand intervening between each. The male bird assists the female in opening and covering up the mound; and, provided the birds are not them- selves disturbed, the female continues to lay in the same mound, even after it has been several times robbed. The natives say that the females lay an egg every day. “ Eight is the greatest number I have heard of from good authority as having been found in one nest; but I opened a mound which had been previvusly robbed of several eggs, and found that two had been laid opposite to each other in the same plane, in the usual manner; and a third deposited in a plane parallel to that in which the other two were placed, but 43 inches below them. The circumstance led me to imagine it was possible that there might be sometimes successive circles of eggs in different planes. * * * * * * “One of the mounds of these birds which had been robbed of its eggs on the llth of November, some of which were quite fresh, had two fresh eggs laid in it on the 27th of the same month, and the birds were seen at the nest on the morning of the 28th, apparently for the purpose of laying, when the male bird was shot. “Sometimes several of these mounds are constructed close to one another. I found two within 200 or 300 yards; and have seen five within the distances of four or five miles. They were built in precisely THE ZooLoGist—FeBruary, 1866. 49 the same situations that I have seen them in other parts of the con- tinent, thatis,in a sandy scrubby country, the site of the mound being in some little open glade, in the very thickest part of the scrub. “The eggs are of a light pink, the colour being brightest and most uniform when freshly laid. As the time of hatching approaches they become discoloured, and marked in places with dark spots. “ The greatest length of these eggs is about - - 34, inches. 3 breadth * = = Oay a Circumference in direction of length - - - 10 Ps ae + breadth = - - - 1% » “The temperature of the nests I have examined has always been warm; not so much so, however, as I should have thought necessary for the purpose of hatching eggs. “There are two great peculiarities about these eggs; the first is, that both ends are of nearly the same size, which form is peculiarly adapted to the position in which they are always placed; the egg being compressed in every part as nearly as possible towards the axis, in which the centre of gravity lies, there is the least possible tendency to its equilibrium being destroyed when it is placed in a vertical position. A second peculiarity is the extreme thinness of the shell, and its consequent fragility. This is so great that unless the egg is handled with the greatest care it is sure to be broken; and every effort which has been made to hatch these eggs under domestic fowls has failed, the egg having in every instance been broken by the bird under which it was placed. “The native name for the bird on the Murray River is Marrak-ko or Marra-ko; in Western Australia the name of the bird is Ngow-o or Ngow. The name in Western Australia is given from the tuft on its head, Ngoweer meaning a tuft of feathers. “ [ have found this bird in different parts of that portion of Australia included between the 26th and 36th parallels of south latitude, and 113th and 14Ist parallels of east longitude, and I think that there is every probability that it inhabits a much wider range. It is found in all the scrubby districts of South Australia. “The farthest point north at which I have seen the breeding-places of this bird is Gantheaume Bay. The natives of King George’s Sound say the bird exists in that neighbourhood. I have never fallen in with its nests but in one description of country, viz. where the soil was dry and sandy, and so thickly wooded with a species of dwarf Lepto- SECOND SERIES—VOL. I. H 50 Tse ZooL_ogist—FeEBRuARY, 1866. spermum that if you stray from the native paths it is almost impossible to force your way through. “There is only one male andone female to each mound: they repair av old mound, and do not build a new one; both assist in scratching the sand to the nest. The female commences laying about the begin- ning of September, or when the spear-grass begins to shoot. Both sexes approach the nest together when the female is about to lay, and they take av equal share in the labour of covering and uncovering the mound. After every sunrise the female lays an egg, and lays altogether from eight to ten. If the natives rob the mound, the female will lay again in the same nest, but she will only lay the full number of eggs twice in one summer. From the commencement of building until the last eggs are hatched four moons elapse (this would give a very long period of time before the eggs were hatched). The young one scratches its way ont alone; the mother does not assist it. They usually come out one at a time; occasionally a pair appear together. The mother, who is feeding in the scrub in the vicinity, hears its call and runs to it. She then takes care of the young one as a European hen does of its chick. When the young are all hatched, the mother is accompanied by eight or ten young ones, who remain with her until they are more than half-grown. The male bird does not accompany them. The two sexes have different calls; that of the female is constantly uttered while she walks about in the scrub with her young ones. “The natives frequently find the eggs and nests, but they seldom see the old birds, which are very timid and quick-sighted. They run very fast, like the emu, roost on trees, and live for a long time without water, but drink when it rains. The natives state that the Entozoa which I found in the bird mentioned above were unusual, and that it must have been in ill health. “ Ti is a remarkably stout, compact bird, and appears when alive to have as large a body as the female turkey, but it is shorter on the legs.” To this Mr Gould adds— “ Besides the above valuable notes by Gilbert and Sir George Grey, Mr. Richard Schomburgk has kindly lent me a copy of the ‘ Leo- poldina, Haft iii., October, 1862, containing a communication from him respecting this bird, which in the main agrees with the above statements, but he has been led to believe that an interval of three or four days elapses between the laying of the eggs by one female; he also particularly remarks upon the base of the mound being sunk in THE ZooLocisT—FEBRUARY, 1866. 51 the ground to the depth of twenty or twenty-four inches, and the cavity filled with leaves of the Encalypti, on the top of and surrounding which the mound of sand and mixed herbage is raised. Mr. Schom- burgk also states that an egg he took bome and placed under a domestic hen was hatched the next day, and the young bird appeared covered with feathers and capable of at once obtaining its own food.” —Vol. ii. pp. 160—166. I cannot assume that the economy of these remarkable birds will prove novel to all my readers, but I am quite sure they will be read with interest even by those who were previously acquainted with the facts detailed; and extraordinary as the account of Talegallus and Leipoa may be considered, that of Megapodius Tumulus will assuredly be read with still greater interest: it is extracted from Mr. Gilbert’s notes. The incredulity of the settlers, who could not assign any other origin to these tumuli than that they were burial-places of the natives, and the knowledge possessed by the natives that they were the handi- work of birds, are facts which give the narrative additional interest. How frequently do we draw our conclusions from very insufficient premises, and construct hypotheses that will harmonize with our own preconceived idea! There is a dawn of intelligence exhibited by the natives in their positive assertion that these tumuli were the work of birds that is also worthy of notice; not that I would argue from this the capacity for farther education, for I believe the “thus far and no farther,” although its application by man is futile, nevertheless exists in nature, and I never expect to see the boundary line passed over, yet every step which man or animals can achieve must be a matter of in- terest, and, however low our estimate of an Australian’s intelligence, let us at least give him credit for all that he possesses ; and these volumes of Mr. Gould’s tend greatly to exhibit the native mind in its true colours. But I must devote so much space to the Megapode itself that I will not trouble the reader with my own reflections. Australian Megapode (Megapodius Tumulus).—* The following account of its habits is taken from Gilbert’s notes, and novel and extraordinary as those of Talegallus and Leipoa may have been con- sidered, this will be read with even greater interest :— “*On my arrival at Port Essington my attention was attracted to numerous mounds of earth, which were pointed out to me by some of the residents as the tumuli of the aborigines; on the other hand, I was assured by the natives that they were formed by the Megapode for the 52 THE ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1866. purpose of incubating its eggs: their statement appeared so extra- ordinary, and so much at variance with the geveral habits of birds, that no one in the settlement believed them or took sufficient interest in the matter to examine the mounds, and thus to verify or refute their accounts; another circumstance which induced a doubt of their veracity was the great size of the eggs brought in by the natives as those of this bird. Aware that the eggs of Leipoa were hatched in a similar manner, my attention was immediately arrested by these accounts, and I at once determined to ascertain all J possibly could respecting so singular a feature in the bird’s economy; and, having procured the assistance of a very intelligent native, who undertook to guide me to the different places resorted to by the bird, I proceeded on the 16th of November to Knocker’s Bay, a part of Port Essington Harbour comparatively but litthe known, and where | had been in- formed a number of these birds were always to be seen. I landed beside a thicket, and had not proceeded far from the shore ere I came to a mound of sand and shells, with a slight mixture of black soil, the base resting on a sandy beach, only a few feet above high-water mark ; it was enveloped in the large yellow-blossomed Hibiscus, was of a coni- cal form, twenty feet in circumference at the base and about five feet in height. On pointing it out to the native and asking him what it was, he replied, ‘ Oooregoorga Rambal,’ Megapode’s house or nest. I then scrambled up the sides of it, and to my extreme delight found a young bird in a hole about two feet deep ; it was lying on a few dry withered leaves, and appeared to be only a few days old. So far I was satisfied that these mounds had some connexion with the bird’s mode of incu- bation; but [ was still sceptical as to the probability of these young birds ascending from so great a depth as the nalives represented ; and my suspicions were confirmed by my being unable to induce the native, in this instance, to search for the eggs, his excuse being that “ he knew it would be useless, as he saw no traces of the old birds having recently been there.” I took the utmost care of the young bird, intending to rear it, if possible; I therefore obtained a moderately sized box, and placed in it a large portion of sand. As it fed rather freely on bruised Indian corn, | was in full hopes of succeeding; but it proved of so wild and intractable a disposition that it would not reconcile itself to such close confinement, and effected its escape on the third day. During the period it remained in captivity it was incessantly occupied in scratching up the sand into heaps; and the rapidity with which it threw the sand from one end of the box to the other was quite sur- THE ZOOLOGIST—FEBRUARY, 1866. 53 prising for so young and small a bird, its size not being larger than that of asmall quail. At nightit was so restless that I was constantly kept awake by the noise it made in its endeavours to escape. In scratching up the sand it only used one foot, and having grasped a handful, as it were, the sand was thrown behind it, with but little apparent exertion, and without shifting its standing position on the other leg; this habit seemed to be the result of an innate restless disposition and a desire to use its powerful feet, and to have but little connexion with its feeding ; for although Indian corn was mixed with the sand, I never detected the bird in picking any of it up while thus employed. *««T continued to receive the eggs without having an opportunity of seeing them taken from the mound until the 6th of February, when, on again visiting Knocker’s Bay, I had the gratification of seeing two taken from a depth of six feet in one of the largest mounds I had then seen. In this instance the holes ran down in an oblique direction from the centre towards the outer slope of the hillock, so that, although the eggs were six feet deep from the summit, they were only two or three feet from the side. The birds are said to lay but a single egg in each hole, and after the egg is deposited the earth is immediately thrown down lightly until the hole is filled up; the upper part of the mound is then smoothed and rounded over. It is easily known when a Mega- pode has been recently excavating, from the distinct impressions of its feet on the top and sides of the mound, and the earth being so lightly thrown over, that with a slender stick the direction of the hole is readily detected, the ease or difficulty of thrusting the stick down in- dicating the length of time that may have elapsed since the bird’s operations. Thus far it is easy enough; but to reach the eggs requires no little exertion and perseverance. The natives dig them up with their hands alone, and only make sufficient room to admit their bodies and to throw out the earth between their legs; by grubbing with their fingers alone they are enabled to follow the direction of the hole with greater certainty, which will sometimes, at a depth of several feet, turn off abruptly at right angles, its direct course being obstructed by a clump of wood or some other impediment. Their patience is, however, often put to severe trials. In the present instance, the native dug down six times in succession to a depth of at least six or seven feet without finding an egg, and at the last attempt came up in such a State of exhaustion that he refused to try again; but my interest was now too much excited to relinquish the oppor- tunity of verifying the native’s statements, and by the offer of an addi- 54 THE ZooLoGist—FEBRUARY, 1866. tional reward I induced him to make another effort: this seventh trial proved successful, and my gratification was complete, when the native with equal pride and satisfaction held up an egg, and after two or three more attempts produced a second, thus proving how cautious Euro- peans should be of disregarding the narratives of these poor children of nature, because they happen to sound extraordinary or different from anything with which they were previously acquainted. I re- visited Knocker’s Bay on the 10th of February, and having with some difficulty penetrated into a dense thicket of cane-like creeping plants, I suddenly found myself beside a mound of gigantic proportions. It was fifteen feet in height and sixty in circumference at the base, the upper part being about a third less, and was entirely composed of the richest description of light vegetable mould; on the top were very recent marks of the bird’s feet. The native and myself immediately set to work, and, after an honr’s extreme labour, rendered the more fatiguing from the excessive heat, and the tormenting myriads of mosquitoes and sand-flies, | succeeded in obtaining an egg from a depth of about five feet; it was in a perpendicular position, with the earth surrounding and very lightly touching it on all sides, and without any other material to impart warmth, which, in fact, did not appear necessary, the mound being quite warm to the hands. The holes in this mound commenced at the outer edge of the summit, and ran down obliquely towards the centre; their direction, therefore, is not uniform. Like the majority of the mounds | have seen, this was so enveloped in thickly foliaged trees as to preclude the possibility of the sun’s rays reaching any part of it. The mounds differ very much in their com- position, form and situation; most of those that are placed near the water’s edge were formed of sand and shells, without a vestige of any other material, but in some of them I met with a portion of soil and decaying wood: when constructed of this loose material, they are very irregular in outline, and often resemble a bank thrown up by a con- stant heavy surf. One remarkable specimen of this description, situated on the southern side of Knocker’s Bay, has the appearance of a bank, from twenty-five to thirty feet in length, with an average height of five feet; another even more singular is situated at the head of the harbour, and is composed entirely of pebbly iron-stone, resembling a confused heap of sifted gravel; into this I dug to the depth of two or three feet, without finding any change of character; it may have been conical originally, but is now without any regularity, and is very extensive, covering a space of at least a hundred and fifty feet in circumference. THE ZooLOGIST—FEBRUARY, 1866. 55 These remarkable specimens would, however, seem to be exceptions, as by far the greater number are entirely formed of light black vegetable soil, are of a conical form, and are situated in the densest thickets. Occasionally the mounds are met with in barren, rocky and sandy situations, where not a particle of soil similar to that of which they are composed occurs for miles round: how the soil is produced in such situations appears unaccountable; it has been said that the parent birds bring it from a great distance; but as we have seen that they readily adapt themselves to the difference of situation this is scarcely probable: I conceive that they collect the dead leaves and other vegetable matter that may be at hand, and which, decomposing, forms this particular description of soil. The mounds are doubtless the work of many years, and of many birds in succession: some of them are evidently very ancient, trees being often seen growing from their sides ; in one instance I found a tree growing from the middle of a mound which was a foot in diameter. I endeavoured to glean from the natives how the young effect their escape ; but on this point they do not agree, some asserting@that they find their way unaided; others, on the con- trary, affirmed that the old birds, knowing when the young are ready to emerge from their confinement, scratch down and release them. The natives say that only a single pair of birds are ever found at one mound at a time, and such, judging from my own observation, I believe to be the case; they also affirm that the eggs are deposited at night, at intervals of Several days, and this I also believe to be correct, as four eggs taken on the same day, and from the same mound, con- tained young in different stages of development; and the fact that they are always placed perpendicularly is established by the concurring testimony of all the different tribes of natives I have questioned on the subject. ““The Megapode is almost exclusively confined to the dense thickets immediately adjacent to the sea-beach; it appears never to go far inland, except along the banks of creeks. It is always met with in pairs or quite solitary, and feeds on the ground, its food consisting of roots, which its powerful claws enable it to scratch up with the utmost facility, and also of seeds, berries and insects, particularly the larger species of Coleoptera. It is at all times a very difficult bird to procure; for although the rustling noise produced by its stiff pinions when flying may be frequently heard, the bird itself is seldom to be seen. Its flight is heavy and unsustained in the extreme; when first disturbed it invariably flies to a tree, and on alighting stretches out its 56 THE ZooLoGist—FEBRUARY, 1866. head and neck in a straight line with its body, remaining in this posi- tion as stationary and motionless as the branch upon which it is perched ; if, however, it becomes fairly alarmed, it takes a horizontal but laborious flight for about a hundred yards, with its legs hanging down as if broken. I did not myself detect any note or ery; but, from the native’s description and imitation of it, it much resembles the clucking of the domestic fowl, ending with a scream like that of the peacock. “*T observed that the birds continued to lay from the latter part of August to March, when I left that part of the country; and, according to the testimony of the natives, there is only an interval of about four or five months, the dryest and hottest part of the year, between their seasons of incubation. The composition of the mound appears to influence the colouring of a thin epidermis with which the eggs are covered, and which readily chips off, showing the true shell to be white; those deposited in the black soil are always of a dark reddish brown, while those from the sandy hillocks near the beach are of a dirty yellowish white; they differ a good deal in size@fut in form they all assimilate, both ends being equal; they are three inches and five lines long by two inches and three lines broad.’ “The following interesting account of the breeding-places of this remarkable bird has been transmitted to me by Mr. John Macgillivray as the result of his observations on Nogo or Megapodius Island in Endeavour Straits. Jt will be seen that its range is more extensive than I had assigned to it:—‘ The most southern locality known to me for this singular bird is Haggerston Island (in lat. 12° 3’ South), where I observed several of its mounds of very large size, but did not see any of the birds. During the survey of Endeavour Straits in H.M.S. ‘Bramble,’ I was more fortunate, having succeeded in procuring both male and female on the island marked ‘ Nogo’ upon the chart, where I resided for several days for that sole purpose. On this small island, not more than half a mile in length, rising at one extremity into a low rounded hill densely covered with jungle (or what in New South Wales would be called ‘brush’), three mounds, one of them apparently deserted before completion, were found. The two others were examined by Mr. Jukes and myself. The most recent, judging from the smoothness of its sides and the want of vegetable matter, was situated upon the crest of the hill, and measured 8 feet in height (or 133 from the base of the slope to the summit) and 77 feet in circum- ference. In this mound, after several hours’ hard digging into a Tae ZooLrogist—FrEBRuaRY, 1866. 57 well-packed mass of earth, stones, decaying branches and leaves and other vegetable matter, and the living roots of trees, we found nume- rous fragments of eggs, besides one broken egg containing a dead and putrid chick, and another whole one which proved to be addled. All were imbedded at a depth of six feet from the nearest part of the sur- face, at which place the heat produced by the fermentation of the mass was considerable. “